May 13, 2024. Chapter 1-2.
"Your mother is doing better, Miss Allen. We need to work on her muscles, including her heart. She hasn't been using her body due to the coma, and she has lost a lot of strength.""It was fortunate that she had medical help immediately after experiencing a heart attack. It did not cause any damage to her brain.""It's important to get her moving. We will start with simple occupational therapy.""Next week, we can move your mother to a private room. Mister King had already requested two caregivers to attend to your mother twenty-four hours a day."Riley stood by Renee's hospital bed, listening to three doctors. Over the past few days, three specialists have visited Riley's mother. The doctors were the best in their field, and Riley couldn't be more thankful to Adrian for bringing them in. Both Riley and Renee were cared for at The King's Medical Center. Everywhere Riley went, the staff always smiled at her or asked if she needed anything. Whenever nurses or doctors checked on Renee, t
### FLASHBACK CONTINUATION ###"In jewelry, one must make an impression," Adrian said during his presentation. "Stores must be located strategically at prime locations. Sales reps must be trained to know the quality of jewelry pieces. They must be presentable and know what best to recommend to clients..."When Adrian presented his marketing plan to the class, he received praise. It was great! However, his methods were traditional and only applicable to big companies, but what if you are still a start-up company?'Shops? sales reps?' Riley rolled her eyes while listening. 'I guess he is that rich.'Riley already knew that Adrian had spoken to the professor about working solo. Thus, she was off the hook for what she was about to do. She was determined to beat him at his own game. Adrian might be a business major student, but jewelry was her forte. When it was Riley's turn, she dressed in style and wore fashion jewelry. To encourage participation, she distributed fake paper money to the
###FLASHBACK ###Seven years ago, Halliport University participated in a clean-up drive by the beach. Many students signed up for it because it earned them extra credit. Riley and her friend Krista had just finished picking up trash by the shores when Riley said, "I could use a refreshing drink. Let's go to the bar!""Yeah, me too," Krista said. "Let's go!"Krista was an art student, just like Riley. They had many classes together, so Riley could say that Krista was one of her good friends in school. They had surrendered their collected trash to another school representative before going to the floating restaurant and bar. The bar was at the end of a long jetty, and many students made their way there, some walking while some riding their bikes. When Riley and her friend made it to the bar and restaurant, she bumped into two famous, celebrity-like men who were in their college: Adrian King and his friend, Brian Martin. By that time, Riley had already understood how famous they were.
Back to the present. At King's Enterprises Headquarters. Adrian held his chin high as he moved his wheelchair into the conference room. There was an ongoing commotion, and he knew why. "This is the third project the ACE Construction Firm has taken from us.""Well, the same company owns a metal factory. It's understandable how they could offer a lower bid." "It isn't just the bid!" Adrian's father, Anthony King, said. "From what I have gathered, the ACE Construction Firm offered to redesign the Megaworld Entertainment Plaza. They found a fault in the initial design!""They gained favor because they went above and beyond their service!" Anthony added. "Why didn't we see that? Huh? Didn't we hire the best engineers? That is a hundred-billion-dollar project we lost!""Fredrick, Brett? Answer me!" Anthony questioned.Just then, Adrian appeared before them. His calm expression silenced everyone. He found his place, and Clint sat beside him. Then he asked, "I thought the meeting was at ei
[Miss Allen, you must pick up your belongings, or Mr. Martin will throw them away.]On a Wednesday morning, Riley read the text from the Human Resource Department of Brey Jewelry & Apparel Co. She checked the wall clock and groaned, "Again. It's this room. It's making me oversleep."It was 10 AM. Ever since Riley moved into Adrian's home, she had been waking up late. "How could Brian be so heartless? Did he forget that I was his wife for four years? He cheated on me, divorced me, and now, he wants to throw away my things?" Riley muttered.She replied: [I'll pick up my things later today].Her dismissal was never formalized, so Riley never got to collect her belongings from the office. Riley hurriedly bathed and got changed. When she descended the stairs, she noticed Linda going over some photos on an old album from the living room. "Oh, Riley, good morning!" Linda greeted. "Good Morning, Aunt Linda." Riley looked around and asked, "Has Adrian left?"Riley hadn't seen Adrian for two
"Ri, is this hospital safe?" Renee asked while Riley was sketching another jewelry design.Riley raised a brow and asked, "Of course, Mom. Why did you ask?"Renee frowned and said, "I - I." She leaned back in her hospital bed and resumed, "Don't want another heart attack."Riley's mother spoke better now, but her voice was still weak. Hearing her mother's concern, she sat on the bed next to Renee and reassured, "We are in a new hospital, Mom. It's a safe and secure environment. No one from Brian's mistress will disturb us. And you have Miranda and Loraine, who are always here for you."Miranda and Loraine were Renee's caregivers. They took turns tending to Renee, especially when Riley was not around. "No one can enter?" Renee asked. "Yes, mom. Adr - I mean, I had given them specific instructions not to let anyone else enter your room," Riley revealed. "Rest assured, the hospital has stringent security measures in place. Only the necessary medical staff are allowed to see you."Renee
### FLASHBACK ###More than six years ago. Over the past few months, Riley's secret rescuer had given her four boxes of chocolate. After the first instance, she received her requested Matcha flavor a month later. From her marketing class, the following two chocolates were taped to her school locker.Each chocolate box had a friendly note. 2nd chocolate box: [Matcha. Your special request. Stay away from danger, Riley.]3rd chocolate box: [Just checking in on you, Riley.]4th chocolate box: [Glad you are not trying to kill yourself these days, Riley.]Sometimes, Riley thought her secret savior was acting like the big brother she never had. Nonetheless, she happily ate her treat each time she received one. Of course, she did not get any chocolates in each semester break. In the third semester of her second year in college, Riley walked into the university with people gossiping around. "Adrian King won't be back to school. He met an accident. They say he is going to be paralyzed.""No!
Riley was stunned by Adrian's reply. She asked, "What?" "You see, two weeks after my surgery, my grandfather informed me of a package from Japan that had arrived in Halliport. I remembered you," Adrian recounted. His voice was calm, and he spoke unhurriedly. "So, when Brian called me next, I told him to give you one box of chocolate.""I told him the truth, that I rescued you from drowning," Adrian revealed. "But I forbade Brian from telling you it was me. I wanted to tell you personally.""However." Adrian sighed and explained, "Days later, I fully understood the gravity of my situation. I could no longer play basketball. I can't join marathons and that - that I might be stuck in a wheelchair all my life.""I lost interest in everything, Riley. So, when Brian and I next talked to each other, I told him to stop giving you chocolates and never tell you how I saved you. I told him I did not know when I could return to Halliport," Adrian informed. "Perhaps his actions were meant to cover