From where he stood, Aspen was struck with memories he thought he had buried away five years ago. No! He had not buried them. Every single moment that had passed through the years, he remembered the one person that had ignited his passion and left him to burn in it. His legs were transfixed. "Yo… bu.." He tried to say words. But they barely crept beyond the borders of his lips. What the hell was he saying? No way this was happening. Five years ago, he had entertained the idea that the beauty he had beheld at morningstar bar could be the one that ended up in his hotel room. But there was no ground for it. Now, before his eyes was a perfect replica of him as a younger boy. There was no way this would be a mere coincidence. Dulce was the woman she had seen at the bar! Dulce for a while felt her heart pound heavily. But why? Without wasting any amount of time, she attacked the anxiety that wanted to take over her. Yes. She knew the man. The business card of the man she ende
His head was ringing different sounds, the world spun on its heels, taking Aspen with him. Did he just hear her right, or were his ears on a different frequency? Aspen was transfixed for more than five minutes, his gaze darting through the three of them. Zigfrid was living proof that the claim was true. The caramel eyes. He had never seen a child who was a spitting image of his father or mother. He didn't need a soothsayer to tell him that what Dulce had said was true. As Aspen looked at all three of them, landing his gaze first on Zigfrid, Zigfrid held the hand of his mother tightly on impulse while also trying to hide behind his mother's leg. “Am I … scaring him?” Aspen thought. A thought that now provoked something else as he stared at the boy alone. The realization of what Dulce had truly done started to register, he was finally catching up. "Of course, you're scaring him. They don't know”. A voice whispered in his ear. The same voice now made him realize something as he l
Aspen fumed and puffed, but he couldn't deny the pain that came with this anger. The confusion was real.He had never wanted to get to his destination so badly like the way he did right now.The car pulled up to his mansion. He didn't even wait for the car to pull to a stop before levitating out of the car to the house. “Shit! Shit!!” Aspen shouted to the empty space within. He paced to and fro in his empty house, not minding that his workers and house servants were shocked to see him in such a mood. Aspen realized too late that he had been seen. He walked as fast as he could be straight to his drawing room. Even at that, he met someone dusting. “Leave.” He said, placing his hands on his mouth. The maid didn't seem to hear what he said, and that got him even more worked up. "I said leave! Goddamn it!” He yelled at her, causing fright to move up her bones in quick succession. The poor girl was skimping away, as fast as her legs could take her. What am I going to do? Aspen cont
Things spiraled out of control immediately after the twins said their piece. They went about playing and laughing, not even realizing the chaos they had done. "Is that true?” Becker asked, casually taking a walk instinctively. Dulce followed suit, and they found themselves outside on the patio where it was a bit quiet. Though, the children's voices were loud enough to wake a storm. There was a maid in charge of their well-being in times like these. "Yes,” Dulce answered. She had gone through different news only today. She wasn't sure how much she could take before deciding it best to vanish from the face of the Earth again. But she expected this much. "What happened? Tell me about it.” Becker seemed concerned and gently tapped the chair beside him, motioning that she should come and sit down. Dulce merely managed to sit down before resting her head on his shoulders and narrating everything that had happened. "What!?” Becker shouted after she finished explaining. "He left?
After making sure the kids had their lunch packed, the ominous television sounds kept messing with Dulce. "Honey?” Becker said from somewhere in the house. "Yes?” She said, escorting the children to the door as they walked off on their own to the limousine that was going to drop them off at their school. "Honey! You've got to see this.” Becker yelled from where he was. What was going on? The confusion began in her chest as she climbed two steps at a time to get to where Becker was. Whatever Becker had to say was definitely important for him to need her this bad. "Yes?” She said, coming just in time to see the newsflash. She stopped in her tracks, her breath hitching in her throat. CEO AND BACHELOR OF THE YEAR; RUMORED TO GET MARRIED SOON! CEO AND MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR OF THE YEAR, GETTING MARRIED; TYING THE KNOT WITH BEAUTY QUEEN AMELIA DUBOIS! "Can you see what I meant by dangerous? This is just reckless! We don't need the likes of him around us in any way. Not with you, n
"Yes, he did. He threw me out in a blink of an eye." Amelia said. Aspen was shocked that Amelia still managed to stand rooted somewhere. She had been able to perch like a fly. "Amelia! What are you…" "Son. Did you or did you not throw her out?" Mr. McKinney said, his voice low and dangerous. Despite everything, Amelia still survived like a cactus in the desert. "Yes, father. I did. I had her dragged out of here." Aspen deadpanned. "Why?" He asked. Amelia suddenly walked in front of the men and stood on her tippy toes to get Mr. McKinney's attention and like a little witch from the West, pointed her long nail towards the unsuspecting secretary that still had an ice pack to her face. "Her!" Amelia said with indignation and malice. Mr. McKinney followed her direction and a near-whimpering woman with the slickest black hair was in sight. "What happened to her?" He asked, confusion still evident in his eyes. "Don't listen to…" Aspen didn't get to finis
Aspen walked in, his father trailing behind him. Aspen breathed in the air so quickly, hoping that the quick waves of fresh air blasting his lungs would make his anger dissipate, and for a moment, it was working. Mr. McKinney watched his son do a bit of stress relief exercises while he got comfortable on the chair. Aspen walked around and finally sat down, calm and ready to address his father. "You do know that you just threw out the shares of the Dubois family, right?” His father finally said, and Aspen fought not to roll his eyes. There was vaguely nothing special about the Dubois. They were plenty of things and somehow loved to attract unwanted press, seeing as their daughter didn't fall too far from the tree. "Father…” Aspen seemed to speak, but his father held out a hand to indicate that he wasn't done. "When you speak of their shares, what are you referring to exactly? Don't tell me you still feel it is proper for me to get married to that spoiled brat.” His father said
Dulce hasn't had any peace from anywhere, not in her mind, not in her kids. She couldn't even focus on work. She was forced to casually bring up memories of the newsflash. What man in their right mind knows he has kids and moves on as though they meant nothing, while explicitly holding an item that belongs solely to the mother of his kids, if that wasn't a sign? Becker's talk with her kept on replaying in her mind, from the first day when he expressed his anger to the second day when he expressed his disappointment. Her heart had hardened to the thought that Aspen was a dangerous and reckless man. There was no family guy there, and although she never regretted having her kids, she regretted having him as their father. And what was worse? Oleta who hadn't said a word, was the child who didn't let her rest with her questions. Before, it usually used to be how airplanes could fly, about magic and every other thing kids could think of, but recently, it was about Aspen and when she c
A month had gone by and everything was finally settling in. Dulce had moved into a new apartment with the kids and their nanny, Cynthia. Her former apartment brought her nightmares."Zig! Olletta! where are you guys?" she yelled. She was trying to get ready for her first date with Aspen and also prepare the kids for a weekend with their grandfather."Over here," Zigfrid called out from somewhere near the stairs, sounding tired. "We can't find Olletta. Have you seen her?""Hang on," Dulce said as she ran upstairs. She opened her bedroom door and immediately saw a pile of clothes on the floor."Mom! Where have you been?! You gotta pick us up in fifteen minutes!" Olletta cried.Dulce sighed. "Look, kiddos, we can't go to the mall today, because of our schedule.""But, it's summer!" Olletta whined."I know. But your grandfather is coming in to pick you and your brother up. Mummy wants an alone time with your dad," Dulce said, trying to convince Olleta. Olletta frowned slightly. "That sou
Eventually, she managed to calm down. Once she did, she pulled away from him. Her tears were still streaming down her cheeks."I'm so sorry for running away, papa," Dulce muttered.He smiled sadly. "It's okay. But, you know you had a choice in all of this. It's not your responsibility to be in this. You don't have to apologize for that," he reassured."I know. I just...," She trailed off."What is it sweetheart?""I mean, I didn't tell you the real reason I left. I just disappeared and I always felt bad about it. Even when I came back, I didn't come to see you.""Why?" he questioned.Dulce hesitated at first before answering her father. " I was afraid."He arched his brow. " Afraid of what?""I was afraid you'd hate me."Aspen, Derek, Cynthia and Mrs Cassy McKinney filed out of the room immediately they saw Dulce and Theodore having a father and daughter moment. They didn't want to interrupt.Once they were gone, Mr. Theodore Florencia approached his daughter once again. He gently car
"Yes ma'am," Cynthia said, her head slightly bowed."Why do you..." she wheezed a little. Cynthia reached out for the water and gave it to her. "Thanks. Now, why do you look like you were used as a punching bag?" She chuckled weakly.Cynthia sighed. "That isn't important right now. We'll talk about it when you're better," she said."Yeah," she replied slowly before coughing. She cleared her throat and swallowed hard. The doctor came closer to check her pulse."Everything looks fine to me. She's awake now and she seems alert enough to understand us. So I'd say it's safe to say she's going to be completely okay," the doctor confirmed. "We should get her discharged in a few days, but I want you to bring her back next week. She needs rest."Derek nodded. "Okay, doc."Dulce stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Derek and Aspen together and another stranger with them."Uhhh..." she slurred her words."Derek, why... are you here... wit
Theodore was shocked at the turn of events. He couldn't believe that he supported Becker. The very man who was behind his daughter's predicament. He couldn't believe that he almost fell for his bullshit.The thought of strangling Becker crossed his mind. He wrapped his hands in a fist as he paced up and down the court's hallways."Fuck!" he said, muttering under his breath. He was so angry and disappointed that he could hardly see straight. After a few minutes, he calmed down and took in a few deep breaths, attempting to calm himself down from his rage. He didn't want the others to know how agitated he was by the situation. No doubt they'd pity him, and that made him even angrier. "Fuck," he repeated, this time quietly. He ran his hand through his hair in an attempt to clear it out of his eyes.``Damnit, damnit, dammit...I shouldn't have been so easily swayed." The last thing he wanted was to make it seem like he had fallen for Becker's lies.Theodore tried to focus on calming himself
The defence calls Ms Cynthia, the nanny to Ms. Dulce Florencia's children, to the stand," the defense attorney said, beaming with pride.Everyone began muttering among themselves and the courtroom buzzed with excitement and speculation about whom it might be. Cynthia tried her best not to gulp nervously but judging by the glances people were sending her way, she failed miserably.As soon as she reached the stand, a familiar voice erupted from the spectators section. "How dare you show up here without telling anyone?!" The voice belonged to a female reporter. "Are you aware that you are a witness to a crime! I bet you're here for the money!" she screamed angrily."Excuse me?" Cynthia snapped. "What do you mean by that? Did this reporter just assume that I was here because of some money? Do you think this is funny?!" Cynthia yelled furiously.Everyone hushed and fell silent. People stared wide eyed at Cynthia, waiting to see how she was going to react. Cynthia stood there, breathing hea
At the crack of dawn, Cynthia had struggled her way out of bed. She ruffled her hair a bit so she wouldn't be recognized before stepping out of her ward sneakily.As she passed the corner of her ward's hallway, a smooth feminine voice stopped her. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach."Hey! Checked the patient in Room 3?" the voice asked. Cynthia turned and a nurse stood before her."Uh..." She stuttered."Oh, my bad. I assumed you were a nurse," the nurse said.She smiled kindly at Cynthia before gesturing for her to keep going. Cynthia continued on her way. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slipped into the hall towards her destination.She didn't want to be caught unawares and. so she put up a straight face and walked briskly out of the hospital, avoiding conversations of any kind until she got to the road.She glanced around her and relaxed. No one was here.With an air of confidence, she began walking down the sidewalk. Her mind raced over what she might need to do nex
Ms Linda, I wish I could reveal everything to you but I can't. I'm grateful for what you and your daughter have done for me," Cynthia said, wishing they wouldn't ask her more questions.She didn't know the answer to any of them and she wasn't sure she wanted to. All it did was make her want to disappear even more than she already did. "But, I still have things I need to deal with and I need your help.''The girl's mother nodded, accepting her words at face value."What is it? Name it," Linda encouraged her to speak freely."Well...I don't really know how to explain this..."she trailed off not knowing where to start. "But I need to make a call and I was wondering if you could lend me your phone for a few minutes."Cynthia wasn't sure if they'd agree to her request but she needed to ask anyway. Her life would be in danger if anyone ever knew that she was alive."Oh, Cynthia, of course we'll let you borrow our phones to make a call. How about five minutes? You know you just got up and you
"Oh my goodness!" a young girl of nine years old gasps in shock."What is it again, Maya? See something amusing again?" the middle aged lady questions."Mum, look!" she says and points in the direction of Cynthia. Cynthia was walking haphazardly along the road, clinging on to dear life and praying that a miracle happens. "The poor lady looks like she could use some help.""That's because we're not helping." the girl's mother says, as she drives the car closer towards Cynthia, who was trying hard but failing to hold herself up. "We can't just abandon the lady like that . She looks so helpless," Maya reacts sadly."Yes, yes you can," her mother, Ms Linda warns sternly." I can't believe you right now, mum!" the little girl says sadly before folding her arms. together and looking at her side of the window, not wanting to see her mother drive past the wounded lady without helping.Ms Linda scoffs. "Oh come on! I'm just messing with you. Of course we'll help her. Hopefully she's okay but
"Get up you slut!" one of the thugs said.It had been days since Cynthia was constantly tortured and her body showed proof. The marks on her body were enough to leave scars. A lot of bruises and cuts had formed over time. Her clothes were torn, dirty, and her hair messy. She was just lying there on the floor with no energy at all. One of the thugs kicked her face. "Get up or we're gonna fuck it up!" Another thug said angrily. He didn't mean it seriously though; he was just angry because she wasn't moving. Cynthia looked around trying to gather herself as much as possible but she couldn't muster up any strength. She was still too weak, too exhausted even. There weren't any other options though, so she stayed limp. The thugs grabbed her arms harshly and pulled her up.They threw her across the room. They kicked her once before hitting her in the stomach. Cynthia groaned from pain and tried to curl into a fetal position. She wanted to die right then and there. But if she died then the