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Chapter 32
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I walked out of the hospital cafeteria with a bag containing burger and fries and two takeaway cups of hot chocolate. My dear sister had shooed me out of her room, not so politely asking me to not enter unless I bring good food to her. I had to sneakily bribe the nice looking waiter to fulfill my sisterly duties.
My phone vibrated as I was walking towards Eva's room and I adjusted the bags and the cups on one hand while I searched for my phone. With great difficulty, I took it out of my back pocket and smiled at the contact name. I was starting to feel that I should change his contact name by now but it always managed to make me laugh every time he called so I let it be.
I ignored my heart which was once again resuming what seemed to be its job every time the devil was involved in any form and answered the call. Before I could even utter a word, however, Adrian beat me to it.
"How's Eva? How did it go?"
He sounded breathless, as if he was running and soon
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Pride and Promises Chapter 33
Over the years, there were quite a lot of times when I wanted to leave my body organs and disappear from the solar system. However, none of those times came even close to what I felt the moment Mr. Stone Senior walked in. This time around, only leaving the solar system didn't seem enough. I wanted to fly out of the Milky Way galaxy and if possible, out of the universe altogether, never to be heard of ever again.I heard Nate's snicker from beside me but couldn't find the energy to glare at him. I was frozen as I looked at the person who was the legend of the business industry. He had turned a medium scale family business toThe Stones Inc.,which was now the biggest business franchise of the world. Adrian had further expanded this business to a whole new level, making it an internationally renowned company.Mr. Stone was handsome even in his fifties. He was tall, just like his son, and had the same black hair, and same facial features. The only featu
Pride and Promises Chapter 34
"Yayy! We're finally returning back! Wow!I'mso happy! I can't wait to see Addie's face when we arrive there! OhmyGod! I bet he'll probably faintfromthe shock!" The seventeen year old girl giggled from the backseat of the car where she was sitting with her younger sister.The young one followed her suit and giggled as well, despite not knowingwhather sister was rambling about. But seeing the older girlmakingfunnyfaces at the painting of a boy withbrightblue eyes, she had a good guess, and almost rolled her eyes atherelder sister. The younger girl wassometimestoo smartfor her ageandliked to think she was smarter than her sister, who wasbehavinglike a child at the moment.The eight year old girl looked at the big paintingthatlay on her sister's lap. It was the painting of a boy. A boy with black hair and blue eyes. She h
Pride and Promises Chapter 35
"Eve?"Gentle arms shook me out of my dark thoughts and I was enveloped in a cocoon of warmth. It was only then that I realized I'd been crying. Soon, my sobs turned hysterical as I remembered the hurt in my sister's eyes that day when I failed to recognize her. The memory gates opened and everything following that incident came crashing down on my brain like sea waves in a storm surge.Adrian was slowly rocking me, murmuring soothing words that I never thought he was capable of speaking in my ears. He held me tightly, so close to him that I could hear the loud thudding of his heartbeat, just as I was sure he could hear mine. I would have pulled away, and a tiny part of my brain said that I should. But the larger portion said to stop thinking and just go with my heart. It was a wonder how the logical voice of my brain was suddenly smaller and almost inaudible.As much as I wanted to forget everything and sleep, I knew that it was now or never. Remembering those
Pride and Promises Chapter 36
I woke up feeling well rested, but at the same time with a faint pounding on my head. Still closing my eyes, I let out a contented sigh and rolled my head, trying to gather my hair because I knew from experience that it would be a mess in the mornings.My head froze in the process of moving as I realized that some of my hair was stuck somewhere. Lying still as dead, I concentrated on my surrounding. Then I heard it. The sound of breathing. Someone was breathing on my bed. I listened more closely. No, breathing wasn't the right word. Someone wassniffingon my bed, or rather, on my hair.With further more concentration, I registered an arm laying over my stomach. Then I felt the tiniest movement from my right, as if some creature was nuzzling my neck.Slowly, cautiously, I opened my eyes and narrowed them at the arm that was still holding me. When the arm didn't move itself from my point of vision, I trailed my eyes up the arm and shifted sligh
Pride and Promises Chapter 37
Jade and Brandon had a baby girl.Apparently Brandon was home when Jade started having contractions and he took her to the hospital without delay with the help of Adrian's parents. The doctors did not take the risk of waiting for normal delivery and immediately went for C-section. Adrian's family had just been given the news of the baby girl when we'd arrived.When we'd finally arrived in what felt like a couple of hours but was in fact only around thirty minutes, there was a doctor in his surgical scrub uniform talking to Brandon, who looked like he was about to pass out anytime. I'd never imagined that I'd see the calm and collected doctor this way- anxious and scared. This just showed how much he loved his wife, the thought igniting a feeling of longing deep inside me. When that feeling started messing up with my brain and an image of a certain someone began to form in my head, I forcefully squashed that thought and commanded my mind to focus on the present.
Pride and Promises Chapter 38
3:03 AM.I was still as wide awake as I'd been three hours ago. As soon as my brain registered the photo, I'd rushed over to my room and hurriedly taken out the shoebox that held my priceless treasures. I'd sighed with relief when I'd found the small t-shirt untouched, still in the same condition like I'd kept it in. It was the only thing I still had to bind me to my Mickey. Then I'd proceeded to examine the evidences that would confirm my suspicions.And that was what I'd been doing since then. Once again, I looked at the photo of the children carefully and back to the t-shirt in my hand, then to the numerous childhood photos of mine scattered all over my bed. But no matter how many times I looked at it, the fact still stood there proudly. The fact that the photo was, indeed, mine. Mine and my Addie's.Closing my eyes, I recalled all the conversations I had with Adrian. Slowly, everything started clearing up. How he'd known about my favorite flower, my favorite
Pride and Promises Chapter 39
"Evie! Your place is gorgeous! And huge!" Eva exclaimed as soon as she hobbled inside the apartment, while I kept close to her, in case she lost her balance. The doctors had advised her against exerting her legs and told her to use her crutches but the stubborn girl couldn't get rid of it sooner than Monica Geller gets rid of dirt in her apartment. She'd insisted that she wanted to take the first step to her home inThe Evastyle, and not like a headless and one-legged chicken."Ourplace, Eva," I corrected her, earning a sheepish grin from her. She'd never been here, since she had been staying at the hospital when I'd bought this place. On the times I'd asked her to come here, she'd always denied, saying she wanted to come home only when she could walk on her feet.Eva looked around and grinned widely when she spotted the huge photo of hers that we'd put up on the wall last night. I shook my head at her. At the rate her smugness was gr
Pride and Promises Chapter 40
I reeled in shock at his words. I couldn't believe that Keith,Dr. Keith Jenkinsloved me. My mind started swirling with the realization and I tried to think back to all my interactions with Keith. Could I have missed the signs or misinterpreted his feelings for a harmless crush? Had I been blind all along?I opened my mouth to apologize but he shook his head, his hand gripping mine a little tighter before letting go. "Please don't. I knew it was wrong. It's against my ethics develop any feelings for my clients other than empathy. But heart never plays by the rules. Ironic as it is, I can't cure myself of this feeling I have for you. Love doesn't go away when you want it to.""Keith..." My word was barely above a whisper. I was still trying to grasp the meaning of his words. I saw him take a deep breath and open his mouth."Evelyn White, I... I lov-""No." I cut him off in the middle. Shaking my head to get rid of the faint throbbing in
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Pride and Promises Epilogue
"I want to thank everyone present here for making this day successful. And I also thank everyone who made this possible. We wouldn't been here today if not for your aids in building this brand new branch ofEva'shere in Paris. I am honored to have such dedicated and smart people working with me to establish this brand here and I am very thankful for everyone. I want to announce with immense pride that all of these stunning designs from our summer collection were made by my extremely talented sister, Ms. Evangeline White." There were a series of claps as Eva shyly waved from where she was sitting.I continued. "There's another person I want to thank from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. My husband, Adrian Stone. You've been there with me throughout every step of the way, and more often than not, you've been there as the receiving end of my anger
Pride and Promises Chapter 63
Whoever said handling a baby was difficult, hadn't made the adult version of the baby named Adrian Isaac Stone."He better drink this or I'm going to kill him with my bare hands." I mumbled to myself as I opened the door to the hospital room Adrian was staying on. He was sitting up on the bed while his brother Aaron sat beside him. It had been three days since he'd woken up and the man had been complaining continually about having to drink soup every day. Granted, it wasn't not an ideal thing anyone would want to live on but still, there was no need to be so fussy.That wasn't even half of it. He had been throwing tantrums about everything. The bed was creaky for him- which it wasn't because I'd been sleeping in the same bed, the colors of the walls weren't to his liking, the hospital TV was dull, his phone wasn't beeping muc
Pride and Promises Chapter 62
Dear Adrian,Ifyou'rereadingthis now, it mustmeanthatI'mnot... alive anymore. I applied precautions but perhapsIwent ahead of myself. AndIwantyou to know thatIamsolelyresponsible forthis.Iwritethis now in the middle of Monday night. I justheardyou throughtherecorderI'dfittedinside the unicorn. And you knowwhat? I cried along with you.I've
Pride and Promises Chapter 61
"Remember me, Evelyn White?"I looked shell shocked at the person standing in front of me. Never in millions of years would I have imagined he would be behind it all. My mouth opened and closed a several times but no words came out. My brain was still trying to process everything."What? The famous, the smart Evelyn White has no words now? 'Cat got your tongue?' would have been a phrase I'd use but you are too smart for that cliché, aren't you? So, surprised to see me?"I finally managed to get my voice back."Mike?"He smirked in response before bowing dramatically. "The one and only.""I
Pride and Promises Chapter 60
Adrian's POV"F*ck! What do you mean he's dead? Are you sure?" Nate asked, looking alarmed.I read the text once again before nodding. "Yeah, this person is authentic. It seems that the bastard died of sudden cardiac arrest. As if he even had a heart to begin with." I scoffed."He got off easy despite his evil doings. But what does it mean now? If the sick murderer is dead, who is behind this then? Who is trying to frame Eves?" Nate asked the question that was burning in my mind."F*ck!"I threw the phone away once again in frustration, stepping on it until the screen broke to several pieces. I had no answer to his question. Just when I thought I had figured it all out, I foun
Pride and Promises Chapter 59
Adrian's POV"Don'tshow me yourfaceever again.""Was I so much of a horrible person back then that you hate me to the point of hurting me in the worst possible way one could ever hurt me?""I'll never forgive you for that. Never.""It saved me from the additional heartache I would've had if I really loved you.""I wish I had died that day with my parents.""I regret the very day you came into my life."I slammed the gla
Pride and Promises Chapter 58
"So he is the reason for your nightmares, isn't he? He hurt you to the point that you can't even sleep well?" Eva demanded to know as soon as she caught up to me.I shook my head. "No, Eva. We just had a small disagreement. It's nothing."She scoffed. "It's notnothing,Evie. You can't lie well enough for me to not see through it. He hurt you, I can see that clearly. You might be my elder sister, but I won't let anyone get away easily after hurting you. You wait here, I'll go give him a piece of my mind.""No, Eva, wait!" I called out but she had already marched off towards the exit. I sighed at her retreating form. Just then, I heard another demanding voice."What just happened? Why did you just
Pride and Promises Chapter 57
"Due to lack of strong evidences claiming otherwise, it is clear that Ms. Evelyn White has willingly signed the contract stating the ownership of her company to Mr. Adrian Stone. I hereby declare that the legal rights ofEva's and Co.goes to Mr. Adrian Stone. The winning party may now begin their processing. A warning is also issued for Ms. Evelyn White to refrain from wasting the time of the court by making false claims. The court is adjourned."The judge stood up and left, effectively cutting off the only straw of hope I was hanging on.The company now belonged to Adrian. I had lost. Everything I had worked for was now gone.It was silent in the courtroom, since only the four of us were present- him and Nate, me and my lawyer. Somehow the media wasn't aware of the happenings in my office. T
Pride and Promises Chapter 56
It turned out, third time isn't always a charm, after all. Adrian didn't call me back. I didn't know if he even got my voicemail. Nevertheless, I didn't stop hoping, didn't stop waiting. I waited for his call the whole night, for the call that never came even after the dark night faded away with first rays of sun.Adrian's silence hurt me more than the incident last night. I felt pathetic depending on a man to comfort me. It wasn't like I needed him to save me last night. I managed to do that on my own. All I needed was someone to talk to, someone to hold me together when I was breaking down. His lack of response only meant that he wasn't going to be that anchor to my sinking ship. The message was loud and clear. So why couldn't I get it inside my thick heart?It was nearing 8 am in the morning. I wanted to return back home, away from t
