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Chapter 3

Penulis: Blecyn
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-08-13 22:47:41

Carl's POV

Today was supposed to be the day I surrendered to my dad's persistent demands to get married, but instead of feeling excited or nervous, I just felt irritated. 

I'm Carl Oswald. At 30, I’m the acting CEO of LiveStrong, a company I inherited from my father. On paper, I have everything—a powerful position, endless wealth, and the legacy of a thriving empire. 

But what most people don’t know is that I live with prosopagnosia, face blindness. I can’t recognize faces or read facial expressions, not even my own family’s.

All I see are features that blur together, like pieces of a puzzle I can never solve. Voices, scents, and the way people move those are the only ways I navigate this colorless, faceless world.

I looked at the neatly arranged suit beside me, feeling a mixture of resignation and frustration. I had more important things to do, yet here I was, forced into a wedding I hadn’t even agreed to willingly.

 My father, a man of practicality and power, had orchestrated this whole thing. To him, a marriage was a strategic alliance, nothing more. And to me? It felt like an unnecessary complication.

I stood up, pulling the suit jacket over my shoulders, and stared blankly at my reflection. I couldn’t even see my own face clearly. Just a blur of features, indistinguishable from anyone else’s. My hands tightened around the collar of my shirt, grounding me in the reality of the day.

A sharp wave of panic set in. My new secretary, Miloslava, was supposed to be here by now. I’d given her clear instructions to arrive at the mansion before the ceremony. I needed her to help me with last-minute preparations, mainly paperwork, but also to help me navigate through the day. 

She was the only person who could keep me from embarrassing myself in front of people whose faces I wouldn’t recognize.

"Get here early," I'd barked into the phone yesterday, "I might need some last-minute paperwork sorted."  But of course, she was unreachable.  

 I kept dialing her number, only to be sent straight to voicemail growing increasingly frustrated. She’d only started yesterday, and she was already proving unreliable.

 

With my condition, I couldn’t afford that. I needed someone who understood the importance of being on time and dependable.

"She'll get it real hot from me when she shows up late," I muttered, shoving the thought aside for the moment.

The drive to the office was quick, but I couldn’t focus. The cityscape blurred past, but all I could think about was Miloslava’s absence. My world was black and white, literally and figuratively. Colors didn’t exist for me, and faces were just shadows. That’s how it had always been. Except… for her. Miloslava was different. She wasn’t just a voice or a blur. When she spoke, there was something vibrant—something I couldn’t explain. I couldn’t see her face, but she brought a spark of color into my dull existence.

The office was eerily quiet when I arrived. I stopped at Miloslava’s desk and, unsurprisingly, found her absent. Irritated, I stormed into my office, grabbed the necessary paperwork, and left.

On the way back, my thoughts returned to my wedding.

Why did I need a wife anyway? I'd managed perfectly well on my own all these years.

Work was my life, my passion.  The constant churn of projects, the thrill of the chase, the satisfaction of a deal well struck and most importantly, getting investors to invest, these were the things that fueled me.  

A wife, in my mind, was just another variable, another complication to my existence.

I didn’t believe in love, not the way others did. A marriage wasn’t about affection or partnership for me. It was just business, just like everything else in my life.

Yet, ironically, here I was, about to exchange vows with a woman I hadn't even met before for reasons best known to my dad.

I just needed a competent secretary, which I finally seemed to have found after sacking nearly 30 people every month. Well, don’t think I’m bad—they were just incompetent. Worst of all, most of them couldn’t even make a decent coffee.

 

The car finally screeched to a halt at the mansion. 

My ever-reliable chauffeur, John, jumped out to open the door. 

I stepped out to find my father rushing toward me. "Son, where have you been? It’s almost time for your wedding," he said, his face full of happiness as his four eyes met mine.

"I had to quickly pick up something, Dad, but I’m back now," I replied.

"Shall we?" he said, leading the way.

I got into another car, well-decorated and we headed to the church, where a few guests were seated. I’d told Dad I didn’t want a large crowd, so he invited a few friends and family, which I still found a bit large.

I walked to the altar and stood in front of the priest, waiting for my bride, with Hans behind me.

My gaze darted around the elegantly decorated church, still no sign of Miloslava. “That miss is in for so much trouble,” I muttered to myself.

A few minutes later, the creaking sound of the door echoed, and as the guests and choir arose, I knew my unknown bride was here. 

The choir began a soft melody, "Here comes the bride, here comes the bride.”

Everything remained numb to me. I just wanted to get done with this whole process and continue working on my project at the office.

Then, she appeared veiled in white, she glided down the aisle, her face obscured by the delicate fabric. As she approached the altar, the priest prompted me to lift the veil.

 I could see her chestnut hair parked in a bun, her flawless skin color. Wait, does it mean I can see things with color now? My heart lurched in my throat. 

Standing before me, eyes wide with a mixture of nervousness and defiance, with a familiar smell I lifted her veil as instructed by the priest was Miloslava.  

Wait what!!! My new secretary? My bride? This has to be a joke.

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  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 4

    Mia's POV…….I was expecting to meet my unknown husband today, but definitely not my boss, Carl Oswald.I was staring at my boss, the man known for his icy demeanor and towering ego, dressed in a tuxedo and standing at the altar, ready to exchange vows with me. The man who had made my life a living hell on the first day at work, was now my husband.The priest's brow furrowed in confusion, but I managed to compose myself, giving Carl a light nod though the shock was still present. "What are you doing here?" he whispered harshly.“Getting married to you obviously”I whispered back, with a fake smile.Despite his condescending tone, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked. "And what are you looking at, huh?" he whispered again, irritation creeping into his voice."I wasn't even looking at you, sir," I replied quietly with rolled eyes, trying to maintain my composure.I couldn't help but admire the way the tuxedo hugged his broad shoulders and chiseled jaw. But then, I reminde

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-08-13
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 5

    Carl POV The sight of my bride-to-be was a shock to me. The woman standing at the altar was my naive and outdated-looking secretary, Miloslava. This day couldn't get any worse, It was as if the universe had conspired against me, delivering the most unexpected twist to an already unwanted script.When she got to the altar, I could clearly see the color of her gown and skin, and for a brief moment, I was happy to be regaining my sight. But that happiness was short-lived when I realized it was Miloslava standing before me. She was the only colorful person I could see, and I still didn't understand why.There is something about her that made me hire her. Her name was the same as my late mother.That had seemed like a good sign, but not anymore. I couldn't see her face clearly; it was blurry like everyone else's due to my face blindness.She wasn't wearing her glasses either, but I felt her gaze on me. I'm sure she's happy about all this, that's why she came to work for me. This was

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-08-13
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 6

    She swallowed, trying to keep her composure. “We were just talking. Nothing more.”“Just talking?” Carl’s tone dripped with disbelief. “You seemed awfully friendly for just talking.”“Carl, I don’t understand why this is an issue,” Mia said, frustration creeping into her voice. “Hans is your stepbrother. We work together. I can’t just ignore him.”“Don’t act like I’m stupid,” he retorted, stepping closer. “Is there something you want to tell me?” Carl’s voice was calm, almost too calm, as he turned to face her.Mia frowned, confused. “I’m not sure what you mean.”His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer.“You’re my wife, Mia,” he said softly, his voice laced with something that almost sounded like desperation. “You shouldn’t be spending time with him like that. It’s... inappropriate.”Mia blinked, taken aback by his words. The word “wife” felt foreign, like a title that didn’t quite belong to her. The concept was laughable given the state of their marriage. The only thing binding

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-26
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 7

    Mia's POV My heart pounded in my chest as I realized who I had fallen on. Hans. His familiar scent and the warmth of his body made my stomach churn with embarrassment. I felt his steady hands on my shoulders, helping me back to my feet, but the awkwardness of it all was unbearable. I needed to get away, fast.I scrambled to pick up my papers, my hands trembling as I tried to put some distance between us. "I'm so sorry, Hans," I whispered, my face burning with shame.Hans, always calm, smiled gently. "It’s alright, Mia. It was an accident."But before I could say anything else, the air around me turned cold. I felt it before I saw him. Carl. I froze, my heart sinking, knowing that this moment had just taken a terrible turn.I slowly lifted my gaze and there he was—standing just a few feet away, staring at me and Hans. His face was hard, a mask of fury barely contained. My stomach twisted into tight knots.“Carl…” I whispered, my voice weak, but it didn’t matter. The tension in the air

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-02
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 8

    Carl's POV********I pounded on the door, my knuckles striking the wood with impatience. Each second that passed made the heat of my anger bubble up even more. Why was she taking so long to answer? Did she think she could avoid this conversation?“Mia!” I shouted again, my voice echoing down the hallway. It was nearly midnight, but I didn’t care. Sleep was the last thing on my mind.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the soft creak of the door opening. Mia stood there, her eyes wide and uncertain. “Carl...” she began, her voice barely above a whisper her body stiff and tense. It was obvious she was scared. Even though I couldn’t see her eyes clearly, I could sense it—hear it in the way her breath hitched and her lips parted nervously.Good. She should be scared after what she pulled tonight.I didn’t give her a chance to finish, without wasting another second, I thrust a thick stack of papers into her arms, not bothering to hide the coldness in my voice. “I want all o

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-02
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 9

    Carl's POV....The next morning, I pulled up outside Hans’ house, intending to apologize. I had overreacted last night.He lives with his dad and his mom while I live alone, well I'm married now I have to live with my so-called wife.Punching him had been out of line, and I knew it. As I approached the door, I could hear his mother, Mrs. Diana, speaking inside.I steeled myself, thinking about how I would start.But before I could even knock, the door swung open, and there she was. Her cold eyes met mine immediately, and without warning, her words cut into me like a blade.“Carl,” she hissed, “you’ve always been so self-centered. Just like your father. Do you think everything revolves around you? You attack my son over your... insecurities?”Her voice dripped with disdain. I stood there, frozen. She wasn’t done.“You may have all the power in that company, but in this house, you’re just a selfish, spoiled boy who never grew up,” she spat, her face twisted in anger.“You were just luck

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Chapter 10

    Mia's POV ...I heard Carl scream my name from his office.What is it now? I muttered silently to myself as I stood up and made my way to his office, trying to mentally prepare for whatever nonsense he was going to throw at me this time.When I stepped in, he was glaring at me, pointing to the spilled coffee on his desk.“What is this?” he barked, his voice cold and accusing. I rolled my eyes inwardly.Like it’s my fault you spilled your coffee, I thought but didn’t dare to say it out loud.“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll make another one right away,” I apologized, trying to keep my voice steady.Carl narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not impressed.“Like the rubbish you just made?” His words were sharp and condescending. I bit down on my lip, forcing myself to stay calm.“I’m sorry. It’ll be better this time, I promise.” I turned to walk out, ready to escape his suffocating presence, but his voice stopped me mid-step.“And where the hell do you think you’re going?” he demanded. I paused, taking

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-10
  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Eleven

    Mia's POVThe day had dragged on, and as evening fell, I was finally out of his office tidying up my desk, eager to leave the office. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any worse, I felt Carl’s presence beside me. His expression was, as always, unreadable.“Mia, follow me,” he said sharply."Okay...sir,” I replied, swallowing the rising irritation in my voice as I trailed behind him.Carl led me to the break room and turned to face me. His eyes scanned my dress, my roughly tied-up chestnut hair, and the heart-shaped glasses that rested on my nose. The way he stared made me feel self-conscious, as if every aspect of me was somehow wrong in his eyes.I could feel the tension thick in the air. Before Carl could speak, the door swung open and Hans strolled in. His eyes lit up with surprise, and something more jealousy maybe?“Am I interrupting something?” Hans asked with a grin, but his eyes flicked sharply between Carl and me.Carl straightened, his usual cold face slipping back in

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15

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  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fifty two

    Mia’s Confrontation with Carl(Mia’s Point of View I had been patient.I had been silent.I had swallowed my pride, endured the cold glares, the sharp words, the constant reminder that I was nothing in his world.But tonight—tonight, I snapped.Carl had always been unkind to me, but lately, it had gotten worse.His indifference had turned into something sharper, something more deliberate.One moment, he would ignore me completely. The next, he would find the smallest excuse to criticize me.My presence irritated him.Everything I did seemed to bother him.And I could take it—I had taken it for weeks. But what I couldn’t take was the way he kept pretending.Pretending like he didn’t see me.Pretending like I didn’t matter.And yet, I knew he was lying.Because I caught him watching me when he thought I wasn’t looking.I noticed how he drank the coffee I made every morning, even when he never asked for it.I saw how his gaze softened for a split second when I brought him dinner, only

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fifty One

    Carl’s Internal Battle(Carl’s Point of View I didn’t believe in fate.I didn’t believe in accidents either.Everything in life had a cause, a reason, a pattern. That’s how I had learned to navigate the world—by controlling what I could and shutting out what I couldn’t.But now, something was wrong.Mia.I saw her in color.And I had no logical explanation for it.For as long as I could remember, faces had been a blur to me. A disorder, they called it—prosopagnosia—but I had long since stopped caring for labels.I learned to live with it.I memorized voices, movements, the way people carried themselves. I didn’t need to see details to understand who someone was.But my world was gray.Everyone was the same. Shadows. Outlines. No color.Until her.Until Mia.The first time it happened, I thought it was a mistake. A trick of the light.But it wasn’t.It kept happening.Every time I looked at her, I saw more.The deep brown of her hair, the warmth in her hazel eyes, the soft blush of he

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fifty

    Mia’s Growing Influence(Carl’s Point of View I never liked changes.Routine was predictable, controllable. I knew what to expect, how things worked, and where everyone belonged. That’s how I kept my life in order, my emotions in check.But then she happened.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.My unwanted wife. My unexpected problem.She was supposed to be nothing more than a contract—an obligation. Yet, somehow, she was everywhere.And worse?I was starting to notice her.It started with something small.My coffee.I was particular about it—strong, just a little sugar, no milk. No one ever got it right. Not my previous secretaries, not my staff, not even Tashi, despite her years of working with me.But one morning, as I sat at my desk, drowning in files, Mia walked in and placed a cup in front of me.I barely looked at her. “I didn’t ask for this.”She didn’t flinch. “I know. Just try it.”I frowned, but the smell of it was familiar. Too familiar.I hesitated before picking it up and taking a

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourty Nine

    Tashi’s Growing Rage(Third-Person Point of View Tashi Matsuda had spent years by Carl Oswald’s side, believing—knowing—that she was the only woman who truly understood him. She had been patient, watching from the shadows, waiting for the moment when he would finally see her the way she saw him.But that moment never came.And now, it never would.Because of her.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.The woman Carl barely tolerated. The woman he was forced to marry. Yet, somehow, he was protecting her.Tashi had expected Carl to treat Mia like an obligation—nothing more. But instead, he was defending her. Subtly, perhaps. But still.It was enough to drive Tashi to the edge.She had wasted too much time waiting for Carl to come around. If he wasn’t going to acknowledge her, if he was going to let Mia take what should have been hers, then she would take everything from him.And she knew exactly how to start.By turning to the one man who had just as much reason to hate Carl as she did.Hans Oswald.

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourty Eight

    Ashley’s Move(Third-Person Point of View The evening air inside LiveStrong’s headquarters was cool, carrying the faint scent of polished wood and expensive cologne. Most employees had already left, but Ashley Kensington remained behind.She wasn’t here for work.She was here for him.Carl Oswald.The man who had always been just out of reach.The man she wanted—not for love, not for romance, but for power.Ashley adjusted her silk blouse, ensuring the buttons were open just enough to draw his attention without seeming desperate. She had spent years perfecting the art of seduction, using her beauty to get what she wanted. And tonight, she wanted him.Or at least, she wanted to ensure that Mia Miloslava Pankraz never had him.She found him in his office, exactly where she knew he would be. He was seated at his desk, focused on his laptop, his sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong forearms. His expression was unreadable, his sharp jawline tense with thought.Perfect.Ashley walked i

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourty Seven

    Carl’s Silent Protection(Carl’s Personal Point of View – I hated mistakes.Especially in my company.Especially in front of potential investors.And especially when they involved a deal I had been working on for months.The moment the presentation collapsed in that conference room, I felt a familiar irritation creeping up my spine.I had expected better from Mia.But as I sat back, watching her fumble through the mess, something didn’t sit right with me.Mia Miloslava Pankraz was many things—a woman forced into a marriage she didn’t want, a stubborn employee who didn’t fear me the way she should, and an unexpected distraction I didn’t need.But she wasn’t careless.She wasn’t the type to mess up an important presentation.And yet, she had.Or at least, that’s how it looked.The question was—why?I wasn’t the kind of man who jumped to conclusions.I believed in evidence. Logic. Control.And right now, everything pointed to one clear fact—Mia had failed.But something about her reacti

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourty Six

    Hans’ Unresolved Mystery(Third-Person Point of View Hans Oswald was not a man who easily let things go.His mind was sharp, his instincts sharper. He had built his life on calculated decisions and an ability to read people within seconds.Yet, there was one person he couldn’t quite figure out.Mia Miloslava Pankraz.From the moment she walked into LiveStrong as Carl’s new secretary, something about her had felt familiar.The curve of her face, the way she carried herself, even the sharp retorts she gave when Carl underestimated her—it all tugged at something buried deep in his memory.But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t place where he had seen her before.And it was driving him insane.Hans sat in his office, fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk.His laptop was open, but the screen was a blur. He wasn’t focused on work.Instead, his thoughts kept drifting back to her.He had always been good with faces—except when it came to Carl, of course. Thanks to his prosopag

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourth Five

    Mia’s Soft Side(Mia’s Point of View The night was quieter than usual.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Sleep refused to come. My mind was restless, tangled with thoughts I couldn’t silence.Ever since I married Carl, I had expected indifference, maybe even hostility. But I never imagined I would find myself caring—even in the smallest ways.It was absurd.And yet, here I was, thinking about him.Earlier tonight, I had heard him. A muffled sound from down the hall, something between a groan and a gasp. It was faint, but in the silence of the mansion, it was enough to catch my attention.I hadn’t planned on knocking on his door.But my feet had moved before my mind could stop them.And when he opened it, the look in his eyes had shaken me.Carl Jasper was many things—arrogant, controlling, unreadable. But tonight, he had looked…Lost.For the first time, he wasn’t the cold and untouchable CEO. He wasn’t the man who made biting remar

  • Faceless Love with Mr CEO    Fourth Four

    Carl’s Nightmares(Carl’s Point of View – I woke up with a gasp.The room was dark, except for the dim glow from the bedside lamp I had forgotten to turn off. My heart was pounding, my throat dry, my entire body tense with the remnants of a nightmare I couldn’t escape.It was the same one.The accident.The screech of tires. The shattering glass. The smell of burning metal.And the worst part—her voice.“Carl, baby, don’t be scared.”I squeezed my eyes shut, but it didn’t help. The images were still there.My mother.Her blood on my hands.Her face, twisted in pain, trying to smile at me.I could still feel the warmth of her fingers brushing against my cheek before they went cold.And just like every time, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t stop it. I was trapped in a moment I could never change.I sucked in a sharp breath and ran a hand through my hair, trying to ground myself. My shirt was damp with sweat, my body trembling slightly from the intensity of the dream.I needed air.Throwing

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