POV KaydenWhen I walked into the house, the maid came to me immediately. "Miss Jensen has arrived," she said, her voice cautious, like she was preparing for some kind of storm. I knew what to expect. As soon as I entered the dining room, there she was—Monica—sitting there with that familiar look in her eyes, waiting for me.When she saw me, she stood up quickly, her eyes lighting up as if we hadn’t seen each other in years. I sighed internally, already tired of the situation. It didn’t matter what she said, I could see her real intentions."Why did you come here?" I asked, making no effort to hide my irritation.She pursed her lips, feigning offense. "What? Do you not welcome me anymore?" Her voice was laced with false innocence."It’s just that you didn’t mention anything beforehand." I didn’t care to sugarcoat it."Why? Do you think I came here for you?" she snapped, raising her chin defiantly. "I came for Zara. My life doesn’t revolve around yours, you know. This is work."My gaze
Up on the balcony, I stood alone, staring out at the darkened sky. The cool air did little to soothe the turmoil in my chest. I felt Zara approach behind me, her presence calming, but still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.She broke the silence with a small laugh. "Kayden, can I ask you something?"I didn’t turn, but I listened as she spoke."It’s a primary school math problem," she continued. "If a man takes five minutes to shower and a woman takes half an hour, how long will it take them to shower together?"I blinked, confused by the sudden change in topic. I didn’t answer, but she went on."Person A says, ‘Fool, it’s half an hour because the time overlaps.’ But Person B says, ‘Idiot, it depends on how long the man can last!’"I sputtered, caught off guard by the joke. Turning to look at her, I saw her face flush slightly, her smile wide. She was trying to make me laugh, trying to lighten the mood."You’re a fool," I muttered, shaking my head, but I couldn’t help the smile
POV ZaraAs I sat with Clara, sipping my drink, I couldn’t help but think about everything that had happened lately. The situation with Monica had been weighing heavily on my mind. But Clara, true to form, found a way to inject some humor into the situation, even when it seemed bleak.“That woman is really too cruel,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and indignation. “She actually went through with it—she really tried to end herself.”I sighed, swirling my straw around in my drink. Monica’s actions were dramatic, even for her. “Yes… Maybe she really does love Kayden a lot.”I didn’t want to dwell on it too much. The whole situation was too heavy, and honestly, I didn’t have the energy to try to make sense of someone like Monica. I had my own reasons for staying out of their mess. Honestly, I just came out today because I couldn’t bear to sit at home alone, overthinking everything. Clara always had a way of distracting me, even when I didn’t know I needed it.“How’s w
POV KaydenI spent the entire night at the hospital, watching the staff go in and out of Monica's room, conducting emergency treatments. No one slept. Not me, not her family. The night felt like an eternity, especially with Camilla, Monica’s mother, giving the hospital staff hell each time they entered the room. She wasn’t helping matters, but I stayed quiet. What was there to say? This entire situation had spiraled so far out of control, I couldn’t even recognize it anymore.By morning, the doctor finally gave us the news we were all waiting for—Monica was out of danger. Her parents rushed in first, and I stood back, giving them some time. They deserved that much. When I eventually walked in, I found her awake, but she looked as pale as a ghost, drained and weak.The moment she saw me, her eyes welled up with tears. “Go, go away,” she cried, turning her face from me. “Why did you come? I don’t want to see you.”I stepped closer, keeping my expression calm. “Monica, look at yourself.
POV ZaraI arrived in California feeling completely drained. The moment I stepped off the plane, I was ready to collapse into bed and shut the world out for a while. Kai’s event was apparently a big deal, something important enough that I couldn’t just brush it off, but honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for it.Yvette walked beside me, filling me in on the event. "Kai’s really generous to invite you to something like this,” she said. “It’s a Christmas event, after all.”“Is this event really that impressive?” I asked, though my heart wasn’t really in the conversation. I was only half-listening.Yvette nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, absolutely. California’s broadcasting station has been producing some really top-tier variety shows lately. This Christmas gala has invited all kinds of big shots. The viewer ratings will be through the roof. You’re lucky to be invited. Not just anyone gets to go to these things, you know.”I nodded, but the words just floated past me. My mind kept drifting bac
POV KaydenStanding there, watching Zara’s small shoulders tremble, something in my chest tightened. She looked so vulnerable, so fragile, and suddenly, I didn’t know what to do with myself. How could someone as strong as her look so small right now?“Zara,” I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady, “what’s wrong with you?”She didn’t answer. Instead, she just stepped closer, her face hard, but she wouldn’t let me move any nearer. Then she threw it at me, blunt as always, “I just dislike you intensely, can’t I?”I blinked. Dislike me? That was new.“You dislike me?” I asked, completely thrown off by her sudden declaration. “Why do you dislike me?”She huffed, crossing her arms, her eyes sharp. “There’s no reason. I just don’t like you when I look at you!”Okay, that stung a little. Here I was, worried sick about her, and she was telling me she couldn’t stand the sight of me. But even as she said it, I could tell it wasn’t true. Not really. There was something else going on here.
Inside the room, things were heating up fast. I had her pinned against the door, my lips trailing over her skin, my hands wandering. She was soft, warm, and for once, she wasn’t pushing me away.Everything was going perfectly. That is, until she suddenly froze.I looked up, confused. “Zara?”Her face turned beet red. She scrambled out of my arms, running towards the bathroom without even fixing her clothes.I stood there, blinking in confusion. What just happened?A few minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom, her face flushed with embarrassment.“What’s going on?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.She looked down, fiddling with her fingers. “We can’t… it’s here.”“What’s here?”“My… period.”I stared at her, the realization hitting me like a truck. Oh, for the love of—“Why now?” I groaned, my face falling.She shrugged helplessly, still avoiding my gaze. “I don’t control these things, you know.”Great. Just great. I looked down at myself, mentally cursing the universe. This was not
POV ZaraThe next morning, I woke up with my stomach still hurting terribly. Of course, my period had to come right when I have a huge event tonight. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, feeling like a mess already, but I had to get ready for the day.A knock on the door brought me out of my misery. Yvette, punctual as always. I was about to grab my clothes and tell her to wait, but before I could, Kayden opened the door.Seriously? I thought, staring at him. Yvette’s face mirrored my shock.“Mr. Marshall…?” she said, obviously not expecting to see him.Kayden, ever the calm one, responded in his usual composed tone, “Zara is still in the shower.”I swear I saw Yvette blink a few times as if trying to process what was happening. I quickly rushed out of the bathroom, my face burning. Could this be any more awkward?I quickly grabbed my things, ready to get out of there. “I’m done, let’s go,” I said to Yvette, eager to escape the awkwardness.“There’s no rush,” she said, looking at me curi
POV KaydenAfter we got back to Chicago, I went to Yohan for a routine checkup. Knowing him, I was half-expecting him to make some snide remark. Sure enough, he had a smug look on his face as I sat down.“Mr. Marshall, I think you could consider taking that drug more often,” he smirked. “You seem rather… energetic.”I shot him a look, not bothering to respond. He must have seen Zara and me together recently because he didn’t let up.“Don’t be so serious, Mr. Marshall. A joke here and there won’t scare a girl away.”“Any other tests you need to do?” I asked flatly.“Fine, fine,” he sighed, getting a needle ready. Then, out of nowhere, he started again. “You know, Miss Wilson’s personality is actually quite complementary to yours. She’s carefree, while Miss Jensen was always a bit uptight. You two are like… concave and convex pieces, fitting together perfectly.”I caught the mischievous look in his eyes immediately. He was speaking in double entendres, and his implication was obvious. F
When I walked into the room that morning, I could immediately tell how awkward Zara felt. She sat there, her face bright red, her body still a little disheveled from the night before. I knew she was thinking about everything that had happened, probably trying to reconcile her usual reserved self with the bold actions she’d taken for my sake.I approached her, trying to check on her arm. She winced a bit when I touched it, and that’s when I realized just how much I had pushed her the night before. I was in no state to think clearly back then, consumed by the effects of the drug, and she had gone through all of it with me, without complaint."Does it hurt that much?" I asked, frowning as guilt gnawed at me.She waved it off, pretending it wasn’t a big deal, but I could see how sore she was. “I must have used too much strength…” she muttered.I couldn’t help but feel responsible for what I had put her through. "I’m sorry..." I told her, feeling the weight of what I had done sink in.She
POV KaydenI stood by the window, my body burning with an unbearable heat, the cold winter night outside in stark contrast to the fire inside me. The reflection on the glass showed a man drenched in sweat, his skin flushed, muscles tense. I couldn't calm myself. The drug was wreaking havoc on me, pushing me to my limits, testing my control.I heard Zara approach from behind, her steps light but determined. Her voice cut through the haze, "Really, let me help you. It’s been a few hours already, and you’re still not well..."I clenched my fists. The last thing I wanted was for her to see me like this, to be caught in this mess created by someone else’s malicious intent. But there she was, stubborn as always. I couldn’t bear to have her close, and yet I couldn’t push her away."Who needs you to help? Didn’t you understand when I told you to get lost?" I shouted, hoping to scare her off. Maybe if I could make her leave, I could deal with this myself.But Zara never backed down. "No, I’m n
POV ZaraI was sound asleep when my phone suddenly rang. I groggily reached for it, only to hear an unexpected voice on the other end.“Zara.”It was Monica.I immediately sat up in bed, confused and still half-asleep. “Miss Jensen?” I asked, my voice puzzled. What could she possibly want at this hour?She didn’t waste any time. Her tone was sharp and condescending, as if she had been waiting for this moment. “What are you doing?” she snapped.I blinked and tried to stay calm. “I was sleeping,” I replied honestly, still unsure what this was about.“Very well. I guess you’re tactful enough to know your place and not try to disturb Kayden and me,” she said with a smugness that made my skin crawl.I was tired of this back and forth with her. I decided to just lay it out. “I’ll be direct. I respect whatever is going on between you two, and I won’t interfere. You’ve just never believed me,” I said, keeping my tone as even as possible, even though my heart was already beginning to race. I d
I arrived at the restaurant where Monica had already made herself comfortable. She had dressed up for the occasion, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite place, and I was immediately on edge. This was supposed to be a simple dinner, but from the way she was looking at me, I could tell she had something else on her mind."Kayden, you’re here," she smiled, motioning for me to sit. "I waited so long for you. Come and try this house drink. I specially asked them to bring it from the cellar. It’s a premium red wine."I sat down, already feeling uneasy. Something about her excitement seemed off, but I couldn’t place it. She kept staring at me, and I couldn’t figure out why. I glanced at the wine she poured and shook my head slightly."It’s better not to drink too much wine. It’s not good for your body," I said, trying to deflect.Suddenly, her eyes welled up, and tears started falling. I was caught off guard. Had I said something wrong? Her emotions had been so fragile lately, a
I was in the middle of reading a document when Zara suddenly popped up with a bright idea.“Kayden, let’s go to the indoor ski park.”I looked up from my work, slightly amused. "No," I said, shaking my head."Why not?" She always got this look when I denied her one of her spontaneous plans.I chuckled and said, “It’s meaningless to put on so many clothes. If we’re doing something active, we might as well go to the pool. It’s more... pleasing to the eyes.”She immediately grabbed a pillow and tossed it at me. "Perv."I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. But she didn’t give up. She never did.“Come on, let’s go try it out, Kayden.... Honey, I’ve never been to a ski park before.”That word, “Honey,” always had a strange effect on me. It was like she knew the exact button to push.I sighed, feeling a bit helpless. She knew exactly how to get her way. I reached out and rubbed her head. "Fine. Let’s go."Her face lit up immediately. “Heh heh. Thanks, Honey. You’re is the best!”I trie
POV KaydenI asked Henry to check with the hospital staff and doctors about Monica’s recovery which he said was going fine and she would get discharged in two days.Later that week I had a call from the Los Angeles Branch of Marshall Industries that needed some attention personally. I informed Zara and coincidently she too had a shoot to attend there.We both took the Marshalls private jet and she called her manager. They both set off for her scheduled shoot and I went to my own work. Los Angeles branch was doing well on its own, and it’s been like that for most of our branches. They managing directors don’t bother me unless there’s actually an issue that needs my attention, hence I make it so that I check these things personally.As I was just finishing my meeting and ready to head back in the afternoon, I got a call from Yvette. I quickly picked it up, knowing Yvette will never call me unless it has anything to do with Zara.“Hello.”“Mr. Marshall, Zara got into a small accident on
POV ZaraWhen we stepped into the Marshall residence, the chill in the air didn’t seem to matter. Kayden’s mother immediately fussed over me as usual, saying, “You’re wearing too few layers, Zara! Quick, bring an overcoat for the Young Madam.”I barely had time to protest before they wrapped me in another layer. Honestly, I was fine, but Kayden’s Mother’s warmth and concern made me feel like I was being pampered beyond belief. This was the Marshall family way—especially when it came to their daughter-in-law.As we moved further inside, I noticed the President's bodyguards stationed outside. That could only mean one thing: Kenneth was home. It was strange to see him here, since he's usually so busy with running the country. But it was New Year’s Eve, and even the President has to celebrate with family sometimes.Kenneth approached us, as poised as ever, and greeted me with his usual reserved but polite demeanor. “Zara, good to see you again.” It felt a little formal, but then again, he
This realization put me in a surprisingly good mood. If I had known earlier that she was jealous, I wouldn’t have been so anxious during those days. She was angry not because she didn’t care but because she did.And here I was, almost spoiling her too much. She was practically running circles around me. I chuckled to myself. If anyone saw how I was with her, they wouldn’t believe it. Zara had no idea just how much I was holding back, letting her get away with things that would’ve driven anyone else mad.I sat there, watching her hum to herself, clearly lost in her own thoughts. She reclined in her seat, and I couldn’t help but notice how content she looked now. But then, her expression shifted suddenly, and she pressed her hand to her stomach.I frowned and leaned forward. “Why? Does your stomach still hurt?”She nodded, wincing slightly. “It still hurts a little. It’s alright. It’s probably because I was too nervous this time. Usually, it only hurts for a day.”“Next time, take note