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
Seated in the front row, Galvin could not take his eyes off Kristel. His gaze is soft and sparkling.He was aware that Kristel had been invited to the event, but he had never expected her to walk the runway, wearing her own creation, looking stunning in a wedding dress.He had only seen Kristel wear a beautiful gown the last time his grandmother celebrated her birthday.That night, Kristel was flamboyant, wearing a dress adorned with crystals, but an unpleasant one had happened, which he believes is not worth remembering because, after that day, he and Kristel had finally separated; she moved out of their matrimonial house.But today, she was exceptionally stunning. The makeup on her face was delicate. They styled her hair into a bun, then a diamond crown was placed on her head with that long veil behind her head.She looks regal, like a queen.At that moment, he saw himself watching Kristel walk down the aisle to the altar wearing that dress.What a coincidence that his suit tonight
Kristel took the design drafts from Lorie. She scanned the drawing, and it indeed had a lot of similarities with the dress she was wearing now.She drew these sketches during her college days and made several modifications over the years. However, the name signed on the drafts is someone else.“How did it happen?” she shook her head with disbelief. “It is supposed to be signed by my initials!”Kristel looked at Lorie in confusion. But the latter frowned and rolled his eyes when Kristel’s eyes were pleading to believe her.He would tolerate nothing. He hates designers who have no original creativity but rely on someone’s design after either they will copy it or steal the drafts.“Hah! Isn’t it obvious why your name wasn’t in it? Because it was my drafts originally! How dare you sell them to Hudson Enterprises!” Out of nowhere, someone stepped onto the stage and claimed she was the original designer of the works Kristel had plagiarized.“I plagiarized nothing!” Kristel glared at the wom
“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