EUGENE“Good morning ma'am, how was your weekend?" My assistant asked me as soon as I got to the office.“It was very fine, thank you. How was yours too?" I asked her back politely, the last thing I'd want to have here is to not have a good relationship with the workers, especially my assistant.So I've been trying as much as I can to be friendly with them.“It was fine too." She said as she followed me into the office with her book in hand.“I won't be doing too much today, I just want to explore the empire, I want to see everywhere and not just this building,” I told her."Well noted ma'am, your wish is my command, I'll make provision for that now.” She walked out of my office, leaving the steaming cup of coffee she came in with.If there's anything I love about this position, the coffees would be number one, they're so nice, thick, and creamy.I don't even know what they do to make it this rich and different from other ones I've drank before. I closed my eyes and revealed its delic
SHAWNA“What?" I asked back with a deep frown etched into my face and confusion swirling in my eyes.“Get married to me, I just said that." He repeated those words. I had to rack my brain on what marriage means again because he can't be for real right now.“I don't think you understand what I'm saying or you know who I am, I don't even know you, you also don't know me." I almost screamed.“I understand you, you're Shawna and you're meant to be the head of the Lancaster empire because your grandfather handed it over to you." “And now you need my help with getting it back, I also need your help with getting married to me. It's a win-win situation for us, we both get something in the end.” He said.So he did understand everything I just narrated, and he knows me now. Why then does he want to get married to me? It's just so funny and sounds so crazy to me.“Why should we get married to each other when we don't even know each other? What if I'm a gold digger and I end up taking all your m
DAMIENEugene looked behind herself to see the person who was stopping her from slapping Shawna.She tried to pull her hand away from his but he tightened his hold on her hand. I had seen and saw everything that was going on, it was when she wanted to hit Shawna that I knew I had to step in.Shawna looked up from the ground with her hand guarding her face in anticipation of the slap. When she saw me, her eyes widened.“Who the fuck is this?" Eugene asked with anger evident on her face.She turned her head and when she saw that it was me, she immediately smiled, getting rid of that glare on her face.“Hey, I didn't see you there, I was just having a peaceful conversation with Shawna." She lied through her teeth, still keeping up with that fake smile.I dropped her hand as though it was a disease and she'd infected me with it, so I cleaned my hand with my handkerchief carefully.“You and I know you're lying, Eugene. Why are you this schemy and wicked?" I asked her. The people around us
SHAWNAI looked at Damien to see him equally confused as I was, I gently dragged my children back to avoid further embarrassment.“What do you mean by that? Don't you want this job anymore, or you'll say you don't know me?" Damien said, refraining from using foul words around the children."It's an order from above, sir. And you're allowed to go in, but not with them.” He said, pointing at my children and me.“What do you even mean by that? Who's the ‘above’ you're talking about? Don't they have a name? Get out of my way this instant!” Damien ordered him through gritted teeth."We'll just leave, Damien. Don't worry about us, I'll look for other places myself, thanks for offering though." I made to leave with my children but he stopped me."No, no, you don't have to do that, I'll get this sorted out in no time, I'm sure he's just bluffing, just give me a little time." He then turned back to the guy with a glare on his face.I just don't want more embarrassment, I've incurred a lot of t
SHAWNAI thought I wasn't hearing well when I heard that because there's just no way that's true. And it's not just anyone but the same guy who was asking me to marry him in return for his favor.He's currently before me with his hands in his pocket and a relaxed expression on his face.“Sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you just say-" he interrupted me.“Yes, they're my kids, do you want us to start dragging this now?" He asked me with one of his eyebrows up.“What now? You want to deny that you don't know him?" Damien's mother asked me.“I do know him, but I know the father of my children and he's not the one." I scoffed.“I'm sorry for her behavior sir, I'm sure she's just being this way because my son is here, she has eyes for him and has been pining over him since.” Damien's mother said again.With the look of things, this guy before me looks richer and bigger than them, that has to be the reason she's this way to him.“Excuse you?" I asked out loud. This just looks
SHAWNAThe three of them looked at me with a look that said they were not going to back down, I couldn't even sideline them at this point.“Yes Mom, who's our father this man, that man over there, or Liam," Billy asked me, his siblings nodded after what he just said, agreeing with the question.Before I could reply to them, the guy beside me butted in.“My name is Paul, I'd love to be your father if you would all allow me, it's nice to meet the three of you. I guess this would be the first time you're all seeing me.” He said.I was more than gobsmacked at what he just said, I just couldn't say anything. My children were looking at me, almost as if they were asking if he was being real.I couldn't even say anything, I just kept looking at them like a deer caught in headlights."Mom?" Phoebe asked me, dragging me out of that reverie.“How about you all sit down there and I discuss with him? I promise I'll tell you everything after this." I told them."Promise?” Jasper asked me, his mout
EUGENE“Let's go," I said to my driver, leaving the school with him after I had watched Damien leave with Shawna. The way he interfered and talked back at me made me so angry.I'm mad that he's still after her despite everything that has happened all these years, he doesn't even know that those children are his, yet he's still after her!What does he even see in her that I don't have? There's nothing special about her at all, she's just normal, absolutely normal!I have everything he can ever need, money included. I'm not poor and won't even be a financial problem to him, but he still wants someone as poor as that.“Ma'am?" My driver’s voice drew me out of that reverie, I'd been standing before the car, my eyes going over to the same spot where Shawna was standing with Damien and her three spawns.My assistant had to leave rapidly earlier with the other guys so I'm just with my driver.Can't she just focus on that guy that has been following her everywhere? They fit each other so damn
SHAWNALiam has been keeping me waiting here for some minutes now and I've been here since, he just kept telling me that I should please hold on for him.The most annoying and infuriating part of this is that he's not telling me what's keeping him waiting, he just keeps telling me to calm down.I sipped on the coffee before me with anger thrumming through me, I'm trying so hard to suppress the anger in me right now but nothing seems to be forthcoming.He said we should meet at a coffee shop and now I'm on my second cup of coffee yet there's nothing from him. I just kept scrolling through my phone till I felt a presence before me.I looked up from my phone to see Damien standing before me, he had his hand dipped into his pocket.“Damien?" I mumbled, almost as if I couldn't believe that he was standing before me.“Can I sit?" He asked me, gesturing at the chair opposite me, the one he was currently standing beside.I didn't even know what to say, Liam could come in anytime soon, and if
SHAWNAI watched as Damien loaded the last of the suitcases into the car, his movements quick and efficient. There was something about the way he handled everything that made me smile. He had a way of taking charge, but at the same time, he always made sure I was comfortable with every decision."You know," I said, folding my arms and leaning against the car. "I never thought I'd be this excited to leave. But I am."Damien turned to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? And here I thought you’d be all sentimental and teary-eyed about leaving everything behind."I shook my head. "Not a chance. I’m ready for a fresh start. No baggage, no bad memories, no regrets. Just you, me, and a new beginning."His smirk widened, and he pulled me close. "That’s what I love about you, Shawna. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just full speed ahead."I looked up at him and grinned. "Speaking of full speed ahead, you do realize you haven’t mentioned any honeymoon plans, right?"Damien blinked, then ru
SHAWNAThe day had been long and full of emotions. Damien had disappeared early in the morning with the kids, leaving me to spend time with my mother. I appreciated the quiet moments with her, but I couldn't shake the curiosity about where he had gone. He hadn’t said much before leaving, just kissed my forehead and told me he had plans.Later in the day, I was surprised when Damien’s mother showed up at the house. I had expected tension, maybe another disagreement, but instead, she looked almost... apologetic.“I owe you an apology,” she said, sitting across from me in the living room.I blinked, surprised. “For what?”“For how I spoke to you yesterday. I wasn’t being fair. I was so caught up in my own vision of the wedding that I didn’t stop to consider what you and Damien truly wanted.”I exhaled softly, the weight of our previous conversation still lingering. “I appreciate you saying that.”She sighed. “I see how much Damien loves you, how much the kids adore you. I was wrong to tr
DAMIENI stood in the middle of the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over everything. It was perfect. Simple yet breathtaking, just the way I knew Shawna would love it.The gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, blending with the faint fragrance of the flowers we had carefully arranged along the aisle. White chairs stood neatly in rows, facing the beautifully decorated arch where we would say our vows. Fairy lights twinkled in the early evening light, creating a magical ambiance. The entire setting was intimate, just family and a few close friends, exactly what I wanted for Shawna.“Dad, are we sure this is enough?” Phoebe asked, looking around with excitement. Her small hands clutched onto the hem of her dress as she took in the scene.I turned to her with a smile, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.“It’s perfect,” I assured her, ruffling her hair. “Your mom doesn’t
SHAWNAWalking into Damien’s house, I felt a mix of nerves and determination swirling inside me. This conversation with his mother needed to happen. I couldn’t keep pretending to be okay with her making every decision for our wedding.As we stepped into the living room, his mother turned to face us, her expression unreadable. “To what do I owe this visit?” she asked, her tone clipped.I took a deep breath and smiled politely. “I wanted to talk to you about the wedding.”Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh? Have you finally realized that I know what’s best?”I shook my head. “Actually, no. I wanted to let you know that the plans I have for the wedding are different from what you want.”Damien shifted beside me, but he didn’t say anything. This was my fight to handle, and he knew it.His mother exhaled sharply, clearly displeased. “Go on,” she said reluctantly, folding her arms across her chest.“I want a beach wedding,” I announced, watching her closely for a reaction.Her brows lifted. “A
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENI watched Shawna pace back and forth, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The frustration in her eyes was impossible to miss, and I hated seeing her like this.“Maybe,” I said carefully, “we’re moving too fast with everything.”She stopped mid-step and turned to look at me, her lips pressing together in thought.“Are you saying you don’t want the wedding anymore?” she asked, her voice softer than before, but there was an edge to it.I shook my head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying at all. I want to marry you, Shawna. I just don’t want you to feel overwhelmed by all of this. If you need a break, we can take a step back.”She let out a deep sigh, running a hand through her hair. “I do want the wedding, Damien. I really do. But I feel like we need to change our environment. Just get away from everything, from everyone. Just for a little while, so we can focus on us.”I studied her, understanding exactly what she meant. “You mean away from my mother.”She gave me a pointed loo
DAMIENThe moment I walked in, Mom turned to face me, arms crossed, her expression already set in irritation.“What did you say to Shawna?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.She scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh, so now I’m the villain?”“I didn’t say that,” I replied, crossing my arms as well. “I just want to know what happened.”She let out a dry laugh, her eyes flashing. “You should be certain you want to marry her, Damien. It seems like she’s still holding onto the past.”I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay composed. “You’re not making things any easier by controlling every little thing about our wedding. This is supposed to be for us, not you.”“For us?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “You mean for her. Because it seems to me that she’s getting everything her way while I’m being cast aside. Do you think that’s fair?”I exhaled sharply. “Mom, Shawna isn’t trying to push you out. She just wants to have a say in her own wedding.”Mom scoffed again. “A small wedding?
SHAWNAI could feel the weight of it all pressing down on me. The constant decisions, the expectations that seemed to build up faster than I could keep track of. I just wanted a small wedding, simple and quiet, with the people who mattered most. But it felt like every step I took toward what I wanted was met with resistance.“Shawna, you need to speak up if you’re not being treated the way you deserve,” my mother had said earlier, concern thick in her voice. “You can’t let them walk all over you.”“I’m not being walked all over,” I’d snapped back, though I wasn’t sure if that was entirely true. “It’s just... the wedding. It’s a lot of pressure.”She sighed, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. “I know it’s a big deal, but you need to be honest about what you want, honey. If they’re making you uncomfortable—”“I’m fine, Mom,” I cut in, though I wasn’t. “I just want a small wedding. Is that too much to ask?”“Nothing wrong with that,” she said, squeezing my shoulder. “You deserve to