Flabbergasted, Heidi glanced at Kate who was also smiling. She couldn't mask her confusion. “Why, Suzie?”“I think I know why, Ms. Olsen.” Isla beamed. “You see, StriveStyle Co.'s glory has also contributed to Ms. Anderson's fame. It's ridiculous, right? But everyone online is praising Ms. Anderson for stepping in boldly and helping to revive the brand.”“I've never been this satisfied with my job before.” Kate chuckled. “Heidi, I have a crazy idea. What if I become a shareholder in this brand? Then I can work solely for the brand. I'm tired of juggling from one brand to another anyway. I want something of my own; by focusing alone on StriveStyle Co., and maybe someday I'll acquire it.”Kate's big offer was mind-blowing, prompting Heidi and Isla to let out a gasp.“That will be a good idea,” Suzie agreed. “Steve Anderson has broken into the business world in Phoenix City. Since he's going to live here for a while, I think it's better to have Kate stay here too.”“Come on, Suzie!” Kat
…At The Harrisons Villa.Lucas spent several minutes inside his car after stopping it in the parking lot, his mind filled with guilt, regret, and heartache.After another day of relentless search for Heidi, his efforts were futile.Heidi never unblocked him again, so finding her through phone and social media was useless.Where was she? How was he going to find her? Did he scare Heidi off by kidnapping her to his Villa? Maybe he should have been gentle with her.Lucas finally left the car, his mood worsening.When he entered the house and heard commotions coming from the living room, his brows wrinkled into a frown, and the frown turned into an impatient look when he saw Tracy.“You're finally back, Honey!” Tracy welcomed him with a big smile, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. “I missed you so much… I've been dialing your number, Honey, why didn't you answer your phone?”“What brought you here?” It appeared Lucas was struggling to hide his displeasure.Even a simp
…On The Day of the Gala.The largest hall of the grandest hotel in Phoenix City echoed with indistinct chatter, laughter, and the sounds of glass clinking in cheers.There were so many people in one place.So many reputable businessmen and women dressed in outstanding outfits, obviously out to impress.Such an event occurred occasionally in Phoenix City, but this was the first time Heidi was attending one again after many many years.It's scary how things had changed a lot.The last time Heidi was in this kind of gathering was during the time her Grandma was still alive.Her Grandma, who had wanted to groom Heidi to be like her someday, would always drag her to such places even at a very young age.“Ms. Olsen, this is the perfect time for you to mingle,” Isla said, pulling Heidi's thoughts away from reminiscing the past memories. “All the great businessmen and women of Phoenix City are here, there's no doubt we can make some allies.”Heidi grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waite
After her uncle left, Heidi retained a normal look.“You make me speechless, Heidi.” Steve looked lovestruck. “I never knew the always reserved girl has this mischievous side. Old habits don't die easily, do they?”Heidi knew he was referring back to the days they were at kindergarten. “Yeah. They never die, I guess.”Steve chortled at her response, giving her a doting look. “I'm off to make some connections. You should also do the same.”“Good luck.”As soon as Steve left, Heidi longed to pick up the wine glass and she reached for it when a middle-aged man approached her with a young man behind him.Heidi had never met him before, so she wondered why he was giving her an inquisitive look.“Young Lady, why do I have a feeling that you look familiar? I can't help but compare your beauty and aura to someone's,” The middle-aged man said.“Oh, you flatter me.” Heidi gave him a smile. “I am new in the business circle, so you might have mistaken me for someone else.”“Not really.” The young
Lucas's eyes were fixed directly on hers, his intense gaze making Heidi's heart beat at a random pace.Thinking and hoping the man would ignore her, he walked in her direction, and Heidi had the urge to turn around and flee.“What are you doing here, Heidi?” Was the first question he asked when he approached her.“What else would bring Heidi here, Honey?” Tracy said in an innocent jovial tone, holding Lucas's arm protectively as if marking her territory. “There are so many big wigs at this party, this is a perfect opportunity for a girl like Heidi to make some cash. Oh, I think Steve Anderson brought her. Didn't we see him a while ago?”Lucas's expression was indescribable, his eyes flashing with disbelief and something else. “Heidi, did you come to this place with Steve Anderson?”His tone sounded more like a scolding.Heidi wanted to reply when Steve approached.Steve looked from Heidi to Lucas, a doubtful look in his eyes. “Is he bothering you, Heidi?” Lucas glared at him. “What g
The crowd's murmurs disrupted the silence in the hall, each one of their words not missing Heidi's ears.“Lucas Harrison has joined the bidding. He probably wants that necklace for his girlfriend.”“It's obvious. Even after the engagement scandal, Lucas Harrison still loves her. What a lucky girl.”“And do you notice something? Lucas Harrison's ex-wife happens to be here. How is she going to handle seeing her ex-husband openly showering another woman with love?”Heidi's lips twitched in annoyance, listening to their words.Behind her, Tracy was smiling triumphantly. She held Lucas's arm and cooed, “Oh, Honey. Isn't 10,000 too much? You're so generous-”“20,000!” Heidi raised her number tag, her clear voice silencing the crowd.“20,000! That's huge. Another bidder has joined us!” The auctioner's voice boomed. “Now things are getting interesting.”“40,000!” Lucas announced, and Heidi could feel his deep gaze behind her.“60,000!”“120,000!”“300,000!”“700,000!”“1 million!”“3 million!
Curious and confused, Heidi followed the direction of the voices.The two people seemed to be discussing inside the washroom, and the female voice belonged to Tracy.“Ha! Perfect! From tonight, Lucas Harrison will no longer resist me!”“Why are you also drinking it, Ms. Carlson?”“To make it more realistic.”The more Heidi listened to their words, the more confused she got.What was Tracy speaking about?Was it something regarding Lucas's well-being? Was Lucas in trouble?Heidi found herself walking further down the hallway, passing by many doors. Not to avoid Tracy, but to use the other elevator because this one was suddenly full.Whatever Lucas and Tracy were up to wasn't part of her business, was it?She was almost near the elevator, her footsteps echoing in the hallway. “Ah!”Out of nowhere, strong hands grabbed her arm and pulled her inside a room.Heidi yelped, her heart racing, her eyes staring back at dark squinted eyes. “Lucas Harrison, are you crazy?”Lucas caged her betwe
Not long after Heidi's figure darted past the hallway, a slender girl came out of the adjacent room, her whole body covered with hickeys as well.Tracy's eyes were crimson, balling her fists and gritting her teeth.She snuck into the room Heidi came out of, and cried bitterly, staring at the man on the bed.'Lucas Harrison, why!? Is Heidi any better than me? Why did you sleep with her instead?’'I feel disgusted, you know.’ she wiped her tears. 'I don't even know that scumbag who ravished me last night.’Then her lips pulled into a cunning smile, her eyes treacherous.Tracy took off her clothes and slid her naked self under the bedsheet beside the man.Lucas woke up with a pounding headache. “Heidi…” He called out her name, but the girl he found beside him wasn't Heidi.“Why are you calling Heidi when we just shared a passionate night, Honey?” Tracy said in an offended tone. “It's unfair, you know.”…At The Olsens Mansion.Harold Olsen was speaking so loudly, not allowing anyone to
There's nothing more satisfying than a happy ending. Letting go of these dear characters breaks my heart 💔 they're so relatable that I cried with them in their sad moments and rejoiced in their happy moments. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for sticking around 😘 I can't wait to read your awesome reviews and comments. My next book is coming soon, so stay close 💞💞💞 You'll get an instant notification if you follow my profile. By the way, I've got a huge surprise for you in the next book 😉 you'd hate to miss it. If you're a new reader, please check out my other completed works by tapping on my profile on the book's details page. You can get first-hand updates about my stories when you follow me on social media; F*; Author HusnasI*; @husnas_8 [HusnaS]X (formerly known as Twitter); HusnasTikTok; HusnaSFeel free to message me directly and ask any questions about the stories. Once again, I can't wait to read your reviews 😘 ra
Heidi sprang to a sitting position instantly, hearing the voice coming from the door. Dread washed over, and instinctively, she pulled her baby into her arms, her eyes darting around for any possible escape route. Heidi's first instinct was to flee, but to where?“Daddy?” Her daughter, on the other hand, jumped in excitement. “Hey, Mommy! It's Daddy! Daddy's here!”The door's handle shifted as someone juggled it from the outside. The sounds of knocking increased. “Heidi, are you inside?”Lost at what to do, Heidi just stared at the door, hugging her baby. Lucas barged into the room as he kicked the door open. He came to a screeching halt right in front of her, almost colliding into the bed. “Heidi…” as he whispered her name, Heidi's eyes locked into his. Except for the subtle changes; his once dark eyes now crystal clear, his stubbled jaws and overall demeanor, everything about him was the same. Tears pricked at her eyes and her heart hurt tremendously, wondering how she'd been a
All eyes turned to Harold, some blinking in shock and the rest widening. Heidi was confused too that of all people, Harold Olsen was the one who believed her.But from the look of guilt on his face and the way he sank onto the floor, literally kneeling in front of her, something was definitely fishy. “Heidi, please forgive me.”Heidi flinched when he held her knees. She stared at him, frowning. “Forgive you for what, Uncle?”“What did you do Dad!?” Zach hollered, his eyes filled with horror.The others looked fearful as well.Hanging his head, Harold shook it slowly. “I know saying this is probably too late. That night, Heidi didn't lose her child. When the police found her and Natalie, I orchestrated everything that happened after.”Several gasps spread across the room.Avoiding everyone's gaze, Harold said in a melancholic tone. “Having Heidi and Lucas Harrison together at that time meant the end of my sovereignty in this family. I did that to strip Heidi of her position- and…” He
All eyes snapped in Heidi's direction.As her sobs echoed in the living room, they all but sprang to their feet. “Ha! How many times have I told you guys to stop mentioning Heidi's name?” Lilian cried out. “Now I'm seeing Heidi's face instead of this lady who appeared from nowhere with a child!”“Are you seeing Heidi? I'm also seeing her!” Natalie gasped. “That's impossible, right?”“Unless we're all out of our minds!” Kate cackled. “Because we all might be seeing Heidi.”Lifting her head, Heidi glanced at everyone's face. Her gaze stopped at her mother whose expression was deadly pale. “Th- This- This isn't Heidi. My Heidi's dead!”Shaking her head, the woman staggered backward. “Who the hell summoned Heidi's ghost?”Her mother fainted immediately after saying that, and the whole room was thrown into chaos. Heidi shot to her feet, holding her baby tight, racing to the spot. Under the family's watchful gazes, she sat beside her mother, shaking her. “Mum! I'm not a ghost! I've come
~During the car ride, Heidi's mind was muddled with different kinds of thoughts that brought worry to her heart. Her only solace was the little girl sitting beside her, holding her hand. “You're so quiet, Mommy…” she asked, “Is everything alright?”Heidi smiled, parting her hair to the side. “I'm okay, Baby.”“Where are we headed?” She murmured, glancing out of the car's window. “You brought me back, Mommy. Are you gonna drop me off at Nanny's place and disappear again.”Smoothing the tiny frown on the girl's forehead, Heidi's heart ached as she kept repeating that word. Disappearing hadn't be easy, and appearing again would definitely incure many repercussions. Heidi picked her up and sat her on her lap, hugging her. “I'd rather die than to disappear again.”Here she was, loathing death, something she'd actually been craving for the past three years. Her heart was an ocean of emotions and her tears never dried up, so much that her eyes were hurting. “Please, Mommy, stop crying
“For the first time, I'm agreeing with Jason's words.” Freya nodded. “Let's return her to the poor man, Heidi. She's not lost.”“Please don't let them take me away, Mommy.” The little girl hugged Heidi's arm. “I promise I'll be obedient. We'll stay in this paradise forever.”“Don't mind them, I won't let you go.” Heidi patted her hair. She stared at Jason and Freya, communicating with her eyes. The two gave her crestfallen looks and sighed at the same time. That Night;Heidi rested on her bed, holding the baby close, and sniffing the familiar scent on her. Citrus mixed with lavender. The scent of the Harrisons Villa. A scent that only belonged to the man she loved. Whenever she thought of him in the past, she'd feel hate and remorse, but now… the thought of him brought fear to her heart, and a regret she couldn't deny. Beside her, the little girl shifted. She opened her sleepy eyes, her wide milky eyes blinking. “Why aren't you sleeping, Mommy?”“I just love staring at you.” H
From caressing the girl's hair, Heidi found herself drawing her close, wrapping her in a gentle embrace. “What's your name?” Uncertainty filling her heart, she asked in a hoarse voice.The little girl neither struggled nor made a sound of discomfort, she in fact snuggled deeper into Heidi's embrace. She murmured, “Nanny calls me Didi, but Daddy calls me Heidi.”Heidi shut her eyes, swallowing down a sudden lump in her throat. A soft laughter escaped her lips. “That's a beautiful name you have, Baby.”However, the little girl pulled away, furrowing her brows. “But my first Mommy dislikes it. She once argued with Daddy about it.”“Oh, is that so?” Sniffing back the tears threatening to burst out, Heidi forced a smile. “Why doesn't she like your name?”“Because she's a meanie. Nanny said she made my Mommy disappear.” The girl blew out a sigh, her tone gloomy. “But Daddy promised she won't bother us anymore.”Heidi didn't know where to keep her emotions. She just didn't want to cry in f
“A kid means no harm. Relax, Heidi.” Jason patted her shoulder. “That pilot must be her father.”Heidi sat on the couch. “Now let me get to work! I'll see to it that that man is taught a lesson for crossing my number one rule of this Island! No tourists are allowed with a helicopter!”As Jason matched out of the room, Freya snickered. “He's doing a bad job managing this place. Too bad none of us can be in charge.”Under the pretense of working for the AG Group and managing the resorts here, Jason had moved to the mystic Island to be with her. One coincidence led to the guy clinging onto her.Driven by curiosity, he'd wandered into this cabin on a particular day, which was rumored to be haunted, and that was how he found her and Freya. Wondering if Jason was going to send the father and daughter back even though she didn't like that idea, Heidi carried on with her day, taking a walk down the empty beach separated from the resort’s area. The Island ahead was like an abandoned old ca
… Waking up the next morning to a foreboding feeling in her chest was enough sign that her peaceful days on this Island were over. The moment she opened her eyes, someone hugged her. “What am I gonna do with you, Heidi…” Freya murmured. “An emotional outburst can cause you a second heart attack, and that will be the end of us. Our days of hiding here will be over… we'll need to go to any nearby city for your treatment, and the police won't have mercy once they catch me.”Heidi sighed inside. Did she faint last night? Her only cure was ultimate happiness, something she doubted she was ever going to find on this Island or anywhere in this world. “If I have a heart attack someday, don't bother yourself, Freya… let me die and-”“Please, Heidi… stop it,” Freya whispered. “How dare you wish death upon yourself? You're the nicest person I've ever met; I fell for a villain and almost let him slip away, I lost my job and was about to lose my life but you saved me even though we never kne