The NexGen Attire Co. team welcomed Clara warmly. They were introduced to the company's CEO, a charismatic man who emerged, tucking one hand into his pants pocket.His eyes glanced at Raisa, who smiled encouragingly. Clara's heart found a sliver of solace. 'Whatever the consequences, this is for my children.'The thought dimmed her gaze momentarily, but her focus shifted when she received a call from her children's teacher. "Excuse me, Miss Lara, if you have time, please come to school as soon as possible. I hope you can come as quickly as you can."Hearing this, Clara panicked. She saw Raisa's confused expression and rushed out, her voice trembling. "The kids are in trouble. Please help me with the procedures."She immediately hailed a taxi and headed to Lucas and Louis' new school.In front of the school building, Clara got out in a hurry and headed towards the classroom. Her face contorted as she saw the scene unfolding inside."What happened to this classroom? Why is everything in
“It smells like chocolate.”Louis, at first, was able to sit still for a while, but Raisa, who had just taken Lucas to the toilet, hadn’t returned after a while.He couldn’t just sit there calmly. Leaving his chair, he sniffed and searched for the source of his favorite aroma that had made him unable to resist his appetite. “I have to get the chocolate milk…”Not far from there, his gaze focused on a waiter walking with a tray inside the restaurant. His eyes lit up instantly.He didn’t care about anything else and approached the waiter with his short legs, following where the waiter went, then stopping at a table in the front.Without thinking, Louis said. “I want chocolate milk…” ***“Hurry up, your brother must be waiting for us.”Coming out of the toilet, Lucas and Raisa returned to the waiting chairs in front of the restaurant, but she was confused when she realized Louis wasn’t there.At that moment, Clara arrived. Raisa immediately asked her. “Lara, is Loius with you?”Clara wa
"Lara, have you found him?" Raisa suddenly appeared between them, realizing she was talking to a man. She was a little curious. "Lara, he...""Mommy, it seems like we've met this uncle before, don't you remember?" Lucas, standing beside Raisa, suddenly said innocently.This child's memory was indeed strong! It turned out he really paid attention to the posture and cold face of the man in front of him.The man showed a friendly smile and greeted them. "Hi kids, what's your name?"But Clara immediately pushed away his outstretched hand, considering it dangerous. "Don't ever touch him!"Being treated like that, Jordan was a little annoyed, but he tried to hide it and tried to smile. "I hear you've been getting more famous lately. I don't think it hurts for us to work together to strengthen our business relationship in the future."He took a step forward and whispered. "I'm sure you'll agree if you know what I have, and one more thing. You should introduce your two children to me, aren't
“Lara, are you still awake?” Raisa, having overheard Clara’s rustling, quickly went to her room.“Oh, yes, it just so happens that I…” Clara trailed off, her nose twitching. “It smells amazing, are you cooking?”Raisa smiled and opened the door wide. “Don’t laugh, lately I’ve been really into eating. So I’m baking a pizza,” she said, grimacing.Intrigued, Clara got up and walked towards the kitchen. Though initially doubtful, she was surprised to find a still-steaming pizza on the dining table.Curious about the taste, she approached the table, exclaiming in admiration. "Wow! You have incredible cooking skills!"Two thumbs up were given to Raisa, who had followed and was now standing behind her. "Did you think I couldn't? You better be quiet and sit still before your two children wake up." Although Raisa's words were a little harsh, Clara didn't hesitate to take a bite.Raisa stared at Clara for a long time, as if about to say something, but she seemed hesitant.Aware that she was bei
"Sorry, Lara, I forgot to tell you that Jordan is also my partner for this competition. But don't feel threatened, I'm sure you'll be the best among the competitors." Raisa blinked, the air thick with unspoken tension. She noticed Jordan's lingering gaze on Clara and tried to distract him. "Mr. Jordan, you said we still have to meet Mr. Jonson, the owner of the Belleza Couture boutique, your business partner." Jordan only shifted his gaze when Raisa spoke. "Alright." He felt reluctant to leave, hoping Clara would chase after him. "Wait!" Raisa was surprised when Clara stopped Jordan by holding his arm. This was exactly what Jordan wanted. As they locked eyes, Raisa felt her heart race, a sense of dread settling in her stomach. No, don't let Clara fall for Jordan again! She muttered under her breath, seeing a flicker of hope in Jordan's watery eyes. Suddenly, Jordan's phone buzzed, demanding his attention. "Sorry, I have to take care of this. We'll communicate when I'm free." Ra
"Miss Clarissa, I've done it." Behind the stage, Jordan overheard Raisa's phone conversation. Hearing Clarissa's name, he furrowed his brow. He felt something was wrong with them. "I'm sure Clarissa is planning something. This can't be ignored. Clarissa is not an ordinary person, I have to investigate her." He muttered. Jordan rubbed his head. Raisa's words made him suspicious. But he needed proof and certainty about his suspicions. Jordan's company sales had plummeted drastically. The decline was also sharp, investors were starting to withdraw their funds. However, Jordan couldn't find the cause. His phone vibrated. An unknown number with the area code Values. "Hello?" He answered, his voice tense. "Mr. Jordan?" The voice on the other end whispered. "I have important information, it's about Miss Clarissa. It turns out she's the one who's been bankrupting your company." "Who are you?" Jordan asked, furrowing his brow, curiosity gnawing at his heart. "Me?" A chuckle came from t
"Don't think for a second that I'll be impressed and forgive you just like that..." The voice, coming from nowhere, made Clarissa's face turn pale. "Who is it? Is that you, Jordan? Show yourself!" As Clarissa looked around frantically, she was shown a video call from the screen of her laptop, now facing her. Jordan... "What do you mean?" Seeing Clarissa's reaction, Jordan's figure in the video call burst into laughter. "You can't even guess, let me tell you." He deliberately paused his words, making people curious. "I'll make your fate the same as the condition of my company now, I'll even make you live in the underworld!" His words were so cruel! Jordan was still grinning and continued. "And you have to know, that tomorrow you will face hellfire!" Clarissa slid back, trembling incessantly. On the laptop screen, she saw a man with sharp facial features. His eyebrows and eyes, which were the reason why she could like Jordan, but was there no hope for her now? Clarissa looked at
Clara stepped into the familiar yet foreign elite mansion, her two sons at her side, their presence drawing curious stares from the gathered crowd. The atmosphere was starkly different from six years ago, when she was greeted with cheerful smiles by the servants and even the housekeepers. Lara quickly brushed aside the memories of the past and opened her eyes wide, taking in the scene of mourning that mirrored her own grief. A casket stood in the center of the room, its occupant, the man who had been a pillar of support throughout her childhood, now laid still and lifeless. Clara's tears flowed freely, Lucas and Louis mirroring her sorrow. Jessica, standing beside her with a scowl, broke the silence. "Finally, you're back. I wonder if you only returned after Grandpa passed away." She said, arms crossed over her chest. Clara took a deep breath and looked at Jessica, trying to remain composed. "It's been a long time, but you're still the same. Are you twisting the facts? Don't start
"Doctor, we have a gunshot wound victim! Code red!" A nurse, breathless and frantic, burst into the doctor's consultation room."Right, I'm on my way. Cover for me."The nurse immediately obeyed the doctor's sharp command.The doctor arrived to find a woman lying pale and still, blood staining the sheets. Her family, huddled behind the observation window, looked on in panicked silence."Her heart rate's plummeting. Get her on oxygen, stat!""Yes, Doctor!"The doctor emerged, facing the distraught family. "Excuse me, who are you...?"A man, massaging his temples, spoke quickly. "I'm Alessandro, her husband. How is my wife, Doctor?" His voice was thick with panic."Please, try to remain calm. She's receiving treatment, and while her condition is critical, we're doing everything we can.""Can't you give me a proper diagnosis? I just want my wife to live, Doctor." His eyes welled up.The doctor offered a strained smile. "We'll do our best, but we can't make any guarantees…"Three d
Mischa let his henchman revel in his moment of triumph, then retreated. "Wait! You haven't been paid yet."Mischa's steps faltered. He smiled, raising an eyebrow. "How much do you want?""One hundred thousand dollars."Without hesitation, Mischa produced the cash. "However-" Before the man could snatch the money, Mischa continued, "Forty thousand will do for today! After all, haven't you got a new toy to play with?" He tossed the money at the man's feet.The man grumbled, protesting. "But this isn't what we agreed on! You don't know how hard I fought to get past those CCTV cameras-""Ahh, that's irrelevant. Go. If you don't want the money, give it back. This is the last time I'll pay you.""Can't you show some mercy-"His plea was ignored. Mischa walked away, the man trailing behind.Meanwhile, Giselle, still bound and terrified, frantically tried to break free. She scraped her hands against the rough wall, her skin bleeding. She had to escape, to find a way out...."I'll give Gis
Louis grabbed his chin viciously and received fierce stares from him. "Why—" Mischa still thought, if I tell the truth, would everything change?"Actually—" when Mischa tried to speak, Louis interrupted him. "I'll hear your words if it makes sense!""I-I just want the baby in my womb to have a father. Even if he is not your flesh and blood, do you just hope that you will consider him your son?""What?" Louis reacted in shock and squeezed his hair roughly, "Enough Mischa! Don't go any further, this is already a great insult to me and my family." Deep expressions of disappointment were clearly visible on his face. She couldn't believe it, and Mischa instead made her a cover for her disgrace. Really, a very heartless woman! "Forgive me Louis, I mentioned this reason for the sake of our relationship. Ever since Netty was by your side, you didn't even glance at me at all...""Unfortunately I'm too stupid to trust people like you so easily. If I had known from the beginning, I wouldn't
Louis wasn’t driving himself home. He’d opted for a cab, pulling up in front of a bar he hadn’t visited in ages. Stepping inside, the place was a whirlwind of young, reckless revelers and dancers grooving to the thumping DJ music. He weaved through the crowd, grabbing a drink the moment he spotted an empty stool.“Louis! What the hell are you doing?” Lucas appeared, his voice sharp, as he caught sight of his twin brother knocking back shots of hard liquor.“Louis, have you lost your mind? Your wife’s waiting at home, and you’re here, getting plastered?”Lucas tried to snatch the shot glass, but Louis held firm, his voice surprisingly calm. “Why the rush? Let’s relax and drink this stuff until we’re happy. Don’t worry about the cost.”This was getting out of hand. Louis wasn’t usually a drinker; this change was unsettling. Lucas needed to get him out of there before the alcohol did more damage. “Damn it! How do I even contact Mischa? My phone’s still in the car.”“Still want to wa
Louis’s words hung in the air, sharp as a threat. Mischa wondered if the woman with the long nails and platinum blonde hair was deliberately trying to drive a wedge between them. Giselle watched the woman discreetly. When Louis excused himself to make a call, Mischa casually pulled a cigarette from her purse and lit it, the acrid smell of tobacco instantly filling the room. Giselle coughed. "Excuse me, but this is a non-smoking area. There's a sign right over there."Mischa glanced at the sign Giselle indicated, then rolled her eyes. "And I care?"Giselle took a deep breath, composing herself. Just as Louis returned, Netty's doctor emerged from the room. "Doctor, how is my sister-in-law?" Giselle asked anxiously."She's still unconscious. We'll be monitoring her hourly. Please, try to stay calm."Louis was about to enter Netty's room, but Mischa stopped him. "Can't we just go home? You've already done so much…" Her plea hung unspoken in the air."No! Can't you see someone's life is
In her apartment, Mischa still couldn't sleep and kept shifting positions restlessly. Her eyes darted to the wall clock, then she mumbled, "It's already 2:00 AM." Slowly she sat up and leaned back against the pillow, blinking several times before glancing at her phone, which hadn't flashed since earlier. Her breath came out heavy, and her alertness heightened. Louis was going to meet Netty. "I have to make sure Netty keeps her distance from my husband." Mischa picked up her phone, planning to distract herself by opening social media. As she saw a post, her anxiety deepened when she noticed her husband's location was at the hospital! "This feels strange; I need to find out what he’s doing there." *** 2:05 AM "Ms. Netty needs type B blood. So we are currently looking for someone willing to donate..." Louis still remembered the doctor's words while talking to his sister Giselle, so he immediately went to see the doctor after making his decision. "Excuse me, doctor, I came to don
A social media post stopped Netty in her tracks. The photo showed a back – a very familiar back. She wanted to guess, but fear of being wrong gnawed at her. She checked the account’s owner, a name she recognized: "L Mischa." So familiar, but why the single 'L'? Could it be…? Should she guess it stood for Louis? Was it true, then? Were she and Louis meant to be? Before Netty could dwell further, a notification popped up. A new post from the same account, instantly showered with likes and supportive comments. "My guess is right, the 'L' stands for Louis. Is this the answer to my prayers? If we aren't meant to be, then help me find someone else, someone to help me forget his kindness and our memories." A text message arrived, advertising a part-time night shift job. "I guess this is it. Time to quit my old job and take this new one, even if it's just as a convenience store clerk, only six hours a day." Netty made up her mind. She told her family, grabbed her bag, and left to apply. S
Frustration, anger, and pent-up emotions boiled over after a failed plan. Louis vanished without a trace after that day, disappearing from circulation and ignoring all calls, both business-related and from his parents.His mind was consumed by the desire to apologize to Netty. If he went to her house and asked her family about her, would they tell him? But what if Netty wasn't home?He could barely imagine what would happen if he found out Netty wasn't home. Although he had called her several times, there was only a forwarding message.He spent his days alone, exhausted, without a confidante to vent the frustrations that had been building for days.Today, Louis unknowingly stopped near Mischa's family home. Before getting out of the car, he sat contemplating, murmuring, "I wonder how Mischa's doing?"Suddenly, he thought about the woman he admitted he didn't love at all. His expression was somber. Should he see Mischa now? Doubt clouded his eyes, but what would he say if he did?It
The whispers followed Giselle like a shadow. "They say she never got her mother's love, not even as a baby," one voice hissed. Another chimed in, "Really? Where'd you hear that?" Giselle’s cheeks burned. The judging stares felt like knives. But the whispers died down abruptly as a figure appeared – Alessandro, her husband. "Al-Alessandro..." breathed the gossips. Their attention shifted back to their shopping, the initial purpose of their visit to Giselle’s grocery store. Alessandro’s arrival transformed Giselle's frown into a radiant smile. Serving her customers, she was noticeably more relaxed. Alessandro, however, watched her with a tender gaze, a small smile playing on his lips. Netty, noticing this exchange, chuckled softly. Despite the storms they’d weathered, Giselle felt incredibly fortunate to have him. And now, cradled in her arms, their beautiful baby boy, Leon, completed their picture. Once the last customer left, Giselle