Nicole's POV"You're losing your balance again, Miss Nicole." Key could be heard reprimanding me while holding my shoulders when I almost fell over while just taking a step.Nothing was blocking my path, but somehow, I always ended up with a dizzy feeling that attacked me and made me unable to balance myself. I sighed softly, looking at my assistant, who looked worried.he had caught me for the second time today, not too far away, so I couldn't just calm him down and pretend that I was fine.I exhaled, shifting slightly so that he didn't have to hold on to me. "Maybe this happened because I stood up suddenly." I gave an excuse, half-true, because I had just finished working on something in my study for a few hours, just looking at the computer screen without taking a break.I was forced to work in my house with me not being fit enough to travel. I didn't like this at all, but it was better if I did everything I could under these limited circumstances than nothing at all."Shouldn't yo
Nicole's POV"Mom, isn't my robot amazing?" Richard said, displaying his robot prepared by some staff from his lab.We were now in the living room, having just finished breakfast, and before I knew it, he had prepared a surprise to show me, a robot I had not heard from in a long time. I could see some differences, but I knew this was the robot he had shown me the other day.I nodded, marveling at how perfect it still looked. "You're very good, Richard. Of course, your robot is also excellent. Can this robot be used?" I asked, looking at him, who shook his head."There is still one more test before I am sure it can be used, ma'am. I want to ensure there are no malfunctions while the robot works." He patted the robot lightly while also looking at it like me. "Once that stage is complete, I will give this robot to you so that it can take care of you while traveling unescorted."He looked at me, and I nodded in understanding. I smiled, and I walked over to him to give my son a hug. "Thank
Nicole's POVI quickly approached them, unable to stop, when one of my petite favorite men touched my precious child. He had no right but did what he wanted when I wasn't around.At that moment I heard the sound of their conversation that I couldn't understand. Richard's voice was the first I heard. "So, you're sorry about what you did in the past?" My son asked.I stopped my steps, not expecting to hear that when I was just about to stop the actions of the man who looked familiar to me with Richard. My son gave the man a sharp look, while the man only smiled faintly.He nodded, but somehow, I could see he was also sad when he admitted his feelings. "That's right. I've been waiting for a second chance until now, but it might as well have happened from now on because I can talk to you again, Little Boy."I clenched my fists, guessing what conversation they were having, but Richard's words stopped me from taking a step. They did not seem to indicate the topic of their conversation that
Nicole's POV"What do you want to talk about?"I looked at the man in front of me coldly, and he returned my gaze. We were now in a park not far from the building where the meeting was being held. It was not too far away, so I could find Richard and Key, who were waiting for me.I asked for a separate place because I didn't want Chris to be close to Richard and vice versa. That man had startled me by appearing when I least expected it, so I could be sure he probably had someone follow me everywhere.There was no way that man would quickly find me right after I finished the meeting and when Key wasn't by my son's side. From the conversation between the two earlier, I could tell that the conversation had lasted long enough that Richard didn't leave the man right away, either.The man didn't mince words and asked back. "Do you know a woman named Nicole Martinez?"I paused, snorted softly, and stared in the other direction momentarily. "You want to talk shit about us again?" I rolled my e
Nicole's POV"I know all about it." He shook his head, denying my words without hesitation. "You have a star birthmark on your neck, Nicole. Did you forget that I know your body like my own?"I paused, trying to remain calm as he discussed my birthmark. I didn't think about the mark for everything I had to do, from work to personal problems.Jayden had taken up most of my mind because of his unpredictable actions, but then I forgot that Chris was not that different from the man who was my ex-boyfriend. They were both stubborn, and I felt like I was being played by their attitudes.I didn't have time to do anything when, all of a sudden, the man moved closer to me. One hand was on the table that had been between us, and the other was on the back of my neck, touching my birthmark with his finger.I shuddered, seeing our faces getting so close that I could feel his breath against mine and my chest pounding with our closeness. I felt like a fool, and so did I when his hand then moved to m
Nicole's POVAfter what happened yesterday, I finally found out everything that happened to me in the past to make me have to go through that horrible experience. Not only because Chris was cold and left me but also because of the cooperation between Jayden and Adeline, which destroyed our relationship in the first place.It wasn't enough to torment me while I was still in the Martinez Family home. They also caused the man I loved to doubt my feelings and made him choose to break off his relationship with me without any words. I blamed the man for being stupid, but I also couldn't let go of the fact of their involvement in the destruction of my life.They were all bad."Aaa...." I had mixed feelings.I was now in front of my computer, in my home office. I leaned back, staring intently at the information I was opening about Chris and the man who had ruined my life.I could find out so much about each of them with just a little effort. The safeguards around their information were easy t
Nicole's POV"Why are you here, Matthew?"I asked, looking at the man who was still smiling while leaning against the wall and at me, who was also leaning against him. We were now on the second floor, near an open window. There was no one around us, so I relaxed, and he followed suit.He murmured softly. "My father has business with your father, Nicole, so I was also invited here to accompany him.""Really?" I blinked slowly, having just learned this from the man before me.I had met my father before, but he had not said anything about the Thompson Family coming to our residence. He also didn't inform me of their arrival and left me in the study without doing anything. We probably wouldn't have met like this if I hadn't gone out.He nodded. "Right." The man smiled even wider, revealing his teeth and dimples. "I am so happy to have met you out of the blue, Nicole.""This is my home. Of course, we'll meet." I laughed at his words but realized something about our seemingly accidental mee
Nicole's POVAfter a few encounters with Matthew, my relationship with him became pretty close. Whether it was an accidental or deliberate encounter, we could interact as usual, especially with the man's contribution of still trying hard to engage me in conversation.Just like now. We were walking together to watch a movie at the theatre, although I didn't know about it when he called."You said we're walking around the mall today," I said, looking at her as she just handed over the tickets for each of us to the staff.He smiled, carrying both the drinks in his hands and my hand, which was dangling on his arm since she was the one who put it down, while I held the large popcorn that would accompany us watching.It was all so fast, I couldn't even protest and could only follow him willingly and sit in our spot. "You're getting better at setting me up, Matthew."I could see his smiling. "I'll take it as a compliment. I'm glad I could take you out to watch like this."I returned his smil
Catherine's POVI looked at the man over my glasses, feeling mixed emotions inside me as I poured out all sorts of things I had wanted to say to him since last night but could only say today."Did you know that your family sent a marriage proposal to my family?" I began. "It wasn't that long ago that we entered college, Ben, but how could the proposal come at such an unexpected time and from your family."My gaze was fixed on his eyes, which were also looking at me. "Did you ask for the proposal to be sent to my family so that we can get married?"He didn't say a word in reply; he just squeezed his hands on each side of his body and turned his gaze away from me. I clamped my mouth shut for a moment."I'm furious." I took a deep breath, trying to control myself from overwhelming feelings."You already know I don't like this at all, Ben. Getting married. It's a new prison for me and indirectly proves to my father that I'll never escape the Varma family's female nature."I still remember
Catherine's POVWhen I woke up, my head hurt, as well as my eyes, which were quite difficult to open even though I was awake. I seemed to have cried too much and fallen asleep immediately afterwards to have this effect.I felt thirsty and looked for a drink on the small table not far from the bed and grabbed it. I drank the contents of the glass in four big gulps and put it back on the table. My gaze automatically went to the large mirror on the other side of the bed.There, the reflection of my face looked messy. I really looked like someone who had just woken up after crying for hours. My eyes were puffy with traces of tears that I could feel with my fingers, my nose was slightly reddened, and the area around my eyes was slightly reddened.I stared at my appearance with mixed feelings. It's really embarrassing even though I'm the only one who sees this right now, and maybe one of the waiters who refilled my water, but it doesn't really matter because I have to leave for college in a
Catherine's POVI was feeling tired.It's been one week since the end-of-semester exams, and I have to repeat the lessons of the whole semester on my own. I also have to read copies of the assignments I've done and notes from the lecturer on topics that might come up in the exam this time.I was so busy that I didn't have time to do anything other than study and get enough rest when night fell, that is, if I didn't have any assignments to complete for the practical exam.Arriving home, I already felt a piercing headache that made me want to lie down and sleep for a while. I still had to study for the theoretical exam and submit other practical assignments to the lecturer from other courses.I had envisioned a soft mattress on my bed, as well as blankets and pillows that would feel very soft on my body after I had exhausted my thoughts and abilities for today's exam, but it didn't work out.Someone knocked on my bedroom door and opened the door after I let myself in. It was one of the
Edwin's POGIn my father's study, I was reading a book he recommended. He was also reading for a while, but then he put the book on the desk and looked at me."What do you think about our new project?" he asked, slightly serious but also relaxed.I moved the book out of sight to look at him. "The things they're doing are right. I can't find any flaws."He nodded. The report he had shown me this morning followed the book he had put down. It was about the business collaboration between the Duncan Family and the Thompson Family, with Benny and I as the chief executives, while our father was the funder and in charge.Although the two of us had not completely taken over the family business, our fathers had agreed to involve their family successors in this newly started business. Aside from the family interest, both of them said it was important for our future.I had no problem with that. After all, my father had taught me everything about our family business since I was a child and other i
Catherine's POVAfter receiving the gift from Edwin, I was now only with Benny and his personal driver driving. The man sat down with me and then noticed something was different about my attitude.He rested his chin on one of my hands, which was still clasped tightly. "What are you holding on to? You didn't let go at all....""This." I showed him the bracelet.His eyes look wide. "Isn't that the jewelry you saw earlier? I thought you didn't buy it.""I didn't buy it."Considering Benny was also aware of what I was doing while looking at the jewelry, perhaps my liking for this bracelet was too obvious.My gaze was fixed on the bracelet, and I thought about how the man who had left the festival first had unhesitatingly bought me this jewelry and given it to me without anyone knowing. I don't know what that man was thinking when he bought me this, but the pounding of my heart was starting to feel too clear in my chest.The car stopped. I blinked, realizing that I had arrived in front of
Catherine's POV"Thank you for buying me a drink, Duncan." I smiled, accepting the glass with a lid made of solid cardboard from his hand, and I immediately held the glass with both hands.He just nodded and passed the other glass to Benny.I took a sip of the relatively warm drink. It turned out to be a delicious chocolate drink. I felt relieved and happy. My legs even wiggled without me fully realizing it.Night had almost fallen, so it was starting to get cold. I remembered the embarrassing incident a few days ago when my skirt got caught, but in the end, the man came back to help me by giving me a warm drink after we had walked quite a distance.A loud snort was heard from Benny. "Why are you buying me a fruity and cold drink? I also want a warm chocolate drink like you guys." He protested.I looked at the two men who stood facing each other with glasses in their hands. Still, a noticeable smoke could be seen from Benny's slightly open mouth, probably the effect of the drink he ha
Catherine's POVI was mesmerized by the festival atmosphere surrounding me. I've always liked things like this: simple and fun stuff without having to always care about manners or conversations that are always serious and filled with business or politics.Many booths were arranged according to their types, ranging from games, shops selling various things, and other equally entertaining booths. My gaze stopped at one of the nearby stands for jewelry of sale.My steps halted when I arrived in front of it. I looked at the various kinds of jewelry displayed and touched a few that I wanted to take a closer look at. They all looked pretty, but I didn't really want to buy them either; I just wanted to look around.I didn't have much jewelry, but my mother added to it according to my needs, so I didn't feel the need to do the same.A person who seemed to be the salesgirl watched me without saying much but then said to me after a while."Don't you intend to buy the jewelry, Miss? I think the b
Catherine's POVI was always with Benny and Edwin. I felt happy because I was finally able to make a new friend again, and it was a guy I initially thought was quiet and cold.At first, Benny and Edwin always argued for whatever reason, but in the end, they always accompanied me wherever I went. We were like a unique combination, from three different majors and different personalities.I heard rumors about us hanging out, going to our respective classes or the cafeteria."Look, she can get two handsome guys simultaneously," whispered one of the students.His friend replied. "She's so lucky. I never even managed to get close to Edwin Duncan....""She's luckier because she's close to Benny Thompson. That guy is really nice and friendly."They said that and then talked about one of the guys I was with, who was probably my boyfriend.One of them spoke up again. "Isn't that obvious? His girlfriend must be Benny. They've been in a relationship for a long time.""Hm, I agree."There were som
Catherine's POVI still felt uncomfortable walking on campus. Aside from my aching feet, my father's words before I was allowed to leave for the campus with our family's private driver also bothered me.I was happy with my friendship with Edwin and my friendship with Benny, which lasted longer than that. Both of them were friends to me, but my father always made our relationship seem like a transaction, trying to talk to them for the benefit of our family.He said that each of them would greatly help me prove myself in the Varma Family. Our relationship would make me valuable and not the only useless woman in our family, while all the things I had done before were meaningless in my father's eyes.I felt annoyed that my father shouldn't be behaving like that towards me, but also unable to do anything to stop it. As Edwin said, I was still not strong and had to extricate myself with the help of the allies that had just started from the man himself.My sigh escaped on its own, but after