"Muffins?" Aunt Rosemary blinked, surprised when Amanda appeared in the kitchen and said she wanted to make muffins."Yes. You have all the ingredients in the kitchen, right? I want blueberry muffins." Moving past Aunt Rosemary who was standing next to the dining table, Amanda opened the entire refrigerator door to check the ingredients. "No blueberries?" She turned to look at Aunt Rosemary."We don't have any, Miss. If you had said earlier, or last night—someone would have come out to buy them, so sorry there are no blueberries."Amanda smiled flatly, she made Aunt Rosemary feel guilty. "It's okay, it's no big deal, there are other meals that can be made. It's my fault for not mentioning it earlier, sorry for being so abrupt, Auntie.""How about lemon cake? Or red velvet?"Amanda looked back at the contents of the refrigerator, there were indeed a lot of strawberries and a few lemons, although there were other fruits, but they were not suitable for cake batter."Eum, maybe lemon cake
Amanda moved restlessly even though her eyelids were tightly closed, and it was already one o'clock in the morning, but whatever it was continued to make her feel uncomfortable. She occasionally rubbed her ears and the nape of her neck as she felt different air touching her there.The air conditioner was always on except when Amanda needed some natural air through the large window in her room, she couldn't bear the restlessness, so she opened her eyes slowly, making the woman freeze when she found someone had flanked Amanda's legs while removing the t-shirt from his body, then throwing it on the floor.The man bent his knees and leaned back to touch Amanda's face with a warm smile.She closed her eyes again and swallowed, knowing she was imagining, or perhaps dreaming, a moment too crazy to face in reality.However, Amanda was wrong, the disturbance was even more uncontrollable because it touched the face, making the woman speak. "This dream is too real, why would a dream like this co
After a heated argument with Oriaga last night, the woman was even more convinced of herself and her desire to get out of this mansion. She felt very grateful that there was not a single CCTV installed in the mansion, so no guards were watching her movements from afar.Amanda felt she had to apologize to Aunt Rosemary that her intentions that day were limited to taking advantage, leading Amanda to find the key to the metal door near the gazebo.Although she had to walk quite a distance to the storeroom located in the corner of the southern hallway, her fatigue was rewarded when Amanda managed to re-enter the room, paying close attention to many of the details she had passed through yesterday."I got the key to freedom." There was no hesitation as the woman's hand opened the glass door containing the many keys, she quickly pulled out the key she had been eyeing since yesterday and tucked it into her pajama pocket. "I hope no one saw me enter this room, they shouldn't have, I woke up ea
Amanda stayed awake tonight, she saw that the shorthand of the clock in her room had reached eleven. All the servants in the mansion should be asleep, she hoped they were lying comfortably in their beds.Amanda was silent for a long time as she sat on her bed, but now she got up as she magnified her intention to escape. She had stashed a few bills in her sweater pocket along with the key to the metal door, and a flashlight in her hand.She briefly pulled back the curtains near the balcony, making sure the gatekeeper was inside the post."It should be safe, shouldn't it?" Amanda snorted, her heart pounding. "I'm getting so nervous as if I'm about to face a difficult graduation exam, but being able to leave here is the hardest test." She snorted.Amanda moved out of the room, she closed the door slowly so that no sound could be heard, then took off her shoes and walked in bare feet before entering the elevator.The atmosphere on the main floor was very dark as almost all the lighting ha
Oriaga is very grateful to the police in Russia for moving quickly to arrest Vladimir Chriskov in his hiding place after Oriaga confirmed that the man was the perpetrator of stealing designs from its fashion brand.The day after arriving in Moscow, he went to the police station with his lawyer, Joana, and several other people. Oriaga wanted to see Vladimir immediately, he was curious about the reason behind the theft—in all the time Vladimir had worked at Gregorious, he had never been in trouble with anyone, and he had no red marks on his performance.Is it true that Vladimir stole because he wanted to make a scene in his monotonous life?As the lawyer and his assistants brought out the latest evidence in front of the police, Oriaga stepped aside to a different area, he sat outside a room, more precisely a special room for prisoners when they had to meet their guests, and Oriaga waited for Vladimir's appearance.A warden from a different direction appeared while holding the figure of
"Did you contact Mr. Oriaga?" Freddie, the mansion's gatekeeper had been asking the same question since last night, and it was nine in the morning in Amsterdam.Zayn shook his head, but he remained lost in thought as he swallowed. The man's cell phone had drifted away as its owner tried to rescue Amanda to the nearby coastline when she jumped off the cliff.Zayn's mind was in overdrive, everything felt rumbling and scary, and there were a lot of problems clustered like an army in his head, making it quite difficult for the man to get rid of.Freddie snorted, he sat beside Zayn who was faithfully waiting for Amanda in front of the woman's hospital room, they had been at the hospital since last night because it was impossible to keep Amanda at the mansion when her body's reaction confirmed the alert status."I know what you're thinking, but you should—""No. Mr. Oriaga must be very busy taking care of all his problems in Moscow, I don't want to disturb him because of this," Zayn said, h
Amanda made it through her critical period, she had regained consciousness and was being treated by medical staff. She asked the nurse about the whereabouts of her family, but she got a puzzling answer when the nurse said that there was a frontman."There are no parents here?"The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, Miss. There has been no visit from your parents since yesterday, or did they not know you were here?"Amanda shook her head, she didn't have an answer to that question, so the nurse said goodbye before getting out of there.Zayn was still sitting silently in front of Amanda's ward, he was grateful that she had finally come to her senses, Zayn's fears had subsided, but he was still hesitant to see Amanda. Why should Zayn be the one feeling the most confused here?The man let out a long breath, he moved on as he stared at the door of the hospital room opposite. No matter what happened Zayn had to remain professional, Amanda was the wife of Oriaga, the man who had employed and
After almost three days in the hospital, today the doctor allowed Amanda to go home, and on the way to the mansion woman kept silent, never engaging Zayn in conversation or responding to his questions after the morning's argument. Amanda had a big disappointment with Zayn, so her attitude had changed.The situation in the car became more awkward than before, although Zayn occasionally glanced at Amanda's condition through the overhead mirrors, he could only grumble in response to Oriaga's wife's silence. Zayn realized that his strict adherence to Oriaga's rules must have disappointed others, especially Amanda.After the car stopped in the courtyard of the mansion, Zayn immediately got out and opened the door for Amanda, the woman came out without looking at Zayn, all the servants welcomed Amanda's return using their faces of emotion and anxiety that had been held back for days."Miss Amanda, you're finally back. We were so frightened and anxious." Aunt Rosemary's voice represents the
"Immediately prepare the data of all office employees with contracts that are about to expire at the end of this year, Joana. The data should be ready by the time I get to the office, probably in an hour due to the situation outside. Thank you." Oriaga put his phone back after ending the call.The three were in the car, still halfway to the mansion. As Zayn was driving was deliberately slowed down to keep up with the clearing of the surrounding snow piles.Zayn deliberately set the music to make the atmosphere in the car less quiet because since the pair of humans sat in the passenger seat, they were united in silence as if there was a cold war."Sir. Do we have to return home after taking Miss Amanda to the mansion?" Zayn asked as he glanced at the overhead mirrors, confirming the situation behind him."No, no. It's too time-consuming. I have a few changes of clothes in the office.""Alright.""Do you want to buy anything before arriving at the mansion?"The question had not been rea
"What were you guys talking about that you only came back to this room near midnight? You seem to have a lot of energy."Amanda snorted as she stared irritably at the gray-shirted man on the bed. She thought Oriaga had fallen asleep since leaving the living room about two hours earlier, while Amanda had joined her family to relieve her longing."Although I have little energy, I will try to make the most of my time when it comes to my family." Amanda sat on the edge of the bed, her back to her husband."Yes, of course, you can only see them when I give you the chance."Amanda made no sound. She lay in the space beside Oriaga as she pulled up the blanket. She didn't want to face the man, so she tilted her body to the right."You're going to ignore me?""You ignore me a lot, Oriaga. Don't overdo it.""Exaggerate? I very rarely even lie beside you.""It's not my fault, you did it. I've always been lying in the mansion's bed at your convenience while you chose to sleep elsewhere.""You're
Amanda was all smiles from the moment she stepped back into her parents' home, receiving a warm welcome, and it was fortunate that Nadine had returned to work as soon as she could after receiving word from Mateo that her sister would be visiting.If there had been no such news, Nadine would most likely have approached Rudolf at his coffee shop to help her lover."Mom, I have a gift for you," Oriaga said as he took something out of his coat pocket before removing it: a blue jewelry box with the 'Gregorious' emblem on the top. He placed it on the table right in front of Pamela.About five people sat on the sofa by the lit fireplace, the atmosphere becoming quite warm as the light in the sky dimmed."What is this, Oriaga?" Pamela grabbed the object and opened it, and she was quite surprised to find a bracelet with several pearls around it, very pretty and luxurious. "Oh my! This must be expensive.""Is it the latest collection from your brand?" asked Nadine.Oriaga shook his head. "No, i
"I want to go back to work.""Work?" Pamela was surprised to hear her husband's wish. "Why go back to work? Don't we have enough to live for?""Yes. I know." The man grunted as he leaned back on the sofa—they were sitting by the dying fireplace. "Your son-in-law did guarantee our lives, even paid all the debts, but don't you think if one-day Oriaga announces his marriage to everyone, they will ask, 'Who is that man married to? What is her family background?' do you know what I mean, Pamela?"The wife paused, then snorted as she understood the meaning of Mateo's words. "It seems like this could cause a bit of trouble.""Right, aside from the judgment of others, I also want to protect my daughter from anyone's evil words. Although I'm sure Oriaga is taking good care of her, there's still a bit of guilt when I remember why Amanda had to get married."Mateo thought back to the past. If it weren't for the massive debt, he probably wouldn't have accepted Pamela's decision for Amanda to marr
"You know a guy named Jeff pretty well, huh?"Amanda didn't budge, as her husband was visiting the mansion in the middle of the night for the winter. In other people's homes, they choose to rest or watch thrilling romance movies, but at the mansion, a man named Oriaga Niel Thompson is trying to harass his wife.Amanda is already asleep and is forced to wake up due to Oriaga's relentless harassment, causing her to almost punch him in the face.Now, Amanda had to stand facing Oriaga in the library, and the opening question was enough to make Amanda understand the annoying situation."Why not answer it, Amanda?"The woman exhaled harshly, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm sure you already know the answer, so why ask, huh?""I have the right to say anything.""How ridiculous. You woke me up to ask about Jeff, huh?""Again, I have the right to say anything. After all, this is my house. I also have the right to disturb anyone, including you.""I hate to hear such strange rules.""Seco
Oriaga had examined some of the latest jewelry designs submitted by the three Gregorious jewelry designers. Still, the man had not shown any satisfaction with the images on the table, either because he had not found the best or was influenced by something else.It was a good thing he was alone in the CEO's office, so he wasn't asked to comment on the designs because Oriaga didn't have a definitive answer yet, his mind like a ship adrift in the middle of the ocean. Thanks to Amanda's words this morning, he was not eager to work.He collected all the design papers and intended to put them in a drawer. He could review the designs tomorrow or the day after before commenting on their flaws or satisfaction. Still, after pulling out the drawer and finding Amanda's cell phone, Oriaga's attention was distracted.He put the design paperback on the table and took out Amanda's cell phone, which had been stored there for months. He immediately connected the object to a powerbank. When the cell pho
Amanda exhaled harshly when she looked in the mirror before the sink and found several kiss marks around her chest and neck. The man was being quite brutal, more than usual, making Amanda feel tortured even though it wasn't violent.She quickly took off her entire towel kimono before soaking in the bathtub filled with soothing, warm water. At least this room was the best reason for Amanda to secure herself. If Oriaga woke up, the man would immediately repeat their hot activities like a hyper while his wife had given up.It was now close to midnight, and Amanda ventured into the bath as the snow piled up more and more outside."That man should go home. I don't want him to stay here, and all my joints are aching from the pressure of Oriaga. What's gotten into him like that, huh?" She complained even if she said it in front of Oriaga, he wouldn't care; he was just obsessed with Amanda's body.She hadn't realized that someone had woken up and searched for her while feeling the bed's surfa
Amanda's feelings became anxious after Oriaga ended their video call. Although his expression was flat when he spotted it, intonation was enough to emphasize that the man was angry, even though Amanda had not shown the final part of the lingerie that she had cut out carelessly.Amanda swallowed; from the beginning, she realized that she had challenged Oriaga, but when the man answered her challenge—it caused a different kind of anxiety, and Amanda didn't like the way she felt.She lowered the lingerie box from the top of the closet, double-checked, put the item back, then double-checked. She kept doing this because the confusion, as the saying goes, 'rice has become porridge,' fit Amanda's anxiety perfectly.Time passed, and it became dark. All the lights in the mansion were bright, including Amanda's room, but she still couldn't shake off the anxiety. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the lingerie box on the surface of the dressing table."What else am I supposed to do with
The man wasn't lying, and he sent many things to the mansion the day after visiting his wife. Many boxes piled up in the main room, making Amanda angry at her husband's behavior.What looked like a variety of gifts from many people, and damn those items were from luxury brands. Amanda regretted she should have insisted that Oriaga buy something ordinary so that she could wear it without thinking about the price."Miss. Should we move all these boxes to your room?" asked one maid among the other two; they witnessed Amanda getting frustrated."I don't know." The woman sat down on the sofa, supporting her chin with her hands as she stared at the pile of multicolored boxes. "Why would he buy this much stuff, huh? It's too much, and he could have used the money to donate to an orphanage or something.""But, Miss. Isn't Mr. Oriaga a regular donor at an orphanage?" A servant interjected as Amanda spoke to herself."Really? Where is it?""I'm sorry, Miss. But, we don't know enough about it."