The following day arrived, and as planned, Shawn and Mia set off early to visit Grandpa Mandez to wish him a happy birthday. They carried an assortment of gifts, including a carefully hand-knitted sweater that Mia had worked on during late nights in the past few days."Grandfather, this is to keep you warm," Mia said, presenting the sweater as a thoughtful gesture, considering she didn't have money to buy a gift like Shawn did.Grandpa Mandez was genuinely touched by her kindness and promised to wear the sweater always.After sharing breakfast and spending a couple of hours with the elderly man, Shawn and Mia bid their farewell.As they left, Grandpa Mandez fondly stroked the sweater on his lap, commenting, "Such a sweet girl, isn't she?""Yes, Sir," Anderson, who had been standing nearby, agreed with a smile.Mia strolled back towards the mansion, Shawn leading the way, and a gentle smile graced her lips as she watched his figure ahead of her.In the past few days, their paths hadn't
Soon, night fell, marking the start of the birthday party. The event drew a crowd of influential and prestigious personalities, given that the guest of honor was a highly respected figure in the society. Old Master Mandez, along with his father, founded Beats Corporations, and the man had led the company for many years before passing the CEO role to his grandson, Shawn Mandez. His reputation drew people from far and wide to attend the celebration.Shawn's aunt and her family had also traveled early from overseas to join in, adding to the festivities.The ballroom buzzed with lively conversations and happiness as attendees presented their gifts to Old Master Mandez and shared heartfelt speeches about him.Shawn Mandez, however, sought solitude and settled on a couch in a dimly lit corner, secluded away from the bustling crowd, sipping wine as he observed the festivities. Despite his engagement with the celebration, his thoughts continuously drifted back to the girl left behind at home.
Immediately Stella stepped outside Magnificent Events Center, she scanned the entire area but neither her brother nor her sister was in sight.Evans soon joined her outside, standing behind his wife. "They left already," he sensed. "Go fetch the kids; I'll get the car ready."Frowning and biting her lip, Stella rushed back into the party hall, gathered their belongings, and swiftly led the children outside.They’d have to apologize to Old Master Mandez later, for leaving unannounced. The birthday party was already coming to an end, anyways…As soon as they settled into the car, Evans sped away.—————The ride home was silent. Neither the brother nor his sister spoke a word to each other as they were both engrossed in their thoughts.Damien was visibly seething with anger, while Yvonne remained silent, staring out of the window. The night was cold and the weather seemed unfriendly.But as soon as they arrived at the Davis Family’s residence, all the anger Damien had pent up in him burs
A faint smile graced his lips as he pushed open the front door. When Shawn entered, the house was enveloped in silence, and the lounge bathed in dim light. "She must have retired to bed," he surmised, feeling a subtle pang of disappointment.He sighed, fatigue pressing upon him as he made to ascend the stairs. Yet, just as he approached the staircase, his steps faltered. He turned to the side and spotted a frail figure curled up on the couch. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the Little One.Why was she there? He moved closer to the couch, his tall frame looming over her as he observed her in silence.Right at that moment, Madam Susan entered the lounge and took in the scene. She instantly grasped what was going through the Young Master's mind. "Madam insisted on waiting for you here and refused to retire upstairs to sleep..."Without her needing to say more, Shawn already understood. A warm feeling swelled within him."Thank you, Madam Susan. It's late; you should retire for the nig
Stretching as she yawned, Mia grinned sheepishly, slowly opening her eyes to greet the new day. Her night had been so splendid that she even dreamt of sharing a bed with the demi-god. How absurd of her. She knew very well that such a fantasy would remain just that, for centuries to come.Pushing her daydreams aside, she gazed up at the ceiling for a moment, then all of a sudden, her eyes widened in sheer horror.Where was she? How had her white ceiling transformed into grey? Moreover, her room had a faux plaster ceiling, not marble!Swiftly, she sprang up and sat upright, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as she threw the duvet away. This wasn't her room! Her thoughts raced back to the previous day.She had been devastated as she watched Shawn, impeccably dressed, leave the mansion for Grandpa Mandez's birthday banquet.He had been gone for several hours, and all she could do was pass the time by checking the clock repeatedly and occasionally venturing downstairs to see i
After finishing breakfast, Mia swiftly made her way upstairs. The morning encounter with the cold-hearted man had left her yearning for solitude, craving the comfort of her bedsheets. She approached her room and reached for the doorknob, but as much as she turned it, it remained stubbornly locked. Confusion clouded her features until realization dawned.She had moved—no, she had been moved. Into the man's room! Mia stood frozen, the world spinning around her. What should she do now? No more privacy... Sharing a bed with him seemed like a nightmare, and her imagination immediately began to run wild."Madam," Madam Susan's voice brought her back to reality.She blinked away her sorrows and turned to face the older woman. "Yes?""Please," Madam Susan gestured towards Shawn's bedroom door, and Mia's heart sank as she met its gaze. Slowly, she reluctantly shuffled towards it, with Madam Susan and a couple of maids following closely behind.Once inside, Mia stood awkwardly, watching Madam S
Shawn and Mia spent the entire day in their bedroom, working on arithmetic problems. Mia couldn't deny that the man was impressive. Was there anything he wasn't good at in the world? He was just too perfect!The way he explained complex problems in such a simple manner and guided her through solving them like a piece of cake made Mia wonder where he had been all her life. His patience and kindness made her forget all that had happened in the morning. She had been mistaken.There was no way the man sitting beside her, teaching her, could be cold-hearted. Her previous assumptions had misled her. The issue must have been with her, not him. She was the problem, not the charming man.Shawn nodded and gently patted Little One’s head, placing the book he held down. "You did well."Seated in close proximity, Mia could feel his minty breath gently brushing her face as he spoke, "Let's call it a day here. We'll pick up tomorrow."As he got up and started walking toward the bathroom, Mia snappe
The following day arrived, and since Mia had been engrossed in her studies the previous day, she hadn't been able to visit the hospital. After having breakfast, she swiftly made her way there.Meanwhile, Shawn left for his undercover job, but before he departed, he glanced at the calendar. That day was here once again… This caused his mood to dampen.After her visit to the hospital, Mia returned home and cheerfully announced, "I'm home, everyone!" She quickly changed into indoor flip-flops, raced upstairs to change her clothes, and in no time, she was out of the house again.For a while, she had been admiring the garden from her window, hoping to go down there someday. And now she had finally decided to explore it. Someday was that day. Brimming with excitement, she made her way to the back of the mansion, venturing there for the first time since she had moved in.As she entered the sprawling garden, her eyes widened with wonder at the vibrant display of flowers and the lush greenery
Jennifer Mandez smiled, observing the girl's downcast expression as she joined her side. She gently took off her gloves and cradled Mia's cheeks in her palms."Be free with me, Mia. I'm your mother as well. I held that title before I resumed being Shawn's mother," she chuckled.She paused briefly before continuing, "I want you to forgive me for hurting you. I apologize sincerely. Now, I know better. You're a rare gem, and I wouldn't want Sunshine to be with anyone but you."Mia's eyes widened, "Does that mean we have your blessing to proceed…?"She nodded, grinning."Thank you, Mom!" The girl squeaked happily, and they embraced in a tight, warm hug.“Now, we have to start preparing for the wedding. The date’s just around the corner.”She nodded and they both returned back inside.Soon, the wedding day arrived. Despite the commonality of extravagant weddings among the wealthy, Shawn and Mia's celebration stood out for its simplicity. Only a select few family and friends were invited, a
Shawn's lips tightened. "I believe you," he paused, "however, it's not you that I was referring to; it's the person behind you."‘Huh?’ Amanda's tears ceased instantly, and she swiftly turned to look behind her, as did everyone else.Anderson.Confusion swept through the room."You sending provoking pictures to Yvonne, making her rush back to the country... I was initially going to let you be. However, things changed after discovering you were the one who instigated the accident three years ago. And then you completely crossed the line by sending me those absurd threat messages," Shawn's icy voice confronted Anderson.Anderson stood, clearly taken aback. He hadn't anticipated Shawn's discovery to be so soon. He usually covered his tracks meticulously…“Why? After all these years working for Grandfather, why engage in such actions?” Shawn's brows furrowed deeply.Anderson chuckled. There was nothing to hide anymore, so why not come out clean? “Exactly. I've toiled for the old geezer fo
Upon arriving home, Shawn tenderly lifted his wife and placed her in their bedroom; she had fallen asleep during the ride. Delicately, he undressed her and tucked her into bed, taking a moment to remove her makeup with beauty wipes.As he disposed of the used wipes, Mia's phone started ringing on the nightstand. Without hesitation, he picked it up and noticed that the caller ID was unknown. He answered the call and brought the phone to his ear."Mia, I apologize. It's all my fault. Please, let's reconcile and go back to how we used to be."Upon hearing those words from the caller, Shawn's brows furrowed in irritation. Without uttering a word, he promptly ended the call. 'Dimwit.' As he placed the phone back on the stand, his thumb inadvertently pressed the photos app and opened it.He perched on the edge of the bed, smiling as he scrolled through the pictures on the girl’s phone. Soon, he stumbled upon an unexpected image—none other than a picture of himself, Shawn Mandez. In it, he
Veronica observed, sipping her cocktail, "Ah, so you two are acquainted." She taunted Martha, "Give this cocktail a try; after all, you seem to enjoy coveting what doesn't belong to you."Martha, a hint of fear in her voice, responded quickly, "Um, I don't know him."Veronica clicked her tongue in irritation, shaking her head at Martha's facade. How could she have been so blind to see the girl’s true color all these while?Everyone eyed the person who had just stepped in with confused expressions on their faces. The boy seemed to be around their age, however, he wasn’t familiar at all. He didn't bear the hallmarks of someone from their high school."Who's he?""No idea.""Recognize him?""Not at all."Veronica smiled, reassuring them, "Relax, everyone. You're about to meet him now."Martha's heart raced, fear escalating within her.Veronica turned to the newcomer, asking, "Tell us who you are and what brings you here."The guy's eyes shifted, locking onto Martha. "I'm Jason, Martha's
"Vicky Lewis!" Gasps echoed through the room as all eyes fixated on the newcomer.Mia was also taken aback to see her. She hadn't crossed paths with Vicky since she was expelled from high school, making tonight's encounter unexpected. Instinctively, an uneasy feeling settled within her.Was she here to bully her?However, Mia wasn't alone in her discomfort. Another individual seemed to be grappling with an even stronger sense of unease in response to Vicky's presence.'Why is she here? How did she manage to appear?' Martha gnawed on her lip, nearly drawing blood.After the girl's family faced bankruptcy and her father was incarcerated, Martha believed it spelled the end for Vicky Lewis.Despite Vicky’s persistent calls and attempts to connect, she remained indifferent, never acknowledging her.Long ago, she'd blocked her contact when her incessant calls became irritating. She wasn't responsible for her father's corruption or having a baby mama. She hadn't urged her to bully Mia to the
Upon entering the venue, a chorus of admiration erupted as Martha made her presence known.“You're as dazzling as ever, Martha.”“Your skin is positively radiant.”“Share your beauty secrets with us.”In a chic caramel knee-length dress beautified with subtle floral patterns, paired with classic silver heels, she exuded elegance. A silver necklace firmly adorned on her neck added a touch of poise, creating a simple yet tasteful look for the one-month school reunion.Martha waved her hand dismissively, cheeks turning a rosy hue as she blushed at the compliments pouring in. “Oh, come on, you guys. Enough about me. You all look fantastic yourselves,” she chuckled, taking her seat."Ah, I know. Max is treating her well.""Trueeee!" The collective cooing echoed.Martha simply giggled. "He'll be joining us shortly also.""Thank goodness that Mia girl didn't succeed back then," remarked one of Martha's ex-classmates, and the rest nodded in agreement.Martha's expression dropped upon hearing
"I'll leave now, and never cross your path again."Shawn stood in silence, observing the girl. Without warning, he marched towards the mini lounge, retrieving a lighter from the center table.Returning to Mia, he set ablaze the documents held in his grasp before one could comprehend what was about to happen.Mia let out an immediate shriek, her eyes widening in sheer horror. "What are you—?""You are mistaken. We're eternally linked—bound forever," Shawn calmly muttered as ashes drifted to the floor.Mia blinked rapidly at him."With that resolved, let's head downstairs for dinner. It’s late," he said, changing from his robe into more casual attire.Mia remained rooted in place, her heart burdened and fatigued. "But I don't belong here... your betro—""That's not your concern, Little One. We're married. Legally married. Are you willing to discard that for a meaningless contract?"She frowned at his words.Shawn's mouth twitched as he took her hand, guiding her downstairs to the dining
Three years prior,As an intern, Charlotte found herself working late into the night on this particular day. Upon completing her tasks at B.Y TV building, she headed out. As she walked down the road, a young man approached her."Miss, Master Davis would like to see you. Please, come with me."Upon hearing this, Charlotte felt a mix of surprise and anticipation.The Davis family had consistently opposed her relationship with Damien, and the reasons remained a mystery to her. Perhaps, they were here to reconcile with her. That was her initial assumption.She promptly followed the man to the car, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she got in."Uncle, Aunt," she bowed politely.Master Davis and his wife cast disdainful glances at the girl.“The reason we summoned you today is straightforward,” Madam Davis spoke. “Sever ties with our son. We don't want you for him.”Upon hearing the woman's heart-wrenching words, a wave of sadness engulfed Charlotte. "Wh-why? Did I do something wron
Stella and her younger siblings were bewildered to see Madam Mandez. She was meant to be deceased—three years prior, they attended her burial ceremony. How was it possible for her to stand before them now?Their astonishment outweighed any excitement, rendering them unable to leap towards her in joy at the unexpected reunion after several years. Was she a ghost?"Master Davis, Madam Davis," Jennifer greeted with a subtle smile, gesturing for the visitors to take their seats.Madam Davis closed the gap between them, taking Jennifer's hands in hers and patting them comfortingly. "It must have been challenging for you these past few years. Are you alright?"She and her husband had learnt that the woman didn’t die in the accident and had been in a coma all these while, only waking up recently…Jennifer Mandez nodded, "I'm fine, thank you, Natasha. Please, take your seat."Madam Davis nodded and then took her seat beside her husband.“It’s good to see you're doing well. However, we've come