Araceli POV
Shareholders nodded their heads and said, "We agree." Zackary was annoyed, but he had nothing to say at this point. He knew that with Eclipse Group and Navi Group working together, he wouldn't have to worry about anything for the next half year. "Araceli, you'll be the marketing manager from now on. The current marketing manager will become your assistant." I nodded my head. "Thanks, Mr. Chancey." I glanced at Melany, who was so angry that her face turned red. Melany pushed down her anger and said, "Dad, the current marketing manager has a Ph.D. from Harvard, and he's been with the company for ten years. Did you really decide to just make him Araceli's assistant? Dad, I hope you'll reconsider..." I smiled and said, "That makes sense. Melany, since you think the current marketing manager is so good, he could replace you as general manager." Melany's eyes went wide. "Melany, you've been in the positionAraceli POV I frowned and looked over. A little boy was sitting there. I had just raised my head when the boy turned his head away. I could only barely see the side of his face. His face was so familiar to me... And he looked so much like Krish. Wait... I seemed to have seen him somewhere before... I remembered! My eyes widened as a flash of light came to me. I was saved by this boy at Silver Group's new product launch that day. His name was Micah, and he was also a werewolf. I asked Eliezer to check Micah's whereabouts after that, but Eliezer said he couldn't find any information about Micah. I remembered that he was also injured, so I always felt guilty about that. I didn't expect to meet him here. I explained briefly to Gavin and walked over to Micah. After seeing me, Micah got up and walked out. I frowned slightly. His cell phone suddenly rang. Micah picked up
Araceli POVThe next day.Before the night came, I finished my work, changed into my exquisite dress, put on my high heels and got into Eliezer's car.My dress glowed like a starburst of light. The sparkling diamonds were set in the dress, each one glowing like a tiny star. The sparkling effect was even more dazzling when the dress gently swayed.The business dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Araceli POVI looked at Melany indifferently."What exactly is Raphael's relationship with Melany?"Eliezer's voice came from beside me.Eliezer continued, "Raphael actually brought Melany to such an important business party! This is incredible. Holy crap, Araceli, that man is the most promising entrepreneur in New York, the heir to the Chowne family, Jaime Chowne! He's actually hitting on Melany!"He frowned. "If Melan
Araceli POV"Children with autism tend to close themselves off. It's become a habit for her, so she doesn't speak up easily. She needs to be in a particular situation and in front of a particular person before she will let her guard down."Raphael continued, "Although I don't know why, I wanted to tell you that your daughter seems to be very dependent on me. Perhaps it is for this reason that she talks to me."I wanted to deny his words, but thought better of it.Valeria did have a soft spot for Rapha
Essel POVAfter I had a bath, Araceli put me on her bed.She dressed me in Valeria's dress.I smelled her scent and felt vaguely at ease.Suddenly, a phone call came in.Araceli went out to answer the phone.After she left, there was a soft thud...Suddenly
Araceli POVTen minutes later, I was downstairs with Essel in my arms."Krish, Essel wants to wear your T-shirt. Do you mind?"Krish nodded and said, "Essel, this shirt suits you. Consider it my apology gift to you."Essel turned her head away and wrapped her arms around her chest, still looking like she didn't want to talk to Krish.She had just told me when she was in the room that she didn't want to wear a dress. I g
Araceli POV"Valeria, don't you remember me? Come over here. Let me hug you."Raphael's voice was gentle, like the snow that gradually melted in early spring. It carried a bit of coolness, but more hope and warmth.I froze and looked at Valeria.Valeria stood up, looked at Raphael, and took a slow step.She spaced out for a second, hesitated about something else, and stopped moving forward.
Araceli POVValeria was significantly more cheerful and less gloomy when she had Raphael around.I could no longer selfishly make choices for Valeria...I glanced at Krish. He turned his head and stopped looking at them. His expression was serious and somewhat worried.I understood what Krish was thinking, but there was nothing I could do. I held my forehead and was a little troubled.I thought about it and walked over,
Araceli POVMicah suddenly runs toward the door and comes out with a bunch of gift boxes.He gave Valeria a doll of the latest model."Micah, you got a gift for Valeria, not Krish?"Raphael asks calmly.Micah nodded. "Of course I got gifts for everyone."He placed the bunny doll in Valeria's hand, then pulled a box out of his book bag and walked over in Krish's direction."This is a gift for you."Micah opened the box.It was a Rubik's Cube.He handed the cube over. "If you don't know how, I can teach you."Krish took the Rubik's Cube, played with it for a moment, raised his eyes, and said, "Thanks, I like it."Micah said calmly, then pulled another stack out of his book bag."Mommy, this is my gift to you."I froze.My heart suddenly overflowed with emotion and my voice became softer."Micah, thank you."I flipped the document in my hand over and froze.It was actually the share transfer lette
Araceli POVHospitals were perpetually filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.Micah had a head injury that didn't require hospitalization and was bandaged up and picked up by Maddox and taken back to Royal Pack.I was worried about Valeria and asked Krish to follow them back to Royal Pack.Raphael watched me quietly, his eyes following me at all times.I sat down and asked, "When did you find out about this?""Last night." Raphael's voice was a little raspy. "I heard you on the phone when I went to look for you at Creaty Company."My lips pursed."Why didn't you tell me?" Raphael said in a single word.I lowered my eyes."I didn't take a paternity test to know if this was true, so I didn't tell you."Raphael stared at me for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "You actually offered me to be your boyfriend just to get close to Micah and Essel, right? You already knew Ramon wasn't the father of the baby, but you favored thi
Araceli POVShe laughed out loud, full of eeriness and hostility.I settled down and looked over at Micah.Micah seemed to be unconscious.I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to pounce on Melany and kill her, and kept waking Micah up with mind-link.Suddenly, a miracle appeared.Micah's eyes snapped open.He looked towards me, his gaze becoming very complicated in this instant.Seeing Micah open his eyes, I breathed a sigh of relief.I raised my eyes and stared coldly at Melany, saying word for word, "Do you realize what you're doing is stupid?""Araceli, you're still a bitch! You said yesterday that you would help me keep this secret, but today Raphael knows!" Melany sneered, "He hates me so much now that he can't wait to break me into pieces. Aren't you so proud of yourself? But let me tell you, I won't let you have your way! If I die, I'll let Micah die with me. I'll make you and Raphael live in remorse for the rest of your liv
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
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,
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
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
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
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