Derrick was startled when he heard Gillian call him "Daddy." He was too overwhelmed with joy to speak."Here, this is for you, Daddy!" Gillian handed the bouquet she had been holding to Derrick."Thank you, Gillian. I am so—""Mommy, let's go home quickly!" Gillian interrupted, cutting off Derrick before he could express his feelings. The little girl still seemed distant from him.Derrick opened the front passenger door for Sarah, but she insisted, "I'll sit in the back with Gillian," and opened the back door herself, sitting beside her daughter.Derrick's heart sank, but he nodded slightly and closed the front door."Mom, where didDaddy go? Why didn't he come into the auditorium?" Gillian's voice trembled as she asked, seemingly wanting to let out the sadness she had been holding back."He told you he had a sudden meeting, right? Now, let's go home and wait for him there."Gillian weakly nodded and laid her head on Sarah's lap.Sarah's heart ached as she heard Gillian's quiet
"Damn, why is it still so congested on a Saturday?" Troy muttered, occasionally gripping the steering wheel. He was eager to get back home as quickly as possible. Upon finding his phone left in the car, Troy immediately tried to contact Sarah. However, his wife didn't answer. He tried sending a message but received no reply.Troy decided to pass by Gillian's school and stopped to ask one of the security guards."Excuse me! Is the children's performance event still ongoing?""Oh, it ended an hour ago, sir. All the guests have already left," the security guard at the post answered.Hearing the security guard's response, Troy quickly got back into the car and drove home. Throughout the journey, he was filled with anxiety, prompting him to increase the car's speed.In less than fifteen minutes, he arrived home. Troy immediately got out of the car and hurried inside to find Sarah and Gillian."Lily, where is Sarah?" Troy asked Lily, who rushed to meet him in the living room."Madam a
"You... you're not mad?" Troy moved closer and gently caressed Sarah's face.Sarah was momentarily enchanted by Troy's touch. She gazed deeply into his protective, steady eyes. For a moment, she forgot they were about to have a serious conversation."How could I be mad at a man who sincerely loves my children? A man who is always there for me." Sarah returned Troy's gaze intensely.Troy felt a sense of peace at that moment."Thank you, sweetheart!" Troy hugged Sarah tightly, noticing that her body had become a bit fuller.They hugged for a while, as if they were reconnecting after the tension that had built up between them over the past few days. The strain they had both experienced had been emotionally draining, but their longing for each other was undeniable.Now, that longing seemed to overflow, allowing them to momentarily forget the arguments they had been having lately.Slowly, Sarah loosened the embrace. She felt a bit calmer, even though Troy hadn't spoken yet. She could
"Mommy... Mommy...!" Troy suddenly stood up when he heard Gillian's shout from outside.The dining room, which was connected to the living room, made it easy for Troy and Sarah to see Gillian's arrival through the large glass window.From the gate, Derrick could be seen guiding Chloe, while Gillian was skipping toward the porch."Mommy, Chloe is here," Gillian's voice echoed from outside."You continue eating. I'll go out," Sarah quickly headed outside without waiting for a response from Troy.Seeing Derrick on the porch, Troy quickly followed Sarah. When he reached the porch, his gaze immediately fell on the young girl who had been on his mind, filling him with guilt."Gillian... I'm so sorry, sweetheart!" Troy approached the beautiful girl who was on the verge of adolescence.But Gillian froze when she saw her stepfather at the house. Her eyes reflected deep disappointment.Troy's heart pounded. He felt a sharp pain seeing the way Gillian looked at him."Gillian..." Troy tri
"Out late again. Where have you been all day, Erica?"Erica, who had just stepped out of her black Lexus, was startled. Her father was already standing in front of the main door of their home."Dad? Why aren't you asleep yet?" Erica tried to divert the conversation. She was exhausted and didn't want to argue with her dad again. She had spent the entire day following Troy and his family, ending the night at a nightclub she had been frequenting lately."How could I sleep when my daughter is still out? You should have a man accompanying you when you're out this late."Erica began to feel uneasy whenever her dad brought up the topic of her partner. To this day, she hasn't succeeded in fulfilling her father's request to introduce her future husband."Dad, it's late. Let me walk you to your room," Erica said, guiding Michael toward his room. She didn't want him to start discussing her potential husband. She was too tired for that."Wait! I want to talk about our collaboration with Eter
"Are you sure you want to receive that woman, Erica, in your office?" Carrie, who happened to be in Sarah's office, looked worried, even though she didn't know exactly what was happening between Erica and her friend. She had asked Sarah about this several times already. She could see the hesitation on her face. Lately, Sarah had been complaining about the closeness between Erica and Troy.Sarah shook her head, her face expressionless."I'm actually very curious about her reason for meeting me," Sarah replied calmly. But even so, Carrie remained concerned. She sighed heavily a few times. Carrie and Sarah were more than just friends and colleagues; their closeness had developed since before they got married."Should I tell Troy?" Carrie asked again."No need, Carrie. As long as she's coming into my office alone, there's nothing to worry about.""But, Sarah—""It's fine! Don't worry. Leave me alone. She should be here any moment now."Carrie took a deep breath. She looked at Sarah
"We've got trouble. Michael has halted the project. All the workers are demanding accountability. They want the remaining wages as per their contract." Without knocking, Diego burst into Troy's office.Troy had anticipated this would happen. He immediately stood up."It seems we need to meet with Michael right away. I'll negotiate with him." Troy clenched his fists."Wait, Troy. What if his demands are quite heavy this time? Sorry, but I've heard that Erica is interested in you." Diego's gaze seemed to demand an immediate answer.Troy sank back into his chair."It looks like I might have to sell all my assets."Hearing Troy's words, Diego quickly shook his head in despair."Don't make any rash decisions. You should think this through carefully!" Diego spoke softly but with emphasis."I don't have any other options. I can't let Sarah down." Troy spoke quietly, staring blankly ahead."What about the fate of our thousands of employees? What about the project funds we've invested?
"Forgive me! All of this is beyond my control. Please, don't keep torturing me with this guilt, Erica!" Troy's voice trembled. Erica's tears truly broke him. His heart ached and he was utterly confused.Erica's sobs had successfully unsettled him, making it impossible for him to think clearly. For a moment, he was at a loss for words until he spoke softly again."Tell me what I need to do to make amends. But please, don't involve Sarah in this. You know how important she is to me."Hearing Troy's words, Erica closed her eyes. The wound reopened, bleeding once again. She knew she would never be able to have Troy's heart. The love she felt was incredibly painful. As the only child of Michael Lewis, she had everything she needed, except for one thing money couldn't buy—true love. Why couldn't she have the kind of love that other women had? A love that brought happiness. A love where both needed each other."Erica..." At this moment, a sense of pity filled Troy's chest, making him feel
Arnold and Erica's faces became tense as they saw the doctor standing in the doorway."How is she, doctor?" Erica couldn't wait to hear about Irene and her baby."Congratulations, sir. You have a healthy baby girl," the female doctor said, and for a moment, Arnold and Erica breathed a sigh of relief.But their faces remained anxious, as they still hadn't heard about Irene's condition."How is the mother, doctor?" Arnold asked, his voice trembling."Are you her husband?" The doctor looked at Arnold intently."Y-yes, doctor," Arnold stammered, feeling guilty for never accompanying Irene to her hospital visits."Sir, Irene's condition is... critical. We are still trying to stop the bleeding. Please pray for her."Arnold was stunned by the doctor's words. He couldn't say anything as the doctor turned and left him and Erica in the waiting room."Oh God, what kind of husband am I? Erica... Erica... Irene is critical. What should I do?" Arnold shook Erica's body in frustration."All
"Irene, are you okay? Is Arnold taking good care of you?" Erica asked in a panic when Irene contacted her. Irene's voice sounded hoarse and rough, making Erica worried."When are you coming back to Jaketon? I want you to be here when I give birth.""Wait, where's Arnold? Is he still not paying attention to you?" Erica's concern grew. She rarely received calls from Arnold, except when there was a work-related issue that needed to be discussed."Arnold... he says he's very busy with work."Erica let out a heavy sigh. From Irene's voice, she suspected Erica was in trouble. But it seemed that the heavily pregnant woman was still keeping things to herself."Alright, Irene. I'll finish my work here. I'll try to come back before you give birth. You and your baby need to stay healthy, okay?""Thank you. Thank you!"After hanging up with Irene, Erica sent a message to Arnold, urging him to be more attentive to Irene. However, Erica did not answer Arnold's calls when he tried to reach her
Sarah squealed as Troy lifted her. Her husband's strong arms carried her bridal-style toward an enormous bed. The beautiful bed was surrounded by thin yet lovely curtains, and sprinkled with rose petals that filled the room with a fragrant aroma."The doctor said we're allowed now, ahem... so, it's okay, right?" Troy gently laid Sarah's body on the luxurious and comfortable bed.Sarah smiled, her face blushing as Troy hovered over her. His face was so close to hers."I've missed you too, Troy!" The beautiful woman wrapped her arms around Troy's neck, and he couldn't wait any longer. He began planting kisses on Sarah's face, which soon turned into passionate lip-locks that he couldn't get enough of.It was unclear who initiated it, but a few minutes later, they had both discarded everything that was on their bodies. Like their first night, they were eager to satisfy each other. The intense expression of love and the deep longing drove Troy wild. He didn't want to miss even an inch o
"Honey, are you awake?" Troy gently caressed Sarah's face. She blinked, just waking up from her sleep. Sarah turned onto her side to face Troy."What time is it?""It's six in the morning. We're still going to the office today, right?"Sarah sat up. "Of course. You're going to the office too, right?""Yes, darling. Oh, by the way, how's the breastmilk stash for Kingsley? Do we have enough?""More than enough," Sarah replied, hurrying to the bathroom to freshen up. Unbeknownst to her, Troy quietly followed her into the bathroom, which she had forgotten to lock. Ever since giving birth to Kingsley, Sarah usually remembered to lock the door."Troy!" Sarah squealed, surprised to see Troy standing behind her just as she was undressing.Troy's heart raced at the sight of his wife's body, which he hadn't touched in almost two months. This morning, Troy felt bold enough to approach Sarah, especially after the doctor confirmed yesterday that she had fully recovered. She had also complete
"Are we going home now, honey?" Irene asked as she sat up on the gurney. The IV needle had just been removed from her hand. Her face still looked pale."Just a moment," Arnold replied curtly without turning to look at her, making Irene take a deep breath to ease the pain that kept gnawing at her. Since Erica left, Irene noticed that Arnold had been pacing back and forth, trying to call someone on his phone. She guessed he was trying to reach Erica, but she wasn't answering.Irene sat silently, waiting for Arnold, who was still pacing in front of her. Theresa, who had promised to return, ended up not coming back."Alright, let's go home. Can you walk?" Arnold asked as he watched Irene, who was struggling to get down from the gurney with her weak body."Excuse me, ma'am, please use this wheelchair. Your body is still very weak." An ER staff member offered a wheelchair. Irene, who had just stood up from the gurney, slowly sat down in the wheelchair. The staff then pushed the wheelchai
"Yes, congratulations again on your wife's pregnancy. If the observations go well, she can go home this evening."Arnold only nodded at the doctor's explanation. He remained silent even after the doctor left the room. What he had just heard was completely unexpected."H-honey, aren't you happy that I'm pregnant?" Irene asked in a trembling voice. Her chest felt tight, unable to find any trace of happiness on Arnold's face after hearing about her pregnancy. Instead, she saw confusion and surprise. Irene tried to suppress the sadness and disappointment she felt."Is it because it's not Erica who's pregnant?" Irene asked again, this time steeling herself to hear Arnold's response."Don't overthink it. Mom and Dad will be thrilled. I'll go out for a bit." Arnold quickly left Irene and headed to the waiting area in front of the ER.'It's only his mom and dad who are happy. Arnold isn't.' Irene clutched her chest, which felt overwhelmingly tight, trying to hold back her tears. She strug
Diego hugged Carrie tightly. His heart was finally at ease. The different traumas they had both been struggling with had finally been overcome.The same was true for Carrie. Since she had been secretly seeing a psychiatrist a month after marrying Diego, the trauma from her past had gradually faded. The beautiful woman with reddish hair had slowly been able to forget the painful memories of her past after several months of treatment. However, she was reluctant to be upfront with Diego about her recovery. She also felt too proud to make the first move or ask Diego not to leave her in bed."Where are you going, honey?" Carrie clutched her husband's strong arm one night while they were being intimate. But Diego still got up and left her."Sorry, Carrie. I-I just can't..."Carrie was stunned by her husband's rejection. She couldn't understand why Diego kept choosing to satisfy his desires in the bathroom."Should I just tell him that I'm better now? Shouldn't he realize that I'm no lon
"Why are you in such a hurry, honey? Weren't you supposed to stay here for three days?" Irene had been watching Arnold eat quickly since he left the bedroom. Her husband hadn't said much since then. The sweet words or loving gestures that should be present between newlyweds were completely absent for Irene. It was as if Arnold had already forgotten what happened last night.Arnold didn't answer. He only glanced briefly at Irene, who was sitting across from him. A few minutes later, he got up, grabbed his car keys from the table, and said, "I'm leaving. Don't wait for me!" Without waiting for Irene's response, Arnold hurried out to his car. He only gave a brief glance at Irene, who was watching him leave with an unreadable expression. But Arnold didn't care. His mind was entirely focused on Erica. He felt guilty about his first wife.'Erica, forgive me. What did I do last night? What if Irene really gets pregnant? It will be difficult to divorce her later.' Arnold ran his hands thro
Irene was still sobbing, her back turned to Arnold. She lay there, trying to endure the pain, not just physically but also emotionally. Without realizing it, Arnold had mentioned Erica's name at the end of their bedroom session, which made Irene's pain multiply tenfold.Arnold quickly fell asleep from exhaustion beside Irene. He felt relieved that the desire he had been harboring since that morning was finally satisfied. Although it was Erica he truly wanted, Irene was still legally his wife.After crying her heart out, Irene tried to get up and clean herself. Slowly, she sat at the edge of the bed, reached for her clothes, and put them on again.She remembered her mother-in-law's request earlier that morning. Drew had called her and spoke over the phone."Irene, you need to get pregnant as soon as possible! We know Arnold hasn't touched you yet. You have to make him sleep with you!" Drew's words over the phone had shocked Irene."Mom... how do you know... that I haven't been... t