Araceli POVI glanced at the caller ID and my face was a little surprised.This person hadn't contacted me in a year."Mr. Elford?""Araceli, I came to New York yesterday for a painting exhibition and thought of you. This is your hometown, isn't it?"An old voice came from the phone."Do you remember what I said to you a year ago?"
Raphael POVAt Royal Group.I was in a meeting.My phone suddenly vibrated on my desktop.I glanced at it.It was Maddox.Maddox rarely called me. He knew I was more used to reading text messages and emails.These days, Essel snuck out of the house a lot, w
Raphael POVMelanie stared at me, her eyes grim. I laughed inwardly at myself for allowing such a woman to be the mother of my two so lovely children.After a while, she said, "Raphael, something happened to Essel, and I was worried and scared... That's why I yelled at you... I'm sorry..."Melany knew very well how to show weakness, and her watery eyes were flooded with crystal tears."Let's go see Essel first, okay?"S
Raphael POV "Daddy, Ms. Chancey..." A frail voice suddenly sounded in the ward. Araceli turned her head to look at Essel with great joy. "Essel, you're finally awake. How do you feel? Does it hurt?" "I'm okay..." Essel blinked her eyes and suddenly giggled. "I remember in the drama, if a man and a woman keep looking at each other, it means they both like each other. Ms. Chancey, do you like Daddy? Daddy, if you like Ms. Chancey too, can you marry Ms. Chancey?" Araceli obviously froze for two seconds. The first thing Essel said when he woke up after the accident was that he wanted me to marry Araceli? I suddenly wondered if the car accident was fake... But... My eyes fell on Araceli's face. She smiled, her eyes were clear. Her long eyelashes trembled with her laugh, as if they were feathers. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Suddenly, I felt as if I didn't resent marrying this woman...
Araceli POV I picked up the kids and drove home. While cooking in the kitchen, I got a video call from Essel. "Ms. Chancey, why don't you come see me?" Essel's voice was worried. "Ms. Chancey, can you come and keep me company? I want you to tell me stories..." I shook the spoon in my hand, smiled and said, "It's too late today. I'll come over to see you tomorrow, okay? I'll bring you a sandwich I made." "Yeebeeeeee! Ms. Chancey, thank you! Love you!" I heard her excited shout and giggled, "You should get some rest now. I'll be over as soon as I can tomorrow. Don't worry." "OK, Ms. Chancey, nighty night. Oh right! Can you give me a kiss back?" On the phone screen, Essel pouted, looking hilarious. I shook my head and gave the screen two "kisses" before Essel hung up the phone. I carried the food into the dining room and saw Krish and Valeria looking at me with big, worried eyes. Slightly surpr
Araceli POV I closed the contract and said, "Micah, who drew up this contract?" "It's me." Micah said coldly, "If it's okay with you, sign it. Aren't you in a hurry to find a partner? It's an honor for you to work with me." I smiled and stared at him, not saying anything. Micah looked at me in the eye, blinked uneasily, and looked away. I didn't know why, but I thought he looked a little chagrined. "I think there's something wrong with this contract." I didn't hesitate to say what I thought, in a sincere and serious manner. I stared at Micah and said calmly, "I'm not going to work with you. You think too highly of yourself." I said and threw the contract hard on the table. Micah visibly froze for a few seconds, then looked at me with derision. His face instantly went much colder, but I didn't feel the least bit intimidated, instead I stared more contemptuously into his eyes. Micah was Raphae
Araceli POV Krish said calmly, "So what?" Essel narrowed her eyes, clenched her fists in annoyance, and bit her lip. I couldn't hold back my laughter. Krish had always been introverted and never flaunted his abilities. It was clear that Krish already thinks of Essel as a friend. But why did he suddenly accept Essel? I stared at Krish, trying to see something in his expression. Krish felt my gaze, stood up, and said, "Mommy, I'm going to the bathroom." I nodded, took out an apple, and gave it to Essel. All day long, we stayed with Essel in her hospital room. Krish said he had some business to attend to and left after lunch. Valeria and I ate dinner before coming home. Krish stayed in his room, looking very focused. I didn't bother him and took Valeria to bed after washing up. I lay in bed, thinking about Eve, whom I called out numerous times in my head, but never got a response. I sighed slig
Araceli POV Raphael said slowly, "Wait, Ms. Chancey. I'm going to call Micah right now and have him apologize to you personally." I sat back against my chair and wrapped my arms around my chest. I was interested in Micah, too. I leaned back in my chair and waited, only to see Raphael frown and then hung up the phone in annoyance. I laughed, "He refused to apologize, didn't he?" Raphael's face was cold. "Micah is a genius. He has his own world, refuses to accept it, and doesn't give in to anyone easily." I continued to say slowly, "Micah and Krish are different. Krish is more sensitive. Mr. Lancaster, I suggest you talk to Micah more often in the future." Raphael narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at me with a provocative look. "I will bring him to apologize to you in person." With those words, Raphael took the papers on the table and left. I shrugged indifferently. The truth was, I didn't
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