Chapter Thirty-Five The world around us stopped evolving, my lips are moving but words were not heard."Marianne, did you hear me?" Xander asked, he was waiting for a reply so was he but I couldn't come up with any.He stopped what he was doing and walked closer, I tried to control my heart but it wouldn't listen.It kept beating rapidly. "I said I am in love with you," he repeated but all I did was still stared."Say something, this is the first time I am feeling this. I have never fallen in love not confessing my love to anyone, you not saying a word is making my heart arch. Are you even listening?" He demanded and I was snapped to reality."But you said no love, the contract states it," I reminded him of his own rule. "I know, I am breaking my own rule but my heart is helpless," he replied with a soft chuckle which I found cute."What happened to the cold billionaire?" I inquired and he raised my chin."You happened to me," he replied staring directly into my eyes, I gulped down s
Chapter Thirty-Six "Why are you here?" Debris questioned with her finger pointed at Brad."I work here," he replied walking closer. "You work here?" She repeated and he nodded walking closer, he sat on the swivel chair and raise his head at her.Debris stared at him for a moment before busting into laughter, Brad wondered what was funny but it didn't affect him that much.She was weird the first day they met, so he guessed it was her personality."You are fearless aren't you?" She stopped laughing when she realized he paid Zero attention to her."You dare to act like the boss, aren't you scared of getting fired?" She folded her arm under her breast."Who is acting like a boss?" Brad questioned as he was confused. "Do you think I will fall for this little act of yours? I know you are an employee and you must have thought I will fall for this, but sorry! I won't, now get out of that chair and get me the CEO," she ordered."Were you raised rudely?" He questioned and her jaw dropped. "Or
Chapter Thirty-Seven I watched my phone ring not making a move I only muttered two prayers in my mind.I prayed Pedro would stop calling and Xander would not question me."Why didn't you pick up?" Xander asked. "It isn't important," I replied.I turned to face him with a smile. "You should change your dress and have a shower, I think the chef prepared something delicious."He smiled at me and pecked my lips. I sighed in relief after he went upstairs, I have no plans of calling Pedro.He should call me when my brother is fine unless it involves my brother we have nothing to talk about.I turned to the TV and the series I was watching was over, they were advertising.I rested my head on the couch and resumed watching the TV, Xander walked downstairs and sat beside me."I will drive you to grandpa's place tomorrow," he said and I started at him suspiciously."You are going to drive me? As in personally drive the car, like the first time we visit?" I asked and he nodded I threw my arms
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT.Okay? What had just happened? Why was he telling me about Xander's parent's?It's totally absurd."I know you must be perplexed now, Marianne but I'm only bringing you this information because, you're soon going to be a part of my family". He smiled, dreamily and my heart skipped a bit. I just couldn't understand why I had to be in such unpleasant situations all the time.First, my brother going sick with cancer and then me meeting that monster, Pedro and then somehow mysteriously breaking the icy heart of Xander and then this?I cocked my head up to look at him, curiosity getting the best of me. I knew from the look in his gentle eyes, he was eager to answer whatever questions I threw at him, so didn't think before asking."Grandpa? Why me? Why do you like me so much or is this how clingy you've been to all your other girlfriends? I must commend you're a nice old man". I blabbered out , feeling proud of myself for finally asking him the question that had tugged
Chapter Thirty-Nine ""This was why I brought you here," Granpa Lincoln revealed and I struggled to keep my mouth close. "When did you get this?" I couldn't help my curiosity I trailed my hand on the wedding dress, it was the neatest thing in the room but why will he keep it here? "It has always been here, I kept it safe for you," he replied and my gaze automatically diverted from the wedding dress to him. "For me?" I repeated, my index fingers pointed at myself." Yes," he chuckled lightly. "Why me?" I asked again and he found his way to a couch while I stand by the wardrobe, I am not sure whose wedding dress this is but it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. However, judging from our location it belong to Xabder's mom. "Because you are my granddaughter in-law," he replied and I pouted. A part of me loved the sound of that. I am not sure of what my other part feels but definitely not pleasure. "Why did you say it was kept for me when anyone else could have gotten i
Chapter Forty Tiana barged into the room and met her grandpa having a conversation with Max."Welcome my dear," Lincoln smiled at her. "Grandpa," she faked smile."My love," Max stood up and went to peck her cheek. "What are you doing here?" She whispered the question into his ear."Come, my dear," Lincoln gestured before she could get a reply from Max.She forced a smile at Lincoln and gave Max a sharp glare, which had no effect on him as he walked back to his seat with a smile."You walked in just at the right time," Lincoln said and she furrowed her brows."We were just talking about us," Max added and Tiana turned in his direction."US?" She repeated as that was not something Max would ever use to qualify them. She would even dream of it, but it is happening right in reality."Yes," Lincoln said and now Tiana was staring at him. "My heart is filled with joy."With that Tiana guessed what they talked about in her absence."My two grandchildren grown up to find love," he took her h
CHAPTER FORTHY ONE"I do not know the excuse to give as I was out of words, he already gave me warning not to go out, would he fire all his security guards?" That thought came to me, as I made up my mind to give him a reply."I went to see a friend of mine, and I slept over there"He was glaring at me, as I was about taking step to go to my room then I heard him say “Stop”I stopped and I turned back to look at him"I asked you a question about where you went to, and I needed a sincere answer""I am coming from my friend's place, Cherry" I said looking at him.He doesn't seem to believe me, but I was so tired to even convince him, I just want to take my shower and rest."Go in and when you are done, I need to see you"As if I have known what was in his mind, I went in immediately, changed to my towel. I was feeling tired, that I didn't spend much minutes in the bathroom, I didn't use up to fifteen minutes, my brother health has been a concern.I went to the bed and just slept off, fo
CHAPTER FORTY TWOIt was all over the media that we would be celebrating our wedding on August 24th.HmmCherry called to be sure of what she saw on the internet."It's true, what you saw was true as we will be celebrating it on the 24th of August""Are you sure you can cope with all these" I can feel her concerned through the phone."I am trying to cope, but the truth is he has fallen for me, and I have fallen in love with him""Whoa, I am certain that Pedro devil will soon give a call through""I have been expecting his call because I know he would call soon" She said."Be smart as you have always been" "Alright" We concluded the conversation***"So did he actually fall in love with that bitch, what has that lady done that I wouldn't have done? What does she have that I am lacking? Pedro walked into her daughter's room and heard her talking to herself"Who is getting married" Pedro asked with a serious face."Daddy, don't tell me you haven't heard the news, Xander is getting marr
Chapter hundreds Meanwhile, Marianne felt a sense of closure after meeting with Greg. She had always wondered what could have been if things had turned out differently between them, but now she knew that she had made the right decision in choosing Xander.Xander noticed a change in Marianne after her meeting with Greg, and he couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He knew that Marianne loved him, but the thought of someone else having a place in her heart made him uneasy. However, he decided not to dwell on it and focused on making Marianne happy.As time passed, Marianne and Xander's relationship only grew stronger. They supported each other through thick and thin and were always there for each other. They built a life together and started a family, and Marianne couldn't be happier.One day, Marianne received a call from Greg. She was surprised to hear from him after all these years, but at the same time, she felt a sense of curiosity. Greg told her that he had moved on and was no
Chapter ninety nine As time passed, Diana focused on her career and personal growth. She traveled to new places and met new people, but she still longed for someone who would love and cherish her for who she was.One day, she met a man named Thomas, who was kind, funny, and shared her passion for adventure. They hit it off instantly and started dating. Diana was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Thomas, and how comfortable she felt around him.Soon, Diana realized that Thomas was the one she had been waiting for. He was everything she had ever wanted in a partner and more. They fell deeply in love and started building a life together.Looking back, Diana was glad that she had followed her heart and trusted her instincts. She knew that finding true love was worth the wait, and she was grateful for every experience that had led her to Thomas.Debris nervously walked into the room where the get-together was being held. It had been years since she had seen any of the Knox family, a
Chapter ninety eight Debris plans to pursue her master's degree was met with excitement and support from the family. Pedro and Brad were especially happy for her and promised to be there for her throughout the journey. Marianne offered to help her with anything she needed while Dwayne jokingly asked her to pass him some of her study notes.Debris was grateful for their support and promised to make them all proud. She had always wanted to continue her education and it felt like the right time now that she was married and had settled down. She started her classes soon after and quickly realized that it was going to be a challenge to balance school, work, and her family life.Brad and Pedro helped her with taking care of their daughter and even cooked dinner on some nights to give her more time to study. Marianne was always there to listen to her when she needed to vent and Dwayne continued to tease her about being a bookworm.Despite the challenges, Debris managed to excel in her class
Chapter ninety-seven Marianne breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she heard Cherry's voice on the other end of the line. She had been worried sick about her best friend, unable to shake the feeling that something terrible had happened to her on her flight. Cherry had been traveling out of the country with her new husband, and the thought of a plane crash had kept Marianne up all night."I'm so sorry for not calling sooner," Cherry said. "We had a bit of a scare, but we're both okay."Marianne was flooded with relief. "Thank goodness. What happened?""Well, we hit some turbulence," Cherry said. "It was really bad, but the pilots managed to regain control. It was pretty scary, though."Marianne shuddered at the thought of her friend going through such a harrowing experience. "I'm just so glad you're okay," she said.Cherry went on to explain that they had been stuck in a foreign country for a few days while the airline sorted out a replacement plane, which was why she hadn't been able
Chapter ninety six Maxwell had been struggling with the debt his company had incurred for years. He had tried everything he could think of to get out of it, but it seemed like the more he tried, the deeper he sank into it. Finally, he had to make a tough decision and sell half of his company in order to pay off the debt. It was a difficult choice, but it was one that he had to make in order to keep the rest of his company afloat.As he signed the papers and handed over control of half of his company, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. It was a huge weight off his shoulders to finally be debt-free. However, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss as well. He had worked so hard to build his company up from nothing, and now he was giving up half of it.Brad had been there for Maxwell throughout the whole ordeal, offering him support and advice whenever he needed it. It was during one of their conversations that Brad had mentioned his own plans to start a family with Debris. Maxw
Chapter ninety five But college life was full of temptations, and Dwayne soon found himself struggling to balance his academic pursuits with the distractions of campus life. There were parties to attend, new friends to make, and endless opportunities for fun and adventure. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about his responsibilities.Dwayne knew he had to stay focused if he wanted to succeed in college. He reminded himself of the sacrifices his family had made to get him here, and he thought about the future he wanted for himself. He knew that he couldn't let temporary pleasures distract him from his long-term goals. And so, despite the temptations of college life, Dwayne remained committed to his studies. He worked hard, stayed focused, and did his best to stay true to himself. He missed home, but he knew that this was where he needed to be to achieve his dreams. And with the love and support of his family behind him, he was determined to make the most of hi
Chapter Ninety Four As the wedding day approached, Xander and Marianne's love for each other continued to grow stronger. They spent every moment they could together, cherishing the time they had before they became husband and wife.Finally, the big day arrived, and Xander stood nervously at the altar as he waited for his bride to appear. As Marianne walked down the aisle, all eyes were on her, but Xander could only see her. She was beautiful, and he couldn't believe that he was lucky enough to be marrying her.The ceremony was perfect, and as they exchanged their vows, Xander knew that he was making the best decision of his life. Marianne was his soulmate, and he was excited to spend the rest of his life with her.After the ceremony, they celebrated with a reception that was filled with laughter, dancing, and joy. Grandpa Joe had done an excellent job of planning the wedding, and everyone agreed that it was a beautiful event.As the night drew to a close, Xander and Marianne shared t
Chapter Ninety- ThreeJulio and Tiana's relationship continued to blossom in the months that followed their first date. They became inseparable, spending all their free time together and growing more in love with each passing day.After a year of dating, Julio proposed to Tiana on a beautiful beach in Hawaii. She said yes, and they began planning their dream wedding.On a sunny day in June, Julio and Tiana tied the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony surrounded by family and friends. It was a day they would never forget, full of love, laughter, and joy.After the wedding, Julio and Tiana moved into a cozy apartment in the city. They continued to build their lives together, supporting each other's dreams and goals.A few months later, they received the exciting news that they were expecting their first child. They were over the moon with happiness and excitement, imagining what their future family would look like.As Tiana's pregnancy progressed, Julio became more and more protective
Chapter Ninety-TwoAs the days passed, Tiana and Julio spent more time together, catching up on old times and exploring the city. Julio seemed to be feeling better, and Tiana was glad to see him smiling again. However, as they parted ways, Tiana couldn't help but wonder about the person Jason had been texting.Meanwhile, Tiana's curiosity about Julio online connection grew, and she couldn't help but do some investigating. She eventually discovered that the person Julio had been texting was an old friend of hers. She reached out to them, and they met up to catch up on old times As Tiana and her friend talked, they realized that they both had feelings for each other. They decided to take things slow, but they were excited to see where their connection would take them.Julio and Tiana had been friends for a long time, but as they spent more time together, they both began to realize that their feelings for each other had grown deeper. One night, as they were hanging out at Julio's place,