Ten minutes ago. "Allow me to assist you to the wine cellar, Mrs. dela Vega." the housekeeper proposed. "Yeah, sure. Thanks," I smiled before I stepped back to let him lead the way. The young man also bent half of his body toward me to extend his sincere apology before we began our journey to the cellar. Seeing a lot of students wandering the mansion excites me. Their waves of laughter were music to my ears. I missed being a student. Perhaps it was my sign to accept Norman's proposal to finish my course. "Do you mind if I ask you, how long have you been working in the mansion, uncle?" I broke the silence on our way to the cellar, and we already walked the heart of the forest yet I hadn't seen any signs of the cellar. Based on my quick observation, the man was probably in his fifties. It's hard to find a decent job these days. I, for one, could barely find one when I tried back in the countryside. But the mansion had a few older housekeepers and housemaids.
"Take that away, Justine," I replied, trying not to get affected by it. Noah was just born and was resting in my arms. I was happy, and I didn't want to ruin it. "My husband won't cheat on me. I know him. Perhaps that photo was simply edited." Justine scoffed in disbelief. "Believe what you wanted to believe, Yvanna. Isn't it ironic he was not even here when you have the most crucial part of your life? I messaged him, a hundred times, but he simply read all my messages..." "That's enough, Justine! Please, leave me alone." I begged without even looking at him. Justine did not answer me but he took Noah from me and put him back to the other bed. As soon as he evacuated the room, I rested my back on the bed with the tears in my eyes pouring like an open faucet. I couldn't believe no one from Norman's family even visited me, at least, to check up on the new member of the dela Vegas. Even his own father was not around. "Am I doing the right thing marrying Norman?" I
"Please, Mrs. dela Vega, I simply helped you carry those bottles you asked me for. I didn't do anything wrong." he continued, and I continued scanning everyone's faces until I ended up with Jennifer and Jennie who were like a wet dog being exposed to a blowing wind - scared. But then again, I clearly remember our conversation that morning. It was as bright as day. I needed every one of them for my revenge plan. So I said, "Let him go, Norman. He's been working with us for seven years already. Besides, it's my fault when I didn't follow him right after we got the bottles of wine." After letting out those words, I departed my seat and walked to Noah's room. I spared the man's life, not because it was the best thing to do, but because I badly wanted to rest. Likewise, it doesn't mean I wasn't considering possibilities about the case. We need to get to the bottom of what exactly happened - if the twins are behind it to get rid of me. Even though I was already in No
Norman and Justine maybe two of the most handsome men in our time, but these two were one-of-a-kind. Based on my quick observation, the two could have been brothers and came from a wealthy family considering the way they both dressed up, all in business suits. "No. I'm so sorry too -- It's all my fault, 'cause I wasn't looking what's ahead of me," to extend my sincere apology, I bent half of my body toward them. The two suddenly exchanged glances. "Oh, that's completely unnecessary. We're not kings or princes in this school. Just the sons of the owner." the younger one humbly commented on my bow. "You can have our spot, Ms. Gorgeous." he quickly grabbed his brother's collar and dragged him behind me along with him. "My name is Tanner, one of the professors at this prestigious university. And this is my younger brother, Winston Perry." He even slapped his brother's head to bow before me. "Tanner Perry?" I frowned before I stepped on their spot, and accepted
"Goddamn it! Why am I even calling them out when I already knew the answer to it?" I could not help but grit my teeth in frustration after the call ended. The next person on my list was Mr. Emilio. "I'm so sorry, but I'm a bit busy with the Mayor right now, Ms. Summer. Do you have a message you want me to relay to him?" "No, I'm good, Mr. Emilio. Thanks though." I ended the call right away and set the phone back in my purse when there was no need for me to reach out to Norman anymore as the old man already answered it for me. As soon as the cab stopped in front of the main gate, I lifted my foot without touching the ground and sprinted toward the main house to look for Noah. But I could barely see him from the living area, the lobby, or the kitchen so I went straight to his room. In the nick of time when I was about to give up, Noah's sleepy face greeted me coming out of the toilet room. "Honey, are you alright? How did you get here?" I inquired in a rush and b
Norman did not give me the chance to debate or reject his proposal as he hopped out of the elevator, leaving me alone, stunned and dumbfounded. Today marks my first official day in my office as the newly appointed president of the dela Vega Group and Companies, and an urgent meeting greeted me like a bolt of lightning. What's worst is that Norman would not be there to at least guide me or let me observe the flow of having a meeting first. The heavy feeling was like he deployed me in a battle without a bullet in my rifle. As soon as I stepped foot into the office, Elaine greeted me with a bulk of documents on my desk. "That would be the issues to be discussed for the meeting, Mrs. dela Vega. Please, take your time to read them. We only have two hours left before the meeting commences. Let me know if you have questions." Norman simply passed through me and hopped back to the nearest elevator. He even blinked at me before the door of the elevator closed which left me
"Probably both?" his smirk turned into a wide grin, leading me to a profound confusion. "yes, because I already knew that your son is studying here, and no. My daughter was also enrolled in this school. Speaking of the devil." Tanner stretched his arms to the sky with an ear-to-ear smile on his face. I turned around and found a cute little angel eagerly running from the corner of the road heading in our direction. I was about to greet her as well but imagine my surprise when behind her was also another little angel, but he was not smiling upon seeing me, as if the weight of the world befallen him. "Baby, what's wrong? Did something happen? Did someone bully you in school?" I worriedly asked the second his arms were wrapped around me, and then he began bursting into tears and tightened his grip. Noah did not respond but those kids approaching in our direction are. They were teasing my son. But when I growled and sharpened my eyes toward them, all of them shut their
"Hey, relax!" I gently caressed Justine's shoulder in disbelief he greeted me with a furious face when Tanner and I hadn't done anything wrong. "Wait, are you jealous right now?" "Of course, not!" Justine defensively blurted. "I was just worried about you, Yvanna. Norman may be ruthless and cold-hearted but Tanner is second to none. He's the worst. Are you even watching or reading the news recently?" I have no idea why Justine was so worked up or obsessed with Tanner when the man didn't do anything wrong to me. And being jealous was all I could think of why he reacted that way. He was probably afraid and jealous that I might fall in love again with a new billionaire in the city considering he was only earning a penny compared to them. But I already learned my lesson. That was me in the past who dreamed of marrying someone as wealthy as Norman, but after everything that happened to me, there's no chance I would fall for their money again. Justine Stroem is the l
The tick-tock of the clock in our world has seemed to stop, accompanied by the heavy weight of the sensation rested on our helpless shoulders. His back rested on my chest, arms lying on both sides, and his smiling face pointing at me. "Why, Norman? You could have run away and saved your life. Why did you catch the bullet for me, huh? I'm not worth it. Have you forgotten I still hate you?" "Because I love you, Yvanna," he spoke out. "Remember those flowers, chocolates, and food containers?" I nodded as my tears kept pouring down my cheeks like an open faucet, especially when he started ejecting a bulk of blood from his nose and mouth. "Someone gave me that kind of idea eight years ago," he added. "I don't know how to make it up to you so I copied what you did when we were in college. When you confessed your feelings to me and wanted to be my girlfriend. Do you still remember? Because I do remember everything, Yvanna. That was also the day when I started to get annoye
Mr. Emilio attempted to snatch the phone from me but I swiftly dodged his grasp and held onto the phone tightly. Then I slid to the corner to make sure no one could interrupt our conversation. "This is how it is, Yvanna," he continued. "Finally, I can seek my revenge on the person who ruined my life in the past sixteen years. You should join me." "But you kidnapped him, Tanner. The police officers are also looking for you." I responded softly as if my lips hadn't moved a bit, still hesitant about his proposal even if it tempted me. Tanner's continuous laughter roared like thunder from the other line of the phone. "Police officers?" he asked with conviction. "Are you kidding me? How do you think I managed to get him out of prison without being noticed, Yvanna? Police officers are nothing but frugal. With the right amount of money, they will help you no matter how hard and impossible the jobs are." After giving it much thought, I agreed to Tanner's proposal which was
In the middle of the profound conversation, Elaine approached and showed us something we did not expect. Something I never expected to get leaked. "Mr. Emilio, are you aware of this?" One of the company's lawyers blurted in disbelief. The utter disappointment was written in everyone's faces apart from me. The news Elaine showed us was the footage of Norman having sex with another woman. "No, I'm not even aware Norman had an affair with another woman. And I barely recognize her." Mr. Emilio defensively replied. "Her name is Kristine Kate. And I am well aware of the existence of that footage because someone sent me a copy of it a few days ago." I confessed. Everyone's sharp eyes were pointing at me as if they were suspecting me. Can someone assist me to my office? I am going to check the flash drive in my drawer. And for the record, I didn't leak the footage." "I'll come with you, Mrs. dela Vega. I have to get something on my desk too." Elaine proposed. Without asking further ques
The next morning, everyone in the mansion was swamped but excited apart from me as it would also be the same day Norman and I would have our second wedding. What I discovered in front of Justine's apartment remained a huge mystery to me. Norman did not come home last night because it was in our tradition that the couple must be separated on the day of the wedding and will meet at the church. But since I have nowhere else to go, my parent's house is on the other side of the world, I used the mansion while Norman used the dela Vega Group and Companies building. "Smile, Mrs. dela Vega," says the makeup artist who has been preparing me for almost an hour. "You are about to get married but you looked like the entire weight of the world fell onto your shoulders." "Why? Do you have any regrets about remarrying the mayor, Mrs. dela Vega?" her assistant asked. Regrets? A lot. If and only my family was born as rich and powerful as the dela Vegas, only a fool would remarr
"Wait, do you, by chance, are you the one who...?" I couldn't bring up the question when we have someone with us in the car. So I decided to wait until we reached the office. Last night. It took Norman almost an hour to get back to the rehearsal dinner after sending Veronica and Malia out of the hotel. But I have no idea what he and his security guards did to them outside, and why he took almost an hour to get back. Not that I don't want the two dead, the news was just too sudden. As soon as we arrived, I quickly headed to my desk to start working. Norman followed me, lost in his thoughts, I can tell. He dropped his butt on the couch next to my desk and fixed his eyes in one direction - toward his uncertainty. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. dela Vega!" Elaine greeted us with a smile after the successful rehearsal dinner last night. Based on my abrupt observation, she hasn't heard of the news yet. "Here's your cup of coffee and tea, Mr. and Mrs. dela Vega! Enjo
"So you mean that one of those cops could have killed the man on our way to his house?" I continued his statement when that was what I believed. He nodded. "Or more. And that's what we need to know. And I highly suggest you work on it behind Tanner's knowledge." "You want me to stab Tanner behind his back? Have you forgotten he's my lawyer?" I asked, debated to be precise. "Tanner was pretty convinced earlier that you agreed to the result of the cops' investigation regarding the case. Better keep it that way. I'll recommend a loyal police officer who can work on the case with confidentiality." Then he asked me to get his phone from his left pocket to search for the contact person. I believed Norman had nothing to do with the attempt of killing me so I agreed to his proposal. And, of course, for our conversation to be put to an end. After getting the man's contact information, a deafening silence dominated the rest of the travel toward the hotel. Fifteen minut
After the call ended, we continued the photo shoot, buying enough time to better think about what to do in this kind of situation. Putting my situation into words, I was having second thoughts about whether I should tell Norman about my deal with Tanner or have to face and tell Tanner myself about remarrying Norman. Either way, I don't know the answer once I picked one when both of them were not to my advantage. There are no choices that won't hurt anyone in the middle of the process. "Do you mind if I ask what time will the rehearsal dinner be?" I asked Norman as soon as Noah and I were settled in his car. "Why? Do you have any other appointment that I am not aware of?" He asked back. "Tanner and I will have a meeting at three. He said that he had something to tell me. Perhaps it has something to do with the case he's working on. Would you like to come with me?" I proposed, with the hope that he would say no. "Why can you just reschedule that meeting?" Lik
"Let go of us, Yvanna!" Veronica cried out as she attempted to remove my hand from their hair. "We didn't do anything wrong." Malia debated. "In fact, we are someone else's escorts." A few security guards attempted to break us apart from after catching a glimpse that it was me, they backed out. Instead, they followed us outside the building. The moment we stepped foot outside, I pushed the two harder. Hard enough they both stumble to the rough and muddy surface of the ground. Their once glimmering expensive evening gowns are now stained with dirt and mud. And I have no regrets dragging them away from the event. "Do you think I am that fool enough not to notice what you two are doing to my husband?" I growled at them. "Even if you were someone else's escort, doesn't mean you cannot flirt with him." Veronica and Malia burst into tears as they looked around. Hundreds of flashing cameras surrounded us, catching every angle of the commotion. Malia tried to cover her face with her bar
"Come on, Mom, Dad! Can you just hear me out, please?" I insisted as I tailed them heading out of the mansion. "Get back, Yvanna!" Dad exclaimed. He and Mom doubled their pace toward the main road. "We don't have a daughter now. Go back to that hell of a place." I was about to stop them from hopping into the cab but they took off at the speed of light, leaving me alone in the road. "Please, get back inside, Mrs. dela Vega." One of the security guards followed me and helped me up as I dropped my knees to the rough surface of the ground. "Let me follow them on your behalf instead." The man next to him proposed. "We'll keep you posted once we can talk to them." They then hailed a cab and took off. I attempted to hail a new cab but two new security guards appeared and begged me to get back to the mansion as it was a strict order from Norman. Leaving with no other choice, I went straight to Noah's room. "Mom, are you alright? Are you crying? Did those evil hurt