MasukShare
Chapter 5: A Familiar Face
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-11-26 15:03:04JULIA
I didn’t hesitate. The bush was dense and prickly, but I dove in anyway, ignoring the sharp thorns that snagged at my sweater and scraped against my arms. My breath hitched as I pressed my body flat against the uneven ground, clutching the rough bark of a tree trunk for cover. There they were. Evan and Heather. Together. The girl he always told me not to worry about. I hated how my heart reacted—betrayal, anger, longing—all tangled up in a mess that made it hard to breathe. Evan leaned against his car, his dark hair ruffled by the breeze in that effortless way that used to drive me wild. He still looked the same—well, not entirely. His features were slightly older, and he looked more handsome. However, the shine in his eyes dimmed lightly. For other people, it might not be noticeable, but for me, who had seen him smile countless of times, it was definitely different. Heather stood beside him, her hand brushing his arm as she laughed at something I couldn’t hear. I suddenly had the urge to pluck her teeth out. ‘Wait, no! Bad Julia!’ I shook my head as a part of me whispered, ‘He’s not your Evan anymore.’ But that didn’t make it hurt any less. I shifted slightly, wincing as a branch jabbed my side. The bush offered decent coverage, but it wasn’t built for prolonged surveillance missions. I pressed my lips together, willing the ache in my chest to stay quiet. Then it happened. Evan’s frown deepened, and his gaze snapped toward my direction. I froze, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. “Crap,” I muttered, realizing just how foolish I must look. It would be pathetic to find me here hiding in a bush! I would much rather be hit with a bus and paraded all over town. He walked towards me, and I swear I was going to have a heart attack. However, to my utter relief—and a little bit of disappointment—his eyes darted past me. A stray cat slinked out from behind the bush, meowing without a care in the world. Evan’s shoulders relaxed as he crouched, scooping up the small, scraggly creature. The cat didn’t fight him. It nestled into his arms, purring softly. Meanwhile, all I could do was watch from the safety of my bush. Yes, I’m claiming it as my bush now. Heather scrunched her nose. “Evan, don’t touch that. It’s filthy. You might get sick.” “She’s not filthy. She’s scared,” Evan replied. His voice was calm. The voice I once knew better than my own. “We’ll take her to the shelter.” Heather crossed her arms. “Fine,“ she said with an unamused smile. I tilted my head to the side. Did Heather not like animals? She seemed to be the sweetest girl! As far as I know, she was even an advocate for wildlife back when we were freshmen in college. Still, I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on that. Evan didn’t respond to Heather’s dismissive statement. Instead, he just cradled the cat a little closer and walked toward his car. Heather followed, looking a little bit irritated. I stayed hidden as the car pulled away. My knees ached from crouching, and my sweater had definitely seen better days, but I didn’t move. Not yet. He was still kind. That was the worst part. Why were they together? I thought— Bzzz. My phone vibrated in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out and squinted at the screen. Andy’s teacher: Mrs. Johnson! Just checking in. Is everything okay? Andy’s still waiting to be picked up. “Oh my goodness,” I muttered, panic flooding me as I scrambled to my feet. I glanced at the time. 12:15 PM. The bus! I had completely forgotten about the bus! My heart raced as I tore out of the bush, leaves clinging to my hair and twigs poking out from my clothes. I cursed under my breath, sprinting down the sidewalk in a desperate attempt to catch the next bus. By the time I reached the stop, it was long gone, leaving me stranded with no choice but to run. My lungs burned as I ran through pedestrians, apologizing as I nearly tripped over someone’s dog. The daycare wasn’t far, but it felt like an eternity before I skidded to a halt outside the building. Pushing the door open, I stumbled inside. Andy sat by the play corner, his small face lighting up when he saw me. “Mommy!” I rushed over and scooped him up, hugging him tightly. “I’m so sorry, bub,” I whispered, kissing his forehead. “I got caught up, but I’m here now.” Andy giggled, his tiny arms wrapping around my neck. “It’s okay, Mommy. Miss Ellie played with me.” “Miss who?” “Miss Ellie!” Andy pointed toward the front desk, where the teacher stood talking to another parent. My heart stopped. Not because of the name but because of the face that turned toward me. The teacher, with her sharp green eyes and perfectly sweet face, looked equally stunned. Her lips parted in recognition. “Julia?” “Ellie?” There was no mistaking her. Eleonor Cassidy Astor. Evan’s sister.
Bab terkait
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 6: Please Don't Let Them Meet
JULIA The daycare classroom was quiet, only filled with the soft scratching of crayons against paper. Andy sat on a small stool nearby, his tongue sticking out in concentration as he worked on his latest masterpiece. Meanwhile, Ellie and I were seated across from each other at one of the low tables, the silence between us growing heavier with each passing second. I focused on smoothing the sleeve of my sweater, still speckled with dirt from my earlier adventure. Ellie, on the other hand, sat perfectly composed, her green eyes scanning the room to search for the right words. Finally, she broke the silence. “He’s a great boy.” Her tone was soft as her gaze shifted to Andy. He was drawing what looked like a cat with an oversized head. I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, he is.” She smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “You’ve done well with him, Julia. It’s not easy, raising a child on your own.” Her words stung, though I knew she didn’t mean them to. “I had a hun
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-27His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 7: My Mirror Copy
EVANDER “Mr. Miyagi canceled the meeting at the very last second,” my assistant, Rui, said. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “Did they reschedule?” I asked. The meeting was long overdue. Mr. Miyagi, a designer from Japan, was someone we couldn’t let go of. Astor Empires had just launched its luxury designer brand, and it has been entrusted to me by my dad. Mr. Miyagi had expressed his interest to work with us, but the past two meetings didn’t go as planned. Fortunately, Rui nodded. “Yes, sir,” he responded. “I believe his daughter is going to give birth, and he couldn’t miss it.” I held in the urge to click my tongue. Why was everyone having children nowadays? It was like the world was mocking me for not being able to produce an heir. “Anyway, what’s the next agenda?” I asked, glancing at my watch. “Nothing, sir,” Rui said. “You have a meeting after lunch with your dad and the Maison family. You can go back then.” I sighed and shook my head. My dad called
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-28His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 8: A Dire Situation
JULIA“I’ll send in your partners this evening,” our Advanced Painting teacher, Mrs. Dorothy White, and the strictest teacher I had ever encountered in my entire life said.“Like I said–no choosing of partners. This piece will be sent by the end of the month. No asking for extension of deadlines,” she continued before grabbing her items on the table and walking out of the classroom. “Oh, and no complaining.”With that she left the classroom without saying a proper goodbye.I sighed and shook my head. I had also attended one of her classes before. It was hell. I was sure she had retired by now–but, it seemed like she was even younger than before. It must be from all the college souls she had sucked. Mrs. Dorothy White was really someone who couldn’t be messed with. She's the sole reason why a lot of students do not graduate.I was about to pop my earphones in when someone suddenly tapped my shoulder. I placed my earphones down and looked at the girl right next to me.“Hi,” she said in
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-28His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 9: Meeting Again
JULIAI stood frozen in place, a thousand thoughts running through my head but none sharp enough to form an escape plan. I could feel my heart hammering against my chest, and for a moment, I thought about turning around and running.But I didn’t.I couldn’t.Instead, I just stood there, watching him walk toward me with the kind of steadiness that always threw me off balance.Evan.His name echoed in my mind like a long-forgotten melody. And when he was close enough, he reached out and grabbed my wrist. The warmth of his touch jolted through me, spreading to my chest, and for a second, I thought my knees might give out.“What are you doing here?” he asked, his eyes filled with rage.I swallowed hard, trying to regain some composure, but his eyes—those dark, piercing eyes that always seemed to see straight through me—were too much.Well, I couldn’t really tell him—’Our son is studying here! I came to pick him up early because you might see him and my mom together. But hey, you’re here n
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-28His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 10: Couldn't Get Any Worse
EVANDERThe hum of the engine was the only sound in the car as I drove back to the company, gripping the wheel just tightly enough to keep my hands steady. Despite this, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. She hadn’t changed. Julia was still the same. The way she deflected my questions with that laugh of hers. It was almost comforting. Almost. And she was still pretty, too. More than I remembered, even. I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the road ahead. It was nothing. It didn’t matter. Whatever feelings lingered—if they even existed—were relics of the past. I had a life now, responsibilities, plans that didn’t include her. The smile faded as quickly as it had come, and by the time I pulled into the underground parking lot of the company, my expression was unreadable again. Just as it should be. When I stepped out of the car, Rui was already waiting by the elevator, arms crossed and a slightly annoyed look on his face. “You weren’t responding to you
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 11: The Dreaded Partner
JULIA “Oh, you’re paired with Heather!” Gianna exclaimed. “That is MY heaven.” Harper rolled her eyes. “I swear—your obsession with beauty has taken an all-time high. Anyway, aren’t you glad that we were paired with each other instead?” I chuckled at the two of them. After yesterday’s introduction, it seemed like they wanted to be friends, which I was grateful for since I needed some people with me for my last year. “You’re so lucky,” Gianna sighed, hanging onto my arms. “Harper is shit at painting, so we’re definitely going to flunk this.” I smiled and patted Harper’s shoulder. “Your specialty is photography, right?” Harper nodded. “I just don’t know why I also have to take this course along with my film subjects!” “It’s just the way that it is,” Gianna said. “Anyway, get up. We have to talk about the project now. Mrs. White is going to yell at us at this point.” I glanced to the front and saw that Mrs. White, indeed, was looking at us with narrowed eyes. I pursed my lips bef
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-30His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 12: A Broken Promise
JULIAMy mouth slightly opened before I could stop myself. Evan stood there, the room’s warm light highlighting every contour of his sculpted frame. Droplets of water clung to his chest and shoulders, gliding down toward the towel slung low around his hips. His damp, dark hair curled slightly at the ends, some droplets traveling to his sharp jawline. He looked…devastatingly good. It was almost unbelievable how he still looked in his prime despite being a big-shot CEO. Usually, the likes of him would have been balding by now from all the stress! Somehow, I hoped that was the case. Maybe then, I wouldn’t feel this way.My throat went dry, and before I could notice, my eyes lingered a little too long. “Eyes up here,” he said, his tone slightly amused with a smirk tugging at his lips.My gaze snapped up, and I immediately hated myself for reacting.“I wasn’t—” I started, but he cut me off. “You were.”I crossed my arms, ready to defend myself. “I wasn’t.”“Oh, Julia,” he said, the w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-01His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 13: The Perfect Subject
JULIA Sitting side by side in front of the canvas, I pushed away any lingering thoughts. I was in their territory, but I was determined not to be brought down! I had experienced far too many setbacks in my life to react to something as small as this. Heather’s delicate fingers were brushing through a collection of pencils on the table, her face the picture of concentration. Even now, she looked utterly beautiful. “I hope this isn’t awkward for you,” she suddenly said, taking me by surprise. She glanced at me, her blonde ponytail nearly smacking my face. I blinked. “What do you mean?” Heather smiled and reached out to place her hand over mine. I flinched for a second, but she kept her hold firm. “Well, you know…considering you and Anders used to be a thing. I hope it’s not uncomfortable. I really didn’t know he was going to be here. However, when I got home, he was already taking a shower in my apartment.” She chuckled and shook her head, looking down at her lap. “I swear—it f
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-02
Bab terbaru
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Special Chapter 4: Will You?
JULIA The day of my first art exhibition had finally come. After the successful launch of our clothing line with Mr. Miyagi, my name had begun circulating in the art world. A year had passed since then, and while I had worked on many projects, this was the first time I was putting my heart and soul on full display.I was a nervous wreck. It was the opening day, and although a lot of people had promised to show up, I felt like it would be an empty exhibition. I stood outside our house and waited for Sarah to pick me up. Evan said he had something to do at his office but would meet me at the exhibition before it opened to the public. After a few moments, Sarah arrived in her brand-new car. She whistled dramatically as she stepped out, running a hand over the hood. "Can you believe it?" she asked, shaking her head in amusement. "Just a year ago, my poor car was on its last breath. Now, look at this beauty. Rui really outdid himself."I chuckled, recalling how stubborn she had been a
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Special Chapter 3: Rookie Mistake [M]
MATURE CONTENT AHEADIf you are a minor or if you are not comfortable with this type of content, please skip.RUII had made up my mind.Sarah had been patient, and I could tell. She wanted to take the next step in our relationship. She wasn’t pushy about it, but I could feel it in the way she’d look at me sometimes. I wasn’t dumb. I knew shewanted to have sex. However, the problem was that I had absolutely no experience. So, naturally, I did what any sensible, inexperienced man in his late twenties would do. I overcompensated.I booked an expensive hotel. Well, I didn’t have to pay for anything because Evander gave it to me for free. It was even the penthouse suite. Such an expensive room was given to us for two whole days. I planned every detail. Dinner, room service, the perfect playlist, and condoms that were my size. I didn’t know what size I was, but Evander had given me large ones, saying I was blessed but not as blessed as he was. Sarah was ecstatic when she arrived.“Oh m
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Special Chapter 2: Amsterdam
HEATHAmsterdam was different from the other places I had been to in the past year. It had a calmer feel that made me feel more grounded. It wasn’t another pit stop to my journey. Instead, it was going to be my new home. I had spent the last twelve months hopping from country to country, working as a marketing researcher while soaking in the culture and the sights of every place I landed in. I had walked through the bustling streets of Tokyo, tasted the spices of Marrakech, and felt the cool sea breeze in Santorini. But there was something about Amsterdam that pulled me in and made me want to stay. Maybe it was the relaxed pace of life or the charming canals. Or maybe it was just because this place offered me the most relaxed job. It was definitely that. In the end, I decided to stay here, knowing I couldn't travel so frequently all my life. Of course, I still thought about Julia from time to time, but not in the way I used to. There was no longing or regret—just the hope that she
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Special Chapter 1: The Jealous One
RUI“Why did you have to call me?” I asked, gripping the steering wheel as I pulled into the parking lot of the car dealership.Sarah had a habit of calling me for the most trivial things now. Help with decorating her apartment. Help to pick a new phone case. Once, she even called me because she couldn't decide whether to get bananas in her fruit smoothie. It was never anything urgent or anything she truly needed me for. Yet, every single time, I went.I always went.She smirked at me from the passenger seat. “My car is dying, Rui. It makes a noise like a dying cat whenever I start the engine. I need a new one. Besides, I want to arrive at the launch of Ampersand’s new clothing line with Mr. Miyagi in style.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “You could’ve called someone else.”“But I wanted to call you.”Sarah said things like that so easily. She flirted like it was breathing. She was the complete opposite of me, someone who had no experience with women, and yet, she became
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 127: Never Regret [M]
MATURE CONTENT AHEADIf you are a minor or if you are not comfortable with this type of content, please skip.EVANDER Julia led me to the bedroom, her hands still on my cock. I could feel her fingers tracing it lightly, and I groaned softly. "You're insatiable," she murmured, her eyes locked on my cock. “Didn’t you just come?” She took me in her hand, her fingers wrapping around my shaft as she stroked me slowly. I groaned, my hips bucking into her touch."I want to taste you," she said. She dropped to her knees, her tongue licking the tip of my cock. I cursed, my hands fisting in her hair as she took me deeper into her mouth. She sucked and licked, her head bobbing up and down as she took me all the way to the back of her throat."Fuck, Julia," I groaned, my hips thrusting into her mouth. She hummed in response which sent vibrations through my body.After a few minutes, she pulled back, her lips glistening with my precum. “I want to try something different. Is that okay?” she shyly
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 126: Steamy [M]
MATURE CONTENT AHEADIf you are a minor or if you are not comfortable with this type of content, please skip.JULIA The drive was quiet but comfortable. The sun was beginning to set, casting orange and pink lights along the horizon, making everything look dreamier. I leaned my head against the window, watching the scenery blur past.Evan’s hand rested on my thigh, caressing my skin every now and then. “Where are we going?” I asked, tilting my head toward him.“You’ll see,” he said, smirking slightly. “Patience, baby.”I huffed, crossing my arms. However, the smile on my lips stayed. After about half an hour, we turned onto a smaller road lined with palm trees, leading to a secluded area near the ocean. The moment I saw it, my eyes widened. The beach stretched endlessly before us. There wasn’t a single soul in sight.A villa stood just a little beyond the sand, its large windows reflecting the colors of the sky.“Evan…” I turned to him, my brows raised. “Just how rich are you?”He
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 125: Letting Go
JULIAThe moment I stepped outside into the garden, I felt a lump form in my throat. The soft rustling of leaves and the distant conversations faded into the background as I stood there, facing the two people who had given me life but had also, at one point, chosen to turn their backs on me when I needed them most.It had been so long since I last saw them. In fact, I felt like I still couldn’t meet their gazes eye to eye. Since that day—the day they tried to convince me to give Andy up to Garyn Astor—I had kept my distance. The pain of that moment still felt fresh, but now, standing here, I knew this conversation was inevitable.Evan must have sensed my unease because he leaned in. “We’ll be waiting in the car.”I turned to see him and the others all nodding in silent support before they left. I was grateful for them. Even in moments like this, when I was about to face my past head-on, I was never alone.Now, it was just the three of us.My mother clutched a small bouquet of flowe
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 124: Graduation Day
JULIA The nerves settled in the pit of my stomach as I adjusted my graduation gown in front of the mirror. My hands trembled slightly as I fixed the collar, smoothing out any creases. After years of struggling... balancing motherhood, heartbreak, and redemption, I was finally here.A soft knock at the bedroom door made me turn. Before I could say anything, the door swung open, and standing there was Evan and Andy. Andy was wearing a tiny version of my graduation gown, the fabric draping over his small frame in the most adorable way. He even had a little cap on, tilted slightly to the side.My hands flew to my mouth. "Oh my goodness."Evan, standing tall beside our son, crossed his arms over his chest, satisfied. "You like it?""I love it," I said, blinking fast, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall."Don't," Evan warned, stepping closer and tilting my chin up with a finger. "You’ll smudge your makeup. You worked so hard on it."A laugh bubbled out of me as I
His Secret Heir, His Deepest Regret Chapter 123: Moving On
JULIA Moving day had arrived, and with it came the warmth of a new beginning. I stood in the driveway of Evan’s house—no, our house—watching as the last of the boxes were loaded inside. Sarah stood next to me, wearing a new, expensive blazer that showed her new position. Today was her first day officially taking over Heath’s former role in their company, and she looked every bit the confident professional she had worked so hard to become.“Are you sure about this?” I asked her, hesitating for a moment. “Is it really okay for me to live here?”Sarah chuckled, shaking her head as she handed me some of my belongings that she had packed. “You’re asking me that now? After everything?” Then, she winked. “Of course, it’s okay. More than okay. I can finally have sex in peace.” I rolled my eyes and pushed her away. Even now, she still has such a vulgar mouth. I exhaled, glancing toward the house as Andy came bounding outside, his little feet pattering against the pavement. Evan followed b
