Chapter Thirty-Two – Bullies.Breathing the air around the university, Arya felt like dancing around. There had been a holiday after the summit and she never knew she’d miss the place. “Winx!” she waved at her best friend as she sighted her chatting with some girls. Winx crawled away from the girls looking guilty. “Hey, Bestie!” Arya frowned. “Bestie? You were making new friends and wanna leave me in this world, right?” Winx chuckled, hitting her arm. “They were talking about Kpop. You know that’s my whole life.” Arya sighed, rubbing her head. “That’s really your whole life.” They were some cheering as they entered into their lecture hall. Students were circling a lecturer and cheering him. “What’s up?” Winx held a girl passing, to ask. “Oh, our lecturer just got accepted as local government chairman of this district. Thanks to Seth and his father actually.” The girl blushed then walked away. Arya rolled her eyes, looking at the lecturer. That was her least favorite lecturer s
Chapter Thirty-Three – Same tone.Arya squeezed the paper and tossed it in the trash bin as she passed. Why was she that bad at Maths? She tried hard, she really did. But it was always to no avail. It didn’t help matters that the math lecturer was her least favorite lecturer and now local government chairman. She couldn’t wait till he left and there would be someone else to take over from him. Her phone rang and it was a number she hadn’t seen before. “Hey, Arya!” It was her sister Anna. Arya smiled. “Hey, how are you? Did you change your number? I don’t think I know this one.” “Come meet me at Dublin companies! I want to show you something.” Anna said instead, then cut the line. Arya made a little pout, glaring at her phone. Why did she ignore her like that? And what was at Dublin companies? That place was an abandoned building. She tucked her phone into her skirt pocket and strolled to the entrance of the university. Winx was still writing her math test so she’d be leaving w
Chapter Thirty-Four – Dear God. Lucy gulped down the whole cup of alcohol.No matter how much she wanted to snap out the bad habit, she found herself going back to it when she felt down. How could her cousin marry such a classy man? Then her other cousin was in a healthy relationship! How was she so unlucky! “Waitress, another one!”The elderly lady glared at her as she asked for yet another bottle. “I hope she can pay for all these she had been taking!” Lucy heard the lady and sighed. Even pathetic old ladies made fun of her. She banged the cup on the table, getting up. “Hey lady! Do you run your mouth with your customers?” she pointed at the lady. “How dare you look down on me!” The lady retorted. “What? What did I say?” Lucy advanced to the lady and slapped her hand on the table. “You think I didn’t hear you? Do you know who I am?” But she was a nobody. Just a young frustrated delinquent who was trying to get back on her feet. The lady looked scared but didn’t attempt apol
Chapter Thirty-Five – Heartbreak.Arya didn’t understand how Lucy suddenly changed and actually cared about she and Anna. But she was glad she did. She glanced at Damien and frowned. “Are you really going into the building? Why not let the police do their job?” The idea of him going along didn’t seat well with her, if all those stories and deaths he spoke about actually happened. Damien’s smiled. Was she worrying about him? He was helping her sister, wasn’t he? “Don’t worry, as long as Anna’s safe…” “You should be safe too, you know.” She retorted. “The police are trained in these stuff. I don’t advise you to go.”His smile widened but he looked away. She was really worried. And he’d like to listen. But as Lucy said, if the kidnapper was at the company waiting for her or Lucy, then, even if he escaped, they’d be a clue he’d leave. That clue might only be recognized by someone who knows Anna and be able to tell why she was kidnapped. In short, he had to be there with the police t
Chapter Thirty-Six – Business prospect. The building had a long hallway that seemed to never end. Arya had passed by the seventh red door, as per Seth’s description. She’d really appreciate it if he just left his office to meet her but he deemed himself busy. She exhaled tiredly. “I’m someone with a business prospect. Shouldn’t he take me more seriously?” she mouthed. A sound came from behind her, she turned, startled, seeing him. Did he hear her? He had a slightly stunned look so he might have. “Hey, Arya, I’m sorry for wasting your time. I was on a call.” Her shoulders dropped, he definitely heard her. “I don’t mind, I just wondered how many more red doors I’d meet again.” He nodded and pointed back at a door she had passed. “My office is over there. I should have used a number to direct you. My bad.” When Arya got closer, she realized all doors were numbered. Why did he forget that detail that would have made her work easier? Was he losing focus due to the heartbreak? Behi
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Threat.The building looked less creepy with the presence of the police men. Damien wore a bulletproof vest and held unto a torch before walking towards the policemen. “Sir Damien, will you please stay behind? We will handle it from here.” A policeman pleaded with him. Damien frowned, shaking his head. “This is my sister in-law we are talking about. I’d like to stay close.” He moved ahead. The policeman was stunned. He was a fan of the CEO and tracked all news related to him as he was his business mentor. But he had never heard about him getting a wife. “Sister-in-law?” he asked out loud but Damien didn’t hear. The man cleared his throat before walking close to him. “Well, I hope you cooperate with us to ensure your safety. We are going in now.” He said to Damien. Damien nodded, stepping back for him to lead. The policeman smiled before gesturing to his team to proceed. The building was quiet and didn’t show presence on any living being. It bothered Damie
Chapter Thirty-Eight – Questions. The flower shop was officially open after a week. Arya hurriedly checked her mail box to see if she got requests. She hoped she hadn’t disappoint any of her customers. They were few so it was important to keep them. Only about three requests were in the mail box and all where to one address, she smiled within herself. “Maybe a wedding and they need variety of flowers to decorate.” Again, she wished she knew some interior designing so she could be of some help and have that as a side income. Either ways, she began arranging the flowers to deliver before Damien would pick her up. Some of them had began losing color but she watered them diligently. A florist shop was hard to maintain but she loved it. It stayed to remind of her mother and sister in hard times. The place was more than her shop but comfort place, away from her abusive father.If these flowers could bloom so beautifully despite how bad of a handler she was, then she could too after e
Chapter Thirty-Nine – Not a Wade. Connor ran his hands through his hair, looking outside the window. Girls, they would be the doom of him. The junior girls were playing basketball outside so he watched them from the corner of his eyes. He’d be graduating soon and leave the cursed presence and with his current heartbreak, he was more excited to be leave. Someone walked in. “Connor, don’t let that chick bother you. They are many fishes in the sea.” It was his best friend, Bliss, she plopped down besides him, unpacking the snacks she came in with. “Hungry?” His eyes remained on the junior girls playing basketball, they were now bickering about something. “No, thanks. I’d be heading home soon.” Bliss stopped the burger going to her mouth and frowned. “Huh? Because of that bitch you are going home early? What about the anime you’re watching at my house?” Connor faced her with a sorry smile. “Right, but I’m really not in the mood now. Start without me. I’m really sorry…” “Ugh!” Bli
Chapter Ninety-Eight – Interest. It was the second wedding Arya was attending but the first she was feeling really excited about. It was Anna’s wedding. The reception had taken place immediately and ran out to look for Connor. He was with her phone and she needed to take lot’s of pictures of Anna. She has to show them to Winx who couldn’t attend the wedding due to her injury. Arya wished Jim could have taken it back so Winx would attend as a bridesmaid but the groom was in so much haste to marry his bride. One of the reasons being that he had to return to his base as soon as possible. Arya finally caught sight of Connor with some girls. Should she walk over to him or just let him be? She wasn’t sure. He once told her how he grew more popular at school after his issue with the reporters went viral. All she hoped was he didn’t repeat it again, it might take a different turn. Thankfully, Connor turned around to look at something and noticed her watching him. “My phone
Chapter Ninety-Seven – Paired up. Lucy had heard the news on the radio. The part she didn’t hear, however, was how her mother was the murderer of Juliet Marbles, her aunt. How in the world? Lucy was still fighting with the fact her mother conspired to kill Arya, she was hoping her mother was still her mother while holding on the fact she wasn’t the mastermind. But to think she had actually masterminded and perfectly executed the murder of her own sister years ago? It blew Lucy’s mind away. Everyone at the work place was talking about Debby and Winx issue while Lucy racked her brain over her mother’s. It was revealed that one of Debby’s accomplice had been caught, while the other escaped. No name was mentioned. Lucy knew she was safe even still because her mom didn’t share her surname. She divorced her father and went to Mr. Stark so decided to go back to her maiden name. “And to think that Mr. Stark was also killed.” Lucy shivered. Her mother had really gone down a dang
Chapter Ninety-Six – Parting gift. Winx accepted to be a witness to keep Deborah Chan in rehab. Many protesters wanted her to be kept in jail despite her being a minor. She was losing fans by the minute. The media had caught whiff of what happened because a popular celebrity had been in the boutique when it happened, while shooting a video for her fans. She also witnessed that Debby just walked into the store then went after the girls. The identity of the other girl wasn’t necessary to the media, they only wanted to know why the genius attempted murder. Also, it seemed they forgot Debby was once acquainted to the Wades or they’d begin asking barrages of questions. Meanwhile, while detained, Debby desisted from answering unnecessary questions. All she said was she didn’t regret going after the girl because she wanted her dead. The girl being Arya but to the masses, Winx. Debby’s reason was unknown and since there was no prior relationship between Winx and Debby, the med
Chapter Ninety-Five – Sorry end. Chen broke into boisterous laughter, then he pointed the knife at Aunt Jenna and slowly menacingly towards her. “You want to meet your man?" He scoffed."Didn’t we both have a deal? You should protect the woman I love and I’d not harm your loved ones, right?” Jenna’s eyes shook. What ever did he mean by that? Had something happened to his loved one? Had Debby been caught? And even if she wanted to, how did he expect her to protect Debby when she was Debby’s hostage? And between she and Debby, she needed protection against Debby than she needed to protect the girl. Aunt Jenna looked at the blood on his knife, and her stomach turned. Who did that belong to? “I-I don’t understand you.” Did something happen? “Well, Since it has come to this, I’d flee the country, never to return here.” Chen seethed. “But you, the police will come for you next.” Next? Jenna realized what had happened. Debby must have been captured. “Did you go after her? Those
Chapter Ninety-Four – Last Card Arya arrived at the Wades’ Mansion. Kane dropped her then drove out again, without speaking. She knew his head would be filled already. She slowly walked into the living room but was immediately embraced by someone. She patted Connor’s back when she realized it was him. A part of her wanted to see Damien first. Kane had called home to inform them what happened. When Connor let go, Arya saw that Damien wasn’t home yet. “Are you alright? And was it really Debby?” Selena asked quite agitated. It's the first time she showed concern for her. Arya smiled, nodding. “Yeah, it was her. Winx protected me and was stabbed at her right collar bone. The nurse said she’d be okay though. It was very sudden.” Selena gasped, rubbing her face. “Winx. My poor girl. I can’t still believe Debby became this selfish, became this monster!” Mrs. Wade just had a sour expression, looking down at her hands. “Arya, go and rest. This incident must be frightening.”
Chapter Ninety-Three – Fear. The dark circles under her eyes had increased, along with the heaviness of her eyes and her heart. Debby didn’t know if she was still alive because she felt so dead. She could hardly walk around in public for fear that the police could be unto her. And she really needed to stroll. “Chen?” she called but no one answered. Since he spoke to her, asking her intent on killing Arya, he had been distant after she didn’t give a satisfactory response. Had he left her alone too? She just wanted that bitch dead. Why was it too much to do? Why didn’t anyone get her? She slammed her hand at the desk and screamed. “Arya, I’d kill you if it’s the last thing I do!! Bitch!!” The fact that she was somewhere, excited and with Damien made her furious. Damien rarely showed excitement with her, how was he able to open up with Arya within a short time? Debby grabbed Chen’s hoodie and forced it on her body. She needed to move out and plan her next attack. She had been to
Chapter Ninety-Two – I’d stay.But why did it feel like a miracle she stayed in the marriage? Arya wondered if he didn’t expect her to stay. “Did you plan to divorce me?” she asked jokingly. “Ah no. I actually thought you’d find someone else. You know, the contract permits you to.” Connor smirked. Arya shrugged. “I thought so too but…” she paused. Wait! He knew about the contract marriage?? She grabbed his shoulder and shook him. “You knew about it? How?” Damien would definitely not have told him. “I married you, you know. I had gotten curious and read the contract during the court marriage.” He revealed. Arya clenched her teeth. Then all these while, he knew their marriage wasn’t real? Did he tell anyone? Even when she had asked him from relationship advice. She felt so stupid. “Well, I was bent on making it work out, though. So I didn’t tell anyone about it, if that’s what you’re worried about.” he added with a pat on her back. Her expression changed to a sober one. He wante
Chapter Ninety-One – Wedding She had been having second thoughts about lots of things lately. It was partly Debby’s fault, but the other, hers. Arya washed her face with water then left the restroom. Winx was waiting for her, she stared at her best friend and smiled. “Something’s been on your mind.” She had been noticing her stalling or standing at a place, lost in thoughts. “No shit, of course.” Arya agreed with a smirk. “I don’t want to talk about it, though. I’d like to sort this out myself.” She always had a way of sorting out her emotions, the ones she needed and the ones she didn’t. Crying and feeling overly excited weren’t things she grew up doing due to her strict father so she didn’t have time to ponder about strange feelings. “Wouldn’t it be weird if I liked Damien now after trying to stay away from him for months?” She muttered to herself. But could she do anything about what she felt? She was matured enough to like someone. Only that her feelings for Damien were qu
Chapter Ninety – Satisfaction.Jenna tried the knob of the door but it didn’t still open. It’s been hours since Chen left to check on Debby. She sighed, plopping down on the bed besides her. The only thing in the room. She had ended up being kidnapped and forced to be an accomplice. Her current situation was far worse than she could contain. She was beginning to harbor thoughts of turning herself to the police, after all, Stark, who she was hiding her dark side from was already involved. Chen had drugged him for days, keeping him unconscious. Jenna knew it wasn’t healthy but she had no say as Stark had seen Chen when he came to her house to drop instructions and he began asking questions. The both of them were basically hostages at the moment. She hadn’t been able to contact Lucy while Debby had been sending strange letters to her. “I don’t want Lucy to get involved, really.” She groaned. “If only there was a way to reach the outside world now.” She regretted everything. Her h