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
Nicole's POVI didn't like meeting Chris. At the time, I was already quite surprised to see him with my father, but they seemed to have been chatting for a while and hadn't finished when I greeted my father with Richard.My son seemed to be wondering about the existence of the man who only met him when they had their regular meetings. Still, both men seemed serious about the ongoing conversation, especially my father, who looked a little pale."Are you okay?" I asked, but he just smiled for a few moments at me and my son.The old man then patted the back of my hand lightly. "You're fine. Just relax with Richard while I talk to Mr. Grant."I looked at the man in front of my father, who hadn't spoken during my greeting, but then I felt my hand tightly grabbed by my son's hand. He spoke before I could say anything."Okay, Grandpa. I'll take Mom to play." He smiled at Edwin.My father nodded and patted my son's head with the same smile, and then my son dragged me in the other direction wi
Nicole's POVI felt an overwhelming urge inside me, seeing the man who was going to marry me keeping his mouth shut about the matter that had involved him and his father. I walked forward towards Matthew, while the bespectacled man stayed where he was.I clenched my fists tighter, already strengthening my voice to speak to the man when he could only look down. "Tell me, speak the truth, Matthew. Do you still think of me as Natalie?"He said I looked a lot like my dead brother, whom I'd never seen in person. Still, even before that, he'd mistaken me for Natalie, thinking of me as his first love even though I'd only returned to the Duncan family nine years ago.I swallowed, trying to hold back the wave of feelings that seemed to be about to strike me."Didn't I ask you about that first? I told you I'm not her, even though our faces are similar. You knew that, too, right?"The man still couldn't answer, nor did he direct his gaze at me. I beat my chest a few times, wanting to relieve the
Nicole's POVI faced my father, leaving behind the two men who seemed to be making a good choice by not following me. I was still feeling disoriented, and my breathing was ragged. My gaze was fixed on my father, who was also looking back at me with a fixed gaze.He spoke first. "Have you figured it out now?"I looked at my father, who still looked pale, especially at his mouth. It seemed to contrast with his white hair and slightly tanned skin. He didn't look any better than me, perhaps even worse, because the man he had long considered a friend had stabbed him in the back.Still, it also made me remember everything I had to go through at the Martinez Family residence.All the humiliation and torture that those two women, as well as my foster father, had put me through should not have been necessary. Although I loved my dead foster mother, without him, I was completely alone there.The tears I had been holding back finally fell down my cheeks. "Just now, Father. It's... excruciating."
Nicole's POVA few days passed, and we were about to prepare to leave and arrive at the airport, which was quite far from the residence.The Duncan family had a separate airstrip at the airport, so only a private plane and some crew would oversee our departure. Still, before that, I saw someone I didn't expect waiting near the plane and looking at us, specifically at me, intently.He'd obviously arrived before us.His gaze felt like I had done something wrong to him, which shouldn't have been possible since my son had already told him the necessary things so that he wouldn't misunderstand. Still, there seemed to be something that made him look that way.I tried to remain calm while Chris walked closer to us. He stopped in front of me, just staring at me which made me involuntarily swallow by seeing the feelings that appeared on his face."I had heard from Richard that you were going to leave this place, go back to your hometown to calm down, but...."The man looked at me with a furrow
Nicole's POV"So, Mom... did you leave me here?" Richard asked slightly tearfully. "Do you not love me anymore?"I shook my head. "Of course not, Richard. I love you and would take you with me, not leave you. You know how much I love spending time with you, don't you?""I know...." He nodded. "But, Mom...."My son looked silent. He was sitting opposite me, but I felt his presence far enough away from me that I wanted to reach out to him. I refrained from doing that. I wanted Richard to make a decision based on him, not just on my persuasion.I sighed very slowly, looking at my son who had his head bowed with both hands clenched on each knee."I know that what you're doing here is because you're interested in robots, creating a company in the same field and developing it. You've done it, Richard."I saw it for myself. Although we rarely met to talk about the business, I was always aware of my son's business progress through Key and the company's official website, which I visited from t
Nicole's POVI have received the gift given by the man's secretary. Evan. I wanted to refuse, but the man, whose age was not far from Key's, looked really pitiable and almost pleading as he spoke to me."Miss Nicole, I'm sorry, but if you don't accept this gift then I will get in trouble from Mr. Chris," he said.I stared at the man without saying much. I obviously had my reservations, staring at the two gifts that seemed unremarkable at first glance. Still, considering Chris's proposal and the answer I gave him temporarily, the situation was clearly different.He told me to take as much time as possible to come up with a final answer to his proposal. Still, in the end, he acted arbitrarily, like he was pressuring me to give him the answer immediately by giving me something like this.The secretary seemed to see my intentions and quickly returned to pleading before me. "Miss Nicole, please do me a favor just this once. Mr. Chris has already sought several opportunities to remove me fr
Chris' POVArriving in the car, I sighed.All my strength seemed to be drained, and I allowed myself to just lean back on the seat, loosening the tie that suddenly felt like it was strangling my neck. My gaze was only fixed in front of me, on the road that began to pass by faster after the car sped up.My secretary finally spoke. "Were you rejected?"I looked at the man. He had helped me prepare for today's proposal, including decorations, rings, and various other things that were supposed to be done after the proposal, but that didn't happen with me leaving first.She was crying, and I didn't really have the guts to look at Mr. Duncan and my son. Aside from my mixed feelings, I just followed in my footsteps, which led me out of the place and away from the miserable feeling."You seem to really like the fact that Nicole rejected me," I finally said, sounding as cold as I felt toward the man who was still driving.She didn't say anything.I exhaled, feeling a tightness in my chest that
Nicole's POVChris was silent. I could see that he seemed to be processing my words, but I wasn't done talking. There was still something I wanted to tell him."Until now, I've been confused by the feelings I have for you, Mr. Grant."I clasped my hands together tightly. "If I were to accept your proposal without thinking, it would not only make me look like I'm playing you, but also betray my own uncertain feelings."As I said, I felt very mixed after hearing and seeing his attitude during his proposal.There were feelings of joy, sadness, hatred, and hope, all in equal measure, that confused me.On the one hand, I liked this proposal in the deepest part, which I buried deeply. Still, I also couldn't let go of the thing that had kept me alive all these years after his betrayal by leaving me and the evil deeds of my old family.I didn't want revenge, but the residual feelings were still there, as were my feelings for the man in front of me.Both had the same deep impression on me duri
Nicole's POVAs I walked in, I could see the restaurant's decor, which looked like a very romantic place. Like I saw outside, no one was inside except me and my assistant.We walked in together, he walking behind me, but I was busy with my thoughts. My brain seemed to be spinning rapidly, and I was thinking about this strange thing as best I could.My father had deliberately directed me to this restaurant for dinner. Still, that man was nowhere to be seen, nor was Richard and whoever was supposed to be in this restaurant to serve us. The deserted atmosphere added to the aggravation of my thoughts and the additional fear of the unusual situation.I swallowed, wondering, even as I followed the lit candles still guiding our path. Why is the restaurant in this state? Shouldn't we have gathered and enjoyed dinner by now?I already felt that my father, my son, and everything that happened today were acting strangely. I have absolutely no idea what's going on. It really felt like I was walki
Nicole's POVI looked at my father, who had been watching me since earlier. I ignored it at first, but after a while, I got curious and finally asked him. "Is there something you want to talk to me about, Father?"He shook his head, smiling slightly with eyes that seemed to sparkle. "No, no. I'm just happy to see that you've been in good spirits lately."I smiled back at him, although I also thought that my father's attitude was quite strange. I didn't feel as excited as he said, just as usual. The things my father said were even more applicable to him, who somehow looked radiant.Of course, I felt happy about whatever my father went through because I knew he could behave like that now. After the betrayal of his old friend, I felt that my father became much more reserved and only focused on his work, but now he's become better than that.I finally changed the subject. "Is Richard with that man, Father?"He nodded.Lately, my son has been spending a lot of time with Chris. It was usual
Nicole's POVI was already in my study, realizing that the thing that happened a moment ago was really happening.The things I felt and the attitude I showed the man... I touched my chest, feeling the pounding of my heart that always became unusual whenever I couldn't control myself, especially when it came to that man. Chris.I didn't know what was wrong with me anymore, feeling messed up and not knowing what to do to fix what had happened."No," I said, with a complementary slap to snap myself out of my current situation. "I need to focus."It wasn't time for me to dwell on whatever feelings were surrounding me and dwell on them. Work was waiting for me, and I couldn't put it off any longer for any reason.I slapped my cheeks repeatedly. Only then could I take my work seriously.I spent most of my days staying out of that man's reach. Sometimes, Chris was at my house for some business, but I still avoided him and didn't show myself to him as much as I could. When I came home, I aske
Chris' POV"Chris!"A shouting voice rang in my ears. I turned my head and saw a woman running towards me. She immediately hugged me tightly. Smelling the fragrance of her body so close to me and catching a glimpse of her face, I felt certain that the woman in this embrace was Nicole.I looked in the direction the woman had previously run and found several people scattered around the streets, shouting and moving away from each other. This was paving the way for a tree snake that seemed to have escaped from one of the shops in this row of streets.Not far from the snake, two staff members who seemed to be from the shop could be seen chasing the escaping animal with nets and ropes. They looked tense, following the slithering animal's movements on the hot street.The atmosphere was definitely noisy, but I could only feel the fear of the woman who was in my arms and was giving me a tight hug without any warning as if I was her life preserver and didn't want to be let go by her anytime soo