Laura's P.O.V I rang the doorbell and pounded on the front door, but there was no response from him. "Open the door, jerk!" I yelled in frustration. "How dare you toy with my emotions?" I shouted again. "Keep it down! I'm trying to sleep," I heard Steven's voice, seemingly coming from my room. No way, that jerk was actually staying there. I hurried to where he parked his car to get a glimpse of him. "Get off my bed and open the door!" I ordered. He appeared at my window with a toothbrush in his mouth. Was he brushing his teeth in my room? and please don't tell me that was the toothbrush he was using. "Whose brush are you using?" I asked, trying to stay calm. "It's yours, of course," he mumbled with toothpaste in his mouth, continuing to brush. "Get your mouth off my brush!" I growled, but he just chuckled. "Relax, you look so ugly when you're mad, and what's the big deal with your brush that I can't use?" He said, his mouth still foamy. I angrily brushed through my hair, f
Laura's P.O.V "I know this may sound unbelievable, but it's true. You're intelligent, blunt, and attractive – the exact girl I want." he paused then continued. "On the first day, we met and engaged in a back-and-forth conversation. I was stunned because no one had ever done that to me before. I asked you to pretend to be my girlfriend to win Molly back, but I never thought I would develop feelings for you along the way, yet I did." "I might be a bit rough around the edges, but I do have a heart, and it's beating for you, Lau," He exhaled deeply as if he had just relieved a burden. Okay... So, do you guys want to know how I reacted? I was in shock, just staring at him like a fool as he kept talking. My brain struggled to process all that information at once. How could he like me? Was he going through some emotional rollercoaster or something? I thought he despised me. "How can you say you like me when I dislike you a lot? You've been so mean to me, and you're not my type," I told
Anika's P.O.V "This soup tastes amazing," Kelvin praised, savoring my Nana's delicious soup. "Really? Thank you," Nana replied with a smile. "You'll have to teach me your secret recipe. It's truly unique and wonderful," Kelvin complimented, making her blush. He was winning her over. "I'll share the recipe some other time, and I didn't know you liked cooking," Nana said with a huge grin. "I've loved it since I was little, thanks to my mum," Kelvin explained. "You're a rare find. It's great to see a guy who enjoys cooking. Keep it up," Nana encouraged, giving him a thumbs up. "Thanks," Kelvin replied in a playful tone, making Nana laugh, and they both shared a moment. I couldn't help feeling left out. Nana suddenly took a liking to him immediately, and that was fine, but I didn't understand why she didn't feel the same way about Richard. It doesn't seem fair. I admit Richard lacks some basic skills like cooking and doing chores, and he struggled with social interactions, but he
Anika's P.O.V I was wide awake, keeping my eyes closed in my bed and sifting to the other side As I avoided the sun's piercing glares, I pondered how my day would unfold. It marked the first time I hosted a Christmas Eve at my house. Usually, I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year at Laura's with her family after my parents' passing. However, I had decided to embrace change, as suggested by Laura. Despite enjoying the warmth of Laura's family during chilly Christmases, she wanted to try it differently this time, given her parents' absence. I was still thinking about the upcoming party when my phone rudely interrupted my thoughts. I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, reluctant to answer the call. The phone persisted, and I grumbled, annoyed by the interruption to my beauty sleep. "Hello," I seethed, finally picking up the call. "Hey there," Laura's voice brimmed with excitement which was understandable considering she had a boyfriend now. "What's up!" "Go
Anika's P.O.V It all unfolded in a blur, my mind struggling to comprehend the rapidly escalating situation. Kelvin's fist landed hard on Richard's face. I felt rooted to the spot, paralyzed by shock. Richard crumpled to the ground, his nose bleeding profusely. Oh my goodness. Kelvin then mounted him, straddling his prone form. Clutching my chest in fright, I was overwhelmed. Violence had always been something I hated, and watching Kelvin pummeling Richard was terrifying. Kelvin continued his assault, landing punch after punch, the sickening thud with each hit making my stomach churn. As awareness flooded back, I found my voice and screamed. I knew I had to intervene, especially when my friend was mercilessly beating my boyfriend. "No! Kelvin, stop!" I darted to their side, but Kelvin was oblivious to my pleas, lost in a storm of rage. "Please, stop," I begged, grabbing the fist poised to strike Richard again. Kelvin's gaze shifted to me, his anger transforming into recognition a
Kelvin's P.O.V I was about to march over to confront Richard when Anika pulled me back gently. "Hey, where are you going?" She asked, her voice laced with concern as she continued eating her cotton candy. "Look... I just saw something," I began, but a thought struck me. What if telling her causes more harm than good? What if she reacts badly to it? ___ 'Nika... I'm your friend, that's why I get to worry about you, that guy will only hurt you," I recalled saying to her earlier. "He won't hurt me and even if he did, it's my life, not yours, alright?" I remembered her firm reply before she walked away. ___ Anika had offered me a place to stay for the night after the whole incident, knowing I couldn't go out at that late hour and also to help distract her from Richard's words. We spent the entire night watching movies and playing games, but despite my efforts, I could sense that a part of her was still bothered by what had happened. I glanced in Richard's direction, only to find
Anika’s P.O.V "Stephanie!" I exclaimed. I let out a heavy sigh, running my fingers through my hair, as she rose from her seat, concealing her face from me. "I can explain," Richard said, his voice trembling as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "Go ahead," I replied, crossing my arms and fixing an angry gaze on him. My anger burned so intensely that I felt like I could split a mountain in two. I was already attracting attention with our argument, as onlookers whispered among themselves. A waiter approached us. "Could you please take this outside, ma’am? Your disturbance is affecting our other customers," he requested, but a stern glare from me made him retreat and leave us be. Richard scanned the surroundings. "Can we go talk outside? People are staring," he suggested, his tone laced with embarrassment. "Really? So you're ashamed to explain to your now-ex-girlfriend how you were caught kissing another girl behind her back on Christmas," I exclaimed. Laughter, whispers and
Kelvin's P.O.V "Thanks, you're my hero," Anika hugged me. "Where have you been all this time?" I turned to face her. "Do you know how worried I was?" I gently lifted her chin, drawing her closer. "I'm sorry, alright? I was just stressed." She hugged me and sniffled. "Are you crying?" I asked. "No," she replied, her head swaying slightly. She's drunk and not being truthful. I stepped back from the hug. "What happened?" I guided her to sit. "Did that jerk do anything to you?" I seethed. "No, you came before he could do anything to me." I sighed in relief. "Why are you drunk then? Why didn't you answer your calls when we were trying to reach you? Do you know I almost passed by this place, but my instinct told me not to? What if I hadn't come and that guy had taken you? What if—" She moved closer and kissed me, silencing me. That wasn't something I expected at all. I had no choice but to reciprocate, kissing her back and pouring out all my emotions and the pain I felt when I th
Anika's P.O.V I exited my car and made my way to the restaurant where Kelvin had asked me to meet him. It was the same place where we had our first date, although it had changed significantly. The restaurant had grown larger, more spacious, and more beautiful than I remembered, but the name and location helped me recognize it. It struck me as somewhat strange that Kelvin had chosen this particular spot. We had been on numerous dates over the past three months, yet he had never brought me here before. I couldn't help but wonder why he had chosen it for this occasion. Upon entering, I greeted the waitress with a simple "Birtch." She nodded and guided me to the same table where Kelvin and I had shared our first date. This place now held special memories for me, and I will cherish them forever. Our table was positioned in the middle of the restaurant, offering a lovely view of the city's night sky and the glowing street lights outside. As I approached the table, Kelvin stood up to
Anika's P.O.V I was happy and excited about following my heart and pursuing what I truly desired. But, to be honest, I was also deeply scared. I feared how Kelvin would react when I revealed everything – my feelings, and the fact that I was carrying his child. He patiently waited for me, for nearly six years, hoping that I would eventually return his love. He did everything within his power to make me happy. He became my source of solace during my darkest hours. He risked his life for mine, shielding me from Richard's threat. He detested seeing me in tears and always went above and beyond to bring a smile to my face. I was blinded by my fear of love, unable to recognize that Kelvin's love for me was unwavering. I used to think all men were unfaithful, given the pain my exes had caused me. But everything changed when I met Kelvin. I can vividly recall our first encounter at my office, during the interview process. At first, I was captivated by his handsomeness, but I quickly d
Anika's P.O.V A week had passed since everything happened. Cherry had finally returned to her country, clearing up the rumors about her and Kelvin, stating that they were just friends and business partners with nothing more, emphasizing that they wouldn't become a couple since there was someone else in both of their lives. It had caused quite a stir among their fans, and I knew this because I had been stalking her on social media, as well as Kelvin. Since our encounter at the event, I hadn't seen or spoken to Kelvin. I sighed as I glanced at the calendar on my phone. Today was the day he had given me to decide what he meant to me, or else he would leave. The truth was, I didn't know the answer. Ever since that event, I hadn't been myself, and we hadn't exchanged a word. It was tearing me apart. I couldn't bring myself to accept that I loved him, even though deep down, I had known it for the past five years. Discovering that truth had blindsided me. Kelvin had sent me a message
Anika's P.O.V I stared at my reflection in awe as the makeup artist put the finishing touches on my look. Had I described myself as looking "hot" earlier? If I did, then I needed a new word to describe how I looked right now. It was what I had been talking about; I always knew I was beautiful. So, what on earth did Jordan see in Cherry, or whatever her name was? "Wow, you look stunning. Can I take your picture and post it on my I*******m?" a makeup artist asked, and I nodded. "Of course," I posed for a few photos, and I could see the smile on her face as she uploaded the picture to her social media. "Are you ready now... woah. Is that an angel or what?" Kathy exclaimed when she saw me. I chuckled. "You wound me, Kathy. I'm way hotter than an angel, so you better correct yourself," I playfully scolded her, using her last name. "Okay, Your Majesty, is that someone hotter than an angel or what?" She replied, bowing. I laughed. "Thanks for the compliment. Can we get going now?" I a
Anika's P.O.V "Anika! Look!" I snapped out of my thoughts when Kathy barged in, shoving her iPad practically in my face. "What?" I asked, and she gestured toward the tablet. "Check out what the article says inside," she suggested, and I reluctantly complied. I felt a wave of nausea as I came across the headline and the picture within. It was Kelvin, his arms wrapped around some woman as they exited a hotel. He looked genuinely happy around her, even smiling at the camera. The woman was undeniably attractive, but in that moment, all I wanted was to see her radiant smile turn to sadness because she was clinging to Kelvin's arm like he was her boyfriend. My fury intensified when I read the headline: "Did the town's most handsome and eligible bachelor have a one-night stand with last year's Miss Beauty and a Victoria's Secret model?" accompanied by two wide-eyed emojis. I pushed the tablet away from my face, seething with anger. How dare he do this after taking me on a date and
Anika's P.O.V I closed my eyes and sighed, tightly clutching my pillow. Why was I feeling this way? I should be happy that he was leaving. I mean, I wanted him to leave, so why was I sad about him leaving? I remembered the look he gave me after our kiss. It felt like we would never see each other again, and I felt heartbroken. I was surprised that I kissed him back. It was as if I was already used to him. During that kiss, I felt a spark inside me, and my heart raced so fast, it felt like it might explode. I was so confused about my feelings, and it was incredibly frustrating. He was leaving the next day, and I might never see him again. I felt devastated when he left five years ago, and now that I finally saw him again, it turned out he was leaving soon. I didn't know what to do anymore; I didn't understand myself. *** My eyes fluttered open as the sun's rays slowly invaded my room, earning a groan from me. Why does morning have to come so soon? Couldn't the hours be a bit
Anika's P.O.V "So, what can I get you?" the irritating manager inquired, although it seemed like she was directing the question solely to Kelvin. She flashed him that annoying smile, oozing with fake charm. "I'd rather not deal with you. Have someone else attend to us," I retorted, not hiding my displeasure. The woman's gaze turned to me, her brows knitting into a frown. "With all due respect, ma'am, I'm here to assist, whether you like it or not. It's not your call to decide who serves you. You should consider yourself fortunate to be in a place like this," she spat back, surprising me with her audacity. I hadn't anticipated her responding so rudely. "Just because I didn't react when you insulted me earlier doesn't mean I'm unintelligent. Why am I being treated this way? Is this how you treat all your customers?" I seethed, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, just the less privileged ones," she sneered, her smirk infuriating. "How dare you? Do you have any idea who I a
Anika's P.O.V I gazed at him for a moment before bursting into laughter in my seat. He regarded me with a bemused expression, but I couldn't have cared less. Was he asking me out on a date? Seriously? I thought he intended to fight for me, not to confess crazy things. After Kelvin gave me an odd look for a while, I gradually composed myself and wiped away the tears caused by my hearty laughter. He must be wondering why I found it amusing that he was inviting me on a date. I mean, he hadn't stopped giving me that "you're being silly" look. "So, is that a yes?" he asked with a grin. "No," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "Alright then, I'll just keep coming here for no reason." "No!" I exclaimed, and he couldn't help but smirk. "So, you agree?" he grinned. I let out a sigh. It's either I reluctantly agree to this silly date with him or endure his constant pestering and teasing about that night. His presence was a distraction that made it hard for me to focus. "Fine," I said, rolli
Anika's P.O.V I sank onto the couch, my hands covering my face as I stifled the urge to let tears escape. I refuse to cry over Kelvin anymore. Who does he think he is, toying with my emotions as if I'm some sort of plaything? I had never understood him since he returned after disappearing for five years. He used to act as if he hated me, avoiding me at all costs. I even begged him at one point, but he slammed the door in my face. And now he was attempting to mend things between us when I had long lost interest in anything to do with him. He was beyond belief. He even claimed he's staying to fight for our love. Right... He was delusional. Maybe he was still intoxicated from last night, the alcohol lingering in his system, clouding his judgment. *** Day one (1) "Mr. Jordan is in your office, he arrived before I did," Kathy rushed to inform me as soon as I entered the company. I halted in my steps and faced her, taken aback. "Why is he here?" I questioned, surprised. "I'm not s