SELENA"Why didn't you tell me?" I snapped at Mitchell, who stood frozen in shock. "You knew about this, and yet you said nothing? I could have been prepared! I could have known what to expect!" I was furious, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, the anger bubbling up inside me, threatening to spill over. I gripped the railing of the rooftop, trying to steady myself.When I went to Pedro's apartment the night before and saw Louisa with him, everything clicked into place. I realized why he'd been avoiding me, why he didn't come back to check on me in the hospital, why he never called. I was furious, hurt that he would never love me the way he loved Louisa. I felt so foolish for ever believing that I could be enough for him. I felt betrayed."You think I knew about this?" Mitchell scoffed, rubbing her baby bump as she sank onto the empty bench on the rooftop. "If I had known, you think I wouldn't have told you? I'm your best f
SELENA"I think we should send Liam to school when we get back home," Christopher said, his smile warm as he entwined his fingers with mine. "What do you think?" We walked out of the conference room after the meeting.Pedro still didn't show up for the meeting, and now that I knew why, I refused to let it bother me. I pushed the thought of him out of my head and focused all my attention on the meeting. I wasn't going to let him distract me. He could go do whatever he wanted for all I cared."I think that's the right call," I said, brushing my thumb across his hand. "I don't need to hide Liam from the public anymore. Pedro has already met him." I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation, biting my lip to contain my amusement. A few years ago, I'd thought so highly of Pedro Lopez, and now I realized he didn't care about me or my opinion of him. It was oddly liberating."I want him to have the same opportunities as his peers," I said, breathing a sigh of relief as we s
SELENA"Did he know?" Edward asked, his voice trembling with emotion. I could tell he was trying to keep it together, but the exhaustion was starting to take its toll. I knew I had to tread carefully, but I also knew he wouldn't let the conversation go."No," I shook my head, my palms clammy with sweat. "He met Liam, but I never told him that Liam is his son." I swallowed hard, realizing that talking about this with Edward wasn't as difficult as I'd thought it would be. I felt a sense of relief, knowing that I'd finally shared the truth with someone who cared about me. Someone that I looked up to like a father.Edward sighed heavily, closing his eyes as if he were gathering his thoughts. When he opened them again, there was a new intensity in his gaze. "Why didn't you tell him?" he asked, his tone quiet but direct. It was the same look my father always gave me when he knew something was bothering me. It was a look that demanded honesty, and I knew I had to answer."When I found out I
PEDROI had never regretted anything more in my life than agreeing with my father to let Louisa stay with me. It was one thing to agree to marry her to protect my mother's secret, which my father had threatened to expose if I didn't. But it was another thing entirely to actually let her into my home. The whole situation was like a bad dream that I couldn't wake up from.I knew that avoiding Selena was causing her pain, but I couldn't bring myself to face her. Every time I saw Louisa, I felt like I was betraying Selena all over again. I hated myself for the way I was treating her, but I didn't know what else to do. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I didn't know how to make it right.The door to my office creaked open, and without even turning to look, I knew it was Roy. I could hear his footsteps crossing the room, stopping only when he was right beside me. The air was heavy with tension, and I could feel his gaze burning into my back. I took a deep breath, trying to s
SELENADays had passed since I'd last seen Pedro, but he still lingered in my mind. His thoughts and his face were imprinted on my mind, refusing to fade. I couldn't escape the memories of him, the moments we'd shared, and the feelings he'd stirred in me. It was as if he was always there, just out of reach.I had been debating whether or not to meet with Pedro, to give him a chance to explain. But after taking Liam to see Edward, and hearing the man say that Liam looked so much like his father, I couldn't bring myself to face Pedro. I was overwhelmed with the implications of Edward's words, and I didn't know what to do. I was lost, confused, and afraid.Afraid I might take on Edward's advice and tell Pedro everything."Let's forget about Pedro and focus on something else," I said out loud, hoping to redirect my thoughts. But it was no use.Pedro was all I could think about. His face, his smile, the way he looked at me, it was all there, in my mind, refusing to go away. I tried to push
PEDRO The past few days had been a blur of work, a welcome distraction from my chaotic thoughts. With Roy away at a business conference, I had plenty of projects to keep me busy. The constant stream of tasks had been a relief, preventing my mind from dwelling on the troubling events around me. It had been a relief not to have Louisa constantly demanding things from me. But I hadn't seen Selena since my visit to the hospital, when I'd unexpectedly run into her there with Edward. I was still mulling over my thoughts about Selena and Edward when my phone beeped, indicating a new email. I picked it up and checked the notification, my heart sinking as I read the message on the screen. It was from the hospital, and the contents of the email made my blood run cold. "Edward!" I cried out, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle the sob that escaped my lips. I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out in grief, but I could feel my body shaking. I had made the hospital send me updates about Edw
SELENAIt took days before the hospital released Edward's body to us, we made the necessary arrangements after and laid him to rest at the cemetery. It was a small, intimate gathering - just me, Christopher, Tony, and a few other neighbors who had been close to Edward. No family members of his showed up, and I found myself wondering if he had any family at all. The absence of loved ones was a poignant reminder of how much we had come to care for Edward, and how much he had come to mean to us.The reality of Edward's passing didn't truly hit me until hours after the burial. As the last of the well-wishers trickled away, it was just me and Christopher left, standing in silence beside the grave. The gravity of the loss was tangible, and the feeling of emptiness was overwhelming. I knew that I would never again see Edward's warm smile or hear his laughter. It was a sobering moment, and one that would stay with me for a long time."Are you doing okay?" Christopher asked, gently placing h
PEDROEdward: I hope you can tell her what you just told me. I hope you can find the courage to tell her everything. I hope you can stop blaming yourself for what happened. I know her - she has a golden heart and she will forgive you, not because of what happened, but because you kept the secret from her. I hope you can do it soon because she has a secret too - a golden one - and she's keeping it from you. I hope the two of you can find happiness.Tears well up my eyes and I slowly blinked them away. Had I known those were the last words of Edward to me, I wouldn't have left his side that day. I felt like shit. I felt like a fucking bastard. I felt disgusted with myself as I drove to Edward's apartment.“Fuck!” I banged my fist on the steering wheel, hoping I would drive a little faster so I could meet Selena. I went to the hospital but I was told Edward's body had been taken. After making sure Mitchell was okay, I left to look for Selena but she wasn't at her apartment.My gut told
SELENA "Selena, repeat after me," the officiant said, his voice clear and steady. My eyes darted from the diamond ring in my hand to the beaming face of Pedro, who never seemed to stop smiling. “I, Selena Leah Empress, take you, Pedro Joshua Lopez…” “I, Selena Leah Empress, take you, Pedro Joshua Lopez…” the words felt so foreign on my lips. “To be my husband, through the good times and bad. Through successes and struggles…” A lone tear rolled down my eyes as I stared at the ring on my finger. “To be my husband, through the good times and bad. Through successes and struggles…” my lips parted in a smile. I didn't realized he meant it when he was asking about marriage the previous night. It's happening. I would be officially married to Pedro Lopez, in a matter of minutes. I would be married to the first and the only man I had ever been in love with. “Through richer and poorer, and in sickness and health, I will treasure you for as long as we both shall live.” As I recited the vo
PEDRO‘Liam... Selena's baby boy, Liam. He's my son, and they're coming home with me. I'm coming back to the city with my family.’I remembered my words to Roy, my best friend over the phone when I packed little Liam's bags earlier. I still couldn't believe it that the sweet little boy was mine. Selena had a son for me. She loved me, she cherished what we had years ago and decided to keep my baby.“Hey, good to see you too.” I grinned, then stepped out of the car to fetch my son from the backseat."Hey there, Papa Liam," Roy taunted, walking out of my apartment with two glasses of booze in his hands."How did you get in?" I asked, cradling my son gently on my shoulder as I reached for the glass of booze from Roy's hand. He seemed more interested in looking at my son than handing me the drink."I still can't believe we're both fathers now," Roy chuckled, raising his glass in a toast. I clinked my glass against his, and for a moment, it all felt like a dream."Cheers to fatherhood," I
SELENA“I’m going to miss you.” Margaret whispered into my ear as she hugged me tightly to herself.I never would have thought a day would come where I would be saying goodbye to the Andre. They were like a family to me, not until moment ago when I returned to the Villa and Christopher asked me to pack up and leave with Pedro.I had thought it was all a joke until Pedro told me that was why he came; because Christopher asked him to come get me out of his life.“Don’t blame yourself for his recent attitude, I swear, I also have my own share of his sudden change of character.” Margaret further said as she squeezed my shoulders gently.I didn't know what to say to this. Everything happened so fast and I couldn't believe I wasn't the one to be blame.“He used to be good to me, at least I'm going to hold on to that.” I smiled as I pulled away from Margaret.I looked around, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything. It felt awkward to think that I was been chased out of the Villa because I
CHRISTOPHER “Is that really a good idea?” my hands clenched and my shoulders heaved as I walked down the hallway. My heart broke into a million pieces as the thought of giving Selena up flooded my brain. “I own her. I fucking own her. She's living the life she wants all thanks to me.” a single sweat rolled down my temple as I took the hallway that led to my room. I couldn't help but feel like an actual loser as I saw my mother, standing in front of my door. Her back was on me, but I could already tell what she was imagining. I hated to be seen as a loser. Selena of all people should have known better than anyone. I had always strived to win whatever I set my hands on. My mother might have sensed my presence. She made to turn and I halted on my track, making sure to put as much distance between us as possible. “Chris…” she gasped, her face held worry but I knew better than anyone not to read much into her expression. She didn't care. She used to care for me but that was in the
PEDROMy hands clenched to my sides as I recalled how my father explained the incident to me. Maybe if my father hadn't told me, I wouldn't have to be in a close wall to have to tell Selena.She deserved to know the truth behind her parents’ death. Even if it would cost me my future with her, she still deserved to know.That was the promised I made to Edward. If I wanted to earn her trust, and want her to tell me her secret I should tell her mine. Letting her know she could trust me.“My mother was engaged in money laundering which my father, nor any other person known of. She was very careful not to let it get out, even to my father. My father would never support that act so she kept it a secret.” I stared at Selena, it was a surprise she wasn't throwing a fist. She only sat down and let me talk.“Your father was my father's driver, my father admired him a lot. I believed your mother worked for my mother, I never knew what her work was but I knew she worked for my mother. Your father
SELENA"You need to go," I said, struggling to free myself from his embrace. I grabbed his hand, my intention to guide him to the car, but he suddenly grabbed my elbows, his grip firm as he held me in place. His eyes searched my face, pleading with me to stay still.I could feel myself melting under the gaze of his deep purple eyes. I longed to be wrapped in his arms, just like he'd done so many times before. But I couldn't give in to that desire. I had to get him out of here, before Christopher arrived."Please, you have to go," I pleaded, my voice breaking as I rested my head on his chest. I tried to control my breathing, to calm my racing heart, before pulling away. "It would be... It would be bad if Chrissy found you here." I couldn't say the words. I couldn't tell him he was in danger. Not like this.The last thing I wanted was to tarnish Christopher's reputation, to damage his good name and possibly his career. I cared about him too much to do anything to hurt him, no matter how
PEDRO“Tomorrow is the boy's birthday. Come to the address I mailed to you, Selena has something to say to you.” Christopher Andre’s voice erupted from the other end.I stared at my phone in shock, making sure I wasn't imaging things. But it was real, he was really calling me.“You… you know who this is, right?” I stuttered, pinching myself to keep myself from crashing to the floor.“Just do what I said.” he groaned and the call went off before I could get my thought straight.Christopher Andre was really the one who called me. After he walked out of the conference hall that night, I bet my life on it that he would never let her see me again.I was right, he terminated the contract the following day and that prove my assumption right. They never come back to the company. He took Selena away and I was so sure he would never let me see her again.“But this?” I stared at the phone, still doubting if the person who had just called was truly who I thought it was.“Why is he having a change
SELENAI watched from the corner as the maids dressed my son in a crisp white tuxedo. His hair was carefully curled, with a few soft strands falling across his forehead.His smile was blinding. I chuckled from my I stood, watching him pouted his round lips at his nanny.“I want to go to uncle.” he whined, shaking his head to mess up with his hair.Huh? I gulped down nothing before moving away from the door.“Uncle is not here yet.” I cleared my throat once I got behind them, grabbing their attention. “Uncle went to get you a gift.”That seemed to got to him. His purple eyes widened, a glint of pure joy shone brighter in his eyes.“Really?” he asked in his sweet little voice, turning on his seat to stare at me. “What’s the gift?”I shook my head, kneeling beside him and took his hand in mine. “It is a surprise gift uncle is planning. Of course, mommy don't know what it is.” I smiled, squeezing his hand.He pouted and nodded slowly. “What about mommy?” he asked, his lips parted, exposin
PEDRO"I'll take a look around, and let you know if it meets my expectations," I said to the realtor, who gave a slow nod of agreement.Turning away from me, he looked around the living room, before turning back to face me. "If you don't like this one, I can find you another one in any location you'd like," he said, flashing a smile that was missing two front teeth."It's fine, I'm sure I'll like this one," I said, waving him off and turning my attention to the stairs."I'm at your service, Mr. Lopez," he said, a broad smile spreading across his face. He offered his hand for a handshake, and I took it, feeling a little more at ease.“Alright.” I retrieved my hand and turned away from him.As his footsteps faded away and the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding."This is insane," I said aloud, chuckling mirthlessly as I took in the apartment that had once been home to Selena and baby Liam. A week ago, they had been living here, but now t