Nicole's POVI rubbed my face, no longer having to face Nova after being in the VVIP room. I was immensely enjoying my time inside, but when I came out, I started to worry and looked around the store for the old lady, but she was nowhere to be seen.I received the paper bag containing the jewelry I bought after paying. The staff smiled kindly. "Thank you for shopping at our store, Miss. Please come again." She bowed politely.I didn't reply, turned away from the staff, and left the store. I felt like going home and resting, but I also thought about going to the office to finish my other work. Before I could decide, a car pulled up not far from me, and the door opened.I thought everything was done with Nova, who was invisible before my eyes, but now I saw Chris, who stepped out of the car. The man's face looked hard, looking at the diamond shop I had just visited with a gaze that felt piercing.He seemed to be here to pick up his mother. Chris tried to call his mom again while I looke
Nicole's POVI felt an overwhelming tension throughout my body, seeing a figure I didn't expect to meet in person at all, together with a woman who was younger than me but ignorant and foolish. I unconsciously clenched my hands into fists, not expecting to meet the old man after only watching him on my laptop screen.He still looked the same. Adeline looked at us, more precisely at Chris. "Chris! Mom!" She exclaimed with a smile before turning to look at me without giving any expression.The woman and the father walked closer and closer. My gaze focused on the old man who hadn't said anything but followed Adeline, who walked first.My heartbeat seemed to slow down when I saw him walking towards us. I remembered him as someone who didn't deserve to be missed for the rest of my life. He never doted on or loved me like a father would his child.I never remembered my happy childhood with him. There was only Mom and a few servants who accompanied me to play. He would just be busy with his
Nicole's POVI had just arrived at the front of the house, but my feelings were still a mess. Many things filled my mind, especially after simultaneously meeting the people I hated.I forgot what I said when I met them, but this messy feeling remained. Mainly, when my mind was focused on Chris, that man still affected me when I no longer had the same feelings.He made me feel all sorts of things but forced me to pay more attention to her than anyone else.While still preoccupied with my thoughts, I saw Richard, who was walking in the park. His hand was holding a rope around the neck of a robotic dog similar to a herder. Looking at its shape, it seemed like my son made the robot.Richard looked at me with a bright gaze, noticing my presence when he was previously paying more attention to his robot. "Mom!""Hi, Richard." I was slightly startled by his exclamation but automatically smiled when I saw him walk over to me with his robot that could walk smoothly. "You're doing tests on your
Adeline's POVI exhaled, feeling increasingly agitated after the long wait from earlier. I had been fiddling with my hands a while ago, counting the seconds and touching my fingers with each one, but now my feet were also twitching with the increasing impatience I felt.Still, my patience had its limits. I gritted my teeth, looking around while muttering under my breath. "Where is he? What's taking so long? I do not have much time to waste anymore."Nicole Duncan, who I'm sure is the same person as my useless stepsister, will be on top if I leave it at that. With that person around, I was sure I could shake her attitude, which always seemed confident and expensive.I never wanted to admit it, but I could see many changes in that woman's demeanor that turned a hundred and eighty degrees, especially from the wealth she shamelessly displayed every time we met. Nicole was wearing all those things I wanted but never got until now. Especially with the Martinez Family's bankruptcy.I tapped
Adeline's POVI tried to please myself by walking around. There wasn't much to look at as some of the dresses reminded me of that bitch, while others didn't look interesting enough to buy.I finally walked into one of the boutiques that looked promising. A staff member greeted me politely, and another immediately accompanied me to each clothing section. section of dresses that had recently been released and immediately caught my eye. None of the dresses were similar to that woman's, so I chose the prettiest one.I looked at the staff carrying my chosen dress with a satisfied smile. "I'm glad I still have the diamond necklace I haven't sold from the jewellery collection in my house. I'll be able to buy a fancy new dress."I couldn't stop feeling excited when I received the paper bag containing the dress that the boutique staff had prepared. I already imagined wearing it to a party or an important event where many people would notice me.I muttered under my breath as I walked around aft
Adeline's POVI felt scared, alone in the police station that seemed to be busy with their work, as well as several other people who seemed to be arrested like me. I fiddled with my fingers with an uneasy feeling, looking for a delicate part that I could pick off my fingernails and remove to distract myself.This was the first time I had ever been to a police station. In my entire life, I've never been in a place like this for as long as I can remember. I looked at the policeman who had come to arrest me earlier, pretending to be brave despite feeling uneasy. "Sir, I... I want to call my parents. You guys are wrongly arrested. This is slander!" I asserted in a loud tone.The policeman looked at me calmly before turning to his computer screen. "We are not making arrests based on slander, as you say, Ms. Adeline. All the evidence regarding this murder case has been obtained, and you are included in it."I shook my head, furrowing my brow as I thought that it was impossible. It had been
Chris'bPOVI read the news about the case involving Adeline and her mother. A photo of the two was displayed, as well as a headline stating that Adeline allegedly killed her step-sister with the help of her mother.'Their case is still under our investigation', read a statement from one of the police. 'They have been arrested, and we will investigate the case to the best of our ability to achieve justice for the late Nicole Martinez.'Many people commented on the late handling of a long-over case. Still, some found it interesting because they were curious about what was behind the opening of a murder case that was initially thought to be just an accident.After searching, there was finally another article that said that the police also had evidence that could reveal the crime of the mother and son. There was only one line of the article that caught my attention.'The evidence is so clear that they can already be confirmed guilty.' Another party from the police stated. The rest were a
Chris' POVI heard the sound of Adeline's small laughter, which immediately brought me to my senses after thinking about her words. She looked happy to see me affected by her words, but I didn't let her be for too long.I still held her hand tightly, looking at her sharply. "You and I are different, Adeline. You are a demon. How could you kill the woman you've lived with for so long so easily.""Huh, are you replying to me now?" She looked at me in surprise. "You think you're a saint, Chris? We're all the same for ruining someone's life. Why do you think Nicole ended up dead like that? It's because of you too!"Adeline came closer, staring at me fearlessly despite the grimace of her hand that I had re-tightened. She smiled with raised eyebrows. "You have to let me out of here, Chris. The sooner, the better. You don't want me to remind you of what you did to Nicole, do you?"I was getting angry at this shameless woman in front of me. How could I be married to a woman who was the devil
Edwin's POVI didn't realize that loving someone would make me feel things I didn't know. Although my first encounter with Catherine was not good, it still left a deep impression on me.She was just an innocent woman who knew little about the world around her, even worse than me, who had always received a private education before deciding to attend a public university.However, the more I got to know her and talked to her, the more I found out that she wasn't just a spoiled child from a rich family. She had her own difficulties and realized that she couldn't just stand by and accept the injustices that were always said in favor of her family.We also became friends in the end, but something went wrong.I didn't have a problem with it at all. In fact, I liked it a lot. That woman had a lot of eyes around her, who noticed her and were obviously interested in her from a mild level to infatuation, just like her best friend.Although I didn't really understand the concept of love or anythi
Benny's POVI was very surprised to hear that Catherine would marry Edwin. Her father had rejected the proposal letter sent by my father a while ago, so I called her immediately."Yes, I'm going to marry Edwin, Benny." She answered without hiding anything else.I was silent for a long time, unable to believe what I was hearing even though Catherine had admitted it herself. She didn't seem to realize what I was feeling until she started telling me what had happened.My frown deepened as she told me, unable to contain my shock about what had happened to her. The fact that the woman I liked was pregnant with a man who had been hanging out with us for the past few days, making friends as usual.The man didn't show that their relationship had changed, but the truth was more than I could have imagined. The threat that I felt from Edwin finally came true. He usurped my position to be the only man who could be by her side.In the end, the relationship I tried so hard to build with Catherine m
Catherine's POV"Wow, you really made my parents speechless, Edwin."I praised him, feeling a little amazed by the man who could make me look at my father, who could only be silent without being able to do anything. My mother also looked very surprised and watched the man stunned, but still, my father's reaction was the best thing I had ever seen.No one had ever rivaled him, not even Daniel. My father only relented or made compromises regarding my brother, unlike when dealing with Edwin, who seemed to have slapped him to reality.We were already outside my house. I had deliberately escorted him to the residence fence because I didn't want to be with my parents and still wanted to chat with the man who had caused such a stir inside our house.The man snorted softly. "I know someone like your father. He wouldn't dare to contradict someone like me."I nodded, remembering my father's face, which could only harden, but I could not say anything. After all, Edwin's family was far more impor
Catherine's POV"I am happy for your relationship, Catherine and Young Master Duncan, " my father said with a disgusting smile. I had no idea that we would become a family so soon."He laughed to himself while I felt increasingly uncomfortable with the old man's increasingly blatant attitude. My father did not hide his pleasure at all with what Edwin and I had said today after my examination at the hospital.My gaze fell on the man sitting next to me. He still looked calm, giving me a quick glance as he reached out to take one of my hands. This made me feel less alone among my greedy family members.My father still maintained a smile, looking at Edwin and me in turn. "The relationship between you two should be kept a secret immediately so as not to cause any inconvenience to Young Master, don't you think?" He looked at the man and then at me with a faint smile."You are very clever, Catherine." His gaze pierced me. "You've managed to find a wonderful future husband for our family."I
Catherine's POVI was shocked by the man's words and looked at him. I liked him, but I wasn't sure about his feelings for me after finding out I was pregnant. After all, his sweet treatment back then and our current situation are different things.I swallowed my saliva and nodded. "Yes, Duncan. This baby is your son."I shifted my gaze in another direction. The man was probably angry. We had done it that time with the same desire, sharing the warmth of an intimate activity I had never experienced before. Still, it would be to my detriment if he was like any other man.He might turn out to be selfish and not care about me anymore after sleeping with me. I've heard several times from my friends that when a woman gets pregnant during a one-night stand, she has only two options. Keep the baby with no one or abort it and experience pain for who knows how long.Neither is good, and I don't want to go through it alone.One thing's for sure: in most of the stories I've heard, the man who spen
Catherine's POVWe arrived at a nice hospital, but I felt uneasy. I didn't feel dizzy anymore and was able to walk well, but Edwin was still holding me as if he was afraid I would falter again like before we arrived at this place.I looked at the man walking next to me. "I don't need treatment, Duncan. I'm already fine.""You can't." He shook his head without looking at me. "The doctor should at least check on your sudden limp while walking. He can prescribe medicine for you later."I exhaled, feeling his hand around my shoulder getting tighter, as well as his other hand clasping mine. I felt like I was getting too much attention to the point of feeling uncomfortable, but I was still grateful that he seemed genuinely worried about me."Alright.... I'll do it." I finally said.He nodded.This was my first time in a public hospital so being here felt quite strange. There were a lot of people and most of the people waiting around us were some women who looked pregnant or with their part
Catherine's POVMy life became more enjoyable after opening up to my two friends again. We often hung out together, spending time like the days before and sometimes joined Benny's friends who were quite friendly.After the closeness between the two men, people assumed that Edwin and Benny were inseparable friends. They often walked together, joined the same activities and organizations and were both in the spotlight among other students.It was a natural thing. Not only were their attitudes and personalities polar opposites, but the two men both came from prominent families and owned businesses that they would continue as the only sons of their respective families.They also had brilliant achievements in their respective majors, as well as good looks that were loved by many female students around campus, be it seniors or juniors."I like Edwin Duncan, he's very cold and handsome...." A woman said with a soft sigh.Her friend had a different response. "I prefer Benny Thompson. He's fri
Catherine's POVI entered the lecture again but avoided Edwin and Benny, who were trying hard to get close to me. Both men seemed equally stubborn in saying hello and being nice to me, even though I was always cold to them.They invite me to lunch, but I walk past them, accompanying them to read or study in the library. Then I moved further away and only had one seat, and then I just walked alone to my class.I actually don't mind being alone for now. There were too many thoughts swirling in my head, and my father warned me not to do anything wrong if I still wanted to go to college. A few days ago, my words made me a rebellious child, not something that did me justice.I regretted it a little, but I also couldn't deny that I had managed to say most of the things I had wanted to say a long time ago. Even if they didn't care at all, the important thing was that I didn't just keep those words bottled up inside me."This is tiring," I complained in a low voice.Sarah sighed next to me. "
Catherine's POVAfter hearing my words, I could see my father's gaze become sharper. I felt a little scared, but then I emboldened myself by returning his gaze more boldly.He frowned, still looking at me with his sharp gaze. "What do you mean?""I don't want to get married, Father," I said the meaning of my words more clearly, trying not to tremble in front of him. "Do you think I live only to get married for the sake of this family? If it's not with the man of Father's choice, I'll still be passed on to another man who doesn't fully match my wishes. I don't want to."There are still many things I can do even without getting married. I wanted to determine my life, like the women who weren't bound by the Varma family's nonsensical rules.They could do whatever they wanted, have fun, study, or whatever they wanted for their own future, without worrying about finding a husband who would be helpful to their family.Even if I don't get married, it doesn't mean I can't continue my life wel