Calvin's birthday party was still in full swing. However, in the midst of the hubbub, Nicolas felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest. He couldn't take his eyes off Celine, the woman who had once been a part of his life. When the atmosphere was a little quiet, Nicolas decided to approach Celine."Celine," Nicolas called hesitantly. Celine, who was talking to one of the guests, turned to Nicolas who was standing next to her, "Nico? What's wrong?""I just want to talk for a minute," Nicolas replied, his face looking serious. "Just tell me," Celine agreed."About Devano... is he really your husband now?"Celine smiled slightly, then sighed. "Not yet, but he and I are getting married soon," Celine replied casually, "Why is that?" Celine asked sarcastically. Nicolas felt his heart stabbed again at that answer. "Celine, I want... I want to explain something to you. I know it probably won't change anything, but I have to say it.""What are you going to explain, Nico?" asked Celine but r
A few days later, a sunny morning in the city park was filled with children's voices and joyful laughter. Among the people who passed by, Nicolas' eyes were glued to the figures of Celine and Calvin who were playing in the meadow. Celine looked so beautiful in a simple dress, her face radiant, as if all the wounds of the past had disappeared. However, behind that warm smile, Nicolas knew that he himself had planted the deepest wound in the woman's heart."What have I done..." Nicolas whispered, his gaze fixed on Celine who was unaware of his presence. In his chest, there was a strong desire to go over, to apologize, to explain everything. However, he knew that no amount of explanation would erase the wounds he had left behind.While Nicolas was still trapped in his guilt, Calvin suddenly turned to him. Calvin's small eyes widened, a big smile graced his face, and without hesitation, the boy ran over to him."Uncle Nico!" he exclaimed cheerfully.Nicolas gasped, trying not to show too
Nicolas sat alone in his study, drowning in the shadows of a past that never allowed him to be truly free. The room was dim, with only the desk lamp shining on his regretful and exhausted face. Every second was heavy, as if the shadows of the past were gripping her tighter and tighter.The door to his room opened softly, and Maria, his mother, entered with her usual cold and controlling gaze. She stepped closer to Nicolas' desk, her gaze sharp, radiating the disapproval that had been weighing on Nicolas."You're thinking about Celine again, aren't you?" Maria said in a sharp, judgmental tone. "Stop thinking about that woman. She only brings trouble into your life. Now that she's a CEO, you want to beg her?"Nicolas sighed, bowing his head. "Enough, ma'am, all this, all this mess happened because of my old enemy, not Celine. She's never wrong."Maria squinted, her gaze full of annoyance. "Your enemy or not, Celine is still your source of weakness. I will never allow her back in your li
Nicolas walked into the house at exactly seven in the evening. His shirt was rumpled, his face was tired, and his mind was still reeling from all the problems at the office. As he closed the door, the sound of soft steps approached, accompanied by the scent of a perfume that was too sweet for his taste."Nico," Ruby greeted softly, standing nearby with a seductive smile. Her body was clad in a deliberately sheer dress, revealing her curves in all their glory. "You just got home? It's been a long time. I've been waiting for you, you know."Nicolas just sighed softly, looking away. "I'm tired, Ruby. Don't start, please."Ruby leaned further in, placing her hand on Nico's chest, her fingers stroking gently. "Tired? Always tired," Ruby said in an annoyed tone disguised with a smile. "Don't you want to have a little fun with me?"Nicolas shifted his body, avoiding Ruby's touch without a care in the world. "I don't need that right now. I just want to rest."Ruby snorted softly, annoyance st
Elsewhere, Celine sat looking at the window overlooking the garden. It was quiet, with only the wind whispering outside. Footsteps were heard approaching, then Devano's figure appeared, carrying a bouquet of white roses and a small blue velvet-lined box in his hand."Miss Celine," Devano called softly, walking over to her.Celine turned her head, smiling slightly at the sight of the bouquet of white roses in his hand. "You always knew my favorite flowers, Dev."Devano looked at her, taking a deep breath before kneeling before her. "And I also know the woman who always occupies my thoughts," he said as he opened the velvet box, revealing a diamond ring that glittered under the lights.Celine was startled, her eyes widening for a moment. "Devano what are you doing?""Miss Celine, I've been wanting to say this for a long time. I love you," Devano said firmly, his voice soft yet full of sincerity. "And I want you to be my life companion."Celine sighed softly, feeling the warmth and at th
Celine sat in her study, behind a neatly organized desk with files and an open laptop. Devano stood in front of her, looking at her seriously. There was something in Celine's gaze that he had never seen before-a strong, determined will."So, you really want to do it?" asked Devano, leaning forward slightly, trying to get a deeper understanding of her intentions.Celine nodded firmly. "I'm not messing around, Dev. Wiliam's company must fall into my hands. No matter what." Devano was silent for a moment, hesitating. "Celine... this means we have to play with a pretty risky strategy. Wiliam's company is one of the strongest in the market. And... well, you know who's behind that company."Celine smiled a small, cynical smile. "Who else if not Nicolas? And maybe this is the best way to get back at him for everything he's ever done to me.""Is it really about revenge?" asked Devano, trying to gauge what was really in Celine's heart.Celine sighed, her gaze directed towards the window. "It'
Celine had just walked into the house after a full day outside. As soon as the door opened, Calvin ran up to her, his face flushed with excitement. However, Celine's facial expression immediately changed, feeling like she didn't want to discuss the thing that had just popped into her mind."Mommy, Mommy, when can I see Uncle Nico again?" asked Calvin with sparkling eyes, jumping up and down a little with excitement. Celine stopped her steps for a moment, looking at her son with a serious face. "Calvin, Uncle Nico is very busy. You know that right? He works a lot, so we have to be patient."Calvin didn't seem satisfied with that answer. He came closer again, holding Celine's hand tightly. "But I miss Uncle Nico, Mommy. Uncle Nico is good. Why won't Mommy let me see Uncle Nico again?"Celine took a deep breath, trying to hold back the anger that was starting to emerge. "We've met Uncle Nico many times, Calvin. But right now, he's really busy.""I just want to play with Uncle Nico," Cal
Nicolas began to feel something strange inside him. His body was heating up, and his heart was beating faster than usual. He felt restless, as if there was an urge he couldn't control. Realizing something was wrong, Nicolas tried to control himself. However, Ruby's presence nearby only made the situation worse. The woman, without hesitation, kept getting closer."Nico... you look so hot," Ruby said in a spoiled voice, wrapping her arms around his neck. She touched Nicolas' shoulder, caressed it gently and slowly lowered her hand to his back. "Maybe you need someone to make you feel better?"Nicolas took a deep breath, trying to hold himself together, but the effects of the drug were starting to take over his mind. "Ruby, I... I think you should go now," he replied in a heavy voice, trying not to show the effects of the drugs he had taken without meaning to.Ruby, however, did not give up so easily. She smiled meaningfully, then whispered near Nicolas' ear, "Don't kick me out, Nico. I
The living room lights were still on even though it was past midnight. Nico sat on the sofa, laptop on his lap, a serious look on his face. He was reviewing reports and presentations for a new project at work. Although he is tired, there is a burning passion in his heart. He wants to prove to himself - and to Celine - that he can rise to the occasion. As he was typing, he heard soft steps coming from the kitchen. Nico lifted his head and saw Celine walking slowly with a sleepy face. Her slightly messy hair made her look different from usual, more relaxed, more human. Celine did not notice Nico's presence in the living room. She went straight to the kitchen to get a glass of mineral water. After pouring the water into the glass, she turned around with a slightly hurried step. But suddenly, she winced in pain. "Ouch!" Celine exclaimed softly. Her leg was sprained and her body lost its balance. Nico, who was watching from the sofa, immediately reflexively moved. Within seconds, h
Nico stood in front of Celine's door with his heart pounding. He was carrying a bag containing a small gift for Calvin-the boy's favorite toy. Even though he had come to this house several times before, the atmosphere always felt familiar to him. This time, he came with a new determination: not only for Calvin, but also to change Celine's view of him. As soon as the door opened, the sound of small footsteps could be heard. Calvin ran from the living room, his face beaming when he saw Nico. "Daddy!" he exclaimed cheerfully, then immediately jumped into Nico's arms. "Calvin!" Nico greeted him with a big smile, hugging the boy tightly. "How are you, son? Daddy really misses you." "I miss you too, Daddy!" Calvin tightened his hug, then his eyes lit up when he saw the bag in Nico's hand. "What did Daddy bring?" "This is for Calvin," Nico said as he opened the bag and took out a bright blue toy car. "Wow!" Calvin immediately cheered, taking the toy eagerly. "Thank you, Daddy!" A
In the Interview RoomNico sat nervously in front of three interviewers. They were carefully examining his CV. Despite being well-dressed and prepared, Nico felt small under their piercing gazes. "So, Mr. Nico," one of the interviewers, a middle-aged man with thick glasses, began, "you have quite a bit of experience as an operations manager, but we also noticed a long gap in your career. Can you explain why?" Nico took a deep breath. He knew this question would come up. "I had some personal issues that impacted my career. But I've resolved them all, and now I'm ready to start over from scratch. I want to prove myself that I am still capable of making a great contribution." A female interviewer with short hair notes something in her notebook. "Can you give us an example, Mr. Nico, of your strategy to improve efficiency in the operations team, based on your previous experience?" Nico smiled slightly, feeling a little more confident. "One of the things I always prioritize is clea
Morning at the HospitalAll night, Celine couldn't sleep. Nico's words kept ringing in her mind. She knew Nico had made many mistakes in the past, but his earnestness that night felt different. There was an honesty in the man's gaze that she found hard to ignore. As the sun began to rise, Celine finally decided on something. She picked up her cell phone and typed a short message to Devano. [Meet me at the office this morning. We need to talk]-Celine's Office Devano knocked politely on Celine's office door, then entered after being invited. The man wore a neat suit as usual, his face calm yet thoughtful. "Is there anything I need to do, ma'am?" asked Devano, sitting in the chair in front of Celine's desk. Celine looked at her faithful assistant, then sighed softly. "I need you to open access for Nico." Devano raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised. "Open access? By that you mean, removing his name from the blacklist of companies in this city?" Celine nodded. "Yes. She s
In the Hospital CorridorAfter making sure Calvin was fast asleep, Nico and Celine stood facing each other outside the room. The corridor was quiet, only the sound of the hospital staff's steps could be heard occasionally passing by. "Celine," Nico began, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I want to talk about something important." Celine looked at him with a flat expression. "What else, Nico?" Nico bowed his head, trying to string together the right words. "I know I'm nothing now. Everything I used to have, it's all gone. I lost everything, including you. And it's my fault." Celine remained silent, waiting for what Nico would say next. "But I don't want to continue like this," Nico continued, his voice starting to sound more determined. "I want to get back on my feet, Celine. I want to work, build my career from scratch. I want to be able to stand on my own feet, without having to rely on anyone." "So?" asked Celine briefly, her eyes narrowed, trying to read Nico's intenti
At Nico's apartmentNico's cell phone vibrated on the small table in front of him. He immediately grabbed it when he saw Celine's name on the screen. "Hello?" "Nico," Celine's voice sounded firm, though a little hurried. "Can you go to the hospital now? Calvin keeps looking for you. He's starting to run a fever again, probably from too much stress." Nico stood up immediately. "I'll be there now." Before he could grab his jacket, his mother sitting on the sofa gave him a sharp look. "Wait a minute, Nico." "I don't have time, Mom," Nico replied quickly, but his mother was already standing and blocking his way. "This is your chance," his mother said in a low, stressful voice. "Celine asked you to go there. She needs you. Use this to make her see that you can still be her savior." Nico sighed loudly, frustrated. "This isn't about me or Celine, Mom. This is about Calvin. That boy is sick!" "Exactly," his mother replied quickly, her eyes narrowing. "And who's there for Calvin?
Calvin sat on the edge of the bed, hugging his favorite doll with a sour face. He looked up at his mother with eyes that were almost brimming with tears. "Mommy, where's Daddy? Why isn't Daddy here?" he whined in a small voice full of confusion. Celine, who was folding the blanket at the end of the bed, tried to put on a gentle smile. "Daddy went away for a while, dear. He bought some fruit for you. Calvin likes apples and oranges, doesn't he?" "But it took so long!" Calvin snorted. "I want Daddy now!" Celine came over, sat beside Calvin, and gently smoothed her son's hair. "Be patient, honey. Daddy will come back. Now, how about Calvin draw a picture first? Daddy will see the picture when he gets home." Calvin gave a small nod, though his face was still sullen. "But Mommy said Daddy won't leave again." Celine was silent for a moment. She knew this little lie wasn't a good solution, but she also didn't know how to explain the situation to Calvin. "Daddy's only gone for a l
"So what if Calvin asks that we don't live in the same house?" Nico asked later. "Well, we still live in the same house. We'll pretend to be married. Later, I'll find a new Daddy if it's suitable, then get divorced."Nico was stunned to hear that statement. Celine looked at him without hesitation, as if the sentence she had just said was the most logical solution that could be taken. "We live in the same house?" Nico repeated, making sure he hadn't heard wrong. Celine nodded, her face remaining cold. "Yes. For Calvin's sake. He doesn't need to know what's really going on between us. We pretend to be married, living like a normal family in front of him. If I find someone suitable, we can divorce gracefully." Nico felt something hit his chest. He wanted to refuse, wanted to say that it wasn't fair, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. "Are you serious, Celine?" he asked in a trembling voice. "Seriously," Celine replied firmly. "I don't care how you feel about this
Celine looked at Nico with a look in her eyes that was hard to interpret. Calvin had already fallen asleep in his small bed after being tired of crying. Now there were only the two of them in the room, and the atmosphere was heavy. "I want to clarify something," Celine finally opened her voice. Her tone was cold, different from before. Nico, who was standing by the window, turned his head. "What is it, Celine?" Celine took a deep breath. "What I said earlier, about forgiving you... it's not entirely true." Nico looked at her, his forehead furrowed. "What do you mean?" "I only said that for Calvin's sake." Celine looked directly into Nico's eyes, her tone firm. "I don't want him to feel even more devastated. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten everything you did." Nico was silent. He didn't try to defend himself, nor did he show anger. He just nodded slowly, as if he had expected the answer. "I understand," he said finally, his voice low. "I know I deserve that." Celin