Back home, I was ready to start cooking, but as I looked at the kitchen, my excitement quickly turned into depression.I put on an apron, trying to look professional, but when it came to cutting the vegetables, I was all thumbs.Kayden stood to the side, silently watching me, his worry clear.Especially when the knife came dangerously close to my fingers, I could practically feel his tension.“Okay, okay. Let me help you cut the vegetables,” he said quickly, walking over.“No need. I’m doing just fine. See? I think my knife skills are getting better. My learning ability is really high… Ouch…”My tone fell as I nicked my fingertip with the knife.The knife clattered to the floor. Luckily, it was a small one, so it didn’t bounce.Even so, anyone would have been scared seeing it drop like that.Kayden rushed to my side and lifted my hand, concern etched on his face as blood started to flow from the cut.“You really are something… I told you not to cut anymore,” he said, his tone half sco
The Starlight Annual Award Festival was finally here, and the excitement was palpable. Being nominated for the Best Newcomer Award was surreal. The company took it seriously, turning the whole thing into a grand affair. They even hired professionals to help me prepare for the event.As I stood in front of the mirror at home, I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable in the dress they picked for me. The long skirt had a daring split that went up so high it made me uneasy. But I knew it was part of the game. The company told me there would be a lot of big shots at the awards, and if I wanted to stand out, I'd need something eye-catching.But honestly, I didn't care about stealing the spotlight. Just being at such a grand event was enough for me.Still, as I adjusted the dress, something felt off. Was it the dress? Or was it just nerves?Suddenly, Kayden walked in. I could see him taking in the sight of me in the mirror, his eyes narrowing as he got closer. His voice was low and te
As soon as I got off the stage, I spotted Yvette rushing toward me. Her face was lit up with excitement, and before I could say anything, she grabbed my arms and squealed, “You did it! You actually won!”I shook my head in disbelief, still trying to process everything. “I honestly never thought this award would be mine. God, what is going on?”Yvette smiled warmly, her eyes shining with pride. “It seems like there’s still some fairness in this world.”I nodded vigorously, unable to hide the delight on my face. Winning this award felt like a dream, something I never imagined would actually happen to me.“Remember to treat us,” Yvette teased, nudging me playfully.“Of course! I’ll treat you all,” I promised with a grin, feeling the weight of the trophy in my hand.As the awards ceremony wrapped up, I was still on cloud nine. Walking out, my phone suddenly rang. I pulled it out, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Kayden’s name on the screen.I quickly answered, “Kayden!”His voice ca
POV Kayden I stared at Monica, my expression a mix of exasperation and cold disdain. “What exactly is going on with you, Monica? Why are you causing a disturbance here?” Her fury was palpable, and her voice was sharp. “Kayden, what’s the deal with her? Why did you bring her to our room?” I glanced inside the room, feeling an edge of irritation. “Since when did this become our room?” She looked at me, horrified. “Of course it is. We come here regularly.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my frustration in check. “This is just a place I like. Besides you, my elder brother, younger brother, and my entire family have been here. A lot of my friends have been here too.” Her face was a mixture of confusion and anger. She had always thought of this place as ours, but now she was struggling to accept that it wasn’t exclusive to her. “But…” Her voice trailed off, unable to accept my explanation. “You know,” I continued, my tone unwavering, “look at how you’re causing a scene. Just go
As we were about to leave, I felt an unbearable discomfort in my hand. Zara noticed and looked worried. I unbuttoned my shirt to reveal a rash on my face. My old illness was acting up again.“Goodness, what’s this?” Zara asked, her voice filled with concern.I took a deep breath. “Nothing. It’s fine.”But Zara was persistent. “It’s better to give it some air. Don’t cover it.”I sent a message to my doctor that we’ll be visiting. We went to Yohan’s place, where he was already waiting.Yohan observed my condition and then turned to Zara. “It’s not because of Ma’am, right?”Zara flustered. “It can’t be. It was never like this between us…”Yohan smiled. “Before that… you’ve been touching chests often?”Zara glared at him. “This doctor is too nosey.”Yohan continued, “Then who touched this area?”I shot him a warning look. “Don’t go there.”But it was too late. Zara scoffed from the side, her eyes flashing with annoyance. “There’s no need to ask. We just saw Miss Jensen.”She glanced up at
POV ZaraThe next day, Yvette informed me that the company was planning a party to celebrate my award win. I couldn't believe it—they were actually going to throw a celebration just for me. I knew winning the Starlight Best Newcomer Award was a big deal, but it still felt surreal.“Yvette, won’t that be too grand?” I asked, a little embarrassed by all the attention.Yvette just laughed and waved off my concerns. “You deserve this. Go home, get ready, and come back tonight. I’ll send the company’s car to pick you up. Just tell me when.”“Okay, thanks, Yvette,” I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.After leaving the office, I headed home, eager to relax a bit before the party. But as I approached the front door, I spotted Monica walking toward me from a distance, her smile as radiant as it was fake.“Miss Wilson,” she greeted me with that enchanting smile that always made my skin crawl.I tried to stay polite, though my patience was already wearing thin. “Miss Jensen, are y
POV KaydenAs soon as I answered the call, Monica’s panicked voice reached me, “Kay, I got into a car accident. Quickly come over.”“What? Where did you get into an accident?”“I’m outside the Marshall residence.”“What?”I couldn’t believe it. The roads around the Marshall residence were filled with warning signs, and everyone drove carefully there. How did she manage to get into an accident?I rushed to the scene, and there she was, sitting on the ground, her face pale with pain. I quickly had someone help her up. Her leg was injured, and she winced, “Kay, you have to help me. Zara tried to kill me with her car. She hit my leg.”She lifted her skirt to show me the bruises on her ankle and knee.“Zara drove her car out?” I asked, surprised. Zara had never driven out on her own before. Why now? I helped Monica into the car and drove her to the hospital.At the hospital, the doctor examined her while she cried and claimed she was in unbearable pain. I did my best to comfort her, but wh
POV ZaraI suddenly remembered, “I need to call Yvette. Hey, why is my phone missing?”It dawned on me then—the phone was lost somewhere during the chaos. Great, just what I needed.Kayden handed me his phone, his expression unreadable. “Use mine for now.”“Oh, okay.” I took it but then hesitated. I didn’t even know Yvette’s number by heart. How embarrassing.Kayden looked at me like I was hopeless. Then he called out to Henry, who was just outside, “You have Yvette’s number, right?”Henry, always prepared for anything, quickly sent us the number. I couldn’t help but admire how he always seemed to have everything on hand.With Kayden’s phone, I called Yvette and quickly filled her in on the accident, reassuring her that I was fine and would be heading home soon. She told me to rest and take it easy, and I realized just how exhausted I was. I needed the comfort of home, to feel safe again.When I hung up, I noticed Kayden watching me closely.“You should stay at the hospital tonight,”