“Money?” Tracy was taken aback, she stared at him, flabbergasted. “What money are you talking about, Honey?”Lucas's glare intensified. “If it wasn't you who took the money, who else would?”She averted her gaze from his, staring at the ground instead. Her shoulders trembled and she sobbed, holding the tiny bump in her stomach, a pitiful gesture that melted the man's heart. “Ever since you declared that you no longer love me, your actions towards me get worse every day.” She stared at him. “Lucas Harrison, has falling pregnant for you become a sin?”“I only asked a simple question.” Lucas kept a straight face. “What did you do with that amount of money?”“I don't know- I don't know who took it. Didn't you investigate the maid and the security man? I left them both in the Villa.”“Mira said you fired her.”Tracy frowned. “That filthy girl! Why would I do that? You see why you shouldn't believe her? She's lying on me-”“Enough!” Lucas sighed and entered the house as droplets of rain f
…At Phoenix City.Heidi stood in her office, inside the AG Group, facing the floor-to-ceiling window.Hands folded across her chest, she stared past the transparent window, lost in the endless abyss of her own thoughts.“Ms. Olsen…” Isla's voice made her steer her gaze from the window.“What's the matter?” Heidi asked, struggling to keep a normal expression.Yet, Isla saw through the facàde of indifference in her eyes. She asked in a worried tone. “You rarely spoke since you came to work. You seem a bit off, Ms. Olsen. Are you alright?”Heidi didn't want to lie. Therefore, she only sat on her chair without speaking a word. Isla sat across from her. “You are supposed to be happy, you know. You've agreed to Mr. Anderson's proposal, and your wedding date has been announced.”Heidi fought the urge to groan out loud to express her anger and frustration. “Of course, I'm happy.” She forced a smile. Isla blew out a sigh. “Well, I haven't congratulated you yet. So congratulations. I'm happy
…Grandpa Winston was sulking in the living room, questioning the Butler. “Tell me this is a dream. Heidi is pulling a prank on everyone.”Butler Luke shook his head. “Some things are beyond our control, Master. Maybe the Young Master and Madam aren't meant for each other.”“I worked hard, didn't I?” Grandpa Winston lamented. “I thought Lucas Harrison was serious as well.”“No matter how hard the Young Master tries, if she doesn't love him anymore, what can we do?”Heidi cleared her throat from the doorway, grabbing their attention.“Heidi, you've come!” Grandpa Winston's eyes lit up, then they dimmed and he sighed. “Forget it. What's the use in getting excited?”“Grandpa, come on…” Heidi sat beside him and held his hands. “Will you not be sad?”“Who told you I'm sad?” Grandpa Winston's lips cracked into a broken smile. “Didn't I pray that you find a better man? See, my prayer has been answered.”“Now you're making me sad, Grandpa.” Heidi sniffed her tears. “I'm sorry, okay? I didn't
Eyes burning with fury, he stood with both fists clenched, glowering at her.“Hey, Grandson. You can't barge in here anyhow, show some respect,” Grandpa Winston scolded. As if he wasn't listening to his grandfather, his eyes remained pinned on her, boring holes through her back.A tense atmosphere surrounded the dining table. Feeling the discomfort creeping into her bones, Heidi rose to her feet and apologized to Grandpa Winston. “I'm sorry, Grandpa. I should get going.”“No, Heidi- wait!” Grandpa Winston stood up. “Aren't you going to eat dinner?”“Another time maybe, Grandpa.” Heidi picked up her bag and hugged him briefly. “Goodnight.”Then she turned for the door and hurried past the man.Heidi was so hasty in her steps that Lucas couldn't catch up with her.“Come back here, Heidi!”Even as he yelled out her name, she didn't glance back, and entered the car she came with and drove out of the mansion.But Heidi hadn't even left the neighborhood, driving at a high speed, when his c
…Heidi remained mute while on the ride back to the Olsens Mansion.Steve didn't say a word either, humming a tune as if he could care less about the turmoil he was causing.Heidi decided to break the silence. “Is this your true color?”“What do you mean?”“You never loved me, did you?” Glancing away from the window, she stared at him. “Steve, your professed love was a lie as well as your promises. If you loved me, you wouldn't attempt to hurt me.”“You've guessed right,” Steve chuckled. “I was never after your love, Heidi. But believe me, I'm serious about our wedding.”“Why?”“You'll know why,” he replied. “Now enough talking. You wouldn't want to worsen this evening.”He was never after her love.Now everything made sense to Heidi. If Steve truly loved her, he wouldn't have been so cool about Lucas kissing her in his presence. Why, though?“Why the deadly battle with Lucas when you don't even love me?”“You aren't gonna stop asking questions, are you?” Steve glanced at her. “That
No one dared to spend another second there. Everyone scattered, the servants running back to their quarters, and the family members running upstairs to their separate rooms. Heidi sat on her bed, digesting the news of her pregnancy leaked to the media. Her head pounded with a strong headache, and she supported it with both hands, listening to the rapid beating of her heart. What was happening? Why did things keep getting worse? She stood up and paced for a while, wiping her face in frustration. Heidi picked up her phone which was ringing. There were several message notifications from different people, and more text messages flooded in. She contemplated whether to answer the call or not. Then she took a deep breath and answered it. “Hello, Heidi! Girl, you're so full of surprises!” Kate's cheerful voice reverberated inside the phone's speakers. “Where should I start from- Gosh! I'm so excited! You finally agreed to marry my brother!” Heidi didn't say a word. She didn't know
Panic gripped Heidi's heart and she almost dropped the telephone.Before she uttered any word, he'd already hung up from the other end.Her gaze returned to the people whose eyes were pinned on her. She rose to her feet, trying to act normal under their interrogative gazes.“Where are you going?” Grandpa Jeffery asked.Heidi didn't know which excuse to come up with. Added to the fear inside her was the confusion about what to say.“Grandpa…” She murmured. “There's an emergency-”“If it's about the company, today's the weekend.” Grandpa Jeffery stared at her cautiously. “And we'll spend the whole day discussing your wedding plans with Mr. Anderson and his wife.”“No, I mean hospital. I'd like to discuss something important with Dr. Shawn-”“Which Dr. Shawn?” Her mother butted in. “Let's invite the family's doctor so he can check on you.”“Mum, this is urgent!” Heidi sighed. “I promise I'll only go to the hospital.”“Steve is on his way here, let him take you,” said her grandfather.Hei
It was a surprise how Grandpa Winston could detect something was wrong. But not her family or her Grandfather. “Please get better soon, okay?” Heidi patted his hand. “Your health matters.” “I can pretend nothing is happening, but I can't forget the pain. To be honest, Heidi, I don't want you to go. I feel my Grandson loves you with all his heart, won't you come back to him?” “Grandpa-” “If you need help in saving the AG Group, you don't need to go to someone else. Always know that I'll be here for you. Even if Lucas Harrison doesn't want to help, I will do everything in my power to help you.” “Heidi, if you don't love that boy, you don't need to force yourself,” Grandpa Winston went on. “Even if you no longer love my Grandson too, get married to someone you love.” Despite roaming freely, Heidi felt trapped in an invisible dungeon. Her mind screamed to let out the truth, convinced it might lead to her freedom. Sitting inside the ward alone with Grandpa Winston, she had this sens