Degh! Giselle was stunned to see her mother-in-law suddenly standing in front of her. "Mom, what's wrong? Isn't breakfast enough? You just relax, I'll cook it again..." However, Giselle responded with a glare, "Why isn't Netty at home? Do you know where she went?" Giselle swallowed, a question she couldn't even answer because she didn't know her sister-in-law's whereabouts. She deliberately stalled for time, glancing around the room and finally remembering something that could distract her, "Oh, it seems like she's on business or she's busy with her work. I heard that Netty got a job recently."Looking at her mother-in-law's empty glass, Giselle took another sip of the warm drink and served it back to the table. "The weather is getting hot, making us thirsty." Selena took another sip of Giselle's tea, then leaned back in the dining room chair and pondered.What on earth was the old woman thinking? Although she was a bit lazy, Giselle knew herself well as a daughter-in-law. She smi
Out of town...Netty went to a company to apply for a job, looking at the face of the person who was interviewing her, she remembered someone who looked a lot like someone, could it be...Netty shook her head quickly, waking up to the strange thoughts that were going through her mind."Netty!""Yes!" Although she was surprised, Netty enthusiastically answered when her name was called. "You've read all the rules in this company, right?"Nervous Netty nodded,"The same rules will apply in the future. Remember! You have not been formally accepted, but to test your performance you are given a month until you officially become a permanent employee here and even then if you pass.""What? So this..." Netty showed her disappointment when she got a response from the company."That's right, before getting a salary, your ability must be tested.""Without salary?" Netty repeated the same word. Hufft... She com
At Values Airport, Clara Clark stood nervously in the waiting area, a large suitcase at her feet.She glanced at her watch again. It had been forty-five minutes since she disembarked the plane. Yet, her husband, the man she had married a year ago, was nowhere to be seen.She frowned, smoothing her dress with her fingers, already harboring a bad feeling about a man she had never met.This was supposed to be their first meeting. How could he be so late?As she watched people come and go, she couldn't help but recall her rushed marriage.It had happened a year ago, after her grandfather had fallen critically ill.Clara, who had been abroad at the time, rushed home to see him. Her grandfather expressed his wish to see her married before he passed.Clara had wanted to refuse. But remembering how her grandfather had adopted her from a destitute family and raised her to be the woman she was, she couldn't bring herself to disappoint him.And so, Clara married the man her grandfather had chose
Clara and Sheina rode the elevator to the top floor.During the ride, Sheina was very enthusiastic. She kept telling Clara about the company. “The CEO’s main office occupies the entire top floor. Most employees are not allowed to enter there. Only those who report directly to him or have something very important can go there.”Clara listened silently.She wanted to learn as much as possible about her new boss, so she appreciated this new lecture.Suddenly, Sheina stopped. Then, she turned to Clara and asked casually, “I heard before that you worked at one of the group’s branches abroad. Why were you suddenly transferred to the headquarters? Did you know Mr. Halle before?”Curiosity shone in Sheina's eyes. It was clear she wanted to know this for gossip purposes.Never before in the history of Founderflash Group had anyone been hired or transferred without going through an interview. In fact, the process of becoming an employee here was longer than most.Clara had broken that record.T
Sheina led Clara to the public relations department. She then introduced her to the other employees. “Listen up, everyone! This is Clara Clark, your new colleague.”With a polite smile, Clara said, “Nice to meet you all. It's an honor to be a part of this department. Hopefully, we can all work well together.”The others were surprised by Clara's quick acceptance. They whispered to each other.“Is she the PR officer who was transferred here to work directly for Mr. Halle? She looks beautiful. I wonder if she’s beautiful and intelligent or just empty.”“Come on. You should know that Mr. Halle picks the best talent. I’m sure she’s an expert in her field.”“I’m so envious of her. She gets to work close to Mr. Halle. How lucky!”Clara heard everything. However, her smile remained the same, and she didn’t say anything.On the other hand, Sheina’s face turned slightly red. She frowned at Clara.These comments reinforced Sheina’s dissatisfaction.Everyone knew that Adrian conducted strict int
Simon’s face darkened. “What did you just say?”“You heard me right!” Adrian said nonchalantly. “You were disrespectful to the female employees of this company. And we will no longer be collaborating with you. There are thousands of piano compositions in the world. It should be easy to find another pianist.”As Clara gazed at Adrian’s broad back, her eyes sparkled with gratitude.He was so classy. His wife was a lucky woman.Simon’s mouth gaped open, and he looked utterly embarrassed. The next second, he lost his temper. He jumped to his feet, stormed out, and slammed the door shut.The other employees left their desks and craned their necks to look at the meeting room door.As Adrian walked out, he reprimanded Sheina in front of the others. “Don’t you know that you should have conducted a background check on Simon Alexander before offering to work with him? As a PR professional, you should know that every wrong step can lead to disaster and can come back to haunt this company.”With
Clara returned from the restroom and saw that her husband, Jordan, still hadn’t arrived. As she returned to the table, she saw her boss.She greeted her boss, but noticed that his eyes seemed gloomy.Adrian answered briefly, “I’m here to meet a business partner.”“Oh, okay.” Feeling that he wasn’t in the mood to talk, Clara didn’t continue the conversation.Adrian turned and left without looking back. Clara returned to the table and checked her watch. It was already seven forty. Jordan was half an hour late.Frowning, she took out her phone and reread the message she had sent him earlier.There were no errors in the address and time.Why hadn’t he come yet after agreeing to come? Was he letting her down again?What was the matter? Did he not want to meet the woman he married? Did he already hate her before they met?As her mind was filled with various questions, Clara felt a little sad.The steak she was eating tasted bland in her mouth. After swallowing a piece forcefully, she put do
"Alright, that's all for this meeting. I'll expect the next report next week."For some reason, Clara felt like Adrian's smile was forced."The boss seems down today. What's wrong with him? Did he just have a fight with his wife?"Apparently, a few staff members shared Clara's thought, as whispers started to fill the room as everyone started leaving.Clara sighed as she was left alone to tidy up the files and laptop from the meeting. Her current situation, added to her disappointment with Jordan last night, made her mind even more muddled. But Clara didn't want her personal problems to affect her work, so she decided to find a solution on her own when she was finished.Back in her office, Clara leaned back in her chair, gazing out the large window with its sheer curtains. 'What should I do?'The ringing of her phone diverted her attention."Yes...""Lara, I have some brands calling, asking if you'd be interested in modeling for their new product launch, which happens in two days."
Out of town...Netty went to a company to apply for a job, looking at the face of the person who was interviewing her, she remembered someone who looked a lot like someone, could it be...Netty shook her head quickly, waking up to the strange thoughts that were going through her mind."Netty!""Yes!" Although she was surprised, Netty enthusiastically answered when her name was called. "You've read all the rules in this company, right?"Nervous Netty nodded,"The same rules will apply in the future. Remember! You have not been formally accepted, but to test your performance you are given a month until you officially become a permanent employee here and even then if you pass.""What? So this..." Netty showed her disappointment when she got a response from the company."That's right, before getting a salary, your ability must be tested.""Without salary?" Netty repeated the same word. Hufft... She com
Degh! Giselle was stunned to see her mother-in-law suddenly standing in front of her. "Mom, what's wrong? Isn't breakfast enough? You just relax, I'll cook it again..." However, Giselle responded with a glare, "Why isn't Netty at home? Do you know where she went?" Giselle swallowed, a question she couldn't even answer because she didn't know her sister-in-law's whereabouts. She deliberately stalled for time, glancing around the room and finally remembering something that could distract her, "Oh, it seems like she's on business or she's busy with her work. I heard that Netty got a job recently."Looking at her mother-in-law's empty glass, Giselle took another sip of the warm drink and served it back to the table. "The weather is getting hot, making us thirsty." Selena took another sip of Giselle's tea, then leaned back in the dining room chair and pondered.What on earth was the old woman thinking? Although she was a bit lazy, Giselle knew herself well as a daughter-in-law. She smi
Netty fell silent, pondering David's words. She realized this might be her chance to rewrite her destiny. She wouldn't return home; she would start a new life, far from the shadows of debt and exploitation.Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. David stopped, his brow furrowing. The shouts and struggle sent a jolt of surprise and panic through him."What's going on?" he muttered, listening intently.From the window, Netty saw Alessandro grappling with several men – thugs, clearly hired by David. Alessandro was trying to protect his younger sister.David cursed under his breath. "Damn! They came sooner than I expected!" He shoved Netty away, urging her to flee. "Go! Hide! Don't let them see you!"Fear gnawed at Netty, but she managed to shout a warning. "Don't hurt my brother! Just get rid of him and let's settle this!" Before Alessandro noticed her, she seized the opportunity, escaping David and hiding behind stacks of cardboard in an abandoned warehouse.Her heart pounded as the s
The door creaked open, revealing Alessandro, his face etched with fury. He saw Selena, her eyes pleading, trapped in a tense standoff with a burly man. "What the hell is going on here?" he roared. The man, whom Selena had called David, smirked. "Kid, this ain't your business. It's between me and the lady." Selena tried to pull away. "But... can't you wait until my husband gets home?" Alessandro, seeing his mother's distress, was about to unleash his anger, but Netty's voice stopped him. "Please, Alessandro, no violence. If anyone's to blame, it's me. I'm the reason Dad's in debt." Alessandro was stunned. "What do you mean, Netty? Dad's in debt? To a loan shark?" Selena, seizing the opportunity to shift the blame, answered. "It's because of your sister's education. Your father's unemployed, you know." Alessandro hesitated, but David’s voice cut through the air. "I don't need your drama. Pay up, or get out!" His eyes l
"The baby's born!"Hearing the baby's cry, Alessandro breathed a sigh of relief. In an instant, the house filled with curious onlookers. "I can't believe Alessandro finally has a son!""Alessandro, are you recovered? Your wife just gave birth; she can't work alone. You know what I mean."Alessandro nodded to the midwife. "Yes, it's thanks to the medicine you gave. Thank you for your advice."His gaze shifted to Giselle, her condition alarming. She was incredibly thin and pale. "Giselle, you need to eat a lot to recover. For now, be patient. You know your husband is also just recovering, right?"It sounded offhand, but Giselle was happy to feel cared for. Throughout her pregnancy, she'd been frequently ill, worrying the healthcare workers.She remembered their warning about a possible C-section. But the delivery had gone well, and she was grateful.The mountain of housework was now her biggest concern. She wanted to complain but couldn't fight her fate, however difficult it was.
Before her husband returned, Giselle tidied their room. Her gaze fell upon a phone she'd kept for a while. "I should have sold this thing instead of letting it gather dust." Regret washed over her when she realized the village had no electricity. Regret was useless. Giselle never expected to end up in such a remote, isolated place. How did people here communicate? Giselle took several deep breaths. At that moment, Alessandro's voice echoed, the door opening. "Honey, are you ready? Let's go!" Giselle emerged in a long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants, anticipating the cold weather. Alessandro nodded approvingly. "Oh, did you eat? I just bought these..." Giselle slammed the door shut, startling Alessandro."Why'd you close the door?" "This might sound weird, but if Mother or Father see this, they'll make fun of me again. I don't want that." Giselle's frustration was evident. Alessandro sighed, but Giselle, unfa
"Holy crap! Every grocery store on this island is out of supplies!" The announcement caused a commotion among Giselle's neighbors. Panic set in as Alessandro spoke, "So, how are we supposed to shop?" "We're out of staples at home too! There's still rice at the store, right?" Raffaele responded with a shrug. "Life on a remote island is tough. If the supply ship doesn't come, people struggle to find basic necessities." Giselle slumped. "If there's no rice, what am I going to eat? She leaned in and whispered to her husband, "How long do we usually wait for the supply ship?" Alessandro pondered, sighing with a forced smile. "I can't say for sure. It could be a month, maybe two." That long? Giselle was shocked. She'd never imagined this. But her in-laws and sister-in-law seemed calm and unbothered. "Alessandro, being the head of the family isn't just about marriage, you know that, right?" Selena suddenly spoke, in
"Alessandro, where have you been?" Alessandro turned at the sound of his name. Seeing Netty hurrying towards him, he knew she had something to say. "What is it?" "I need to tell you something about your wife, Giselle." Alessandro frowned. "Giselle? What's wrong with her?" Netty took a breath. "Your wife... she's pregnant!" "It's just a guess, a logical one. We talked, and I told you to take her to the clinic; don't just rely on herbal remedies." Alessandro fell silent, contemplating the future. "Okay, I'll go back." **"Look, you're dehydrated. Were you like this before?" The midwife at the clinic complained after examining Giselle. Giselle, realizing she'd lost weight, said, "It's been three weeks. You should eat more fruits and nutritious food." Alessandro pondered the midwife's advice. Giselle was clearly struggling to adapt to life in the isolated village. Poor thing! But
"Giselle, still sleeping? It's scorching hot; it's noon, you know!" Selena's voice jolted Giselle awake. She hadn't even realized her mother-in-law was standing beside her bed."Sorry, M-mother..." Giselle stammered, nerves jangling. A cough and approaching footsteps distracted her."Why are you still here? Go to the bathroom, at least wash those clothes piled up in the bucket. Don't be lazy after this. Remember, Giselle, Alessandro won't defend you if you act like this."This was the first time Giselle had heard her mother-in-law speak so sharply, so angrily. Had someone poisoned her mother-in-law's mind, making her take it out on Giselle?Alessandro entered the room, finding it cold and silent. "Mother, why are you here? What's going on?"The middle-aged woman folded her arms, glancing at Giselle. "I'm here to teach your wife a lesson. Look at her, still sleeping in bed while you've just returned from fishing. Do you think I'd be happy seeing her lazing around?"Giselle hung h