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
"Mom, I'm ready!" Noah exclaimed, his voice bursting with excitement.Freya turned to face her son, beaming with pride. Noah stood before her, looking sharp in his new school uniform, his backpack slung over his shoulders, and an eager grin on his face.“Oh my baby boy, you look so cute in your new uniform!” Freya exclaimed excitedly and pulled his cheeks slightly in a playful manner.Noah giggled in response and hopped a few times to showcase his excitement.“Are you excited to go to your new school?” Freya asked, while packing his snack box for school.“Yes mom. I never liked my old school. The kids there were so mean”, Noah replied with a slight frown.“I'm done. Let's go”, she said and led him out of the kitchen into the living room.They walked towards the door, about to exit, while Imelda watched her favorite series on the TV.“I see you're ready to go. Noah, take care of yourself, okay? I hope you have fun today at school”, Imelda spoke up, her eyes still fixated on the TV scre
With swollen reddish eyes, which Noah constantly enquired about on their way back home and kept getting the same staple reply : “It's nothing” each time he asked, Freya knocked impatiently on Imelda's door, clutching Noah's hand.“Who is it?” Freya heard Imelda's snappy and grumpy enquiry coming from inside.With a deep tired sigh as if to reassign her confidence, she cleared her throat and spoke up in response.“It's me, Imelda. I'm home”, she said in a cracked voice as she had lost her voice due to the intense fit of crying she had engaged in earlier.A few seconds of silence went by before the door flung open, revealing Imelda's somewhat cold stare. Her eyes scanned the duo from head to toe, obviously wondering why they were home so soon and what the most recent challenge could be as it seemed like Freya was accustomed to suffering from one challenge or the other.“What brings you back home so soon? What's the matter?” Imelda asked, her tone laced with curiosity.Freya remained si
"What's your name?”Freya drew a deep breath, steeling herself before responding to the question. She hesitated for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts.“Freya July… Sorry, Freya Dominic”, Freya stuttered, indecisive on whether to use Desmond's last name or her maiden name.Without any documents bearing her married name at hand, Freya opted to use her maiden name for the interview. Having removed her wedding ring and thrown it away, she had already mentally severed ties with Desmond.The head chef raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Freya as if searching for the slightest weakness in her interview performance.Freya swallowed hard and kept her expression sober, maintaining her composure.“So, why are you here?” The head chef asked.“I came here to look for a job. I want you to hire me as one of your chefs”, she said boldly, successfully concealing her underlying nervousness.“Do you have any certified culinary qualifications? Did you go to any culinary school?” The chef asked, adjusti
Diego held her face in his palms, examining her closely, his eyebrows knitted in concern.“Freya, are you there? What's the matter with you? You almost got yourself killed!” Diego exclaimed, his tone laced with fright.Freya swallowed hard and looked away, humiliated that he had caught her in that vulnerable state. She sniffed nonchalantly and smoothened her dress like nothing had happened, trying to regain her composure.But Diego didn't break eye contact with her even for a second, and finally, she surrendered to Diego's fixed gaze and she melted the moment she looked into his eyes, her tough exterior softening instantly. She watched his worried eyes slowly transform into somewhat angry eyes as he reacted to her strange behavior lately and the fact that she had kept him in the dark for the past few days. He had never looked at her that way before, and she felt the intensity of his mean stare.“Freya, what's been going on with you? Why did you choose to cut me off? Have I done someth
Freya held the refrigerator open and peered inside in search for any food available for her to eat as breakfast. The only food which was previously available was the one Imelda had prepared earlier for herself and Noah, which was his breakfast before Freya had taken him to school. But all that food had finished already.On finding nothing to eat, Freya walked out of the kitchen with a downcast demeanor, heading out for another day's job hunt on an empty stomach. She would rather go hungry for a whole day than ask Imelda for help and get subtle insults in return.Just as she was about to head out, Imelda came down the stairs, walking towards her.“Freya, you're back from dropping Noah off?” She asked, her expression seemingly concerned.Freya nodded in response, too tired to answer the irrelevant question to which the answer was quite obvious.“So any luck yesterday? Talk to me,” Imelda asked softly, with a concerned look on her face.“Nothing yet, Imelda. But I remain positive”, she r
Freya sat idly for hours in her mobile food truck, staring blankly into space, pondering on her miserable life, despair and frustration evident in her facial expression.All day, she had had only five customers, and now it was almost four, edging into evening. She always closed by five, a routine she had stuck to since launching her business three weeks ago. Fortunately, Imelda offered to pick up Noah from school daily on her behalf which was a strange but welcome help.The scarcity of customers gravely affected her income. She wasn't making much profit and that got her so worked up.At first, she had told herself that her newness to the roadside fast food scene was the reason for the slow start, and that customers just needed time to warm up to her gourmet burgers. But now, even that reassuring thought felt like a lie. Maybe success just wasn't her thing.A sudden fear gripped her, and she shuddered at the memory of Imelda's massive loan— $250,000. If her business tanked, her life wo
Freya and Diego sat in silence for a few moments in his car, the evening unfolding outside. Freya gazed blankly out the window, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Diego. Unaware, Diego's eyes remained fixed on her, his gaze intense, admiring her as she stared away. After a brief, wordless pause, Diego sighed softly and cleared his throat, intentionally breaking the silence to grab her attention.“Freya, how have you been all these while?” He asked, watching her closely to see her expression.Freya turned to take a glance at him, trying to come up with a suitable response to his question.“I've been okay”, she replied stiffly.“How is Noah? He's in a new school, I guess”.Freya's eyebrows knitted together in a faint frown, surprised by Diego's knowledge of Noah's new school. Though she was curious about his sources, she didn't press the issue, having grown accustomed to his uncanny awareness of her life's details, which had initially unsettled her but now felt almost like a routin
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
Imelda grasped her purse and frantically dashed out of the courtroom, her gaze lowered. She avoided eye contact with everyone and hastened her pace, guilt gnawing at her conscience.She couldn't shake the image of Freya's anguished face, but she refused to show weakness. She had to get home on time before she would get caught by Freya.She was fully aware of what she had done and the consequences of her actions. But she had no choice. Her financial life was in trouble and only Desmond could help. She turned a corner, heading out of the courthouse to halt a taxi. Her feet carried her swiftly, her eyes fixed on the ground. Suddenly, while she wasn't looking, she collided with a figure, and her apology died on her lips.Slowly, she raised her head to see who the obstruction was. As soon as she set her eyes on Freya, she froze in shock, her eyes widened.Freya stood rigid before her, fury reignited in her eyes. Her brown eyes blazed with rage, the intensity of her stare sending shivers d