TYSHA
As I watched Rue's eyes wander around my room, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervousness when they landed on the framed picture of us with Jeff, along with the stuffed toy he had given me. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but his casual comment put me at ease.
"You framed it, huh?" he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I've got mine in my wallet."
His proud display of our picture in his wallet made my heart swell with warmth. Despite the messiness of my room, his presence and our shared memories brought a sense of comfort.
I couldn't resist teasing him about the stuffed toy I gave him. "How about the stuffed toy that I gave you?" I asked playfully.
Rue's mischievous smile made my heart skip a beat. "Beside my bed? It's your substitute whenever I want to sleep beside you and you're not in my room," he replied
TYSHA "What do you think about the overall look?" my mother inquired as we inspected the facade of our newly constructed flower shop. Although we hadn't officially opened yet, we were busy preparing everything, focusing on the designs. After all, that's what typically captures the buyer's attention first. The shop's location couldn't have been better. We secured a spot on one of the bustling streets of New York City, ensuring high exposure to potential customers. "It's perfect! I can't wait for our opening!" I exclaimed with a clap of my hands. A look of relief washed over Mama's face. "You really think so? No bias?" "Yes, I promise," I reassured her. "Alright. Let me go help your father inside," she said, excusing herself as she headed indoors. I lingered a little lon
TYSHA I was over the moon when Charles handed me that delightful blueberry cheesecake. As he walked away, my taste buds were already dancing in anticipation. Just as I was about to step into the shop to enjoy my treat, I heard someone call out, "Is that Charles Williams?" Turning around, I saw Bryse, and instantly, my mood shifted. Not again. Why does he always show up when I'm trying to enjoy myself? "What are you doing here, Bryse?" I asked, ignoring his nosy question and trying to keep my tone neutral. To my surprise, he wasn't alone. Standing beside him, their arms intertwined, was a stunning lady. Well, isn't this a new development? I didn’t feel any bitterness though. I already moved on from him. I just pitied the woman he was
RUE After our driving practice, we decided to head to my penthouse for the rest of the day. Since the highway was jam-packed, I offered to drive, and Tysha agreed. I glanced at Tysha enjoying her blueberry cheesecake in the passenger seat. "How's that?" I joked. She grinned and offered me the last bite which I wholeheartedly accepted as I opened my mouth. She kept feeding me as we drove. After finishing her cake, Tysha seemed restless, and I couldn't help but notice she'd been acting a bit more intense lately—more emotional, more fiery, and definitely cuter. I couldn't figure out why. Then, out of the blue, as I was driving, her hand landed on my lap. At first, I tried to play it cool, but I couldn't help but feel a rush of nerves. Little by little, her hand made advantages and moved closer to my bulge. Her touch made me shift in my seat and I gul
TYSHA Ysabell: Hey, Tysha! It’s me again. What do you think about the idea Rue and I were discussing last night? That was the first thing I read on my phone screen as soon as I woke up in Rue’s bed. I had spent the night in Rue’s penthouse due to exhaustion from our activities the day before. When I woke up, he was already up, probably making breakfast. Seeing Ysabell’s message first thing in the morning was not a good way to start my day. What did she mean by the idea she and Rue were talking about last night? Rue and I were preoccupied with each other all night. Does she mean they texted each other right after I fell asleep? I rose from the bed and searched for Rue in his penthouse. When I heard someone cooking in the kitchen, I headed there, only to find him topless while preparing something. His sexy back looked incredibly appealing. If onl
TYSHA As I watched Ysabell's cheerful demeanor and her insistence on intruding into our plans, a knot tightened in my stomach. There was something about her that always set off alarm bells in my mind. Maybe it was the way she effortlessly inserted herself into my life, or perhaps it was the subtle superiority I detected in her tone and actions. Whatever it was, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease whenever she was around. I couldn't help but wonder what her true intentions were. Was she genuinely interested in bonding with us, or did she have ulterior motives? And why did she seem so fixated on me and Rue? Despite her friendly facade, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about her. And as much as I tried to brush it off, a part of me couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that trouble followed wherever she went.
TYSHA As soon as I left the coffee shop, I hailed a taxi to take me away from there. I couldn't bear the attention any longer; it was starting to weigh heavily on me. And the fact that even Rue had raised his voice at me... It was offensive! In moments like that, he should have sided with me, no matter what! But he didn't... and it hurt. It fucking hurt more than the cruel words Ysabell had thrown at me. Feeling certain that Rue would come looking for me, I avoided going home immediately. I switched off my phone to prevent him from tracking my location. Instead, I spent hours at an empty park, where I let myself cry until there were no tears left. For the nth time, Ysabell had succeeded in reducing me to tears. She didn't deserve my tears, but fuck! I couldn't control my emotions lately. And the incident at the coffee shop had shattered my heart into pieces.
RUE As Tysha exited the coffee shop, a wave of panic washed over me. It felt like I was losing her at that very moment. Despite Ysabell's distraught state, I left her behind and went after Tysha. I rushed to her house, hoping to find her there, but she wasn't. I even checked their flower shop, but she wasn't there either. Her phone was switched off, a clear indication that she didn't want to be found. In that moment, it dawned on me that I had messed up big time. I knew I fucked up. Damn it! I searched tirelessly for Tysha, feeling increasingly anxious with each passing hour. I even asked the help of my bodyguard in the search. Returning to her house repeatedly, I couldn't shake the fear that something terrible might have happened to her. The mere thought of it was unbearable, and I knew I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if that were the
TYSHA I heard it. I knew who Rue was talking about. And watching him lie to me was so heartbreaking. As I heard Rue's phone ring, my senses sharpened, and I felt the weight of the bed shift as he got up. With my eyes still closed, I listened intently, pretending to be asleep. But every fiber of my being was alert, tuned into the situation happening around me. Quietly, I watched him, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, just before he closed the door, I heard it - the name that confirmed my suspicions: "Ysabell." Time seemed to stand still as I processed what I'd just heard. My mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions, but one thing was clear - I couldn't let this slide. Despite my exhaustion, despite the late hour, I knew I couldn't go back to sleep without confronting him. I waited anxiously for Rue to ret
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