"Really? Is that true? What did you say to your dad?" Kristen asked in surprise upon hearing Mira’s revelation about her father's condition.Mira nodded before responding, "Honestly, I didn't know what to say at that moment. So instead of refusing or accepting, I told him I would think about it." The sunlight streaming through the large windows illuminated her troubled expression.Kristen sighed, unsure how to comfort her friend given the difficulty of her father's request."Who do they plan to marry you off to?" Kristen asked. Mira just shrugged and said, "I have no idea. I haven't even had a boyfriend. Maybe Dad is just eager to have a grandchild."After speaking, she looked at Kristen with concern, "Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to target you or anything. I'm just frustrated with Dad and feeling pressured. Not only that, but I'm scared of the idea of an arranged marriage, Kristen. Especially since not all of them are successful.""I understand."Mira took a deep breath before spe
When they arrived at the hospital, Mira made sure Kristen was resting comfortably in her room, which was softly lit by a small bedside lamp casting a warm, calming glow. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lavender, a mix that somehow felt both sterile and soothing. Once Kristen was settled, Mira left to look for the man who had saved them. She searched through the slightly cold and clinical hallways until she found him at the billing section."Who is this patient, sir?" the nurse asked the man, her voice carrying a professional yet curious tone."Ah, well, I don't know their names. Just the ones in rooms 301 and 302," he replied."Okay, sir. Are you paying their entire bill?" the nurse asked, sounding a bit hesitant.''Why would he pay our bill?' Mira wondered, hiding behind a column near the vending machines.After the man and the nurse finished their conversation, he was about to leave, so Mira quickly hid behind a large potted plant. She felt strange about hiding, as if sh
"You know, I've been wondering for a long time how I ended up in the hospital. I believe it was because of what Ashton did to me, since that's the last memory I have before being hospitalized. Yes, it truly traumatized me, but you know," Kristen looked down while sharing this with her husband. "When I woke up, it felt like I'd been lying in the hospital for a very long time. What I don't understand is that none of the people around me told me what really happened."At that moment, Marcus didn't know how to react. While listening to his wife, he couldn't help but think if he should finally tell her about what happened in the past. "Could it be that something else happened to me after that?"Meanwhile, when Pablo and Rihanna met at their hangout spot, Rihanna couldn't stop herself from hurting him. "You're so stupid, Pablo. The task I gave you was so simple. Those pests were right in front of you, and you still couldn't do it properly?"Even though Pablo didn't like Rihanna's tone, he t
Later that morning, Mira decided to go to the gallery to collect her belongings as well as Kristen's. While she was gathering their things, she crossed paths with Rihanna again. It seemed like another argument was about to unfold between them, and no one was there to stop it."What are you doing?" Rihanna asked. Mira was about to ignore her, but she knew that Rihanna wouldn't be satisfied without meddling in someone else's business."Isn't it obvious? I'm gathering my things," Mira retorted sharply."You know, I let you talk to me like that at Aunt's birthday, but here in the office? I'm your boss. I'm trying to remind you just in case you've forgotten," Rihanna said, irritated."Well, who forgot first? You should have thought of that when you treated Kristen like that at Mom's birthday. Just a reminder, she's Marcus's wife, not you, you should know your place just like what you told me," Mira responded, pausing to set down her belongings. Mira's stance showed she was ready for a conf
As Marcus drove to the office, he couldn't shake off the conversation he had with Dylan the previous day. If his suspicions were correct, and it was indeed that car involved in the accident with him and Kristen, why had it returned to target Kristen's life again, along with his youngest sister Mira's?The thoughts swirling around Marcus's mind were like a puzzle he couldn't piece together. Adding to his troubles was the dilemma of how to tell Kristen about their past. Marcus knew that time was relentless and eventually, the truth would come out.Upon arriving at the office, he immediately organized the papers for the meeting. He had prepared for this day for a long time—a day when he would prove how deceitful his older brother was. Yes, he might have felt fear due to the threats, but it wasn't a reason to let his brother do whatever he wanted. Besides, after everything, he planned to confess everything to his wife."Sir Marcus, it's time for the meeting," his secretary reminded him. H
It was morning when Kristen woke up in an unfamiliar room. The dim light filtered through a small, dirty window, casting eerie shadows on the bare concrete walls. The air was damp and musty, and the only sound was the distant hum of machinery. Her hands and feet were bound with rough ropes, and her mouth was covered with duct tape. She felt weak and disoriented. Although she wanted to cry, she held back her tears, aware that her pregnancy was at risk.She tried to find a way to untie her hands but struggled against the tightly wound knots. Moments later, she heard the door creak open and stopped what she was doing. A man, wearing a facemask and cap, appeared before her"If you think you can escape, you're mistaken," he broke the silence.She glared at him, unable to ask who he was or why he had kidnapped her."You know, if it were up to me, you wouldn't be here. You'd be six feet under by now. But be grateful to my brother—be grateful he loves you." That was all he said before leaving
By afternoon, Kristen’s exact location was still unknown, despite Dylan and his team’s efforts. The command center was filled with the hum of computers and the murmur of voices. As they reviewed the CCTV footage showing the last sighting of the car that had taken Kristen from home, Dylan noticed something odd. The footage showed a parking lot, dimly lit with sporadic shadows cast by the lights, and Dylan squinted at the screen."Dylan, take a look at this," one of the detectives said, rewinding the footage. "It looks like ha has switched to another car."Dylan leaned in closer, zooming in on a black sedan. "You're right. That black sedan—he moved there. They’re trying to mislead us.""Smart move," the detective muttered. "But not smart enough. Let’s see more to it."Almost half an hour later, Marcus received a call from Dylan. He had just returned to the mansion from searching. The mansion was large, with grand columns and a sprawling driveway, the epitome of luxury but now filled wit
After the incident with Marcus, he was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Fortunately, there were people who passed by the scene of the accident at that time, and they were able to quickly call an ambulance for him.Marcus’s mother stood by his bedside, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at her son lying unconscious. She reached out to gently touch his hand, her voice trembling with emotion."Why did this have to happen to him?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "He's so young. He shouldn't be lying here like this. What if he doesn't wake up? I can't bear the thought of losing him."Her husband stepped closer, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "He’s strong. Our Marcus is a fighter. He’ll pull through this."A little later, Marcus's doctor entered the hospital room."Doctor, how is my son? Why hasn't he woken up yet?" asked his mother anxiously."He's doing fine, ma'am. It's normal for his body to seek rest. Aside from the wounds and damage he sustained from the