“I didn't know it was a painting your friend gave you, so I replaced it with one that fits the room better,” was the response I got from Ivor.“Where is my painting?” I asked.Ivor looked at me and said, “At the warehouse.”Finally, I found it in an old storage box in the warehouse. The painting was placed at the bottom of the box and crushed by other objects, its glass frame also cracked.I pursed my lips as I saw the current state of the painting, “Well, at least the damaged consciousness is just the glass frame.”After the painting was taken to be repaired, I texted Bruce to thank him for the new painting.'You just like that picture?' Bruce texted.‘What do you mean?’ I'm confused.“What about the painting I gave you three days ago?” Bruce texted. ‘Do you like that one?’I was surprised when I realized that Bruce even gave me another painting. As I was searching for Ivor to ask about the other painting, I got a call from someone I never thought she would call me. That's my mother.
My lower abdomen was constantly throbbing, I hold my lower abdomen hopelessly and hoped that I can protect my baby.I didn't want to lose my baby.“Lia, are you okay?” a familiar deep voice mixed with a bit of anxiety rang out in my ears, then I felt someone carefully hugging me from behind.“Ivor?” I turned around and saw Ivor and said, “My lower stomach hurts, I want to go to the hospital, please take me to the hospital.”I could feel him kissing my head. Ivor picked me up and took me out of the cafe.“Stop, I won't let you leave. You have to abort that pregnancy and come back with me,”my mother shouted.“You, you-is that the baby's father? Is that him? He's the father of the child, isn't he?” I heard my mother's voice clearly.My whole body trembled when my secret was exposed, and I responded reflexively, “No, not him, he'll never be the father of the baby.” And then I lost consciousness.…I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw were the bright white ceiling panels. Memories of wh
I constantly put food in my mouth, chewing and swallowing without caring what it tasted like. My mind was a blank. Mom's appearance made it impossible for me to enjoy life the way I did. Even though I knew I had to be strong, I couldn't get rid of the accusations Mom made against me.Suddenly, the arm that was relentlessly putting food into my mouth was blocked.“Lia, don't trouble yourself,” Ivor's voice was deep and gentle. His eyebrows curled, his brown eyes gloomy. I could feel his heavy breathing.“Don't worry, I'm fine,” I avoided his gaze. “My mother said she came to your company, did she bother you?”“No, don't worry,” he confirmed. “I won't let her find you again.”His words softened the negative emotions that were rippling through me. I laughed, “Will you hide it from me?” Then I said gravely when I realized how cruel reality was, “It's no use, I won't be able to get rid of her.”I felt Ivor's hand on the back of my right hand, which miraculously comforted my wounded soul.
I opened my eyes and realized that it was already morning. I fell asleep while I was watching a movie and Ivor was working. I didn't think I could have slept last night, at least not before Ivor was with me.I slowly sat up and someone adjusted my sleeping position to be more comfortable while I was sleeping. Because I remembered, I fell asleep leaning my back against the head of my bed.I looked around the room where no one was, but I looked around it again and again.The sound of birds singing at the window reminds me that the air outside was very fresh. I went to the window, opened it, immediately I felt the cool and fresh air. My soul was soft and for a few seconds I looked forward to a new day.‘Knock, knock,’ the knock suddenly rang out, and I instinctively looked at the door.Someone knocked on the door again, but this time I heard a familiar voice behind the door.“Lia, are you awake?” Anna said, her voice soft, like she was probing whether I was awake rather than trying to w
“I-Ivor- why are you here?” I stammered. Ivor was looking at me, his gaze as deep as the ocean. I felt trapped in those eyes.Ivor blinked, his gaze became like a winter night sky, I heard his slight laugh then, “Why can't I be here?”“Oh, no, I mean you always work all day and only come home in the evening,” I said and backed away unconsciously.Ivor calmly said, “Don't be so nervous. I just went home to retrieve the forgotten documents.”I frowned. He didn't have to go back to the mansion to do it, his assistant would help him.I suspected but didn't show it.Ivor sat down on the sofa and poured a glass of water, “Who did you just talk to on the phone? You look uncomfortable then.”I sat across from him, hesitating to tell him the truth because he didn't seem to like me contacting Mom.But-why should I care about that? I would leave next month. What I had said would come true, I would become a single mother and never forget Ivor, while he would marry another woman, became the father
“Mom, I'm listening,” I said and was then answered with sobs. My mother was crying. I felt my eyebrows furrow, "Mom, are you listening to me?" I still only get sobs on the other end of the line. What is she doing? Did something happen to her? I jumped to my feet, the legs of the chair rubbing against the floor making a shrill sound. I want to go find my mother right now. Just then, my mother's voice came from the other end of the line: "Why? Why are you treating me like this? Do you want to mock me by re-enacting my goddamn role? Then All in all, I just want the best for you." Friend. I did all I could to feed you. You know that, don't you? You know why you have the money to attend a private university, right? You know what I have to do so you can live comfortably in New York City while you're a student, right? Why? Why-" Each reprimand of my mother was like a knife to my heart. Of course, I knew what it felt like to live alone in this thriving, unfamiliar city as a student. My m
Days later, I felt like I was living under Ivor's control. Anna, as a supervisor he sent, followed me around all the time. I understand my mental health is not stable, I need to have someone around but not the whole time. Sometimes I needed space, but they didn't give it to me.I felt stuffy but every time I told him that it was no use to worry about me like that, Ivor ignored or redirected the conversation to another topic. And even though I felt better, I still couldn't get my smartphone back.One day, Anna received a notification that her mother's illness suddenly got worse and she went to the hospital immediately.I still paint according to the plan that she and I made. The mansion was empty without Anna, I walked around the mansion to find something fun, but felt lonely when I realized how large the mansion was.Maybe the air in the garden would make me feel better.The warm sunshine, the flowers emitting a gentle scent, those scents mixed together, made my soul relax quickly.
I dedicatedly enjoyed our comfortable time without expecting that the god of luck didn't smile at me.Bruce was talented and gentle. He had bought some saplings earlier and we planted them in the afternoon. As the soil enveloped the roots of the trees, a hope of the formation of a new life softened my feelings.I unconsciously embraced my pregnancy curves, imagining that a little angel was waiting for the day to come to this world.Warm sunlight shines on the young leaves, promising the appearance of beautiful birth flowers.“It's good that you're feeling better,” Bruce approached me.I smiled, feeling the peace from deep inside my heart. I breathed in the sun's scent, the scent of the soil and the scent of the foliage, feeling the breeze gently pass through my skin.Bruce touched my hair, I was startled but immediately realized he was just grabbing the leaf from my hair.“Lia, what are you doing?” Ivor's cold voice awakened my relaxed nerves.Ivor's appearance at the time was unexpec
I approached him. Ivor was sleeping drunk, his eyebrows squinting as if he still couldn't get rid of his thoughts.I give him a massage to loosen his eyebrows. I sat there, watching his sleeping face for a few minutes. As the time for me to leave was approaching, I felt even more confused, the emotions in me conflicted like the sea when the storm was approaching.I touched his cheek and stroked Ivor's hair. After that, I helped him into my room even though he was heavy compared to me. It took me a while to tie him to the bed. Fortunately, he was drunk enough not to wake up in the process.I found on him his phones, taken from my sim card drawer and put them on the bedside table. I took from the closet the backpack that I had prepared before, inside were the necessary things for my trip.After making sure I could leave at any moment, I was beside him, leaning on him, feeling the warmth of his body.It was the most peaceful time I've ever felt.Not long after, Ivor woke up.He must still
Discovering the secret road was not enough. I had to plan meticulously. Anna seemed to be used to me being cold to her, so I could spend an afternoon with Joy in my room without anyone suspecting me.After crossing the forest, I could only walk to the nearby residential area, however the road was very long, and I needed to be in good physical shape.There was no guard at the helipad or nearby area when I arrived but I could not be subjective.At the same time, I need to get in touch with Bruce as soon as I get to the residential area, otherwise they will quickly take me back to the mansion.And Ivor, I have a plan for him, too.“Lia, it's nice to have your palate back,” Ivor looked at me, his voice cheerful as we were having lunch together.That's the thing, of course, if I need to have the energy to walk a long distance.“Because I've been having so much fun lately,” I said.He laughed, “I should have finished my work sooner and spent more time with you. You must have had a hard time
“Sorry I couldn't always be by your side,” Ivor said, looking at the puppy. “I hope he helps you feel comfortable living here.”My eyes widened in surprise. I looked at the naughty puppy in his arms, happy. I pat his head, he wags his tail vigorously."What is his name?" I looked at Ivor.“Ah, oh,” Ivor faltered a little, avoiding my gaze. "He still doesn't have a name. I hope you can name him.”I pursed my lips, thinking for a moment, “Joy. What was it like?"“Great,” he laughs, dropping the puppy, now Joy, to the ground and patting its head. “Puppy, we will call you Joy from now on.”Joy barked happily. What are we talking about?From the day Joy appeared, life in this mansion became easier for me. At least the other people, whom Ivor sent to monitor me, including Anna, didn't try to talk to me anymore.I spend more time with Joy than Ivor. My emotions were in intense conflict, so I didn't want to meet Ivor, who was the cause of that problem.Joy is extremely naughty. He usually spe
Every time I look at Lia's peaceful face, I don't want her to be sad or miserable.I won't allow anyone to hurt her, even if that person is her biological mother.I stroked Lia's cheek. I don't want to lose a soulmate like her, who has been with me for many years.I get annoyed thinking about the damn man who got her pregnant but so far he hasn't come to see her once. Then he'd better never see her and her baby again.That's why Lia needs to stay in this mansion, live under my protection.I got up, left her room without making any noise and went back to my room.…Lately, Lia often sits alone outside in the garden and reads books, she always seems sad when I'm not with her. She also became difficult to get along with everyone else except me.The proof is that she rarely talks to Anna. After a few unsuccessful attempts to initiate a conversation, Anna could only give up.“She seems to be wary of me,” Anna said after entering my office. “She was very upset knowing she was being controll
I frowned, very hesitant.But at last I sighed, closed my eyes, took a sip of pea blossom tea.“Not bad,” I said, surprised. “But not good either.”Lia chuckled, “So you can still drink it, right? Drink this cup of tea.”I could only do what she said, drink the whole cup of tea. Lia, who was carrying an empty cup, went outside. Before closing the door, she looked at me and said, “Good night. It's already a new day in Vietnam, so let's go to sleep“Good night,” I smile back at her and after Lia closes the door, I sit down and continue my work.I was tired, leaning back on my chair. It was late, and I had done some work. I needed a few minutes to relax, so I got up, poured a glass of wine, walked over to the window and took in the view.The taste of the wine that I love seems to be different from the previous times. I suddenly remembered the taste of the tea Lia had brought me earlier. The cool aroma of pea tea seemed to be hanging around on the tip of my tongue.The phone rang unexpecte
I smiled and pulled out a chair for her, “Sorry to be so busy with my work.”I could see the surprise in her eyes.I'm happy with that show. I always wanted to get closer to Lia, but I didn't know how to keep her and make peace with her, and my work at the company dominated me.I looked at Lia, who was having fun when the maid brought the plates up for us. I will not wait until I find a way to make peace with her, I will take care of her from now on.We had a nice dinner. During the process, I had to use my serious brain to talk in a funny way. Although some of my jokes seemed bland, at least Lia laughed a lot.“Oh, Ivor, look, you didn't leave any food on your plate,” I heard Lia's surprised voice."Yeah. I'm surprised, I still don't understand what's going on.Lia smiled, “You've been very picky, this is the first time I haven't seen leftovers on your plate.”I was even more surprised, looked down at the plate and then at Lia, and laughed. I didn't expect that one day my picky eating
Ivor's POVI came home before dawn. Upon entering the hallway, I heard Anna's voice, “She asked to play the piano this morning, but we needed time to prepare the piano room so she joined me in listening to music in the morning. In the afternoon, after taking a nap, she learned to play the piano. She's in the piano room now.”i raised an eyebrow. Is Lia playing the piano?Cool I opened wider because I was surprised and interested in Lia's request. Before that, she only made simple and basic requests, this is the first time she made a “complicated” request.Anna seemed to want to say something more, but I didn't care, and went quickly to the piano room.Outside, I could hear the piano. Unequivocal misaligned sounds denounced the skill of the pianist.I turned the doorknob gently and opened the door. The sound coming from the piano needs to become a lot clearer. Then I saw Lia, in her wide white set, frowning, her soft fingers resting on the keys, she was pressing down on the keys clumsi
I pursed my lips.I felt Ivor's hand moving slightly over my cheek.I tilted my body slightly to the side to avoid his touch.His hand stopped and he pulled his hand back.I said, “As always.”Then I added, “Not bad.”“You're six months pregnant-”Ivor hadn't finished interrupting, “I know.”He was silent for a moment and then said, “Don't be too active.”He reminded me of this afternoon, didn't he?I puckered my lips, reminding myself to be more careful.Ivor tried to talk to me afterwards, but I was so tired of walking all afternoon that I just wanted to rest. So the conversation between us became like an interrogation. Ivor always asked me some open-ended questions, but I always answered them through the speaker.He quickly realized the situation, helped me up to my room to rest, then went to his office.In the evening, although my legs were still tired, I tried to go down to the dining room to eat my meal.If Anna had to bring my meal to my room, there was a good chance that I would
I went back to my room, Anna helped me turn off the light. The room was covered with darkness, I still clutched my sim card in my hand, sobering up more calmly than ever.I know what I want. I wanted to see my mother, I was really worried about her condition because she was behaving in a strange way compared to before.I need to find a way to get out of this mansion, but first I need to sleep.I tried closing my eyes and falling asleep, but it didn't work. I sighed, sat up, and put my SIM card deep in the closet.Fortunately, I was able to sleep afterwards.The next day Ivor went down to the dining room to have breakfast later than usual. When I got there, I almost ate my breakfast.I looked at him, seeing the awkwardness in his eyes when he saw me, but very quickly he readjusted his emotions.Ivor ate breakfast, then went to work, as usual. He didn't say anything about what happened last night.He didn't ask for anything after he woke up, did he?I did not think so...I smiled, deftl