Bruce gave Stacy a reassuring look, trying to calm her nerves. Silently telling her that it's fine to share anything that bothered her. He knew something was wrong somewhere for her to be so hesitant to pick up her calls. Stacy shook her head silently in disapproval. She didn't want Bruce to know anything. He shouldn't find out. "Don't do this Mr. Yates. You can't know about this. He will only use you for his benefits, Sir,” Stacy pleaded desperately, trying to convince him but she wasn't voicing her words out but instead saying them through her glossy amber eyes. Bruce ignored her plea and slid his slender fingers across the screen. He remained quiet as he listened to the person on the other end of the line attentively. "Are you crazy, Stacy?! I have been calling for so long and you have refused to pick up! Are you doing this because of what I told you earlier? Huh?” Ethan’s voice roared angrily from the other side of the line which caused Stacy to flinch. Her mind r
"Keep your opinions to yourself and focus on your own affairs. Just because my son-in-law handed me his card doesn't mean I can't ask for more. He is affluent, and my request is but a drop in the ocean for him, so mind your own business!" Ethan snapped back. Stacy stood her ground, her voice firm as she replied, "You have no right to make demands from my Boss." "Your boss? Who do you think you are referring to as your boss? He is your husband, Stacy! If you can't make good use of the privileges you have, then I will take advantage of them on your behalf! Goodbye!" Ethan's voice dripped with disdain as he abruptly ended the call. Stacy's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, her amber eyes flickering with wrath as she furiously stomped her feet on the tiled floor. "Argh!!! That man will be the death of me one day!" Stacy seethed with a mixture of anger and humiliation. How could her father behave in such a shameless way? After Stacy exited the room, Bruce retrieved the fal
"Your new mom is here now, and I'm confident she will fill those voids of the past with her love and care. Anyone can be a mother to you as long as they genuinely love you and demonstrate it through their actions," Bruce said with a smile, and Cherry nodded in agreement. “You're absolutely right, Aunt Stacy has been an incredible mom! I don't wish for anything or anyone else,” Cherry declared. "You know, there are many children out there who do not have parents, but we are fortunate enough to be embraced by people with kind and caring hearts. We don't always need to receive love from those who gave birth to us. Love can come from anyone who truly cares for us," Bruce explained, drawing from his own experiences as an orphan who had to go through life without his mother after her tragic passing, which left him traumatized for months. Even to this day, he had not received the love he yearned for, only encountering animosity from those around him who were supposed to be family but c
"I asked you a question, Stacy," Bruce reiterated. Stacy's eyes reluctantly lifted to meet his sculpted face, his piercing grey eyes locking onto hers. Unintentionally, her gaze trailed down to his well-defined abs, then further down to where his little big monster was concealed beneath the towel before she quickly shut her eyes. "Yes, Stacy! Your mind is indeed playing tricks on you and you need to stop it before you disgrace yourself further!” She scolded herself inwardly. "Don't get me wrong, Stacy. If I'm going to undress, then I won't do that in front of you when I know you will be very uncomfortable by it,” Bruce coaxed, taking a step forward. "Uncomfortable? It would be a pleasure to see you standing before me, stripped butt naked with your almighty member shoved at my face, sir,” Stacy’s inner demon argued. She quickly realized that it wasn't her voice speaking. "Oh no, what are thinking now, Stacy? What have you done to yourself?!” She screamed. "I know you admir
Turning her head away, Stacy felt Edward's breath on her neck as he once again breathed in her scent. "What are you doing? Please stop this. Stay away from me, Edward. This-this is inappropriate, and I am not okay with it,. This is wrong," Stacy stuttered, attempting to distance herself. However, Edward firmly grasped her slender arms on both sides effortlessly, restricting her movement. Feeling increasingly uneasy and agitated by his actions, Stacy drew upon a newfound strength and forcefully pushed him away, causing Edward to stagger back a few steps. "Didn't you hear me?! I told you to stop coming close to me! I told you to stay away, I don't like it!" Stacy lashed out. "Is that why you pushed me like that?" Edward retorted sharply, his eyes reflecting anger. "Who do you think you are? Some sort of beauty queen? Let me be frank; you stink! Perhaps you should consider taking a bath before someone else points out the same thing twice!" Stacy’s eyes constricted on him. Tak
Once Bruce entered the kitchen, Olivia who stood hidden at the corner in secret, watching the whole scene she had caused unfold before her eyes was suddenly pulled down the small passageway out of the scene to a different enclosed area in one of the servant's rooms. "Mom! Why did you do that?” Edward yelled at his mom furiously. He had just left his room after his encounter with Stacy only to find his mother smiling at the side of the burning kitchen. Then he knew she had a hand in it. "Why are you yelling at me? I did it to get back at her after what she did today. I wish she wasn't the only one who got burned. That little brat should have been burnt along with her!” Olivia said through gritted teeth in disdain, the words Cherry and Stacy had said to her replaying in her mind. "Stacy got burnt?” Edwards asked in both surprise and concern. "Yes, I think. She was very close to the cooker so she must have gotten burnt,” Olivia scoffed unbothered about the danger her action
"She will be seven next week. Why didn't anyone tell me?” Stacy was surprised at the revelation. She never thought Cherry’s birthday would come up so soon and no one bothered to tell her about it. "But… why is Mr. Yates mad at Cherry for entering the kitchen?” Stay pondered. "I knew it! Cherry was hiding something from me and right now Mr. Yates is really angry about it. I'm sure I will receive some scolding really soon for letting her in.” "You're still young, Cherry. None of you should venture into the kitchen again," Bruce firmly declared. "I'll be hiring a new chef to replace William shortly. In the meantime, it's crucial that no one enters the kitchen under any circumstances. I won't risk your safety for the sake of a meal. If you need food, get it from a reputable nearby eatery with high standards of food preparation. Safety comes first he stated with resolve. "Dad, I prefer homemade food over getting it from outside," Cherry objected, approaching Bruce and gently taking ho
"What do you mean by you didn't see the need to tell me about it, Stacy? You got burnt by flames for heaven's sake, Stacy!” Bruce let out a gruff sigh. "Show it to me,” He commanded. "S-sir?” Stacy stuttered. "Show it to us, mummy. You hurt yourself and it should be treated quickly. So stop hiding it and show it to us,” Cherry interjected in concern. Stacy nodded slightly and then brought out her hand which she had been hiding right behind her back slowly. Bruce's face darkened even more than it was ever before by the sight before him. Stacy’s hand was badly burned by the flames and she dared to hide it from him. Why the hell would she do that? Bruce's teeth clenched against his lower jaw as his fist balled up till his knuckles turned white. He hated the sight of those burns on Stacy’s skin. He despised it and wouldn't like for it to repeat itself ever again. Unexpectedly, Stacy was swooped off her feet into his massive arms which made her let out a sharp gasp from h
Stacy just glared at him. "What? it's not like I believed him, did I?" Bruce defended then moved his gaze around the sitting room. "And why isn't Eddie around here?" He asked, suspecting that she might be up to something. "I told the guards to throw her out of the estates. She's doing too much and I can't accept it any longer. I've taken more than I can chew," Stacy snorted, twitching the side of her lips as she folded her arms over her chest. Bruce walked over to Stacy in slow and calculated steps that Stacy had to look up at him, wondering what he wanted to do. " Wh_what?" She stuttered and Bruce swiftly wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. "You did a good job by taking out the trash, little birdie," He smirked, leaning closer to her ear. Vanessa glared at the couple romancing before her, her eyes full of hate and jealousy. He had taken everything from her and now he was about to imprison her on top of that? Who does that?! Cough Cough
"Bring her In,” Bruce commanded. One of the police who didn't handcuff anyone went outside and informed his team using a hand sign then he returned to the sitting room. "She is coming,” He informed with a bow. Stacy saw Bruce nodding and soon she saw someone getting pulled into the sitting room by another police officer like she was some sort of criminal and her jaw dropped to the ground! Exact features, exact eyes, exact hair color, and style! The only difference was that the clothes she had on were worn out and looked ragged. Edward's feet staggard back in disbelief. "This can't be true. There's no way she would be the one I fell in love with. She can't be the one,” He whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on her as he shook his head. Edward refused to believe cause the girl he knew back in school didn't look this ragged. She was well-kept and was a good girl who was barely noticed but he did the moment he bumped into her in the hallway when she was in tears. How
Everyone listened to it attentively. * "Bruce, I can't live on like this. I love you. I've always loved you from the beginning! That's why I decided to date Edward, at least that way I'll get a chance to speak to you once at least because I never had a chance to speak to you," CShe confessed, her breath coming out shakily. "I have always loved you right from when we were little but I am just a girl no one took notice of. Just a girl behind the wall and when someone finally did, I did not. I do not Love Edward Yates. I love you, Bruce. It's you I want and love. I can do anything to make you believe me. I can strip myself right before you if that's what you need to see before you believe me, Bruce Yates," her voice begged desperately and for some seconds there wasn't anyone responding to her "I do not love you neither would I do so after you strip yourself. I love someone else and it's only her that I will keep loving," Bruce told her to her face genuinely."You should have some
* * * * After dropping Cherry off at school, it was already noon and she needed to pick her up before the bell rang for closing. Stacy headed upstairs to get her purse as she made a call to Bruce's line for God knows how many times now with no answer from him. She kept calling every time and now she was about to pick Cherry up from school but he was yet to answer his calls. "What's wrong? Why hasn't he been picking up?" Stacy's face was wrinkled as she glared at the screen of her phone. She was bothered about his whereabouts and worried about his well-being. "He should at least pick up and let me know that he is doing good rather than getting me so worked up!" Stacy grumbled, making another call to his which was yet ignored again with no answer. "Pick up the damned phone, Bruce!" Stacy yelled out at the screen, venting her anger and worry on the phone by the way she angrily held it. She climbed up the final stairs and was about to make a right turn when she b
"Where did he go? Wasn’t he here last night?” Stacy gasped, wondering why he wasn't on the bed and it was still very early in the morning. A knock on the door caught her attention and she moved her gaze to the door. "Mummy? Daddy? I've been knocking, why aren't you guys answering the door?” Cherry’s little voice caught Stacy’s ears as Cherry kept knocking on the door, outside the room. She immediately got down from the bed and was about to answer the door when she noticed how rough her hair was the moment her gaze brushed past the mirror. The rough night Bruce had with her replayed harshly in her mind. How could Bruce have left the room just like that without saying anything to her? Or was she thinking too much about it? She blinked her eyes three times, moving the memory and everything concerning Bruce to the back of her mind for the time being, and quickly combed through her hair, fixing the out-of-place strands of her hair. "Mummy?!” Cherry screamed and banged h
"I_i...I do," Her voice came out shakily that she couldn't tell him that she didn't want him. Or perhaps she did. She did miss him, his breath against her sensitive skin, his touch, the way his tongue played on her skin. She missed him a lot in these few hours while he was away, spending his time with Eddie. She just wished she could find out the reason why he was hurting her so much. He hurt her at first and now he was getting close to her like nothing happened before. Why should she let him her close to her again after what he did? He should pay for it. He must pay for it! "You do, huh?" Bruce smirked and slammed the door next to them shut with one of his hands, then twisted the key till it got locked as his gaze remained on Stacy, keeping her in place. "Then why bother to pull away from me when you know you want the same from me? Isn't that being inconsiderate? Being selfish when you know I need you? and miss you so badly? huh?" Bruce confessed as he whispered again aga
"What? How can cockroaches be in here?" Bruce frowned. Eddie hid behind him instantly. "Don't ask me those damned questions! How would I know? First, it was ants, and now cockroaches? What the heck is up with your room?” Eddie asked. “I don't know. It's never been like this,” "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to say all these insects started coming Into your room ever since I came here? Huh?” Eddie asked, glaring at Bruce. "I didn't say anything like that but if you take it that way, it might be true,” Bruce shrugged his shoulders. "I will call the guard to come and clean up the room so you can have some sleep. I might also have to hire another maid to clean up-” "Sleep where? So another type of insect can climb up my body? I can't sleep here, Bruce. I won't sleep in this scary room filled with all sorts of insects!” Eddie suddenly screamed when she felt a cockroach crawl up her feet. "Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!” She screamed but Bruce was confused about what h
An unknown knock was heard on their door and Bruce moved his gaze to the transparent door but could not see who was outside his room due to the way the glass was built. Eddie looked at him and then at the door, she knew that there were only two people who could come to Bruce's room by this time, knocking on his door. "Those witches won't let me enjoy my time here," She whispered under her breath, her eyes full of annoyance. Bruce was about to get up from the bed when she beat him to it. "I will check," She said you him gently and Bruce relaxed back. "Who is at the door?" Eddie asked as she walked to the door and opened it. There was no one before her till she moved her gaze downwards and saw the blonde-haired girl she had expected. She frowned her face at the sight of her before throwing questions at Cherry's face. "What do you want?" Eddie asked but the moment Cherry opened her mouth to answer her questions, she threw another."Shouldn't you be sleeping in your room
Eddie froze midway through her facade as she frowned and pouted her lips at Bruce. "Such a grumpy man. He can't even feed a pregnant lady who is in pain," She complained with a sneer on her lips. "I know that I am not pregnant but what if I was pregnant for him?! Could this have been the way he would have ignored me like I am a nobody all in the name of he is sleepy and tired?" Eddie rolled her eyes. "Douchebag!" She cussed him and sighed. "Goodness! I have to think of something really quick." She thought as she averted her gaze to his broad back that was faced against her. A few moments later_ "Oww!!" A loud cry erupted In the room. "I need water, please. My belly is hurting so bad! Our baby is in danger," The annoying cry pierced into Bruce's ears and he grumbled. "The heck is she up to now?" He almost yelled out. Shutting his eyes tightly, he remembered that damned man who forced him to do this. " Doctor Miles, I will make sure you pay for making me pass through this hel