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*****"Until I hear your response," Richard uttered through gritted teeth, his anguish evident in every strained word, "I fear I cannot fulfill your request." His pained expression spoke volumes, revealing his stoic endurance amidst the torment."Oh, fuck! What do you want me to say?" Ana murmured impatiently as she attempted to release her hand. Neither he was doing anything to her nor she was able to help herself to soothe the irritation."Tell me," Richard demanded, his voice coarse with intensity as he slid his hand over her back, trailing it until he reached her hair, "I am the one who brings you a thrill, something no one else can offer.""Yes, you bring such exquisite bliss to my soul, a sensation unmatched by anyone before or yet to come!" Ana declared fervently, her voice trembling with a mixture of desire and frustration. "But I implore you, cease these tortures that I can no longer endure!" Her words dripped with passion, a plea borne from the depths of her soul.Hearing th
*****"He told me he had some urgent business to attend to, which is why he wasn't at the party for a couple of minutes," she explained, her conviction in his explanation steadfast. When the topic shifted to Ana, there was a hint of uncertainty, but Emilia quickly dismissed it. "And as for Ana, I'm certain she was just looking for someone wealthy, especially considering the guests at my party." Kendall's frustration bubbled up, causing her to spring from her bed with a forceful energy. "You're being so ridiculous that it's not even worth my time trying to explain something beyond your comprehension," she exclaimed, her words sharp with annoyance. "Just call him, and you'll see for yourself," she shouted, her exasperation evident in her tone as she urged action over further discussion."His phone is broken!" Emilia replied with a tightness in her chest."Then call George. He must know where his boss is," Kendall insisted, her tone firm as she urged Emilia to confront the reality of the
*****"Your chopping skills are quite a surprise," Ana exclaimed, her back arching slightly as she settled into her chair, intrigued by the sight of him cooking. Initially skeptical, she had assumed he was faking it, but as she watched him deftly slice through the vegetables, a genuine sense of amazement washed over her."I used to live with my grandmother back when I was studying in London," Richard revealed, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips as he reminisced. "I often watched her chopping and preparing dishes. Somehow, my brain just seemed to adapt effortlessly to it all. So, I wouldn't call it practice, more like a swift learning curve," he explained, gently placing the vegetables into the pot of boiling water.Ana chuckled softly, a playful glint in her eyes as she retorted, "So, it seems like you're just patting yourself on the back." She continued to munch on the bacon she had prepared, resisting the temptation of the tantalizing aroma of the ramen."I'm just stating the tru
****"I need to go," Ana declared, her voice tense as she hastily grabbed her staff. The phone call she received seemed to have filled her with a sense of dreadful foreboding, evident in the strained expression on her face."Where are you going? I can drive you there," Richard offered urgently, noticing Ana's troubled demeanor. His concern deepened as he realized she was reluctant to share what had gone wrong."It's a call from one of my patients, and I'd rather not attract attention by arriving in your car or have people speculate about the CEO showing interest in me," Ana responded smoothly as she slipped on her heels. Her words were delivered with such finesse that it was nearly impossible to discern any falsehood.Ana was about to walk out of the door without giving a glance to Richard, it was something that pinched Richard's nerves. He dashed to her, shoved the door shut, and grabbed the back of her hand, swirling her with her back against the wall as her lips locked in a kiss."
*****"Mom, who's here?" Another voice chimed in from behind as Sonia approached the door, standing just behind her mother. "Ana!" she exclaimed, her excitement evident in her tone."Why on earth did she come here? If she lingers even for a moment near me, my health will suffer. Perhaps my demise will hasten beyond your imagination, Sonia," Ana's mother spat, before storming inside, leaving Ana and Sonia alone."I understand you never anticipated such a reaction from Mother, but it's the result of years of enduring pain. Step inside," Sonia insisted, gracefully holding the door for Ana. However, Ana stood firm, declaring, "I won't enter. You come out and elucidate your purpose for summoning me here.""You're aware of the situation, Ana. Let's go inside and have a calm discussion, regardless of what our mother said to you about her reaction," Sonia responded firmly. After a moment of contemplation, Ana nodded and followed Sonia inside the house.Although Ana didn't encounter her stepfa
*****Flashback"What? She has no boyfriend," Ana's mother exclaimed into the phone, Sonia and her father standing in the background. The call from the Hill family left them feeling a bit unsettled."No, Mom, she doesn't have a boyfriend. I know everything about her!" Young Sonia declared arrogantly, a smirk playing on her lips. Despite Ana's beauty, she always turned down guys at school. Sometimes, other girls gossiped about her possibly being a lesbian."Mrs. Hill, please, my other daughter used to go to the school with her. Trust me, Ana has no boyfriend," Ana's mother said."No, Mrs. Hill, she hasn't arrived here, and I have no idea where she is!"The doorbell rang abruptly, and because Ana's mother was occupied chatting on the phone, Kayton—Ana's stepfather—went to open the door as he thought Ana had returned home.However, the instant he opened the door to greet the visitor, a sudden, powerful kick sent him hurtling backward, crashing back into the house."Dad!" Young Sonia cried
*****"Boss, has she cooked up another scheme?" George inquired eagerly as they stepped into the elevator."She can, but I would want to see how much she thinks we are idiots," Richard said in response to George, his thoughts straying to Anastasia. Witnessing her departure left him with a hollow ache, intensifying his desire to see her again."Boss, I've been thinking that we should consider forgiving them. It wasn't their fault, and we've learned that they have no clue about that woman's whereabouts or the person she ran with, so technically, they are innocent," George proposed.Richard listened to George but did not respond, nor did he snap, as he normally does. George felt the stillness was strange and wondered whether Richard was considering forgiving them as well.Suddenly, the elevator came to a stop on the floor where his office was.George pushed open the door, allowing Richard to enter, where they were met with the sight of Sonia accompanied by a red-headed woman.Sonia stood
****"My family can't do that! They accepted you," Richard said as his voice went low because his heart sank as her tears pierced him with the painful truth. He slowly withdrew his hand from her side, silently granting her the space she needed to step away. He never imagined that their marriage could inflict such deep wounds upon her."Hah, they welcomed me; perhaps my memories neglected to preserve this magnificent gesture in mind," Ana remarked, pushing him away with one hand while taking a deep breath."Emilia was the one they had chosen for you, and they were so proud of that choice because my family has no status," Ana's voice dwindled a little with suppressed anguish. "I toiled like a maid in your house for twenty gruelling hours a day, barely given enough sustenance to survive. It landed me in the hospital. Then, one cruel day, your mother ordered a servant to feed me dog food, deeming me unworthy of human meals," Ana finally released the painful truth she had buried deep within
Thank you for reading. Regarding the letters from Mr. Warner: I previously mentioned Richard confiding in Ana about the clot in his brain, revealing that he doesn’t have much time left. Richard's father was aware of this as well. Moreover, he didn’t want to tarnish his mother’s image in Richard’s mind, which is why he wrote those letters and kept them hidden, setting certain conditions. Ana received a letter where her father explained why he accepted the marriage proposal from Richard's father. After being betrayed by Richard's mother, Richard's father feared that if Selena gained control, disaster could befall Richard. To protect his son, Richard's father chose Ana to be Richard’s wife when they were children and conveyed this wish to Richard's grandmother. I didn’t mention the letter Ana received from her father because she never asked Richard for it. She placed complete trust in him and her father's decision for her to marry Richard. She believed that if anything serious were me
****** Ana spotted her mother in the crowd, her heart clenching with a mix of emotions. Despite the hurt and anger she felt towards her mother and those who had wronged her in the past, there was a part of Ana that longed for reconciliation, for a chance to mend the broken relationships. "You're late, the party started long ago," Ana said, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach. Her mother turned to her, her eyes filled with warmth and regret. "I know, Ana, and I'm sorry. But seeing you now, looking so beautiful and radiant, I couldn't help but be filled with pride and joy. You're glowing like a new bride, my dear. I want to give you all my blessings and wishes, and I pray that God, if there is one, will shower you with happiness for the rest of your life." Ana felt a lump form in her throat as her mother enveloped her in a warm embrace. It had been so long since they had shared such a moment, since Ana had felt the comforting embrace of her mother's arms and the familiar scent th
***** The party began with a flurry of guests and media personnel, all abuzz with the shocking revelation that Richard Hill had been secretly married for years. The news was a stark contrast to his highly publicized engagement with Miss Emilia, which turned out to be a complete hoax. "Mr. Hill, this is quite the surprise!" a reporter exclaimed, approaching Richard, who stood among his friends, holding a glass of whiskey. He looked every bit the charismatic figure, exuding an almost godlike presence. Richard smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, I suppose I’ve always had a knack for surprises." The reporter leaned in, eager for more details. "I believe there will be many wedding photos you would love to share with us. How did you manage to keep your marriage a secret for so long?" Richard chuckled softly. "It wasn't easy, I assure you. But sometimes, the most important things in life are worth the extra effort to keep private. My wife and I valued our privacy above all
*****One month later; There was a grand celebration at Hill Mansion, where Richard used to live. Grandmother had already arranged the event for Richard and Ana, so they couldn't cancel the party despite their initial plans. Richard had been bedridden for a month, resting. When he finally decided to take a vacation, Grandmother's request delayed their departure by a couple of days."Ana, what is taking you so long to pick a dress for the party?" Phoebe asked, clearly stressed. Ana's indifference and laid-back attitude about the event were getting on her nerves."This dress makes me feel like a billionaire," Ana grumbled, flopping onto the bed. "It's too much. I prefer a low-profile look."Phoebe sighed, exasperated. "Ana, this isn't just any party. Grandmother has called the media to announce your marriage. Can't you make an exception just this once?"Ana looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I know, Phoebe. I just don't want to stand out too much. But for Richard, I'll
****** "Are you alright?" Sonia asked Mason, who had just undergone surgery to remove a bullet from his arm. Despite his critical condition, no one had come to visit him except for Selena. "I don’t need your sympathy," Mason replied coldly. "Knowing about my health won’t gain you anything. You can leave." Sonia frowned, feeling hurt by his harsh words. "Mason, I’m not here to gain anything. I was with you the entire time, talking to the doctors and making sure you were okay." Mason’s expression softened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a scowl. "Why would you do that? I didn’t ask for your help." Sonia took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. "You didn’t have to ask. I care about you, Mason. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing while you were fighting for your life." Mason looked away, his jaw tightening. "You shouldn’t care. It only makes things more complicated." Sonia stepped closer, her eyes filled with determination. "Why? Why does it have to be complicat
******Ana blushed further, like a young girl who had just felt her heart flutter upon hearing the truth from the man she had taken a liking to."Then who was that girl with you, and why did you let her touch you?" Ana asked, her brow furrowed in displeasure."She was Mr. Warner's daughter," Richard explained gently. "I met with her to discuss the letters from our fathers. Her touching me was accidental. I quickly moved away, worried my body might react again. It wasn't the right time to fall ill," he added with a soft smile."The blood clot in your brain was the reason for this unusual reaction in your body. It was never your disease," Ana revealed the truth to Richard.Richard smiled lightly, causing Ana to raise her eyebrows in confusion. "What’s so funny about what I said?" she asked."Are you hiding something from me?" Ana probed, her voice tinged with concern."No, I'm not hiding anything," Richard replied, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "When I read the letter
******It had been two long days since Richard was staying to the emergency room. Following the surgery, Ana had instructed everyone that he needed ample time to rest and recover, so they had purposefully kept him sedated to aid his healing process.On the morning of the third day, Richard's fingers twitched, signaling the first signs of awakening. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the room coming into soft focus around him. As his vision cleared, he noticed an abundance of flowers surrounding his bed, their vibrant colors filling the room.He sat up with a cold expression, immediately sensing something was amiss. Reaching up, his hand brushed the side of his head, where he discovered a significant chunk of hair missing. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to piece together what had happened.Just then, a nurse entered the room, her cheerful demeanor contrasting with his bewilderment. "Sir, you're awake! We've been expecting this. How are you feeling?" she asked with a bright smile."Wha
*****"Ana," Phoebe called softly, tugging lightly at Ana's hand as she stepped out in her surgical gown."Are you really sure about this?" Phoebe's voice trembled with concern. "What if Richard doesn't even remember you? Do you want to go through with it so hastily?" Her eyes were filled with worry, her brow furrowed as she stared at Ana's face for reassurance."His life means everything to me," Ana said, taking a deep breath. "Right now, it doesn't matter to me whether he recognizes me when he wakes up or not. I'll accept whatever fate has in store for us."Phoebe looked at her friend, noticing the cold, almost clinical expression on Ana's face. It was a look she'd seen before—one Ana wore whenever she prepared for a major work. Ana believed that feelings and emotions had no place in critical moments, and today was no exception."But Ana," Phoebe pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation, "how can you be so detached about this? This isn't just any operation. This is Richard. Your R
"I had very carefully put Ana to bed last night," Sonia said with confidence. "I'm sure whatever happened must have occurred this morning. At the same time, I messaged Jackson and asked him to send you home," she explained, her voice steady. She had left Ana safely in another room before heading over to Mason's room. However, when she returned to Ana's room in the morning, she didn't find her there, which made her think Ana might have left for home. Phoebe looked puzzled. "So, you're saying Ana was fine when you left her?" "Yes," Sonia confirmed. "I made sure she was safe and asleep. I wouldn't have left her otherwise." Phoebe's voice quivered as she spoke, "I'm sorry if I sound judgmental, but I can't shake this feeling that I should have been more careful last night." Tears welled up in her eyes as she fretted over what could have happened to Ana while she was safe at home. Sonia responded with empathy, "I understand. Right now, all we can do is hope and pray for the best." She r