Araceli POVRamon fell silent.After a few minutes, Ramon said, "How?"I smiled, "Mr. Fleming, because you are the father of the children, I can help you, but I have a condition. If you don't show some sincerity, I won't help you. Anyway, if something happens to the Fleming Group, it will only do me good and not harm."Ramon's voice trailed off. "What do you want?""I want the evidence that Melany set me up five years a
Araceli POVFinally, a reporter came back to his senses and asked unconvincingly, "Ms. Chancey, we all know that the Fleming Group is a well-known company in New York."I nodded.He continued, "As far as I know, this time Mr. Fleming came to New York to look for investment opportunities, so countless companies want to cooperate with the Fleming Group. If the truth is what you just said, why would Mr. Fleming repeatedly approach you for cooperation?"He paused and looked at me. "Ms. Chancey, Creaty Com
Araceli POVTwilight was falling.In the evening in New York, the whole city was gradually shrouded in darkness. The city's lights glowed and the neon signs flickered on and off, adding a sense of fantasy and romance to the city.I was busy in the kitchen when I suddenly heard the door being pushed open. I thought it was the chef and said, "Chef Bowyer, thank goodness you're finally here. Can you pass me that carrot over there?"I finished and saw a carrot being handed over from behind me.
Araceli POV"Wow, Ms. Chancey, you're amazing!"Essel said in surprise, "Thank you, Ms. Chancey! It smells so good!"The night sky became dark.After we finished eating, I took Krish and Valeria and walked to the door."Krish, Valeria, say goodbye to Mr. Lancaster."Krish said, "Mr. Lancaster, Essel, bye."Valeria pursed her lips, raised her hand, and waved."Ms. Chancey, is it okay if you come early tomorrow? That way, we can play a little longer!"Essel's eyes seemed to be as bright as stars. "Valeria, I'll go buy some more paints and paper tomorrow. Let's paint together, okay?"Valeria stared at Essel for a few seconds and nodded her head gently.Raphael said calmly, "Let me drive you guys back.""Mr. Lancaster, you really don't have to do that."I shook my head. "I'll just drive back by myself."With that, I led the two children out of the villa and pulled open the car door.I could always feel a burning
Araceli POVI spent the night tossing and turning. I didn't fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning. When the alarm clock went off, I sat up from bed tiredly.Krish, sensing that I was in a bad mood, asked worriedly, "Mommy, did you not sleep well last night?""I'm fine, just taking care of some work."I yawned."Mommy, the weather is turning cold. I got you a pair of thick socks."Krish pulled out a brand new pair of beige socks.I smiled, stroked his head, took the socks, and put them on."Thank you, Krish. These are so warm."After we finished breakfast, I took the two kids out. After I dropped the kids off at daycare, I went straight to Creaty Company.The company's new product had just been launched, so the whole company was busy. As the general manager of the company, I had more things to do.I was almost finished with the day's work by 5pm.I was torn on my way to pick up the kids from daycare.I had an a
Araceli POVI chopped vegetables slowly, and not long after, I heard footsteps.It was Raphael coming in.I lowered my eyes and continued to work."I'll do it."Raphael walked over and took the knife out of my hand."The carrots are to be diced, right?"He asked in a low voice, his eyes falling on my face.I lifted my eyes and looked at the man standing in front of me.He was wearing a black suit. He hadn't even changed and he came to ask if I needed any help.What I couldn't believe more was that he had taken the initiative to come into the kitchen.Who was he coming into the kitchen for? Essel? Valeria?Or, was it me?I pushed down the inexplicable surge of emotions and said lightly, "I was just talking to Maddox."Raphael smiled, "What were you talking about?""About Essel and Micah's mother."Raphael's hand jerked. After a few seconds, he drops the knife and looks me in the eye.Raphael's voice
Araceli POVMy heart suddenly skipped a beat.I took a deep breath and then said flatly, "Krish, Mr. Lancatser is just a partner of mine."Krish looked at me with mixed emotions in his eyes. I didn't know what he was thinking, only puzzled.He asked, "Valeria has called Mr. Lancaster daddy several times. Mommy, have you ever thought about getting together with Mr. Lancaster and making him really our daddy?"I looked at him incredulously."Krish, why would you think that?"I admitted that I probably did have a slight crush on Raphael, but so what?"Krish, I never thought about that. valeria hasn't had much exposure to the world and doesn't understand what daddy means yet. I'll take my time and tell me. I have nothing but gratitude for Mr. Lancaster."Krish said in a low voice, "Mommy, what are you going to do if Valeria's and my daddy finds us again?"I frowned slightly.I took care of the news quickly that morning, so Krish woul
Raphael POVI had only just gotten out of the car when I heard Essel's yelling from the house.I frowned slightly, a little annoyed, and pushed the door open."What's going on?"My voice was cold. I glanced at Essel and seemed to see her subconsciously shiver.There had been a bit of a problem with Royal Group over the past few days, so the entire company was in a very busy state, including me.I hadn't been home for two days.As soon as I got back, I saw Essel and Micah staring at each other. I knew they were arguing."What are you guys arguing about?"I pressed my eyebrows together and headed to the couch.Essel bit her lip and confessed, "Daddy, I know why Ms. Chancey isn't coming to our house! It's because Micah secretly attacked Ms. Chancey's company, so Ms. Chancey is worried that Micah will hurt Vallie to do it, so she decided never to come to our house again!"I frowned.It had been almost a month since Micah's atta
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