Despite the unsettling discoveries surrounding her new home, Ayana remained steadfast in her determination to forge ahead and build a stable life for herself and her daughter, Lyana. As they settled into their new surroundings, Ayana focused on creating a nurturing environment where they could both feel safe and at peace.With each passing day, Ayana immersed herself in the tasks of unpacking boxes and arranging their belongings in their new home. She saw it as an opportunity to turn a blank canvas into a haven filled with warmth and comfort. Despite the occasional flicker of lights or the eerie creaking of floorboards, Ayana refused to let fear take hold. Instead, she poured her energy into transforming their house into a place where they could both feel secure and content.As they adjusted to their new lives, Ayana and Lyana explored their neighborhood, eager to acquaint themselves with their new community. They attended local events, visited nearby parks, and struck up conversation
As Ayana and Lyana settled into their new home, they immersed themselves in the task of turning it into a place where their dreams could take root and flourish. Together, they unpacked boxes filled with cherished belongings, each item carrying with it memories of their past and aspirations for their future. With each carefully placed photo frame and each piece of furniture arranged just so, they began to breathe life into their new surroundings.Lyana's eyes sparkled with excitement as she helped her mother hang curtains and arrange throw pillows, her imagination running wild with visions of the cozy haven they were creating. "Mom, can we paint the walls a bright color?" she asked eagerly, already envisioning the transformation.Ayana smiled warmly at her daughter's enthusiasm, her heart swelling with love. "Of course, Lyana," she replied, her voice filled with encouragement. "This is our home, and we can make it however we want it to be."As they stood together amidst the scattered p
Amidst the challenges of adjusting to their new life, Ayana finds solace and unexpected companionship in her neighbor, Mrs. Jenkins, who shares her passion for gardening.One sunny afternoon, as Ayana tends to the flowers in her front yard, she notices Mrs. Jenkins admiring her garden from across the street. With a friendly smile, Ayana waves and beckons her over. "Would you like to take a closer look?" she calls out, her voice carrying on the gentle breeze.Mrs. Jenkins, a sprightly woman with a twinkle in her eye, accepts the invitation eagerly. As they chat about their shared love for gardening, Ayana finds herself opening up to Mrs. Jenkins in a way she hadn't expected. They exchange tips and stories, bonding over their mutual admiration for the beauty of nature and the therapeutic joy of nurturing plants.Ayana gestures toward her colorful array of flowers, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. "I've been working on this garden for a while now," she says, a hint of pride in her voice.
In the stillness of her new home, Ayana's mind becomes a battleground, where memories of her tumultuous relationship with Robby, or Jerry, as she had come to know him, wage war against her attempts to move forward. The walls seem to whisper his name, each corner holding fragments of their shared past like silent witnesses to their love-turned-strife. The once-familiar spaces that should offer solace now feel like traps, ensnaring her in a web of emotions she thought she had left behind.Echoes of arguments reverberate through the rooms, the sharp words and raised voices leaving scars that refuse to heal. The promises they made in moments of fleeting happiness now lie shattered, scattered like shards of glass across her consciousness. With each passing day, Ayana finds herself reliving moments she would rather forget, the weight of regret bearing down on her like an unyielding burden.In the darkness of night, when the world grows quiet and still, Ayana's thoughts drift back to the pas
The following day, as Ayana made her way back from dropping Lyana off at school, her thoughts were consumed by the inner turmoil that had plagued her for so long. She was lost in a haze of memories and regrets, the weight of her past bearing down on her with each step she took.Lost in her thoughts, Ayana almost didn't notice Adam standing there, a concerned expression etched across his face. His presence startled her, pulling her back to the present moment."Hey, Ayana," Adam said softly, his voice filled with empathy. "Are you okay?"Ayana forced a smile, though it felt strained on her lips. "I'm... I'm fine, Adam. Just lost in thought, I guess."Adam studied her for a moment, his gaze filled with understanding. "You don't seem fine," he remarked gently. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"Ayana hesitated, the familiar walls she had built around herself threatening to crumble. But there was something in Adam's expression that made her want to open up, to share the burden tha
The atmosphere inside the car was thick with tension, yet tinged with an undercurrent of cautious optimism. Ayana sat beside Adam, her hands folded tightly in her lap as she stared out the window, lost in thought. The gentle hum of the engine filled the silence between them, punctuated only by the occasional sigh that escaped Ayana's lips.She could not believe that she was actually in Adam’s car, driving to her humble house. Who would have guessed? The beardown of disbelief was pouring out of her in beads of sweat.Adam glanced over at Ayana, his brow furrowed with concern. He could sense the weight of her worries pressing down on her and the burden of her past threatening to overwhelm her fragile resolve. He wanted nothing more than to ease her pain and offer her the solace she so desperately craved, but he knew that healing was a journey she would have to undertake on her own terms.As they drove slowly through the city streets, Adam spared a glance at Ayana's profile, his heart ac
“Here,” Ayana said, placing the cup of steaming coffee in front of Adam as they sat across from each other on the table.As they both sipped their coffee in silence, the rich aroma filling the air, Ayana found herself lost in thought. She couldn't deny the curiosity that simmered within her—the desire to peel back the layers of Adam's enigmatic persona and uncover the truth beneath.Lost in contemplation, Ayana was startled when Adam spoke up again, his voice breaking the tranquil silence that had settled between them."What about you, Ayana?" Adam repeated his earlier question, his gaze fixed intently on her. "What am I to you?"Ayana hesitated, her mind racing as she searched for the right words to convey the complexity of her feelings. She knew that opening up to Adam meant exposing herself to potential pain and vulnerability, but there was something about his earnestness that made her want to trust him and share her innermost thoughts and fears.On the other hand, she was wonderin
As Adam continued to plead with Ayana for a chance, pouring his heart out in a bid to win her over, Ayana couldn't help but feel torn. Despite the undeniable connection she felt with Adam, she couldn't shake the lingering doubts and insecurities that lingered in the back of her mind. She had sworn to herself never to let herself get tangled with a man like Adam, someone whose reputation as a womanizer preceded him. And yet, here she was, feeling herself drawn to him in ways she couldn't fully comprehend.As Adam's words washed over her, Ayana felt her resolve waver. She wanted to believe in his sincerity and trust that he was capable of change and growth. But the nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her of all the women who had fallen for Adam's charms, only to be left heartbroken and disillusioned in his wake.Unable to ignore her doubts any longer, Ayana gathered the courage to voice the question that had been weighing heavily on her mind. "What about all the other women,
“Hey! “ Lian spoke with her signature smile, of course. “Why don’t we first stop by calling it a sin? Let us just say that it was casual sex done for the wrong reasons and at the wrong place. But all in all, we were adults, and we both proved a point that day. Of course, it hurts, just a little, because you did not offer exactly what I wanted. But if anything, Adam, I want you to know that I wouldn’t waste a chance with you even now if I had it. I am not ashamed to be on the list of, you know, all of those you have been with.” She then looked at me. “I am sorry to say this too, but at least I got to taste the famous Adam Stone De’Leon!” She smiles, and I think I am beginning to love her smile now. Eyes roll! “You are lucky, Ayana. You both are lucky to have each other. And this is where I wanted to be—to have you look at me the way you are looking at her, with so much love and adoration. Your eyes speak submission every minute they brush her. Even a fool can tell you love her so much.
“What, son?” His father asks.“The merger that you seek with the De’Marios will happen.” Excuse me, what? I snap at him, and I was just to give him a piece of my mind, but a gentle squeaaze of my hand sealed my lips, opting to trust him, hoping that he knows that these bunch of heartless fools do not deserve to benefit even just one bit from me. “But not on the grounds of my marriage to Ayana!”Fantastic! Bingo! God, I so love this man!Eyes flickered on each other for a long moment of screaming silence, until my father had to break the lull. Desperate old man! “What are you talking about, son? You know you are really growing desperate by the day here. And now, we have damages to pay to the Adrianos for what Grace did. Things are weighing down on us, Adam! So, what do you suggest? Anything that will help at all. We will abide!”So, Adriano, are you asking for compensation for the damage that Grace’s actions caused? Well, they seem to be the experts in not letting any opportunity slide
After a long, unnerving moment, the door opens again and freezes on our spot as our house is swamped with people.Yeah!People!And I am not talking about two or three people here, no! This weird woman is the weirdest of all because, how did she pull all these?And yeah, before I forget, I am not talking about just any other people. Not some ordinary people. Naah!We are talking of the De’Leons, Adam’s father and mother; the De’Marios, my parents; and this skinny witch who used to be my sister. And these other people, whom I presume are Lina’s parents,.Forget everyone. Lina and her parents have a score to settle with Adam, and so do the De'Leons, who have the right to be in their son’s house. But these black souls, these people that God gave me as a family? How dare they have the guts to set their feet here, huh? The nerve! The temerity! I mean, after all they have done to me? And this little brat of a witch, after insulting Adam like he was the greatest sinner the world has ever had
“You got my information from my parents? How? When? Why?” I ask.She steadies herself. “It wasn’t intentional. It just so happened that you both were the reason why some dark secret that was kept in the dark for years was leaked out. Our families, the Adrianos, the De’Leons, and the De’Marios had to meet because that was a breach of contract!” She speaks.I get everything about the dark secret and the urgency for the two families to meet, and I can also understand that tabgle. But breach of contract? What was all about that?“Breach…” I throw Adam a glare to ask for clarity, but he seems clueless and lost like I am, so I decide to ease both our curiosities. “Breach of contract? What contract?”“Yes,” she says, throwing Adam a glance, and she speaks, looking at him as if the words were only meant for him. Wasn’t I the one who asked the damn question here? “Our families, the De’Leon’s and the Adriano’s, after settling for compensation and agreeing to bury all that had happened, signed a
“Hey! I am harmless, you know!” The lady, Lina, speaks, and she even has the bravery to smile at me while my hand freely retreats from the mission of shaking her hand.She had no choice but to drop hers in letdown.She is harmless.The woman that supposedly Adam raped years ago is smiling right in my face, and I should not be worried. She is harmless. Harmless, huh?What is this?Why did she come here?“I know who you are,” I murmur, hoping that we don’t have a problem here, but how stupid of me to think, no, to actually hope for that? Why would he come here if there wasn’t fire in the mountain? “Wha…what are you doing here?” I ask.As Adam composes himself and approaches, his trembling hand clasping my waist reveals the struggle within him. It's not merely a physical tremor, but a manifestation of the turmoil in his soul. I sense the weight of his past bearing down on him, an unwelcome guest crashing into the delicate balance he's been striving to maintain.In his touch, I feel the e
The chirping of the early morning birds calls me out of my peaceful sleep. I peel my eyes, and they almost impair with a striking, sharp pain as they collide with the savage rays of the morning sun. I shut them for a minute, but when I don’t feel those strong arms around me, I peel them open in a flash, turning around. Empty space! That explains why the widow's curtains are open, permeating the savage sunrays. He woke up before me. That has never been him. I always wake up enveloped in his arms every single day of the six months that we have been together. What changed? Is it because of that question from last night? This marriage issue? After he asked me that, and after I failed to come up with a straight answer, I just laid my head on his chest and snuggled into his warm embrace. He understood the memo, which meant I was not ready for that kind of conversation. And he respected it, just like he has always done. He pulled me closer and tighter, and we drifted off to sleep. Did I
“Goodnight, mommy,” Angel says after I tuck her to bed, or rather, we tuck her to bed. Me and Adam. She turns to him and says disrespectfully, "Goodnight, Uncle Adam. You two are the best." Some“Alright. Goodnight princess. Have sweet dreams, and your mommy and I love you so very much,” Adam says, kissing her on the forehead before standing up as the sweet little girl closes her eyes.My sweet little angel. My gift is straight from heaven. What can I give God to thank him for bringing her into my life? She is my pride! My joy.“Shall we?” Adam asks, holding my hand, and I don’t waste time. I follow him behind, leaving Lyana’s room as we stroll across to his master's room. Or just simply, our room. This has become our room, just as his house has become my house. We are better off being called a family. A married couple. Because this is what all this depicts. I forgot about my house a long time ago. All that is left is for me to pick up my belongings and settle here for good. Yes, here
Ayana's anger flared, fueled by the woman's bitter accusations. "What I meant was," she retorted, her voice trembling with fury, "I did not know that Robert had a wife. And no, I have never entertained this fool ever since he came back from nowhere, and I never will. For me, he is nothing but some fresh vomit that I can never take back, no matter what."Her words cut through the tension like a knife, carrying a raw honesty that left no room for doubt. Ayana's resolve was unwavering as she stood her ground, refusing to let the woman's scornful words diminish her self-worth."And as you said," Ayana continued, her voice rising with conviction, "I am with my man. A man worth being called a man, and not some trash!"With each word, Ayana reclaimed her power, asserting her worth and dignity in the face of adversity. She refused to be defined by the actions of others, standing tall in her truth and righteousness.Robert's once confident demeanor faltered as Ayana's words pierced through his
All eyes turned towards the unexpected newcomer, a tired and heavily pregnant woman standing before them. Ayana's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight—the woman's weary expression, the telltale swell of her abdomen—indicating she was carrying a child.As confusion clouded Ayana's mind, she searched for answers in the woman's gaze. There was a sense of familiarity—a haunting resemblance to Robert—that sent a chill down Ayana's spine. Could this woman be Robert's wife?What puzzled her was why Robert had suddenly reappeared after six years, pursuing her and their daughter, especially if he had a wife—a pregnant wife, no less.The revelation left Ayana grappling with a myriad of emotions—bewilderment, frustration, and a gnawing sense of unease. She couldn't comprehend why Robert would resurface after all this time, stirring up chaos and turmoil in their lives.The realization hit Ayana like a ton of bricks, her mind reeling at the implications. If this woman was indeed Robert's