Christine sat with Nadia, and Jeanette. The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of conversations around them. Christine absentmindedly stirred her cappuccino, her eyes drifting to the colorful children's books stacked on a nearby shelf. “Mom, can we go to the library after this?” Nadia asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I want to find more books about space!”“Of course, sweetie,” Christine replied, “We can pick out a few books and maybe even find a fun activity to do there.”Nadia nodded eagerly, her little fingers tapping on the table. “I wish I had a Dad. I bet he’d love to help me pick out the best ones.”Christine’s heart sank at the mention of Dad. She forced a smile, trying to keep the conversation light. “Well, we can have a great time just the three of us. Your grandpa loves books too!”“But I wish Dad was a CEO of a big company,” Nadia said, her voice filled with innocent longing. “Then he could take us on cool trips and show us his offi
The scent of sizzling eggs and crisp bacon filled the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee. She hummed softly to herself, a melody that had become a morning routine, as she dished a beautiful array of breakfast for Nadia.“Breakfast is ready!” Christine called out, her voice bright and cheerful. Nadia entered into the kitchen, her backpack slung over one shoulder. “Yay! Pancakes!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up at the sight of the fluffy pancakes drizzling with honey. “Not just pancakes, my love,” Christine replied, setting the plate down in front of her. “We have eggs, bacon, and your favorite—chocolate chip pancakes!”Nadia’s eyes sparkled with delight as she dug in, her fork clinking against the plate. Christine watched her daughter with a smile, her heart swelling with love. Moments like these were precious, a brief pause in the whirlwind of their busy lives.After breakfast, Christine helped Nadia gather her things for school, ensuring she had her lu
Reyes was still trying to recover from the shock of the name when he asked the little girl, "How old are you?"Nadia furrowed her brows, and instead of answering, she just shook her head. "Sorry, sir, mommy said I shouldn't share personal information with strangers.""But you already told me your name," Reyes pointed out."That seems very normal. Who knows, your leg might hurt, and you might want to sue me because you really look rich enough to be a CEO," Nadia replied, surprising Reyes with her smart answer.She was really pretty and looked a lot like Christine. The answer was too mature for Nadia."That stupid secretary couldn't have given birth to such a genius baby girl. It might just be a coincidence that they have the same surname," Reyes thought to himself.While Reyes was lost in his thoughts, the little girl nodded respectfully. "Now please excuse me, sir. I have to go meet my mom. She would be looking for me by now. Also, I'm sorry for earlier," she said before running off.
Finally, as the gala began to wind down, Reyes turned to her and said, "Shall we call it a night, Christine? I have an early meeting tomorrow."Christine nodded, relieved to be escaping the suffocating atmosphere. "Yes, of course."Outside, the cool night air was a welcome despite from the stifling heat of the event. Reyes handed Christine into the waiting car. "Thank you for tonight, Christine," he said, his voice low and husky. "You were... amazing."Christine forced a smile, feeling like she was trapped in a nightmare. "The pleasure was mine, Reyes."As the car pulled away from the curb, Christine caught a glimpse of the stranger standing on the sidewalk, watching her leave. Immediately Christine stopped the car, and quickly got down, she told the driver to just go that she forgot something at the party.She wanted Reyes to leave first before she goes back and pick Jeanette and Nadia. She quickly ran back to the party, to pick them up."Oh I thought you were going to leave us,"
As Christine walked back to her desk, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. It was obvious the way Reyes had been staring at her keenly.She tried to focus on her work, but she kept on remembering the way his eyes stared at her. Suddenly, her computer beeped, signaling an incoming email. Christine's heart skipped a beat as she saw the sender's name: Unknown.The email was brief, with only two words: "you'll pay." Christine's eyes widened in horror as she realized that someone had definitely been watching her. She felt a wave of fear wash over her, and her mind began to spin with questions.Who was sending her these threatening messages? And what did they want from her?Christine decided to shake it off, maybe it was a mistake from the sender, she hadn't done anything to warrant this kind of messages. ******Reyes sat at his desk, he rubbed his forehead, trying to shake off the distraction that had taken root in his mind. He had been thinking about her for minut
Reyes was pacing back and forth, his mind racing. The words echoed in his head like a relentless drumbeat: "You wouldn't want to lose your only daughter" His mother’s voice haunted him. He stopped abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest. Daughter? How could that be? He had never even considered the possibility. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling over. He then remembered the night of 5 years ago. But a daughter? The thought was absurd. He had never even met the woman who had shared that night with him since then. How could his mother know something he didn’t? “Reyes?” The voice of Brandon broke through the chaos in his mind. Reyes turned sharply, his eyes blazing with urgency. “Brandon, I need you to find her,” he said, his voice low but intense. “The woman from five years ago. I don’t care how you do it, just make sure you fucking do your job this time.” Brandon’s brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. “You mean the one from the club? The one you—
As Margaret waited for Christine to answer the phone, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Who could be sending such a menacing message?Just as Margaret was about to hang up, Christine's voice came on the line."Mom, what's wrong?" Christine asked, her voice laced with concern.Margaret took a deep breath before speaking. "Christine, we just received a package. It's a knife with a note that says 'Christine will pay'."There was a pause on the other end of the line before Christine spoke up."OMG, again, this message was only to be directed to me, why did he have to deliver a package to you?Christine said, her voice shaky. "I'll be right there."As Margaret hung up the phone, Jeanette looked at her with a concerned expression."Do you think Christine is in danger?" Jeanette asked.Margaret nodded. "I think we all are."Just then, the doorbell rang again. Margaret's heart skipped a beat as she wondered who it could be."I'll get it," Jeanette said, getting up from the couch.A
"Could she really be Christine daughter" he asked himself He didn't want to believe Before he knew time was gone it was already 12:30, so he went to Christine office to go and get her but discovered she was no longer there, probably she was already waiting for him outside.Lo and behold he met her outside, she hopped into his car and they drove off to a nearby cafe.As they sat down at a cozy table by thewindow, Reyes couldn't help but steal glances at Christine. She looked beautiful, her auburn hair shining in the sunlight, her smile radiant as she chatted with him.Reyes's mind kept wandering back to the reveal about Nadia. Could it be true? Could he really be the father of Christine's daughter? He wanted to ask her, to confront her about it, but he decided to wait. This wasn't the right time or place.Instead, they talked about their past, about how Reyes used to treat Christine badly. Christine brought it up, her eyes sparkling with amusement."You were really tough on me when
"So please will you be mine?" Reyes asked. She looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of insincerity, but all she saw was genuine emotion. "Reyes, I...I need time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.Reyes' face lit up with hope, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's all I can ask for," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Take all the time you need, Christine. I'll be waiting."Christine nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over her. She had never expected Reyes to confess his feelings to her, and she didn't know how to process her emotions.As she turned to leave, Reyes called out to her. "Christine, wait," he said, his voice low and husky.Christine turned back to him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Reyes smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow night?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.Christine's eyes widened in su
"You're really going to regret betraying me!" she spat, her voice venomous.Reyes, however, seemed unfazed by Sage's outburst. He responded lightly, "I never promised you anything, so how could I possibly betray you?"Sage's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice trembled with emotion. "But we're engaged," she protested. "You can't love another woman beside me. That's unfair."Reyes burst out laughing, his lips curling up in a lazy smile. "I've been trying to love you for years, but the feeling never comes," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now I'm tired. Let's just end this whole fake engagement."Sage's face turned white with shock, and she took a step back, her eyes wide with horror. "No, Reyes!" she yelled. "I love you!"Reyes shook his head, his expression unyielding. "No, Sage. You don't love me. You love the wealth and power that comes with being my wife. You agreed to our marriage in order to strengthen your family's business, because you knew your father was goin
"At least you know that she is my secretary," Reyes said, his voice calm and collected.Sage's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking to Christine and then back to Reyes. " I freaking know that, why are you hugging her?" she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.Reyes smiled, a small, enigmatic smile. "Ehm... Sage," he said, his voice trailing off.Sage's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step closer to Reyes. "I hugged her to keep her by my side. I don't want her to leave."Christine's mouth opened wide in shock as she stared at Reyes. He had confessed his feelings for her in front of his future wife. Was he digging a hole for her grave?Suddenly, Reyes said, "Eh..." and Sage stepped forward, her hand swinging towards Christine's face. Christine wanted to defend herself, but her hands were still locked in Reyes' grip."Wait, you misunderstand," Reyes said, his voice calm and authoritative.The next second, Christine closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact. However, nothi
Reyes' eyes seemed to gleam with amusement as he gazed at Christine. "I admit that I misjudged you," he said, his voice low and husky. " one of the many secretaries who have worked here. It turns out you are the best. You are so hardworking, and you are everything I need in a secretary."Christine's eyes narrowed, "So, instead of looking for a new one, wouldn't it be better to keep the one, the existing one, that has proven to be the best?" Reyes asked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And also, very loyal."Christine blinked, not understanding. "I wasn't loyal," she said, her voice firm. "I submitted my resignation."Reyes chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down Christine's spine. "Yes, you are loyal," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If you weren't, you wouldn't be here right now."Christine sighed faintly, feeling like a fool. She shouldn't have come back. She shouldn't have let Reyes get to her.Without further discussion, Christine turned towards the door, ready to
Kaido, Jeanette called out, her voice echoing through the crowded street. She finally found him. Even though Kaido was masked, Jeanette recognized him way too well. She had spent countless nights in his arms, and she knew every curve and contour of his face. She knew the way he smiled, the way he laughed, and the way he looked at her with such intensity.Kaido turned around, his eyes locking onto Jeanette's. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable."What are you doing here?" Jeanette asked, her voice firm but laced with a hint of vulnerability.Kaido hesitated, his eyes darting around the crowded street before finally meeting Jeanette's gaze. "I'm sorry, Jeanette," he said, his voice low and husky. "I have to go now."But Jeanette was not having it. She quickly held his hand, her grip firm. "Why did you ignore my calls and my texts?" she asked, her voice rising in anger. "Aren't we lovers? Why are you avoiding me?"Kaido's eyes dropped, and he
"I resign," Christine said, her voice firm and resolute. "Sorry for all the fuss I made, and I'll start paying the fine as from next month."Reyes' face turned beet red with rage as he slammed his fist on the desk. "Are you kidding me?" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls. "You think my father-in-law will let you get away with this? Or should I say, my potential father-in-law?"Christine took a step back, her eyes widening in alarm as Reyes' anger boiled over. "You attacked me in front of him," Reyes continued, his voice rising "He even came to my mansion to look for me, just so he could deal with me and deal with you too!"The room seemed to shake with the force of Reyes' anger, and Christine felt a shiver run down her spine."Because of that, I take it very seriously that I decide to quit," Christine said, her voice firm. "I would leave and disappear from this city."Reyes raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on his face. "Are you really being stupid or pretending to be inn
Jeanette also joined in, laughing and nodding in agreement. "Yeah, Nadia really loves reading books, and I love that about her. She's just a cute little girl."Christine smiled at her friend's words, her eyes shining with warmth as she gazed at her daughter. "I'm so lucky to be your mom," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.Nadia looked up at her mom, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "Of course, mommy. I'm also very lucky. I'm also very lucky to have you."Christine's heart swelled with love and gratitude as she listened to her daughter's words. She felt a lump form in her throat as Nadia continued, "Because of that, I promise never to make you sad, mom."Christine's eyes welled up with tears as she opened her arms, and Nadia slipped into her hug. They laughed a little as Nadia parted her curly auburn hair, revealing her bright smile.The innocent girl had no idea that above her head, her mother closed her eyes to hide tears.As Christine hugged her daughter, rubbing Nadia
Reyes swallowed hard, he felt tightness in his chest, Brandon's words were like arrows that hit his heart. "Besides, our relationship is limited to colleagues," Brandon said, his voice calm and measured. "My concern for her is also limited to pity I think other bodyguards also share my thoughts. Christine is a typical innocent girl who deserves to be protected."The corners of Reyes' lips twitched, a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Innocent?" he repeated, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You should see how she smiled in front of Weston. I shuddered in horror. She's not a good girl that deserves to be protected. You can't be fooled, Brandon."Brandon's expression remained neutral, but a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. "Sir, I think you're misunderstanding her," he said, his voice calm. "Christine is not the type of person to play games or manipulate others. She's genuine and kind, and that's why I think she deserves our protection."Reyes snorted, his expression disdainful.
Kaido sat down at his desk in his private office, his eyes scanning the numerous calls and text messages from Jeanette. He had intentionally ignored her for days, wanting to make her worry. But the truth was, he was trying to distance himself from her.As he looked at the messages, Kaido felt a pang of guilt. He knew Jeanette was worried about him, and he was taking advantage of her concern. But he couldn't help it. He was feeling something he wasn't supposed to feel.He was a murderer, a cold-blooded one at that. He had killed countless people in his quest for revenge, and he had never felt a shred of remorse. But Jeanette was different. She made him feel things he couldn't explain, things he didn't want to feel.He was drawn to her, and it scared him. Kaido didn't want to complicate matters. He had started his revenge for a reason, and Jeanette was not going to come and spoil his plans. Never.Kaido's eyes narrowed as he thought about Jeanette. He knew he had to push her away, to ma