"Clara, you haven't even said anything after yesterday's problem. I never thought of betraying you," Jordan insisted, trying to defend himself as Clara returned home. However, she glared at him with piercing eyes. "So what am I supposed to say?" she retorted, her voice devoid of emotion. "I'm not joking, Lara, I need your approval." Clara took a deep breath, "So you're forcing me to allow you to marry her?" she asked sarcastically. "Do you feel no guilt after betraying me behind my back?" "Clara, listen to me..." "Shut up" Clara didn't even give Jordan a chance to speak. Her gaze was sharp, as if piercing through his eyes, making him sweat even more. "But Clara..." "You still have the audacity to ask me to approve your marriage?" Jordan remained unfazed. But Clara was not a weak woman who would cry, even though the betrayal hurt deeply. She felt it was pointless to stand there and decided to leave. However, she had only taken a step when Jordan's words reached her. "... I've m
The man who had helped them, his face vaguely familiar, stood before Clara and her twin sons. They had been cornered in their car, the thugs finally giving up and leaving them alone. He turned around, his face coming into focus. "Joe?" Clara exclaimed, slowly releasing her grip on her sons. As Joe approached, Clara tried to act nonchalant. “Thank you for helping us…” she started, then stopped. "Wait! How did you know we were here?" Just then, a police car arrived. The thugs, incapacitated by alcohol, were no match for the officers who easily apprehended them. Joe, a doctor who had treated her in the past, smiled. “I just happened to be passing by. Are you alright? And these two little ones…” Clara tightened her hold on Lucas and Louis. “They're my sons. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there... but who called the police?" "Me!" Clara looked at Lucas, who was grinning. "You?" The boy looked at Clara. "Yes, I called the emergency number and sent the locatio
"Are you sure about this place?" Raisa's skepticism hung in the air as they entered the open-air restaurant, its mid-range ambiance a stark contrast to her refined tastes. Jordan shrugged, his easygoing demeanor betraying nothing of her disapproval. He was used to simpler fare, to the robust flavors of traditional, spicy dishes. The menu's modest offerings didn't faze him. Lara's influence, Raisa muttered under her breath, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes. Even with Clara, he'd displayed this same unpretentiousness, but it grated on her now. This place felt too…rustic. She pushed her plate away, the gesture a subtle dismissal, a subconscious rejection that extended beyond the food to Clara herself. "Forget this," she declared, her voice sharp, "From now on, you'll adjust. You'll change your perspective." Jordan opened his mouth to protest, but Raisa, already impatient, pulled him away. They moved on, leaving behind not just the restaurant but, it seemed, a part of his past, a par
"Lara, are you okay?" Seeing Clara grimace while holding her stomach, Joe felt concerned. "I-I'm fine, my stomach is just a little uncomfortable. You wait here, I'll be right back." After speaking, Clara hurried away. Just as Clara's back disappeared from view, a man cleared his throat, startling Joe. "So, it's you?" However, the man snorted, staring sharply at Joe, "I think it's time for you to leave..." Hearing the cold whisper, Joe immediately responded. "What do you mean? Why are you telling me to leave?" "Don't make me repeat myself, you know Lara is someone's wife, right? You shouldn't be here." Joe burst into laughter instantly. "Someone's wife, what are you talking about? Come on, Mr. Halle, don't lie to yourself. You two have nothing to do with each other anymore, am I wrong?" Joe raised an eyebrow. "You..." Jordan held back his words, his finger pointing directly at Joe's face. "Did Lara tell you something?" "Maybe yes, maybe no!" Joe circled Jordan, making him irrit
Joe and Seira, celebrating their recent success, took Clara and her two children out for lunch. For Joe, his medical profession was now a sideline, with his own practice in Clara's apartment. He spent most of his time helping Clara with her business. “I think your presence here has brought us good luck.” Clara’s words made him chuckle. He felt his efforts were nothing special and attributed it all to fortune. “Do you really think so?” “Yes, what else could it be?” “Actually, the good luck isn’t me, but your own abilities that made us successful. I’m sure you’ll be even more successful without me.” If she argued with Joe, Clara would undoubtedly lose, so she chose to remain silent and agree. But she was certain that Joe had worked hard to make his business truly global. “Come on, didn’t you say you were hungry? The food is ready, we don’t have to wait for it to get cold.” Seira looked at one of her favorite dishes on the table. But suddenly she winced, as if in pain. “Sei, are
"Seira had given birth, but I have bad news…" Clara waited anxiously for the doctor's words, her heart pounding. "We did everything we could, but the baby… we couldn't save it." "So… Seira's baby… is dead?" The doctor nodded gently. Clara felt sympathy for her friend, who stood frozen, staring at her baby, now swathed in a batik cloth. Seira's eyes were swollen. Clara felt compassion and approached her. Seira's sobs broke, unrestrained, on Clara's shoulder. She had waited almost four years for this pregnancy. Fate, however, had other plans. The baby she longed for was gone. Her dream of a son and daughter was shattered. Her husband arrived ten minutes later, finding the room heavy with grief. He saw his baby being mourned, while Seira, still recovering, was only met with cold stares. "Seira…" he finally approached her, lost in her sorrow. He wanted to say something, but Seira needed time to compose herself. "My love, this wasn't our choice. Be patient." His voice trembled, his
“Mr. Halle, the event starts at 9:00 AM, I’m supposed to pick you up.” Jordan let out a rough breath. If he didn’t leave soon, his boss would be furious. If he could turn back time, he would have paid someone to take care of his work… “Mr. Halle, we’ll stop here…” But when he turned, the driver saw Jordan’s face pale. “Are you alright, Mr. Halle?” Jordan shook his head. Even though his body wasn’t feeling well, a man like him wouldn’t be weak and give up on his situation. “Keep driving” However, the car came to a sudden halt when they saw people crowding in the middle of the road. Jordan and his driver got out of the car to find out what was happening. Seeing many security officers and reporters gathered around the area, Jordan immediately asked. “Excuse me, what’s going on?” A woman walked with her head down, escorted by security officers who emerged from the crowd. Feeling unclear, Jordan approached the reporters covering the news. “Emma?” Jordan furrowed his brow, curious abou
"Oek... Oek..." "Ma'am, Giselle won't stop crying. Would you mind holding her for a while?" The maid's request was met with immediate offense from Raisa. "You're paid to work here, aren't you?" Her eyebrow shot up, leaving the maid speechless. During her time with the Halle family, this was the first time her employer had ever mentioned wages. However, Raisa's presence in the house had made the maids feel insignificant, and even dismissing them was as easy as snapping her fingers. It might have been safe for Raisa, but not for those who lost their jobs in a blink of an eye. This was what irritated everyone working in the Halle household. As the maid chose to soothe her daughter Giselle until she stopped crying, Raisa started to rummage through her entire wardrobe. "I need to look perfect for the exclusive clothing brand commercial shoot. I need to secure an advance payment when I promote it. Get positive ratings and an extra bonus." Raisa's enthusiasm was so intense that she didn
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
TimeBack at his apartment, Mischa tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She glanced at the clock. "It's 2:00 AM."She sat up, leaning against the pillows, blinking sleepily, then checked her phone – still dark. Her breath hitched. Louis was going to see Netty. "I have to make sure Netty stays away from my husband," she muttered, a knot tightening in her stomach.She picked up her phone, intending to distract herself with social media. A post stopped her cold. Her husband was at the hospital!"This is weird. I need to find out what he's doing there."***2:05 AM"Ms. Netty needs type B blood. We're looking for donors…" Louis remembered the doctor's words to his sister, Giselle. He decided then and there to donate."Excuse me, doctor, I'm here to donate blood…" Louis knocked before entering the doctor's office."Come in…"He was calm, but worry etched his face."Your name?""Louis Halle.""Since you're close to the patient, are you willing to donate?" the doctor asked, observing
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
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
"I'm sorry Louis, let me think for a while longer, and if that time comes, I'll see you soon..."The next day, Netty prepared for her departure. However, she still believed that the only place for her to calm down was her family. "Netty, you have to take care of yourself there. I feel like an irresponsible person for letting you go alone. You must understand my situation right now, right?" Louis could not leave the company at that time, especially since his parents were so adamant about keeping him in the company. "Louis, why has your expression changed? Lucas suddenly appeared to awaken the man from his reverie. But Louis was still silent, so Lucas continued. "You and Netty were already considered to look like lovers, but why did you let her go?" His gaze turned cold at his twin brother. "Stay out of my business, you don't deserve it!" Finished speaking, Louis immediately left there with the burden of thoughts that were stuck in his mind about last night's incident. He acciden
"Taraa…!" A little boy presented Netty with a bunch of fresh, beautiful lilies. His offering coaxed a smile from her, and she accepted the flowers. "Thank you, sweetie. Who told you to give me these?"The boy flashed a gap-toothed grin, then produced a beautifully packaged food box with a little note attached. (Don't forget to eat the food right away!)Reading the note, Netty looked back at the boy—but he was gone! Poof!Where did he go?She searched the immediate area, but the little guy had vanished. Weird!Shrugging it off, Netty prepared to leave. That's when Louis appeared, a smirk playing on his lips. "So? Did you get your bouquet?"Netty frowned, looking down at the flowers in her hand. "So, this was your doing?"Louis nodded slowly. "Do you like them?"He started to respond, but then—bam!—a near-identical version of himself materialized, greeting Louis with, "Long time no see, Louis. How's it going?"But his face was sour. Louis clearly wasn't thrilled about this guy'
A suspicious figure was seen driving a car and stopping at the end of the road, acting strangely.The driver then steered the vehicle towards a dilapidated warehouse. A small telescope was in their hand, a smirk playing on their lips. This was seriously shady!The driver got out of the car, removed their glasses, and stood in a hidden corner, producing a wad of cash from atop the car's hood. "Here's your payment, as agreed. Five million should be enough. Count it yourself."The hired man opened the bag containing the money. Seeing the bundle intact, the bald man with a tattooed arm smiled contentedly. "Alright, I guess I don't need to count it. I trust you, anyway." He grabbed the bag with a jarring laugh, quickly silenced."Cut it out, unless you want to get us both busted," the driver threatened.The hired man gave a thumbs-up. "Then I'm outta here. You should scram too."A harsh grunt was heard—Mischa. After recognizing Netty, she'd investigated the girl's background, digging th