Tyler's eyes darkened.His heart started beating like a drum again.Despite that, he did his best to suppress his surging emotions.After that, he insisted. “I’m taking you home!’Kelsey curled her lips in dismay.Since he insisted on taking her home, she had no choice but to follow suit!Soon, Tyler’s car jerked to a stop in front of the Youngs’ household.Kelsey hesitated to step out of the car.“Hubby, do you have the heart to leave me here?” She pleaded tenderly while pressing against Tyler and wrapped her arms around his waist.Tyler took a deep breath.He desperately wanted to return the hug.However, he remembered that he had to let go and let Kelsey choose what she desired.In the end, he managed to resist his desire.“You can go now,” he remarked icily.Kelsey was very disappointed by his response.Why was he not getting her hint? She could not make it any more obvious even if she tried!What could she do to make Tyler believe her?She sighed.With that, she
What surprised Kelsey was that Megan and her father were not upset.Instead, they wore beaming smiles as if they had already seen this coming.She was immediately thrown off.What on earth was this trio up to?She originally planned to head back to her room to rest after the meal.Unexpectedly, Charlie called out after her to stop her.“Wait a minute, Kels!”Kelsey turned around. “Did you need something else from me, Dad?”She was thinking to herself that he was finally going to cut into the main subject.It was time to see what he had been concocting this entire time.However, Charlie wore the same smile and remarked, “Kels, you are not young anymore. Even if Tyler doesn't want you, you can’t just stay home and be single forever, can you?”Kelsey stated sternly, “Dad, I am twenty-two!”She was hardly old enough to be married yet.She had enough of Charlie’s attitude, acting as if there was something criminal about her not being married and staying at home. All the nagging
Megan chimed in as well, “Older men are more caring!”Kelsey sneered. “If that's the case, why don't you let Josephine marry him instead?”Charlie and Megan's expressions dropped upon hearing this.“Do you know how old Josephine is? She has barely started college, how could we have her get married so soon?” the two of them blurted out in unison.Kelsey rolled her eyes. “I may be in college, but I'm not much older than her either! If I am supposed to be old enough to marry, why can’t she?”She was only three years older than Josephine.In other words, her father had another child with his ex-girlfriend only three years after having her.She had been a child prodigy and got to skip two years of education. Following that, she was admitted into college on a recommendation.While her peers were all in college as well, her father was already planning to marry her off to a man older than her by two decades.“This is different!” Charlie expressed with a dark look on his face.Kelsey
“Kelsey, how much more shameless can you be? You have been leeching off us for years, it’s time for you to pay back what you owe us!”Kelsey rebuked him calmly, “You have been leeching off my mother for just as long, why haven’t I seen you making efforts to pay back the debt?”The reason why the Youngs even got to where they were today was because of her mother’s inheritance she received from her grandfather.At the time, Charlie had no assets to his name. He was as broke as they come.If not for her mother, Hailey, insisting on marrying him and making him the heir of her grandfather’s assets, he would not have any kind of capital.Since the beginning, Charlie had married Hailey for his benefit. Even when they started to become closer, he already found his match in Megan.Even after he married Hailey, he continued to maintain an indecent relationship with Megan which later led to the birth of their illegitimate daughter, Josephine.Charlie had deceived Hailey and claimed what ri
They wanted her to apologize again?This was not the first time that her father demanded her to apologize to his mistress.It was clear that it was his mistress who was out of line and disrespected her mother first.She admitted she may be in the wrong for having assaulted Megan, but her father had done more than enough to even the score by slapping her just now.Why should she apologize again?“Not unless she apologizes to Mom first!” Kelsey argued.If Megan was not going to apologize for insulting her mother, why should she be the only one apologizing?“You’re itching for me to punish you, aren’t you?” Charlie threatened her severely.Kelsey was unfazed by the threat.“Sure, bring it on!” She sneered smugly. “If you don’t want the compensation from the Langs anymore, then go ahead and do your worst!”Charlie's pupils shrank upon hearing this.He suddenly remembered Tyler’s threat before he left.Still, he was infuriated by his daughter having the audacity to hit his lady.
Little did Kelsey know, Josephine had been following her.Upon entering the bar, she immediately ordered a glass of hard liquor and started drinking.Soon, Yvonne arrived.When she observed Kelsey's slightly swollen face, she could not suppress her shock.“Kels, what happened to you?”Kelsey turned up to face her and proceeded to down the entire glass of liquor. “What else do you think? My old man, of course!”Yvonne frowned. “Did your dad hit you again?”Yvonne was aware that since Kelsey's mother became vegetative following the car accident, her relationship with her father had become extremely tense.Charlie wanted to claim all of her mother's assets for himself. Furthermore, he wanted to let his mistress and their illegitimate daughter stake their place in the family and replace Kelsey’s mother.To save her mother's life, Kelsey had to constantly guard herself and her mother against the dangerous ploys of her father and the mistress. This had led to plenty of conflicts bet
Kelsey could not help but worry about her. “But your mother-in-law is even worse than him! If she moves in to live with you, she’s only going to make your life worse than it was before!”Yvonne sighed faintly. “I know, I'm mentally prepared for it!”What else was she supposed to do?She did not want to risk offending her husband because of his mother.With that, the pair of best friends drank and confided in each other.At one point, Yvonne's phone rang. After she answered it, her expression changed.“Mom... Oh… I'll be back right away!” Yvonne spoke timidly.“What's wrong? Who was it?” Kelsey immediately noticed how Yvonne had broken out into a cold sweat and could not help but wonder.Yvonne expressed anxiously, “It’s my mother-in-law calling to check on me! Sorry, Kels, I can't keep you company anymore, I have to go back right now!”“Hey…” Kelsey barely had time to say anything before Yvonne got up and hurried out of the bar like a gust of wind.She was afraid of what her
Bang!Kelsey was already dizzy before this. After the man grabbed her and violently swung her against the wall, everything around her seemed to spin, and she saw stars.She felt as if she was going to collapse to the floor.The man seized the chance to hold her and smiled triumphantly. “Just wait, I’ll deal with you tonight!”He prepared to carry Kelsey on his shoulders and take her out of the bar with him.Unexpectedly, someone suddenly lifted him off the ground.“Hey…who is it that dares to…”He cried out furiously but froze with shock the moment he turned around to face the other person.The two men standing behind him were both a head taller than him. They were very muscular and looked like they knew how to fight.One of them barely had to exert any strength when they picked him up like a toddler.“Hey, you are…” The man’s entire demeanor shifted.He could barely finish protesting before he was thrown to the side.It was followed by the dull clash of his body slamming i
With a predatory glint in his eyes, Tyler pressed his lips against Kelsey’s.“I’ll take your silence as your consent.” “Hang on!” Kelsey pushed him away. She meant business since it was about his sleepwalking last night. “I have a question.” “What is it?” Tyler asked in a raspy voice, his lips still lingering across her skin. His hands eagerly pulled her gown off her. “Do you sleepwalk?” Kelsey asked. Tyler paused, his eyes bearing a weight of emotions. Kelsey knew she was right on the money. Tyler had known about his sleepwalking. “Did you know you were sleepwalking last night?” Kelsey said while fixating earnestly on him. She was more concerned about his health. Tyler seemed healthy. Yet, he wandered off in a sleeping state. Judging by Tyler’s response, it was not his first rodeo. Generally speaking, sleepwalking was associated with trauma or unresolved issues. Kelsey suspected that Tyler had been through some kind of trauma, or something in his past wa
Tyler opened his eyes abruptly. Bare and dominant, he loomed above Kelsey while his penetrating gaze looked deep into her soul.Lost in the heat of his kiss, Kelsey opened her eyes in confusion at his sudden pause. She met his profound gaze. Kelsey’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath hitched. She stared at the man towering over her in disbelief, her eyes bulging. Tyler was awake. He examined her, his eyes scouring every inch of her body. Once he was certain that it was Kelsey, Tyler was relieved. “I’m home, babe,” he uttered with a sigh of relief. Feeling assured, he closed his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder. He filled his lungs with her familiar scent. Kelsey was taken aback, but her head gradually cleared. She thought that Tyler would not stop their little bed activity. However, Tyler stayed in the same position for a while. His steady breathing came soon after. He fell asleep. Kelsey was in disbelief. Since he wanted her so badly, Kelsey ass
Worried, Kelsey followed Tyler in case he hurt himself or fell off the stairs. He was not in a conscious state after all. Kelsey would not be so abrupt as to wake him from his sleepwalking. She was aware that waking a sleepwalker could lead to shock or other health problems.Kelsey stuck close behind Tyler and made sure he got up the stairs safely. Tyler returned to their bedroom and lay on the bed. Kelsey drew close for a look. The soft moonlight streamed through the French windows, casting a hazy glow over his defined face.Tyler lay there motionlessly, his eyes closed.Kelsey watched him sleep tenderly. For a moment, she drooled over him. However, she quickly frowned at the smell of alcohol on Tyler. Kelsey went to open the window to let in some airflow, dispersing the fumes of liquor. She then picked out a fresh pair of pajamas from the closet for Tyler.Tyler would need a change of briefs too. However, Kelsey’s cheeks burned when she pulled his brief draw
Kelsey returned to the villa she shared with Tyler. She intended to tell Tyler how her day with her best friend had gone. Charles was somehow caught in the crossfire. Yvonne’s mother-in-law accused her of having an affair with Charles which did a number to his reputation. Kelsey wanted to ask Tyler about his opinion on returning Charles’ favor. Since Charles was Tyler’s childhood friend, Tyler must know him best. However, Tyler had business plans to attend to, so he would not be home for dinner.Kelsey was alone in the upstairs bedroom, occupied with all related matters involving her new business venture. Since Kelsey and Rosette were going to audition to design costumes for Adrienne’s new film, Kelsey felt it was essential to study the genre of the new film and Adrienne’s past fashion choices. Time passed. By the time Kelsey shut her laptop, it was eleven at night. Rising to her feet, she stretched and walked out of the bedroom. Kelsey was on her way downstairs
“I’m sorry, Kelsey. I’m sorry to ruin lunch,” Yvonne murmured. Kelsey put her arm around her shoulder. “Why are you apologizing to me? Charles told me what he needed me for. It’s okay to skip lunch.” She paused and looked at Yvonne, her head tilted. “But Yvonne, you seem to have changed.” “How so?” Yvonne asked with a raised brow. “You’ve become composed and cunning now.” Kelsey said with admiration, “But it’s a good thing. I don’t want you to be Adam and his family’s doormat. You didn’t marry him to be his slave.” Yvonne curled her lips. “I’ve been through a lot, but I’ve learned a lot too. I had to learn from my mistakes.” She used to walk on eggshells around her husband and mother-in-law. She gave them too much leeway, and they walked all over her. In the future, Yvonne would not be so dumb as to let others hurt her again. She needed to stand up for herself. … Kelsey dropped Yvonne back home. Before, Yvonne would cry to Kelsey for hours after Agatha humiliated
“Didn’t you hear what Yvonne said? She’ll go ahead with the divorce. She doesn’t want to stick around until you take everything from her.” Kelsey snapped an angry look at Agatha. “Your son is the one with an affair. Don’t put this on Yvonne. Save your breath for your son. Yvonne is the victim. Who are you to accuse her?” Kelsey could not stand Agatha. Agatha placed herself above others and used Yvonne as a punching bag. Charles tipped the restaurant manager the wink. The restaurant manager led a security team to Agatha. “This is a public place, not your playground. Please leave now.” Agatha was humiliated to be thrown out of the premises. Instead of breaking down and apologizing, Yvonne calmly agreed to the divorce. Agatha did not see it coming. She needed to talk to her son. Clearly, Agatha had to find new ways to keep Yvonne in line. “Hmph! In that case, I should ask your parents if they know about their daughter filing for divorce,” Agatha said. In Agatha’s opi
Agatha’s son, Adam, was the one who had an affair. Yet, Agatha made Adam out to be the victim instead. Yvonne became the wicked woman who cheated on Adam. Kelsey racked her brain to think of ways to prove Yvonne’s innocence. Yvonne broke her silence.“Tell me. What are you trying to achieve?” Agatha’s big fuss was met with Yvonne’s nonchalant reply. For a moment, Agatha was in a daze. In the past, Agatha often berated Yvonne until the latter had no choice but to apologize. Agatha had always kept Yvonne in line through aggressive methods. Yet now, Yvonne asked her what she wanted to do. Instead of having a meltdown, Yvonne carried herself with ease. Agatha narrowed her eyes and said bitterly, “We pride ourselves on our decency. We can’t put up with your cheating. Just finalize the divorce and get out of my family. I don’t want to carry your shame.” She glared at Yvonne in disdain. “Fine.” Yvonne readily agreed. Yvonne understood that Agatha was a pro at throwi
Many patrons turned their heads to Yvonne and Charles’ table. The incident sparked a lot of chatter. Kelsey rushed over and explained to Agatha. “You’re mistaken. Yvonne and I are grabbing lunch after a day of shopping. Charles and Yvonne don’t know each other.” Agatha did not expect to see Kelsey there. However, she could not take back what she had said. Besides, Yvonne and Adam were getting a divorce. If Agatha could nail infidelity on Yvonne, Adam would get off the divorce with more. “Oh, your best friend can’t save you out of this, Yvonne. Don’t try to hide the fact that you’re with another man now.” Agatha was determined to accuse Yvonne. Charles was not having it. “Ma’am…” he said disgruntledly in an attempt to clear the air. “Shut up!” Agatha snapped and criticized him too. “Why are you flirting with a married woman? I get a bad vibe from you.” Charles was speechless. He was a gentleman. There was no way he would be caught dead hitting on a married woman.
Sensing Yvonne’s blues, Kelsey wanted her to eat well and divert her attention elsewhere. Yvonne ordered a variety. In truth, she had no appetite. Kelsey added a few more dishes.Not satisfied with the order, Charles told the server to bring up all the chef’s recommendations. “Won’t we have too much food, Charles?” Kelsey said. Charles smiled without a care. “It’s okay. You can’t have too much food.” While the food was being prepared, Kelsey asked, “What’s the favor you need?” “Oh, yeah. Tyler said that you have established an office with Rosette,” Charles uttered. “Yes.” Kelsey nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Charles asked earnestly. Kelsey understood that Charles had feelings for Rosette. “Nothing as of yet,” she responded with a raised brow. Charles was a little late as Cleo had helped them a lot in setting up the business. “Let me know if you ever need any help,” Charles said. Kelsey smiled with intrigue. “Are you pursuing Rosette, Charles?