“Where is my mother?” Silvia asked as she angrily pushed the doctor's office open.
“You're here already. That's a good thing” The doctor stretched his hand, requesting that she have a seat.
But Silvia was seriously pissed. She wasn't ready to sit down and have a peaceful talk with the doctor.
“I can't find my mother in her ward,” she said angrily.
The doctor, who now understood the reason behind her deep anger, started laughing very hard.
Silvia just stood in shock, as she tried to check if there was anything on her that could amuse the doctor.
“Your mother. She is in a private ward, and some doctors are trying to run some tests on her because of her surgery tomorrow” the doctor said.
Silvia, who was not informed about anything of that sort, had to take a seat first before she would continue the conversation.
“I don't understand. The surgery. But who paid for the surgery?” She asked confusingly, with a puzzled expression.
“A man called. He refused to disclose who he was. All he did was send me one million dollars because of the surgery” the doctor explained.
Everything was happening so fast. Silvia had just reached a deal with Ralph a few hours ago, but he was quick to get to work.
“I see…" The man didn't tell you his name?” she asked curiously.
“I don't know. I am just certain that he paid for your mother's bills. I actually thought that you were fully aware of the arrangement,” he added.
Silvia shook her head in negative affirmation. But the doctor was wise enough not to intrude into her affairs.
He just showed her to where her mother was in the private ward.
Silvia and her mother had a long conversation. One would say that they're love birds.
The following day, as planned. Theresa, Silvia's mother, went into the theatre.
Silvia's heart rate went up several times, as she just kept pacing from one place to the other in the hospital.
The transplant took seven hours, but it was a successful one. Finally! Sopvia heaved a deep sigh of relief when she saw her mother sleeping peacefully on the bed.
“I don't want you to disturb her now” the doctor instructed
It took another six hours for Silvia's mother to regain consciousness. The anaesthesia she was administered was a string one.
She was still finding it hard to keep her eyes open for a long time.
When she was fully awake, Silvia called for the doctor, who came and checked her vitals.
He made sure that she was not experiencing more pain than expected.
“Thank you so much doc” She appreciated the doctor for a good job
Ralph had dismissed Silvia from working for him in his association.
He wanted to allow Silvia the space to have a good time with her mother for a while.
Before she comes to his house. Silvia was going to be faced with so much workload at Ralph's house.
Silvia hadn't told her how she got the money. But she wanted to keep a secret away from her mother.
“Hey mum. How are you feeling?” she leaned towards her mother's bed from the chair.
“I can't feel my legs” her mother let out a soft smile.
“I am happy that you're in perfect condition” she said. This is better than when her mother was rushed into the hospital.
Silvia's brain was filled with so much worry. She just kept thinking of how she was going to leave her mother alone.
“You look so worried,” her mother said.
Even though she was not really in good condition, she was able to see that Silvia had a lot going on in her head.
“I am fine, mum. Let's just forget about me for now. I need you to be in good health” She tried to drive her mother's attention away from her.
Silvia wasn't sure if she needed to tell her mother about the deal she reached with Ralph.
Since her mother was not aware of everything it took to get the surgery done, she didn't see any reason to start talking about the contract.
Three weeks later, the hospital bills were cleared as Ralph had promised.
Silvia happily took her mother back home and made sure she took care of everything her mother needed.
“Mum, I have something to tell you” she took a seat next to her mother.
“What is the problem?” Her mother asked curiously.
“I have a business deal. So I'm going to be away for a while now,” she said.
Silvia was nervous while she was talking, but she tried so hard to hide her emotions from her mother.
“A business deal. Where is this place?” Mum's question was beginning to make Silvia fall short of words.
“I'm going to be travelling to New York mum,” She came up with a lie.
Telling her mother the truth was totally out of the question for Silvia.
“I will miss you dearly” her mother pulled her closer and gave her a warm hug.
Suddenly, she heard a horn outside the house.
Silvia listened closely for the horn to sound again, but it was followed by a knock on her door.
Her mother wanted to grab the door, but she insisted and went ahead to check who was behind the door.
Silvia wasn't expecting any visitors, so she opened the door in anticipation. “Mum, are you expecting anybody?” She asked as she stood next to the door.
Her mother shook her head in negative affirmation.
Silvia was left with no other choice but to have a look for herself. She went ahead and pulled the door open.
Leaving a small space for her to only get a peek at the person. Before she decided whether or not, she was going to allow the visitor in.
But her eyes met a rather shocking sight.
Her heart nearly stopped as she opened the door. Standing before her, a tall, striking figure, smartly dressed in a tailored suit, was her boss—and apparently now her husband—Ralph. Behind him, his sleek black SUV was parked, and it reflected the late afternoon sun. Even his bodyguards drove in luxurious cars, parking them behind him while keeping their trained eyes on her. What was this? Had he thought she would breach their agreement and make a run for it? Panic surged through her. She couldn’t let her mom see this scene, or else she would be worried. She wouldn’t believe the lie she had spun about going on a business trip.“Sir, you’re here,” Silvia, stammered. She swallowed back an urge to say something more. "What are you doing here?"His hard, dispassionate expression made her stomach drop. Her heart raced as she recognized the storm brewing in his eyes. It seemed like he was in a terrible mood.“What are you still doing here? Did you forget what was stated in the contract?” h
Silvia’s eyes watered immediately, but she sniffed in the tears as quickly as they came. She was only given a little food before bed, and when it was time to sleep, she could barely get a wink of rest. She cried all night long.With the ache in her heart—a now familiar, relentless companion—she wondered how she got here? She had imagined one centered on partnership and love, not servitude. Though the notion of marrying Ralph had once posed desirable, now the ring on her finger felt heavy, as if an iron chain linked her to this gilded cage.The next day loomed before her like a shadow. She had to cook and then shop for things needed at the villa. Although there were numerous cars, she had been told that Ralph had strictly forbidden her from using any. She had no other choice but to walk to the supermarket, as she was not given money to board a cab either.Silvia trekked for close to an hour before she finally spotted a nearby supermarket.She noted the chatter and laughter of happy fam
Silvia staggered backward, her heart dropping to her stomach. She gripped the fabric of her gown nervously as he had glared hard at her. The intensity of his glare almost made her shrink.The words he had spat at her sliced deeper than she expected. He spoke so nonchalantly, as if she were nothing, as if she had no emotions, no right to feel. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over, but she held them back until he bellowed:“Get out of my sight immediately! You're wasting my time!”She could not help it—she could not stop the tears that danced on the corners of her eyes at his harsh words. The way he had smoothly delivered them, as if she wasn’t human as if she didn’t have feelings too.Her body jolted into motion, and she took off as fast as her feet could move before she even realized it.She just managed to get to her room before she fell onto the bed, her body convulsing in sobs. The walls of the room seemed to be closing in around her, pinning her down with the weight of helpl
“I…” “Sir Burke!” Donna's voice, cut through the tension like a knife the minute she entered the room, stealing whatever thought had been on Sylvia's lips. Feeling Donna's eyes heavy as they dropped on the glimmering ring on her finger, Silvia automatically held her breath. Donna's face darkened with strong disapproval; she stared hard, her eyes narrowed in a way that spoke volumes. “Who is this woman? What is she doing in my nephew’s room wearing that ring?” Sir Burke demanded, his voice sharp and unwavering. Donna grew extremely nervous. When Ralph’s uncle had told her he would be coming, she had never imagined this idiot would be here, pulling this kind of fucking stunt. She dreaded what Ralph would do to her for letting this happen under her watch. “She’s just a slave, Sir Burke,” she said. “Whose ring is that, then? Does it belong to my nephew? Is this girl a thief?” he bombarded her with more questions. “Certainly not, sir. Do not worry, my boss will take care of the issu
“You fool!!!” Ralph's angry voice broke through the eerie silence. His chair screeched against the floor and almost tumbled over. Before Silvia could react further, his hand whipped out—quick and ruthless.CRACK!!!The painful slap landed on her cheek with scorching strength. A warm, sharp sensation spread over her cheek, her skin feeling like a searing hot pain crawled all over.A choked gasp left Silvia's lips as her head snapped to one side. The earth rocked suddenly, a surge of dizziness pouring over her. Her knees nearly buckled as she staggered backward.Tears brimmed in her eyes, and not simply because of the pain but also because of the utter disgrace. Ralph stared at her with nothing but pure disgust and anger.“Look what you’ve done! You’ve ruined my expensive suit!!!” he hissed in a low deadly whisper. "Are you cursed with the gift of spilling things over people?"“Well, don’t just stand there like a useless idiot! Clean this mess up,” Sir Burke growled impatiently.Silv
Rebecca angrily stormed out of Ralph’s villa. She got into her expensive Benz and drove away. Ralph had told her to meet him at his mansion, but he bailed on her at the last minute. She hit the steering wheel in total frustration.“You’re lucky you’re rich,” Rebecca seethed as she bit her lip in frustration.She had been glad his uncle was here; she was ecstatic to meet him because she couldn’t wait to get married to Ralph. The more they stalled, the higher the probability of some other girl appearing and stealing Ralph from her grasp. She couldn’t let that happen—never! She had gone to great lengths just to get Ralph to love her, and there was no way she would let another girl take her place. She needed Ralph to introduce her to his uncle to make things official; that way, getting rid of her wouldn’t be so simple.~~~~~~~~~~~~Ralph’s driver slowly brought the car to a halt in front of Royal Suite, a five-star hotel, which was owned by Ralph’s company.Burke was quite adamant he had
Theresa's eyes widened in shock, and she staggered a few steps back as she tried to understand what was happening. Her mind raced with questions. Where had Silvia been? Why was she dishonest?Where was Silvia? Why did she tell her the lie?The receptionist’s words kept replaying in her head: “She worked in the cleaning department but she left about three weeks ago”.Three weeks ago. That was precisely when Silvia had said she would be traveling for a business trip.She felt a chill down her back.Something was off."Ma'am, are you all right?" the receptionist asked, her brow arched with curiosity.Theresa nodded absentmindedly, she had to be calm.''I...I need to find my daughter,'' she stammered.The receptionist nodded sympathetically. "I understand how you feel. Let me see what I can do to help you. Can you give me more details about Silvia's disappearance?"Theresa hesitated, not knowing how much to disclose but the receptionist's kind eyes and gentleness encouraged her to open up
Ralph rested on his chair in his office, eyes closed, basking in the sun that poured into his office from the large window. Different thoughts ran through his mind at the same time. His parents' twelfth remembrance was in a few days. He wondered if things would have turned out differently if they were still around. He was determined to make them proud in their grave after he paid his last respects to them at the funeral. His brother was everything to him, he's the only realest person that he grew up to know and love. His death left him shattered and all his emotions died with him. He should have been in that accident with them. Growing up on his own was the toughest challenge ever, with his uncle looking up to him with expectations. His mind went to Silva, wondering if he was too hard on her. The sight of her irritates him more than it should, and maybe it is because she has a striking resemblance to his brother and that annoys him because he can't have his brother here. The thou
" I've already explained it to you," Rebecca's tone was gentle with feigned pity. "It's all about the family Trust. Regarding the terms of his inheritance. Regarding the reason why he needed a wife—just a wife—within a short time.Ralph had not spoken of inheritance when he had proposed his deal to her when she met him to help her mother. He had not told her that his firm required the stability of a married person and that his shareholders were worried about his bachelor status."I don't know what you're speaking about," Silvia answered, a coldness creeping into her stomach.Rebecca's thoughts wandered to a sunny afternoon long gone when she and Ralph were inseparable as she leaned back in her seat. Over candlelit dinners, they had spent relaxed weekends exploring each other's dreams.Rebecca smiled, a smile reminiscent of a trapped cat. "Read what is in the envelope, Silvia. Legal papers don't lie, even if a particular person happens to do so."Silvia's shaking fingers closed over th
The fine china bell clinked against the table in the dining room as Silvia set down her teacup. Three days had passed since the staff had learned of Ralph's revelation...and therefore, three days of adjusting to her new reality. The household moved in a state of cautious readjustment.The new cleaning staff had been hired; Donna, the head staff, maintained a professional demeanor in assigning them their duties. Silvia was left floating in a household that previously provided her days of meaning but now had only empty hours. Ralph had to go back to work in spite of his obvious reluctance to be away from her.Each day, he had kissed her good-morning with a possessiveness that left her breathless, promising to be back early, making plans for their evening.She traced her fingers along the rim of her teacup, contemplating on what she would do with so much time in her hands.Silvia turned her gaze towards the late morning sunlight streaming through the large windows. The sunlight was warm
The dawn filtered softly through the curtains, printing shiny patterns across the bedchamber floor. It filled the room with a warm, dreamlike light, gliding over the ornate furniture, the golden moldings, and the pair entwined in the vast bed.Silvia stirred, blinking against the unfamiliar richness around her. This wasn’t her cramped little room tucked away in the servants' wing at the back of the mansion. A place she'd occupied from the beginning. The sheets beneath her were unrealistically comfortable, bedding opulent in a way her bed never was. Silk sheets clung like a whisper, pillows like clouds. Comfort this profound felt almost illicit.Then she realized someone was behind her. The weight of his arm around her waist and the rhythm of his breath against her nape worked to remind her of everything they did last night. Last night hadn’t been a dream.Her breath caught as heat rushed to her cheeks. She dared not move, as if any motion might shatter the fragile reality. Behind her
Silvia appreciated the silence as she mechanically cleaned the home. This time, she truly wanted to make it a warm home instead of just doing it out of obligation. Her soft cleaning fabric sliding across the French window's glass produced a rhythmical sound that permeated the room, along with the light aroma of lavender from the cleansers. Lost in her thoughts, she was shaken back to reality by a voice behind her as she meticulously buffed the surface. Startled, she turned, her heart pounding, realizing Ralph had been quietly watching her with an intensity that made her spine tingle.His arms were folded, but his stance was far from relaxed. Something was boiling beneath his usual composed exterior—like a man struggling with something he didn’t want to name."What are you thinking about?" he questioned. So many things swirled in her head—thoughts of her mum, the monotony of her daily life, the exertion of her job, and yes, Ralph—his presence was both comforting and confusing. A na
Silvia adjusted the strap of her handbag nervously as she glanced at him.She hesitated for a moment before pushing back all her anxiety then asked the question that had been clawing at her chest. “Wh....where exactly are you taking me?” she stammered. Ralph glanced over at her, brow arched like she’d just asked something ridiculous. But something about her cautious tone made him answer.“To the hospital.""The hospital?" she repeated with a gasp. She was confused and her heart sank. All the blood drained from her face. What had happened to her mother again?Seeing her distraught, he took a moment before explaining the situation to her."Your mother’s still recovering, isn’t she? Yes, she was at home when you left her but had to be readmitted a few weeks later. She had a slightly unrelated episode. The hospital decided to keep her longer so she would make a full recovery. A heart surgery and stress are not best of friends.”Ralph had asked one of his men to keep an eye on Theresa an
Ralph paced back and forth, staring at the message on his phone. Uncle Burke. He'd been noticing his uncle's change of indifference towards Silvia lately and didn't know whether to be concerned about that or not.I think we need to have a dinner meeting once again. He typed. It would be a pleasure to meet your wife once again.Ralph's brows furrowed. And he wasn't in the mood to beat around the bush, so he went straight to the point.What do you want with my wife? The demand hung in the air, heavy with tension and a sense of impatience. Silence stretched on, each passing moment amplifying the unease as the words lingered on the screen, already read yet unanswered. Just as he was about to lose his cool, a notification chimed, signaling the arrival of a response.'Your wife is lovely, Ralph. It would be unkind of me not to pay my visit at least once in a while.'He didn't buy it.'You weren't saying this before. And you know me better than this game you're trying to play, Burke. I kn
Silvia stood by and watched everything that was unfolding before her. It was so unusual for Ralph to treat Rebecca this way. His voice was sharp and merciless. This was a storm locked inside a human being.What had gotten over him?She just didn't understand. Ralph's eyes met hers, as cold as steel, and she found herself stepping back instinctively. Her breath caught. She wasn’t strong enough to hold that stare. No one was.Rebecca noticed. And like a viper, she turned.She looked as though she was about to rip her head off her neck.Silvia could literally feel the steam emanating from Rebecca's nostrils and just didn't want to have to deal with it. "You," she spat, venom dripping from the single word. It was a threat wrapped in rage.The tension was so thick, a knife could cut through it. It was suffocating."Get back to work, Silvia," Ralph demanded while Rebecca couldn't help but stare at him in disbelief."You can't be serious," she said, her eyes wide as saucers, her body tremb
Ralph's MansionRebecca waltzed into the mansion like she hadn’t just spent the last week banned from it. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, an arrogant rhythm that matched the smirk on her lips. Ralph had been an evil bastard all week, keeping her away like some misbehaving child, but none of that mattered now. She was here, and she would take care of the wench who had dared to sink her claws into her man and dared to give him thoughts that he could ever ban her from his own home for a bloody week!The air inside the mansion was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and aged wood, but something felt off. Typically, when she walked through those doors, Donna, the ever-dutiful housekeeper, would rush to greet her because, of course, Rebecca wasn’t just any guest. She was Ralph’s future wife, and by extension, the true authority in this house.But there was no Donna. No housekeepers, no stupid Silvia, no security standing at attention. The silence pressed against her ear
Ralph leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms as he held up the DNA test kit. She turned to him, brows raised in curiosity. His voice was clipped all business. “I need a sample of your DNA.”The pan slipped from her fingers, clattering into the sink.Ralph froze.She stared at the DNA test like it was a live grenade.She hesitantly stepped forward, remaining silent as she stared at the kit in his hands. Her expression was unreadable, showing no surprise but clear confusion.Of course, she wouldn’t be. She never seemed surprised by anything. Like some quiet little idiot who had already resigned herself to whatever nonsense the world threw her way.He hated that.Ralph took a measured breath, shoving that irritation down. “Swab your cheek,” he ordered, holding out one of the sterile cotton swabs.She obeyed without a word, taking the swab and running it along the inside of her cheek before handing it back. She was as meek as ever, her movements small and precise like she was