Kristel arose early the next morning to prepare for her first day of work. Her lips curved into a smile after she read the separate good-luck texts from her parents. After a quick reply, she took a shower, but it took her a long time to choose a dress to wear for work.Today, she wants to impress not only her boss and co-workers but also the people who will know she was working in a clothing company that is top one in both sales and good quality clothes.As a clothing designer, she is also the face of her own creation. Thus, she chose one of the dresses she prepared for the trip to New York. And now that she and Galvin are divorced, she shouldn’t hold herself back from dressing up.She is a fashion designer, so it’s only fitting she will dress stylishly in her everyday life, and that will start today.At the company, Jamie was already in the Reception Area when Kristel arrived. Although she could already go directly to the floor where her office was located, she dropped by the front d
HUDSON ENTERPRISES“Good morning, Mrs. Hudson.”Kristel walked to the entrance with trepidation. To her surprise, the four bodyguards at the door greeted her warmly. She had not expected them to still address her in such a manner.“Good morning, gentlemen. You know that your boss and I are no longer married.”She quickly corrected them before a misunderstanding ensued.“We know that missus,” replied sincerely by one of the guards, which was chimed by the other.“However, you will be the only Mrs. Hudson we will acknowledge.”It surprised Kristel when one security guard whispered this to her. She smiled helplessly and said, “There’s no need to think that way. A new Mrs. Hudson will be soon introduced, and you’ll have to accept her. From now on, I’m simply Kristel Pearson, the designer from the company that partnered with yours.”The security guards looked at each other, then smiled cheerlessly.“We know that, Miss Pearson. We just felt sad that we won’t see you around often.”Kristel w
As Kristel went on, Galvin frowned and got lost in thoughts. Why would Kristel say that her first love ended up in a tragic love story?‘I thought she and Noah got back together.’ He couldn’t fully comprehend.Kristel didn’t notice the conflicted emotion brewing within Galvin. She was only immersed in her presentation on convincing the Hudson Enterprises' board of directors. Even though Galvin owns and has significant shares in this company, Hudson wouldn’t remain standing without its shareholders.Kristel looked at the board, smiled, then went on...“The concept and samples you’ve seen just now are my works in the past that never saw the light. So, like my designs, which were only hidden inside a box for a long time, I now have the chance to share them with the world. As I let go of my past and my first love, it’s time for me to move forward. So I hope Mr. Hudson would not belittle my talent in clothing designing.”Kristel paused and scanned Galvin’s suit. The tailored business suit
“I will be okay if you let me go now!” She has to whisper so as not to be heard by everyone.Galvin was so close to her that his hot breath fanned her face, where she could smell a pleasant mint flavor that she knew was his mouthwash because, in the past year, she was the one who would buy all his personal essentials.“I also wanted to do that, but the elevator was packed. Can’t you see?” replied Galvin, tugging the corner of his mouth, which annoyed her.Kristel stifled her gasps when Galvin lowered his head and whispered into her ear. His breath also fanned into her neck, sending shivers throughout her body, awakening the sleeping desire buried deep in her core.She was helpless when what he said was true — there was no more space to move to the side. Thus, she had to be obedient; otherwise, their bodies would sandwich how cramped the elevator was.Galvin is giving her such a gaze that makes her feel awkward. Therefore, she concealed the lingering emotion in her chest, not to show o
“Don’t be so cocky, Kristel. It doesn’t mean that if you help close a deal with the Hudson Enterprise and they become our biggest investor, you can do anything you like in the company!”“That’s right! We’ve worked here for over two years already! We are like your seniors! So you must stay in your lane, and that is designing wedding gowns!”Kristel looked at each designer from another department. However, how her eyes twinkled and the smile curled on her lips annoyed these people.“What are you laughing about, huh!? Are you feeling superior just because your family is well-off than ours and some of us are from a humble background? Remember, Kristel, your family is still not much to the Hudsons and other families that dominated the business world!”“Sigh. I didn’t laugh because I felt superior or anything.”She is happy because this group of designers felt threatened, not because she was once Mrs. Hudson; they hate her because of her talent. It means that they recognized her as an excel
Galvin waited impatiently for the toilet door to open. When it finally did, he was about to call the manager to bring him the keycard.“Kristel!”Kristel was about to leave the restroom, but Galvin pushed her back inside and pinned her on the wall.“What are you doing?” She was upset at what he had done. She struggles but to no avail.“Kristel, what is the meaning of this?”“What are you saying?” Kristel creased her forehead.She mustered her strength to push the man away, but she was still weak after she released all she had eaten for dinner. Thus, she stopped moving and met the man’s intense gaze.“Kristel, are you hiding something from me?” Galvin asked this question after he scanned Kristel from the head down to her slightly bloated belly.“Why are you checking out my body? Are you assuming something because I vomited just now?” Kristel lifted one brow upward, then snorted.Galvin did not reply. Thus, she went on.“Can’t you smell how you were reeking with someone else perfume?”A
Kristel was stunned.What does Galvin mean by that? Why is he too nosy in her life now that they are divorced?He still acted like kissing her was normal when they were no longer in a relationship. Perhaps he missed the times when he could dominate her around.‘That must be it!’ The only explanation for his behavior is this reason.Galvin is full of himself that even if they were now divorced, he still thinks he has rights over her!‘In his dreams!’ Kristel realized Galvin was still using his dominance over her, which she would no longer allow.His being a typical alpha is the cause of her fears that he would learn about her pregnancy.She is concerned that Galvin, having claimed the child, would start demanding something from her, and she could not refuse. And she cannot ignore how her body reacts around him.Having all this realization, Kristel curled her lips into a bitter smile. After she composed herself, she lifted her chin and made eye contact with the overbearing man.“Mr. Hud
“There’s no need to do that,” said Kristel.Galvin darkened his face, sensing the indifferent tone in Kristel’s voice. Clenching his left fist on his side, he looked up at the 9th floor, and he could see Kristel’s silhouette clearly, with a man standing too close beside her.He was both unhappy and enraged by the sight. He wanted to separate them, but he could no longer enter the building anytime. He needed Kristel to grant him access first.All she needed was to scan fingerprints on her phone to open the door.‘Dammit!’ He wanted to punch Noah in the face and separate Kristel from him; however, he could do nothing with it, and he no longer had the right after he divorced Kristel.“Kristel, I…” Unfortunately, Kristel hung up before he could say another word, and she turned off her phone. His calls would not get through. ‘Are they going to sleep together?’His already grim face turned even graver at the thought.He has no choice but to return to the company. He doesn’t want to go home