Staring at both Zacharie and Odette, Amelie couldn't help but look like she had just seen a ghost, while on the inside, she cursed.'Shit. Just great!'"Ms. Arnaud, it really is you." Odette said as she approached Amelie, hand folded across her chest and her voice having a tint to it that made Amelie crease her brows in confusion.Was that...was that anger she heard? Amelie thought, finding the idea hard to believe since Odette was always so polite and joyful each time they met.Instead, she cleared her mind, momentarily ignoring the glare Jasmine was giving her and the unreadable stare Zacharie was giving her, and bowed her head curtly."Hello, Ms. Aubert." She greeted."Fancy meeting you here.""I could say the same."Odette chuckled and glanced over to Zacharie who was watching the entire situation play out, his eyes glued on Amelie and his fists clenching and unclenching."Yeah, the restaurant we're currently at is owned by the LaCroix's. So, technically we should be the ones to s
Amelie returned back home after leaving the restaurant.Michelle and Miguel who were just rounding up their deeds when they heard Skylar's car pulled into the driveway, panicked.They quickly jumped up, trying their best to clear the room of the evidence and hide it before she entered. Which wasn't really a hard task seeing as the only things they used their shared tablet and a book and pen.Once the items were neatly placed back in their rightful position, Skylar and Amelie entered the house, both carrying an expression that showed how tired they were."Mommy!" Michelle chipped happily and rushed at her mother, hugging her leg. "Welcome home, mommy, Uncle Skylar." She said, smiling brightly."Did you miss me?" Amelie asked as she bent down and patted her daughter's head."No." Michelle responded, a bit too quickly, later flashing a smile when her mother feigned hurt.However, her smile flattened slightly when she realized her mother's slightly disheveled appearance."Mommy, did somet
Zacharie stared at the screen of his phone, eyes reading Amelie's text for the umpteenth time, yet he made no effort to type out a befitting reply.It was as if he was stuck, his mind unmoving and not functioning, which was very much unlike him. But Zacharie couldn't help it, at least when it came to her.He sighed and laid his head back, resting it on the headrest of the sofa.He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, thinking about how to respond, but each time he would come up empty."Hey, Zach." Odette called out as she stepped into the room, breaking him from his thoughts.He opened his eyes and stared at her. "Yes?""Do you...do you need any ice?" She asked, referring to his hand."I'm fine. Don't bother hanging around, you should leave." He said and closed his eyes once more, returning to his previous task.However, he had not gone more than a few seconds of silence when Odette interrupted once more, speaking up."Let...let me stay around and help you. Doing things on your own mus
With her phone in her hand, Amelie scrolled through the comments on the viral video. Most, if not all of the people who had commented were severely bashing Casper and calling him out for the type of trash he was, while others were asking for the identity of the person who had exposed him, wanting to show their gratitude.After reading a few comments like that, it begged a question in the back of her mind."Hey, Florence," Amelie called out to the doctor who was beside her, popsicle hel in one of her hand while the other scrolled through the very same comment section of the video Amelie was also looking at."Yeah Doc?" She answered, eyes not leaving her phone screen and hand instead bringing her sugary treat up to her mouth."Everyone in the comment section doesn't know the identity of the victim involved in the video, nor who had exposed him, but most, if not everyone in the hospital thinks it's me, why's that?" She questioned."Ah, well it's simple." Florence said and held her finger
Chloe sat in the back of her moving vehicle, elbow resting on the window still while she thought back to the events that had happened in her house earlier.Audrey had grown impatient over the days, not only had Fernando not lived up to his promise of taking care of Amelie, he also hadn't presented her with the Emerald Heart Necklace.Enraged, she approached him in his study, folding her hands over her chest as stared down at him with displeasure swirling with her eyes."Fernando," She called out. "Where is the necklace I asked for? And why haven't you lived up to your promise? How is that rogue girl still running about?" She bombarded him with questions.Placing down his pen, Fernando had sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he knew just how this whole interaction was going to play out the moment he told Audrey he had no idea where the necklace she requested was.She was going to throw an extremely irrelevant tantrum, break things and attract unnecessary attention of the house w
Emerald Heart Necklace, eh?Amelie thought as she held the said jewelry in between her fingers, allowing the tip dangle off while she examined it from head to toe.Chloe had been right, she was with it, she had been with it for the past eight years.She had always been with it. Keeping it as safe as possible, with no intention of using it.But who would have thought that her opportunity for revenge would present itself because of this necklace."The universe works in mysterious ways." She whispered and placed the necklace on the table beside her.She reached beside her for the card that she had drawn out of the package a few days ago and stared at it and read the date, which was scheduled for tonight, less than three hours away.She had tried learning about who sent the package but each of her guess always came to a dead end.'Perhaps, I'll be able to learn a bit more if I meet with the agent. I can find out who purchased his service.'She thought and glanced at the card, flipping it
Chloe stood in the foyer of her family's mansion, her phone held in her hands as she stared down at the message she had received from Diana a few minutes ago.Taken it back. Chloe's grinned at the thought, image of the beautiful necklace visualizing in her head and nearly making her drool. Quickly, she typed her response.She waited for the reply and it was a short while later that a response came in.After Diana's final message, the conversation ended and Chloe placed her phone into her pocket.Now all that was left, was to wait.And just as she turned around to walk away, she not
If there was one name that always stood out beside Zacharie LaCroix's name, it was Richard Harris.One could almost compare him to Zacharie. He was the image of a perfect CEO running a company with the net worth of billions of dollars.Much like Zacharie, His name was always on billboards magazine and even got trending social topics, and much like Zacharie, his personal life was shrouded in mystery.And now, seeing the infamous business man standing right in front of her, deep brown eyes glaring down at her, Amelie couldn't help but feel shaken.But she wasn't going to back down just because of his intimidating aura, after all, if she had been capable of standing her ground when it came to Zacharie, then he was nothing."Yes," She responded. "I was the one who requested you come and pick Josie up yourself."Richard raised a brow, silently questioning her reason for doing so.Amelie understood the look on his face and quickly explained. She began softly and respectfully."I'm sorry for
Florida was a place more comfortable than Amelie could have expected. It had sunny beaches and humble neighbors and fresh air.Although it could not hold a candle when being compared to the beauty of Paris, she was growing to love it here and it was growing on her children as much as it was growing on her.Two years, Amelie and the twins has been living in Florida for the past two years, and in these two years, she had managed to find a job and earn a lot of money and even opened her own hospital.The children were enrolled in a private elementary school each in their final years of elementary and they were having a blast.It was perfect and Amelie couldn't be more happier.At least, that's what she wanted to believe.She had a feeling her happiness was yet to come, but for now, this would have to do."Mommy, when's dinner?" Miguel asked as he stepped into the living area, Marco following closely behind.Marco was the German shepherd they had adopted upon moving to Florida. Amelie had
The week following the whole disastrous event was unnaturally peaceful.Amelie didn't complain as it gave her enough time to secretly look for a new place for she and the twins without them knowing anything about it and it also gave her enough time to gather her things and once again, secretly some of their.The reason why she was doing things in secret from them was because the last time they had moved from England back to France, the twins had thrown a fit, refusing to leave after just settling down perfectly in their new school.And right now, it was a silly case of Deja Vu.“Not gonna go around and say your farewells." Florence asked as she slipped Into Amelie office while she was packing the last of her things."I'd rather not." Amelie replied, glancing around."Well, at least bid me goodbye." Florence said and opened her arm for a hug.Amelie chuckled and went in, encasing the younger female in a p*ssionate hug for a few seconds before dressing back."You'll make an amazing team
Amelie arrived home later than day with a puffy face and red eyes.The lights were off and the house was quiet.It was obvious that Miguel and Michelle were fast asleep. Gently tip toeing over to their room, she cracked the door open slightly and stepped inside, seating at the edge of their bed and stroking their head gently, not wanting to wake them."Michelle, Miguel, mommy won't be able to make your wish come true. You won't be able to have Zacharie LaCroix as your new daddy." She whispered."Mommy will be the only one to be there for you from now on." She promised, the words leaving a sour taste in her mouth.She didn't want to be the only one, she wanted Miguel and Michelle to have a happy family. Just like the dream she had of them all being in one big happy house."I'm sorry, guys."As she apologized, a tear rolled down her cheek and landed on the bedsheet, staining the fabric.Wiping the remaining tears, Amelie leaned forward and kissed her children's forehead, smiling slightl
Zacharie was stunned to hear what she was saying.Eight years ago?He had forced himself on her? Had they met the first time back in the scan room?That didn’t make sense.He hadn’t even been in any woman ever since that night and that woman had committed suicide, had she not?“what the h*ll are you talking about, Amelie?” He finally asked, his brows deepen in confusion.“Don’t play innocent with me, Zacharie. I saw the tape. I know it was you.” She said, taking a step forward and jabbing her index finger into his chest.Zacharie’s eye twitched and he grabbed her hand. “Look, I don’t know what kind of nonsense you’re spewing, I haven’t slept with any woman in eight years, not even Odette.”“Liar.” She sneered and ripped her hand out of his grip. “You’re a lying scumbag. I’m not the only one that knows the truth.”“The truth?”“That you tainted an innocent girl, Zacharie. That night, I begged you to stop. I knew nothing of my step mother and sister’s plot and I begged you, I tried reas
"Zacharie LaCroix." Amelie uttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Zacharie LaCroix..."As the video continued, and showed the two of them leaving the hotel, Amelie remained speechless, her mind a mess and her body unmoving.Her thoughts were jumbled and she felt the need to throw up.How could she not have seen it?It was obvious from the beginning.Now that she thought hard about it, Miguel was similar to Zacharie in some ways. The mole underneath his eyes, the same eye colors and even Michelle had some similarities to him.They both shared the same blood diseases.Like father like daughter.Just the thought of that alone almost made Amelie throw up."Oh my God." She breathed, finally standing up.Her legs were shaking, her hands trembling and she was sure her heart was beating fast."Calm down." She whispered to herself. "Calm down, it's not real. There has to be an explanation for all of this." She re*ssured herself and stood up, stumbling ever so slightly in her steps and nea
Zacharie kept true to his words, because two days after the entire incident, he showed up at the hospital, ready to begin or at least finalize the procedure of his new treatment plan."So, how is this going to work?" Zacharie asked, leaning back in the chair as he stared at Amelie."Well, the plan is very simple and straightforward, and very easy to execute." Amelie explained. "We'll have you come here and inject a serum I will prepare. This will be a one time process and will only last about thirty minutes.""One time?""Yes." She confirmed. "The serum is simply to cleanse your inner system. After that, a blood transfusion would follow.""I see. And then?""After the transfusion, there will be a period of recovery and rehabilitation, but it's not really necessary. We can skip that step. I'll provide you with some tablets that will help with the process and that will be all." She concluded."However, there is just one problem.""What is it?" Zacharie asked, sensing the worry in her vo
"This is all your fault." Odette accused, turning to glare at Amelie. "I hope you're happy now. You ruined everything. Not only did you cost me my engagement, you also had the guts to show up in such a revealing dress and try to seduce my fiance. What a shameful b*tch.""Odette that's enough!" Zacharie fiercely demanded. "Haven't you done enough?""You're right. I have. And I'm sorry. It was just... vitamins I slipped in. I went to the doctors the other day and they recommended some vitamins for you. But I knew you wouldn't take anything that has not been prescribed by your doctor so I tried to slip it in. I'm really sorry." Odette begged."Just vitamins, huh?" Zacharie asked and snapped his finger. Instantly, Eric appeared with the gl*ss of wine and handed it to Zacharie. "If you say so, then drink it.""W-what?""Drink it." Zacharie repeated."I-""I'm sure there's no harm if it's just a few vitamins.""Zach, are you kidding? It's a full gl*ss.""It is. But if it's just vitamins, li
"This drink is contaminated?" Zacharie questioned. "What do you mean by that?""Well the thing is..." Amelie began, looking like she was hesitant to speak. "The thing is..."Before she could complete her word this time around, Odette quickly took her hand and dragged her away."What are you doing? Let go." Amelie demanded, trying to pull her hand free.Odette did not comply until they were separated from the crowd, standing someplace near the balcony."What are you doing?" Amelie asked once more."I could say the same for you." Odette challenged, folding her hand over her chest."What?" Amelie blinked twice, not understanding."Why did you say that the drink is contaminated? What's your purpose for lying?""I didn't lie." Amelie retorted, clearly remembering what she has seen when she stepped out of the balcony.Odette had dropped something into the wine gl*ss, and although Amelie couldn't figure out what exactly it was, she wasn't about to just let Zacharie drink whatever concoction
Over the weekend and until she was discharged, Amelie continuously told herself not to misunderstand Zacharie's words.He had only said all that in a bid to calm the rowdy twins down and it meant nothing.She continued to tell herself that, dissuading both her heart and head from growing any sort of attachment to the words that meant nothing. That reality however, was smacked even harder in her face as the day she got discharged and went home, she was met with an invitation letter from Odette.Her birthday was tomorrow and Zacharie was holding a banquet for her and she had been invited.Staring at the letter in her hand, Amelie felt sore. She had nearly forgotten the fact that Zacharie had a fiancée who loved him very much.Not only that, she was pretty and kind and everything in all that could make a perfect wife. Unlike her, an already spoilt product.Amelie gritted her teeth at the comparison. Why was it angering her so much?Why did it have to do with her if Odette was a perfect w