"What's wrong, Gwen? Why are you crying?" Dominic asked once more. Curious, he took the phone from her to see who had called his wife. It was Mr. Charles, Dominic's grandfather.Dominic took over the call, but his grandfather had already ended the conversation. Frustrated, he called his grandfather back, but Mr. Charles wouldn't answer. Determined, he contacted all his grandfather's associates to find out why the old man had made his wife cry."Why are you really crying?" he asked Gwen."Grandpa said he was happy that I was doing well in my role as a wife," Gwen replied."That's it?" Dominic asked, puzzled. "He just said that? Then why are you crying?""Ah, you don't understand a woman's feelings," Gwen muttered, walking away from him. Dominic wanted to speak again, but he held back to avoid any conflict.Time passed quickly, and they put the incident behind them as they prepared to leave for the airport. The hotel staff helped them find transportation to ensure they wouldn't be late.
Gwen immediately opened her eyes, staring intently at the man in front of her. "Compete? Sorry!! You're married to me, which means I'm the winner. If I have to compete with your past, I won't," Gwen replied, her breath quickening.Dominic understood his wife's heart; Gwen was pretending to be strong but was holding back her emotions. "So, it's okay if I meet my past girlfriend again?""That's called disrespecting your wife, Mr. Cartwright! You're married and have a wife, so why meet your past? If you weren't over her, why marry me?""Grandpa forced me, remember?" Dominic teased, confident that Gwen would cry.Sure enough, tears appeared in Gwen's beautiful eyes. She cried while looking at her husband, her face a mixture of anger, sadness, and frustration. Dominic couldn't bear to see her cry and moved closer to hug her, but Gwen backed away. "Don't touch me if you're still thinking about that woman named Rachel!""So, I was right; you heard everything. You're a eavesdropper," Dominic
Gwen turned around as soon as she heard the baritone voice. Mr. Charles stood not far from her. “Grandpa...”“What is it, Gwen? I heard you’ve been very curious about Rachel. Have you two met?”Gwen shook her head and replied, “Not yet, Grandpa, that’s why I’m curious about her.”“Just call her Rachel, she’s not royalty; use her name,” Grandpa reminded Gwen not to address Dominic's former fiancée formally. “I can tell you about her. Let’s sit in the front,” he continued, signaling to the housemaids, though Gwen didn’t understand the gesture.They walked to the other side of the garden, which was full of beautiful, diverse flowers. “No wonder Dominic was upset about the flower garden yesterday. He has his own private flower garden at home,” Gwen thought.“You went to the flower garden yesterday, right?” Mr. Charles teased his granddaughter-in-law. Gwen could only smile thinly, not responding to his words. “Please sit here.”Mr. Charles began talking about the flower garden his late wif
Dominic asked, turning his body to face his wife, his expression serious. "Do you really want to know about the women in my past? Are you prepared to be hurt?"Gwen seemed to ponder his words. She realized that the more she knew about Dominic's past, the more it might hurt her, so she needed to prepare herself emotionally. "Since we've just arrived, it's probably better to continue this tomorrow. Besides, the information from Grandpa is enough for now."Dominic chuckled at his wife's odd behavior—yesterday, she wanted to know about his past, but now that he was open, Gwen was the one holding back. "Alright then, let's talk about how to use this computer instead."He explained in the simplest terms possible for Gwen to understand. She listened carefully to every explanation Dominic gave, not missing a single word. After ten minutes of listening, Gwen finally practiced what she had learned. It wasn't difficult for he
"That book you wanted to read," said Dominic, showing the book that had caught his wife's attention earlier. Gwen quickly took the book and continued down the stairs, step by step, to the second floor. However, midway down, she noticed an inviting spot—the lush, green gazebo in the backyard. The young woman changed course and headed to the first floor instead.Gwen read the book about managing a company in the gazebo, surrounded by thick green vines and cool air. She felt this was her favorite spot in the entire house. From a distance, Dominic smiled, watching his wife engrossed in her reading in one of her favorite places.Gwen stayed there for quite a while, the content of the book compelling her to keep reading. One of the household staff approached her, offering a drink. "Would you like some hot tea or orange juice, Miss?""No, I don't want anything to drink," Gwen declined, still absorbed in her book. "Thank you."After being turned down, the servant stepped away, reporting back
"My heart," Dominic replied concisely and clearly."What's wrong with your heart? Your heart is wicked; the elevator wasn’t broken, but you said it was," Gwen complained to her husband. "I rode the elevator with Grandpa, and nothing happened. How many times have you lied to me?"Dominic laughed at his wife's grumbling. The elevator button wasn’t actually broken; he just wanted to tease her. Annoyed, Gwen left her husband and decided to return to her room. Dominic followed her.A mischievous idea crossed Dominic’s mind, but he chose the safest one. "Now that we're home, how are we going to divide the rooms?"Gwen furrowed her eyebrows, not understanding his words. "Aren’t we used to sharing a bed by now? Besides, the bed is too big for one person."Dominic was pleased because Gwen was falling into his trap. "That was out of necessity. Now the situation is different; there are plenty of rooms here. You can choose whichever you want.""What if Grandpa finds out?" Gwen asked, confused. "C
Dominic kissed his wife's lips again, this time much wetter and more dominating. At first, Gwen was shocked and wanted to pull away, but gradually she enjoyed it and even responded to her husband. The man only stopped when he realized his wife was running out of oxygen. Gwen's breathing quickened, and her cheeks turned red again as she felt embarrassed to look at the man who was being sweet to her. "Hurry up and take a shower," he said quickly, leaving the bathroom.As soon as the bathroom door closed, Gwen cursed herself for not locking it. Thankfully, Dominic entered after she had finished showering. "Careless, what if he had come in while I was still showering? I might have been assaulted," she thought to herself.She quickly changed her clothes and went downstairs for breakfast. The servants were setting the table, and Gwen decided to help them, asking about the family's breakfast habits. Maiden happily explained the family's morning routines."So, Dominic only drinks milk?" Gwen
Dominic burst into laughter at his wife's question. He had thought Gwen was calm and wise, different from most women. But it turned out he was wrong; Gwen still felt jealous about his ex-girlfriend."Why are you laughing?" Gwen asked, puzzled."I thought you wouldn't get jealous, but here you are asking about it," Dominic replied, trying to suppress his laughter."Am I not allowed to ask about it?""Of course, you are. We only talked about global economic issues, specifically problems in our respective companies. It was just business, that's all," Dominic explained in detail.Gwen listened to her husband's explanation calmly. She trusted that they wouldn't discuss the past during an important business meeting between two prestigious companies. Just as Gwen was about to respond, Dominic cupped her thin face with his strong hands."Can I talk about how hurt I f
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