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."
Benny's POVMatthew suddenly came into my room with a face full of anger. He had been insolent, entering my room without saying any greetings after slamming the door wide open.Some servants hurriedly closed the door, but I couldn't stop reprimanding his behavior. "Why are you behaving like this, Matthew? Don't you have any manners after disobeying Father?"His eyes still looked piercing. He was my only son, but the more he grew, the less I knew him. I had taken care of him since he was a child after my wife left me, so it should have been appropriate for him to follow my example without saying anything.He has dared to challenge my words and reply to me as if he did not see me as a parent, but just a coworker. I may have spoiled hi, a bit when she was younger, but I had no idea the change would be this big.I've known him for a long time, so this attitude is actually familiar. He seemed dissatisfied with something."This all happened because of Father." He said in a loud voice. "You'
Edwin's POVI faced Benny. The man seemed relaxed, not feeling guilty despite knowing of my unannounced visit to his residence.Normally, I would have done the opposite, and he would have welcomed me warmly, but this time was different. The man I considered a friend behaved as if he had expected me to come to visit him and intended to face me boldly—just like me, who still wanted to question him.I stared at the man in front of me, feeling anger boiling in my head even though I hadn't let it out yet, and tried to remain calm. He seemed to be waiting for me to speak first."I didn't expect you to act like this, Benny. You've destroyed everything we've built up over the years." I clenched my fists. "If Catherine finds out about this, she'll be furious with you for disrupting our family."The man's face seemed to harden, taking off the friendly mask he had been wearing. "I shouldn't have introduced Catherine to you. We could be together right now, not her and you."I snorted softly, hear