"Thanks for the workout, Jethro." Stacey said when they finished working out. "I really enjoyed it.""Anytime, Stacey," Jethro replied. "You are welcome to join me whenever you want."As Stacey left the gym room, she couldn't help but smile. She felt a connection with Jethro. She could tell he likes her too, just that he hasn't confessed his feelings to her. Or maybe it was because of his current girlfriend.She went back to Anabel's room, but she didn't see her. She decided to take her bath before looking for her. She took a quick bath and left the room in search of Anabel. She wandered through the house, looking for Anabel, and finally found her lounging in the sitting room. She has a book in her hands and a relaxed smile on her face."You are here." She sauntered towards her. "I was looking for you."Anabel looked up at her. "Hey, Stacey. I know you enjoyed your workout.""Yeah, it was great." Stacey replied and sat down beside her. "Jethro can make a good coach."Anabel chuckled an
Anabel nodded, maintaining her composure. "Yes, I'm sure. Can you please bring it out for me?"The salesgirl hesitated again. She was clearly doubting Anabel's ability to afford the dress. "This dress is the most expensive one in the store. Maybe you should look at something more affordable. That is if you can even afford any dress here. I'm sorry, but this place is not for people like you.""What do you mean? Get me what I want." Anabel stated.The salesgirl crossed her arms, refusing to get the key. "I don't think you understand me. This dress is meant for high-end clients. For billionaires. You can't afford it."At that moment, Stacey, who had been browsing nearby, noticed the exchange and walked over. She could see the dismissive attitude of the salesgirl. "What is going on here?" Stacey asked.The salesgirl glanced at Stacey, then back at Anabel. "Your friend here wants to try on our most expensive dress. So I'm trying to make her understand that she can't afford it. I don't want
Stacey said, and Daniella scoffed, crossing her arms. "Believe what you want, girl. But the truth is, Desmond is with me now. And there's nothing you or Anabel can do about it.""This isn't about Desmond. It's about treating people with respect. Something you clearly know nothing about."The salesgirl, who had been watching the hit-up exchange with wide eyes, finally spoke up. "I'm sorry, Miss Daniella, but Anabel did ask for the dress first. It's only fair that she have it."Daniella glared at the salesgirl. "What are you saying? Get the cloth for me, or I will stop patronizing your store.""I'm sorry, Miss Anabel. I will get it right away." Anabel and Stacey watched as the salesgirl pushed the mannequin out of the glass."How much is the dress, anyway?" Daniella asked."Three million dollars, ma'am." The salesgirl replied, and Daniella's eyes widened in shock. She wasn't expecting that. She was expecting to hear a hundred thousand dollars."Three million dollars? Are you serious?" Sh
"Yes, we didn't take anything." Stacey added."Then why the alarm? You guys took something from the store.""Why are you embarrassing us? We are too big for this. Stop accusing us of stealing." Anabel said."Then let me check your bags. I need to confirm." The salesgirl said."Check our bag? So you are doubting us? We didn't take anything." Anabel said."Then why did the anti-theft device activate? Save my time and let me check your bags." The salesgirl insisted."Okay, you can check and confirm there is nothing there." The salesgirl nodded and reached for Anabel's bag first. She searched through it, picking her things out. Anabel's and Stacey's eyes widened when she pulled out a pair of expensive earrings made of diamond."You said you didn't take anything. What do you have to say about this?" The salesgirl asked."This is impossible!" Anabel exclaimed, confused."These earrings are from our store." The salesgirl said, holding them up for everyone to see. "You stole them.""I didn't s
"What is going on here?" one of the security guards demanded.Stacey stepped forward to explain. "There's been a misunderstanding. She found an earring in my friend's bag, but she didn't steal anything. I think someone must have put those earrings in her bag.""The alarm went off, and I found these in her bag." She showed the earrings to the security guards. "It's clear she took them.""I don't know why you guys are not believing us. Please check the CCTV footage. It will show that Anabel didn't take anything." Stacey suggested.The guards exchanged glances, but the salesgirl interjected. "There is no need for that. The evidence is right here.""I didn't take those earrings. I don't know how they got in my bag, but I didn't steal them. Like my friend said, check the CCTV camera. It will settle everything."The guards remained unconvinced. Anabel decided to resolve the problem in another way. She reached into her purse and pulled out her sleek black card."Here, I will pay for the earri
The manager nodded. "I see. This footage clearly shows that your friend did not steal the earrings. This is the one responsible." She said, pointing at Daniella.The salesgirl's face turned pale as she realized her mistake. "I'm so sorry, Miss. Anabel." she stammered and handed the black card back to Anabel and she took it. "I didn't know. Please don't take it to heart. I was just trying to do my job. I didn't mean to cause any trouble." "Trying to do your job by judging blindly and even seizing her card." Stacey asked. "That's so unprofessional." She turned to the manager. "Your salesgirl has been unprofessional and discriminatory. She assumed my friend was guilty without any evidence and refused to check the CCTV footage when we asked. I think she should be fired for her behavior. She is not fit to work here.""I understand your frustration, and I apologize for the way you were treated. We will take this matter very seriously." The manager said.The salesgirl fell to the ground, te
"His girlfriend?" Stacey asked."Yeah, remember I told you they had been having problems. I think that's why they are arguing." Anabel replied. At this moment, Jethro's and his girlfriend's voices became loud and clear."You have stopped picking up my calls for a few days now." Jethro's girlfriend yelled. "I've explained that it's just a message that doesn't mean much. I've told you before, he's just a friend and nothing much. I don't know why you are seeing it as a big deal.""What do you take me for? A fool? I'm not a kid, Stella. I'm mature enough to know what that text is all about. That message is clear to understand. What does he want to do with you at night? Is he texting you for a business meeting or what?""I can see you don't love me. You are finding faults, looking for a way to blame me, and bring another girl in. If you really love me, you won't be saying this. Just because of a common text, you start acting like a kid. Who is that girl?""Don't even try to act smart in thi
Stella, however, wasn't ready to lose Jethro. Not yet. She fell to her knees and clutched Jethro's hand. "Please, love, don't do this. I promise I will make it right. I will block his number and cut him off from my life," Stella said, trying to convince Jethro.Jethro looked down at her. "You lied to me, Stella. You denied it at first. How can I trust you again?""I will do anything to prove myself to you. Just don't push me away. I can't bear the thought of losing you. You are the only one I love." Stella confessed.After ten minutes of begging and pleading with tears, Jethro finally spoke up. "Stella, I don't trust you again. But if you are truly sorry, then maybe I will give you a chance."Stacey got disappointed when she heard Jethro say that. She had hoped this would be the end of their relationship, but it seemed Jethro was willing to accept Stella back."Thank you, love. I promise I'll make it up to you." Stella said and got up."Alright, but if you betray my trust again, it wil
"Then what are we going to do now?" Jethro asked. "I will call an ambulance to take him to the hospital." The doctor said and picked up his phone. He called the hospital for an ambulance and turned to Anabel and Jethro. "I have called for the ambulance. It will be here soon, and your dad will be taken care of." Anabel’s breath shuddered as fresh fear consumed her. Her greatest nightmare—the thought of losing her father—was tightening its grip around her chest. She couldn’t lose him. She wouldn’t lose him. But right now, it felt like she had no control over that fate. Every second felt like an eternity until the ambulance finally arrived. The flashing lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. The paramedics moved with urgency, but their presence only heightened Anabel’s anxiety. Jethro, her brother, immediately rushed forward to assist Dr. Maxwell in lifting their father from the bed. Anabel stood back, frozen, her hands trembling as she watched them carefully maneuver Sir Orton
Without wasting a second, Anabel called her brother, Jethro. The moment he picked up, she repeated the same panicked message.“Dad collapsed! You have to come home!”“I’ll be there, Anabel! Just hang on!” Jethro replied.After ending the call, she knelt beside her father again, gripping his hand as she watched his shallow breathing. “Daddy, stay with me,” she whispered through her tears. “Don’t leave me. Help is coming. Nothing will happen to you. You are going to be fine.”A few minutes later, she heard a car pull up. She was expecting the doctor, but when the door opened, it was her brother, Jethro. He had to speed up immediately after he answered the call."We need to take him to the hospital," Jethro said just as he entered the room."I've called the doctor. He said he's coming.""You have called the doctor, and he's yet to come?" Jethro asked."I don't know what is delaying him. He said he's coming already.""I don't think I'm going to have that patience. Come on, let's carry him
At this point, she could barely breathe. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. Her dad had been struggling on his own until he went weak. Her dad had been fighting with asthma for a very long time, though he always controlled it. But today, she couldn't tell what triggered it. And she was so startled to see that his inhaler was empty. He always bought dozens of it. But since he started taking his drugs, he has found the inhaler unnecessary. These days, he barely uses it. She tried to wake him up, but it all went futile. At this point, she doesn't need any prophet to tell her that her dad needed urgent medical attention. Anabel zipped down her handbag. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with her phone. Her fingers were slicked with sweat as she scrolled through her contacts. Her breath was uneven, her heart hammering in her chest. She struggled to keep her thoughts straight, but the sight of her father lying motionless on the floor had shattered any semblance of calm she
The next morning, as the soft beams of sunlight filtered through the windows in Anabel’s room, Anabel was busy at her desk, clicking away on her system. Her fingers were moving rapidly over her computer keyboard as she worked through tasks with total focus. Even though she seemed focused, her mind was restless. She had been debating whether or not to visit Sylvester and Vanessa that morning. Desmond’s words had burrowed deep into her thoughts, creating an unsettling doubt that she couldn’t shake. She needed answers. She needed to confirm what was true. She wasn't ready for another heartbreak. Not when she hasn't even recovered from the first heartbreak. Hours passed, and finally, she leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply as she finished her work. She closed her laptop and rubbed her temples as she tried to clear her thoughts. With a quiet sigh, she got up and stretched before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. As the warm water cascaded down her skin, her thoughts
Without wasting any time, the dad asked, “Why did you reject Reuben? You can't tell me you are not ready for marriage because that is what you need now. A man that will take good care of you and your child.” Anabel let out a sigh and leaned back against the headboard. “I don’t like him," she said flatly. “I’m not just interested in him.” She answered, and her father crossed his arms as he gazed at her. “That doesn’t matter much. What matters is that he loves you. Reuben is a good man. Ever since I knew him, he never caused trouble. All you need is a man that will love and take good care of you. You can start loving him after marriage. You think all those successful marriages started with love? No—commitment comes first, and love follows.” Anabel shook her head, standing her ground. “That’s not how it works for me, Dad. My heart isn’t in it.” Sir Orton exhaled slowly as he sensed frustration creeping into him. He wasn’t angry—not yet—but he was growing weary of Anabel's choices.
Her father continued. “I’ve told him everything. About your first marriage and your divorce. I also told her about your pregnancy, and he still accepted.” Anabel’s lips parted slightly in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. Reuben was a very cute guy, but looking at him, she doesn't see herself gisting with someone like him. She shifted in her seat before speaking. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Father. And I thank the Johnsons for coming.” Sir Johnson smiled faintly, observing her with an unreadable expression. Reuben remained unmoved as he continued to watch her with silent interest. Anabel took a breath and continued, “Under normal circumstances, I might have asked for time to think it over because we have never talked about it. But there is no need for that.” Her father leaned forward slightly and asked. “And why is that?” "I don't know how this will sound, but I am not interested in marriage now.” She answered, and the room went silent. No one was expecting
Anabel got back home and stepped out of her car. Her mind was still occupied with thoughts about her hospital visit. The conversation with Desmond had stirred something in her—an unease she had tried to push aside but couldn't fully ignore. As she walked toward her father’s grand villa, she noticed two luxurious cars parked neatly in the driveway. She slowed her pace slightly, and her brows knitted together as she took in the unfamiliar, expensive cars. She tried to recall if they were expecting visitors, but nothing came to mind. She tried to recognize the cars, but she couldn't. One was a gold Bugatti, and the other one was a gray Rolls Royce. The latest and the most expensive car in the country. Even though her father was known to have high-profile associates, these cars weren’t ones she recognized. The insignias, the vip plate number. They belonged to people of significant wealth, people who rarely made unexpected visits. Anabel straightened her posture and entered through
Desmond glanced away, knowing that it wasn't even his problem at the moment. His main problem was that someone was about to extort a big amount of money from her. He couldn't stand it. "Yeah, I know, but that’s not my problem right now." He said with a weak voice. Bella raised an eyebrow in curiosity and asked. "What do you mean it’s not your problem? What’s going on? Which other problem do we have here than winning her back?" Desmond hesitated for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "There’s a man. Her so-called new boyfriend." "Does she have a boyfriend?' Bella asked. "Yeah, but the problem is that he's deceiving her. He’s about to extort a huge amount of money from her." Mrs. Elizabeth and Bella both stared at him in shock, but Bella was the first to speak. "A huge amount of money?" "How much money are we talking about?" His mom asked with a voice tinged with disbelief. "I know you guys won't believe this, but this man is about to extort three million dollars from her.
Desmond's mom let out a long sigh and let her shoulders sag slightly. "I don’t blame her, though. She has every right to be angry. After everything we did, after how we treated her... I wouldn’t stop to listen either." Bella, who was standing a few steps away, folded her arms tightly across her chest. "But she should at least hear us out," Bella muttered. "Why would she do that? I mean, we are trying to apologize. We are trying to make amends, aren’t we? It’s not like we are asking for much. She could have rolled down the window for a second. Just a second." Mrs. Elizabeth shook her head gently and glanced at her daughter. "Bella, don't say that. She's angry, and she should be. This is not about what we think she should do. We pushed her away. We hurt her. She doesn’t owe us her time, not after the way we treated her." Bella huffed in response and said,. "Yeah, okay, we were wrong. But if she doesn’t let us talk, how are we supposed to make it right? She should have just let us tal