Galvin exited the elevator in a foul mood. He missed noticing the security guards greeting him a good night. He walked straight to his car, slammed the door, and punched the steering wheel.
The two security guards assigned to the second-floor parking lot for the executives and used as their boss’ garage shared a confused look.
They wondered why the president looked glum when they saw Mrs. Hudson was wearing such a sexy dress hours ago.
Mrs. Hudson used to dress plainly. Seeing her effort tonight, both grinned when they thought their boss would have the best time of his life.
The security guards, aware of the secret marriage, became familiar with Kristel, who arrived almost every night in the past year.
When their new boss started to live in his office, the missus came over to take care of him, and most of the time she came in, she was carrying grocery bags, and they would help her bring them over to the elevator and even press the button for her.
Mrs. Hudson would frequently bring freshly baked pastries and loaves of bread, which she’ll share with them. She said the night shift is tough. Thus, they must have something delicious to accompany their coffee to stay awake.
Mrs. Hudson is such a considerate missus. Therefore, they like her and admire their boss for having such a beautiful wife he hid at home.
They could tell that although he kept his marriage a secret, he was faithful to her as they had never heard of any scandal in the past year. He stayed at arm’s length to any women who threw themselves at him.
They presumed their boss must love the missus so much that he wanted to keep her for himself by never letting the media have a glimpse of her.
He assigned several security guards at night to secure the building from his enemies and the paparazzi, who planned to snoop around to dig for any information they could release to the public.
Although the public is unaware of the penthouse on the rooftop, his enemies must have known about it.
Meanwhile, the man, highly praised by his security guards, actually was fuming inside his car. Opposite to what they thought, his marriage would last forever. It was about to end, is the truth.
Galvin was irked that Kristel seemed relieved when they reached an agreement regarding their divorce.
He was in disbelief that the woman who just gave him a head and swallowed his loads in his office would agree to the divorce immediately. Now he doubts whether she genuinely cares about him in the one year they were married.
Has she only after the luxurious life he showered her with within the past year in exchange for her body?
“Marry me. You don’t have to do anything but accompany me.” He remembered he told Kristel when he proposed a marriage agreement.
He could recall clearly that Kristel was thrilled when he proposed.
“Fiona, will you marry me?”
Two years ago, the night before Fiona left for France, he was desperate to stop her from going. However, Fiona rejected him.
“Galvin, aren’t we young to settle down?”
“We’re both 25, Fiona. It’s the perfect time for us to start a family. Don’t you think so?”
A chill ran down her spine when she heard the word ‘perfect to start a family’. The last thing that she wanted was to get pregnant. Having a child would be a hindrance to her modeling career. She loves her freedom more than anything in this world. However, she could not state it to Galvin.
Seeing she was silent, Galvin took Fiona’s hand and persuaded her. “I promised you’ll live a grand life once you marry me.”
“How was that possible?” She couldn’t help doubting Galvin. Although the Hudson family is among the wealthiest families in the country; however, Galvin was a son of an illegitimate child the older Hudsons raised. Even so, Galvin is not the heir of the entire Hudson wealth. How would she live like an empress if she married Galvin now?
She loves Galvin but has other plans, and giving up her freedom is not on the list.
Then, after a year, Fiona visited her parents. He brought her to a high-end restaurant and proposed to her once again.
“Fiona, if you marry me now, Grandpa will give me the Hudson Enterprise and a large inheritance. We can have a fresh start. Isn’t a great story we can tell our grandchildren that their grandparents had started from scratch, but now we were standing on top of the world?”
Galvin was too ambitious; Fiona could see that. Hudson Enterprise is about to collapse. There are more competent new companies that dominate the industry. But he’s determined to save it.
Not only that, Galvin plans to use her so that he can acquire this rotten company. What if Galvin failed to save it? Then she’ll be a laughingstock to marrying a failure entrepreneur.
“Galvin, we’re good, right? We can continue this relationship without settling down. You know I’ve been dreaming of entering the fashion world and was offered to work with several brands.” She works her ass off to be noticed in France. She would not throw everything away just for a small inheritance.
“How about after I acquire my inheritance, I’ll accompany you to France and put up my company there? I have a French friend who plans to try a new business.”
Hearing this, Fiona was in a panic. “Galvin, you don’t understand. My contract isn’t a solid one. It signed me up for just a tryout within one month, and it has clauses declaring that I should not date, especially to get pregnant. So I cannot live with you or announce that I have a boyfriend. You know the consequences I must face and fines for breaching the contract.”
Galvin’s face sank. He was disappointed and hurt at the same time that Fiona had to keep their relationship a secret.
“How about this…. One year… Give me one year, okay? If my career blossoms and I make a name. Then, I am free to do whatever I want.”
“But Fiona…” Galvin told Fiona that his inheritance could not wait for one year.
Fiona clenched her jaw and looked around. Then an idea flashed through her eyes.
“Galvin, I understand you want to build our future. Why don’t you marry another girl you can introduce to your grandparents?”
“What?” Galvin thought he heard it wrong, and she was joking. But Fiona continues blabbing, which gives him a headache listening to her, explaining that if they genuinely love each other and are meant to be together, he can divorce his contracted wife, and she will give up her career. “You’re kidding me, Fiona! You know you are the only rightful Mrs. Hudson!”
Galvin became irritated. Hence, Fiona racked her head to find a way to appease him.
“Galvin, if it’s about the company and inheritance you want to acquire, then I don’t mind if you marry someone else for that intention. Look… Did you see that waitress? She is beautiful, don’t you think so?”
“Who are you talking about?” Galvin glanced in the direction Fiona pointed at. He was no longer in the mood to eat dinner after Fiona’s nonsense suggestions.“She’s gorgeous. It would not be a shame if you introduced her to your grandparents.”“What are you saying?” Half-heartedly, Galvin looked over his shoulder and asked lazily. He saw many female waitpersons walking around the restaurant, serving their guests.“It’s the waitress standing next to Chef Raymond.”Galvin stared at Chef Raymond and paid less attention to the woman beside him. Chef Raymond entertains foreign guests. Probably the guest had requested to meet him since he was one of the most skilled chefs in the world and his restaurant received four Michelin Star so all wealthy people don’t mind wasting money to dine here, which is worth it anyway. However, he could no longer enjoy his food.“Stop the nonsense, Fiona.” Galvin didn’t hide his irritation when Fiona insisted he sought a contracted wife to get his inheritance.
“You came!”Fiona jumped on Galvin the moment she had a glimpse of him standing in her doorway. Although Galvin ignored her phone calls and messages this afternoon, she knew Galvin couldn’t bear not seeing her after she demanded he come to her place.“Yeah.” Galvin forced a smile as he stepped inside the apartment. His eyes squinted upon seeing the interior decoration that almost blinded his eyes.The apartment seemed spacious but became narrow because of unnecessary decorations. Using gold as a main theme is a good idea. However, Fiona uses too much gold in everything. From the walling, the frames of paintings and vases scattered around the floor, and the four corners of the apartment.It looks too lavish compared to his villa. Kristel decorated their house with minimal furniture. She didn’t fill the house with unnecessary decorations; he preferred that.Galvin was taken aback to have this thought. Fiona is the love of his life. He must not compare the two women regarding their prefe
Fiona caught the reluctance in Galvin’s eyes. She bit her lip, then went on. “Galvin, I still feel bad that I made wrong decisions in the past. I would understand if you harbor feelings for Kristel. I’m sorry that I left...”Fiona squeezed some tears as she went on. “Now that I realized what I wanted, I would no longer leave your side. I don’t care if a promising career awaits me in France...”Fiona sobbed, and Galvin comforted her.“Stop the nonsense question, okay?” Galvin disguises the shock in his tone. The question that startled him came out of the blue, but he must remain calm and conceal the panic in his eyes. Then he added, “Everything between Kristel and I is just a contract. You are the only woman I love. You know that.”“I love you too, Galvin!”Galvin swallowed hard, and Fiona noticed when his throat bobbed up and down. She darkened her eyes at the thought that maybe Galvin had truly fallen in love with Kristel, but he only lied.Despite her resentment toward Kristel, Fion
The following morning, the constant doorbell awakened Kristel. She glanced at the space beside her, and Galvin wasn’t there anymore. Today is Saturday. Although Galvin sometimes works on the weekends, he doesn’t leave home this early.“F*uck!” Kristel cursed in her heart. Again, someone hits the button, which creates an annoying chime. Since she was pregnant, she had become irritated. However, she only suppresses the urge to yell at the person behind the door. Still, she doesn’t want Kristel to suspect the changes in her manners.Kristel pushed her body out of bed and got dressed. She caressed her lower abdomen with worry about the fetus’s condition after intense sexual intercourse with Galvin the other night. Then her thoughts snapped when the doorbell rang again. She hurried to the door to find Fiona standing at the doorway wearing a floral dress and exquisite makeup.“Fiona? What are you doing here early in the morning?”Fiona shot her a ferocious gaze. Kristel’s neck was swollen w
“You don’t look well, Kristel. I’ll bring you to the hospital.” It does not convince Galvin that she is fine when the color on her face has disappeared, and vomiting caused by a stomach ache only means it is severe. That was his illness—this, he knew, it’s something not to ignore.“I’ll take you to the hospital.”Kristel panicked when Galvin declared that. Thus, she was squeezing her brain to look for an excuse. Galvin would learn about her pregnancy if he accompanied her to the hospital.“Galvin, I said it’s just a minor abdominal pain. I know better than anyone if something is going on in my body. Right?” Kristel eyed Galvin, hinting she had known enough medical knowledge to differentiate her discomfort from the symptoms.However, Galvin was firm in bringing her to the hospital. She was stubborn, and he knew she would not have a check-up if he wouldn’t accompany her.“It’s better to make sure what it is than ignore it; then, your condition is actually serious.” His perspective is ba
In the car, Kristel keeps glancing at the man behind the wheel. They were speeding, and she feared they would meet an accident early in the morning.Galvin initially ignored her burning stare. But it was becoming frequent, and he could not concentrate on the road.‘Does she want us to do it in the car when she is unwell?’ Galvin had this vulgar thought which he dismissed in an instant. He was not totally a jerk to f*ck a sick person to relieve his uncontrollable s*x drive.Galvin tried to ignore Kristel, but it bothered him being stared at. He waited for her to spill out whatever she wanted to say to him, but she remained silent.“If you have something to say to me, you must say it now while we’re halfway in the hospital.”It startled Kristel when Galvin suddenly spoke. She panicked but calmed down at once. Honestly, she was like sitting on pins and needles, watching Galvin drive hurriedly to the hospital.She was anxious he would find out she was pregnant; hence, she was racking her
Galvin knew that Kristel often visited the hospital to meet her professors. Before, it did not bother him, but now he is curious as hell about what she’s doing when he is not around.“Kristel, what’s the matter?”“Good morning, Doctor Miller. Are you heading home from your night shift?”“Yes. But I don’t mind assisting you. What’s wrong?” Doctor Miller offered the chair in front of her table. Kristel and Galvin took a seat.“She vomited while having breakfast.” Galvin beat Kristel to answer the doctor’s question.Both Kristel and Doctor Miller didn’t expect Galvin to be excited. Although the former who the doctor interrogated, it was he who diligently answered the interview.Observing him, Kristel had the illusion that Galvin was actually paying attention to her. But her bubble thoughts went off when the doctor shot the next question.“When is your last period, Kristel?”Kristel was prepared to lie. However, Galvin answered again. He looked at Kristel and said, “I don’t remember the l
Has she had a choice? Kristel reached for her belly and caressed it affectionately. She nibbled her bottom lip, suppressing her sobs. She thought Galvin didn’t want to bring up their divorce before his grandmother’s birthday. But why is he asking her to inform the older lady? Unless Fiona pleaded with him to hurry the divorce, it explains why Galvin suddenly was anxious. She pressured him. Galvin could never refuse Fiona’s demands, but he was ready to do everything to please her. She could have all she wanted without effort, including winning his love. “Alright. I’ll talk to Grandma.” After a long while, she finally mustered enough strength to answer. “I’m glad to hear that…. Then, don’t let Grandma wait for long. She didn’t stop demanding that I call you.” “I understand,” Kristel answered. She knew very well his heart always belonged to Fiona. So it was a waste of time to compete with her. Ultimately, she has no courage to implore Galvin to postpone their divorce. “Thank you.