Kristel turned away from him and faced the side to ignore him. She closed her eyes as she felt dizzy from the sudden movement.Meanwhile, Galvin furrowed his brows when Kristel showed him the attitude again. Frowning, his pupils constricted at how stubborn she was.‘She’s getting difficult to talk to! Grandma must be blind for telling me that Kristel is an obedient child. If she had known how willful this woman was, her impression of Kristel would surely change!As time passes by, the deafening silence of the ward makes Kristel suffocate instead. She wondered how long it had been since she fell asleep.‘Did I fall asleep?’ She was exhausted and could feel a slight pain in her head. ‘Does that man leave already?’Kristel slowly stretched her leg and lay on her back.“Good that you’re awake now.”It startled Kristel when someone suddenly spoke. Just then, she realized Galvin was still at her ward, sitting on a sofa near her bed. “What are you still doing here?”Galvin raised a brow and
Eliza and Hector shared a knowing look. They don’t understand why their daughter did not seek her ex-husband’s help to clear her name. They believe Galvin could solve this with his connections.As parents who were very close to their daughter, they witnessed how she spent so much time designing clothes. Then now, someone accused her of plagiarizing.“Kristel, we need to find out who is the mastermind of this incident. We can’t allow people to suspect you!”Kristel reached for her mom’s hand and comforted her. “Don’t worry, Mom. I will investigate the incident myself.”“No. It would be best if you didn’t do this on your own. Look at what happens when you seek justice on your own,” Hector said, then asked, “Now tell me why you don’t want Galvin involved?”Hector admitted that his influence wasn’t enough to save his daughter. But at this point, he will thicken his face and cling to Gloria’s connection.He hated Galvin for abandoning his daughter because of his old flame. But Gloria loves
The nurse assigned to Vivian rushed into the room after hearing someone call for help and seeing that it was her patient.“What did you do to my patient, Miss?” Her voice was harsh. She looked Kristel up and down, and after a moment of thought, she recognized her from the news. “Aren’t you the criminal who attempted to run over my patient with the car?”Kristel glared at the nurse. How dare she accuse her? “I didn’t harm her! It was your patient who committed a crime, and that is for framing me! It was her who loathed me!”“Stop twisting the truth, Kristel! You plagiarized my work! Now that I exposed your wrongdoing, you want to silence me!”Kristel snorted, throwing a glare at Vivian. She was about to give a piece of her mind when the ward suddenly became crowded.“What’s going on here?” Soon, more medical personnel arrived, and each shot Kristel with accusing stares.Vivian was satisfied when the nurses and doctors appeared in her ward. She saw they were taking her sides, believing
Kristel was beset by uncertainty. Why would Vivian do that? She didn’t know her personally, so she believed Vivian had no reason to frame her.“Attorney Miller, something is not right. Vivian and I had never had a chance to meet before. Is it just a coincidence she chose me as a victim?”The lawyer nodded his head."If you believe that it isn’t, then you must be careful. Right now, the most important thing is you are acquitted of her charges. And if you are unsure of the accuser's motives, this is the perfect opportunity to gather evidence about who is behind her.""You are correct, Attorney Miller. We should do that," she concurred.Kristel went home that day. Although her heart was still in turmoil, she brushed it off. What matters most now is she was free, and the first thing she did was to have a bath.She was detained for two weeks and realized she had missed her massive bathtub.Kristel soaked in a bubble bath while enjoying the food she ordered online. During her detained period
“Open your eyes, Kristel! Stopped being so naïve as to think he’ll change his mind and fall for you! You should never let that man control your heart!” She scolded herself.Kristel vows to stop dwelling on her pain and thoughts of Galvin. Instead, she returned to the company the following day and spent time in her studio revising the rough drafts she had drawn while detained.During the time she was in detention, she immersed herself in designing to keep herself occupied. In this way, she can distract herself from her worries.Now she is freed, she will waste no time.By the afternoon, Kristel was called by Amanda. She was told to submit her recent design; thus, she immediately went to her office with the drafts in her hands.“Hello, Amanda. Here are the drafts I finished designing recently. I need your opinions about which part of these dresses should improve.”“Hmm…” Amanda took the stacks of boards and told Kristel, “Please take a set, Kristel.”Kristel occupies one of the guest ch
The frown on her face deepened. Galvin had promised her not to see each other again, but here he was; he appeared in front of her. Also, she crosses paths with Fiona. How unlucky she was!Kristel glared at Galvin and didn’t hide her displeasure. The pain and anger she had endured when she was detained and then Galvin merely apologized to her so that she would not press any charges against Vivian and the mastermind to frame her, Fiona, has resurfaced.However, Galvin overlooked Kristel’s indifference because his eye lingered on her hand, intertwined with Noah’s. Subconsciously, his gaze grew colder. Fiona caught his abnormal behavior; inwardly, she resented and loathed Kristel.But this isn’t the perfect timing to go physical. She calmed down and concealed her irritation.“Why don’t we have dinner together?” Out of the blue, Fiona suggested. “Since we are all here, dining with more people is better. As they say, the more, the merrier. What do you think, Kristel?”“Why not?” Noah agreed
"I'm not flirting with you, Kristel!" he denied after he processed Kristel’s meaningful words.Kristel frowned. "Then let go of me now!"She struggled but to no avail.Galvin acted as if he was deaf by ignoring her pleas. Instead, he reminded her, "I've mentioned it already, Kristel. I only wanted to protect you, so stop misunderstanding my actions!"A brief silence ensued before Kristel's crisp laugh echoed in the bathroom lobby. Galvin knitted his brows, displeased seeing how she laughed like a lunatic.‘Is she making fun of me?’ He thought.Upon staring at the woman before him, he swallowed hard to suppress the desire to punish her as his eyes traveled down to her sultry lips and smooth neck.For unknown reasons, a strange emotion swelled in his chest—a sense of desire that he wanted to lock Kristel somewhere no one could have a glimpse of her."Kristel, what do you feel for Noah? Are you really in love with him?" Galvin tossed a ridiculous question out of the blue, and Kristel fel
“Galvin, I… it’s just my guess,” Fiona answered in a hurry. Her face contorted with pain, pleading, “Can you let go of me now?”Galvin lowered his gaze and realized he was gripping Fiona by the arm with force.“I’m sorry.” He apologized and regained his composure, forcing himself to calm down. “I asked Cory to send you back.”Hearing this, Fiona throws her body to the man, hoping she can entice him like before. “Galvin, it is late. Why don’t you accompany me to my apartment? It’s been a long time since you visited me.”Fiona stretched her arm to reach for Galvin’s collar, but before her fingers touched the fabric of his shirt, he grabbed her hand and looked at her indifferently.“You must understand I am working hard so that I can give you a good life.”Fiona felt a shiver down her spine to meet Galvin’s chill gaze. She bit her lip and clenched her hand out of anger toward Kristel, ignoring her long nails digging into her palm.She was livid that Galvin was treating her coldly because
“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