*****"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
****"I followed your instructions to the letter, so why are you still here in my house?" Sonia's voice reverberated with frustration as she confronted the person lounging on her couch. With a smirk curling his lips, he rose from his seat, taking a step closer to Sonia, his smile only widening."Well, there's no need for you to be so flustered. I'm simply here to hear the outcome of your actions," the person remarked, a sly glimmer in his eyes as he casually slipped his hands into his pockets. "Looks like your sister has extended her forgiveness to all of you.""It is none of your business! And as for the news, what I have heard is that they are considering divorce," Sonia added, tightening her fist and digging her nails into her palm. She had no idea who this person was until last evening when he unexpectedly stopped her on her way home and threatened to destroy her family if she did not obey. She had to accept his demands and then she learned about Ana. Sonia could tell that this ma