“Good afternoon, Attorney Harrison.” Devlin greeted his grandmother’s lawyer the moment he saw him in his office. He wonders whether he is working today. He is such a workaholic man despite his age. “Good afternoon, Mr. Wesley. How are you doing? Please take a seat.” Smiled the aging Attorney Harrison. He is just a decade younger than his grandma. When Devlin’s grandfather was still alive, Attorney Harrison used to work for him as his personal lawyer. His grandfather was a very successful real estate developer. It was also Attorney Harrison who read the last will of his grandfather a few weeks after he died. His grandmother took the bulk of his wealth with almost all of his real estate properties as her inheritance. Devlin’s dad was also given some properties like the beach house and some apartments. Both Devlin and his older brother were given some parcels of land. Despite all the wealth her grandmother got, she lived a very simple life. Devlin knew that she also took good care of
“Hello Devlin…” Amber hesitated a bit. But she wants to cook a nice dinner for him before she goes home to her marmee. That is the only way she thinks she could repay his kindness towards her. She waited for Devlin to say something but the other line was quiet except the background sound of cars honking. He must be driving somewhere. “Devlin, can you hear me? I am not sure what you are doing but do you want me to hang up?” It took Colton a full minute to respond to Amber. She could hear his deep breathing. “Yeah, don’t hang up. I’m here. I just had to do something.” He lied. He is actually seething with anger right now. He blamed Amber for everything. Had she not met his grandma that day on her appointment at the hospital, he wouldn't get entangled with this mess. His grandma would have not made that drastic decision if she hadn’t been very sick. Amber’s appearance could have reminded his grandma of her wish to marry someone from her family to her friend, Amelia’s bloodline. Devli
The next day, Amber woke up early. She tried to stretch her body several times before she finally stood up to get ready for the day. Suddenly, she gasped out loud. She almost forgot about Devlin. He came last night too drunk to even know where he is. She immediately went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She quickly picked up her phone on the bedside table. It is quarter to 7. She hurriedly went to the living room to check on him. She would make breakfast for him. However, the living room is empty.There is no trace of Devlin except the pillow he used last night and the folded blanket on top of it. She went to check the kitchen. He must have gotten hungry. She felt bad that she didn't wake up earlier. But when she reached the kitchen, everything was the same the way she left it last night. Where did he go? He must have decided to leave without informing her. She felt disappointed. Well, she will just call him before she leaves tomorrow morning. She wanted to p
“Where the hell do you think you are going?” Came Devlin’s thundering voice. Amber didn’t realize that her body was trembling when she heard him. She was busy fixing the bedroom. She was already packed since last night. She didn’t have much to pack. She only took the things she brought with her when she first came to the condo. She left everything that Devlin gave her including the jewelry she got for that dinner party. “You think you can fool me, huh?” Devlin went to her and grabbed her wrist tightly. “Let go. You are hurting me, Devlin. I already told you yesterday that I am leaving today. I am sorry for all the misunderstandings. I never came here for anything except to attend your grandmother’s funeral and to hear your idea about our grandparents’ agreement years ago. That’s all. I just wanted to find peace in my heart that I will not be able to honor your grandmother’s wish.” She said with a shaky voice, fear was evident in her eyes. Devlin’s piercing eyes were really unnervin
Amber woke up the next day with swollen eyes. She cried herself to sleep last night. She regretted why she accepted Devlin’s offer to stay in his condo unit. She thought he was just being nice to her. After all, their grandparents were good friends. However, she made a huge mistake in trusting him. Now, she regrets crossing paths with him. She still remembers what she thought of Devlin the first time she saw him. She would not deny that she admired his looks. That was just a week ago. Now, everything has turned upside down. “There you are! I thought you would stay in your room for a while. I can’t fault you. You can have all these comforts while it lasts.” Said Devlin who just barged into her room without knocking. It is still early in the morning but Devlin’s insults are making her sick. She didn’t say anything to him. “So, you are planning to ignore me, huh. You keep your drama to yourself. It is not going to change the fact that you are a gold-digger.” His taunting words cut l
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge said while smiling at both Devlin and Amber. There is only one person who witnessed their wedding, Attorney Harrison. All their faces looked gloomy except for the judge. “Congratulations! I wish you both the best in your married life.” Said the judge. He didn’t linger long though as he had something else to do. He congratulated the newlyweds and exchanged a few words, then he left. The day was actually like a blur for Amber. She acted like a robot, following whatever Devlin told her to do. When it was close to 3 pm, they went together to the city hall. It only took less than 5 minutes to be done with their wedding. This is not the kind of wedding Amber had envisioned for herself. She wanted to get married to someone whom she truly loves. Looking at the man she just married, he could have been the perfect husband from his appearance. However, Amber knows who he truly is. She can’t wait for their divorce. “Mr. Wesley, I am sorry b
“So tell me, did you have fun with your shopping?” Amber was surprised to see Devlin in the penthouse almost the same time she arrived from her shopping. Amber didn’t really buy that much for herself. She bought two pairs of pants, shirts and dresses. Devlin frowned when he saw her shopping bags. “I hope you followed what I told Jackson. Get dressed. We are going outside.” Devlin left for his room. Amber was dumbfounded. How could he just order her readily? She just arrived. . Anyway, the reason why she didn’t buy much was because she bought something for Devlin. She saw this beautifully carved panther made from a black gemstone. It is a bit bigger than the palm of her hand. It is quite heavy. It is the most expensive item she bought from her shopping today. She meant to give it as a gift for him. She doesn’t know why she did it despite his callous treatment towards her. She noticed that he has huge collections of carved animals displayed all over his place. Some of them are mad
Amber almost groaned in frustration. She forgot about the rings. Devlin did not tell her to remove them. She did not reply to Raven and put her hand under the table. Then, Raven stared at Devlin’s left hand and noticed the single wedding ring on his ring finger. She gasped while staring back and forth between Amber and Devlin. Amber was looking at Devlin waiting for what he had to say. Instead, he was casually cutting his piece of steak and taking his time to chew it. Both Raven and Dalton were just staring at Devlin with a surprised look. “Hey bro, are you two married? This is a huge surprise!” His brother chuckled. Amber waited for Devlin to answer. He has never uttered a single word since his brother and Raven approached them. “Yes. We just got married yesterday.” Devlin casually announced like it was a simple business meeting. “Wow! That’s a big thing. Congratulations are in order then. Mind if we join you?” It was Dalton who spoke. Raven reluctantly sat down with them.
Two months had passed since they found out that she was pregnant and Amber had been living in sheer bliss. She had nothing but praise for her husband who had been extraordinarily loving, patient, and understanding with her throughout this period. In the past two months, so many significant events have unfolded. First, Devlin’s father and brother were both acquitted of their cases. It was uncovered that everything had been orchestrated by Harrison. Then, Raven gave birth to a healthy baby boy, filling their lives with so much joy. At marmee’s request, they visited Harrison in jail. Despite the problems he had caused, Amber held hope that he would eventually find the peace he had long been searching for. In her heart, she had already forgiven him, and Devlin shared the same sentiment. Harrison broke down when he saw Amelia after several decades. His initial intention had been to see her before he discovered that Amber was her granddaughter. It was Olivia who told him that Amelia has
Two weeks later, Devlin rushed towards the entrance of the emergency room. “Where is my wife, Amber Wesley?” He anxiously inquired of a passing nurse on his way to the emergency room.“This way, sir,” the nurse replied, her voice filled with reassurance. “How is she doing? Is she alright?” He hadn’t had the chance to ask marmee earlier when he received her frantic call from his office. She had only mentioned that Amber was bleeding, and he couldn’t make out the rest of what marmee had tried to convey. Without hesitation, he had left his office and sprinted to the hospital where his wife was. “Sir, the doctor will provide you with an update shortly.” The nurse led him to a curtained area. There, he saw his wife lying on a hospital bed, with marmee appearing deeply worried by her side.“Marmee, what happened?” He rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. Then, he turned his attention to Amber, who managed to give him a weak smile. “She slipped on the floor
Amber and marmee were busy preparing the table for dinner. They had just finished cooking, with the head cook and maids lending a hand. The kitchen was filled with the aroma of delicious dishes, and the table was adorned with an array of culinary delights. It was a feast fit for a celebration. “I am so glad I learned something great from the family who adopted me.” Amelia said out of the blue. Growing up with a family who enjoyed cooking, she was able to learn their special family recipes and now she can pass it all to her granddaughter. “I am happy for you, marmee. I definitely learned a lot of things from you.” Amber went to hug her grandmother. Then, marmee went on to say something while looking at her granddaughter with a twinkle in her eye. “Tonight’s dinner feels more like a celebration for both you and Devlin,” she remarked with a sly grin, then added, “ Maybe ‘it’s time for you to start working on my great-grandchild, dear.” Devlin, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chime
Amber was lounging by the pool when she felt a tender kiss on her forehead. It was, of course, none other than her husband, Devlin. He had left early in the morning, promising to return for lunch, and true to his word, he had.“Hey babe, what are you doing here all alone? Where’s marmee?” Devlin’s gaze swept the area, noting that only a few bodyguards were roaming around. He had purged their security detail after the recent incident. “Oh marmee? She went out for grocery shopping. She insisted on preparing dinner tonight,” Amber replied. She had urged her grandmother earlier to leave the grocery shopping to the maids, but it seemed marmee was too restless to do nothing. She had grown accustomed to life on the farm. “That’s fine, babe. They will help marmee in cooking.” Devlin was referring to the head cook and the maids. “Besides, we have visitors coming tonight.” Amber looked at Devlin with curiosity.“It’s Agent Smith and Abby. I know you've been eager to hear about what happened.
Amber awoke in an unfamiliar, white room. Her confusion mounted as she struggled to recall why she was there. Suddenly, a rush of memories flooded her mind. It became evident that she was in a hospital room. She scanned her surroundings but found no one present.She didn’t have to wait long though as Devlin soon entered the room, a warm smile on his face. He had just stepped out to collect some homemade food prepared by their head cook, along with a selection of fresh fruits.“Hey, baby, I’m glad you’re awake now. Is everything okay?” he asked, crossing the room to embrace his wife who wore a troubled look. Amber tried to sit up but winced in pain.“Take it easy, please. Your body is still recovering.” He helped Amber sit up more comfortably.“I am okay, just a bit sore.” Amber said, trying to smile to reassure her husband. “How long have I slept for?” She got curious since she remembered that it was in the morning when that incident happened. However, she could see that it was still
Inside the mansion, Attorney Harrison and Amber slowly descended the grand staircase with a heavy silence hanging over them. Amber’s heart raced, anxiety coursing through her veins. She faltered on the last step, her trembling legs betraying her. “Don’t make any stupid moves,” Attorney Harrison hissed, his grip on her tightening. “You’re my only ticket out of this hellhole.”Amber scanned the room as they moved forward, her eyes catching the hushed movements of the police officers who were waiting to the sides, giving way for them to exit. The tension in the air was evident, everyone keenly aware of the volatile situation. Every step was a careful calculation, every decision weighed against the risk of the hostage getting hurt.Amber’s gaze locked onto Abby and Agent Smith, standing off to the side but poised with their guns. Their expressions etched with worry and determination. Amber couldn’t help but wonder where Devlin was in all of this chaos, her mind racing with unanswered qu
“I am deeply sorry for the pain you’ve endured, Attorney Harrison. Regrettably, we cannot change what happened in the past. I hope you can eventually find it in your heart to forgive. I am genuinely willing to help you in any way I can. Please, spare Devlin and his family from whatever revenge you want to inflict against the Wesleys. Those responsible for your suffering have long since passed away,” Amber implored, hoping to persuade him that revenge wouldn’t lead to any true solace.“Huh! You don’t know what you are talking about. Devlin’s father and brother were cut from the same cloth. His brother, a well-known attorney, had a history of engaging in questionable, under-the-table transactions. Similarly, his father was involved in illicit activities, such as smuggling high-value art pieces and selling them on the black market for exorbitant sums. And you know what I did to them?” He paused with a wild look on his face. Amber was scared but tried to appear calm from the outside.“I r
Amber managed to maintain her composure despite the turbulent thoughts the photo album had stirred within her. She didn’t want Devlin to become even more concerned. With a deep breath, she turned away from her sleeping husband. As they settled into bed, Devlin quickly succumbed to exhaustion, his peaceful slumber an indication of how much he needed rest.Amber couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that those old photographs held a deeper significance in her life that she could fathom. Her grandmother had grown up in an orphanage, and so was Devlin’s grandmother. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, causing her to gasp in astonishment.Could it be possible that their guy also spent his early years in the same orphanage as their grandmothers? The mere thought sent her heart racing, and she found it nearly impossible to contain her curiosity.Questions swirled in Amber’s mind. What secrets lay hidden in their shared past that had shaped their ‘guy’ into the man he is right n
After Dalton and Raven left, Devlin received a call from Agent Smith.“Hello, Agent Smith. How’s everything going? How far along are you with the investigation?” Devlin inquired immediately.“I think it’s better for you to come here Mr. Wesley. I have both good news and bad news for you,” Agent Smith’s voice sounded grim.“Oh, alright. I was actually planning to come earlier as soon as we arrived here with my wife. However, we had unexpected guests to take care of,” He didn’t waste time explaining further. He wanted to know exactly what was happening with the investigation.“Is everything alright? You looked so serious,” Amber asked Devlin, who was unusually quiet. “We need to head over to Agent Smith. He has some news about the investigation,” Devlin replied, his expression grave.Amber didn’t waste time on further questions. “Of course. Let’s go find out what’s going on.”They quickly made their way to where Agent Smith and his team were staying. As they entered the room, they coul