★★★ “Whatever you did inside was amazing, but you exaggerated your performance a bit. If a person has a brain like mine, you could be easily called out for your pretense,” Benjamin derided Julia, causing Julia to quiver momentarily. She wondered for a brief second how this man could see through her. Jutting out her chin toward Benjamin, Julia said, “Seems like you are a good ethnographer. If you apply this skill somewhere else, you will get a lot of benefits. Believe me.” Benjamin straightened his spine with a loud laugh, as he could not know how to reply to her. Julia looked at Benjamin’s smiling face. Not bad to look at with a smile, she thought, but not as handsome as Joshua and she concluded. “Why the fuck am I thinking about him?” Julia felt like slapping her cheeks hard so that this type of thought never infested her mind. “I’m in a rush.” Have fun at my sister’s engagement,” said Julia, hastily taking her eyes off him to the road and restarting the engine. Abruptly, a larg
★★★“In your room?” He asked and his cold gaze fixed on the anxious woman who felt her head spin like a wheel and she got no speech to utter at that moment, except smiling like a fool.“Umm!! This house is rented by me. A single woman and my neighbors would not be pleased to see a man staying in my house. Hence, can you please leave? Anything you need from her can be continued tomorrow morning. She will go to your villa,” Sussan said, taking steps at them, but not so close to the devil.Joshua’s suspension lessened to bitter annoyance, and his temple throbbed.“I don’t like your voice,” Joshua said to Sussan when he was not in the mood to get free suggestions from a third party.Julia’s wide open mouth hit the jaw. Although she couldn’t see Sussan’s gestures, she could tell how her friend steadied herself without lunging at Joshua.“You... Get out of my house. How dare you talk to me in this tone while standing under my roof? If you don’t move, I’ll kick you out now,” Susan said
★★ Julia brushed away the sweat from her forehead after the strenuous assistance she gave to Joshua in helping him to sleep on the pillow. She gave a second look to the man before getting off the bed as she wanted to drink water to quench her thrust. He was a monster, impossible to move, and his uncontrolled flirting caused her ground to slip. Thankfully, she was sitting on the bed. She pursed her lips and blinked her eyes with a fixed thought. Acting on thought, Julia pulled out some strands of his hair to test whether he was Julius’ father. Joshua made no fuss, it was obvious he felt nothing. Julia smiled at her own deed which was silly yet important and she walked out. When she went downstairs unexpectedly, she noticed the two bodyguards with some food and drinks while they were having a deep conversation, but when they sensed her, they quickly stopped talking and ate their food. “It appears as though I'm a hindrance. Don’t mind me. I am deaf to people always,” Julia said and
★★★ “Stacy, stop crying. Timothy was just exhausted. Haven't you seen his tired face?” Stacy’s mother pacified her newly engaged daughter, who could not stop her tears from coming out since Timothy pushed her away from his path while Stacy wished him to stay a little longer. “Haven't you noticed the changes Timothy had drawn on his face suddenly, as if I was a bag of dust he just blew without care,” Stacy shouted, slumping down on the couch? She could not get over what she had seen in his eyes for her. Especially on the day of their engagement. Nonetheless, his mother either didn't even give her a warm shoulder. “It was because of your silly plan that you haven't cared to involve me. And look, you just banged your own head on the wall while Julia gets herself the name that was almost erased by us,” Stacy's mother said with a comfy voice. Though she was almost on the verge to be exploded, since her daughter was fragile she could not count her fury. “Mom, why don't you kill her dire
★★★ Joshua cast an unpleasant aura before mentioning, “Looks like I’ll have to lock every room in this villa so you won’t even bother to wander around and make bold decisions.” “If doing all this makes you happy, then do it. But I am in no mood to fight with you. Sit down and talk,” Julia said professionally, causing Joshua to raise his eyebrows suspiciously, but he sat down on a seat opposite Julia, doing as he was told. “What is it?” Joshua asked as he leaned his back on the chair. His towel had its job properly and did not cause any blunder. Still, Julia thought he should have put on proper clothes before coming down. “I have written a few clauses that should be included in the contract and foremost I want you to read it,” Julia said while a smile lingered around her lips, accompanied by serenity. “You are very serious about the contract. Impressive,” Joshua said. His eyes halted a brief moment on her face before he looked at her hand that was holding the paper. He took it and
★★Julia and Joshua had breakfast together, after which Julia told Joshua that she had to go out for some shopping and it was a lie, as her destination was to meet the doctor for that DNA test.She met directly with the lab doctor who was recommended by Julia's old family doctor, who had retired, yet a voice from Julia made it possible. Julia was afraid to approach the lab directly. Therefore, it was the only way to achieve this key result.She held her hope high of not getting what she was fearing. In case that mishap happened, Julia's shoulders dropped, and she released a breath because she did not know.Looking down, depressed, she stepped out of the hospital when she bumped into Timothy, who was rushing inside, but when he felt who was the person beside him, his nerves pulled in tension. Immediately, he kiboshes his steps with a thud in his heart and turned his head.Julia, on the other hand, was very aimed in her way. Although some things you could not overlook even if you w
★★ Julia went to the room where conferences usually took place. She knocked on the door twice before going inside. However, she was stunned to see the sight there. The manager was sitting on the main seat where her father used to sit and the manager had a woman on his lap during the meeting. The entire room shifted its gaze to the petite woman standing at the door. The clothes she was wearing had class as they checked head to toe, but was she entering to give an interview? Everyone had their thoughts. Someone thought Julia was another personal toy to the manager. Except for one who recognized who this girl was. The manager pushed the girl off his lap and got up from his seat, but his face was covered with disgust. And he asked, “Who are you?” He pretended not to recognize Julia. Julia could see her appearance drove him up the wall, and it was enjoyable. She stood silent for a brief moment while she let him show her cold eyes that would not fit with the surroundings. The manager tu
★★The manager looked menacingly at Julia, observing her face, which showed determination, but to no avail. He went on to say, “You have earned the right to be in that position, but there is no point in staying there when there is nothing to do.”Julia turned her eyes to the man, broadening her mind to understand the meaning of his words. Though he looked relaxed, which shouldn’t be the case if you knew your job hung by a thin rope. However, he was unperturbed.“Could you explain why I have nothing to do sitting here?” Julia asked, mulling over her beliefs as the manager was still covetous for the seat.“I’m sorry to hear that your stepmother doesn’t value you.” The manager didn’t pass up the opportunity to taunt her as he shoved both hands in his pockets with the rest of the information.“The majority of this company's possessions were sold off and the remaining will be disposed of in the coming days. It is not an office but a ruin. I also believe you don’t know that your momma
Six months later ★★★ Like a royal palace, the villa had been garlanded with blooms. An uproar could be heard everywhere. One after another, upscale cars could be seen pulling up. A wedding took place in the garden. People were seated in two rows that had been partitioned, and the bride and groom would stand on a stunningly garish stage. Gary and Artin accompanied Joshua to the stage while waiting for the bride. Joshua was anxious despite his best efforts to appear confident. Julia had stated that she would consider getting married after having their second kid, but after putting up with so much of his intransigence, she finally gave in. It didn't take long for Julia to show up at the location with her father, hooking her hand around his arm. She looked ethereal in a white gown, and her baby bulge could be seen peeking out. Not to be forgotten, Julius was chosen to carry the rings. The admiration in people's eyes for Julius was unavoidable. They were all cheering an
★★★Julia's eyes grew brighter as she exited the car and as the lights on the villa came on as if the festival were at the door.“Wow! What is this?” Asked Julia, turning her attention to Joshua who pushed her skirt's wrinkly corner downward.To ensure she wouldn't accidentally move it, her left hand was bound to her shoulder.“Humph! They decided to do something to make you feel welcome."Joshua told her, his gaze drawn to her stunned expression. He didn't imagine she would enjoy this juvenile nonsense. Otherwise, he would light up the building for the rest of their lives.“It is too much,” Julia mumbled and stepped up toward the vast entrance of the hall room. She heard no sound of her people, but she could definitely tell they were hiding to surprise her.As soon as she entered, she could hear shouting in all directions.“Welcome, Julia!!” Sussan shouted, followed by Julius, “Welcome, Mum!”Julia smiled brightly while revealing her teeth. After scanning everyone, she stopp
★★★Julia smiled as she waited for the door to close, then turned to face Joshua. “How can you deliberately hurt a child?” she questioned, her eyes shooting anger at Joshua, who sliced her words with an uncaring attitude.He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips.“ I suddenly feel like we haven’t enjoyed much time together,” Joshua whispered, then went up to her forehead and placed a loving kiss there.“I love you, Julia.”With an unexpected wind spin sensation entering her gut, Julia stiffened. On the surface of her heart, a tiny deer was prancing. Before today, she had no idea how enthralled by his revelation she would become; she was not only delighted but also over the moon.Joshua’s warm breath fell on Julia’s face as they both fixed their gaze on one other, their hearts were thumping in the protracted quiet.The powerful impulses in Julia’s heart caused her to blink more often than usual. Part of her wanted to fight until he confessed his love to her once more, but
★★★As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Julia was rushed straight to the surgery room. Julius had moved onto the specialty ward as well. Gary and Artin had been holding Joshua back, but they soon felt Joshua collapse to the seat.They experienced a day that let them understand what it was like to lose someone. The pain of compulsion was so hazardous!But God could not be cruel to them.★★★One Week LaterJulia was transported to a garden with a pleasant floral aroma. Her eyes were mesmerized by the beauty of the newly blooming flowers, and although she was unable to say their names, this did not detract from her enjoyment. She crossed her legs as she sat on a lovely cushion.With a deep inhale, Julia murmured,“ It's magnificent."The warm sun penetrated her flesh as it cut the cold from her soul, making Julia feel alive and refreshed.Suddenly a gentle voice flowed into her ears, “Mum.”"Mum!"Julia was compelled to listen for the gentle voice. She was familiar with th
★★★ Joshua was being closely followed by Artin and Gary in the back, but suddenly, they were being yanked back by ropes around their throats. As they battled to breathe, the rifles in their hands fell to the ground. Joshua, on the other hand, forced himself up off the ground and jerked his head. Although there was little light, he could feel a stinging pain in his browbone. He had a steady gaze, focused on that person. In contrast, a gaslight turned on and a familiar face emerged. The man said, “Remember me, boss.” “Snake!” Joshua exclaimed. “Nice to meet you. So, you are working for a woman now. Suits you,” Joshua mocked and launched forward with his tight fist that landed on that man’s nose. Prior to being kicked out of the organization for defrauding Joshua of his business, Snake had previously been working with them. “I’ve been itching to kill you for a while. The day finally came. Oh, yes, I need to tell you,” the man smirk with his bloody nose and continued, “I vented all
★★★Joshua entered the house through the door that was already open, but even if it hadn't been, it wouldn't have made much of a difference because he wouldn't have bothered if he had to smash it. But as he entered and bumped into the bleeding body, his feet shook. There was blood all over the floor; it was impossible to tell if it was this man’s or if something had occurred to Julia and his son.“Boss, this, Miss Julia’s jewelry, and her handbag were discovered outdoors. Someone might,” Artin said and entered, but he was not required to finish the rest. He could see that his presumption was accurate. They were clearly taken by someone.Gary proclaimed, “I told it, we ought to assassinate Benjamin.”For the first time, Gary spoke about a subject on his own initiative rather than following instructions because he was aware of the significance Miss Julia and her son had for Joshua.“No, the perpetrator of this action cannot be Benjamin. He wants the boss to be at his disposal, but
★★★ Joshua exhibited childlike excitement as though he was about to receive his preferred surprise. His eyes were fixating on the image of the mother and son in his hand. In the picture, their smiles were beaming like the brightest sunshine of his life. He was simply angry with Julia for not telling him once, and that was it. Because Joshua was longing to have a child with her, but in reality, they already had one and Julia hid it. “Oh, Julia!! I will kill you. You deserve the harshest punishment!” Joshua thought but could not able to remove the smile from his lips. He held the picture close to his chest and ordered, “Drive faster!” Gary and Artin both nodded in tandem before accelerating the car. ★★ After absorbing such news, people in the mansion had already left. But they could not able to digest the entire occurrence, which hadn't made it to their stomachs; instead, it had stuck to their throats. Joshua's grandfather could not help but yearn to see his great-grandson's face.
★★★ In his black outfit, Joshua resembled a magnificent angel. He could still kill thousands of women's hearts while maintaining a straight face, but within he was unhappy since the message came from her. It made him shatter. His heart felt as heavy as a stone that had been purposefully placed, and both hands clasped their fists in his pockets. He held onto the hope that Julia wouldn't buy all this, or at the very least, would wait for him to explain it to her. But when he read her icy text, he was speechless. Rosetta, dressed in a lovely pink gown, appeared at Joshua's side. Her friends and relatives were with her. There were a few people present, but no media. However, everybody who attended the party could sense that the atmosphere was somber rather than cheerful. It did not feel like a celebration. While pretending to be having fun and smiling at one other, sipping on their drink, some people were actually forcing their feet to stay put since they couldn't get away. Howev
★★★Julia and Julius went to an ice cream shop to have some ice cream. Sussan refused to accompany them, claiming she had urgent business to attend to. Sussan was upset, and it was due to Julia's statements.But Julia merely desired tranquility.As someone who had experienced grief and failed relationships, she was used to them, but at least Joshua did not express his love for her; this was sufficient for her to believe that Joshua had no feelings for her. She couldn't possibly cry over it, so she didn't.“My ice cream is delicious; let me try yours, Mum!" Julius chimed as they boarded a cab heading for the home Julia had chosen for her father and Old May. They could live there comfortably."Hand me yours as well," Julia remarked gently as they exchanged ice cream."Mum, I want to tell you something I've been keeping from you," Julius informed his mother, avoiding eye contact.“Hmm! Spill the beans,” Julia said, sticking out her tongue to lick the ice cream. She did not observe