"Spend the night in my room," his baritone tone interrupted her. "Huh?" Kristin uttered, her voice barely a whisper. Did Mr. Grouchy just ask her to spend the night in his room? But why? she wondered as she stared at Richard with wide, innocent eyes. Richard was at a loss for words. He still couldn’t believe how those words had slipped out of his mouth. Last night, he had slept soundly in Kristin’s arms without any nightmares disturbing him. He had been thinking about it all day, and that’s why, when he opened his mouth, the words "Spend the night in my room" had come out before he could stop them. "You want me to spend the night in your room?" Kristin asked, disbelief clear in her voice. Richard knew he couldn’t take back what he had said. Kristin had heard him loud and clear, and lying would only make him seem foolish. He wasn’t sure if he could trust her with his secret. She already knew about his phobia of jangling sounds; would revealing his insomnia make her know too m
Richard walked around the resort in his hotel, observing the new faces of the people who had come to stay. Celebrities and influencers flocked to the resort for videos and commercials. This was one reason Glamour Empire Hotel was popular in Las Vegas, with its stunning structure and views perfect for promotional work. The hotel also featured a casino and a spa, providing guests with an experience akin to heaven. “Richard Hernandez" Richard turned to see who had called his name and found it was Lewis. “Should I send him away?” Luke asked. “Let it slide, Luke. I’ll join you shortly,” Richard replied. Luke left, and Lewis approached Richard with an insufferable smile. “What are you doing here?” Richard asked, his expression flat and cold. Lewis scoffed. “I’m a guest. Shouldn’t I at least be welcomed at Richard Hernandez’s luxurious hotel?” he asked rhetorically, as if his question didn’t warrant a response. “Then enjoy yourself to the fullest,” Richard said, turning t
Richard sat down in the dining room, watching as Kristin served her specialty to him. She served the meal with a smiling face, still in disbelief that Richard had agreed to taste her cooking. The last time she had cooked for him, he had shouted and scolded her, but today was different—Mr. Grouchy wanted to taste her cooking. Kristin grinned from ear to ear. "Dig in," she said, flashing a smile at Richard as she sat close to him. Richard stared at her beautiful brown eyes before picking up the spoon to eat. His face quickly returned to its usual cold demeanor. The smile that had briefly appeared on his face vanished just as quickly as it came. "Do you like it? Does it taste delicious?" Kristin asked, watching intently as Richard ate the dish made of root vegetables and rice. "Not that bad," Richard muttered. "You should've just said it’s delicious," Kristin muttered under her breath, but Richard heard her. "Should I stop eating?" he asked. Kristin shook her head swiftly
The man smiled as Cecelia's hand caressed him through his pants. "I'm going to call you back," the man said, ending the call and planting a kiss on Cecelia’s lips. The lipstick on her lips left a stain on his. "You said you have information about Kristin, Richard’s wife?" Lewis asked. Cecelia smiled, wiping the lipstick stain from Lewis’s lips. "Yes, I do. Luke told me about her last night," she replied. "What did he say?" "Remember our deal? You said you’d pay me for my services. I’d like to be paid before I give you the details." Without hesitation, Lewis handed her an envelope. Cecelia chuckled at the amount inside and pocketed it. "So, what did your husband say?" "Kristin is from Mexico." "Mexico? She doesn’t look Mexican," Lewis said. "She’s likely mixed race, which is why she doesn’t look fully Mexican. She’s also from a wealthy family in Mexico." "Are you sure your husband is telling the truth?" Cecelia smiled seductively and draped her arms over Lewi
Ophelia struggled to break free from Kristin’s grip, but it seemed Kristin had more strength than she anticipated. Despite her efforts, Ophelia couldn’t escape Kristin’s hold. She had made a grave mistake by messing with a farmer’s daughter. Kristin might appear fragile, but she possessed a lot of inner strength, built up from years of working on the farm since childhood. "What are you? Let go of my hand!" Ophelia screamed, her face turning red from the pain. "I may not have the physical strength to fight, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you slap me. My parents never raised a hand against me, and I won’t allow you to do so either. And one more thing—if you call my husband a devil again, I might just forget the lessons I was taught at home and leave an unforgettable mark on your face," Kristin said, releasing Ophelia’s hand. Ophelia fumed with anger. She wasn’t someone who easily learned her lesson, so she attempted to slap Kristin again, but a voice halted her. "Try to slap her, a
Lewis stepped into the living room and saw his wife, Natalie, sitting in her wheelchair. He intended to walk past her, but her soft voice stopped him. "Where have you been?" "Are you a detective now?" he replied with a question. "I'm not a detective, but I am your wife, Lewis. Don't I deserve to know where you've been?" Natalie asked. "I'm not in the mood to answer your questions, Nat." "Today was our wedding anniversary," Natalie said, stopping him from heading to his room. "What's the point? It's not like you can walk if I take you out on a date!" Tears streamed down Natalie's cheeks. "And who's to blame for that? I wasn't born disabled! Before you married me, I could walk and handle my business. It's your fault I ended up in this wheelchair!" Natalie yelled. "Don't nitpick at me, Natalie. You brought this on yourself. You chose to tail me! You got involved in that accident, ruining my plans to destroy Richard! If it weren't for that accident, my plans against Ri
The doctor’s face clouded with disappointment as she stared at Cecelia, who remained cold and unbothered, showing no hint of remorse for what she was about to do. "What are you waiting for? Let's proceed with the abortion," Cecelia huffed. "I'm sorry, Cecelia, but this time, I won't take part in your sinful act." "Meaning?" "I won't involve myself in getting rid of an innocent soul again!" the doctor snapped. "You're not the one carrying the baby or the one who will endure the pain, so I don't see how aborting this baby will affect you." "Are you even human? That baby in your womb is you and Luke's child!" "I know, but I can't have the baby! At least, not now!" Cecelia fired back. She knew the baby was Luke's child. She always made sure to use protection whenever she had sex with Lewis for money. But with Luke, it was different. He would never agree to use protection with the woman he married, and if she tried to persuade him, she'd come up with a thousand reasons why.
Kristin nearly lost her balance as she stepped out of Richard's car, her eyes widening at the sight of the towering skyscraper before her. *Is this a hotel or a palace in heaven?* she wondered, her gaze locked on Richard. She couldn't fathom how he managed to build a hotel that looked like a dwelling fit for Christ himself. Kristin often got carried away by her wild imagination. "Why are you staring at me like that?" Richard asked. "Are we dead?" she replied, her voice tinged with awe. "What kind of stupid question is that?" "Isn't this supposed to be the entrance to a castle in heaven, not your hotel?" Kristin asked, still gawking at the grand structure. Richard sighed, unsure how to respond. It was obvious this was her first time seeing a skyscraper, but he didn't find her reaction amusing. Once upon a time, he had been a beggar, used by the malicious woman to vent her anger. The only difference between his younger self and Kristin was that he had grown up in Las Veg
Romina quickly rushed to Kathryn and separated her from Richard. "I'm sorry for..." Romina paused when she recognized Richard as the same man Kristin was married to. "You?" she muttered, unable to hide her surprise. She had to admit he looked even better in person than in the photos. "You know me?" Richard furrowed his brows, unable to place where he might have seen Romina, after all, he had never met her before. "Richard!" Gladys approached him. "Ma'am Gladys?" Richard uttered, surprised to see Kristin’s mother in Las Vegas. He quickly noticed the man standing next to her was likely Kristin's father. But why were they here? Without taking her eyes off Richard, Gladys called out to Romina. "Romina." "Yes, Auntie?" Romina responded. "Take Kathryn outside and wait until I call for you," Gladys instructed, still staring at Richard. Romina was about to take Kathryn’s hand, but the girl rushed to Richard and hugged him tightly. "No! I don’t want to leave. I want to stay with him!"
Luke kept searching for Kristin, trying to figure out where she might have gone. He couldn’t think of a place because Kristin hadn’t spent much time in Vegas. He didn’t want to call her because he knew she was in a state where she wouldn’t answer the phone. An idea struck him, and hoping she might be there, Luke rushed to the airport—and he was right. Kristin was standing at the entrance, unsure whether she should go in. She had nothing with her. "Kristin!" Luke called out, rushing to her. She looked at him with watery eyes. "Going back to Glenwood isn’t the best option," Luke said, shaking his head. "I don’t want to go back," she replied in a tearful voice. "Then what are you doing here?" Kristin swallowed the painful lump in her throat. "I wanted to go back, but I keep restraining myself. How can I still be in love with a man who raised his hand on me? I can still believe he slap me, Luke. I tried to understand him, knowing he’s cold and has a temper, but I never thought h
Kristin’s eyes widened in shock and pain as she stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek where he had struck her. The weight of his actions hung heavily in the room, and the silence that followed was filled with an unspoken understanding of the gravity of what had just happened. Richard's face reflected pure shock as he realized what he had done. He had slapped Kristin. He had slapped the woman his heart was falling for. He wasn’t a woman beater, but he had raised his hand against the one person who lit up his world. "Firefly," he called, his voice thick with regret. For the second time, he had let his anger take control, but this time it was worse because he had struck her. "Firefly," he tried to reach out to her, but she shrank back, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. I... I... didn’t mean to," he pleaded. He hadn’t intended to hurt Kristin, but when his anger took over, he lost control. Kristin didn’t say a word, her cheek stinging from the slap. If someone ha
This was the first time Cecelia had seen Luke talking to another woman, and she felt a pang of jealousy. "She is my wife. I have something to attend to," Luke said, walking past Cecelia. He didn’t want to talk to her because he was still angry with her; he couldn’t get off the fact that he mentioned another man’s name while making love with her. "Really, Luke? I came here to see you, and you’re just going to walk out on me?" Cecelia asked loudly, but Luke didn’t spare her a glance. "Just give him some time," Kristin said, helping Luke with his response. Cecelia wanted to react but saw it as a good opportunity to get to know Kristin and befriend her to extort money from Lewis. She was unaware that Lewis was hospitalized. "Thanks. I’m Cecelia," she said with a fake smile. "I’m Kristin," Kristin said, genuinely smiling at her. "I’m not cheating on Luke. The movie happened to be my favorite, and that’s why I mentioned the character’s name." Kristin only smiled; wondering if she w
Gladys added more adobos to Kathryn’s plate, and she grinned with her missing teeth. "How long has Kristin been in Las Vegas?" Romina asked. "Going on two months now. You know the only blue-collar job here is farming. She barely graduated from school, and we couldn’t afford to pay our debts. Kristin took it upon herself to make a living, which is why she went to Las Vegas. You both are best friends, aren’t you on talking terms?" Gladys asked. "No, we haven’t. I’ve been too busy working as a nurse in Singapore, and the little time I have, I take care of Kathryn. When she calls, I’m busy, and the time difference makes it impossible for us to talk," Romina explained. "And your mom?" "Still not on speaking terms. She was the first person I informed about my return, but she didn’t seem to care. I came back because of Kathryn." "Why? Is everything okay with her?" Gladys asked worriedly, her eyes on Kathryn, who was eating. Romina sighed and began to speak. "She’s been having nightmar
"Kristin got pregnant after a one-night stand with a man on the night of her freshman party at her new college in the Philippines. She is now a single mom with a six-year-old daughter," Parker revealed. Ophelia chortled at Parker’s words, unable to believe that Kristin is a single mother. "Are you serious? Kristin is a single mother?" Ophelia asked skeptically. "Yes, she is. Here’s proof that she has a daughter who is six years old." Parker handed her a document. Without hesitation, Ophelia took the document and began to review it, a creepy smile spreading across her face. "This is her daughter?" Ophelia asked, pulling out a picture of a cute little girl from the envelope. "Yes. Her name is Kathryn Santiago, but for now, she is not in Glenwood with Kristin’s parents." "Then where is she?" Ophelia inquired. "According to my research, she is staying with Kristin’s best friend in Singapore. Her best friend’s name is Romina, and she works as a nurse there while taking care of Kris
Kristin grinned at Richard’s words and quickly got out of bed. “Where are you going?” Richard asked as she headed for the door. “I’ll be back,” she said with a smile. Kristin left the room and returned holding a nylon bag with a ball anklet sealed inside. “That’s the gift you got from the department store, right? I thought you said you’d gotten rid of it?” Richard’s eyes were on her. “I didn’t literally throw it away; I just disposed of it from you,” she smiled. "Why are you showing it to me?" he asked calmly. "I just want to know if you've really conquered your fear of jangling sounds." "Firefly, you can’t—" "I promise to get rid of it if you’re still triggered by it," Kristin said, raising her right hand as if making an oath. Richard looked at her but didn’t say a word. "Should I?" Kristin asked, attempting to unseal the ball anklet. Richard stared at the ball anklet and slowly nodded. He usually avoids letting jangling sounds reach his ears, but now he wants to face his
Lewis grabbed Kristin’s hair forcefully, and she screamed, trying to break free from his strong grip. “Aren’t you going to save your wife? I already have her wrapped around my fingers,” Lewis mocked Richard, showing off his loose tooth and looking like a cartoon villain. Richard tried to stand, but the sound from the ball anklet made him fall back to the ground. “Let me go! Mr. Grouchy!” Kristin’s voice cracked as she tried her best to break free from Lewis’s grasp. Her heart ached seeing Richard in such a pitiful state. He couldn’t move, and Ophelia’s torment with the ball anklet only intensified his distress. “Come on, Richard! Show us what you’ve got! You always act so dominant and powerful, but you’re just an ordinary man afraid of a mere jangling sound. Get on your feet!” Ophelia taunted. “You evil wretch! Stop being evil!” Kristin screamed, but her world almost crumbled when Lewis pressed a knife to her neck. Kristin stopped breathing, and to make it worse, Richard was st
After a pleasant chat with Julio, Kristin sat patiently, waiting for Richard to come pick her up as promised. A man approached her in Julio’s living room and bowed. “Richard sent me to you.” “Why? Is he not coming to get me?” she asked. “He’s busy at the hotel with Luke. That’s why he wants me to take you home,” the man said with a smile. “I’ll just inform Mr. Julio that I’m leaving.” “No need for that. I’ll tell him when he comes out of the bathroom.” Ophelia appeared out of nowhere, and Kristin stared at her. “What are you still waiting for? Your presence sickens me, so leave,” Ophelia raged. With no other option, Kristin left with the man, a smirk forming on Ophelia’s lips. She called Lewis, and he picked up immediately. “He’s taking Kristin to you. I’ll join you shortly,” she said before ending the call with another smirk. “Where’s Kristin?” Julio’s voice asked, startling her. She took a deep breath and replied, “She left with Richard.” “He didn’t bother to say goodby