Freya stole a worried glance at Noah, who was utterly absorbed in his toy, completely oblivious to the weight of their difficult circumstances. She exhaled a disheartened sigh, fearing that he might be growing weary of their challenging life. They had been sitting for hours under a roadside bench shelter, Freya trying to calculate their next move, her mind racing with possibilities and scenarios. Despite having reassured Noah that everything would be fine and that she had everything under control, Freya couldn't help but silently panic, feeling overwhelmed by the daunting task of finding an affordable apartment that met their needs. Aside from Imelda, Freya had no other acquaintances in the city, and as she sat lost in thought, memories of Diego surfaced— the one person who had always been there for her, consistently proving his unwavering support and care. Just then, a thought crossed her mind. She suddenly felt the urge to call Diego and ask him for help. But she shook off th
Diego's car squealed to a sudden halt, stopping precisely in front of a towering and enormous white mansion just as the driver swept past the gates.Freya gazed blankly at the building in utter astonishment as the sight of Diego's apartment radiated luxury. She wondered how he felt living alone in such a vast, echoing house, without anyone to share his thoughts with.Noah, on the other hand, also seemed to be captivated and amazed by the sight of Diego's house. It was just as lavish and exquisite as his father's estate, and he began to ponder what exactly Diego did for a living.Diego's driver stepped out of the car and flung the back door open with a grand gesture, inviting Freya, Diego, and Noah to alight.Diego stepped out first, then Noah, who sprang out of the car with enthusiasm. Freya was the last, and Diego, who was obviously waiting for her, extended his hand in a warm, inviting gesture.Noah watched as his mother placed her hand hesitantly in Diego's in a dramatic manner and
Freya and Noah strode into Diego's house, as he had instructed the guards to grant them unrestricted access. He was still absent, having not returned from work, but surprisingly, Freya had closed her food truck business on time for the day and picked Noah up from school with the help of her hired truck driver. This marked the second day of their stay in Diego's house. Although Freya was still working towards securing a comfortable and affordable apartment, Noah seemed to have grown remarkably comfortable at Diego's house. Diego indulged him, having asked his driver to take him to school that morning, stuffing his backpack with an assortment of candies and cookies, all of Noah's favorites. She could discern that Noah had developed a strong liking for Diego, evident in the way he constantly spoke about Diego, inquiring about him, and expressing his admiration for Diego's cool demeanor. Freya was delighted to see that there was finally someone aside from her who could bring him joy, s
Diego stepped on the car brakes, abruptly pulling his car to a halt just in front of Freya's soon-to-be new home. The real estate agent was already present, waiting in front of the house for Freya, so they could finalize the paperwork of the house after Freya takes a good look at their new house and makes sure it was to her liking. Noah didn't come along as he had already been taken to school, but Diego went as far as taking a quick leave from work just to accompany Freya to the house she was going to be settling in soon, his dedication a surprise to Freya. Freya felt a little disturbed that he was taking such measures for her, something he wouldn't normally do for anyone, and although she was grateful, she also kind of wished he didn't bother about her, his actions stirring up mixed emotions within her. “Here we are. Mr Morgan is here already”, he said to Freya, just as he parked his car in front of the house. Then he turned to take a proper and longer glance at her face, ga
It had been a week since Freya and Noah moved into their new home. Despite the struggles, the stress and the numerous paperwork, they had finally succeeded and settled down. Their lives began to have meaning once again and a new wave of ease began to settle in their midst.However, Freya rarely called or texted Diego after they moved out of his house and even though Diego was the one who frequently tried to reach out, she found herself declining his calls and leaving his messages unread.Diego stared hard at his phone, contemplating dialing Freya's number for the umpteenth time. His face was etched with disappointment, his brows knitted in a frown that depicted confusion at Freya's strange behavior. To think that he actually believed that they were finally on good terms.Diego let out a deep, exasperated sigh, shutting his eyes tightly in frustration. He had no clue what Freya wanted anymore and what she stood to achieve by distancing herself from him.His grand biannual charity ball
The night of the ‘Empowering a Greener Future’ charity ball by Hunter Global Enterprises had finally arrived, casting a warm glow over the Bellagio Hotel's grand entrance. The soft hum of conversation and the gentle clinking of glasses filled the air as guests began to arrive, their elegant attire and sparkling jewels a testament to the evening's promise of glamor and generosity.The grand ballroom at the Bellagio hotel was indeed a breathtaking sight. The room was filled with elegant tables, adorned with crisp white linens, fine china, and sparkling crystal glasses. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a stunning view of the hotel's iconic fountains.Outside, the beautifully choreographed water show cascaded across the tranquil lake, creating a mesmerizing display of art and music. The gentle ripples of the water reflected the soft glow of the hotel's exterior, casting a warm, golden light onto the surrounding gardens.The elegant atmosphere was further enhanc
Diego's warm touch on her skin ignited wild, inappropriate thoughts in her head, his steady gaze compounding the situation.Freya knew fully well that they could go on for hours staring at each other and not saying anything, as Diego didn't look like he was going to take his eyes off her anytime soon.Just in time to break the spellbound gaze, Noah yelled “Diego” enthusiastically, lifting his hands up in the air towards Diego, pulling them out of the trance.And that was when Diego finally noticed Noah, averting his gaze towards him.“Noah! So happy to see you”, Diego said with a cheerful voice, shaking his little hand enthusiastically, a broad grin spread across his face.Noah's face lightened up with a grin in response. He was delighted to see Diego once again and he was certain that Diego would have playfully ruffled his hair if they weren't in a formal gathering.Diego replaced his gaze on Freya, his eyes softening at her.“Freya, I'm really glad you made it. You don't know how ha
The dance was finally over. Freya and Diego returned to their seats, ready to witness the next item on the list of events to be held that night.The Master of Ceremony mounted the stage once again to announce the arrival of a performer, a renowned singer, Sophia Reyes.As the crowd erupted in an ear deafening round of applause, Sophia mounted the stage, ready to perform the song which she had written in regards to the theme of the charity ball.While she sang, Diego slowly reached out for Freya's hand which she had placed idly on the table, enveloping it in a tight, warm grip.“I hope you're enjoying the event”, he said softly to her, though his eyes were fixed on the performer on stage.Freya hesitated for a few seconds, staring hard at Diego's hand which was tightly wrapped around hers. She began to loathe the way he so easily touched her whenever he liked as if they were so familiar with each other. However, a part of her liked the way he touched her, the gentle rubbing of their s
After another successful day at work — the restaurant bustling with lots of supportive customers, her food truck business experiencing massive sales — Freya pulled up to Noah's school, her heart filled with a mix of excitement and routine. Although Noah had asked her several times to finally give him the freedom to go home by himself as he was a “big boy” now, Freya's motherly instincts moved her to continue picking him from school. She felt like she had to protect him even though Desmond, their only threat, wasn't in that city. He could take them by surprise as he had always done.As she stepped out of her flashy crimson-red car, she looked forward to seeing Noah's bright smile and hearing about his day. Stepping onto the sidewalk, she felt a sense of excitement wash over her as she also couldn't wait to tell Noah all about her splendid day.But as she approached the school entrance, a sense of unease slowly began to creep in. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something f
Desmond sat behind his massive, mahogany office desk, his eyes fixed blankly on a distant point. His mind raced with strategies, counter-strategies, possibilities, questions, plans, thoughts…he seemed utterly troubled.His stiff and unsmiling expression, and his clenched jaw proved his inner turmoil. It was a battle between himself and his thoughts. His anxiety heightened and he couldn't help but imagine worse-case scenarios.Lost in a deep realm of thoughts, Desmond leaned back in his swivel chair, swirling from side to side, staring blankly at the ceiling.He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a hint of desperation in his eyes. After a while of pondering on something, he sat up, shaking his head vigorously.Then he averted his gaze to a photo on his desk. Slowly, he picked up the photograph, his eyes fixed intently on it. It was a photo of Diego and Freya, with Diego's arms wrapped lovingly around Freya. A polished silver vase holding a bouquet of fresh flowers was on the desk and as he
7:45 AMFreya hurried around the kitchen, preparing breakfast for Noah and herself before they headed out— her to work, Noah to school. The morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen window illuminated her busy movements as she prepared breakfast, though her thoughts were very far from the kitchen. She reflected on the most recent court's proceedings as she expertly cracked eggs into a bowl, whisked them together with a fork, and then poured the mixture into a hot skillet. Memories of the humiliation she had faced at the witness stand in the last court hearing resurfaced in her mind, sending a ripple of self reproach through her. Why had she allowed Desmond and his lawyer to belittle her?As she worked and pondered on the court case, Freya called out to Noah, who was still in his room. "Noah, sweetie, time to get up! We don't want to be late for school!" Then she paused, listening carefully for Noah's response. She expected to hear the sound of his footsteps or the rustle of h
The courtroom was filled with an air of anticipation as the litigants, lawyers, and spectators waited for Judge Jeffrey Jordan to take his seat. Another day of the trial arrived, with Freya wearing a mask of confidence as she sat quietly in her chair, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her. Attorney Kim, her lawyer, sat beside her, flipping through a stack of papers.Unlike previous court proceedings, Diego didn't show up. He had a lot of work to do and a case to sort out with his company's board of directors.After a few minutes, Desmond arrived and took his seat beside his lawyer, Attorney Simon, across from Freya and her lawyer.Just right before he sat down, his eyes met Freya's in a silent confrontation, Desmond's eyes blazing with malice. At that instant, he recalled the heated exchange of words between the two of them the day before, with Freya being unusually confident.Desmond sat smugly, his lawyer whispering something in his ear. Desmond's eyes flicked towards Freya
The sun was setting over Freya's house, casting a warm orange glow. Just then, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb in front of Freya's house, the engine purring softly as the driver put it in park. Turning the car engine off, the driver sat still for a moment, his eyes fixed steadily on the house, his jaw clenched in anger. He shook his head in indignation, his eyes burning with intense hatred.With an angry snort, he finally pushed open the door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, his eyes never leaving the house.Shutting the car door with a soft click, he strode up the walkway, his footsteps echoing off the quiet evening air. As he reached the porch, he paused for a moment, his hand hovering over the doorbell as if indecisive on whether to push it or not. Then, with a sudden burst of anger, he rapped sharply on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness.Just then, he heard Freya's curious voice from within, “Who is it?”He said nothing in response, glaring intensely at
The moment her lawyer called her to the witness stand, Freya stole a brief glance at Diego as if seeking reassurance before standing up, her hands still entwined with his. Diego gave her a warm smile, his eyes softening. He squeezed her hand gently before reluctantly letting go.All eyes were on Freya as she smoothed out her dress and made her way to the witness stand. She took the oath, and then Attorney Kim began her questioning."Freya, can you please tell the court about your marriage to Desmond July?" Attorney Kim asked.Freya took a deep breath before beginning, stealing a furtive glance at Desmond. "We were married for ten years, and for most of that time, I was miserable. Desmond was controlling and abusive, and he made me feel like I was worthless”, Freya said, her icy gaze never leaving Desmond."I'm so sorry, Freya. Can you tell the court about the phone calls you received from Desmond after you left him?" Attorney Kim asked further, her tone sympathetic."Yes...he called m
All eyes were fixed on Attorney Simon as he approached the witness stand, ready for his direct examination.With a warm smile, he began, “Mr. July, can you please tell the court about your relationship with your wife, Freya?"At his lawyer's question, Desmond's expression turned sentimental in a way Freya thought to be glaringly fake. "We had our ups and downs, but I loved her. I provided for her and our son, Noah. We had a good life together. I tried my best to be a better husband to her, a better father to Noah”, he said, his tone soft and gentle.Attorney Simon nodded encouragingly and asked further, "And can you describe your relationship with your son, Noah?"Desmond's eyes softened and glittered with unshed tears, his face red with anguish. As a reaction, Freya and Diego exchanged displeased glances at Desmond's ”nasty” show of insincere emotions. “Noah is my world. I've always been a devoted father to him. I coached his soccer team, attended his school events…I was always ther
Another day of the trial arrived and the courtroom was filled with an air of tension and animosity as the litigants awaited the arrival of Judge Jordan. Desmond sat still, his eyes gleaming with dissatisfaction. He was dressed in a designer suit, his tie perfectly knotted, and his dark hair slicked back. He stared blankly into space, his mind racing with several thoughts and questions.How was it that Freya was getting more famous, with the support of the public? How did the lawsuit backfire on him? He shook his head in disbelief, his jaw clenched in irritation. Things weren't going as planned. And now, he was stuck with yet another boring court proceeding which wasn't the center of his plan.Just then, the courtroom doors swung open and Freya walked into the courtroom with her head held high, exuding a sense of quiet confidence. She appeared in a designer navy blue pantsuit, with a fitted jacket and matching trousers that fell to the perfect length, just above her shoes. Underneath
Another bright morning sun cast its warm, golden light upon Bayside Bistro, illuminating the elegant facade of the restaurant. The soft rays shone across the gleaming glass windows, highlighting the subtle curves of the building's exterior design. The gentle morning breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, mingling with the enticing aromas wafting from the restaurant's kitchen.Just then, a sleek crimson-red sports car halted in front of the restaurant, its tires scrunching against the pavement.With a sense of urgency and duty, the driver alighted and circled the car in order to open the door for his boss.As he held the door open for her, Freya stepped out of the vehicle with poise and confidence, her long, straight chestnut hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of night. Her alluring and expressive brown eyes sparkled in the morning light, radiating a sense of warmth and hospitality.Her outfit was a blend of style and sophistication. She wore a crisp, white blou