"No-No... Please..." A woman lying on the operating table begged the man standing next to another table while preparing the surgical tools but the man seems to hear nothing!
The woman tried to move but she can't for her hands and feet were tied up tightly.
"P-Please, have mercy, don't do this, please..." the woman continued to beg as tears roll down from the corners of her eyes.
"I have a child, and she's still young, I am the only family she had..." the woman said, still in a pleading voice.
"My client tried to ask you in a nice way but you refused," the man said. He was wearing a hairnet, surgical mask, surgical gloves, and green clothes, just like what doctors wear whenever they do a surgery.
"I'm sorry...Please let me go, I can't do this. I am afraid of the outcome if I continue with this," the woman replied in tears. All she has in mind right now is her daughter!
She knew she must be waiting for her to come home right now. She can imagine her excited face whenever she comes home from work.
"Alright," the man spoke, " Everything is ready," he said as he turn to the woman with a syringe in his hand.
The woman turn her head to the man and her eyes instantly went wide open as she saw the syringe on the man's hand!
"N-No!" the woman screamed as she tried to struggle to free herself from being tied up!
The man seems to hear nothing as he walks to the woman, " Don't worry, this is not painful..." he said excitedly. It's as if he was enjoying seeing the woman's terrified face!
The woman looked at the man in terror!
She knew he was smiling at her even though he was wearing the surgical mask, she can still see his smile through his eyes!
He was like a mad man who enjoy seeing someone else's demise!
"No!" the woman screamed again!
"Stop!" she continued but the man was unfazed as he continued to walk to her and injected the syringe's content on her upper arm!
"Nooo~~!" the woman screamed as she moved her body from left to right, hoping to freed herself, but she fail!
" Please... Let me just live..." Those are the words that the woman was able to say before she slowly felt weak and dizzy...
"No, please..." she said in a faint voice, " Have mercy on me..." she said before her world slowly turned dark...
---------
Fifteen Years Later...
East Highlands Condominiums
Alexis Galvez stood still as he silently watches his boss doing his warm-up. He is wearing his workout outfit which is a plain white shirt, back shoes, and shorts.
"Have you found her?" Colton Olivares asked his assistant, Alexis Galvez.
"No, sir, I haven't yet," Alexis replied.
Colton stop doing his warm-up and he looked at Alexis, " It's been a week, yet, you still haven't found her?" he asked with a hint of irritation in his voice.
Alexis just lowered his head, " I'm sorry, sir, I was occupied with my other works so..."
"I don't care!" Colton cut off Alexis' word!
"Find another way to find her!" Colton's voice raised, " Hire a private investigator if you have to!" he added.
"A-Alright, sir," Alexis replied.
Colton just let out a violent sigh!
He felt frustrated that there isn't been development about Jasmine Jone's whereabouts even if it's been a week since they started searching for her. Butuan City is not too big, but yet they still can't find her!
"You can go now," Colton said. Scolding Alexis wouldn't help anyway!
Colton was planning to have a workout in his mini gym inside his condo unit, but he lost interest in it after hearing Alexis' report. He tried to find another thing to do to divert his attention into it.
Perhaps, a jog can ease the irritation he feels inside.
With that in mind, Colton headed out of his condominium unit to have a jog outside.
---------
Meanwhile, not just far from where Colton is...
"Fweet!" the sound of the whistle resounded the place as the police officer blew it!
"Stop!" Jasmine shouted to the man trying to run away with the bag that he had just snatched from an old woman!
Jasmine chases the man. She is a police officer who happened to be in the same place where an incident of a man snatching an old woman's bag happened!
The man is wearing a plain white shirt and black shorts. They were in a rich part neighborhood of the city. The thief must have purposely worn that jogging attire to avoid suspicion from the people around that he is just a thief looking for his prey!
"Stoooppp!!!" Jasmine shouted again as she continued to chase the man. She is already panting and the man is a fast runner and she's about to lose him but she can't let that happen!
Jasmine took her walkie-talkie radio to call for help from her colleague who is assigned in the other street where the thief is heading.
"A man suspected to be a thief is going to your location, he is wearing a plain white shirt, black shorts, about 179cm tall, and a medium body built, over," she describes the thief.
"Copy that, over," her colleague replied.
Jasmine put back her walkie-talkie to its right place. She can still see the back of the thief, and she saw him turn to one of the streets going to the East Highlands Condominiums and she followed him!
Meanwhile,
Colton was peacefully jogging in the street when he notices a guy who was wearing the same clothes as him running in his direction with a bag in his hand, but he did not mind it that much. He just continues his jog, minding his own business but then, the guy purposely bumps him and dropped the bag he was carrying!
"Hey!" Colton reacted as he stopped in his track but the man was quick to run away, leaving his bag on the ground.
"Hey, your bag!" Colton shouted to the man, but he turn to an alley and disappeared.
Colton looked down at the bag which landed on his feet and noticed that it was a woman's luxurious designer's bag.
Colton knitted his brows as suspicion raised in his mind, 'It was a designer's bag, and the man did not even bother to pick it up, he was in a hurry to run away instead?' he questioned himself.
That very moment, he knew that something is not right, but today is not really a good day for him!
"Yaaaahhhh!!!"
Colton heard a shout around. His first reaction was to lift his head and look in the direction where the voice came from but he was only met with a flying kick which landed on the left side of his face!
"Ugh!" Colton groaned, his world seems to slow down as he feel the sharp pain in his face due to the impact of the kick!
The kick was so strong that he lost his balance and plunged to the ground!
"Ugh!" Colton let out another groan as he felt the pain as soon as his body landed on the cement ground!
"Do you think you can escape from me?!" Jasmine said to the man (she thought the thief) with her sharp gaze as soon as she landed on her feet!
This guy made her exhausted from chasing him and she's not letting him go away!
Jasmine took the hand-cuff and she walks to the man on the ground and put it on his wrists.
"You are under arrest for---"
"What do you think you're doing?!" Jasmine was not able to finish her word when the man confronted her.
"Can't you tell?" Jasmine asked in a sullen voice, "I am arresting you for trying to rob someone!" she said.
"What?!" Colton blurts out when he heard the woman's word!
"I'm not a robber!" Colton said in irritation, his body is in pain right now and this woman dares this woman to accuse him of robbing someone?!
Colton moves to get up even though his body is aching due to the fall.
"Hep, hep, hep!"
"Don't even dare move!" Jasmine warned as she continued to put the hand-cuff on the man's wrists.
"You are mistaken! I am not a robber!" Colton defended himself, but Jasmine wasn't convinced.
"Oh, come on! Don't try to trick me, I saw you, and you even have the bag!" Jasmine said.
"You woman! I am telling you to let go of me right now, otherwise, you'll regret it!' Colton warned the woman. He was already having a bad day and this woman only added to it!
"Oh, wow!" Jasmine is now irritated!
"How dare you threaten me when you're the one who committed such an unlawful act?!" she said sarcastically.
"I told you, I am not a robber!" Colton insisted, " Let go of me right now and I might spare you and let this pass," Colton said again, but Jasmine was determined to arrest him!
"Come and get up, you can't bribe me and convince me to let you go!" she said as she pulled up the man from the ground to make him get back to his feet.
"You'll regret this, woman!" Colton said as he throws a sharp gaze at Jasmine but Jasmine just grinned. Just as the man got up from the ground, Jasmine heard her walkie-talkie.
"Police Officer Jones, over," the person from the other line said.
Jasmine took her radio and answered it, " Yes, Officer Jones speaking," she replied.
"We already caught the suspected thief that you radio earlier, could you come to confirm it? Over," the other line said.
"What?" Jasmine blurts out as she looked at the man beside her who is now throwing his sharpest gaze at her.
If only those gazes could kill, she must have had died already
"What were you thinking, Officer Jones?!" "Why did you attack and arrest an innocent man?!" Jasmine just lowered her head as she accept the scolding from her senior officer, Mr. Adolfo Cua. She was inside his office and was currently being questioned by him as to how she did such a bad job on arresting the wrong person and even beating him up! "I'm sorry, sir," it was the only word that Jasmine was able to say. It still won't help if she reasons for herself anyway! "I'm sorry?!" Senior Officer Cua repeated, " Do you even know who that man is?" he continued. "No, sir," Jasmine answered honestly, still lowering her head. She couldn't look at him because she knew she was at fault. She only arrested an innocent person and worst...She even beat him up! Senior Officer Cua got up from his seat violently, " What?! You don't know him?!" he blurted out in disbelief. Jasmine really doesn't have any idea who that man was! All she t
Jasmine stood in front of the ten-story building. She is now outside the Wellness International Pharma to see Colton Olivares and try to convince him to take back the complaint against her. She wasn't sure if she could succeed but she will still try. This is the last option she has. Senior Officer Cua was right. She couldn't fight back against Colton Olivares if he decides to use his influence to make her get dismissed from service. This world is about money after all! Jasmine walks to the entrance and was stopped by the guard, " Good morning, ma'am, may I see your identification card, please?" the guard asked politely. Jasmine stopped in her track and she looked at the guard, " Oh, yes!" she said as she opened her sling bag and took her ID. '"Why are you here for, ma'am?" the guard asked after he checks her ID. "I came to see, Mr. Olivares," Jasmine replied. "Do you have an appointment with him, ma'am?" the guard asked again.
"Marry me then," Jasmine's mind went blank when she heard Colton's response. She even thought that she just misheard it! "W-What did you just say?" she asked in confusion. "I said, marry me and I will take back my complaint against you," Colton replied. Jasmine was silent for a moment. She's having a hard time processing Colton's words to her mind. "Mr. Olivares..." Jasmine spoke, still in confusion, " You know what you're talking about, don't you?" she asked. Making sure that Colton was not just simply babbling things. "Of course, Ms. Jones," Colton replied confidently. "You must be just trying to make a joke, don't you?" Jasmine asked again. "Do I look like I am joking, Officer Jones?" Colton asked back as he stared at Jasmine. He can see the confusion on her face. She must be questioning herself as to why would he want to marry her. "Did the impact of plunging to the ground affected your brain, Mr. Olivares?"
Jasmine lay in her bed while in a daze. She agreed to marry Colton because of her desire to continue in service until she catch the culprit behind her mother's death. She lost her pride when it comes to her mother. She doesn't know why Colton wants to marry her, perhaps he just wants to take revenge on her for mistakenly arresting him and beating him up. Isn't it too shallow to do such a thing? Perhaps, he has another reason, she may not know what it is but she was certain it wasn't because of love. Colton is not the type of person who knows how to love. He only loves himself. Jasmine just close her eyes to sleep. Whatever happened today, she prayed that in the morning when she wakes up, everything is just a dream. ------- The next morning, Jasmine talks to Dina and Ed Ocampo, the childless couple who took her in fifteen years ago, when she has nowhere to go after running away from the Olivares family. They love her as their own and sh
"What?!" Jasmine blurted out again when she heard Colton saying that they should live on the same roof starting today. "Where have you seen a married couple living separately?" Colton questioned Jasmine. "And what if I refuse to live with you?" Jasmine asked with a sullen expression. "Then, I will consider this marriage null," Colton replied without hesitation. 'Null?!' Jasmine repeated inside, "Does that mean that you won't take back the case against me?" she asked impatiently. "Yes!" Colton instantly replied. Jasmine closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath to calm herself as she felt her anger starting to rise again. 'This man does really take no for an answer!' she mumbled inside. It took a few seconds before she opened her eyes again, " Alright," she said as she lifted her hands as if she had surrendered, " You won again," she said, " I will move to your place, I just have to take my things and bring them to your pla
"You pervert!" Jasmine reacted with her sharp gaze as her face turned red. She didn't know if it was due to anger or due to embarrassment at Colton's words!She couldn't imagine herself lying next to him, naked!Colton grinned as he saw how Jasmine's face turned red in anger!"If you don't like the idea of sleeping naked next to me, then, I guess you don't have a choice but to wear one of those," he said as he pointed to the dresses inside the wardrobe."I won't wear any of those dresses nor lie next to you naked!" Jasmine strongly said."Don't tell me, you're going to sleep in the same clothes you wear for the entire day?" Colton said with a disgusted expression."Of course not!" Jasmine instantly replied.Colton's knitted brows got even deeper, " What will you wear then?" he asked out of curiosity."Show me your wardrobe," Jasmine commanded Colton.Colton just shrugged his shoulders and followed what Jasmine said. He w
Colton could smell the flowery scent of Jasmine as he rested his chin on her shoulder. He suddenly had the urge to sniff her neck and kiss it, but he tried to control himself.'Ugh! You're walking into the lion's den, Colton!''Do you want to do it on your own again?!'Colton could feel the heat of his body rising again, so, he decided to move away from Jasmine before he could lose his self-restraint.Funny how he wanted to pester her again, but yet, he was the one who lost it!How come this woman could bring such a sensation to him?It's not like he was a pervert!He is not!He is even choosy about the women he brings to bed, but Jasmine was different!She makes him hard effortlessly!"Alright, let's just order take-out food," Colton said as he straightened his body and walked away from Jasmine.Jasmine felt relieved somehow when Colton moved away from her."Do you only eat fruits and vegetables?" J
"Shall we go to bed?" Jasmine was almost speechless when she heard how Colton said those words! The way he said those words sounds like he is inviting her for something or maybe she just thinks too much? Jasmine blinked her eyes as she met Colton's gaze, "Don't start pestering me, Colton!" she warned, and fortunately, he laughed! A laugh that she heard for the first time and she couldn't help but be amazed! She didn't know that he had a deep dimple on the left side of his cheek! "I didn't know that you knew how to laugh!" Jasmine commented. "Hahaha!" Colton's laugh went slow, " Thanks to you, you made me laugh effortlessly," he replied. He laughed when he saw how her expression had changed earlier! Her face was as red as a tomato when she was suppressing her anger! Jasmine raised her brows, "Why?" "Does my face look funny?" she asked as she put her hand on her waist. Colton curled up his lips, lo
"Ouch!" Jasmine complained when Colton grabbed the wounded part of her arm! Colton froze when he realized that something is wrong with Jasmine's arm. "What---" his next words were stuck in his throat when he saw the bandage with a trace of blood on Jasmine's arm. He looked at her with his wondering expression and ask, " What is this?" Jasmine pulled back her arm and answered, " It's just a small wound, it's nothing serious," she said. She was about to turn again but Colton grab her other arm to stop her from leaving. "This is not just nothing," he said, " How did you get that wound?" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice. "Someone caused a ruckus outside the precinct and I tried to stop her, but she was still able to cut my arm with the broken bottle," Jasmine explained. "What?!" Colton's voice raised, " A broken bottle?" he repeated, " Did you go to the hospital to treat this?" he asked in concern. "No, I didn't" Jasmine replied honestly. "Are crazy?!" Colton's voice r
Jasmine is peacefully reviewing some old unsolved cases of the kidnapped children when they hear a ruckus outside the station. "What's that?" Jasmine turned her head to her fellow officer, Sandra, and asked with her knitted brows. "I don't know," Sandra replied, she's also wondering what's going on outside the station. *PLACK!* Sandra and Jasmine looked at each other when they heard a shattering of glass as if someone has smashed it outside and followed by the voices of the other officers who are trying to rebuke the person Jasmine and Sandra hurriedly run outside to check the situation and they were both stunned to see a middle-aged woman holding a broken bottle and aiming the sharp part at the police officers who are trying to stop her! *Gasp!* Sandra gasped as she saw the woman, " Isn't that the mother of the missing teenage girl, Lala Montilde?!" she exclaimed. Jasmine looked at the woman and Sandra was right! It was Mrs. Montilde, the mother of a mentally disabled teenage
The next morning...Jasmine is half awake and she feels something heavy in her chest which makes her hard to breathe. She slowly opened her eyes but was met with the room's dim light. She can still feel the heaviness in her chest which made her look at it and her brows automatically knitted when she saw an arm. Judging by the arm's size, she can tell that it was a man's arm!Jasmine slowly turned her head to her left side, and she saw Colton, peacefully sleeping with his arm on her chest.A smile automatically showed on her face seeing her husband's handsome face while sleeping.'What an imagination!' she said inside, thinking it was just an imagination lying beside Colton.She also dreamed of having a steamy night with him!Jasmine moved to tilt her body but she froze when she feel the pain in her entire body, particularly, the part in between her legs!Jasmine's eyes slowly went wide open when she realized something!*Gasp!*
Jasmine didn't know when or how, but the next thing she knew is she was already lying on the bed!She knew what could possibly happen, but she doesn't have the desire to stop this!Her heart and mind liked what Colton is doing to her right now!He was kissing her lips while his hand is conquering every inch of her body.She can feel him unhooking her brassiere but she did not stop him. The next thing she felt is, his palm touching her chest and gently squeezing her breasts which sends a tickling sensation and pleasure to her, and she couldn't help but let out a moan."Hmmm..."Colton freed Jasmine's lips. Jasmine thought that Colton would stop there, but no, he didn't!He lowered his kisses instead, to her chin, down to her neck. She has goosebumps when he bit her earlobe before lowering his kiss to her shoulder.Colton took off her clothes, exposing her naked breast."They're beautiful..." Colton whispered to Jasmine as
Jasmine changed her shoes into slippers before waking in the living room and turning on the light but she was startled and almost jump in fright when someone suddenly spoke!"You're home,""Ah~!" Jasmine screamed when she heard someone suddenly speak!"Do I look scary for you to be startled like that?" Colton, who is sitting on the sofa asked with his cold expression as he turned his head to Jasmine."Why the hell would you seat in there with the lights off?!" Jasmine questioned Colton as she put her palm on her right chest to calm herself. She can feel her heart thumping so hard!" I did not expect you to be in there, I thought no one is home yet!" she explained."Whatever," Colton said indifferently, " Have you had dinner yet?" he asked after a while."No, not yet," Jasmine replied."Go and wash up, I'll have the dinner ready," Colton said before he got up from his seat and headed to the kitchen, still in his cold expression.
Jasmine doesn't want to start another fight with Colton, so, she let him drive her to work."Just drop me off there," Jasmine pointed to the spot that is a few meters from the precinct."Why there?" Colton asked, " I can drop you off in front of the precinct," he said."There's no need," Jasmine refused. She prefers to get off in an uncrowded space. Getting off in a luxurious car would surely cause questions to the other officers and she doesn't want that to happen. They will only question her and it might lead to being exposed that she got married while in suspension--- To the person who caused her suspension to be exact!Colton pulled over to the spot to which Jasmine pointed, " Be careful with your work," he said before Jasmine gets off the car."Ennn..." Jasmine just nodded her head as a response. She then opened the door and get off the car.Just as she closed the door, a motorbike stopped and park in the available space near Jasmine.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Jasmine covered her mouth with her palm and pretend to be surprised! "I must have mistaken the salt for sugar!" she said, " My bad, I'm sorry about that," she said even though she doesn't sound sorry at all! "You!" Maddy pointed her finger at Jasmine in anger! She bulged her eyes in ager as she gritted her teeth. She was like an angry dragon who would blaze fire at any moment! "Colton, are you not going to do something about this?!" Maddy turned to Colton, hoping he would take her side and scold Jasmine and fire her. "What can we do about it?" Colton said, unbothered by the two bickering women," It was not her intention to put salt in your coffee," he continued, " And besides, she already apologized," he added which surprised Maddy! Colton is taking sides with Jasmine! The thing has also surprised Jasmine! Jasmine looked at Colton in surprise. She did not expect him to take her side. But still, it wasn'
Colton just revealed a smile to Maddy, " Oh, no worries," he said."Why won't we have a seat and have a cup of coffee?" he suggested."Oh, sure!" Maddy excitedly replied. She did not come here just to say thank you to Colton. It was just here alibi to see him!Colton and Maddy sat on the sofa and Jasmine felt like she was left out." Did you hear your boss right?" Maddy turned her head to Jasmine."What?" Jasmine blurts out."He invited me to have a cup of coffee," Maddy said with a hint of irritation on her face, " As his assistant, you should have the initiative to make us a cup of coffee," she added which made Jasmine raised her brows.'This demanding brat!' Jasmine mumbled inside."Oh, no, there's no need," Colton interrupted Maddy, "Jasmine, have a seat," he said to Jasmine, " I will make the coffee," he added and was about to get up from his seat when Maddy interrupted him." She's your employee," Maddy said, "Why
It was already dark when Jasmine came back to the condominium. Her thoughts were still in her conversation with Lani. She wonders why Lani looked so frightened when she talks about her mother's death.She wants to help her, but how could she do that if Lani herself doesn't want to bring justice to her mother's death?" Lani, I am a police officer and I could help you investigate your mother's death," Jasmine said to Lani, " You can trust me with this," she added, but Lani shook her head, indicating for refusal."There's no need, Jas," she said, " Please, don't insist on investigating this one. You don't know what kind of people are behind my mother's death. I would rather keep quiet for me and my son's safety," she added with a trace of fear in her eyes."O-Okay," Jasmine did not insist anymore. She saw the fear in Lani's eyes. She was not afraid for herself, but for her son's safety." But you can always count on me