"Troy, let go!" I pulled my hand back after we exited the large room where the event was held."Sorry, I'll let go later. For now, let it be like this." Troy held my hand even tighter. We kept walking down the hallway toward the exit."Troy, where's Grace?" Suddenly, Lucy blocked our way. Now I understood why Troy hadn't let go of my hand."She is inside with Grandpa and Levin," Troy answered casually.Lucy's gaze fell on Troy's hand holding mine. Her eyes were sharp. The woman snorted harshly."Wasn't she with you earlier? How could you just leave her like that?" The middle-aged woman looked very annoyed. She glanced at me scornfully."She won't get lost. This is her grandpa's house after all." Troy chuckled softly."I was just about to talk to your grandpa about your relationship with Grace. And here you are holding hands with another woman!" complained the beautiful woman who was wearing a slightly revealing evening gown. She was not much different from Grace, who also wore a
"I will marry you!""What?" I gasped in shock, my heart racing.Had I heard that right? Was I just hallucinating?"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. Didn't two people need to love each other to get married? But… Troy had never said that he loved me. However, his actions always made my heart flutter.Troy took a deep breath."By marrying you, the gossip will disappear on its own. They won't think badly of you anymore," Troy said, still facing me, his eyes locked on mine.My heart sank when I heard his reason."Oh, so you want to marry me just to stop the gossip!" I leaned back against the seat. Now I stared out the window. A sudden tightness gripped my chest. I tried hard to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes."No, that's not what I meant. Please, look at me!" Troy reached for my chin to turn my face towards him. But I refused. I kept staring out the window. I didn't want him to know how sad I felt, how the pain was spreading in my chest. I didn't want him to see my
"Troy, what are you doing?"Troy was startled, standing in front of my portrait hanging on the wall of my study. I had caught him pressing his lips against the painting, as if he were kissing my face.He looked flustered, his face flushed with embarrassment. He must have been imagining something about me."Ah, nothing. I thought I smelled a fragrance in this room. I thought it was coming from the painting," he said, panicked.I walked in, smiling."Oh, come on! Just admit you were fantasizing about kissing me," I teased him.But suddenly, Troy approached me and backed me up against the wall. His arms were on either side of me, trapping me within his strong embrace."Are you angry? I was just joking!" I protested when I saw the intensity in his eyes.The blue-eyed man in front of me remained silent, his gaze still locked on mine."Troy..." I whispered, my heart pounding."Sarah... Do you still love Albert?" "Why do you keep asking that?" I countered, curious since this wasn'
Troy's P.O.V"Elena, reschedule this morning's meeting. I am going to Sarah's office now.""But, Mr. Peterson…""Just do as I say! There's something important I need to do there." I started putting on my jacket and grabbed my car keys, then walked out, ignoring the disappointed look on Elena's face.This morning I returned to Sarah's office. There was an event at Gillian's school, so Sarah came to the office later. I used this opportunity to talk to Bradley. According to the head of HR, Bradley started work today.After an hour's drive, I finally arrived at Johnson Corp. Almost all the employees there knew me. They had never stopped me from entering, even into Sarah's private office."Please come in, Mr. Peterson, but Ms. Johnson is not here at the moment," said Sarah's secretary."Alright. Please call the head of HR here," I requested as I walked into Sarah's office. Then I dropped myself into the oversized chair behind her desk."Good morning, Mr. Peterson. How can I help you
Troy’s P.O.V"Please let Bradley work with me.”Once again, Sarah pleaded with me. She knew I had no right to stop her. This was her company after all. I was just helping her manage all her businesses."Alright. But please be careful," I stroked her head. Yes, just a gentle stroke. If only I could, I'd want to hug her again. I was so afraid of losing her."Of course. From now on, I will keep my distance from Bradley. I know we can't be as close as we used to be."I felt a bit relieved hearing Sarah's words. We sat in silence for a moment. Suddenly, I remembered Gillian."How was the event at Gillian's school? Did it go well?"Sarah nodded while smiling. We sat side by side on the long sofa."I didn't expect Gillian to be brave enough to go on stage to recite poetry."Sarah spoke enthusiastically about Gillian."Oh really? Wow, I wish I had seen it. Did you record it?""Yes, here, I'll send it to your phone." Sarah grabbed her phone and sent the video of Gillian to me. I op
Troy’s P.O.V"Let's go now," I stood up after looking at my watch."Where to?" Sarah asked."Lunch.""So you really want to take me out to lunch? It wasn't just an excuse to turn down Levin?" Sarah began tidying up her desk. We had been busy preparing meeting materials for dividing tasks between Bradley and Calvin."Yes, of course, beautiful!" I replied, winking at her.Sarah smiled and rolled her eyes, but I could see a blush spreading across her cheeks.Suddenly, Sarah's phone rang."Celine?" she muttered."Who?" I asked, curious about the name I just heard."Albert's stepmother," she said, then answered the call."Hi, Celine. How are you? Are you well?"What? When? Okay!"Sarah hung up the call. I became even more curious. Albert had a stepmother?Since receiving the call from Albert's stepmother, Sarah seemed down. During the car ride, she was restless and didn't talk much."What's wrong? You've been out of sorts since earlier. Is there a problem?" I stroked her head
Author's P.O.V"Please take me to this address." A handsome man with blue eyes and long, neatly tied brown hair had just gotten into a taxi at Jaketon International Airport."Okay, sir."The taxi drove at moderate speed toward a luxury residential complex around Jaketon.He had never met Albert's wife before. His mom said she was very beautiful. It was a shame she had already been married twice.The handsome man who was tall and slim, scoffed amidst his thoughts.‘You have to get close to Sarah. Don't let her marry another man. I want you to marry a great woman like her. You won't regret it!’ His mother's words kept ringing in his ears, making him scoff again.The man opened his phone gallery to pass the time on the journey. Photos of him and a beautiful woman made him wince. For his mother's sake, he had to leave his girlfriend from another country and return to his homeland."We've arrived, sir," the taxi driver said, snapping him out of his reverie. The man looked out the wi
"How is Celine?" Sarah began the conversation."Mom is fine. She sends her regards," Alex, who let his shoulder-length hair flow freely, occasionally glanced at Sarah.Sarah smiled warmly when their eyes met, while Alex maintained his cold demeanor.To Sarah, Alex didn't resemble Albert at all. Maybe because Alex was Celine's child from her previous marriage."Have some more, Alex! Don't be shy!" Sarah tried to break the awkward atmosphere."Mm." the handsome, long-haired man murmured without looking at Sarah.They fell silent again. Alex had finished his meal."Celine said you wanted to help me with Albert's company. Is that true? If so, come with me to the office tomorrow!"Alex turned, surprised at Sarah's words."My mom told you that?" Alex scoffed.Sarah nodded."Don't you mind?" Alex asked, astonished at how relaxed Sarah seemed."Why should I? I'm actually happy if someone helps me manage Albert's company. Meanwhile, I can focus more on my own company.""What? You h