RUEI used to take advantage of my expertise in not giving a fuck. But ever since I loved someone dearly, I couldn't help but care about things—especially when it's about Tysha. The moment I found her, I found my weakness as well. The pain I felt when the woman I loved dearly ordered me to leave was unbearable. It felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces, yet I had to keep up the facade of indifference.I totally understood her mother's hate for me. Her treatment was totally okay with me. But what I couldn't stomach was Charles.Growing up in wealth, envy was a foreign concept to me. My family provided everything I needed, and I was accustomed to getting what I wanted. However, outside the gymnasium, when Tysha demanded I leave simply because Charles didn't want me there, I felt envy creeping in.Charles had something I wanted so badly. God, I wanted to be in his position so damn bad!A cocktail of emotions—hate, envy, and embarrassment—raged within me, but now, fury consu
TYSHA Why does Madeline need to talk to Rue too? Madeline's decision to involve him in our conversation puzzled me. I couldn't understand why she felt the need to include him in important matters she wanted to discuss with me. But, yeah, it seemed I had no choice in the matter. Despite my desire for Rue to stay away and not have the opportunity to pester me about my cuts and bruises, we both followed Madeline when she led us to her office. The atmosphere in Madeline's office was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock on the wall breaking the silence. She took her seat behind her desk and nodded at both Rue and me, gesturing for us to sit. “Have a seat, both of you,” she offered as she settled into her swivel chair. Rue and I took our places in the chairs in front of her desk. Before she got straight to the point, she noticed the band-aid on my forehead. Gosh! It was such a bad idea to put one on; it made my injury painfully obvious. “What happened to your forehead, Tysha?
TYSHA What the fucking hell?!I never expected Rue to refuse Madeline's proposal. After she poured her heart out to us, expressing how important Mason Academy was to her, the audacity of that arrogant billionaire to turn down her plea was beyond belief.Sure, he wasn't obligated to agree right away, but come on! Basic human decency, anyone? Especially considering his vast wealth, investing a few million in a school wouldn't dent his pocket.As Rue's callous response hung in the air, I couldn't help but feel deeply sorry for Madeline. She had tried her best, but it seemed she was up against a heartless billionaire. The embarrassment and pain etched on her face after Rue's refusal were unbearable to witness.The pain in her eyes was so palpable that it infected me too.After Rue and I left her office, I couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. So, I knew I had to do my part to help.I knew Madeline included me in her attempt to persuade Rue because she likely suspected that Rue and I w
TYSHAAm I ready to go back in Isla Llevaste? The place where my relationship with Rue first advanced?Just the thought of it gave me butterflies in my stomach. It's where Rue and I took that big step forward in our relationship. But back then, things between us were... complicated.Reality had a funny way of creeping in, didn't it? Rue and I had hit some rough patches lately. We had grown apart, lost in our own doubts and insecurities. Going back to Isla Llevaste would definitely have felt like revisiting a chapter of my life that I wasn't sure I was ready to confront.Still, after Charles showed me his true colors and hurt me last time, I started to reconsider Rue as the better guy in my life. There was a part of me that yearned for a sense of possibility and hope that in Isla Llevaste, Rue and I could be reminded of what brought us together in the first place. Maybe it was naive, but I couldn't help but wonder if returning to that place might reignite the spark between us.Then aga
TYSHA “So, you’re going for a work conference?” Papa asked, his eyes peering over his glasses. I nodded, avoiding eye contact. Gosh! How many lies do I have to make in this lifetime? “Yes, a very important one,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t betray my nervousness. Since I couldn’t go without talking to my kids and securing them first, I told my parents about the three-day trip. But I didn’t tell them I would be with Rue because for sure, they would be fuming mad at me. Mama set down her cup with a clink. “We’re happy to watch Aiden and Addison, Tysha. You go and focus on your work.” I smiled, grateful for their understanding. It made me feel relief. I was really worried about my kids. Even when I left them in my parents’ house for a day, I missed them right away. What more if I wouldn’t be able to see them for three days and two nights? Gosh! I would lose my mind! Actually, I’m already losing some screws in my head. “Thank you, both of you. I’ve wrttien a list of their favo
TYSHA The day before my island trip with Rue, I decided to finally drop my kids at my parents' house. The car ride was filled with the twins’ excited chatter about their upcoming stay with their Granny and Pops. As we pulled into the driveway, I could see my parents peeking through the curtains, their faces lighting up at the sight of their grandchildren. “We’re here!” I announced, as Aiden and Addison unbuckled their seatbelts and scrambled out of the car, their small feet hitting the pavement with eager thuds. My mother opened the door before we could even knock, her arms wide open. “Come here, you two!” she exclaimed, as the twins rushed to hug her. “Be good for Granny and Pops,” I said, kneeling down to hug them both. “And don’t give them too much trouble, okay?” Aiden looked up at me, his eyes serious. “We’ll be super good, Mommy. Promise.” Addison nodded in agreement, her arms still wrapped around my mother. “We’ll help Granny with the cookies,” she added. I stood up, m
TYSHA What just happened? Up until now, I still couldn’t process what I just experienced. The engine hummed softly in the background as Fred, Rue’s trusted driver, glanced at me through the rearview mirror with concern etched on his face. “Miss Tysha, are you alright?” Fred’s voice was laced with worry. “Isn’t that Sir Charles? Did he hurt you?” I leaned back against the leather seat, my heart still racing from the escape. I checked my arms if I got any cuts from jumping out the window. Fortunately, I only ruined my shirt. “Just drive faster, Fred,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor I felt. He nodded quickly, putting the car into gear. “And not a word of this to Rue,” I added which made his eyes widen. I could see the questions bubbling behind his lips, the curiosity that came with being privy to the private lives of the city’s elite. “But, Miss—” he started, only to be cut off by my sharp gaze in the mirror. “No excuses. Just drive,” I insisted, my fingers gripping
RUE Before our trip, I had to tell my son about it first. To be honest, if Tysha just agreed to bring her twins, I would have brought Henry with me too. But since she refused to, it would be awkward to bring him with me. “Hey, son,” I said to Henry the night before I go, trying to keep my voice light. “I’ve got to tell you something.” He climbed onto the bed, right next to the suitcase I prepared, and looked up at me. “What’s up, Dad?” I took a deep breath. “I have to go away for work for a few days. It’s just for three days, and I’ll be back before you know it.” Henry’s eyes got a little wide, but then he nodded. “Okay, Dad.” I hated that I’d miss him, but I nodded back. “I’ll be back in time, I promise.” He seemed to think about it for a second, then gave me a brave little smile. “It’s okay, Dad. I’ll tell you all about my tutoring sessions with Ma’am Celeste when you get back.” I ruffled his hair, feeling a mix of proud and sad. “You’re the best, Henry. I’ll miss you a ton.
TYSHAAm I really going to be the billionaire’s wife? Everything still felt surreal. When Rue finally got down on one knee and popped the question, I swear my heart skipped a beat. For a moment, I was frozen, not quite believing what was happening. It was like time stood still as I processed the moment.At first, I'll admit, I had my doubts. I mean, after I talked to his grandfather, that was when I realized that I answered his call and that he heard everything I said. Like gosh! What if he no longer proposed to me after I declined his grandfather’s offer to marry him? God knew how I barely had a sleep the night after that realization of mine. Although what I meant by my refusal was… I didn’t wanna marry Rue for money, I still felt scared that if ever he, indeed, heard our conversation, he would think I didn’t want to marry him in general. No. That was the complete opposite of what I was feeling. If I were to settle down, to build a life with someone, it would be with him.Marria
RUEI used to doubt love. I used to think that it was just a distraction, something that got in the way of real goals and messed with your head. Growing up, I saw too many relationships fall apart and people getting hurt, including my family. So, I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen to me. Focus on work, keep emotions in check—that was my rule.Then I met Tysha on that one special night in Eventide Cabaret.Everything changed. She wasn't like anyone else I'd ever known. There was something about her that drew me in. At first, I fought it. I told myself it was just a phase and that I'd get over it. But the more time I spent with her, the more I realized she wasn't a distraction. She was exactly what I needed—she set fire to my sleeping lust.“Every time I walk you to your room, it leads to lovemaking,” I whispered in between our kisses. Right after she accepted my not-so-spontaneous proposal, she pulled me into her room to continue our kissing session.“Next time, you won’t
RUE“I won’t marry Rue.”I couldn’t believe what I just heard. Tysha’s words echoed in my mind, bouncing around like they were trying to make sense but failing miserably.When she accidentally answered my call, I didn’t hang up, especially when I heard my grandfather’s voice talking to her. I was mad at Grandpa for offering Tysha money to marry me, but I stayed silent because I wanted to hear her answer. I never expected her answer would break me.“Our relationship is not a transaction, Mr. Colterzon. Just so you know. While I appreciate your concern for our future, marrying him should come from our hearts, not a financial incentive,” I heard Tysha continue. “So, no. I won’t marry him for money.”After that, I ended the call before she even noticed I was listening to her conversation with my grandfather.I felt a mix of emotions. I was angry at my grandfather for interfering, for thinking that money could solve everything. But Tysha’s words cut deeper. She didn’t want to marry me, eve
TYSHA“You wouldn’t be able to drive us home?” I asked Rue on the other line. I had just finished all my classes for the day when he called.“No. We just had an emergency meeting at the company. But I’ll send Fred,” he offered, but I immediately refused.“No need. I can drive us myself.”“Okay. Just tell the kids I’ll visit them later,” Rue said before ending the call.As I continued gathering my things to leave the faculty room, one of my co-teachers approached me with a curious look.Tysha, someone’s looking for you,” my co-teacher whispered, nodding toward the entrance. I glanced up from my stack of papers, my heart doing a little flip. Who could it be? A parent? Another teacher? “Huh? Really?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but my pulse quickened. The school day had been ordinary so far, and I wasn’t prepared for any surprises.“Yes. He’s waiting in the parking lot, with lots of convoys,” my co-teacher grinned, clearly enjoying my confusion. With my co-teacher's grin, the first
TYSHARue wanted to introduce our kids to his mother and grandfather and the thought of it made my stomach churn with anxiety. Like, gosh!I couldn't help but overthink the whole situation. His grandfather had always hated me, ever since I was with Bryse. He did everything in his power to separate us before. And now, after all this time, I was terrified that his hatred for me would extend to our children.What if Rue’s grandfather took one look at them and saw nothing but a reminder of my past mistakes? What if he couldn't see them for the wonderful kids they are and only saw my flaws? The idea of my kids being judged or rejected because of my history was unbearable.I kept imagining different scenarios, each worse than the last. Would his grandfather's anger flare up the moment he laid eyes on them? Would he blame them for the messy past I had with his family? I could almost see the disapproval in his eyes, and feel the tension in the room.Rue seemed confident that things would be f
TYSHA“This is their picture?” Rue asked as I handed him the photo album, filled with pictures of our kids. After they had fallen asleep, he had suddenly asked to see some photos of them. Luckily, I had been making albums of their milestones.“Yeah, right after they were born,” I said proudly, sitting beside him on the couch and joining him in looking at the pictures.Rue carefully stared at each photo, his eyes filled with a mix of wonder and regret, as if trying to relive the moments he had missed. Each image seemed to pull him deeper into a past he wasn't part of, yet desperately wished he had been.He traced a finger over a picture of their first birthday, his expression softening. “Who was with you?” Rue asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.“My parents,” I answered simply, trying to decipher what was going through his mind.“Just them?” He glanced at me, seeking confirmation.“Yes. Just them.”“How about Charles?” he asked.I thought he might be jealous, but when I l
RUEIn a short amount of time, I became super attached to the twins. Every day without them felt like a lost chance to be their real father. That's why I found myself constantly at Tysha's house, trying to make up for lost time.I longed to bond with them, to be a presence in their lives that they could rely on. It wasn't easy, knowing that I missed out on so much, but I was determined to do better.I held out the hairbrush when my daughter Addison came out of the bathroom. Her hair was damp and clinging to her small shoulders.As usual, I was in their house again, wanting to spend more time with my children."Can I brush your hair?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes.“Okay, Daddy.” Addison nodded, a shy smile on her face, and took a seat on the stool in front of me.I took a deep breath, aware of the importance of this gesture, and of the trust she was placing in me.As I began to brush, I was careful, mindful of every stroke."Am I doing this right?" I asked, watching her reaction in th
TYSHAOkay. If I was having fun earlier about how Rue shut Celeste’s bitchy mouth, I was no longer enjoying it now.“Is it true, Tysha? You’re dating Mr. Colterzon? The billionaire?!” asked one of my coworkers. “Err…” I stammered, unable to find the right words immediately.First of all, I didn’t feel the need to tell the truth to them. Second, to be honest, I didn’t really know the answer to that. Am I dating Rue again? We used to date but does co-parenting with him count as dating?“How about Charles, Ma’am Tysha? Did you two break up already?” Another question was thrown at me. It was Rupert who asked this time. The faculty room had turned into chaos the moment I walked in after finishing my classes.Even though Celeste kept her mouth shut after what Rue said to her, the news still spread like wildfire. Fortunately, before I had to say something, Madeline came into the faculty room. "Everyone," she addressed the room sternly, "what's all this commotion? Where is your professio
TYSHASince Rue had insisted on driving us to school, and I couldn’t help but feel a little bit nervous. I’m sure it would spark a new rumor about me and gosh! But yeah, I must comply. This would be nothing compared to the six years I’ve taken away from him.As I told my kids about what their father planned on doing, Aiden and Addison were already perched by the window, their noses pressed against the glass, waiting for their father.Then it arrived. Rue’s car glided to a stop in front of our house, sleek and attention-seeking because of its vibes that were screaming ‘wealth.’ It was the kind of luxury car you’d see in magazines. But what can I say? The father of my kids is a billionaire so…“It’s Daddy!” Aiden and Addison said in chorus as their eyes grew wide with wonder. They rushed out the door, their school bags forgotten for a moment, as they circled the car with open-mouthed awe.I watched them.“Good morning, buds! Ready for school?” Rue greeted them with the same enthusiasm a