When Andrea opened the door, she didn’t expect Sebastian to be wearing such simple clothes, let alone see him get out of a middle-class car.“Is he trying to impress us or the opposite?” She thought to herself.Sebastian jogged up to the porch and breathed out as he got closer. His droopy eyes quickly informed her that the man was beyond exhausted. “Hey, thanks for having me,” he greeted her. Then from his coat pocket, he took out the same present he always gave her whenever he came over. A purple peony.“I told you already. You don’t have to bring me this,” Andrea told him while still bashfully taking the stalk from him. She’ll be sleeping well tonight.“It’s fine. I also brought a gift for Mr. Fray. Though I’m not sure if he’ll like it.” Sebastian scratched the back of his neck.Andrea let out an awkward chuckle. Knowing her Dad, she was sure that Eugene would bring out the silliest part of him being protective. “Well, we never know. Why don’t you come inside? Ana’s just preparing f
After dessert, Sebastian spent a few minutes listening to his daughter’s exploits of the day while the hosts tidied the dining room. He loved listening to her talk since he wasn’t able to be with her most of the time, what with his work and their housing conditions.The father enjoyed the stories up until the toddler said, “And Darren came and we ride the twicycle!”Sebastian’s smile faltered a little as Anastasia waited for his reaction. Having no skills to identify social cues yet, she doubled in on the story. “Darren gave me twicycle and, and he show me to use it!”“Is that so?” Deep inside, he was cursing at himself. “Of course! A tricycle! Why haven’t I thought of that!” Sebastian was the one who helped Anastasia assemble the LEGO superhero. But once they were done, the little girl refused to take it apart and had it displayed in her room.Now, Andrea had barred him from bringing any more toys for their daughter since he and Edmond had already filled her room with too many of tho
“So what are you saying? That after weeks of badgering you with his declarations of love, that asshole suddenly turned cold?” Ren’s villainous attitude reserved only for a certain Adams came out. “I can’t say I’m surprised, to be honest.”Andrea sighed, “I don’t know. I think something happened at work. Maybe that’s why he also had to fly to the US right away.” She flipped through an Alexandra Allred book while letting the hair steamer do its work.“Why are you defending him, Andy?” Ren looked from behind the actress into the mirror with skepticism.Andrea’s voice raised a little, “I’m not. I’m just saying that there was a sudden shift at that time. Didn’t you say that you also noticed something with Robert?”“That’s true…”Andrea went back to reading when the conversation reached its lull.But her manager was persistent. Ren spoke up, “Even so, you seem very concerned. What did he do that made you like this again?”She groaned, “God, Ren, he didn’t do anything! Before leaving, Sebast
Ren unconsciously bit on her nails as Andrea, Darren, and Elian sat on the stools provided for them. “Shit, why did it have to be Sylvie Hunter of all people?” She harshly whispered.True to the journalist’s name, Sylvie Peters was notorious for sniffing out gossip on celebrities she was interviewing. Many people loved to watch whenever she was on the screen because of how direct she was at squeezing the truth out of her interviewees. This was for sure going to be a hot seat, especially for Andrea.Already, people were talking in hushed tones around them. But being a manager, Ren had learned to improve her hearing skills.“Do you think Sylvie will ask Andrea about Sebastian’s engagement?” Hopefully, not.“What about the rumors regarding their divorce that she cheated?” Andrea definitely did not.“Are Darren and Andrea an item?” Ren wished that was the case.She continued to watch as the body mics were placed underneath their clothes as the hair and makeup crew fixed what they had to u
“I’m sorry for ending the interview on a grim note,” Sylvie apologized to the celebrities after the interview.She faced Andrea who gave her a polite handshake. “I just thought that this was the only opportunity I got to ask you those questions.”“It’s fine, Sylvie. Maybe through that interview, many other people would find the courage to speak,” she replied. Andrea thought to herself, “Maybe someday, I’ll also find the bravery to speak out about my experience.”The journalist continued her chat with the men as Andrea got out of her sponsored clothes and accessories.Ren was the only one left after the staff left the dressing room.Andrea was combing her two-toned hair into its usual style when she noticed her best friend wordless with a grumpy expression, ready to bite someone’s head off. “Ren must be pissed at Sylvie for asking about Daniel,” she assumed.She laughed it off, “What? The interview went well, didn’t it? What are you still growling there like a dog?”“You don’t know wha
“Sir, you have to come to the office quickly,” Robert’s voice was strained. It was obvious how seriously both Lilith’s engagement revelation and Daniel’s scandal had impacted Elysian Pictures. But to be honest, Sebastian didn’t care. “I’ll see Anastasia first, then I’ll head back to the company.” “But the chairman is here, so is-” “Grandpa understands that my daughter is my priority above anything else. You can help him keep whoever is there at bay.” “Alright, but Sir,” his assistant hesitated to continue. Sebastian let out a worn-out breath. “I know, Robert. I know that she doesn’t want to see me right now.” “Do you want me to explain the issue with Lilith? She wouldn’t refuse to listen to me.” The CEO could hear paper shuffling and people in the background speaking loudly. He knew that Robert already had too much on his plate. “No, it’s fine. I got it. Thanks for holding the fort while I was gone. I know you won’t, but you can relax once I get back there.” With that, Sebastian
“Hey sunshine, your dad just got Ana to sleep,” Madeline said as she sat beside Andrea who was hiding in her room. Her daughter hid her face in between her knees as she hug her legs. “She hates me,” Andrea mumbled. “I feel like all I do nowadays is push the people I love away. And that whatever I do will always have the same result. Any day now and I might do something that you guys will hate me for.” Her mother sighed as she peered out the window to see the night sky. “I did something that I thought was a good thing for you. But ever since then, I regret it. I’m the one who’s scared that you’re going to hate me for it.” Andrea raised her head in confusion. “Mom, what are you talking about?” The older woman noticed a wilting flower by the windowsill. “He didn’t give you a flower today?” Her daughter gave the peony a hostile glare and spat, “I didn’t think to ask when I was screaming at him to leave.” But she wanted to return to the previous topic. “Mom, what are you scared about?”
“Why did you agree on doing this again?” Ren began questioning her friend’s sanity. She thought to herself, “What the hell is this woman thinking, talking to that witch’s assistant?”She glanced over at the actress who was humming along the soft music as she watched the trees grow larger as they drove further and further away from the city.“And what in God’s name got you smiling like that?” Her manager asked with a sharp tone.Andrea replied with a smile and sparkling eyes, “I promised my daughter that I’d fix what I did wrong.” Her hope was reinvigorated after that talk with Madeline. Maybe it was time to trust again and just believe that Sebastian was telling the truth.Then that meant that she was too harsh with him the last time they talked. Rather, the last time he tried to communicate but all she did was be a stubborn mule. Andrea hated the fact that she did the same thing to him as Sebastian did before. Because she knew how painful it was to be told by the person you love how
“This, so far, is what I’ve decided to put in my book. If you’re reading this right now, then that means that I finally chose to let the world know my story. You may or may not have heard of me. I’ve been introduced to many names. Cobbett, Scout, Adams, and Fray. But I don’t want to let any of those affiliations define who I am. What I choose to do after everything that happened to me is what I believe determines me.” “Andy! Darren just texted. He and his wife are almost here. We can't miss your second Oscar nomination together!” Sebastian called out from outside the study. It was funny how in the end, Darren became much closer to Sebastian that it made Andrea jealous rather than the other way around. “Coming!” Andrea answered as she contentedly sealed the paper and placed it on top of a hardbound, azure book. She looked at it for a few seconds, getting lost in every letter. “Momma! Auntie Wen said to come quick!” A small boy with curly hair and brown eyes with golden flecks grapple
They couldn’t fully put everything behind them as Lilith was still nowhere to be found, but Sebastian and Andrea knew that it was time to move on. Maybe it was true what other people said about her. Maybe Lilith had found a reason that made her leave her life.After more than a year of coming to terms with their tragic past, Sebastian once again popped the question. He had flown everyone to the private island in the Maldives that he had rented before.“You bought it?” Andrea almost screamed when she learned that Sebastian didn’t rent the island for their honeymoon. Instead, he made it seem like he just leased it.“Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything because you were so judgemental of rich people. I didn’t want your first impression of me as your husband to be that of someone who buys things excessively,” Sebastian fibbed.He had already talked to everyone about his proposal except of course with Andrea. Eugene immediately agreed while Madeline gave him a stern warning and advice.So t
Weeks turned to months and no sign of the wanted criminal had emerged. Despite all their efforts, she was too slick in evading and hiding from authorities.But finally, the Adams, Frays, and their loved ones had slowly started to build a semblance of a normal life.After her warrant was sent out, Sebastian had also released his statement regarding the matter. He explained to the public how and why this all went down. They decided to keep it vague, not wanting to share every small detail. But enough for the people to understand what happened.And in this duration, the same people who hurled hateful comments at the actress now give her support. As they began to understand that the information they’d been fed was lies, they turned against the source of these. Lilith Quinn.And now, Andrea Fray had the opportunity to tell her story in her own words.Sat on a powder blue couch and facing a whole group of lights and cameras from all angles, the actress recounted the stories that she chose t
“He’s a good man, Harris,” Sebastian told Andrea who was cuddling against his chest. The two sat in her yard, enjoying the light sea breeze that passed by.“I know, that’s why he became my friend, “ she replied. “Look at you, getting all warmed up with Darren.” He didn’t know but Andrea was ecstatic that her partner and her closest male friend would be on good terms.“I’m not,” Sebastian tried to deny. “It’s only because he told me about you going to Clayton by yourself and the other stuff he did for you.”“That’s why I wish he could find his own happiness.” Andrea looked up at the sky and coincidentally, found a shooting star. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and made the exact wish.“Why didn’t you wish for yourself or for me?” Sebastian questioned her with a sulky expression.“Are you kidding? I’ve already found my happiness.” Andrea gestured at where they were and who they were with.In front of them was Anastasia. The toddler was so engrossed with the film that was playing
“You are not your fear, Andrea. You are not your trauma,” Andrea said her usual chant as she got out of her car and faced the menacing high, concrete walls of Fort Havenshaw.“I can do this, I chose to do this,” she whispered with eyes shut. The dread had finally caught up to her. Andrea’s bravado had waned the nearer she was to that person.When she told the hesitant Darren that she could do it, Andrea thought that she could. But now, she’s convinced that it was just false toughness.Andrea couldn’t feel the tip of her fingertips as her whole body had turned rigid. As opposed to the bright, sunny day that graced them, an unknown source of penetrating cold had entered her body. It didn’t plan to leave anytime soon.A part of her said, “It’s not too late to turn back. You still haven’t gotten inside the prison.”Andrea’s eyes went back and forth, from the fort entrance to her car handle. A drop of sweat had begun to roll down the side of her face. “Shit!” She exclaimed as Andrea reache
“You heard what Monique said. We can only secure Lilith’s conviction if we get a confession. I know it’s a shot in the dark. But if there’s a possibility of Alvis having a recording of Lilith, then it’s worth it,” Andrea firmly said.It made Darren sigh heavily. He scratched his nape, daunted by Andrea’s strategy. He asked, “And you’re not having any second thoughts about this?”She nodded her head sharply. “I’m a hundred percent sure. Sebastian could only hold off Lilith’s scheme on the wedding for so long.”“What does he think about this?”He noticed her flinch when he asked the question. “He doesn’t know,” Darren answered for himself.Andrea grimaced at the fact and said, “I’ll tell him once it’s done. That way, we could save ourselves the trouble.” She only confided with Darren about her plan because he was the most understanding of all her friends.“I’ll go with you,” Darren insisted. These past days of hanging out with just the two of them brought him back to the past. Back when
“The evidence you gave us is very good. But a confession from Quinn would solidify this case so that the jury doesn’t find reasonable doubt to convict her,” the counselors and detective working on Lilith’s case told Andrea’s group.“We can arrest her now on these grounds, but we’re very sure that she would clam up and call the best lawyers their money could buy. And we all know how that will turn out.”They became familiar with the process. Lilith’s lawyers would talk directly with the court that she was not being lawfully held despite the mounting evidence against her. She wouldn’t even spend a night in jail because of who she was. A millionaire heiress so of course, the judge would favor her. Then she’d get out and wreak havoc into their lives as if nothing happened.Their hearts sank after hearing that all their efforts could do was a small dent in Lilith's case.“There’s a possibility that we can win this case,” the lead prosecutor, Monique Perrin, informed them. “But her admittin
When Sebastian heard Andrea yell out, he was ready to attack the person and run amok in her house. But when she turned to see who it was, Andrea was already squeezing the guy with a bear hug. “Oh, it’s you! Gosh, I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t!” She blurted out, her chest still heaving at high speed. “I’m sorry, Andy. I was rushing because I thought I was late. They told me to be here hours ago, that’s why I just barged in like that. Sorry,” Darren replied, giving her a light, comforting pat on the back. Sebastian’s posture stiffened as the Simon couple eyed the three of them cautiously. Robert was about to get up from the couch to be beside his boss, in case worse came to worst. But Ren quickly pulled her down. “You disrupt this drama, I will go on a rampage,” she warned him. Still oblivious to the brittle atmosphere that was created by Darren’s sudden arrival, Andrea continued to face her friend while holding both his hands. She began to bombard him with apolog
“So I’m guessing you two are on good terms now, huh?” Ren mused after seeing Andrea and Sebastian share another glance that could only be described as coy. The billionaire was visiting the Fray house and at the moment was spending his after-work time with his daughter.“Put it on top. There. Not the owange one! It has to be bwue!“ Anastasia pointed and ordered Sebastian and Robert where to place the blocks as they assembled a building that replicated her father’s company.Andrea giggled at her daughter’s bossiness. Who else but her father would she get that kind of attitude from?She scoffed at her best friend, “Of course, we should be for Ana’s sake.” It had been days since they got back together again. Though the two chose to keep their relationship hidden for a while, at least until they’ve sorted out the Lilith issue.Ren rolled her eyes and sighed, “Oh please, Andy. Even a blind person would easily know that you two are on more than good terms. If you know what I’m saying.” She w