Nicole's POVI was surprised to see Richard coming into my room and realized that Chris' hand was still holding the back of my hand. I pulled my hand away and looked at my son, who seemed to be panting in front of me. Watching him, who appeared to be staring at me intently."Richard, are you here too?" I asked, but the boy didn't answer and just kept walking.I looked behind my son, and a man I recognized followed him. He also showed himself—Matthew. He looked worried and seemed to want to talk, but at that moment, my son had already approached first and gave me a tight hug, crying bitterly.I hurriedly looked at Richard, who was crying loudly for the first time, touching his back, which felt shaky, before he spoke. "Is Mom okay? I was building a robot, but then heard that Mom was taken to the hospital."He told me that he heard Edwin, who was also accompanying him, when he received a call from Key. Although I don't know what exactly he heard at the time, I know that he became very wo
Nicole's POVChris fell silent after I stopped his words while I said back to the man. "You'd better get out.""But-" He was forced to stop when I gave him a sharp look.I cut him off again, not giving him pause to force me to listen. "I want to rest, not listen to out-of-place ramblings."Matthew seemed pleased with my words, smiling slightly and showing it to the man on the other side of my bed. "You heard, right? Nicole asked you out because you were the one talking too much."I exhaled, not expecting to see such a childish attitude from the man with glasses who always cared about me. I felt terrible for him but was also unhappy when I saw him doing the same thing as the stubborn man I had reprimanded."I'm saying this for you too, Matthew." I looked at him, wanting him to understand. "I just want to be with my son and rest. You guys should be able to understand this."The bespectacled man looked disappointed, but without saying anything, he also walked out with the other man. The
Chris' POVEven though I was kicked out by Nicole or whoever was still around that woman's room, I didn't give up and wanted to see her again. No one could stop me when I still had that desire, so I stayed in the hospital.I only moved away from the floor where she was being treated, but not too far so I could still rush to her place when the opportunity came to me and then wait for a while.The hospital already looked crowded after the night had passed. I watched a few people without much thought and then moved along when I saw the clock showing it was still morning. My destination was obviously that woman's room.I took a step, then stopped when I saw someone walking in the other direction from where I was heading. "Richard?" I muttered under my breath, watching the little boy walk into another hallway outside the hospital building area.The boy was walking alone, and I didn't even see Nicole's assistant, who usually stuck around when he wasn't around. He attracted so much attention
Chris' POVI didn't immediately follow Richard, who had stepped away first. I was still thinking about what he had said about the bespectacled man I had seen recently, but I had seized the thing I wanted most after finding out that I had a child.As the child had said, I didn't immediately believe the man had a good attitude. In fact, from a subjective assessment, I felt that the man was suspicious for capturing the hearts of my son and that woman so quickly, even if it was just with simple actions that I could also do well.I exhaled softly, following the boy who had already boarded the elevator. At the same time, I waited for the next elevator and immediately stepped into the room where Nicole was being treated after arriving.I peeked over the side of the glass door, seeing the little boy approach his mother and hand her the chocolate milkshake he had brought. Nicole smiled and kissed the boy's cheek in thanks while I stepped inside without waiting any longer."Thank you, Richard.
Nicole's POVRichard walked next to me in the wheelchair while the two men, who had been arguing, walked behind us. Matthew managed to earn the right to push me during our walk, so Chris kept quiet and didn't act as familiar as usual.I actually also felt confused by my final decision to have the two of them follow me and my son around the hospital, especially with that ignorant man who wouldn't listen to me.I knew from Key that he stubbornly stayed in the hospital waiting room and came straight to my room as soon as the visiting time happened. Maybe it was out of pity, or I just didn't know how to get rid of him, so he was still here, not like Matthew said.My son touched my hand lightly, looking up at me. "Are you okay, Mom?""Mom is fine." I nodded, looking back at my son, who lowered his head and brought his head closer to me.He whispered, seemingly trying to hide a plan I didn't know about. "Do you need some time with Uncle Matthew? I'll distract the other man."I heard someone
Chris' POVI was surprised by what the bespectacled man said to Nicole about wanting to make her his wife. My heartbeat stopped for a moment, and my steps stopped not too far from them.I still loved that woman and had already decided to be with her again, as well as the little boy in my arms, but the man who had just appeared dared to get ahead of me."Nicole cannot be your wife," I was just about to say when a small hand covered my mouth, stopping the words I was about to say to the two people who were already staring at us. I averted my gaze.Richard was already looking at me first with a furrowed brow. "You don't deserve to say that, sir. You have repeatedly destroyed my mother, but you will do the same to her again if I don't stop you."I paused, looking at a child determined to protect his mother. Although I disagreed with his words about my actions, I appreciated his actions as a child cared for by his mother all this time, even when I had never done the same.I touched the boy
Chris' POVI watched as the man held Nicole in his arms, helping her to lie back down on the hospital bed that was slightly higher than the wheelchair."Take it easy, Nicole." The man spoke, slowly lowering the woman onto the bed.The woman lowered her hand onto the bed, trying to place herself carefully while her other hand was still hugging the neck of the man with glasses, making me feel jealous for not being able to do the same for her.I watched as the woman finally lay down, disentangling herself from the man with a relieved smile, as did the man. "Thank you." I could hear the woman speaking.The man's hand seemed to move closer to Nicole's face. He used the back of his hand to wipe away the flowing sweat and quickly switched to tucking the woman's hair behind her ear. He smiled happily."No problem."I clenched my fists, knowing she was comfortable with the seemingly natural touch, as they had probably done it several times before I saw her in person.The man ended his help by
Nicole's POVI had a relaxing time at the hospital. Richard would come to me during every visit, spending time with me and keeping me company while I was still undergoing treatment, just like today.We were playing chess together. He was already executing various tactics while I was painstakingly defending my King's position from being eaten for the umpteenth time, either by the Queen, the Minister, or even my son's Fortress.I exhaled, watching my son's Minister, who was already directing checkmate. My only chess pieces were a few pawns, and one horse almost threatened with death, so I was already completely cornered."How is this? Mom seems to be losing again against you." I said, advancing a pawn for what defence I could.My son smiled. "Mom, don't despair yet. I only have ministers, queens and kings...."I shook my head a few times, not knowing whether to feel sad or happy that my son was still trying to cheer me up. There were more chess pieces on my side, but my movement was sti
Edwin's POVI kissed Catherine more than the touch of lips she gave me. I did it slowly, not entirely sure, but following what felt right with her lips on mine.I just knew that something like this made everything around me slow down. I loved the feel of her soft lips, the slightly sweet taste of the wine left in her mouth and the moisture that mingled on each of our lips.Catherine pulled away from our kiss first, slightly out of breath but smiling at me. I paused, staring at the woman who was so innocent but also made me feel things I had never felt before.I had never known anything like this and went back to kissing her a few more times until my own lips felt like they were going to swell and felt hot with the inside of the car tightly closed, even with the coolant on.After that, we went beyond the point of no return."What is this?" The woman was heard shouting.My consciousness returned, and then my head felt like it was ringing. Her voice sounded really loud. It took me some t
Edwin's POVI know why Catherine is acting like this. She was proposed to by Benny, her best friend who seemed to have more feelings for her, but she herself didn't want that to happen.She had told me the things she wanted, some of the things in between the annoyance and sadness she felt. Above all, for Catherine, Benny was her treasured friend, not as a future husband nor one who could free her from the Varma family.I agreed to that after feeling a little uncomfortable with the way she had been talking about a man who had not been with us for some time.No sooner had I approached her who stood up from her seat in the restaurant and was in an unsteady state, than she fell into my arms. I could feel how soft and fragrant her body was close to mine.The sound of her breathing could be clearly heard over my shoulder where she was leaning. She was almost unconscious, so I sighed softly and whispered to her. "You seem to be looking for trouble with me, Varma."I repositioned her between
Catherine's Point of View"So, how was it?" He asked, looking at me.I wiped my face with my handkerchief, unable to look directly at the man again after a long stare, but still shook my head with certainty. "No way, my opinion hasn't changed from what I said before. I don't think it makes any sense.""Alright." The man nodded. "Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."I returned Edwin's nod, accepting the man's ride to a private restaurant that catered to a wide variety of conglomerate families from this city and abroad. This was the first time I had visited this famous place; previously, I had only heard about it from my father and Daniel.In addition to being a place to formally entertain guests, some also make official cooperation agreements between foreign companies, including my family, which is also the reason my younger brother was able to go to this place first with my father.I sat opposite Edwin, enjoying the view of the city through the restaurant's glass, which was almost as t
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