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
Today is my happiest day because today is my wedding day to Christian Grant, the man I've been in a serious relationship with for the past year. I love him very much, and he loves me too.We have been planning this wedding since three months ago. Christian left all the wedding preparations to me, and he gave me the freedom to choose what theme I would choose for our wedding party.Christian is a very kind and caring man. We met in one of the cafes some time ago by accident. Then, we started exchanging cell phone numbers and communicating. After a month of knowing each other, we decided to have a serious relationship.Right now, Christian and I are standing in front of the altar with a priest standing in front of us. I was wearing a bone white wedding dress, the wedding dress of my dreams. I made the lace fabric into an A-line dress design with a sweeping tail and an off-the-shoulder cut. To give a graceful impression to my appearance, I also used a wedding veil to add a sacred impress
I decided to stay at a small and cheapest inn on the outskirts of town. I deliberately didn't choose an expensive inn because I didn't have much money to survive, plus I had also been evicted from my home and didn't know how long I would stay there.I've never gotten any money from my father. Father decided on such a thing because he thought of me as a lowly person. Unlike my stepbrother, my father would be generous and spoiled him a lot. That made me jealous of Adeline.My head was dizzy thinking about the incident earlier that I thought would be my happy day. It turned out to be the worst day of my entire life. I was still wondering why did that happen?I went into the toilet, which was very small, to wash my face with cold water. My hand rubbed the dewy mirror of the sink. My eyes were puffy after crying so much earlier.I let out a long breath. "I should be able to move on, right?" I asked, staring at my pathetic reflection in the mirror.After finishing my business in the small r
I opened my eyes slowly as a bright light dazzled my eyes."Where am I?" My hand gripped my head, which suddenly hurt a lot. Opening my eyes wide, I began to scan my surroundings. This place was like a hospital room but smaller. "What happened to me?" I also saw that my clothes had changed into hospital clothes."Hi, welcome back." A woman dressed as a nurse came to see me. The woman smiled kindly at me.Perhaps she saw the confusion on my face, so she explained how I ended up in this clinic before I asked."There was someone who brought you here. You were unconscious, and all your clothes were wet."I let out a long breath. I seemed to remember the incident where I was about to head to the inn to rest because my clothes were wet."Can I meet the person who helped bring me here? I want to thank him."The head nurse shook her head slowly with a very regretful look. "Unfortunately, that person has left. He said he was swamped, so he couldn't wait until you woke up."I was a little disap
Chris' POVTonight, I was at a bar in the city center, enjoying my drink alone. I poured my bottle, which was half empty, into a round glass and gulped it down. I poured it again until the liquid in the bottle was gone entirely. It didn't matter if I was drunk.The frenetic sound of the DJ's music was pounding so loudly that my ears were almost ringing. I cast my eyes around the bar, which tonight seemed to be very crowded with revelers.I let out a long breath. I was suffering because of Nicole Martinez. The woman I thought I loved. I've done everything for her, and now I don't want to care about her anymore after I know what she's like.My head was already very dizzy from all the drinking and the loud music. I felt very bored and intended to leave here.I feel like I'm not drunk even though I've finished a bottle. My brain still seemed to be functioning very well. It was just that my head felt dizzy, and the effect of the music was very annoying. I got off the barstool and almost fe
Chris’ POVOne month had passed since Nicole's accident. Investigators said that Nicole's body could not be found. They assumed that Nicole's body was burnt up in the accident, as well as the taxi driver's, since the car exploded, leaving only the skeleton of the car behind. Others say that wild animals ate the bodies in the area, as the rescue team arrived too late. All are assumptions, and no one knows what happened to them. But what is certain is that they are dead.I don't understand how I feel right now. I don't want to think about what happened before and try to forget about it. And, now, I've been faced with something I can't avoid because what Adeline Martinez said the other day about the wedding happened—the marriage of the two Grant-Martinez families.I don't know what to say because, at this moment I'm already at the altar to perform the marriage blessing. I have stood here before, but this time, I will be the groom of Adeline Martinez, who is none other than Nicole's step-
Nicole's POVI stared at the sky from my porch, feeling the breeze with my eyes closed. It had been eight years since the most horrific event of my life, but I was still alive.My life felt more peaceful, especially with the various good things that started coming my way after something else arrived at me and accompanied me all this time. All the hardships I had experienced before felt like a dream, but they never really went away in this life that I thought of as my second time around.I still vividly remember the terrifying incident I experienced, just like yesterday. I felt goosebumps, not believing how I could get out of those times of suffering, but here I am now. Still breathing and looking at the sky above my head.Suddenly, I could hear the voice of a boy whispering in my ear with his cute voice. "Mom, what are you thinking about?" I immediately held my chest as a reflex."Richard... you surprised mom." I turned my head, looking at the boy I gave birth to already standing next
Nicole's POVI was ready with my makeup and clothes. The reflection of my face in the mirror looked elegant, but I did not forget the stern impression that I also wanted to show myself that I was different from the old me.Back then, I was shy and lacked confidence, affecting my self-confidence. I didn't realize it then, but as time passed in this new life of mine, I changed it so as not to return to the unfortunate fate that I had felt before.After everything I've been through, the change in the way I carry myself now is nothing compared to the line of death I've crossed. I took a breath and let it out, then felt my hand grabbed by my son.My son smiled sweetly. He was also ready and looked handsome in his tailor-made suit. Richard seemed to be more impatient than I. "Come, let's go, Mother.""Yes, my son," I answered and led him into the living room.There, Edwin was already waiting and looking at us intently, making sure nothing was lacking in our appearance with just a glance of
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