Carol's misunderstanding about his identity shattered into pieces when she stepped into the luxury mansion that Damien 'owns'. Not a gift from his rich family or anything inherited like she did. She has a few Villas million dollars worth but this is just out of questions - Not when she thought he has his own business and he is an illegitimate son with not so strong support. Eunice is the only one who knows about the Crawley Family. But Carol who deals with rich clients has no idea about the Crawley family at all. Since all her concentration was on the companies that are quote- unquote were in the same level as her grandpa's company. She is just impressed with the true luxury of this mansion. As Carol drifts through the hallway, her fingertips brush the walls, feeling the textures beneath her skin. The space is quiet—comfortably so—and she lets herself relax. But just as she rounds a corner, she pauses, turning her head slightly. A familiar presence is near. When she turns full
She settles in-- In this large mansion. Although the question is why he needs such a big house all alone keeps bothering her. But it's obviously none of her business. Carol is considered a rich woman. As a business woman as well. Owning a few Villas, a multi-million bank balance and her grandparents' sole inheritance. However, she is quite interested in Damien, A man who could have gotten someone perfect just by showing this house. Today, after settling in, she sits on a chair, wooden and designed with perfection. She grabs her phone. After entering the room, one thing amazed her that - Damien actually filled the room with everything. Literally everything that she needs. Underwear to her hair clips. Sunscreen to shampoo and everything is the brand that she uses. He might ask Eunice or notice them in her house. She doesn't know. But it's true that he went on a rampage to bring everything. It makes her wonder more... More about the Man she married. Carol's life is on rout
After dropping Carol off with Damien, Eunice makes the familiar drive back to her apartment. By the time she gets home, the city lights are dim, and the quiet hum of her space feels like a relief. She collapses on the couch, her thoughts still swirling from the strange tension between Carol and Damien. The whole situation feels like it came out of nowhere, and part of her can’t believe how fast things have shifted in Carol’s life. The next morning, Eunice’s phone buzzes with a group message from her closest friends—Sarah, Grace, and Katie, the same three who had stood beside her as bridesmaids at Carol’s sudden wedding. Grace: “Brunch at Eunice’s place? We need to catch up.” Katie: “I’m in. I want the tea about Carol and her new husband!” Eunice smiles, knowing a meet-up is exactly what she needs. The girls arrive an hour later, filling her apartment with their usual chatter and laughter. They gather in the living room, spreading out comfortably with coffee and croissants. Euni
Carol glances at the clothes. Lots of them are really worth more than 100K. She presses her forehead. Damien shouldn't have spent thousands of dollars on clothes for her - Not even his serious wife who he will spend forever. She grabs a knee length dress. The floral sundress in blue catches her attention. As she grabs one, her attention swiftly moves on the floor. The footsteps are approaching her. She turns, knowing it can't be Damien. Her eyebrows knit when the vibration stops. Someone just entered her room, walked towards the closet room and stopped moving. She grabs the dress, a purse and a pearl necklace with earrings. As she opens the door with caution, a person turns and gives a professional smile, " I am Alex! The Butler of this house. The young Master told me to call you downstairs! Ma'am!" Carol tries to read his lips. But from time to time he covers his lips with nervousness. She frowns narrowly. There is no reason for him to cover his face. ** Well! Do you know s
Carol roams around the city, enjoying the new vibe in her life. She visited here when she was in high school for science projects. But she didn't have any memorable collections to feel attracted to come here again. But today, things look different. She has money that she didn't have when she came here the first time. She remembers bringing only five bucks extra to get a sandwich and a glass of water. Since she was so thoughtful of using her grandparents' money, she didn't waste their money at all. She will have her own money and will spend it on her own. But today she missed her grandparents all day long. They were the only people who gave everything to make her smile. But she can't. They'll never return to her life and will enjoy a meal like she always dreamed. Maybe in heaven, she will surely be with them. She glances at her phone. Some messages from Damien about her lunch and whereabouts, some messages from her friends in group chat and some notifications from her assist
When she says goodbye to William who will leave the city tonight, it's already past 4. Even at this moment, she doesn't have the slightest knowledge about her being late to return home. By the time, she starts walking, the wind starts blowing around, and the hint of rain soon appears before her eyes. She hurriedly grabs her phone, decides to send a message for Uber. However, when she opens her phone and glances at the concerned messages from Damien, a rush of regret and panic makes her feel worse. She has forgotten such an important thing. The desire to slap herself hits her mind but before she can do it, the downpour has showered her within a second. She hurriedly rushes towards the café, taking a quick shelter. ' Such a worst timing!' She grunts disappointedly and sends a message to Damien. She apologizes, informing him that she lost track of time and now she is stuck here. Damien reads the messages immediately, making her wonder if he has been waiting for her reply. She rubs he
" She is stressed. She needs to drink more rest and drink plenty of water. She will be fine!" The doctor instructs Damien who looks visibly anxious. James who arrived at the hospital soon after Damien informed him to come here, watches Damien's expression. He is quite shocked but doesn't mention it. Damien showing concern and expression to Carol is nothing new but the genuineness is concerning. He looks genuinely anxious about Carol's wellbeing. " She was stressed. As expected! She has been through a lot after all?" James says, taking the prescription from the doctor. Damien wheels himself out of the doctor's room and enters the room when Carol is resting. She is still sleeping and her arm is connected to an UV drop. " Are you concerned about her?" James asks, closing the door. " She cried!" Damien says, his voice is cold. " Do you think she cried for that bastard?" James takes a glance at Carol whose eyes are still wet. The eyelids are red after crying. " I won't
Next Morning, Grace pulls her car over in front of her small studio that she owns. She has been a successful artist since she was in college and so far she has sold a large amount of masterpieces of her arts and paintings. The keys jiggle in her hand as she takes it out of her purse. Ever since her ex-boyfriend dumped her out of nowhere, she has been depressed. So she hasn't visited for a while. As she grabs her key to unlock the door, her attention goes to the long casting shadow on the door. Her face turns pale, almost freaking out. Her ex-boyfriend is stalking her to give him some money for a while. So it's quite creepy. But soon a voice comes, making her turn her back, " Grace!!! It's Me, Troy!" Grace's frightened expression turns into a furious one as she looks at Troy. He looks awful. The dirty clothes, hair, large eye bags and unshaved face. " What are you doing here?" She looks defensive and on alert. " Sorry! Sorry for coming unannounced. I am just... I need h
It’s late evening, and the house is quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. Everyone left except Carol. She just put Aria in her bed after a long day. Carol is curled up on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, catching up on the day’s events. The soft glow from the screen lights up her face, and she can’t help but smile as she reads a message from her best friend, Eunice. After what felt like a long stretch of tension and uncertainty, Eunice and James have decided to try again—James is back, and it seems like they’re working things out. Carol’s heart swells with happiness for her friend. Just as she leans back, stretching her legs on the couch, the front door opens, and Damien walks in. His shoulders are hunched, his tie slightly loosened, and he looks exhausted. The stress from his day is evident, and he doesn’t even bother to take off his shoes before walking towards the living room. Carol raises an eyebrow, putting her phone down and watching
Aria sits quietly on the couch, her little body curled up into a ball, her plush carrot tightly held against her chest. Her small face is scrunched up, a mixture of confusion and sadness overtaking her usual lively demeanor. She can’t stop thinking about what happened with Julian earlier, and it's hurting her innocence heart more than she’s willing to admit. She is confused why Julian wants to play with someone else when she is playing with him. Damien, noticing his daughter’s silence, looks over at her from the kitchen, where he’s sipping his coffee. His heart clenches at the sight of her pouting face. Aria usually bounces around the house with boundless energy, but today, she’s a shell of her usual self. He places the mug down on the counter and walks over to her. “Hey, kiddo,” he says softly, sitting beside her on the couch. He gently pulls her onto his lap, his big hands rubbing circles on her back as he tries to comfort her. “What’s wrong, princess? Why the long face?” Aria d
The apartment is filled with the sound of the faint rustling of clothes and the occasional thud of a box being moved around. It’s quiet in a way that feels almost suffocating, the air thick with the unspoken tension that has been building for weeks. Since James hasn't been in his company, I couldn't ignore the situation. He wants to stay a few days to travel around the city. However, he has been getting lots of calls from his assistant. I can't let him slack off all day like a lazy ass. I sit cross-legged on the bed, staring at the half-packed suitcase in front of me, my fingers mindlessly folding the clothes I’ve laid out. My thoughts are a jumbled mess, as usual, filled with a thousand things—mostly about what’s coming next, about leaving and starting over, about the future that feels uncertain. But there’s one constant. One person. James. I can feel him watching me from across the room, where he’s leaned lazily against the dresser, arms crossed, his gaze locked onto me
Although I couldn't secure a position in the American branch of my company, for our best interests, James has asked me to work for him in his company. Although it's a new company, Damien has been helping him with lots of projects. We will leave soon. I have resigned my position. The bar is alive with music, the low hum of conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter as glasses clink together in celebration. The air is thick with the scent of alcohol, fried food, and something bittersweet that lingers beneath it all—farewells. My farewell. I should be celebrating. This is my night, after all. A send-off from colleagues who’ve become friends, from a place that’s been my home for years. A place I fought to leave, worked tirelessly to outgrow. But as I sit at the bar, nursing my fourth—or maybe fifth?—drink, there’s a hollow feeling settling deep inside me, like something slipping through my fingers no matter how tightly I try to hold on. Maybe because I acknowledged th
The apartment is unbearably quiet. I sit curled up on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The only sound is the faint hum of the refrigerator, but even that feels distant—like the world outside this room no longer exists. James’s message from last night is still on my phone, the words burning into my mind. "Staying at a hotel tonight. Don’t wait up."He didn’t call. Didn’t ask to talk. Didn’t even ask why. I clutch the blanket around me, my fingers tightening in the fabric. The weight in my chest is suffocating, pressing down like a stone. Sleep never came, only hours of staring at the walls, thinking about the moment he found that ticket—how his expression darkened, how he left without another word. He knows. And I hurt him. The sky outside turns from black to gray, signaling morning, but it doesn’t bring relief. The ache in my chest only deepens. I can’t sit in this silence any longer. My hands tremble as I pick up my phone and d
Eunice, The morning sunlight drapes across the living room, casting a golden warmth over the space. Everything feels too still, too peaceful, as if the world itself is oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. James moves around the kitchen with ease, sleeves rolled up, flipping pancakes like it’s second nature. I watch him, mesmerized by the way he hums under his breath, his presence so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. It should be comforting—this domesticity, this quiet moment between us. But instead, my chest tightens, because I know that soon, everything will change. Since we have returned home, I have been fighting with myself for a decision that I thought was simple a month ago. However, his appearance, me falling in love with him again made that simple decision one of the hardest decisions ever. I haven’t told him yet. “You’re staring,” James teases, his voice smooth, pulling me out of my thoughts. He glances over his shoulder, flashing that boyish grin that u
With a long-suffering sigh, he nods. “Fine. I promise.” Aria beams, hugging him tightly. “Yay! My Julie forever!” Irene smirks, crossing her arms. “We’ll see about that.” Julian groans, rubbing his temples as Aria and Irene continue their tug-of-war over him. He has had enough. “Can you both just stop?!” He snaps finally, his patience finally breaking and wearing off. Especially to Aria who is clinging onto him like a slime. Silence falls. Aria blinks, her grip on his shirt loosening. “J-Julie…?” Her voice is small, uncertain. Julian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Irene, you always mess with me and now her, and Aria, you act like a spoiled kid whenever I talk to anyone else!” His voice is firm, frustrated. “I can be friends with other people! You don’t own me, Aria!” His sharp cold eyes shudders Aria who looks confused with Julian's cold and indifferent gaze. The room suddenly feels too quiet. Aria’s fingers tremble as she stares at him,
Julian narrows his eyes before walking towards the door, " What's their name!?" He asks. " Julie! You got friends. What about me?" She follows him hugging her plush. " I don't know her name but she is here to play with you!" Julian walks downstairs while Aria skips the staircases one after one. " Why do you have friends? I don't have friends. I want to be friends with your friend!" She keeps whining while running towards Julian. " Hi! Julian!" A girl wearing a beautiful dress shyly waves her hand. " I am here to play." " Irene! Why are you here?" Julian asks, frowning a bit. " To play -!" Julian barely takes two steps forward before Aria latches onto his arm, her plush carrot squeezed against her chest like a battle shield. Her big, round eyes lock onto the girl standing before them, her lips pursed in a deep frown. Irene blinks, then smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is this your little sister, Julian?” Aria gasps dramatically, releasing Julian just to s
Two days ago, Julian told her that he hated her for touching his homework. Now she is yet to get over from that shock. Julian barely stirs under the warmth of his blanket, his face half-buried in his pillow. The room is quiet except for the faint rustling of fabric as he tries to sink deeper into sleep. But Aria stands frozen at his bedside, her tiny fists clenched, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He said he hates me…" Her lips tremble, but not from sadness—from determination. She knows Julian better than anyone. He can say all he wants, but the moment she starts crying, he’ll melt like an ice cream cone in the sun. Taking a deep breath, she clenches her plush carrot and prepares for battle. She sniffs. Loudly. A little whimper escapes her lips, followed by another dramatic sniff. Then, with precise control, her lower lip wobbles as she blinks rapidly, allowing fat, glistening tears to pool in her big eyes. Julian shifts slightly under the blanket. She s