Araceli POV
Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated.He let go of me and said gently, "Wait for me on the roof."After he said that, he took his cell phone and walked to a secluded area to answer it.Raphael's voice was small, but I heard it anyway.A little puzzled, he said, "Leyla?"I stood still and didn't move, watching Raphael walk out the door as he made the call.I didn't really care and headed for the roof.It was a little windy tonight. I sat on the roof, unconsciously hugging my body tighter.I looked out at the night scene in front of me. The night sky was dotted with stars that dotted the dark background like diamonds glittering faintly. The moon also loomed between the gaps in the clouds, shedding soft moonlight.Suddenly, the balcony door was pushed open.It was Melany."What did you want to talk to me about?"I glanced at her and turned my head, looking out into the night. "Melany, have you slept well every night for the past five yearAraceli POVAfter Melany left, I felt a little cold on the roof and went back inside."Where's the restroom, please?"I asked a footman. He pointed me in the direction to walk to the end of this hallway.I nodded, said thanks, and walked over to see a room that was half open.I was a little drunk and didn't think too much about it and was about to push the door open when I heard a familiar voice.It was Raphael's voice.What was he doing here?A female voice rang out. "Wait, I want to ask you something."I frowned slightly and looked into the room.It was Raphael's mother.Raphael had his head down. I couldn't read his expression."You like Araceli, don't you?" Raphael's mother's voice was cold. "You don't want to marry Essel and Micah's real mother, Melany, instead you want to marry that notorious woman? You're out of your mind!"Raphael turned slightly sideways. I finally got a look at his expression now.Raphael's brow furrowed. "Mom, thi
Araceli POV"Valeria is asleep."Raphael said in a low voice as he came downstairs with me.I took a deep breath, turned my back to him, and said calmly, "Mr. Lancaster, you should go back now.""I told you not to call me Mr. Lancaster."Raphael paused and took my arm, making me turn around and look at him.He stared into my face. "Call me Raphael."I frowned slightly, pursed my lips a little reluctantly, and said, "Fine.""And what should I call you, honey?"Raphael pulled me against his chest.I couldn't help but try to push him away.His hands suddenly wrapped around my waist. Before I could break free, he wrapped his arms around me."Shhh. There's someone outside."What?I nervously looked out the window. There seemed to be a dark shadow flickering past the window.Someone tried to sneak into my house!Raphael tightened his arm around my waist and leaned close to my ear."Let's go to the window."I nodded and instinctively gr
Araceli POVI pursed my lips.As soon as I sent the paternity reports of my two children and Raphael to him, the Fleming family would stop pestering me.However, I couldn't talk to Raphael about it.I was worried that Raphael would make the same choice as the Fleming family.If Valeria and Krish's identities were revealed, I would definitely not get custody of them."Raphael, this is between my Ramon, so it's better to leave it to me."I said slowly, "He's the children's real father no matter what..."Raphael stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything else.He sighed slightly and took out his cell phone.I didn't know what he was going to do and was a little confused.He made a call and said something. Soon, several sedans drove up. A group of men in black got out, put their hands behind their backs and stood in a line.Raphael had them patrol the neighborhood every half hour. Then he had them take the two men who had been placed in th
Araceli POVI was in the middle of a meeting. Suddenly, my cell phone vibrated and the screen lit up."I'll be downstairs at your office in ten minutes."Raphael texted.I froze for a moment.What was he doing coming to see me?Soon another text came through."I promised Valeria I'd pick her up from school today."I put my phone down and made my way back to my office after summarizing the meeting.I cleaned up my desk and lifted my bag, ready to go downstairs and wait for Raphael.That was when my cell phone vibrated.It was Eliezer calling."Araceli, I heard that two men were outside your window last night trying to come in and kidnap Valeria and Krish. Is this true?"I froze."Eliezer, how do you know this?""The men I arranged for today found a shell casing when they were weeding your yard."Eliezer sighed and said, "Araceli, why don't you move back in with Grandma? It would be safer for you and the kids."I frowned and said, "Do
Raphael POVI was downstairs in Creaty's office within ten minutes, but Araceli never came down, so I had to go to the office to find her.I was about to knock on the door when I heard her on the phone with someone, so I stood at the door and waited for her.After a while, I heard her say that Krish had gone for a paternity test and that I was his father.I froze completely.There was no way Araceli could have known I was at the door and she spoke in a somber and despondent tone.There was no way she was lying.That meant Araceli was Essel and Micah's real mother.It also meant that Melany had been lying to me...I clenched my fists, veins rippling in my hands, and quickly descended the stairs and drove as fast as I could towards Eclipse.The car quickly pulled up in front of Eclipse's villa.I violently pushed open the car door, got out, and approached the door with large strides.The servants immediately greeted me respectfully when they saw it
Raphael POV"Raphael, I do love Essel and Micah, and you..."Melany paused and said, "Araceli can't love you at all. She approached you to take away Essel and Micah.You must stay away from Araceli! She'll get back at you for what happened five years ago..."I lifted my foot and stomped on Melany's calf bone.I didn't want to do this to a woman, but Melany was just too hateful. Even if I had one of my men beat her up instead of me, it wouldn't be able to quell my hatred."Raphael, you have to believe me. I have the recording to prove it!"Melany hurriedly and tremblingly picked up her cell phone.I frowned slightly.What recording?Soon, the recording began to play. I heard Araceli's voice."You don't like Raphael?""If it wasn't for the kids, I wouldn't have had any dealings with him at all..."Melany and Araceli's conversation came out clearly from the phone.Even though I already knew that Araceli's willingness to be
Araceli POVAt the Royal Pack.Essel reached for her cell phone and dialed two numbers. I distinctly heard a mechanical, cold female voice coming from her cell phone saying that Micah's phone was off."What's Micah doing? Why isn't he answering his phone?"Essel said with some concern."Normally, Mr. Micah doesn't turn off his cell phone. This is weird."Maddox scratched his head. "Mr. Micah's cell phone doesn't turn off all year round. But he should be back soon. Maybe we should wait a little longer."I didn't know why, but I'd been feeling uneasy.This uneasy feeling even prevented me from calming down to make dinner for the kids.I pursed my lips and said, "Maddox, do you have Micah's assistant or secretary's number? Call it and ask."Maddox nodded and immediately dialed a number.The call was quickly answered. maddox chatted with the person on the other end of the line for a few moments and quickly hung up."Okay,
Araceli POVThe night was getting late.The inner turmoil gradually ate away at me.Essel was sitting on the couch somewhat six-footed, staring out of the window with two blank eyes.Krish was sitting on the floor clutching his laptop. His fingers clicked quickly on the keyboard.After ten minutes, he looked up."Mommy, I found Micah. He's moving fast now and should be in a car."He tracked Micah's cell phone and was able to pinpoint Micah's location.I sent the location to my phone and stared at the map for a minute.I was getting more and more uneasy, as if a million ants were crawling inside."Why would Micah be at the docks so late?"The marina over there had once flourished, but now it was abandoned because the coastal environment was polluted.Not many people had been in that neighborhood for a long time after the factories moved away."Mommy, I feel bad..." Essel rubbed where her heart was. "I always feel as if