Chris' POVAt that moment, I received a call from one of the people I had assigned to observe Julia Dorris. The man sounded a little tense when he spoke to me, telling me something that couldn't be good. "Mr. Grant, that woman is missing.""You lost track of her?" I asked, correcting his report that probably wasn't the truth.He was silent for a moment but eventually answered my question. "No, we just managed to find out and follow the kidnapper, sir. The people who did this are from the Duncan Family's side.""No way...." I immediately stood up from my seat.Only one person was behind the behavior of the people ordered by the family when it came to Julia. Nicole. I immediately thought of the woman who I had always thought of as a gentlewoman and would not be involved in such a violent act, especially when they were both women.I had recently learned that the woman from abroad had approached Nicole before I realized it. Selena was there, too, but Julia was not an easy woman to deal wi
Chris' POV What happened in the hidden place was already known to Edwin Duncan. After Nicole's departure, Key came as the old man's messenger to take care of some things left behind by his adopted daughter. Julia and the few people who came with her were taken away by the other staff members brought by the professional-looking assistant. One pick-up truck was available. All the people arrested by Nicole were put in there, even Julia, who should have gotten a little better treatment with her status. Still, the family seemed to have their own standards. The car immediately drove to a place I didn't know, but they had planned it beforehand and were far away from this town. Standing there without doing anything, I watched as the once-crowded room was left with just me. Meanwhile, the assistant who had been tidying up all the things in this place walked over to me, looking at me coldly, though still bowing politely afterward. He spoke in the same tone. "Mr. Grant, the Great Master
Edwin's POVI was already facing Nicole, looking at her quite sharply after learning of her actions before this. "Why would you do something like that, Nicole?"She shot someone with a gun I didn't even know she had.I thought I had ensured her security well all this time, sending some bodyguards or my subordinates to watch her movements, but apparently, I and the people around her had let their guard down.She can even do things that are entirely incautious for herself. Owning a gun and using it are two different things. Of course, it was OK for her to have it for self-protection, but actually, shooting another person was something that could endanger her.Her clothes and equipment at that time were inadequate, especially when she was seen being pushed in the CCTV footage I got from one of the bodyguards. His defenses must have been weak to not be prepared for a pistol shot's thrust force."I was just defending myself, Father." She finally said, her hands visibly shaking as her gaze
Edwin's POVTwo days later, I got a message from someone I didn't want to meet unless I had to. It was polite and arrogant, but I knew that even his usual demeanor was like that, so I didn't want to see him even more.Although I didn't like the idea of meeting without discussing the schedule first, I couldn't refuse the man's invitation to meet when he wrote Nicole's name. Ultimately, I still went to the appointment place according to his request, which I could have rejected outright.Christian Grant. The man had arrived first and sat down in front of me.He didn't mince words and got straight to the point. "Nicole cannot marry Matthew Thompson, Mr. Duncan."My gaze sharpened, already disliking the serious-looking man's topic of conversation, which didn't sound plausible at all.He had no connection to our family other than that we were businessmen. Still, even though it was never related to the family's internal affairs, outsiders like him were not allowed to interfere.Just saying t
Edwin's POV"You seem to know that?" He said when he saw me looking at him.I answered him without hesitation. "Of course, I knew. We had a healthy competition back then and Catherine became my wife."Benny and I became friends because of Catherine. She brought us together and made us partners until now. Although I could see that he was looking at a woman who was our age with a smile, and I was doing the same to my wife when we were younger, in the end, we had a healthy competition for her heart.It was a long time ago. I became Catherine's husband after we graduated and pursued our dreams as businessmen.I didn't know the purpose of this young businessman in front of me, which was to bring up our past. I didn't think much about it because Benny had found his heartmate and had Matthew as his son. I wanted to avoid getting carried away and thinking things out of order only to hear him speak again."You sound confident." He said in a tone I couldn't explain but also made me frown. "I've
Edwin's POVI was reminded of the past, precisely when my wife's death occurred, and it was the day of her funeral.I could see Benny at the ceremony from start to finish, but he didn't come near me. It was only at the end of the procession that he walked towards me, with no one around except a few bodyguards standing some distance away from where we were standing, near the wet soil that had piled up on my wife's grave.His face looked very sad, although I saw no trace of tears, then he spoke. "How did Catherine die, Edwin?"I paused, feeling the reality that my wife, the woman I loved, was no longer in this world from her words. I would never be able to see her smile, feel her warmth, or hear his voice by my side again. That made my eyes water again, and I tried to answer the man's question weakly."I... I don't know either...."I could only say that. A lot had happened in one day, and I wasn't even sure how I was still standing, going through the funeral procession while welcoming t
Chris' POVI felt shocked when I learned the information provided by Ezrah, the expert informant; I was the feeling I had felt all day while watching Nicole that day, and it had finally been proven.I exhaled, looking at the few sheets of paper scattered on the table, before looking at her again. "Is the information I asked you to find really like this? Not a hoax or just a rumor?""That's right, sir. I can't possibly give unsubstantiated information." He replied. "The information collected and handed over to you is what really happened."I stared at some clearly visible sheets of paper, most of which were written. Still, there were also blurry photographs that were enlarged several times and appeared dark due to poor lighting.He really was an expert. I now knew that Nicole had been kidnapped by one of the Armstrong Family's underlings when she was a newborn, as well as when the young baby had been taken by the Martinez Family after the kidnapping failed.All this time, I thought tha
Chris' POVI confronted the man when he had just arrived. He clearly wanted to get to Nicole when he saw that I was also here, and I couldn't possibly give him the chance to do that.Nicole joined us, looking at me and the bespectacled man in turn. "What do you want to do?""I just want to talk to him, Nicole," I said, looking at the bespectacled man who was also watching me with a piercing gaze.We changed places, but we were still facing each other and trying to intimidate each other. He clearly didn't want to lose to me despite our age difference, just like that woman.He adjusted his glasses with his middle finger. "Why did you show up here? Aren't you not supposed to show up here anymore since Nicole and I are getting married?"I ignored his behavior, focusing more on his words to me, which still sounded boastful. He did mention the name of the woman I loved, but from the way he spoke, he didn't show the way it should be done when talking about someone important in his life."Do
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
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