“This breakfast... is it just about the past?” Dominic asked, his voice flatter than he intended.
Clara shrugged, seeming unaffected. “Maybe. Maybe it’s more than that. Sometimes the past can offer answers for what’s happening now.”
Dominic sensed something unsaid behind Clara’s words, but he didn’t want to press her just yet. He sipped his coffee, letting the bitterness settle on his tongue as he mulled over what was really happening between them.
Clara smiled faintly, playing with the edge of her coffee cup. “You’re still the same as before,” she said softly. “The way you handle things, your reactions. I can still guess what’s on your mind.”
Dominic set down his cup, meeting her gaze sharply. “And you, Clara? What is it that you really want? We haven’t seen each other in years, and suddenly you’re
Dominic stared at his phone screen, his fingers tapping anxiously on the steering wheel. He had sent Clara a message a few minutes ago, but there was still no reply. Every passing second only intensified the feeling that there was something bigger going on than just unresolved feelings from the past.He replayed their earlier meeting in his mind. It was clear that Clara was hiding something. Every word that came out of her mouth seemed carefully filtered, as if she was choosing what she could say and what she had to keep hidden. Dominic began to suspect that their meeting wasn’t just a coincidence. There was a purpose behind her invitation to breakfast.His thoughts raced, trying to connect the dots between their past and what Clara had just hinted at. Back then, Clara had abruptly rejected his love without any clear explanation. They had been so close—always together in class, studying, sharing their dreams. But then, everything
Their eyes locked, reflecting everything left unsaid—the suspicions and secrets that lingered between them. Dominic looked confused, sensing that there was something deeper at play beyond a simple encounter. Victor continued walking, but inside, he knew their relationship would never be the same after today.Dominic marched into Mr. Charles' office with determined steps, his heart burning with anger. Lately, nothing seemed right, and now, after meeting with Clara and slowly uncovering the truth, he felt betrayed by the very person who was supposed to protect him."Grandfather!" Dominic’s voice rang out, filled with emotion. "I know you're involved in all of this. Why are you meddling in my love life?"Mr. Charles remained calm, though inside, every word from Dominic struck him like a blow. He knew this was all the result of decisions made years ago, and while he believed those choices were for his grandson's
“Dominic, wait!” she repeated, but her husband had already walked away, leaving her with a deepening sense of worry.With every step Dominic took away, Gwen wondered what had really happened in the meeting between him and Mr. Charles. The uncertainty only added to her anxiety, making her heart feel heavier.Gwen took a deep breath and decided to go see Mr. Charles. She needed to know what had occurred and why Dominic had looked so angry. When she entered Mr. Charles’s study, the atmosphere felt tense. Mr. Charles sat behind his large desk, his face calm but slightly uneasy as he noticed Gwen’s arrival.“Gwen, what’s wrong?” Mr. Charles asked, trying to hide his concern behind a forced smile.“What happened between you and Dominic? He looked really upset when he left here,” Gwen asked firmly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Mr. Charles.
Gwen sat quietly across the table, her gaze fixed on the elderly man examining a document in his hands. Mr. Charles, with a calm and authoritative expression, lifted his head and glanced at Gwen for a moment before handing her a folder containing neatly organized sheets. “This is the design concept for the flower shop we discussed. I want you to take a look and make sure everything aligns with your vision.”Gwen carefully took the folder, opening the first page to reveal a beautiful sketch of the shop. Transparent glass walls showcased rows of exotic flowers in an elegant layout. Natural wood shelves added warmth to the shop, while cozy corners were designed to create a comfortable atmosphere for customers to linger and enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the flowers. Every detail appeared perfect, reflecting the blend of modern aesthetics and traditional warmth she desired.Gwen smiled, her eyes sparkling. “This is amazing,
In the midst of the hospital's bustle, Christ felt restless. Each step on this floor felt increasingly suffocating, thoughts of Clara haunting him. “Where is she now?” A burning curiosity pushed him to continue searching, even as his steps grew more unsteady.He walked down the corridor filled with the sounds of ringing phones and the whispers of visitors. The waiting room was crowded with families awaiting news of their loved ones, and Christ tried to ignore the atmosphere. He stared at the doors of the rooms, hoping to find Clara behind one of them.Time passed, and Christ began to feel frustrated. He wandered around the floor, observing every detail, every patient who passed him by. As he stepped toward another corner, his phone vibrated in his pocket. With hope, he quickly took it out.“Hello?” Christ's voice sounded tense.“Christ, are you still at the hospital?&rdq
Victor felt the tension escalating. Rachel's man standing in front of him wasn't messing around, and the cold stare of the large-built man locked onto his every movement. Victor knew one mistake could have dire consequences."Tell me, why are you following that woman?" the square-jawed man demanded, his tone impatient. He was becoming more suspicious of Victor's motives.Victor tried to stay calm, carefully weighing the right response. But before he could speak, footsteps suddenly echoed from behind. Another man, younger and with an athletic build, quickly appeared. He stepped forward, his gaze firm yet composed."I sent him," the newcomer said with a firm tone. "He works for Clara, just like I do."Rachel’s man turned around, glaring at the newcomer with deep suspicion. "Who are you?""I'm one of her trusted people. Clara doesn’t want too many to know, but she sent u
"Wow, who were you hugging just now?" Dominic asked, his voice flat but clearly hiding restrained anger behind his words.Ethan quickly let go of Gwen, trying to stay calm even though the tension between them was increasing. "Gwen almost fell. I was just helping—""Enough," Dominic cut in coldly, "this isn't your concern." His eyes shifted to Gwen, but there was no sympathy in his gaze.Gwen looked at Dominic, still feeling hurt from their earlier argument. But before she could say anything, the mix of exhaustion and emotion left her silent.From a distance, Marco and Tuan Charles stood watching the scene unfold. They had both seen Gwen nearly fall and Ethan quickly catch her. They had also noticed the simmering anger on Dominic's face as he approached, but both Marco and Tuan Charles knew this wasn’t intentional."This has to be a misunderstanding," Marco muttered qu
With a calm expression, Victor pretended to wave at a café staff member, as if asking for assistance, while he planned how to get access to the camera and files before they could be used.Victor, still trying to remain composed after the initial failure, returned to the corner of the café, feigning indifference about the stolen bag incident that had just occurred. However, behind his blank expression, his mind was busy formulating a new plan.“The camera,” he murmured quietly to one of his men, sitting nearby, “we have to get it.”His subordinate, a burly man named Arman, nodded calmly. “I noticed it. The camera is stored in a small bag left on the table. I can steal it when he's distracted.”Victor observed the man sitting with Clara. At that moment, the man was busy looking at his phone, likely arranging an appointment to print the photos again. This was a chance not to be missed.“Do it now,” Victor whispered shortly, giving the order coldly.His subordinate moved with the composur
The echoing gunshot came from Victor. In an instant, he fired several rapid shots that struck Rachel's men lurking behind the door, causing their bodies to collapse immediately.Wayne breathed a sigh of relief while peeking into the now-silent hallway. “How did you know they were there?”Victor put on a sharp expression and smirked briefly, “I’m always ready for unexpected attacks. Don’t lose focus; we still have other tasks.”Pierre, who had been hiding behind the wall, took a deep breath. “If it weren't for you, Victor, we might have been easy targets.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking a bit shaky. “Are we really safe now?”“Don’t feel too relieved, Pierre,” Wayne said, patting his partner’s shoulder. “It’s not over until we’re really out of here.”Victor's m
Victor stepped out of the building, approaching the white car waiting in the parking lot. Inside, two of his trained subordinates, Pierre and Wayne, were ready, their faces showing determination and seriousness. The car gleamed under the streetlights, as if ready to plunge into the darkness of the night.The car sped quickly down the empty nighttime streets, the tense atmosphere haunting every second of the journey. Victor stared ahead, his mind racing. He wasn’t just carrying a well-crafted plan, but also holding the hope of realizing a long-awaited ambition. I must not fail,” he whispered to himself. Every detail of this plan had to be executed perfectly.Upon arriving at the location believed to be Rachel's new house, Victor felt adrenaline coursing through his veins. Before stepping out of the car, he instructed his men to stay alert. As soon as they got out, they noticed that the surroundings of the house appeared calm. Howe
Theo looked surprised but quickly realized that Victor knew more than he had suspected. “That’s right, Miss Gwen just wanted to make sure everything was alright,” he replied, trying to keep his tone calm.Victor continued, staring intensely into Theo’s eyes. “You need to know that Mr. Charles and I are planning something very secretive to deal with the challenge from Rachel. We can't let this situation get out of control.”Hearing that, Theo's attention was immediately focused. “What do you mean, what plan?”“What do you mean, what plan?” Theo asked again, his curiosity piqued despite knowing the risks involved.Victor nodded, realizing that Theo was the right person to enlist for help, but he also needed to be reminded of the importance of secrecy. “We’re preparing a strategy to deal with her, but this isn’t somethin
Victor stared at Dominic for a moment before averting his gaze, as if trying to avoid Dominic’s intense stare. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dominic,” he replied quietly but firmly. “I’m just doing what Mr. Charles asked. What they talked about… that’s not my place to explain.”Dominic frowned, dissatisfied with the answer. “So you’re just following Grandpa’s orders? Rachel comes to this house late at night, and you don’t feel the slightest need to tell me?”Victor took a breath before responding calmly. “This is all with Mr. Charles’s knowledge, Dominic. I’m just carrying out my duties as instructed by him, and he has the authority to decide what should be shared.”Dominic sighed, feeling frustrated by the overly formal response. “Victor, you’ve been working here for a long time. Is there really nothing you can tel
Theo shook his head, his face filled with concern. "I don't know Rachel's exact intentions. But from the moves she's making, it seems she's getting ready to open the option for 'open warfare.' This is not a usual occurrence; she might be sending a warning or, worse, a direct threat."Dominic looked at Gwen with eyes that reflected his worry. His concern for their Grandpa's safety made him react immediately. He grabbed his phone and, without hesitation, called Christ. There was a long ring before Christ's firm voice answered."Dominic?" Christ asked, his tone attentive.Dominic spoke quickly, his voice filled with urgency. "Christ, we just got word that Rachel is at Grandpa's house. I don't know what her plan is, but I need your help. Send your men there now to secure Grandpa's house. Don't let her cause any trouble."Christ didn't ask many questions, understanding the urgency in Dominic's voice. "Got
Dominic explained about Theo's plan to follow the car that was suspected to belong to Rachel, which had been speeding toward the hospital, and how they arrived without news from the second team. Ethan's expression suddenly turned serious. "You guys need to be careful when you head back.""We'll be fine," Theo interjected, trying to reassure them. "I'll personally ensure Dominic and Gwen's safety.""Then you should leave before it gets too late."Gwen agreed with her brother-in-law's statement, and they said their goodbyes to Ethan. Dominic entrusted his brother to Daniel. "Please take care of my mischievous brother, the situation is getting out of control, and Rachel is getting bolder with us.""Yes, sir. I will take care of Mr. Ethan as best as I can."Dominic and Gwen returned home under tight escort from Theo, even sharing the same car. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was qu
Mr. Charles's thoughts were now filled with plans to retaliate against Rachel's actions without showing his face. "You know what to do, Victor. Prepare everything as quickly as possible. I want to ensure every step we take pushes her further into a corner."As the car continued down the road, Mr. Charles felt a growing determination to defend his family. For him, this wasn’t just about revenge—this was about protecting his family and preserving their honor. And with Victor by his side, he knew that his plans would unfold smoothly, as they always had.∞That night, in the living room of Mr. Charles's house, the warm atmosphere contrasted sharply with the tension rising between Dominic and his grandfather. Dominic stood tall before Mr. Charles, determination visible in his serious gaze. Mr. Charles, sitting in his chair, looked at his grandson with a stern yet gentle expression."Are
Daniel stepped into the emergency room, hearing the steady beep of medical monitors beyond the curtains and the occasional footsteps of nurses. His heart raced with worry for Ethan's condition.As the curtain was drawn back, his gaze locked onto Ethan lying on the bed. But what shocked Daniel was the smile on Ethan’s face. He seemed perfectly fine, showing no signs of having fainted or suffering from poisoning. In an instant, Daniel’s worry was replaced by deep confusion.“Sir…” Daniel spoke softly, still unable to believe what he was seeing. “Are… you alright?”Ethan looked at him casually and shrugged. “Well, yes, I’m fine. Why? Do I look like someone on their deathbed?” he replied.Daniel was stunned. “You look… incredibly healthy. I saw you faint suddenly after drinking Rachel’s drink.”
"Of course, we’ve arrived here. I can’t back down, especially since you’re here to protect me. Right?" Ethan replied. "Now let’s set up a plan: I’ll meet her, and you’ll stay nearby. Make sure no one suspects you. Do you understand?""I'm sorry, sir, but this isn't right. Our agreement was for you to follow my rules," Daniel rejected, unwilling to accept Ethan changing their arrangement."That agreement no longer applies, Daniel. What needs to be agreed upon is my plan," Ethan retorted, turning to open the car door, but Daniel quickly locked it from the driver’s side. This surprised and annoyed Ethan. "Daniel, what are you doing? Open the door.""I'm sorry, sir, but changing the agreement suddenly is not allowed," he said while starting the car."Don't be reckless, Daniel. Turn off the engine. If Rachel finds out I brought someone else, my plan could fall apa