"How can you compare my mother to a stranger woman you just met yesterday and met again today," said Nicholas in a sharp tone. "My mother is not a woman anyone can compare to. She is special and always will be." Carlos stood up from his seat and patted Nicholas's shoulder gently. "It's like that to me too, brother. She is very special and incomparable. However, I think you should meet and come face to face with Josephine Jade, for you to understand what I mean that she reminds me of your mother." Nicholas didn't answer, just closed his eyes and ignored his cousin. Carlos smiled knowingly and left the room with slow steps. Nicholas had always been sensitive when it came to talking about his mother--Ingrid Adams or Inggrid Ferm if she used her maiden name. He worshiped his mother, who was only with him until he was ten years old, then died at the age of 37 because of cancer of the lymph nodes that had been eating away at her body for a long time. "I will send the files of the prosp
Josephine remained motionless, trying not even to hear her breathing. She stood at the end of a short corridor after the entrance and opened onto the interior of her apartment.Sitting on a chair in the corner of the open living room, Rain was busy fiddling with a math game on the computer.On the kitchen floor, Sky was busy observing several types and sizes of pipes, with a wooden ruler in his right hand and a pencil tucked into his ear.In the living room, on the carpet, Flower and Anna were assembling various toy furniture into a playhouse and chatting as two neighbors were planning a tea party with the dolls lined up on the sofa.The tired and restless feelings in Josephine's heart vanished like smoke in the rain, seeing the most beautiful sight before her eyes. She doesn't want to blink and record every second of it in a special memory, to play it back in memory when she feels sad or faces difficulties.After several minutes passed, without anyone noticing her presence because ev
For a moment, Josephine thought she had a problem with her ears. She looked at the man in front of him with a confused look."W-what? What do you say?" asked Josephine nervously."Unbutton me," Nicholas repeated calmly. "These buttons of my shirt. Help me take my shirt off."After being momentarily stunned, Josephine retreated further back into her seat and resentfully glared at the man in front of her."What do you mean? You intend to harass me?" Josephine said annoyed.She tried to open the luxury car door, but it was locked. Josephine felt fear creep into her heart. She thought, was her action to help the man in front of her before was a mistake?The man lay bloodied on an abandoned construction site, shot and even several people were still chasing him when Josephine was trying to help him.However, now the man was in front of her, driving a luxury car that Josephine definitely wouldn't be able to afford despite having worked as a nurse for fifty years, wearing an expensive suit, s
"Wake up your brothers, Flow, we can't leave too late because according to the weather forecast, it will be very hot today," Josephine said as she put her hair in a messy bun.She walked into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Fried potatoes, sausages sautéed with broccoli, and a tuna sandwich. Desserts were watermelon and melon cut into small pieces, vanilla pudding with chocolate vla, and orange juice.Josephine always prioritizes a varied and delicious breakfast, because breakfast will motivate the children to be active all day, but will not make them fat. On the other hand, for dinner Josephine limited them to overeating and provided lots of fruit, salad, vegetables and hard-boiled eggs if they were too hungry.As a nurse, Josephine knows how to keep her active children healthy and nourished. She was proud because at the age of six, in general, her three children rarely got sick, except for Flower, who had been suffering from Leukemia since the age of two."Mom, I want to bring a s
"This thing is so pretty and shiny, Mommy. It would be great to put up in my dollhouse," Flower said innocently.Josephine was so weak that she couldn't say anything and just leaned against the toilet cubicle door and closed her eyes. She tried to figure out how much a roll royce badge cost.Yes. The shiny object Flower was holding was the front badge of a Rolls Royce. Josephine took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes. Flower was staring at the luxury car badge in her hand with sparkling eyes and Josephine felt that she was very cute and adorable.Josephine never yelled or hit her children, especially Flower. Even in a state of anger, Josephine would usually close her eyes, take a few deep breaths, then speak carefully about their mistakes, then determine the appropriate punishment for them.Flower is more special, because she is the only daughter, the youngest, and sick. She should be treated more gently.Josephine knelt in front of Flower and gently took the roll royce badge
"Where are you?" asked Carlos. "I'm in the car, waiting for the litlle destroyer," Nicholas half grunted. Carlos laughed, feeling the sharpness in Nicholas' voice. His cousin must be upset about something. "What's wrong? Something upset you?" Nicholas sighed. "My car badge. A little girl broke it." Carlos' laughter exploded, hearing Nicholas's words. "Oh my gosh, this is something so funny. How could anyone dare break the expensive car of the number one mafia leader in this country? And the culprit is a little girl?" "Aish, don't laugh, Carl, hurry up here before I get bored!" "Yes, yes, I'll be there in five minutes, boss." Seven minutes later, Carlos' car entered the parking area. Nicholas got out of his car looking at his watch. "You're three minutes late from the time you mentioned earlier," said Nicholas. "Oh my God, boss, did you actually count them?" Nicholas clicked his tongue and walked towards the restaurant."Let's sit by the window," Carlos said. "The parents of
Nicholas's brow furrowed, seeing how brave this little girl was. He looked at the hand that was in the little girl's grip and felt a strange warmth radiate from it. "How can your brothers look like me, little girl? We're not related, so obviously a gal is impossible," Nicholas said flatly. He released his hand from Flower's grip and looked at Josephine. Awkwardly, Josephine pulled Flower back next to her. She felt Nicholas looking at her in a way that gave her goosebumps. And Carlos, the man has been silent since earlier after they greeted each other. His attitude was like that of a subordinate or at least, if in the hierarchy of an organization, he was under Nicholas. "I'm sorry my daughter, Mr. Adams, she was rude and damaged your car. Also what she said just now, was just a child's nonsense," said Josephine politely. She felt, this time she had to be more careful with this cold-faced man in front of her. Nicholas Adams was definitely not a random person, at least physically, h
"So, you were actually in one of the villas on the Green Valley, six years ago? Is that you?" asked Carlos, confirming his suspicions. He saw how Josephine's posture turned tense when she heard his question, and so did Nicholas, even he was pretending not to understand what was going on. "No, no, I mean, how could you ask something like that of me?" asked Josephine quickly. She felt goosebumps all over her body and felt cold. Why did such a question come out of Carlos's mouth. Was he the man she slept with in the villa six years ago? Is Carlos the father of the triplets? The various questions that were going through Josephine's mind made her nervous. She didn't know how to react to this sudden thing now and in front of Nicholas. "I've never been to any villas, in Green, White, or Blue Valley," added Josephine flatly. "You mistook me for someone else."Carlos turned his gaze to Nicholas and caught an astonished reaction in the corner of his cousin's eye. Six years ago, one early
"Italy?"Josephine's eyes widened. Nicholas nodded with a smile. "Yeah. You know, our beach--La Luna, we haven't been there for a while. I think a week or two would be nice."Josephine chuckled. "What are you planning, honey?""Hey, what? I'm just taking you on a honeymoon."Josephine laughed and hugged Nicholas. She rested her head on Nicholas' chest and enjoyed his husband's heartbeat, which sounded calm and steady."Let's have our honeymoon at La Luna, honey. I want to go alone with you," said Josephine gently.Nicholas stroked Josephine's hair slowly. "Baby, let's retire for now and settle down wherever we want. I'll leave Genesis completely to Summer and Autumn, while you can entrust Farline to Flower. I guess, we've done enough and for now, let the children do the work." Let's give everything to them to take care."Josephine nodded and hugged Nicholas tightly. "Yes. Let's retire and live wherever we like. Maybe two months on La Luna beach, two months here, the next two months in
"I can't say no, can I?" asked Josephine softly.Sky lowered his head, unable to meet his mother's eyes. Flower and Rain also lowered their heads, even Nicholas. The spacious room was cold and silent.Josephine was silent, deep in thought. He knew that eventually one of his six children would decide to continue Nicholas' work and it had to be done.She remembered the conversation she had with Nicholas a few years ago, when the first triplets decided to study at different universities in different countries."I will train one of my four confidants, to take control of the Gold Dragon," said Nicholas at the time. "Who do you think is the most suitable?"Josephine looked at Nicholas in surprise. "You don't intend to pass the Gold Dragon down to one of your children? Shouldn't that clan be passed down?"Nicholas shook his head with a smile. "I'm about to abolish that tradition, since I saw that among the first triplets no one was interested in doing so.""How do you know that no one is int
"Daddy, you can't be like this," Flower complained, glaring at Nicholas. "You're a mobster and you're afraid of getting hospitalized?"Nicholas pouted. "Don't confuse my work with my illness, doctor," Nicholas snapped. "Anyway, it's just an influenza.""Come on, dad, admit it. You're afraid of needles, right?" urged Flower with a wink.Josephine laughed seeing the father and daughter argue. She took Nicholas's hand and squeezed it gently."He don't need to be hospitalized, Flower. Your daddy isn't afraid of needles, but he doesn't like the smell of disinfectant and how the nurses are going around checking him every hour," said Josephine.Nicholas took Josephine's hand gently and kissed her palm with a smile. "Your mommy really understands me, Flow."Flower pouted and sighed. "Mommy, you always spoil him. At the hospital, the equipment for examining and caring for him is more complete than when daddy is treated at home. I and my fellow doctors can also examine daddy freely there," said
"This isn't our first project, is it?" Rain asked with a frown.Two of his men lowered their heads, avoiding his anger."Why is there still an error for a problem like this?" asked Rain annoyed."I admit my mistake, Mr. Rain," said Steven Bohn bravely. "The supplier of the floor we used to use suddenly informed us that the floor specifications we requested were not available due to a shortage of basic materials, so they offered a replacement at the same price. I had no idea that the replacement floor was not according to the original specifications."Rain sighed. "Take apart all the floors that have been installed and return them to the supplier. Find another supplier who can give us what we want, even if the price is higher. I don't want this project to have any flaws or defects, because the person who asked me to do this project is a very close and meaningful person to me. I don't want him to be disappointed!" Rain said firmly, then turned around and returned to his room.In the caf
"Hold him, Flow," Sky called while holding the kid down with his feet. "He'll run away again if you don't hold his hand!"Flower snorted and took the small creature's hand that was trying to rebel."Come on, it's just a shower, why are you guys so unruly," Flower complained half angry. "Where did Rain go, why is he taking so long? Doesn't he know that these stray cats are getting bored?""Mommy help, help us, moooommmmyyyy ...!""Gosh, Summer, people will think I'm torturing you if they hear you scream like that," Flower said angrily."I don't like showers!" Summer shouted."Me too!" added Autumn."You too, Forest?" Sky asked fiercely.The little boy called Forest turned his head quietly while patting the water with his chubby hands. "I like baths. I just don't like you guys.""Jeez," Flower moaned.The three children in the big bathtub started to misbehave again, but before Flower and Sky could run out of patience, Rain came driving a plant sprayer.He started the engine and a large
"Mom, why are you so pale? Are you sick?" asked Flower with a worried tone. She put her bag on the single sofa and approached Josephine who was lying straight on the long sofa while covering her eyes with her arms.Josephine lowered her arms and looked at Flower who was still wearing her middle school uniform."Flower, are you home already? I didn't hear you come in," said Josephine in a languid tone."I came in through the back door, because Madam Luan said you weren't feeling well since morning and lay here," Flower said. "What are you doing, mom? Do you have a fever?"Josephine smiled and stroked Flower's hair. "It's okay honey, just a little unsteady and nauseous. I think it's from a lack of sleep the past few days. You know, ever since Uncle Rocco came back to Italy for his honeymoon, I did all the research myself and the other day there was a bit of a problem at the distribution center so I have to go back and forth all day from the laboratory to the warehouse," said Josephine l
"He ... You mean, Lucas?"Lindsay nodded shyly."You and him..." Janeth didn't finish, only raised her eyebrows, waiting for Lindsay to say something.Lindsay sighed. "I think I've managed to forget him and bury my feelings and memories about him, all these years. It's not easy for me. Even though you never met me at that time, I'm sure you know that I have to undergo psychiatric therapy too. One of them is to let Lucas go.""Yes, I know. I think you really need that. Your obsession with Lucas has hurt a lot of people at that time," said Janeth."Yeah, I'm aware of that. However, Lucas came back and kept coming, even though I never wanted to see him. Last week when he came, I finally decided to see him because I really wanted to end things with him, but ...." Lindsay hung up her words."He won't let you go?" continued Janeth with a smile.Lindsay blushed, took a breath, and nodded. Janeth laughed and hugged Lindsay."I'm so happy for you, Lindsay. At least I can rest easy now, because
"You're getting thinner," Lucas said sadly. "Did you eat well during this time?"He stared at the woman in the dull blue prison uniform in front of him. Lindsay is still beautiful with her hair cut short, even though her face is getting thinner and her eyes are dim.Finally, after Lindsay repeatedly refused visits during the nearly six years he was in this correctional facility, she also agreed to accept Lucas."What do you want, Lucas?" Lindsay asked quietly. "Why do you keep coming even though I keep rejecting you? Aren't you bored?"Lucas has never missed visiting Lindsay in the last five years. Every two months he would come, leave the food he brought with the warden because Lindsay never wanted to see him.Lindsay's cellmates were about to enjoy the food and after walking around for a while instead they were excitedly looking forward to Lucas' visit because it meant there was good food available.Lindsay stared at the floor, not daring to meet the eyes of the man she once loved,
"It's not for me to judge who I'm dealing with," James said softly. "After all, you're still young. You don't know anything about the real world. You taking a decision like this, is a great big step. Your heart is good, only clouded by your parents' manipulation. Your mind is clear, only clouded by your sister's bad influence. When all the ugliness is gone, you dare to regain your purity. That's great!"Janeth listened to James' words with her head down. James' deep voice was pleasing to the ear and what he said was soothing to her heart.James reached out and took Janeth's chin, moving her up so their eyes met. "Cheer up. I'll wish you all the best. Tomorrow is the day, so you need to be completely healthy and ready."Janeth's eyes blinked slowly and her hand lifted, holding James' hand on his chin, then, Janeth brought her face closer to James and planted a kiss on the man's lips.James was stunned, frozen in the warmth of Janeth's ripe lips crushing his. He could feel the desperati