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
Freya gulped in fear, her eyes wide with shock, horror plastered on her face. Her worst nightmare had found his way back into her life. How did he find her? Desmond stood firm, his threatening demeanor triggering Freya's PTSD. He fixed Freya with a cold, intense stare, his eyes blazing with growing fury. Without thinking twice, Freya shook her head vigorously and breathed a silent “No”, then began to retreat, taking a few brisk steps backwards, away from Desmond. However, Desmond caught her by her arm with one hand, gripping her tightly. With much force, he pulled her closer to him, stopping her from running away. “Desmond”, Freya said with a shaky voice, her heart racing with anxiety as she struggled to squirm free from his grip. Desmond grabbed her second arm with his other hand, digging his fingers deep into her skin, causing her excruciating pain. “Let go of me, you're hurting me!” Freya exclaimed, squirming in discomfort as she scanned the room, hoping someone would
Diego and Freya found themselves in the midst of the tension, forming a boundary between Diego's men and Desmond's men, Diego's arms wrapped around Freya's waist and Freya's hands pinned on his chest with a fearful demeanor.The men held their firearms firmly, their index finger set to the trigger, ready for any action.Just then, a swarm of paparazzi poured into the scene, taking several snapshots of the drama, their cameras capturing the tension with quick flashings.Desmond, finally regaining his stance, staggered towards Freya and Diego, his face battered and bruised.“That's enough”, he said to his men, raising his hand dismissively.Slowly, after glaring intensely at the opposing men, Desmond's men lowered their guns, still gripping them tightly.“When I needed your help, you fools didn't show up”, Desmond snarled at his men, gritting his teeth angrily.Diego glanced at his men, giving them a slight nod as a signal to put their guns down as well.Freya shuddered in fear as her e
Desmond stood frozen, uncertain of what action to take next as Diego's words sank in, exposing his devious acts years ago to Freya, who stood still, her face wet with tears of disappointment.“Alan, is this really you?” Freya said with a cracked voice, shaking her head in disbelief as she touched his arm lightly, as if checking if he was indeed real. Tears crawled down her cheeks as she moved a little closer to Diego.Diego, in response, held Freya's face in his hands, as he fixed her with a soft, steady gaze.“Freya”, he said in a gentle whisper, wiping off the tears on her cheeks and caressing the sides of her face with his thumbs.“Diego, why didn't you tell me you were Alan?” She asked, her teary eyes staring deep into his soul, as she placed her hands gently on his chest, running her fingers down along his torso, passionately.Although she still seeked answers regarding Diego, why he had left without seeing her first thing after her surgery, why Desmond lied to her about Alan bei
Freya and Diego hugged each other tightly for seconds, Freya's face buried in the hollow of Diego's chest, his unique scent engulfing her senses. It all felt like a dream; her brain still couldn't effectively process the twist of events which occurred that night.She shut her eyes tightly as the rhythmic sound of Diego's heartbeat echoed in her mind. As he stroked her hair gently, she melted into his warm embrace, her thoughts disappearing and reality fading away. She was floating, her body wasn't hers anymore and for a few seconds, she forgot who she was.Just then, one of Diego's men, whom Freya had instructed to put Noah away and shield him from the chaos, returned with Noah now that the tension had finally dissolved.Noah stood still, staring hard in confusion at Freya and Diego who embraced each other lovingly, oblivious to his presence.“Mom!” Noah yelled, pulling Freya out of her reverie.At the sound of Noah's voice, Freya abruptly pulled away from Diego's arms, jolting back i
Freya averted her gaze in discomfort, the intensity of Diego's gaze causing her a little bit of discomfort.“What’s wrong, Freya? You look tense”, Diego whispered softly, his hands slowly sliding up her torso, tracing the edge of her ribcage.“I'm fine”, she said curtly, as if pissed off by his words. However, the shaky quality of her voice betrayed her true emotions and showed Diego just how intense the effect of his touch was on her.Realizing this, his lips curved into a short teasing smile, as he felt pleased with himself.“Freya, look at me, please. I want you to look into my eyes”, Diego whispered softly, his low deep voice reverberating through her eardrums in a tender, soothing way.Freya, who found herself falling hard into his tempting trap, surrendered to his demand, letting her deepest desires get the better of her. She fixed him with a steady gaze, eager to hear him whisper sweet nothings into her ears. It was certain that she had lost her mind but she didn't care. Everyt
“...it appears that the two powerful billionaires have been secretly rivals for many years. The report shows that their rivalry is not due to a competition in business or a battle about net worths, but shockingly about a relationship scandal. Desmond July, CEO of Dexus Innovations world wide, claims that Diego Hunter, the CEO of Hunter Global Enterprises, is having an affair with his wife, Freya July, while Diego, on the other hand, claims to be saving her from a loveless marriage. They were involved in a gruesome fight yesterday at Diego Hunter's charity ball. Here's a video of the fight. I advise parental guidance as the video may contain sensitive and explicit content…” Diego, sitting at the edge of his bed, watched the terrible scandalous fight between Desmond and him on the news, his fists clenched in brewing rage, his brows knitted in a stiff, displeased scowl. He shook his head in self-pity as the news anchor seemed to misunderstand the whole scenario, adding a sprinkle of lie
"How are you, Freya?” Diego asked over the phone, with a warm and gentle tone as always.Freya gave a weak, guilty smile, realizing she didn't fulfill his request of giving him feedback the moment she arrived at Tennessee with Noah. However, she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, certain that Diego wouldn't pick offense in her action.“I'm okay”, she said, in her usual dry and emotionless tone whenever she was on a phone call with Diego.Freya heard Diego pause for a couple of seconds, and she guessed that he was either nodding slightly or smiling shortly. She could tell he was scrambling for words.“How's Noah doing?”Freya exhaled a deep sigh, uncertain of what to tell Diego on Noah's behalf. Noah was unusually grumpy that morning. He had never expected Freya to take him to school even when they had just come back from a short trip. He threw tantrums, insisting he wanted a day off at school as he was very tired. However, Freya took his excuses as simply being lazy. She had zero to
With her lips curled in a hateful snarl and her eyes narrowed, Freya leaned forward, her arms crossed against her chest."Drop the lawsuit, Desmond. Or face the consequences”, Freya threatened, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper.Desmond's expression remained unmoved, his eyes glinting with amusement. In reaction to Freya's subtle threat, he simply leaned back in his chair, deliberately getting on her nerves."Consequences, Freya? From you? Oh, I'm so scared”, he said with a sarcastic chuckle.Then his expression turned sober, and he feigned fright, widening his eyes and mouth in an attempt to provoke Freya further.With a contemptuous glare, Freya watched him mimic a scared person and burst out laughing. Desmond chuckled for seconds, his body vibrating ridiculously as he tried to control his amusement.Freya's face twisted in rage, her hands clenched into fists. “What the hell is funny?” she spat.Desmond held his chest, attempting to suppress his laughter. “I'm sorry. I guess it
At exactly 9 PM, Desmond arrived at The Eclipse restaurant, his sleek black car gliding to the entrance. Quickly, his driver alighted and held the car door open in order for him to step out. With a stylish gesture, he stole a cautious glance at his luxury silver wristwatch. Seeing he was right on time, his lips curved in a pleased smirk.With a confident expression and demeanor, he stepped out of the car, stylishly adjusting his cufflinks. As his driver shut the door behind him with a soft click, Desmond took a minute to gaze upon the tall, exquisite five star restaurant, a hint of admiration in his eyes. Freya did have a good taste.He was dressed in a classy tailored charcoal gray suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie, his polished black shoes reflecting the dim street lights. He chuckled inwardly as he couldn't explain why he felt like he was going on a date. Freya's unexpected meeting got him overly fastidious about his dressing.With a mischievous smirk, Desmond strode into the
The rest of Freya's day was ruined, following the sudden lawsuit. Her performance in the kitchen dropped by a certain percentage and her focus flew out the window.Her hands moved on autopilot, chopping, sautéing, and seasoning, but her mind was elsewhere. Soon, her chopping turned aggressive and frustrated as a picture of Desmond's face came to mind.She wondered how Diego would react to the news. He might get furious and confront Desmond. And if things were to go south, Diego would be on the receiving end, getting criticisms from the public. That was the last thing she wanted.As she measured out ingredients, her gaze drifted to her phone, lying stationary on the counter. She kind of wished Diego’s call would come in that instant. Hearing his voice would definitely soothe her frazzled nerves. Then, her gaze shifted to the knife on the table and for a minute, she imagined pushing the sharp edge through Desmond's chest, ripping his heart out. At least, she'd go to jail for the right
The morning sunlight danced through Bayside Bistro's windows, illuminating Freya's domain, where she reigned with effortless finesse and precision as head chef.The previous months had been pretty rough; the distraction which came with the lawsuits. Her personal struggles began to take a toll on her work, fueling absenteeism and dwindling productivity. Fortunately, Freya's colleagues rallied around her, offering unwavering support and a helping hand, empathizing deeply with her challenging circumstances. For that, she was grateful.The lunch menu loomed and Freya's hands moved with precision, chopping vegetables in perfect rhythm as the kitchen's warm atmosphere enveloped her. Sizzling pans and the aroma of roasting meats filled the air, leaving her with a sense of home, and that of accomplishment. She was lost in her cooking, her mind clear and focused.Though it was initially difficult, she eventually pushed away the negative thoughts and energy which came with the lawsuit and force
8:00amFreya cracked Noah's room door open and sneaked in, a mischievous grin on her face. She tiptoed towards the bed where he lay, sleeping soundly.She took a minute to observe him, to admire his innocent features which shone in the bright morning sun while he snored quietly. With a warm smile, Freya gently shook Noah's shoulder, pulling him out of his deep sleep."Happy birthday, sweetie! Rise and shine!" Freya said excitedly, her voice soft and soothing.Noah squirmed lazily on the bed and rubbed his sleepy eyes. He let out a long loud yawn as he stretched his tiny arms and legs to full length, unwilling to get up. Then slowly, his eyelashes lifted, revealing his tired icy-blue eyes, and his gaze slowly focused on his mom's warm smile."Mom..." he mumbled, flashing a weak, sleepy smile at her.Freya's smile widened at how cute he looked in his messy morning hair and his tired blue eyes. As she sat gently on his bed, she leaned in and kissed him softly on his forehead. “Happy bir
Freya paced across her living room, her feet wearing a path in the carpet. Her face was etched with uncertainty and worry, and her brows furrowed in a deep crease.The court hearings weren't going according to her expectations. After the last court hearing, where the testimony of the adoption agency officer painted Diego as a fraudulent person, Freya was certain Diego would lose the case. And what if the final verdict wasn't just going to be about canceling the adoption? What if Diego was to be sentenced to a jail term?Her mind raced with worst-case scenarios: Desmond winning the case, Noah's uncertain future, Diego's life being ruined. Her heart clenched with anguish, a sharp pain piercing through her chest. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to take action now.Just then, the doorbell broke the silence, interrupting her thoughts. Freya's heart skipped a beat as she hurried to answer it.As she flung the door open, her eyes fell on Diego who stood on her porch, his expression so
The oath-taking was over and it was time for Mr. Thompson's direct examination. Mr. Thompson approached Ms. Regina Jenkins and with a clear crisp voice, he began his examination, "Ms. Jenkins, can you describe your role in the adoption process between Diego Hunter and Freya, Noah's biological mother?"Ms. Jenkins nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking, "As director of the adoption agency, I oversaw the entire process. Mr. Hunter approached us seeking a private adoption, presenting Freya's consent form. So, I facilitated the adoption, ensuring all parties complied with state and federal regulations.""Did your agency verify Desmond July's paternity before finalizing the adoption?" Mr. Thompson asked further.Diego let out a deep sigh, his face etched with uncertainty. Sensing his growing worry, Freya reached for his hand and squeezed it gently in a reassuring manner. She stole a fleeting glance at him, as if pleading with him to calm down.At Mr. Thompson’s question, Ms. Jenkins
The next court session had finally arrived. With Freya's consent form annulled, Diego's chances of winning the case were slim. And his lawyer, Attorney Anthonia, was beginning to run out of ideas on how to save him. Everything seemed bleak.As the litigants took their seats, the courtroom fell silent, heavy with anticipation. Diego sat rigidly, his eyes fixed on the empty bench. His charming gray eyes had lost their spark and were now vague. With the way events were unfolding, Diego slowly began to lose interest in his physical appearance. He now paid less attention to the way he dressed and how his hair looked. He dressed simple, in a white dress shirt and black corporate pants; no tie as per usual. His dark longish hair was simply tied up in a small ponytail, revealing the majestic sweep of his forehead.Freya sat beside him, her fingers intertwined with his. She stole concerned glances at him at intervals, hoping he was fine. Though she couldn't help but notice just how much his ph
Freya and Diego were on their way home, driven by Diego's driver. The courthouse's imposing structure receded into the distance, but its impact lingered. A wave of silence settled between them as they sat beside each other in the back seat, their fingers intertwined.Diego's gaze remained fixed on some distant point outside the window, his thoughts consumed by the Judge's verdict. The tension in his body was tangible, his jaw clenched and shoulders rigid. The unfair judgment unleashed on them threw him off balance, threatening to shatter his composure.Freya's gentle squeeze on his hand went unnoticed as he wondered how the subsequent court proceedings would look like with Freya's consent form annulled. He would definitely lose the case as the major anchor he held onto was eliminated.The board of directors of his company were still contemplating permanently removing him as the CEO. The lawsuit gave them reasons to consider his permanent removal and they were working towards it.His l