As if she went back to the day of their first marriage, Clayton was staring at her with a wintry gaze and stood there like an aloof iceberg. Clearing his throat, Sean said, “I have to pick up my wife from work so I’d better go.” Sean was playing safe as he didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire. Who knows what this formidable man in the corporate world would do to him if he got annoyed by his presence. “Bye,” Emerald waved her hand, she then turned to look at Clayton. “Wait for me here,”she said to Clayton and he nodded. Emerald quickly got changed and went outside. Not waiting for her, Clayton walked ahead of her. The drive home was extremely silent and Emerald was skittish. Emerald heaved a sigh of relief when none of the three older men were in the living room. She obediently followed Clayton upstairs and walked into their room as if she was walking into a lion’s den. As soon as the door met the door jamb, an arm wrapped around her tiny waist and her soft bod
Clayton froze at the doctor's statement. He hadn’t noticed Emerald used any tampon. But soon relaxed thinking that perhaps she had her period when she was away for a business trip.Emerald looked down at her flat abdomen and hope arose within her upon realizing that her period had been delayed for a week now.Undeniable joy broke through Emerald’s eyes as she looked at the doctor, “I’m one week late, doctor.”Clayton stiffened as fear gripped his heart.“Well, let’s do a pregnancy test. If you aren’t pregnant we will proceed to the process of egg retrieval.” she smiled.As a
“No, we are staying in my apartment!” Red glared at Freya when she told him that they will stay in her parents mansion.“You stay in your apartment and I’ll stay with mom and dad,” Freya stood her ground.Freya was afraid that Red would force himself on her. At least when they’re in her parents home, Red would not do such a thing to her.Red sat on the bed and cradled his head. Freya had been giving him a hard time. Her refusal to share bed with him caused him a headache.They’re on their honeymoon, but he hadn’t had a chance to do anything to her. Their family has no history of infidelity. And Red had no intention of staining that great reputat
When Giovanni came down from the stage after welcoming the guest, one after the other, the guests went to congratulate him.After they had dinner the guests didn’t leave yet, they of course didn’t forget to go to convey their felicitation to Emerald and Clayton.“Mr. Strong, you must be over the moon that you have an heir now,” Henry said while shaking Clayton’s hand.“I’m already over the moon when my wife agreed to marry me,” Clayton replied and possessively wrapped his arm about her waist.Emerald looked up at the man. She couldn’t believe her ears as the Clayton she knew would not speak like this.
While in the car, Clayton gently drew her near to his body and hugged her.“Are you this clingy, Mr. Strong?” Emerald chuckled.“No, I am just making up for the lost time when you were deliberately avoiding me,” Clayton replied as he propped his chin on shoulder.“Whose fault it was?” Emerald reached out and ran her fingers on his hair.“Mine,” Clayton admitted that it was wrong for him to decide without consulting her opinion.As husband and wife they should listen to each other's opinion before deciding.“Ba
“What’s wrong darling?” Giovanni asked again while he ambled towards the dining table.“Nothing, grandpa. I just felt funny because my mood changes quickly in just a blink of an eye. I was happy and all of the sudden I’m annoyed and wanted to cry.”“That's normal for a pregnant woman, however you must learn to control your emotions as it wouldn’t be good for both of you and the baby. And that would also make things hard for your husband,” Giovanni patted Clayton’s shoulder in a manly manner.Emerald smiled and moped her tear streaked face with her palm and finished her breakfast.“Grandpa, we’ll be heading out,” Cla
Emerald looked at Clayton like she was a deer caught in the headlights.LIke an angry lion Clayton stalked near them.Emerald was expecting to be yanked away from Ian but the opposite happened.Clayton took her gently from Ian and pushed Ian away from them.“Are you hurt?” He saw Emerald backed away from Ian when Ian grabbed her hand.He froze where he stood when she nearly toppled down and was angry by this. Emerald won’t be caught in the situation if Ian didn’t grab her hand in the first place.“I’m fine, babe,” E
Clayton’s face turned pale as his blood ran cold, seeing the blood on her hand.Clayton stood up and took her hand, “Get the first aid kit,” Clayton ordered.Clayton washed her cut with running water and made her seat on the chair. Soon the maid was back with a first aid kit.“Tell me does it hurt like hell?” Clayton asked as Emerald was not whimpering just like the time she sprained her foot.He thought she was just trying to contain the pain so as not to make him freak out.“I’m fine, it hurts but I could stand the pain,” Emerald answered. She herself was wondering what had happ
“Dad!” Maya pouted while Spencer chuckled. He’s used to the father and daughter’s antics. Clayton ignored Maya’s protest and talked to his granddaughter. “And don’t take your grandma and mother’s love for extreme sports.” Clayton looked at Spencer. “Make sure that your daughter won’t get involved in any extreme sports.” “Yes, dad.” Spencer nodded. He too didn’t want his daughter to take a liking to extreme sports. He would surely have a heart attack. “Are you going to make her life dull? No hobby? Just study and take over a company?” Emerald asked in a teasing tone. “Of course not, just no dangerous sports. There are sports that aren’t life threatening. She can choose from those. I can’t teach her to play golf when she grows up.” “That’s a great idea, dad.” Spencer agreed and added. “Maya and I also planned to enroll her for piano, dance and art lessons.” “Really?” Clayton was excited. Clayton wants diversity in their family. He wanted his grandchildren to have different hobbie
Zoey bit her lips. The feeling she had for Maurice was an elephant in the room that she was unwilling to face. Maurice was in a relationship and Zoey didn’t want to be the third party, destroying a relationship. Ignoring her feelings for the man would eventually kill it. That was the reason she didn’t want to admit to herself that she had fallen for the man. “Do you like me, Zoey?” Maurice’s voice was so gentle that it touched Zoey’s heart. Despite knowing that Maurice was currently free and had no girlfriend, she had no courage to confess. “If you say you don’t like me. I will tell mom and ask her to search for another woman that wants to be with me. I don’t want to force you into this relationship, Zoey. I won’t bother you again. ” Zoey's heart thumped painfully in her chest. Just the thought of losing Maurice to another woman was tearing her heart to pieces. “Do you like me, Zoey?” Maurice repeated his question a while ago. “How about you, Maurice?” Zoey asked with teary eyes.
Zoey bit her lips as her entire body and heart turned cold. “Sir, I’m not making an excuse. My phone and wallet had been stolen.” Zoey’s distressed look moved Emerald’s heart. She can’t just watch at the sideline and do nothing to help her. She couldn’t help but imagine her own daughter. What if her daughter, Maya was the one in this situation? Of course, she wanted someone to step in and intervene to help her daughter out of her predicament. “I’ll foot the bill,” Emerald passed on her black card to the server. Grateful that a good samaritan had stepped in to help her, Zoey stood up and bowed several times and unceasingly said, “Thank you.” She was in a foreign land without her phone and any money. If this kind hearted person didn’t take the initiative to help her, she couldn’t imagine what would have happened to her. She didn’t know if justice prevailed in this nation. “Come with us,” Emerald said in a soft voice. Since she had started helping her, she will follow through a
“Ms Desmond,” the man called out, his voice having an edge of huskiness. Recognizing the man, Zoey nodded and said, “Mr Fuller.” Jonathan Fuller was the president of the company that hosted the event. The event was exceptional and everything went well and beyond what he had expected. Since taking his father’s position, this was the first time that he hosted such a big event. He got curious about who was the event specialist that handled their event so well. His assistant took Zoey to meet Jonathan before the event concluded. Jonathan was smitten by the woman’s beauty and grace. “Get in the car. I’ll drive you home.” Confident that Jonathan wasn’t a pervert, Zoey didn’t refuse and hopped into the car. It was almost one in the morning when they arrived at Zoey’s apartment building. Zoey could not unbuckle her seat belt and Jonathan volunteered to help her. Not far from them, Maurice saw everything. From his vantage point it seemed that the man and woman in the sports car were
Zoey was snapped back from her own world and remembered that she wasn’t alone in the living room. She sat on the couch still hugging, Chubby the giant chubby penguin. Having no idea what to talk to, Zoey said nothing. Exhausted from the long journey, Zoey could not stop her eyes from closing when she was hugging the plushy. Maurice observed the sleeping woman, her eyebrows were drawn to a frown and her mouth slightly parted. But it didn’t lessen her beauty to a tiniest bit. “Here you go,” Trina served the hot chocolate drink. One for Maurice and one for Zoey. Trina smiled sheepishly at Maurice. “Zoey, sweetie.” Trina tried to wake Zoey by pulling the plushy away from her. “Mom, no, don’t take away Chubby from me. I missed him so much, I haven’t hugged him for two weeks,” Zoey murmured while she hugged Chubby tighter. Something flashed across Maurice's eyes while listening to Zoey. He took a sip on the hot chocolate while his eyes never left the woman who was mumbling in
Zoey felt Maurice’s body turned rigid. She bit her lips and wished that Maurice would go along with her. The man beside her looked down on her with an unreadable expression, and Zoey gave him a pleading eyes to act along with her. Zoey’s heart thumped strongly, banging her ribcage as she waited for Maurice. “Let’s go,” Maurice said indifferently and guided Zoey to his car. He opened the passenger seat and protected Zoey’s head from hitting the car frame. It was quite a romantic gesture that crushed Nick’s sliver of hope. Inside the car, Zoey fiddled the strap of her handbag, guiltily. “I’m sorry for using you Mr Strong. Please tell me how do I compensate you?” Zoey said but Maurice remained silent. Zoey felt goosebumps covered her entire body at the eerie silence that enveloped the car. “You can compensate me by making a plan for a marriage proposal.” Maverick spoke after an undetermined time of silence. “You have a girlfriend?” Zoey exclaimed in shock and added, quickly. “
Maurice pressed his lips into a thin line, waiting for Zoey to react and decline Tracy’s proposal. Caught unawares, Zoey's mind went haywire and she couldn’t form a word to refuse the idea. She swallowed several times to moisten her dry throat. Seeing that she wasn’t refusing the idea, Maurice frowned and said. “Her apartment is in the opposite direction to the manor. I have to go to bed early.” At this time, Zoey already recovered from her surprise, nodded in agreement and said, “It’s still early, taking a cab isn’t dangerous and I have learned some self - defense. So you don’t have to worry about me.” “Ten o’ clock is already late. Maurice, do me a favor. Drive Zoey to her apartment.” Theo spoke this time, he knew that Maurice would not refuse him. Maurice's hand that was in his pocket balled into a fist. “Please, don’t worry about me. I’m used to taking cabs.” Zoey was telling the truth. Before she managed to buy a second hand car, Zoey used to take cabs even in the dead
“Congratulations, Mr Strong and Ms Wagner,” Zoey said when she was near them. Maverick and Esther, shook hands with Zoey. On the other hand, Maurice who was near them took his phone and pretended to check on his messages.“You did a great job, Ms Desmond,” Maverick gave her two thumbs up. “Thanks Mr Strong but I only managed to come up with that idea because of the information you gave to me about Ms Wagner.” Zoey didn’t want to take all the credits. With clients' willingness to give her an input she was able to come up with such ideas. “By the way, Ms Desmond, I will introduce you to my siblings and in - laws, who knows, perhaps they will be your clients soon. That man wearing a black suit with gold tie is Theo, my eldest brother and his wife, Tracy. Next to her is my sister, Maya. Well we are triplets, and Maurice is my identical twin. Next to Maya is her husband, Spencer. And also the one seated on Maurice’s left side is Esther's best friend, Betty with her boyfriend, Rex.” Zoe
Although she had made a decision to let her know that she saw Maverick leaving the hotel with a beautiful woman, she found it hard to begin. “What? Cat got your tongue?” Esther teased her to alleviate the tense atmosphere. Betty swallowed before opening her mouth to speak but the phone atop her desk rang, stopping her from disclosing what she saw. She picked up the handset. “Come to my office,” Betty heard the familiar voice and her body went straight like a ramrod. “Okay sir,” Betty answered and she looked at Esther while putting down the handset. “I’ll talk to you later, the boss wants me to report to his office.” “Okay,” Esther sighed. Meanwhile in his office, Maverick was tapping his fingers on his table as he waited for Betty. “Come in,” he said as the first knock. “Betty, I need your help,” Maverick said as soon as he saw Betty enter the office. Betty couldn't help but frown, she couldn’t forget that he and a woman got into the same car, leaving the hotel. B