Freya's driver brought the car to a stop in front of Desmond’s mansion. The towering estate stood firm, silhouetted against the deep orange evening sky, staring back at Freya through the car window.She exhaled slowly, glancing at Noah, who sat stiffly beside her, his wide eyes glued to the mansion and his lips pressed into a thin line. The tension between them was palpable.Though she had grown used to Desmond's outbursts, the thought of his reaction to their 24-hour disappearance unsettled her."You ready?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.Noah nodded, his movements jerky and uncertain. "Will Daddy Desmond be...mad?" he whispered.Freya forced a reassuring smile. "I don’t know, sweetheart," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "But whatever happens, stay close to me, okay?""Okay," Noah murmured, his voice barely audible.She reached over and squeezed his hand, drawing strength from the bond they shared. Then, steeling herself, she opened the
Freya's eyes got big with shock as she froze, her gaze transfixed on the TV screen. She felt her heart skip a beat as she witnessed the awful scene on air. “...the most awaited moment in the world of entertainment. Here we have Monica Holland and her finally revealed lover, Desmond July, kissing openly on the red carpet just yesterday in Hollywood! What a sight to see! Who would have thought Monica was in such a serious relationship with a man who is no stranger in the world of business tycoons…” Freya's shoulders shuddered, and she quivered like she had been standing outside in the snow for hours. Her lips barely moved as she breathed a silent “No”, shaking her head forcefully. A single teardrop, like a shiny pearl, crawled out of her eye down her cheek. Shivers were sent down her spine and she finally gave up standing and dropped dramatically to the floor. “Mom!” From a hidden corner in the living room, her eight-year-old son who had been silently watching her distress, ran
"Move aside!” Freya staggered like a toddler taking his first steps as Desmond pushed her to the side aggressively. “I just got back from a hectic trip and the welcome I get is you standing in my way and staring at me like I'm the reason for your misery. Get me something to eat. I'm so hungry”, Desmond ordered and marched majestically into the house, pulling his small travel box behind him and ignoring the poor Freya who had bumped her head into the wall due to his rough push. Noah, whose eyes watched the little drama in horror, took a few steps backwards away from his monstrous looking father. “Little boy, get me a glass of water!” Desmond snapped as he fell lazily on the couch and tugged on his tie aggressively. He roughly tossed his luggage aside. Noah shook his head adamantly and fled to his room, ignoring Desmond's order. “Noah!” He fumed, turning his head to see Noah run off. “Desmond! How dare you!” Freya exclaimed suddenly, like she had just regained her consciou
4:30 amFreya grasped Noah's little hand tightly, hauling him along with her.A few steps more and they were gone from the dungeon which Desmond had originally referred to as a home. With her other hand, Freya held a small saddle bag while Noah's favorite clothes could all fit into his little backpack, luckily. She also carried a small handbag along which she hung on her shoulder.Before advancing further, Freya stopped abruptly and turned around to take the final glance at her soon-to-be ex husband's gigantic mansion. The enormous white pearly building stood tall and majestic in the early morning moonlight and stared down at her as if judging her for summoning up courage to finally leave it.“I'll miss this house”, Noah finally spoke up on seeing his mother steadily regard their house for an awkward amount of seconds.Freya let out a dense sigh as she looked down at her tender son. The innocence engraved in his facial expression captured and softened her heart. “Yeah. But we're ne
"I'm Diego. Sorry I didn't introduce myself properly”.Diego offered a handshake, a gesture of courtesy, and Freya, still reeling from her recent misfortune, hesitated briefly before extending her hand, her fingers meeting his in a cautious grasp. “Can I get your name as well, hope you don't mind?”Freya regarded the strange man called Diego with utmost curiosity aiming at getting a clue on what he was all about.His jet-black longish hair and gray eyes, accompanied by his strong jawline, blended excellently well, working hand in hand to give him a majestic and handsome appearance.“Freya”, she replied stiffly, looking away from his steady gaze.Diego, sensing her discomfort and likely shyness, let out a brief, warm chuckle, his vibrations conveying a gentle understanding.Freya scowled at him, wondering what was laugh-inducing in that arena asides her being in a pathetic state.“I know exactly how you feel. Don't worry, your belongings will be tracked down in no time. My friend here
"Imelda”, Freya's soft voice called out and she wrapped her college friend in a warm embrace as soon as she opened the door for them.Noah's eyes wandered, his attention flagging as his mom and her friend shared a warm but overly long hug.“Freya! So good to see you once again. Please come in!” Imelda, Freya's college friend, welcomed her into the house with a warm hand gesture.With an awkward grasp, Freya clutched Noah's hand as they stepped into the house of their new host, their facial expressions etched with uncertainty. They paused in the living room, reluctant to take their seats on the couch, their bodies tense with unease.“Please, have a seat. You're welcome to my house. Freya, who's this little boy?” Imelda asked immediately, her tone laced with curiosity. Freya and Noah sat together on a couch with Noah snuggling tightly into Freya's arms. He clutched the sleeve of her blouse and Freya could tell that his shyness was kicking in."He's my son," Freya replied curtly, her to
Freya hesitated briefly before responding to Diego, surprised by his eagerness to hear her voice again so soon after their first meeting.“Hi”, Freya said awkwardly, taking her seat gently on the bed.“I have news concerning your “bag thief”. She's been taken into custody by the authorities. Your luggage has been retrieved and I'd like you to come get them at the police station.”Freya's heart lifted with relief and gratitude as she met Diego's help with a deep sigh of appreciation, her eyes glittering with a warm smile.“Oh my goodness, thank you so much. I didn't expect this to happen so fast. I'm really grateful, sir”, she said in a high pitched tone that betrayed her happiness.“It's nothing. I just want to know where you are now so that I can come pick you up. Then we could go to the station together. Would that be okay?” Diego's soothing baritone voice pierced through her eardrums.Freya's pause afterwards was a fleeting moment of uncertainty, as if trying to make a major decisi
Diego flung open the car door and held it open for Freya to alight with a gallant gesture, his arm extended in a majestic invitation as a warm, radiant smile spread across his face. “Please ma'am, could you step out like the queen that you are?” He murmured, his deep voice gentle and sincere, and his eyes burning with warmth, as he stretched out a hand of assistance towards her. Freya's initial moody countenance crumbled, her amusement bubbling up as she succumbed to the charm of Diego's unexpected complement. Her lips curved into a sweet smile, revealing her amusement. “Queen?” She laughed cheerfully, as she teased him about his cheesy remark. Diego's face lit up with a pleased smile, his eyes glowing with delight, as he basked in the joy of having forced a smile out of her. With a broad lingering grin spread across her face, Freya slowly placed her hand in Diego's, and he assisted her out of the car with tender care. Afterwards, Diego shut the door behind her with a soft c
Freya's driver brought the car to a stop in front of Desmond’s mansion. The towering estate stood firm, silhouetted against the deep orange evening sky, staring back at Freya through the car window.She exhaled slowly, glancing at Noah, who sat stiffly beside her, his wide eyes glued to the mansion and his lips pressed into a thin line. The tension between them was palpable.Though she had grown used to Desmond's outbursts, the thought of his reaction to their 24-hour disappearance unsettled her."You ready?" she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.Noah nodded, his movements jerky and uncertain. "Will Daddy Desmond be...mad?" he whispered.Freya forced a reassuring smile. "I don’t know, sweetheart," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair out of his face. "But whatever happens, stay close to me, okay?""Okay," Noah murmured, his voice barely audible.She reached over and squeezed his hand, drawing strength from the bond they shared. Then, steeling herself, she opened the
10:30 PM The event had come to an end, and guests were trickling out in large numbers, leaving the venue abuzz with faint remnants of laughter and conversation.Desmond stood near the entrance, scanning the thinning crowd for Freya and Noah. His jaw tightened, a knot of unease forming in his chest as neither of them appeared. He had been searching for the two of them ever since the event drew to a close but to no avail.“Where are they?” he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting across the room. Freya’s sudden disappearance felt deliberate, a silent defiance that only added fuel to the growing fire of his rage.How could she leave her own event like that without supervising its conclusion? And how dare she not tell him where she was going?He moved purposefully through the venue, his commanding presence making the staff glance nervously his way. Each one he passed offered polite nods and smiles, but none dared to stop him as he searched every corner. The restrooms, the bar, the
The event had finally begun to wind down, the last notes of music fading away as the guests began to disperse. Freya felt the weight of the evening pressing on her shoulders, evident in her tired eyes and robotic movements. Smiling and thanking the guests had taken its toll, and she needed a moment to herself. Quietly excusing herself from Noah and a few other guests, she slipped away from the main room, heading toward the restroom at the far end of the hallway.Her heels clicked softly against the polished floor, the sounds of the celebration fading behind her. She let out a slow breath, grateful for the brief relief.But just as she turned a corner, she stopped dead in her tracks, stunned.Diego was walking toward her, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his steps unhurried. The soft lighting of the hallway highlighted the familiar features of his face—his sharp jawline, the kind warmth in his eyes, and the faint trace of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.Freya fr
The main event began and Freya mounted the podium, a wide smile plastered on her face. The soft murmur of the crowd faded as the spotlight centered on her. She stood tall, her posture exuding confidence, yet her expression carried a quiet intensity. She adjusted the microphone, glancing briefly at the audience, where dozens of faces waited expectantly.Diego sat with Noah at the table in the front row which Freya had reserved specially for them. Freya's driver had brought Noah to the event quite late, but just in time for her speech.Noah was very happy to see Diego once again. He was more glad to know he was still in touch with his mom—being at the event proved that.They had a little father-and-son bonding time before Freya mounted the stage. Diego was especially grateful he was given a chance to see Noah again. He couldn't contain his happiness, which was evident in his wide grin.However, Desmond was seated away from the front row—Freya had arranged it that way. She had reserved t
Freya's gaze softened, and her heart fluttered in her chest as happiness warmed her entire being. He made it eventually—Diego honored her invitation. Even if he didn't show up at her event, she wouldn't hold it against him. He had every right to be mad at her. Yet, he showed up and her pleasure showed outwardly in a soft, subtle smile. Diego didn't mirror her smile, his expression still neutral. However, there was a hint of warmth in his eyes that Freya didn't miss. He didn't take his eyes off her, his gaze unwavering as if he were under a spell.Just in time, Desmond’s disdainful voice broke Freya out of her reverie. “Look what we have here. I see Diego decided to grace us with his presence. Bold of him, considering the circumstances.”Freya’s eyes suddenly darted to Desmond, a hateful intensity in their depths. Her expression switched from soft to cold in an instant. Her pulse quickened, but she tried to maintain her composure. “He was invited,” she replied icily. “He’s a valued s
The atmosphere after Imelda's departure was now tense. And Freya seemed to have lost her smile. She sat in a corner, cradling a glass of champagne in her hands but not taking a single sip. The P.A she had recently hired, by the name Kira, approached her, wondering why she was staring blankly into space when she should be getting ready for the night.“Freya!” she called out, a mix of surprise and confusion etched on her face. “What's the matter?”Freya snapped out of her thoughts, her expression turning professional. She looked up at her P.A, forcing a faint smile.“Just wanted to have a drink. Let's go,” Freya said calmly, rising to her feet.Just before she could take a step, she caught a glimpse of someone at the entrance and halted abruptly.Desmond had just arrived.Freya didn't flinch or react, she simply stared Desmond down, her piercing tawny eyes boring into his soul.As Desmond walked in, flanked by his bodyguards, his domineering presence commanded the room and attracted at
The grand opening of Freya’s new restaurant finally arrived after a few weeks of anticipation and it was nothing short of spectacular. The venue radiated sophistication—elegant chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, while the earthy tones of the decor created a welcoming yet refined atmosphere. Every detail, from the artfully plated dishes to the melodic hum of a live jazz band, spoke of Freya’s sophisticated taste. The luxurious space, decked in modern elegance, buzzed with excitement and expectation. Guests entered in a steady stream, their laughter and murmurs of admiration filling the room. Society’s elites, dressed in sophisticated attires, mingled effortlessly and clinked champagne glasses, each one vying for Freya’s attention as they extended their congratulations. This was Freya’s night, a hard-earned triumph she had gotten through hard work and heartbreak. However, tonight, the crowd wasn’t just here to celebrate her success. They were also here to observe, to judge
The boardroom of Hunter Global Enterprises was filled with the sharp sound of clicking pens, murmurs of conversation, and the rustling of papers as Diego walked in.Diego stepped into the center, his back straight and his face set in a mask of stoic professionalism.His demeanor was composed, yet his eyes held a hint of uncertainty and discomfort. His company's board of directors suddenly called a board meeting without specifying the details. The board members, a sea of stern faces and expensive suits, glanced up from their notes, acknowledging Diego's presence.Their collective gaze was fixed intensely on Diego, throwing him off balance. Diego threw his gaze away, but his expression remained stoic to prove he wasn't intimidated.As Diego sat down, his eyes scanned the board members’ faces, hoping to fish out the reason for the meeting from their expressions.For a moment, the room fell silent, with the eyes of the board members shifting between each other as if silently calculating
The warm, familiar aroma of roasted garlic, simmering sauces, freshly baked bread and the hum of chatter and clinking dishes greeted Freya as she pushed open the glass door of Bayside Bistro. A bell above the entrance jingled softly, announcing her arrival. It was mid-afternoon, and the restaurant was alive with activity: waitstaff gliding between tables, patrons laughing over glasses of wine, and the distant clatter of pots and pans echoing from the kitchen.Freya paused in the doorway, taking it all in. This place was her first step to success, a constant reminder of her triumph, how she had won the breakthrough cooking contest. She had poured her heart into her work here, finding a sense of purpose. Now, she was back to say goodbye. Returning to resign from her position there felt bittersweet, but it was necessary. It was all for the best.She began walking towards the kitchen, to see her soon-to-be ex-colleagues. But she halted abruptly, realizing it was better to see the manag