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.
TYSHA After only less than an hour, we finally landed in Isla Llevaste. The helicopter’s landing was smooth as if like we were just hopping off a bus. As I stepped onto the soft sands of the island, a sense of surreal calm washed over me. Gosh! After everything that happened with Rue, I never thought I’d set foot here again. Yet, here I was, and surprisingly, it felt right. It felt like coming home. Despite the awkwardness of being with Rue again, I couldn’t help but smile, feeling the gentle breeze. It was as if the island itself was whispering a welcome back. As I stepped out, the familiar faces of Isla Llevaste greeted us. There was Cecilia, who looked like she had a few more laugh lines since the last time I saw her. She had that same welcoming smile that made you feel like you were coming home. “Welcome back,” she said, and it felt like no time had passed at all. Gosh! I missed them! After Rue and I broke up, I never imagined I would be able to come back here. But I did an
RUE I woke up with the sunrise, the salty sea breeze mingling with the scent of fresh-cut grass Isla Llevaste. It was a perfect morning for golf, and I had the perfect plan to add a twist to the game. I turned to Tysha, her hair was blown by the wind while she had a questioning look in her eyes. "Today, you're my caddie," I declared, a mischievous glint in my eye. "But not just any caddie—you're on ball duty." Tysha's brow furrowed, her lips parting in disbelief. "You want me to chase after your golf balls?" she asked, couldn’t believe what I just said. I nodded, barely containing my chuckle. "Most people bring their exes to their islands to sip cocktails, not to play an upscale version of fetch," she called out, her voice laced with obvious annoyance. Poor her, I’d like to see her annoyed face, so I’d do anything to annoy her. She then pouted slightly and just accepted her fate. “Hey, can you hand me the putter?” I asked, squinting at the green. She rolled her eyes. “You’re
TYSHADid we almost kiss?!My mind was racing faster than my heart, and that was saying something.One minute, Rue was just showing me how to swing a golf club, and the next, we were inches apart, close enough to share a breath. I could still feel the warmth of his hands on mine, guiding, steady... too steady. Why did I turn around? Why did his eyes have to look at me like that?And now, here I was, blushing like a schoolgirl with her first crush. It was ridiculous.We're adults. We're past this, aren't we?But then, why did my stomach twist into knots at the thought of his lips so close to mine? I shouldn't be feeling this way. Not after everything. Not after the breakup, the hatred, the moving on... or at least, the attempt to move on.“L-Look. Adam seems to be having fun!” I said to Rue in an attempt to pretend that I didn’t make a big deal out of what happened earlier. My voice betrayed me with a slight stutter, and I mentally kicked myself for it. Come on, Tysha, get a grip! Pul
TYSHAI was so pressured as I showed my skills to Rue. Who wouldn’t, right? I was not ready for another embarrassing moment so I tried really hard not to make a mistake. With a determined nod to myself, I revved the engine, letting the roar drown out the chaos of my thoughts. I steered us over the waves, the sea sprayed cool against my skin. I didn’t need to look back to know that Rue was impressed.When we finally slowed down, I could hear the smile in Rue’s voice.“Not bad at all,” he admitted.I grinned, feeling proud that I was able to show him my skills. “Told you so.”As the jet ski's engine hummed beneath us, I felt Rue's grip tighten slightly, a silent acknowledgment of my skill. "You handle this like a pro," he muttered using his calm voice. "Impressive."I couldn't help the pride swirling in my chest at his words. It was one thing to know I could do it, but another to hear Rue—Mr. Billionaire himself—praise me.Just then, a glint of white sand caught my eye, and I eased of
RUEI watched and let Tysha go, speeding away on the jet ski, her hair flying wild in the wind. With my feet planted in the sand, my heart sank a little. We just had it out, right here on this tiny strip of sand in the middle of nowhere. I said some things, she said some things… and yeah, I guess I deserved that look she gave me before she took off.I couldn’t blame her, not really. I knew I messed up, bringing all that old stuff back up again. But seeing her like that, so mad she couldn’t even stand to be near me, it stung. I thought maybe we could fix things, or at least understand them better. But maybe some things are better left alone.Now, all I could do was to watch her ride away, the sound of the engine getting fainter. I hoped she’d cool off, that she’d come back. But if she didn’t, well, I would have to live with that. I just wanted to make things right, but I guess I’ve got to learn my timing. The sun was beating down on my back, and the sand felt hot under my feet. I kep
TYSHA The guilt was like a stone in my stomach after I left Rue stranded on that sandbar in the middle of the sea. It was a rash decision, one that I regretted as soon as I made it. Still, I couldn’t get myself to turn back. As I walked back to the resort, everything was quiet. Adam was there, leaning against the railing, a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up as I approached, his casual smile fading when he noticed I was alone. "Where's Rue?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern. I avoided his gaze, focusing on a spot just past his shoulder. "He's still out on the sandbar," I said, my voice neutral. "Could you... could you go pick him up?" Adam set his coffee down. "Did something happen? Did you guys argue?" There was a gentle probing in his voice, an offer to listen, and to help. But I wasn't ready to talk about it, not yet. "It's nothing," I said quickly, too quickly. "Just... please, can you get him?" He studied me for a moment longer, searching for an answer I w
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