Well, you better make good on your promise, Owen.
“Can we drop by my place before we head home?” “Why do we need to do that?” Owen asked. “I need to find an outfit for tomorrow’s event. I forgot to bring one when I moved to your condo.” “If I let you drive alone, would you have told me about this side trip?” “I just remembered it now because I was thinking about the party tomorrow,” she replied, but when he said nothing, she added, “We can just go to the mall. I just need a dress, any dress.” “It’s okay, we’ll drop by your place. Just don’t take long, okay? I don’t want you to be in that place unless necessary.” He felt uncomfortable being in her apartment, knowing that someone violated their privacy and videos of them making love might be circulating on the dark web. “Okay, I’ll be fast. I promise,” Regina grinned, sorting through the clothes in her mind so she could get everything she needed right away. Like Owen, the place gave her a creepy feeling, especially now that she knew someone had been spying on her, so she had no in
As Regina predicted, they were late for the event. They had a red carpet segment so the press could take pictures of the people to be honored that night and all its guests. But by the time the couple arrived, the organizers were stacking up the metal crowd barriers and cleaning up the red carpet. Regina and Owen sauntered, hand in hand, to the event with smiles plastered on their faces. The couple did not care that they were late because being in the limelight was not their cup of tea. The ushers hurriedly escorted them to their seats just as the lights dimmed and the awards ceremony began. The organizers showed a presentation about the awards handed out by the mayor every year to outstanding individuals in the community. Some of them get nominated by their colleagues, some by their students, and then people like Owen and Regina’s father were public figures chosen for their works. Regina clapped the loudest when her father received an award for the philanthropic efforts he had esta
Regina smiled radiantly at the people around them, the magical moment forgotten. “Do you want to get some refreshment?” Owen asked, and she nodded. He wanted to leave after getting the award. Being with too many people wanting to talk to him made him uncomfortable. Without his assistant, it was hard to say no to people. On the way to the bar, a woman grabs Regina for a quick chat, and Owen nods, telling her to go on while he gets her a drink. It was Carmen, Ronnie’s wife. “My love, it’s nice to see you. We didn’t think you would come.” “Well, I wanted to surprise everyone by introducing Owen, but I didn’t know he was getting an award, so I came as his date instead.” “Well, we saw that kiss earlier, so we knew you came, and we understand. I would ditch my family for a hot tamale like that any day.” “Don’t let Ronnie hear you say that. He might never let you out again,” Regina joked. “Oh, if that’s the case, maybe I should.” Carmen winked mischievously. “Well, I’m kind of nerv
“It’s me, Regina.” “Arthur!” she said with surprise. “I didn’t know you were back from your trip.” “Yeah, it did not work out for me. I would rather be near you than be on the island.” “Does Owen know you’re back?” she asked, and his smile disappeared momentarily. “Would you like to dance with me?” “I’m sorry. I’m having some issues right now. Do you mind if I take a rain check? I need to talk to my brothers. I’m sorry.” Regina left Arthur standing alone. She debated whether it was better to follow Owen or stay within the safety of her family when she knew Arthur would probably follow her wherever she went. “Who was that? Are you dating two men at the same time because you can’t choose?” Raffy teased as Regina drank the rest of what was in her glass. “What? No. Don’t be absurd. I’m dating Owen, and I need to look for him right now. He looked kind of green earlier. I hope it wasn’t from the food he ate.” “Just let him go. He’ll come back.” Ronnie replied. “Probably needed to do
“You knew?” Owen asked, livid that both his brothers knew her real identity, and they did not bother to inform him. “I followed her home one day to make sure she was not scamming us. You kept on saying she was a fraud, and I believed what you said that I became doubtful. So I investigated, and she led me to the Albright mansion.” “You idiot, did you invite yourself to dinner?” Myles whacked Yvan on the back of his head. “I knocked, and her parents invited me to join them. So I said yes.” “You’re shameless.” Myles shook his head. “I am, and I tried to blackmail her, but she said there was nothing to hide. Regina changed her last name so people would not judge her because of her family name. She did not want people to think she was using it to get ahead. And I agreed. It was a noble cause.” “But she lied.” “She did not. You never asked, and now you're mad you didn't do your research. Regina did not change her name out of malice.” Yvan defended Regina because he knew what it was l
“You invited my whole family to attend your birthday, but I had a special date that night, so I told—no argued with my father and insisted I wasn’t going…” Owen’s voice sounded like he was in pain, remembering the incident. “And?” “My girlfriend broke up with me, and my father died, all because of your birthday.” “What?” “I argued with my father and told him I hated being his son, and later that night, he had a heart attack.” “Oh, Owen. I’m so sorry.” She approached and tried to hug him, but he pushed her away instead. “I was oblivious, so I met up with my girlfriend—ex. I told her my family had to attend your birthday, and she made me choose. Your birthday or her.” Owen knew he was lying about the breakup, but he did not know what compelled him to say those things. Princess told him he was nothing without his father’s influence, and she needed someone with more money. “Isn’t that a little shallow? Was it going to be your first time having sex? Is that why it was so important?”
The man steadied Regina before he let go. “Miss, are you okay?” “Yeah,” she nodded and looked up briefly to see who she bumped into. “Regina? What are you doing out here?” Jason asked as he touched her shoulder and realized she was sobbing. “What happened?” “Sir, do you want me to take the desserts in?” Someone interrupted before she could answer. “Yes, Stacy. Call me if you need me.” Stacy knew her boss was in love with Regina because his eyes always lit up when she was around, so she wanted to give them space. Especially seeing that Regina was upset. “Is everything okay?” Jason gave Regina a paper towel to wipe her face. Regina mumbled incoherently as she tried to catch her breath. She did not mean to cry so hard, but encountering another person, one that she knew, made her tears fall faster. Jason pulled her to his chest and looked around, wondering who or what had upset her. He wanted to hurt the person who made her cry, but right now, Regina was his priority. To shield her
Owen concealed himself when Raffy arrived. He did not want to be confronted by Regina’s brothers when he was not prepared to explain himself. He was still angry about the whole situation and wanted to draw his own conclusions.But when he saw Raffy’s car pull out of the parking lot, he sought his brother to clear some things.“Is that story you told Regina true?”“What story?” Myles asked. “The one about dad?”“Yes. He was angry, but that did not kill him. Get off your high horse. The world does not revolve around you.”Owen glared at Myles, “How come it’s so easy for you to talk about Dad’s death?”“Because I always think of the good times we had together. You should learn to do the same.”“I can’t. We were arguing the day he died.”“We all know that, but that’s all you remember. You were with Dad for 21 years. I bet you have better memories than that.”“I never—I stopped thinking about them. They were too painful to recall. It made me remember Da—dad was no longer with us.”“I overh