Chris's POVMy head ached with all the work I had to do over the past few hours. I'd underestimated the work I had left to do to the point where I'd forgotten that this pile of work wasn't fun for me at all.I looked at my secretary, staring at her, who was standing up while doing something on the tab she was holding. "Is there still a lot of work?""Yes, sir." He touched the tab screen and pointed it at me, specifically at the two rows of the schedule he had created. "As you can see, we have a meeting with the company's business partner in an hour."I could see another lineup of schedules that I would be doing in a day. There was a lot, and I only had two chances to rest in between after this and three more meetings.I closed my eyes, massaging my forehead as I listened to the words of my secretary, who was explaining that the colleague we were meeting held an essential project for the company, so I couldn't throw this schedule to another day.I, of course, understood and clearly rem
Nicole's POVI got out of my car together with Key. We had just finished work and intended to have lunch at my longtime favorite café, a place associated with people I hated, but I loved one of the dishes that could only be made at this café too much."You should try my favorite dish here, Key," I said with a smile, already imagining the taste of that dish on the tip of my tongue.Key nodded. "Of course, Miss. I was quite curious about the taste after Miss had mentioned it a few times. It's a pity that Young Master can't come.""Richard can't eat my favorite dish. It's too spicy for him."I've brought my son here before. When it was first served, he wanted to try it right away because it smelled so good, but within the first bite, my son's eyes were already watering, and he finished his drink first."Is it very spicy?" Key asked, sounding worried after hearing what I said about Richard.I shook my head. "No, it's not. There's melted mozzarella cheese on top, so it shouldn't be a probl
Nicole's POV"I refuse." I answered the man with a cold stare, disliking the fact that he was getting in my way.We had never even met, let alone known each other, but he was too bold to familiarize himself with me whom he had just met. My mood that had initially improved after inhaling the floral scent for a while seemed to vanish, replaced by a sense of discomfort at the man's appearance before me.I stepped past him, intending to go to my car which was still near the restaurant, but my hand was suddenly held and pulled by someone closer. That man. He seemed to dislike my reaction, but still tried to smile, coaxing."Come on, Miss. I just wanted to get to know you, is that okay?" The man said in an artificially soft tone. "You won't regret it once you know who I am."I frowned, increasingly displeased by the words of the man who was still trying to tease me. No matter how many times he persuades, my answer will still be the same because I have absolutely no intention of making conne
Nicole's POV"You, do-" The man groaned in pain before he could continue.Maybe he forgot because he was annoyed by my actions, but I still had my foot on his chest so I only needed to press the sole of my foot so that he couldn't do anything. His grip on my ankle was also useless because I was wearing thick boots."Take off... you!" He glared, gritting his teeth as he failed to break free earlier. His entire face looked flushed. "Why are you so strong, damn it?"I didn't answer, still keeping my weight on his chest with my boots, while thinking of what kind of thing could deter him. Looking at his appearance and the amount of cash he was holding, maybe the man was quite wealthy, but when it came to the law and the Duncan Family, I wasn't sure he could pay.That man could end up on the streets if I mentioned all my charges, but I also thought that spending time in court would be quite troublesome. I didn't have time to deal with this guy any longer because I still had a lot of importa
Nicole's POV"Stop pretending."I frowned in confusion at his accusatory response. The man I knew before wouldn't act recklessly like this, but there seemed to be a problem with him as long as I didn't meet him in person.As long as I've been watching the man through my laptop screen, he's always been cold and logical, caring only about himself and not wasting time just because he sees a woman who looks like the one he dumped.For as long as I've known her, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths if she felt she would benefit from the other party. The way of a businessman who only prioritizes profit over everything else.I gave him a sharp look. "I'm not pretending. We just met today, sir.""No, I'm pretty sure that you know me. I wouldn't react like this to someone I didn't know before." He stared at me intently then turned to one of his hands that had been on my cheek.The man smiled so faintly that it was barely visible. "While I was talking to myself, you also made no effort to dis
Nicole's POVMy mood wasn't feeling good at the moment. I was still thinking about my encounter with the man I didn't want to think about anymore and couldn't control the other bad memories that surfaced because of our encounter.I was annoyed that I couldn't do anything to him like when I finished off the guy who teased me before. I still had to hide my identity until my plan was finalized so I couldn't act on my emotions alone.I felt torn between being relieved to be able to control myself when dealing with Chris, but also disappointed for letting him touch me so casually. I had showered and changed when I got home, but that man's touch was still felt in certain places.I clenched my fists, wanting more and more to finish that man off if only I had another chance and didn't have to be hindered by my own plans."Mom." Richard called out to me softly after touching my cheek with his hand, making me aware of our current situation in the laboratory.I came here with Richard because I w
Chris's POVI got into the car, not saying anything on the way to the meeting place with the partner company with my secretary. The place was quite far, but we still had plenty of time since we didn't go anywhere else besides the cafe we went to a while ago.I stared out the window, still remembering that the woman's face was very similar to Nicole's. They looked so much alike that I thought she was her twin, but I knew that she had no other siblings and was the only child of the Martinez family before Adeline and her mother arrived.I turned to stare at my hands, clenching and unclenching them several times as I recalled how soft and warm the woman's face was, as well as how similar her body size was to mine when comparing her to the long-dead woman in my memory.They were really too similar to be declared as different people.During this long thought, I could feel Evan's gaze on my face when we stopped at the red light. She seemed to have gotten up the courage to ask me after a few
Chris's POVI worked as usual the next day, but my mind was still on the woman who resembled Nicole whom I had met at the café yesterday. I still couldn't agree with my thoughts about that woman being someone who only bore a passing resemblance to Nicole.They really looked alike and I still wondered if the woman from yesterday was just a form of my hallucination that suddenly missed Nicole. Yesterday I even went to an area that I had never been to after that woman's death, but then I ran into a look-alike right away."What a funny coincidence." I snorted with laughter, unable to stop myself from saying it when I recalled yesterday's events.I'm sure I'm not crazy, but I also still have doubts about the identity of the woman that still intrigue me. I've never known someone who could have such an accurate resemblance to another person and I've also never met that woman before among businessmen.This is just speculation, but with the presence of the secretary by her side, I'm sure that
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
Catherine's POVI had come out of the toilet and looked around the party room for Edwin and Benny, but they were nowhere to be seen.I could find my father easily, still chatting with some important people intimately, but the two men were nowhere to be seen. It was as if they had disappeared or were hiding very well so as not to be found by me.I recalled Benny's face, which didn't look too good before they left together, curling my lip and mumbling, "What is that guy going to do? That's not what I'm thinking about, is it?"Before going to the restroom, I heard the man wanted to talk to Edwin, but I wasn't sure. I'm currently feeling uncomfortable as I'm still searching for them among the crowd. That man might have misunderstood my relationship with Edwin.He was a very close friend, a really good friend who had been with me for so long that we were like brothers, but he didn't feel that way. He liked me, and I always pushed him away so our friendship wouldn't end.He always helped an
Benny's POVI faced Edwin. We were now on the veranda where I had previously seen him and Catherine take turns appearing.I don't know when they got this close. Still, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw them enter the party room from the same veranda and then talk to the woman's father as usual.The man spoke to me first, bringing me back to reality. "What's wrong? Is there a business matter you want to talk about?"I looked at the man, knowing that he was asking me about our conversation when we first met. I also remembered that my father knew about it first, about Edwin attending the same university I was going to with Catherine.My father and that man's family had an inter-company partnership. I don't know when exactly such a thing happened, but it seemed quite a while ago from what my father said about the man I knew even by name."You must respect Edwin Duncan, Benny, " my father said. You're the same age, but his achievements are countless over the past few years, not to
Catherine's POVEdwin was still next to me. He exhaled while his face looked unfriendly and cold as usual. Still, even with all that, the man did not immediately deny my words aloud or dismiss them with ridicule.He didn't look at me but clearly spoke to me when he finally opened his mouth and spoke with his friend. "So you consider me an ally."I nodded.All this time, I had only thought of him as an annoying guy. He knows his position well and sometimes puts obvious boundaries on others. I didn't think he could make himself any friendlier than the people at the party or the students on campus, but he wasn't as cold as I thought.He had done me a favour, and I also felt quite comfortable when talking to the man who was always straightforward. Nothing felt fake in our friendship, which he had yet to fully acknowledge, so I felt he could be my ally."I feel that we are getting closer. So, Duncan, if there's anything I need, you should do me a favour." I smiled. "Whatever it is."The ma
Catherine's POVI was at the party. This party was tedious, like the official high society events I'd been attending. I felt uncomfortable among many people I didn't know well. Still, everyone who greeted me acted as if we had known each other for a long time.I knew they were just acting politely, following every action everyone in high society should follow. Still, I also felt that their actions were fake. I never knew what they talked about other than greeting me because I belonged to something other than the inner circle of the supposed upper class.My father might know, but I also had no interest and chose to remain in the outer circle that could only see whatever could be seen.I held my wrist as I exhaled. No one else had any intention of greeting me again, and neither did I. I already felt bloated from drinking wine in between events, so I didn't know what else to do while waiting for the event to end.My gaze shifted, spotting one of the empty verandas and finally heading the