“I’M BACK!”The familiar high-pitched voice of Ellaine boomed as she entered the apartment. Ethan was in the dining room, eating his breakfast when the woman ran in his direction. Kissing him on the cheek while she wrapped her arms around his neck, Ethan felt the gauze brush against his nape.“I so miss you, baby,” Ellaine said, starting to baby talk as she spoke with him.It had been two weeks since the woman left the apartment deciding that she’d undergo surgery to get her face fixed. Ethan had no idea whether it was a minor or major procedure but he later on figured out that Ellaine may have done plastic surgery as Jasper told him about it.“How’s the surgery?” he asked, slightly turning his head to initiate a conversation. He wanted to make sure that his wife was well and that no problem occurred while she stayed at the hospital.“It went well!” Ellaine responded giddily. Her tone was enough for Ethan to be relieved. “The doctor said that we can remove the gauze by next week.”“Di
“WHAT did you say?!”The woman’s emotions blew up like a volcano, erupting in a great amount of anger. Elaine started to tremble as she looked at Jasper, who then only smirked at her as if he was enjoying the situation.“What did you fucking do, Jas?” She pushed him angrily. “I told you very clearly not to take him out of here and you fucking did otherwise?”Elaine was completely mad, to the extent that she grabbed the bread knife from the tray on the table and attempted to stab the man, but before the knife could even reach his chest, Jasper grasped her arm tightly and she felt her bone twist.“Do you think you could just stab me whenever you want?” Jasper’s eyebrow arched as he stopped her hand from doing any movement. “You try to calm down a bit so I can explain myself.”“What’s there to explain?!” Elaine raised her voice. “You fucking broke my rule! Are you trying to sabotage me? Is this what that man tasked you to do, huh? You tell me!”The thought that Marsha had seen Ethan made
PEOPLE started to greet her as she walked inside the familiar building of Steinfield Company. She was called to visit today to sit with the board of directors in an emergency meeting that would be held fifteen minutes from now.Michelle smiled thinly, returning the greetings of the employee who recognized her. She walked slowly, every step was careful as her growing belly was heavier than a couple of weeks past. Sometimes she felt that a large ball was inside her.“Jacob will be there in the meeting. Will it be fine with you?” Megan asked, who went with her to accompany her since her best friend worried about her well-being so much.She nodded her head. Ethan’s brother didn’t bother her in any way. Michelle thought that it was her pregnancy cravings and high emotions that took control of her mind the last few months. The closeness between her and Jacob was unbeatable. She was drawn by him in a strange way, but after passing the first semester of her pregnancy, that weird feeling faded
TEARS rolled down her cheeks as she stormed out of the conference room.She hardly processed everything she heard in her mind. She could not accept any of it. How could she agree to sell her husband’s pride and hard-earned company? Ethan worked hard to make his business one of the top-tiered companies in the country. Now, they wanted to sell it because of the mountainous debt it incurred.“Mich!” Megan followed her as she walked to the elevator area. She kept pushing the ground button in frustration. She sobbed, thinking that everyone in the company had turned their backs on Ethan. Just because they believed he was dead.“Let’s get out of here. I can’t stay here anymore.” She palmed her face, and then looked at Megan. “Have you seen those faces in the conference room? They all want to sell my husband’s company!”Megan’s expression softened. Her best friend did not know what to say as just like her, the woman had no idea about running a business but Michelle just needed to release her
THE DOWNFALL of Steinfield Company became a hot topic of the media for over a week. Reporters had been chasing Michelle to make a statement regarding the situation her husband’s company was facing but she never provided a single word about it.Silence had been her solace in that dark times. She thought that it was the best defense to protect the name of her family. The less she talked, the lesser she could make a mistake.Jacob tried to convince her to sign a paper that would initiate the change of ownership of the company, but that paper remained untouched on the side table of her bed.Was it wrong to feel mad at Ethan’s brother?It was the question that lingered in her mind ever since this fiasco blew up. Not that she was trying to judge Jacob’s character, but she could not help but think that the man was doing it on purpose.Did she have poor judgment?Did she really know him well?Or Ethan was right when he felt that his brother was his great nemesis?Selena and Edward visited her
“WHAT ON EARTH . . .” Ellaine started to say but stopped herself.Her eyes winced at the immense amount of anger building inside her chest as she watched the television. It was airing the sudden collapse of Ethan’s company.With her fists clenching, she took a deep breath trying to control her emotions as anytime she’d start screaming in frustration due to the madness she was feeling inside.Jasper was leaning on the door frame watching her reaction intently. A ghost of a smile could be seen on his tiny red lips as the whole fiasco entertained him.“Do you know about this?” she asked the man, her voice almost like a whisper to ensure she would not wake Ethan who was sleeping in his bedroom.“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t give a damn,” Jasper said, “It’s not my company after all.”“Isn’t this part of his doing?” Ellaine couldn’t help but be suspicious of the boss. “I think he is doing this to get revenge!”“Why would he do that, anyway?”Ellaine smiled bitterly. “Probably because he is je
“IF YOU think you could dump us this way, then you’re wrong…”Ellaine was quick to hop inside a cab. She would never allow Jacob to abandon them on the streets like rats. She had done more than enough to help him just to be treated in such a manner.It was unacceptable to her.Jacob Steinfield was a devil she thought she could rely on from the very start but the man was revealing his true colors now.It was still vivid in her mind.The man knew how much she loved his brother so much. He had seen it when she was still working for Steinfield Company. The mistake that led her to get fired from the company had become an opportunity for Jacob to hone her to be part of his plan.Until that day had finally come. That very day when Jacob came up with a great plan and asked her to become his accomplice, and in return, she would get what she wanted—Ethan. He had everything under his sleeves. It was easy for him to fake her papers and make Ethan and Michelle believe that she was one of the most
THE MOMENT Ellaine had stepped foot on Jacob’s mansion, and saw the man walking downstairs, she immediately stormed in his direction. Met him halfway and slapped him real hard on his face.Her sudden action made the man tilt his head. Seconds later, he laughed, and licked the corner of his lips that turned red because of her slap before he stared at her again.“What do you think you are doing, Jacob?!” Ellaine yelled at him angrily, her chest going up and down because of the intense emotions enveloping her chest.“Do I really have to spell it out for you?”The man raised an eyebrow, eyeing her with nothing but utter disgust like she was some kind of a pest he would not even want to stare at. That thought angered her more.“You can’t abandon us just like that, Jacob,” she said through her gritted teeth. “I didn’t take part in your plan just to be treated this way in the end. Do you want me to fuck you up? I can go ahead and show myself up to Michelle and tell her every—”“Ellaine, Ella
"THE VICTIMS were sent to the hospital for proper treatment," the cops told her the moment she arrived in the area where the accident happened. Michelle could not stop crying and asked the policeman which hospital her husband had been brought to, driving immediately as soon as she got the answer she needed. She dialed Megan’s phone number and informed her best friend about the name of the hospital so she could follow because she knew that Andrew also needed her. When she arrived in the hospital, she felt nothing but the dreadful feeling coursing through her. She wanted to compose herself, but her mind was already haywire because of all the worry she had for her husband. It felt like the rest of the world stopped revolving, and all she did was run and run... "Two victims of a car accident were sent to this hospital. Where are they?" she managed to ask the front desk officer. "How are you related to the victims, Ma’am?" "I am the wife of one of them," she answered, taking a deep bre
MICHELLE walked down the stairs with Marcus in her arms. She just finished breastfeeding him and now wanted to hang out with the people in the garden.The Steinfields, her father, and Megan were all out there, preparing for the New Year’s Eve that they would celebrate that night. They all came together to welcome another New Year, and she could not be more thankful that these people came to their house to join them for another chapter of their lives."Look at that little pumpkin. He has gotten bigger, Mich," Gregory commented and immediately took his grandson from her arms.Michelle giggled. "That baby loves to sleep and eat every single time.""He looks definitely like you when you were a baby.""I believe he definitely looks like Ethan. See those marble gray eyes, Dad?"Gregory chuckled. "Well, eyes won’t lie, I guess.""Of course, Dad."She could not help but smile seeing her father try to make Marcus giggle by making faces. It was such an adorable sight, and she felt honored to wi
SHE glanced around the men's boutique, her curious eyes efficiently trying to find good clothes or anything she could give Ethan as a gift for their year-end party. Ethan already had anything; name it and anyone would find it in his vast walk-in closet. That being said, Michelle was having difficulty deciding on the best gift she could give him—that one thing that would make him smile and surprise him."There are so many designer shoes at that corner. But I don’t know which one is good for Andrew," Megan stated, and it was followed with a sigh of defeat. "God, why is it so hard to find gifts for men?"Michelle laughed a bit. She could relate, as she was having difficulty choosing too. It just so happened that they both married men who had everything, so every year they’d end up cracking their heads trying to get them nice gifts."Are you able to choose anything?" Megan curiously asked her.She shook her head, pouting her lips. "Not yet. I don’t think work suits would be a good gift. H
HE brushed his fingertips over the soft angles of his wife’s face and could not help but adore every feature she had. It was his morning routine whenever he got to wake up first in the morning, and he would find his wife still sleeping soundly next to him.Needless to say, he’d become easily addicted to her and to this kind of morning with her. Her strawberry scent that kept him enticed every single day, her soft skin that kept him warm at nights, her laughter and soft touches that kept him sated and content, and her presence that made his world colorfulHe had no idea that a man like him, who had amnesia, could be in love so hard; madly and deeply. However, he wanted to treasure that moment at all costs. This kind of beauty in his life needed to be protected and kept.Michelle’s forehead formed a knot as she lifted her head. A soft moan escaped her closed mouth, which made him smile. Seconds later, she slowly opened her eyes and met his intent gaze."Good morning," he murmured under
"YOU’RE making me crave for sex," Ethan said, kissing her neck and sucking her skin sensually.Michelle’s lips parted. She was in deep pleasure, and whenever Ethan would say things like that, a big lustful part of her was getting more aroused.Her hands traveled around his firm back. She touched the muscles he had there. A moan escaped her lips when Ethan bit her neck firmly, making her dig her nails over her bare skin. She bit her lower lip and shut her eyes, but when Ethan claimed her lips again, everything went so fuzzy.It didn’t take long before the man was able to strip her naked. The cold air brushed against her skin, making her shiver. But when Ethan pulled up to stare at—admire—her naked body, she felt the scorching heat go to her. He looked at her as if she were a piece of beautiful art. The gleaming desire to take her was evident in his marble gray eyes, and the smile of contentment that curled in his lips gave her more confidence."You’re beautiful, Mich..." Ethan said bre
The ring of her cell phone jolted her awake. With a forehead crease, Michelle rose up and quickly turned off the alarm on her cell phone. It was already 6 o’clock in the morning. She hadn’t been able to sleep for at least six hours, but she had to get up and follow the "mom on call" schedule to better take care of her little sunshine—none other than Eionn Marcus.It had been what? A month had passed when she gave birth to their second child, and Michelle could still feel the excitement getting through her whenever she would walk into the nursery room, open the curtained windows to let the sunlight lighten up the entire solemn place, and wake up her little one by planting kisses on his fluffy cheeks.It had been her morning routine. She was strictly following the "mom on call" schedule because it wasn’t only giving her much time to bond with her baby but also making sure that Marcus’ health was always a top priority."Good morning, my little sunshine..." she greeted her baby with a hea
THE CAR was filled with her whimpers, cries and screams. Her nails dug over the leather seat in the passenger seat. She was lying down there, making a few deep breaths to relax herself but the great amount of pain consuming her entire body was making her ballistic and a mess.Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead. Her legs and belly were both getting numb as the minutes passed by. Ethan was driving the car so fast, completely alarmed by her situation. He was panicking so much, and so even she was in great pain, she reminded him to drive carefully as she didn’t want them to get into some road accident.“Oh, my God...” she murmured, crying. “I think I’m going to die. He’s coming out. Faster, Ethan!”“Uhm, you just told me to slow down a bit,” Ethan said nervously.“Fuck. I swear this will be the last time you’d be able to impregnate me!” she screamed on the top of her lungs and made a push before she took a few deep breaths again. “I really swear to God—““Calm down, Mich! We’re on
AFTER A MONTH, "WILL you be fine without us?" Michelle looked at her father. At first, she thought that the old man was teasing her, seeing how he curled his lips downward, but she realized that he was actually worried, seeing the worry in his eyes. Still smiling, she took a deep breath and softened her expression as she looked at her father, who she hadn't realized had become more frail as time passed. She was so busy with her life that she wasn’t able to watch out for her father. Distracted by what life had thrown her way, she didn’t notice that her father was really getting older. "I’m going to be fine." She checked over her shoulder and found Ethan, who was fixing a chandelier’s light bulb in the living room. "Ethan will be here, so you shouldn’t worry that much. I hope you and Marsha would enjoy hanging out." Her old man laughed heartily, shaking his head. He and Marsha would go to the school where they enrolled the little girl. It was going to be Marsha’s first day in her ne
"GOSH, you have to calm down, Mich!" Megan said.Michelle shook her head, pacing back and forth in the living room. Her mother-in-law called an hour ago, saying that they would send Ethan back home. Selene did not mention whether the result of the surgery turned out well or not, so she could not calm down a bit even though the people around her were telling her to do so.Megan and Andrew came to visit as they were excited to find out how the surgery went. All of them were in the living room, waiting for her husband to arrive. Holding her pregnant belly, she didn’t stop walking around, getting very impatient as she wanted to know how the surgery turned out for Ethan."I don’t understand why Mom didn’t tell me how it went," she said and stopped in front of them, biting her fingernails. "Do you think it went bad and that’s why she couldn’t tell me?""We can’t assume, Mich," her father said, sipping on his coffee."Your Dad is right. We can’t assume unless we see it personally," Andrew ad