Lessie's POV “Lessie, you—” Ella started but sighed midway. Before she could continue, I cut her off immediately.“You don’t need to say more. Let’s head inside.” Without waiting for her reply, I quickened my steps back into the house.“Hey, Lessie! I’m not done talking!” Ella shouted after me, but I didn’t slow down. In fact, I walked even faster.“Sweethearts, we should get going already,” I said as I entered the house, noticing James and Jasmine standing by the door, clearly waiting for me.“Yes, Mommy.” James grabbed Jasmine’s hand, and together, we quickly left.“Argh, Lessie, you’re so stubborn! Bye, my darling Jasmine and James! Godmother will visit you again soon,” Ella called out, waving after us, finally giving up as we reached the bus stop.When we returned to the hotel, I didn’t even have a moment to rest before my phone buzzed. Benjamin’s name flashed on the screen.“Hi, Benjamin,” I greeted with a smile, even though he couldn’t see it.“How are you doing?”“I’m fine.”“
Lessie's POV The sudden voice startled all of us.I glanced at the screen and saw a new space light up. Benjamin had joined the call.I couldn’t help but smile. His timing was perfect, even though I knew I couldn’t always rely on him to save me like this.“Everyone, Mr. Rodriguez will be online in one minute. Be ready,” Benjamin said calmly.His words seemed to snap everyone back to reality. They quickly straightened their outfits and flashed polite smiles at him, concealing the awkwardness from moments before.“Yes, boss,” they responded in unison, suddenly serious.Just as Benjamin predicted, the last blank screen lit up a minute later. Mr. Rodriguez was now online, dressed sharply in corporate attire.“Hello, sir,” we all greeted him professionally.“How’s everyone doing? Are you all fine?” he asked with a warm smile, and we nodded in response.“That’s good to hear. Alright then, let’s get down to business,” he said, his tone now more formal.“Yes, yes.” “Mr Benjamin, will you ta
Lessie's POV He didn’t even wait to hear anyone else’s words before clicking the end button.“Phew!” I leaned back into the chair, exasperated.I didn’t even have the strength to call the kids and their nanny back inside. I was both too tired and relieved at the same time.Feeling uncomfortable in the chair, I forced myself to stand and headed for the bed.Today had been overwhelming, from waking up early to visiting Ella’s house, taking the kids out for some fun, panicking when I couldn’t find them, finally bringing them home, and then rushing into a conference meeting.Now, I was utterly drained, sleep tugging at me. I sank into the soft bed, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, sleep claimed me. I had no idea how long I slept.When I woke up, I looked around and saw through the window that it was still bright outside.Frowning in confusion, I muttered, “Did I only sleep for a few minutes?” I couldn’t quite make sense of it.I was still lost in thought when I suddenly felt a soft
Freddie's POV "Boss, it's almost evening," Zenith said, standing to the side while I remained completely engrossed in my laptop.I didn’t even bother looking up at him.“Boss,” he called again, more insistent this time.Reluctantly, I raised my head. “What?” I asked curtly.“It’s evening already,” he repeated.“And so?” I snapped, my irritation bubbling over.Zenith had been on my case since morning, and my patience was wearing thin. He knew it, yet he wouldn’t let me be.“You should eat something,” he said softly.I glared at him before turning my attention back to the laptop. Anyone with half a brain could tell I was upset and wanted to be left alone, but Zenith? He had a knack for doing the exact opposite.“Boss.”“Zenith, can you just leave my office? It’s almost evening, not evening yet. I’m busy and have a mountain of work to deal with. Do you understand?” My tone was sharp, laced with frustration.“Yes, I understand, Boss,” he replied. “But you’ve been working late for days no
Freddie's POV “It's nothing. Just want to free my head.” I remained tight-lipped. “But-” Tyla wanted to persuade but Collin quickly spoke.“Let's Freddie be. If truly he's in trouble he won't keep it from us.” He said."I'll be in another room," I said, standing up abruptly. Before anyone could question me, I walked out.Once outside, I instructed the manager to arrange a private room for me. He quickly obliged, and as I approached the room, I turned to Zenith."Go and explain to them why I left," I said, hoping he’d come up with a reasonable excuse for my sudden departure. I just couldn’t face them myself."Understood, boss," Zenith replied, bowing slightly before heading toward their room.Without lingering, I entered the private room the manager had prepared. Inside, a staff member stood by, waiting for instructions."Bring me three bottles of alcohol," I ordered, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me.The staff member quickly complied, and within two minutes, three bottles w
Lessie's POVAfter the meal, I sat on the balcony with the kids and their nanny. The fresh air felt refreshing, the perfect way to relax after eating.“Mommy, are you serious?” James asked, his curious eyes fixed on me.I nodded with a small smile. “Yes, son. We’ll be heading back in two days.”It was already a new day, and I hadn’t shared the outcome of the meeting with them yesterday. Now seemed like the right time.A quick glance at my phone told me it was already afternoon.“We’re going back, James!” Jasmine’s slower, childlike mind took its time processing the news, but once it clicked, she shot up and started bouncing around excitedly.I couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling lighter as I watched her joyful expression.“Sweetheart, are you happy we’re going back?” I turned to James, curious about his reaction.“I don’t mind,” he said with a casual shrug.It was exactly what I expected from him. No matter where we were headed, as long as Jasmine and I were with him, he was content.F
Lessie's POV “Are you even listening to me? I’m telling you to leave the club right now and go home. And make sure you eat properly,” I said, raising my voice slightly to emphasize the seriousness of my words.Freddie didn’t respond, not to my earlier words or this latest demand. The silence was frustrating.“Freddie, are you there? Don’t just sit there acting dumb!” I snapped, my patience slipping as I raised my voice even more.I could hear his faint breathing on the other end, so I knew he was still there, listening. He just wasn’t saying a word—or maybe he didn’t want to.“Fine. Since you don’t want to say anything, I’ll just hang up now,” I said sharply, my thumb hovering over the end-call button.But just as I was about to hang up, his voice came through, hoarse, low, and unexpectedly electrifying.“What?”The sound of that one word sent an odd jolt through me. I froze.“Goodness, Lessie, get a grip!” I mentally scolded myself, smacking my forehead. “Don’t tell me you’re losing
Lessie's POV“What?” the kids exclaimed in unison, their faces a mixture of shock and disbelief.James even jumped to his feet. “Mommy, what are you saying?”I stood frozen, my mind spinning. I wanted to speak, to say something—anything, but my lips refused to move.“Answer James, Mommy! What did you say? He’s our daddy? Who is that?” Jasmine rushed toward me, grabbing my arms and shaking me urgently.Her expression was a mix of anticipation and fear, as if she were terrified that she had misheard me.“Mommy, what do you mean? What daddy?” James pressed, growing more impatient with my silence.I looked down at him, an emptiness settling inside me.James had never acted like this before. He was always the calm one, yet now he was reacting so strongly. Just the mention of his father had ignited something in him. Was this how much they longed for their dad?“Mommy! Mommyyy! Mommyyyy!” The kids kept shaking me, desperate for an answer, but my body wouldn’t respond.I felt numb, wishing I
Lessie's POV James crossed his arms. "That still doesn't answer my question," he said, his voice both firm and a little childish.I let out a sigh. "Tell me, what do you want to hear?""I want to know why you got into that car," he asked, his eyes filled with worry and curiosity.I fidgeted with my fingers. A part of me wanted to lie, but the way James was staring at me made me feel like he wouldn’t believe it."James," I paused,But before I could continue, Jasmine suddenly stepped in front of me, a deep frown on her face."Don't listen to James, Mommy. You don't have to answer him," she said, gripping my sleeve with her small, soft hands.Then she turned to James. "Stop bothering Mommy," she scolded.James shrugged. "How am I bothering Mommy?""You're making Mommy uncomfortable by asking where she went when you know she doesn’t want to say," Jasmine said, her small voice rising.Her words caught me off guard, and I suddenly felt embarrassed. I had thought I was hiding it well, but
Lessie's POVI opened my mouth to speak, but Benjamin cut me off, leaving me speechless."Don’t tell me it’s nothing," he said seriously.I couldn’t blame him. He knew that’s how I usually brushed things off."I’m not," I assured him with a smile. "Let’s leave here first."I wasn’t sure where the kids were, so I let Benjamin lead the way.Thankfully, he nodded and walked ahead to his car, which was parked down the street.Neither of us spoke as he started driving. I rolled down the window and rested my elbow, enjoying the fresh air on my face. A small, satisfied smile appeared on my lips.We stayed silent for a long time. I wasn’t sure how long until I felt the car slow down.Confused, I glanced at Benjamin. He let out a frustrated sigh.I blinked, then looked outside. We weren’t in a residential area.He had stopped the car in a quiet place—no pedestrians, no cars."Ben—" I barely got a word out before he turned to face me, making me flinch."You’re not going to ask how I found you t
Lessie's POV I bit my tongue.It was clear that she had noticed someone standing there, but now that she was actually looking at me, she seemed unsure.She blinked as if to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. “You’re… Lessie?” she asked hesitantly.I pressed my lips together and didn’t reply.Hearing her voice and seeing her face brought back unpleasant memories.Freddie’s mother had never liked me.She never once treated me kindly or wanted anything to do with me. To her, I was a stain—someone unworthy of being her son’s wife.Back then, it used to hurt. I had tried so hard to prove myself to her.But not anymore.Now, I was surprised to realize that I felt nothing toward her.I stared at her."Aren't you Lessie?" she repeated.Just like before, I stayed silent. That question wasn’t for me to answer, it was her son’s problem, not mine. It wasn’t like I wanted to be here anyway.Crossing my arms, I remained indifferent.When I didn’t respond, she turned to Freddie. "She’s Lessie,
Lessie's POV We both turned and saw the housemaid who had served me upstairs.I wanted to smile at her, but Freddie's next words made me blush in embarrassment."Where's the tray of food? I hope it's still in the kitchen," he asked her.She blinked in confusion. "But sir, you—"Freddie cut her off. "You what? I just hope the food is still there. You can warm it up and eat later since someone here says she's not hungry.""And I'm sure that someone still hasn't eaten. Her stomach must be so full," he added, his eyes fixed on me, making my embarrassment worse.I avoided his gaze, looking anywhere but at him. What was he doing?Yes, I'd refused to eat when he asked, but I didn’t really mean it. So why was it a big deal if I ate the food later?The room suddenly fell silent. None of us spoke, and he kept staring at me.The awkwardness was finally broken by the housemaid’s cough.Her expression showed she understood what Freddie’s was up to."Sir, I need to clean the kitchen now. Bye." Wit
Lessie's POV The househelp flinched in fear at the sound of my voice. I quickly offered her an apologetic look, knowing that it was my fault for raising my voice, though I was still suspicious.“Ma’am, I’m sorry,” she said softly.“You can pretend you never heard my question. Just… please don’t be upset,” she pleaded, her eyes already brimming with tears.As I looked at her, my expression softened. Despite being a housemaid, she appeared quite young, or maybe it was just my imagination. Perhaps I had overreacted.Replaying her question in my mind, I realized it wasn’t as bad or suspicious as I had initially thought. It might have simply been a harmless question.“I’m not angry,” I assured her. “And I’m sorry for overreacting.”Hearing my words, she finally calmed down.“I’ll be leaving now.” She fiddled with her hands before turning to leave.“Wait,” I quickly stopped her. “Don’t you want to know who I am?”“You’ll tell me?” Her dull eyes suddenly brightened, and I nodded.“Actually,
Lessie's POV A dull ache throbbed in my head as I struggled to open my eyes, only to find myself in an unfamiliar room.The ceiling looked different from what I was used to. Frowning, I glanced around in confusion, trying to make sense of my surroundings.Just as I thought I would remain in this dazed and blank state for a while, a flood of memories rushed back to me.“Oh… so I fell asleep in his car?” I recalled following Freddie to his house. He had been so persistent, and I couldn’t risk him seeing the children.“But… who carried me inside?!” My eyes widened in shock as the realization hit me. It was Freddie. Again.Gosh. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.I took another look around as I stood up. This room was nothing like the one I once lived in.It was obvious—Freddie had changed the entire design.I continued scanning the space, from the bedroom to the bathroom. Every corner of the room passed through my scrutiny. I should be worried about how to leave, but I knew panicking
Freddie's POVWhen Lessie agreed to come with me, I was completely stunned. I never expected those words from her. I had braced myself for a battle, thinking I’d have to fight tooth and nail to get her to follow me, but instead, she agreed so easily.Even now, with her sitting in my car, it was hard to believe she was actually here.My eyes remained fixed on her as she slept. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t look away. Her long lashes rested against her fair skin, her soft, rosy lips slightly parted, it was impossible not to notice every detail.Everything about her seemed to be calling me closer, daring me to do something.I exhaled sharply and shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away.With effort, I clenched my hands together and turned to stare out the window.Yet, the ride home felt unbearably slow. I kept stealing glances at Lessie, unable to resist.Her porcelain skin seemed to glow under the dim car lights. Bit by bit, I found myself leaning toward her. This time,
Lessie's POV “You still have nothing to say?” he asked again, irritation clear in his voice as I remained silent.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. His words made it seem like I was some heartless woman running away from him as if he owned me. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!“No, I don’t,” I exhaled before responding.“Lessie!” He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with rage.I knew my attitude was getting under his skin, but I couldn’t care less. He should just leave already so I could return to my kids. They must be waiting for me.“Just say whatever it is you need to say and let me go. You're clearly wasting my time by standing in my way. Yes, I’m leaving, and so what? It’s none of your business.” I snapped.“Oh, you want me to say whatever’s on my mind?” he asked, smirking. His voice was dangerously low.Something about his tone made my stomach twist. Whatever he was about to say, I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it.“Fine,” he said coldly. “I’m tak
Lessie's POV We had barely stepped into the airport when we spotted Benjamin with his luggage.He waved at us, and we waved back before making our way toward him.When we reached him, Jasmine beamed at him. “Uncle Benjamin,” she greeted sweetly.“Baby Jasmine, how are you?”“I’m fine.” Jasmine’s smile widened.“What about you, boy? You good?” Benjamin asked James.“Mm, good,” James muttered.Benjamin wasn’t offended. He already knew how James felt about him.Even though I knew Benjamin wasn’t upset, I still flashed him an apologetic smile.“Alright, are we ready to go?” Sensing the tense atmosphere, I quickly changed the subject.“It’s not our flight time yet. We should wait in the waiting area.”“Oh.” I nodded in agreement.He took the two pieces of luggage from my hands, and we followed him to the waiting area.Jasmine, seemingly energized from her two-hour nap, left my side to sit with Benjamin. She immediately launched into a conversation about our shopping trip.“Uncle Ben, you