CHAPTER 15The sun was already high when Elizabeth woke up. She quickly sat up, startled to realize she was now in bed. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in the living room with Wulfric.Memories of last night rushed back to her. Her cheeks flushed, and she buried her face into the pillow, hitting herself lightly on the head.What she had done last night was so wrong. Even if it was just a kiss with Wulfric, it still wasn’t right! She’s legally married, and so is he."You're so stupid, Elizabeth Shanon!" she scolded herself in frustration."Momma, it’s breakfast time!" Earl came into the room. He was still in his pajamas, with his hair all messy.She sat up and helped him climb up on the bed."Did you just wake up? Where’s Lottie?" she asked."With Daddy. Daddy’s cooking breakfast," he answered sweetly before planting a kiss on her cheek and snuggling into her neck like a baby.“Daddy said, me and Lottie will go to school when we get back to the city.”Wulf hadn’t menti
CHAPTER 16“Sir, Mr. Eldridge insists on speaking with you. He’s determined to get your address and is willing to travel just to meet you.”A surge of annoyance hit Wulfric.He had canceled his meeting with Eldridge because he needed to be with his family. Whatever the old man wanted to say, it was far more important to be with the three of them.He had even postponed billion-dollar projects at Montiner Construction. If clients were cool with that, great. If not, they could go find another construction firm that could match the quality his Construction firm offered.“Don’t tell him where I am.”“Yes, Sir,” his secretary replied formally. “No one should know where you are, and no one should disturb you about work.”“Good. Now, tell Eldridge to wait until I return, or he’ll never see me.”“And if he still insists, Sir?”“Let security drag him out. You know what to do.”“Is there anything else you want me to handle aside from dealing with Mr. Eldridge?”He frowned a bit while staring at
CHAPTER 17“Aren’t you sleeping here, Momma?” Lottie asked, her lips pouting as Elizabeth packed clothes into a suitcase.Their return to Southshire was sudden. When they got back from Hacienda Gustave, it looked like a storm had ripped through her house. Nothing was stolen, but her phone was smashed, and the SIM card had been cut in half.Wulf immediately pulled her back to the car. She didn’t protest, knowing he was just protecting them—especially the twins, who seemed unable to grasp that someone had broken into their home.A Montiner Construction chopper landed on the wide grounds of the Hacienda. And Gustave made sure they left San Idelfonso safely.“Momma’s going to stay at Tita Dory’s house,” Earl answered his sister.The twins were sitting side by side on her bed. Looked adorable in their matching We Bare Bears hoodies and pajamas.“Why? Tita Dory can sleep here. I’ll tell Dad. He will say yes because I’m his baby princess,” Lottie declared confidently.Liz couldn’t help but sm
CHAPTER 18Elizabeth smiled and thanked Dory as she handed her a list of companies to which she could apply.“Do you want me to back you up?” Dory offered. “I know some people in these companies.”“You know I don’t like doing things that way.”Her friend rolled her eyes and flopped down beside her. “No wonder you were Sir Arthur’s favorite instead of his own granddaughter. Catherine never did anything but complain.”“He didn’t really favor me. He probably just thought I was easy to work with,” Elizabeth countered“We both know Sir Arthur favored you because you're hardworking and actually earn things you have. If we weren’t best of friends, I’d think you were his daughter instead of that witch Martha.”Liz couldn’t disagree with that.Arthur had treated her like his own daughter. She chose to believe it was simply because of her late mother's loyal service. She didn’t want to think she had taken Catherine and Martha’s place in the old man’s heart.“Is your resume ready?” Dory asked, f
CHAPTER 19 (PART 1)Cameras flashed non-stop when Wulfric and Elizabeth stepped out together. Like Dorothea mentioned, Wulfric wasn’t just any guy in Southshire City. The media swarmed as soon as their limo pulled up outside the venue."Mr. Montiner, what are upcoming projects of Montiner Constructions?""Is it true that you’re married with kids already?""Who’s this woman? Is she your latest flavor of the month?"Elizabeth wanted to sink into the ground from the embarrassment of being dragged into the media frenzy. Wulfric, however, signaled the limousine driver to leave without saying a word.Bodyguards quickly stepped in. Created barrier between them and the reporters, as they made their way toward the hotel lobby.“Where are Charlotte and Earl Kenz Shanon, Sir?” the staff asked politely after asking invitation to confirm they were on the guest list.“They came in through the back,” Elizabeth responded before Wulf could say anything."We will make sure they’ll arrive safely at the
CHAPTER 19 (PART 2)“C-Channing?”“Yes, Ma’am. The biggest hotel in Southshire City. Is there any problem?”Twins’ gaze shifted from Elizabeth to the woman in front of them, leaving her throat suddenly dry.She shook her head in response.“I’ll take my leave then. Enjoy the party, Ma’am.” The staff gave slight bow before turning away.“Are you okay, Momma?” Earl asked. His eyes filled with concern as he handed her a glass of water. “Please drink this.”Meanwhile, Lottie ran to her father, who was standing not too far away, tugging at the hem of his suit jacket.“Daddy, Momma’s not okay,” she told him, her voice laced with worry.The businessman Wulfric was talking to glanced down at Lottie in surprise.“You already have a child?”Instead of answering, Wulfric excused himself from the conversation and hurried over to Elizabeth’s side.“You’re pale.” He gently brushed her cheek with his hand.“I’m fine,” Elizabeth answered.But Wulfric’s eyes dropped to her hands, which were trembling i
CHAPTER 20 (PART 1)“Dory, that’s enough!”Dorothea was slapping Catherine while gripping her hair. Elizabeth tried to pull Dorothea away, but Anderson pushed her back.Fortunately, Wulfric caught her before she could hit the floor.“Let go of me, you jerk!” Anderson had Dory restrained by both wrists. Catherine quickly stood up and slapped Dorothea in return.“Don’t hurt, Auntie Pretty!” her daughter screamed, rushing toward Catherine. The woman shrieked in pain when Lottie bit her on the leg.The little rascal ran back to them before Catherine’s sharp nails could reach her.“You’re a coward, Anderson. A pathetic coward. Cheater!” Dorothea shouted.Her ex-boyfriend finally let her go. Dorothea’s palm slapped his cheek, causing Catherine to erupt in fury again, grabbing her friend's hair once more.“Dory, stop it!” Elizabeth pleaded. Desperately tried to pull her friend away. But suddenly, Catherine grabbed her hair too, making her scream in pain.“Shit!” Wulfric cursed under his breat
CHAPTER 20 (PART 2)“My scalp hurts,” Dory complained they finally entered the hotel suite they had booked.“That’s what you get,” Elizabeth flicked her best friend’s forehead. “You sure know how to stir up trouble, Dorothea.”“I’m not going to let that Catherine bully you again.”“You didn’t have to do that,” Elizabeth replied as she busied herself opening the first aid kit provided by the hotel. She’s really grateful to Dorothea for always standing up for her. She was strong in many ways, but she was completely out of her depth when it came to confrontations or physical fights. It took her to reach a breaking point before she would even speak up or defend herself. Back in school, her classmates used to joke that she didn’t even know how to get mad.But contrary to what they thought, Elizabeth just had an incredible amount of patience. She only grew a little braver after giving birth to Lottie and Earl.“You’re my best friend, Elizabeth Kaycee. And besides, I need to make up for not
CHAPTER 98"I can’t, Allenon. The kids are waiting for me."His smile faded as soon as he heard her response. By six o’clock sharp, he was already outside the restaurant, hoping to pick her up.“Then let’s bring them along.”She shook her head. “The kids asked me to come home early.”“They’re your parents now?” he teased.“They just want to spend more time with me. My children are still young—they need me more than anyone else.”He was about to argue when Giovanni approached them, stepping in between her and Allenon.“Angus is looking for you,” he said seriously.He didn’t budge until she replied.“Fine, I’ll take a time-out.”“I’ll take you—”Van cut Allenon off. “I’ll handle it. Angus specifically asked for me.”Giovanni even accompanied her while she clocked out, ensuring her suitor had no chance to offer a ride.As she walked toward the apartment, she noticed Giovanni trailing behind, but he quickly disappeared when she caught sight of a figure standing in a dimly lit spot. Her he
CHAPTER 97She was absolutely furious about Maddoxx Almir’s sudden appearance.The way he claimed to have found her felt like a raging storm sweeping through her life. If not today, then tomorrow or the next, someone else from Southshire would undoubtedly come looking for her. The peace she had carefully nurtured over the past five months was on the verge of being disrupted.“Did you talk to him?” Mrs. Ivanovich greeted her with the question as she came inside.“Yes, Ma’am. Just an acquaintance,” she answered politely.“Oh, he seemed so eager to speak with you. We thought it was something urgent. He even said he’d trespass if we didn’t let him in.”“He just wanted to say something, Ma’am. He won’t be coming back,” she replied and apologized for Maddoxx Almir’s behavior.Mrs. Ivanovich insisted on having them driven home, even though their apartment was just in the center of Northshire. During the ride, she couldn’t help but glance repeatedly at the side mirror. Maddoxx’s car had been
CHAPTER 96“Ms. Shanon?”She blinked several times.“Are you okay?”She nodded at Cale and quickly averted her gaze. She wished she could just crawl under the table out of embarrassment. She’d been completely lost in thought while staring blankly at him.Why did his eyes have to be gray, too?“Sorry, Sir. I suddenly got a headache,” she explained.“You can go home early.”Her boss was considerate to all employees. It wasn’t obvious because he was always serious and rarely smiled, but his kindness showed in moments like this.His son, Giovanni, had clearly inherited his personality rather than his mother’s. Ma’am Jenza, on the other hand, was warm and approachable, always smiling and quick to connect with everyone—even though she practically owned most of the land in Northshire.“I can manage, Sir. It’s only a few hours until my break.”“Alright. Will you pick up these spices then?”“Sorry, Sir,” she declined. “I can’t leave my kids alone at home.”“Ah, yes. I forgot. I’ve been to Sout
CHAPTER 95"Wokey dowkey, Momma."Though she was exhausted and still half-asleep, Elizabeth had no choice but to get up when she heard Charlotte’s voice. It was too early, and yet the little troublemaker was already causing a noise.Charlotte suddenly jumped on top of her, making her gasp for air."Wokey dowkey now, Momma. The baby princess is hungry!”"Where are your brothers?""Earl is playing with Harmony." Charlotte answered, referring to the golden-haired cat from the next apartment. Its chubby frame had completely won over her eldest. "While brother Angus is doing the laundry. He doesn’t want me to help him."That got Elizabeth fully awake. Despite telling Angus that she could do the laundry for him, he insisted on doing it himself. If she hadn't stopped him from cooking in the kitchen, he would probably have been the one preparing meal while she was at work."I'm almost done, Momma," Angus called from the laundry room, standing proudly in front of the washing machine."Thank yo
CHAPTER 94“I’ll have the driver take you home, Elizabeth,” Cairus said while gently gripping her arm to lead her away from the interrogation room.Her entire body felt numb as she let him guide her.“My son didn’t mean what he said.”She gave a soft, bitter laugh and shook her head. “Please tell him I wish he hadn’t messed up my life.”Leaving him looking sympathetic, she walked away.She didn’t need Cairus’s pity. Even if he beat Wulfric to a pulp, it wouldn’t change the fact that his son had something to do with her father’s death. He’d mentioned her father’s name to Wulfric, knowing full well how violent her husband could be, yet he still mentioned it.Did Cairus not consider what that could lead to?“Condolences, Elizabeth. We didn’t expect Arthur to leave us this soon.”The woman who spoke reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before pulling her into a brief hug. Sensing Elizabeth’s stiffness, the woman let go and walked away, understanding that she needed space to gr
CHAPTER 93A Nightmare.She wished it was just a terrible nightmare. That she would wake up and still see Arthur's cheerful face lighting up whenever he looked at her.Not like the cold, lifeless body now lying before her.“P-Papa, why are you sleeping there?” Her voice was weak and trembling as she stared at her father’s pale body.He didn’t respond. Desperate, she gently shook him, but his eyes remained shut. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.“Papa…”Elizabeth clung to her father’s lifeless form while sobbing uncontrollably.“Wake up, Papa. Please. Please, wake up,” she pleaded. Her voice breaking like a child begging for a miracle.“You can’t leave me. You promised me. You said you’d make it up to me. I’ve only known you were my father for a year. Why did you leave me?”Her hands slipped from his lifeless body as her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.Melba quickly rushed to her side, draping a coat over her trembling shoulders. Elizabeth hadn’
CHAPTER 92Elizabeth felt a surge of relief when she got home. The familiar sports car was parked in front of the mansion, and she could hear Lottie’s delighted squeals. The sound of two boys laughing and Wulfric’s deep voice echoed from inside.“Momma’s here! Momma’s here now!”Charlotte quickly slid off the couch when she spotted her mother. The children raced toward her and wrapped their little arms around her legs.“Daddy picked us up from school, Momma! Where were you?”“I went to your Grandpa Art’s house.”“You didn’t wait for us! We wanted to see Grandpa Art, too.”She gently pinched Lottie’s cheek. “Next time, okay?”Obediently, Lottie nodded before running back to Wulfric, proudly announcing her mother’s presence as though he hadn’t noticed.“Daddy’s home now! Momma, say ‘I miss you’ to him!”Elizabeth hesitated, unsure whether to approach Wulfric or stay where she was and wait for him to make the first move.Angus and Earl gave her a playful shove.She stumbled right into Wu
CHAPTER 91Dorothea handed her the invitation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of her mall's opening.“That’s not until the end of the month. You have to come, Bestfriend. No excuses.”She gave her friend a faint smile and glanced at the names printed on the scented paper.She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Dory could freely go out and meet people. Her best friend was a career woman, while she spent her days staring at the walls of a massive mansion.“Don’t be sad. Talk to Alpha again and tell him you want to work.”“I already did,” she said, shaking her head. She wanted to push her husband further, but how could she when even his shadow was nowhere to be found?She and the kids had been staying at the manor for several days, and during those three days, her husband hadn’t come home even once.“I’m sure you two will make up. Your husband loves you so much.”“He doesn’t trust me. He even accused me of having an affair with the Chairman. I’m not Eva. I would never stoop to her
CHAPTER 90 (PART 2)He shook his head in dismay, even though he’d always known how irresponsible his father could be. Saying something like that to Angus felt like treating the boy as a dog that could simply be given away.“I love Momma and Papa. But you’re my father, Chairman. Papa Wulf may not like it.”“Use your brain, kid. I’m giving you an idea to have a complete family. Your mother isn’t coming back.”“Don’t you like me, Chairman?”The sad tone of his brother’s voice made Wulfric’s jaw tighten. He could tell Angus was holding back tears and struggling not to break down.“You’re a bastard. There’s no place for you—”Wulfric’s patience snapped. He kicked the door open with force. His fists clenched as he stormed toward the two, and both frozen in shock at his sudden appearance.“You motherfucker! Heartless old man!”“We’re having a conversation, Nikolaus Wulfric. I didn’t ask you here to my office,” Chairman Channing said coldly.“Fuck your rules.” Wulfric pointed at Angus. “He’s