"So, everything's taken care of, right?"Dinner was just finished. Andreas had just closed his fork and knife next to his plate. However, it seemed that Vlora's statement did not refer to the end of the meal.Andreas lifted his face when Vlora cleared her throat with a few sips of water. Then he took a tissue to wipe away the faint moisture that remained on her red lips."Our date is over, and I can already tell that we shouldn't get married," Vlora continued without hesitation. She looked at Andreas with a calm gaze. "I decline your proposal of marriage. We're not compatible."Andreas took a deep breath and finished his drink. Then he looked at Vlora."It's not time to draw conclusions yet, Vlora, my dear."The term of endearment made Vlora fall silent. Maybe she was feeling insecure or preparing herself for the possible consequences. It could be both.After putting his empty plate aside, Andreas settled into a more comfortable position. A mischievous smile appeared on his face, alon
For a category of men like Andreas—for Vlora, he was a man who tended to be rough and mischievous—the choice of Westlife as their companion on the ride home was quite surprising for Vlora. It contradicted Andreas' outward appearance.Andreas glanced over, his often-teasing gaze sharp enough to catch even the slightest difference in Vlora's expression.“Why?” Andreas opened the conversation. “Don't you like the song? If not, you can change it. What song would you like to hear? Taylor Swift?”Vlora shook her head. “I like Taylor Swift's songs, but it doesn't mean I dislike Westlife. I was just surprised by the fact that you're playing Westlife.”Andreas burst into laughter. He genuinely laughed heartily at Vlora's honesty.“So, you thought I'd play what, Metallica?”Vlora did not answer. Of course, she had not guessed Metallica. But at least not Westlife.“Actually, I wanted to play Metallica, but I was afraid our dinner would come back up through our mouths.”Forty minutes passed. Andr
Vlora had just come out of the bathroom. She had shampooed and cleaned herself with warm water. The tiredness and aches that had plagued her in various places vanished.A satin nightgown wrapped around Vlora's body a moment later. She sat at the dressing table and dried her hair. Her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror.Vlora fell into contemplation. She pondered every word that Andreas had said. And then something crossed her mind. It sounded like Andreas' voice, but perhaps it was her own inner voice.Opportunities never come twice.Vlora let out a long breath. The hairdryer landed on the dressing table, and she switched to combing her hair. She tidied her wavy locks for a moment before preparing to sleep.In another part of the apartment, a man hummed cheerfully as he entered. He casually took off his jacket and threw it in any direction. His destination, of course, was the bar.Crystal glasses emerged. Several ice cubes filled them, followed by alcohol.Andreas sipped his d
“I'll just stop by for a moment, and for some time to come, maybe I won't be able to see you.”Lucas squinted his eyes upon hearing Andreas' words. He placed the coffee cup back on the coaster with an incredulous question.“Oh, really?”Andreas nodded confidently. “My parents will be coming back soon. There are a few things I need to take care of. A little welcome and, well... to introduce them to Vlora. And maybe there are other things too.”Regarding that first matter, Lucas still could not understand why Vlora accepted Andreas' proposal. When his friend informed him about it a few days ago, he almost choked on his coffee.At first, Lucas thought Andreas was joking. Unfortunately, the mischievous gleam of triumph in Andreas' eyes could not be denied. His expression showed immense pride. Andreas' proposal was indeed accepted.Lucas let out a long sigh. “I still can't believe that Vlora would accept your proposal after everything you've done to her. Don't get offended, but you're not
Considering that both of his parents would return on Friday morning, it was not surprising to find Andreas packing up from Lucas' apartment unit. He was going back to the Sanders family home after taking the time to put his belongings in his own apartment unit.Andreas never intended to stay there for long. He would only stay for a few days to assess the situation and see how things were progressing.A head butler named Paul Anthony welcomed Andreas' arrival. He took over the suitcase Andreas was carrying before handing it to a female servant.“Welcome, Young Master.”Andreas responded with a brief nod to the polite greeting. He stepped inside and allowed Paul to continue following him.“How are you, Paul? Still experiencing migraines often?”Paul smiled faintly. “Not as often as before, Young Master.”“Ah! That's good news. It seems like my parents’ trip to Paris was indeed a good thing. Not just for me, but for you as well. It's evident that your migraines have reduced because they'
Andreas arrived on time, just as he promised a few days ago. After gaining access, he entered the elevator and headed to the floor where Vlora's unit was located. His steps halted at the door numbered 1801.He pressed the doorbell and didn't have to wait long. Maybe just five seconds, and the door opened. Then he was taken aback.Andreas would not deny that he had known too many beautiful women. They were countless, to be exact.However, he also could not deny that what he saw that night was a level of sensuality he had never imagined before. Flawless and truly impeccable.Andreas stood there, momentarily stunned. Then his lips curved into a smile filled with admiration.“You are truly amazing.”Can the words of a player be trusted? For Vlora herself, it was a challenge. Fortunately, she had no intention of gambling on something so insignificant. Whether she was amazing or not had nothing to do with Andreas.Andreas' prais
“Have you planned all of this, Reas?”Bryan's accusation elicited a smirk from Andreas. He raised his glass and took a sip with a relaxed demeanor, as if he were enjoying an international opera performance.“Of course, I had planned it,” replied Andreas nonchalantly. He then turned to Vlora by his side, reaching out his hand and gently squeezing her slender fingers. “It would be impossible for me not to consider the possibility that you would reject Vlora. I didn't want to take any risks, and you can't do anything about it now. It's already too late.”Andreas did not exaggerate what he said. And as for Bryan's helplessness now, it would only take a short amount of time for the sensational news to spread across the country. There was no need to wait for tomorrow's printed newspapers or even internet-based media outlets to start working as expected.A delighted expression adorned Andreas' handsome face. Just imagining it
Hi?Vlora's expression snapped to attention when she heard the informal greeting directed at her. Even more so when a hand was extended a moment later, accompanied by a smile.Vlora welcomed the handshake. “Vlora.”“I know who you are. At least, the host introduced you earlier.”Ah! A forgotten fact by Vlora. It seemed that now, there was no one who did not know her. It was all thanks to Andreas' brilliant idea.“Unfortunately, you probably don't know me. I'm Nadine Martinez.”I know you.Certainly, thanks to the brief argument between Andreas and Bryan. Vlora had repeatedly heard the name Nadine mentioned. So, was this her lucky chance to meet her in person?“Ah, Nadine.”The handshake concluded. Nadine, who was wearing a black dress that night, continued speaking.“Yes, and I am Andreas' girlfriend.”Vlora's forehead furrowed sl
Many say that the first year of marriage often brings trials. As a result, many choose to give up. But there are also those who make it through, including Andreas and Vlora. They have shown the world that nothing is impossible if you stay together and support each other. Days have passed. Countless rainy seasons have made them sick together, and countless droughts have made them thirsty together. In essence, they have gone through these seasons together. Like that night, exactly five minutes before the clock struck seven, a car drove through the gates of the Sanders' house. The car drove on and stopped in the driveway. The driver had a handsome face, and upon closer inspection, he might have been about twenty-four years old. His appearance was stylish, but his expression was irritated. He let out a long sigh. “Oh, really? Are you really serious, Gerrya?” A young and beautiful woman sat in the passenger seat. She nodded as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “Of course, I'm serious, Nick.
Andreas had a firm belief about marriage: choosing the right partner ensures a successful marriage. He felt this when he looked at Vlora's face. He entered the room and Vlora greeted him with a smile. Time had passed, and by now Andreas realized that it would be impossible for him to stand tall and fearless without Vlora by his side. The storms of sadness and rage that pressed upon him were too powerful to face alone. Andreas was lucky. He had Vlora, and he was confident that such luck would never come twice. Vlora cupped Andreas' cheeks. Without saying a word, they communicated through their intense gazes. They plunged into the depths of each other's hearts, and it felt incredibly beautiful. Andreas' hand rose. He caressed Vlora's hand on his cheek. He immersed himself in the feeling of love that flowed through every fiber of his being, convinced that this feeling would remain unchanged as time passed. Always the same, and even identical to that day when Vlora had comforted him in
Lydia was truly hysterical when she received the news that Jonas had been arrested by the police. She immediately contacted Bryan and it didn't take long for Bryan to arrive with a flushed face. “Bryan, Jonas.” Bryan and Lydia did not waste any time. They went straight to the police station, but Jonas was being interrogated, so they couldn't meet him. The lawyer was ready. He would be with Jonas throughout the trial. But it wouldn't be an easy task. “This is a complex case, sir.” Bryan tried to calm the shocked Lydia with the lawyer's words and then asked, “What do you mean?” “Mr. Andreas must have gathered all the evidence to implicate Mr. Jonas long ago. There are allegations of embezzlement of company funds, illegal collaboration, and the latest is an attempted rape of Mrs. Vlora.” Bryan could barely breathe and Lydia screamed hysterically. They both panicked at the possibility of terrible things happening to Jonas. “Bryan, please. Get Jonas out of here.” Bryan rubbed his f
Not a sound could be heard. Not even the light breeze made a traceable whisper. Everything was silent, but not in a cold way, but with a warmth that only Andreas and Vlora could feel. Minutes passed. Andreas lifted his hand and reached for Vlora's hand, which was tending to the wound on his face. He held Vlora's fingers with the utmost gentleness, and Vlora's gaze shifted to his eyes. Two pairs of eyes met. They stared at each other. For a moment they were silent. Then Andreas tried to swallow the bitterness and gathered his courage. “Vlo—” “It's going to be okay, Reas,” Vlora quickly interrupted before Andreas could finish. She smiled weakly. “We'll get through this.” Andreas took a deep breath. Heat surged through his chest and the air felt like it was on fire. But when he looked into Vlora's clear eyes, the fire was replaced by a crushing pain. His heart felt squeezed, painfully. “Thank you, Vlo.” Andreas realized how lucky he was to have Vlora. He couldn't imagine what would
Vlora fidgeted restlessly, tears and sighs alternating on her smooth face. She was uncomfortable, so Noelle, along with Amanda and Vian, quickly approached.“Vlo.”“Vlora.”Amanda held Vlora. She gently woke her daughter-in-law, and soon Vlora's eyes opened bright and alert.“Reas.”Amanda reassured Vlora. “Vlora.”Vlora turned her head. She saw all of them there, but she noticed that Andreas was not there.“Mama, where's Reas?”Vian approached and helped Vlora to stand up. Then he went to prepare a glass of water.“Andreas went home for a moment, but he'll be back soon.”Vian handed Vlora the drink. Only then did she notice how dry her throat was. It did not take her long to finish the glass.“You just rest, Vlo,” Noelle said with a reassuring expression. “I will wake you when Andreas arrives.”Confused, Vlora shook her head. Her eyes blinked like a confused person. “No. I will wait for Andreas.”They all took a deep breath. The three of them understood that Andreas was indeed the on
Andreas was on the verge of despair when he arrived home. He saw that Jonas' car was still parked, and without wasting any time, he quickly got out of the car, entered the house, and heard the terrible sounds.“Vlora!”The horrible sight shocked Andreas. Vlora was lying on the floor in a pitiful state, her clothes disheveled and her body covered in bruises.Andreas' panic turned to fear. His heart seemed to stop when he saw the blood running down Vlora's legs. His breath caught and he realized something—blood could never be a good sign.Something terrible had happened to Vlora, and Andreas knew exactly who was responsible. It was Jonas.Andreas looked up and saw Jonas frozen. When their eyes met, Jonas became aware of the situation.Jonas rushed down the stairs, ran and fled.Andreas resisted the urge to go after Jonas. Vlora's safety was more important, and luckily Frans arrived just in time.“Sir.”Andreas looked at Frans blankly. “Help me, Frans. Vlora. Sh-she.”His tongue was tied
A soft knock echoed, and a moment later Desmon entered with a servant. They served breakfast while Vlora leaned back and tried to relax.“Did Andreas ask you to call the doctor?”Desmon nodded. “Yes, madam. The doctor will probably be here in an hour.”“I think there's no need to call the doctor. So please cancel it.”“No need to call the doctor?” Desmon repeated, trying to be reassuring. “Shouldn't you be examined? I think Master is concerned about your health.”“I'm fine, just a little tired. Everything will be fine after some rest.”Desmon looked hesitant, but he couldn't argue. He nodded and said, “Very well, madam. I'll excuse myself, and if you need anything, please call me.”“Thank you, and...” Vlora paused for a moment, turning her attention to the servant behind Desmon. “...I'd like you to stay here.”Desmon walked away, leaving the servant behind. Vlora waited until the bedroom door was completely closed before she spoke.“I want you to buy some testpacks.”The servant's eye
Unlike usual, Andreas found himself waking up earlier than Vlora, considering it was a workday. He saw Vlora still lying next to him when he opened his eyes. The intention to wake her was there, but he refrained. He decided to let Vlora sleep a little longer and wake her later, after he had finished his shower.But Andreas was not quite sure. He guessed that Vlora would be awake by the time he finished his shower, but he was wrong.Andreas finished his shower, and strangely enough, Vlora was still sleeping. So, he approached Vlora with a puzzled expression that made his forehead wrinkle. It seemed that this was the first time in their marriage that he had seen Vlora wake up late. Vlora and her disciplined nature had really impressed him.“Vlo.”Andreas sat down on the edge of the bed. He wanted to wake her, but instead he felt something strange in Vlora's body. Vlora's temperature was warmer than usual.A fever?Andreas touched Vlora's forehead and it seemed that he was not wrong. Vlo
Vlora lifted her body gently for a moment. She lingered on Andreas' chest, then looked into his eyes. She didn't say anything, but kissed Andreas' lips tenderly.Their eyes closed simultaneously. Both absorbed in the moment, and when the kiss ended, Vlora smiled.“Actually, earlier I was questioning the purpose of having a lazy chair here.”Andreas smiled too, his lips curling in amusement. He stroked Vlora's cheek and asked, “Now?”“Now I know that the lazy chair has another function besides just being lazy.”Andreas' amused smile turned into a laugh. Then he took Vlora in his arms when they decided to move from there. Vlora's legs encircled Andreas' waist, and her hands were draped around his neck. Together they walked to the inviting bed.*Not a day went by without restlessness for Jonas. Every morning, as soon as he woke up, he reached for his phone. He checked the stock quotes and the latest news, especially when it came to the names of the majority shareholders.Bryan had indee