"Joyce, where's Troy? Is he awake?" "Mr. Peterson is still sleeping, Mrs. Batterman!"I heard Joyce talking to someone. She mentioned Mrs. Batterman. Could Lucy be here?I had just finished bathing Prince and came out, pushing his stroller."Good morning, Aunt Lucy!""Morning... Oh, whose baby is this?" She seemed surprised to see me and Prince."This is my son. Please, have a seat. Do you want to meet Troy? I think he’s still asleep in his room," I replied."Where is Troy sleeping?" She immediately walked past me. Well, this bungalow did belong to their family."In that room." I pointed to a room that was further back and smaller than the one I was staying in."Why isn't Troy sleeping in the master bedroom? Why is he in the guest room instead? And you’re comfortably sleeping in the master bedroom. What’s Troy thinking?" Aunt Lucy suddenly stopped in front of the room I was staying in.I felt uneasy hearing her irritated tone."S-sorry. I was just following what Troy said."
"Don't you feel sorry for Grace? She really hoped you would join her at the tennis court." Lucy's shrill voice could still be heard trying to persuade Troy."Sorry, I can't. I already promised to take Sarah and her kids out this afternoon."I didn't expect Troy to answer like that. I was sure his aunt would soon get even more upset and angry."You prefer to go out with that single mother of two instead of being with Grace? Are you stupid or what, Troy? I can't believe you're letting yourself be ordered around to babysit!""Sorry, what did you just say? That I'm stupid?" Troy's voice sounded cold and firm."T-that's not what I meant, but... how about you come over to our bungalow for a bit? We can talk there!" her tone began to soften. She was no longer as insistent as before."Sorry, I already said I can't. Your hearing is still good, right? Or is it your memory that's having issues?"I giggled hearing Troy's recent remark. I guarantee that after this, his aunt's voice would no
"Isn't that Troy Peterson, the actor?""He hasn't been in the spotlight for a while, and suddenly, he has a kid."I heard the restaurant patrons talking while walking around the tea plantation."There was a rumor he was close to a widow. Maybe it's that beautiful widow.""No wonder Troy is interested. The widow is as beautiful as a young girl.""No matter how beautiful she is, she’s still a widow. It's such a shame for someone so handsome to end up with one!""Yeah, Troy should be with another celebrity or a famous model. Instead, he’s with a widow who already has two kids."Why were they speaking so openly about this near us? My ears felt like they were burning. I held Gillian's hand and quickened our pace along the path in the tea plantation toward the pavilion."What's wrong?" Troy, still carrying Prince, suddenly caught up with me and grabbed my hand."Let go," I snapped, shaking off his strong hand, which surprised him.Troy sighed loudly behind me. He didn't call out to
"Excuse me!" I tried to break through the crowd of women and teenagers busy photographing Troy's face.It was quite difficult to get past these women. But finally, I arrived in front of Troy.The man was startled to see me, already in tears."Sarah!""Troy, Gillian is still missing!" I shouted unconsciously."Mommy! Why are you crying?" I immediately turned to the voice I had been longing to hear.It turned out Gillian was right next to Troy. He was holding on to her with his left hand tightly. While his right hand was stroking Prince, who was starting to get sleepy. Of course, I couldn't see Gillian earlier because she was covered by the women who were fighting to take photos with Troy."Gillian, come here, sweetie!" I grabbed my daughter and took her away from the crowd without caring about all the eyes watching. I ignored Troy's repeated calls for my name. For some reason, I felt so irritated. Why didn't Troy inform me that he had found Gillian? Why was he busy answering ques
"I want you!""Huh? W-what do you mean?"Troy stared at me deeply. His face was getting closer."Sir, excuse me. Miss Batterman and her mom are here." I heard Joyce's voice from outside the room.The door to this room was slightly ajar. Troy's housekeeper must have seen him holding me.Suddenly, Troy slowly released his embrace. He clicked his tongue in annoyance several times."What do they want now? They are always interrupting!" he grumbled as he walked away, leaving me still trying to calm my nerves.I sat on the bed, my heart pounding fast. My breath was heavy. Troy's gaze was so different earlier. He had never looked at me like that. I had one hand pressed against my still-racing heart.After calming down a bit, I got up to leave the room. The tension I had just felt made my throat dry and I felt thirsty.I faintly heard a heated argument between Troy and Lucy. I walked to the kitchen to get a drink. After drinking a glass of water, I started to head back to the room. It
"What time is your meeting?" Troy asked while driving. This morning the roads weren't too busy yet. We left for the city right after dawn."After lunch. The meeting is at my office," I replied while bottle-feeding Prince."I'll go with you then!""No need, Troy! You've been away from your company for too long. From now on, I'll handle Albert's company. If I need you, I'll definitely call you."I didn't tell Troy that the people I was meeting later were named Roy and Levin. I also didn't want to involve Troy here. Gradually, I needed to get used to managing without his help. He wouldn't always be there for me and the kids. Lucy would surely find a suitable woman for a handsome and successful man like him."Sarah, why are you daydreaming? Prince has finished his milk."Oh no! How could I be so careless? Ever since Lucy came to the bungalow yesterday, I had been spacing out a lot and having trouble sleeping."Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Troy asked again."No need, Tro
"Sarah?" Levin was very surprised to see me. The tall and well-built man with tan skin looked at me in disbelief."Levin? It really is you, Mr. Levin Batterman, CEO of Net Multicorp." I stared at him intensely. Levin looked quite different in his cream suit and dark brown tie compared to when I last saw him.Levin repeatedly looked me up and down, probably noticing my different appearance this time. Today, I was wearing formal attire: a long skirt and blazer. Unlike yesterday at the bungalow, where I wore a blouse and jeans."I had a hunch yesterday when Calvin mentioned the representatives from Net Multicorp were Mr. Levin and Mr. Roy Batterman," I said, smiling.We chuckled at the unexpected reunion."Please, have a seat, Mr. Batterman.""Thank you," replied the thick-bearded man."This company is actually a family business. My brother Roy and I are the ones managing it," he explained.I nodded in understanding."Sarah, you look stunning!" Levin spoke softly, leaning closer
"Troy and I are just good friends. My late husband entrusted me and the children to him before he passed away. Perhaps that’s why Troy feels responsible for us," I replied to Levin after thinking for a while.A smile spread across the face of the man said to resemble a bodybuilder."That's a relief. I thought you two were a couple. Because I've noticed Troy’s gaze towards you is different."I just laughed softly at Levin's comment. To be honest, I felt the same way about Troy’s gaze. The fluttering feelings I often experienced made me unsure of my own emotions."Hey, Earth to Sarah? Come on, finish your food!" Levin's voice snapped me back to reality. Why was I daydreaming about Troy?"Lucy intends to matchmake Troy with Grace, my niece. If he really doesn't have a special relationship with you, it will be easier for us to bring them closer."For some reason, I felt pain in my chest at Levin’s words. Was I jealous?I forced a bitter smile."Yes, hopefully, they are a good match
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