Kristel slapped the hand that gripped her face and turned around.“Fine!” His thunder burst echoed throughout the dining hall, along with the clatter of plates and utensils knocked over on the table.Galvin was annoyed by her words and threw the dishes he brought for Kristel.His face was dark. He marched toward the sofa and grabbed his coat. Halfway to the door, Galvin paused and cast a sideling glare at Kristel.“Don’t forget to file the report since you have the information about the car that hit Fiona. And Kristel, I don’t want anyone to come to me for an interview regarding the accident. I need to accompany Fiona for a few days, so I don’t have time to deal with this.”After Galvin stated this, he resumed walking and slammed the door behind him.Left alone in the house, there is a pang in Kristel’s heart and a lump in her throat when she suppresses the tears that threaten to flood her cheeks.Pursing her lips bitterly, Kristel let out a loud sigh. But what could she do? Each day,
On the bus…Kristel sat at the back to hide the loneliness exhibited in her eyes.She has been telling herself to let go. But it was easier said than done. How could she?She could not get rid of her memories with Galvin because those were wonderful, and the times she spent with him had been carved into the bottom of her heart.Every day, she was like living in a dream after being able to marry the man she loved for many years now.Thus, she prayed she would never wake up. She wished that morning would never come so she could remain asleep inside Galvin’s warm arms.However, now that Fiona had returned, she would not compete with her.Fiona would only mock her if she showed to the former her pitiful side, which sometimes was too exhausting to act like she was alright.Every time she faced Fiona and even Galvin, she only masked her sadness and stifled the pain in her heart so it would not burst out in front of them.All she wants now is peace of mind and a happy life.Kristel was lost
Soon, Galvin arrived and abruptly parked his car in front of the bar, scaring the customers falling in line to get a table inside.He hurried out and ordered the Wait Staff standing by the door. “Go, park my car.”Since he was familiar by the workers as their boss’ best friend, the wait staff sprang to his feet without delay.Galvin passed through the entrance and swept his gaze throughout the hall, searching for someone.Unfortunately, he failed to find Kristel. His chest started boiling, thinking she might arrange the VIP room so no one could disturb her reunion with her ex-boyfriend.“Where is your boss?” Galvin stopped the server passing him. The server pointed to a table in the corner, and he was surprised that his best friends had gathered already.What’s more, they were peeping in the back garden.‘What are they doing?’ He still asks himself, although he already knows when they act like this — it only means one thing — they saw a woman that aroused their interest.Unbeknownst t
After the meal, Noah offered Kristel to send her home, which she agreed to.It was astonishing that they had just met that day, but they felt they already knew each other very well.When they arrived at the villa, she stayed in the car and waited for Noah, who immediately got out and jogged around the car to open the door for her.‘He’s really such a gentleman.’ Kristel thought; sadness flashed in her eyes as she realized that Galvin indeed had no care for her as he had never been showing this kind of gesture. Unfortunately, there are only a few occasions they were in the same car; most of that is when they visited Grandma Gloria in the mansion.Suppressing the sudden outburst in her heart, she looked at Noah and smiled.“Thank you for the meal and drinks,” said Noah, holding the door for her and covering her head when she exited the car.Kristel replied gratefully. “I was the one who should thank you for today.”There was a brief silence ensued. Then the two of them burst out laughin
‘I’m so foolish! I wanted to run away, but I let myself stumble halfway.' Unfortunately, she always fell in front of Galvin, who was in the way. 'I was like merely walking in circles.’Kristel, please wake up!She wanted to beat herself. However, she was still into Galvin.Kristel looked at the man at her side. Who doesn’t want to wake up with this sight every morning? Every single day in the past year, she kept praying to wake up the next day in the same bed as him.Now that they had both signed the divorce agreement, everything would soon be memories. Whereas, those scenes…She was lost in her thoughts when the man beside her stirred. In that instant, Kristel panicked. Suddenly, she felt embarrassed as she recalled what had happened last night. She was glad that the room was dark. Galvin had no clear view of her lower body when her legs spread wide before him.‘How embarrassing! We were soon officially divorced, but I still had an intimate session with my soon ex-husband!’Kristel’s
“Yes, I did. I will pick it up later.” Kristel replied in a low voice.Galvin darkened his face when he sensed Kristel’s dismissal tone. She sounded uninterested in furthering their conversation; thus, he threw his cutlery on the plate and got up sulkily.Kristel ignored Galvin’s coldness, and she continued eating quietly. She thought Galvin had already left, but he walked up to her and said,“I’ll pick you up in the store. I have an urgent meeting at the company.”“Okay.”She didn’t look up to meet his gaze; thus, his already foul mood had become graver, and his soreness was vented to the poor employees of Hudson Enterprises.Cory was at wit’s end whenever the boss bellowed when someone entered his office to submit a proposal. He felt sorry for everyone, including himself. He reflected,‘This has happened rarely in the past. But recently, the company has become the devil’s lair! The boss suddenly seemed like an awakened demon!’The morning went by quickly.Kristel waited at the store
“Fiona, who’s that woman besides my cousin? I have never seen her before,” asked Mitch curiously. Her gaze lingers on Kristel, sizing her up from head to toe.Fiona’s gaze narrowed, casting a sidelong glance across the hall. She then replied to Mitch’s question. “Her name is Kristel Pearson. Haven’t you heard of her?”Mitch shook her head, then said honestly. “If she were from the upper class, I would have known, but I don’t remember her.”Fiona was elated to learn that not all Hudson family members knew about Galvin’s marriage to Kristel.This brought absolute joy to her heart. She mused, ‘I knew it! I’m still the only woman Galvin loves.’Fiona took this opportunity to slander Kristel. She has been raking her head, planning how she could blame the latter.Fiona adjusted her facial expression. She pretended as if she was aggrieved. She lowered her head and then squeezed some tears.Mitch noticed the changes in Fiona’s countenance. Sadness exhibited in her eyes as if she was in pain.
Kristel was standing near the giant tower flower decorations in the back, and she would have to pass Mitch to leave since he was blocking her way out.“Excuse me.” She excuses herself and walks past the person to avoid unnecessary incidents.Mitch, however, spun around and caused their bodies to collide.Accident ensued. Mitch’s wine poured into Kristel’s dress. The deep red hue of the spilled wine instantaneously marred the pristine white fabric of her gown.“Oh, my god! I’m sorry, Miss... Let me help you clean your dress.”“There’s no need.” Kristel rejected her offer immediately and was ready to leave the scene. But Michelle holds her elbow, stopping her.“No! I will feel bad if I don’t take responsibility for staining your dress. My name is Michelle, by the way. I’m Galvin’s cousin, so I know the rooms in this mansion. I’ll accompany you to the washroom.”Kristel has spent considerable time exploring this mansion alongside Gloria, so she’s pretty familiar with it, too. She wanted
“Honey…” Galvin knocked on the door at Kristel’s studio.Four years ago, he built an extension building where Kristel could design and make wedding gown samples to distribute here and abroad.After what had happened in France, Kristel’s pregnancy has become difficult. They advised her to take it easy and not risk the baby.Thus, he prohibited her from working. But Kristel was strong-willed. She accepts Henri’s offer of collaboration to work in the historical drama he invested in.Therefore, he purchased a villa near the filming site so that Kristel would not need to leave the house but she could work at home.The drama was successful. It received many awards and was nominated for many TV awards.After five years, they finally reach the final volume of the story. But in these past years, Kristel has also received several offers to design wedding gowns for celebrities and famous public figures.Thus,
Three days later…“Kristel—”“Leila? Is that you?”“Yes, Kristel. How do you feel?”“Why are you here?” She’s trying to figure out where she is.“Silly. I am not just a doctor. I was your best friend and your child’s godmother!”“So we are, too!”At the door, her two friends named Lorraine entered the ward and rushed toward her, circling her bed.“Then my baby was alive.” Kristel caresses her belly. She was relieved that her child was safe. She stifled, then said, “You guys... Am I back in Brooke City now?”“I haven’t permitted you to travel home yet. You need a few more days of rest. Otherwise, you might have a sign of miscarriage.”“Oh, then I’m still in Paris… How about the competition? How many days have I been in a coma?” Kristel looked around. She
“What do you mean by that?” asked Fiona. “Wait, you are…”Fiona hadn’t recognized Henri because he always wore glasses and a black wig when he appeared to the public. But around Kristel, he hides nothing; instead, he casually shows his appearance.“I have long known that you were my cousin’s puppet,” said Henri. “It appears you had no idea of my family’s conflict.”“I don’t care! That doesn’t matter anymore.”Fiona is stubborn. Henri could see that.“You should be careful what you wish for, Fiona.” He grinned, then his smile disappeared as he added, “My patience with you is wearing thin.”Fiona is such a wicked woman. She had done so many tricks to frame Kristel. Fiona would have succeeded if he hadn’t assigned someone to watch over her. And he hates Galvin for how dumb he is. He never approves of him as Kristel&rsqu
“Don’t move! Stay where you are!” the man warned when Henri took a few steps closer. “I said do not move!”The man spoke in a foreign language. But Henri didn’t listen to him. He could understand him and spoke the same language.“Dare to shoot me?” Henri challenges him. Thus, the man was forced to pull the trigger and make a warning shot. He aimed the gun at the ground.Kristel sank her body and hid behind Galvin when the loud bang from a handgun echoed. She subconsciously placed her arms around her belly—her way of protecting the child in her womb.The man couldn’t dare to aim the handgun at Henri.“Mr. Laurent, please move aside.”“My cousin sent you here, right?”“Sir, you don’t want to be involved in this incident.”Henri sneers. “You almost killed me!”“Sir, we didn’t know you were here as we
Kristel cannot jump from the second floor down to the first floor. She would not think twice about doing that if she weren’t pregnant. However, she doesn’t want to harm the fetus in her belly.“Henri, I won’t jump!”“Don’t worry, Kristel. We don’t need to do that.”“But who are we supposed to get down—” Kristel coughed after inhaling the smoke from the door. The fire is slowly coming into the bedroom. Seeing this, Kristel was in fright. “Henri!”“Calm down, Kristel, and just cover your nose, okay? I’ll go down first, then jump when I’m on the ground.”“What?”“I’ll catch you.”“No!” She doubted Henri’s strength. Although he is pretty fit for a designer, she worries she is too heavy now. It will be difficult for Henri to keep her from the ground.“Trust me, Kristel!&rdq
Somewhere in the province of France…The following day, Kristel worked on her entry. She finished drafting her designs; now, she is sewing the white gown.It didn’t take long for her to finish working on the upper dress. She followed to work on the skirt using floral embroidery lace fabric when a car pulled over at the entrance.Kristel took only a little care of who it was. She need not be concerned if it was the chauffeur Galvin sent for her. The chauffeur can wait until she finishes and returns to Paris.She was immersed in drafting the veil, inspired by the flowers and leaves she picked out in the meadow. Hence, she didn’t hear the door creak when someone pushed it open.“Hello, Miss Pearson.”Kristel looked up and distinguished the person who came into her bedroom.“You are…” Her eyes widened upon recognizing the man. “Mr. Laurent!”“I’m here not to
Fiona’s mouth agape. For a moment, she stared at her phone screen blankly. She already posted the photos she snapped of her and Galvin. Thus, she was debating whether to delete it before everyone saw it.But with the wicked thought brewing in her head, she just let it become public, hoping it would reach Kristel; thus, she would think Galvin chose her.Therefore, she must stop the illusion of getting back together with him.“Galvin...”“I said I am driving Fiona.”There’s firmness in his voice this time. Fiona’s persistence somehow disgusts him.On the contrary, it didn’t make Fiona happy when he kept rejecting her attempts to seduce him. Even so, the woman fails to notice his disgust.“You can continue driving while I can give you a head... How’s that?”Fiona smiled sweetly, ignoring the warning in Galvin’s tone.Galvin, on the other hand, felt disg
“Galvin, what is the meaning of this?”The person, none other than Fiona, asked with tears in her eyes and an accusing tone. Galvin was taken aback for a moment but then heaved a long sigh.Kristel, who heard this, looked at the man with anticipation of his reply to Fiona. She tried to read the emotion flashing in his eyes but could not fathom it.She honestly hoped that Galvin would choose her. She still has this stupid desire in her heart, thinking she can love Galvin more than Fiona, who does nothing but betray him.Fiona has never been faithful to Galvin. All Fiona did is to become the center of attention. And because she is the most popular girl in the Academy, it is a man’s pride to have such a girl by his side, and Galvin is the most outstanding male student in that same school.Everyone would tell them how perfect a couple they were and the two were a match made in heaven.Every male and female had that jealousy in
Kristel placed her hand on Galvin’s broad chest, pushing him to no avail.Instead, Galvin gathered her wrists and pinned them above her head. He used his body to prevent her from struggling. Despite the difference in their strength, Kristel put up a fight. However, he didn’t let her free from his grasp.“Galvin!” Kristel screamed. Feeling conflicted, she couldn’t control the beat in her heart when Galvin’s lips brushed her ear and the side of her face while his hands explored her body. “What are you doing? Let me go! Hmmm…”All the words that formed in her tongue could not be expressed but disappeared without a trace under his passionate kiss.His lips are like wine, intoxicating and addicting, while he thinks of hers like honey: sweet and delicious. He wants more. He wants to devour her right there, at that very moment.She felt like he was sucking her strength. He didn’t allow her to pr