MatthiasI wouldn’t ever be a father.That was what I thought before.I never knew what a good father was—never had one since the start. He just existed, distant and cold, a figure in my life rather than a presence. A name rather than a man I could turn to. A concept rather than a reality.He was a man who built walls instead of bridges. A man whose presence could fill a room, not with warmth, but with the kind of silence that made you wish you weren’t there at all. He wasn’t cruel—not in an obvious way. He simply didn’t care enough to be.I wasn’t the type to wallow in self-pity. I had better things to do than dwell on something I couldn’t change. But I was self-aware enough to understand what that meant.I knew what it was like to grow up looking at someone who was supposed to teach you what it meant to be a man and instead learning what it meant to be alone.The thought that I had no real example—no blueprint, no guiding hand—led me to one simple conclusion: I would never be a fath
The night was cold and raining, but he stood still in front of his house, ignoring the wetness of his clothes. He stared ahead, into the dark, as those sentences from his uncle echoed in his mind."Your father is dead.""As his only son, you know the rule, Matt.""Our family will help to manage his burial, but you know the time is short. You need to do it as soon as you can. Being single won't help you, so please choose wisely.""We can talk about this tomorrow. Come to my place at lunch."He didn't need time to grieve. For God's sake, sadness was the last thing he could ever feel for his father. But that old man was the only reason he had a peaceful life like this. Yet it would be taken from him, sooner or later.He hated marriage. He truly did. And he knew it would only give those bastards more power to control him.He exhaled deeply as he ran his fingers through his hair. His uncle was right. The time was short, and he had better start soon. But for fuck sake, where should he star
AltheaLife has given me lots of surprises since I was born, and I thought it could not surprise me anymore. I’ve already gotten used to it. The first surprise life gave me was the fact that my parents might be a couple of bears, penguins, owls, or I was a failed product of a science research. I never knew who my parents were, or even if I ever had one. Granny always told me that it didn't matter. And it did not.Growing up, I had times when I believed Granny was a fairy godmother, minus the dresses and magic stick. She did not fly, but she held my hand every time I needed her to. Even when she chose to leave me all alone.“Guess what, Thea. I’m dying.” She said that after the doctor diagnosed her with the final stage of cancer. “I guess I’m winning the race.”It was not the first time she kept joking about her dying. I was only 10 back then, and I could barely tell the difference between cancer and a bad cold. Nobody taught me it could take the only person I had in my life.But that
MatthiasIt wasn’t easy to deal with a fool, but it was harder to hear an idiotic conversation happen in front of you.I’ve tried, okay. I tried to keep my mouth shut and let those two bastards spit all the bullshit they could. It wasn’t that surprising to hear how they complimented Jessen while they might be behind his death and my old man’s. But there was a limit of stupid things for me to hear and look at, and the way that girl didn’t even say anything that made sense really agitated me. How long should I watch her stupidity?“Will you say anything, or should I call the security?”I stopped and turned my back, and her gaze already met mine as her head tilted up a bit. “Why does it seem like you’re angrier than me?” she asked once more. “It should’ve been me, right? I’m the one that pulled all of a sudden but someone that I don’t even know.”“So you prefer to sit there all stupid and sound?” I shot back at her. “Do you really like hearing all of that bullshit?”“I don’t like to be
AltheaThere was a time when I wished I could live in a big mansion, with some maids ready to serve whatever I want, a dress you would notice from miles away, and an expensive wine to accompany me in a luxury bathtub.In my imagination, I could get anything I couldn’t in real life. “If I were born rich, I hope I get an endless supply of wine.” That was what Granny said when I asked her how if we had the chance to become rich. Due to her health, she never had alcohol–at least not on my watch. But that’s what imagination was all about, right? To want things you couldn’t have, to be able to do things you never did. It all came true now, yet I wasn’t sure what to feel. The bathtub was nice, and the wine from my kitchen cabinet was indeed the nicest wine I’ve ever had in my entire life. To be honest, that was my first wine. All of these were nice, but I still felt restless. I hated to admit it, but the last conversation I had with that annoying man kept bothering me.Leonardo and Josh to
AltheaI had my notes about a few stores to visit, and a list of things I need to buy to support my looks tonight. I went out and told Deborah, the one that worked for me, to wait. I knew it would be good if I had an extra hand for help, but I might only embarrass myself today, so I preferred to have no one as a witness.“You can manage the house while I’m going out. I have Mr. Lorell with me, so it will be fine,” I said, mentioning my driver. That was another life upgrade of my new life.“Where are we going, Miss Lewis?” Mr. Lorell asked when I got into the car and sat awkwardly in the back.“I want to go to Fifth Avenue,” I answered back. “Is there any fashion outlet that …,” I scratched the back of my head, “maybe the one that my father often visited?”“Mr. Lewis had a private tailor, Miss,” he said. “But if you’re looking for a dress, I might know a place. It’s also on Fifth Avenue.”“Oh, that’s nice. Can you take me there, Mr. Lorell?”He smiled once again while turning his hea
AltheaThe amount of experience I’ve had with men was just as much as my experience with business. It was basically nonexistent. Sure, I went on a few dates with some guys, thanks to your nosy dorm mate who was also your best friend. But I didn’t necessarily date them. To have a date wasn’t really in my checklist, considering you need some cash to enjoy it. I skipped my high school promp and my graduation night too. Dancing? I was as good as a statue. So, if I had to describe this night, it must be a night for me to do everything I had never and couldn’t do. Business, socialize, dance. You named it. The only thing I was capable of was holding the hand of someone I didn’t expect to hold.Matthias Cox.Despite I was the one who agreed upon this, it still took me by surprise. As I walked out from his limousine, grabbed his hand so we could walk side by side to the party, I kept wondering if this really was a good idea.Back at Forema Reflections, as much as I hated to admit, he really
MatthiasThere was nothing free in this world. That was the number one lesson the world had taught me.Not air, foods, especially freedom. You got to pay for those things, and the price sometimes couldn’t be paid by money.And that was the price of my freedom.I knew it would not be easy. Fuck, I expected that much, yet it still bothered the hell out of me. The scene from three days before night kept playing in my mind; how Althea froze in her seat, looking beautiful with those red lips that made me think the unthinkable for a second, but then surprised me with a reply.“You must be out of your mind.”I thought about it before. She wasn’t my type at all. She was way too naive and fragile. She wasn’t even ready to deal with this mess. But she was also my safest option. She was new to this, sure. And that was exactly the reason why. Because no one was behind her, controlling her. She’s probably the only one who wasn’t interested in my money. She barely had any interest in me, as much as
MatthiasI wouldn’t ever be a father.That was what I thought before.I never knew what a good father was—never had one since the start. He just existed, distant and cold, a figure in my life rather than a presence. A name rather than a man I could turn to. A concept rather than a reality.He was a man who built walls instead of bridges. A man whose presence could fill a room, not with warmth, but with the kind of silence that made you wish you weren’t there at all. He wasn’t cruel—not in an obvious way. He simply didn’t care enough to be.I wasn’t the type to wallow in self-pity. I had better things to do than dwell on something I couldn’t change. But I was self-aware enough to understand what that meant.I knew what it was like to grow up looking at someone who was supposed to teach you what it meant to be a man and instead learning what it meant to be alone.The thought that I had no real example—no blueprint, no guiding hand—led me to one simple conclusion: I would never be a fath
AltheaThere were some facts too hard to admit, and it took time.I had those moments before—when my scholarship fell apart, when my life crumbled after Granny was gone. And now… this.Pregnant.I was pregnant.The word echoed in my mind, foreign and somehow felt surreal. But it was real. Even the doctor said so, and something in my belly was a living proof of that.That was what you got for doing stupid thing, Althea. A voice in my head warned me. You knew that what both of you did wasn’t even in the contract. You let that happened.The contract. Yes, that one.What were we going to do with it now?I sat curled up on the couch, my legs pulled to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around myself as if that would somehow hold me together. But nothing could stop the way my thoughts spiraled, the way my heart pounded with the weight of the unknown.Matthias hadn’t said much since the hospital.He had driven us back in silence, his grip on the steering wheel firm but not tense, his gaze unrea
AltheaThe ride to the hospital felt like an eternity, yet at the same time, it wasn’t long enough.The world outside the window moved as it always did—steady, predictable. The early morning rush was in full swing, people weaving through crosswalks, taxis honking at slow-moving cars, store signs flipping from “CLOSED” to “OPEN.” Life continued as normal, indifferent to the fact that my reality had just shifted into something unfamiliar.I curled my fingers together in my lap, pressing them tightly against each other, but it didn’t stop the cold creeping up my arms. No amount of warmth filtering through the car’s windows could chase away the deep unease settling in my bones.Beside me, Matthias drove in silence. His grip on the steering wheel was firm but not forceful, his movements precise, controlled. Everything about him looked the same as it always did—calm, composed, unwavering. If I hadn’t known him, I might have thought he was completely unaffected by this.But I knew better.Ma
AltheaDreams were a blessing given to some, while others weren’t as lucky.At least, not with the good ones.But last night… last night was different.Everything felt warm, familiar, like sinking into a comfort I hadn’t realized I’d been craving. The strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close. The slow, deliberate kisses pressed against my skin, trailing from my temple to my shoulders, to places that made me shiver. And the pleasure—God, the pleasure. That feeling of being completely fulfilled, yet aching for more the second it was over.Even in sleep, the remnants of it lingered, pulling me into the kind of morning I didn’t want to leave.When I finally stirred, the first thing I felt was warmth. A slow, steady rhythm of breath against my neck, a firm yet gentle hold on my waist. Matthias was still close, still tangled up with me in the sheets, his body solid and warm against mine.I let my eyes flutter open, and for a moment, I just watched him. His face was softer like this,
[Folded page, extra POV part 1]As all the papers surrounded his desk, the man’s smile grew. He was satisfied with the progress so far. Everything was unfolding exactly as he had envisioned. Just like what he planned.One step closer. And this time, he would finally be near.He had prepared for this moment for longer than he cared to admit. Every decision he made, every connection he forged, every risk he took—it had all led to this. A perfect and unavoidable revenge.Revenge wasn’t something to be rushed. It required patience, precision, and most of all, control. He had learned that lesson long ago, back when he had nothing but his hatred to sustain him. But now? Now, the pieces were moving, and soon, everything he had built would come crashing down onto those who had wronged him.His gaze drifted to the documents scattered across his desk. Reports, surveillance notes, financial statements—it was all there, a carefully crafted trail of manipulation and strategy. But there, at the cen
Matthias“You haven’t slept yet?”I wasn’t planning to take a peek at her bedroom. Blame the door that didn’t close tightly, making me able to take a glance at her still sitting at her desk, with a laptop open in front of her.Maybe I shouldn’t have walked in or asked. Too late to back out, no?“In a bit,” she turned to me and smiled–or at least trying to, because I instantly showed her paleness and her eyebags got darker. Noticing that only made me want to step closer to her. And I did. I stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, crossing the room in a few strides. The dim glow of her laptop screen cast sharp shadows across her face, accentuating the exhaustion she was failing to hide. The faint smile she tried to muster did little to convince me she was okay.“You look terrible,” I said bluntly, placing a hand on the edge of her desk and bending my body a little to take a careful look at her. I knew she was busy with her works for the past few days, and she was getting to
AltheaEverything will be fine.Yes, everything will be fine.It’s too late to back out anyway, don’t you think?I repeated those words over and over in my head, like a mantra, like a shield against the unease creeping up my spine. My hands gripped the cool porcelain of the sink as I stared at my reflection in the mirror—jaw set, shoulders squared, but eyes betraying the storm raging inside.The fluorescent lights above flickered slightly, casting a harsh glow over my face. I looked composed on the surface, but beneath that? My pulse was erratic, my stomach coiled into tight knots. My fingers flexed against the counter, searching for something—stability, reassurance, a reason to believe I wasn’t making a mistake.This wasn’t just another meeting. This wasn’t just business.It was a calculated risk. A necessary step. A doorway to something bigger—something darker.JTB Pharmaceuticals had approached me with an offer too good to ignore. On paper, they were exactly what they claimed to be
MatthiasI leaned back in my chair, fingers steepled beneath my chin, eyes fixed on the screen in front of me. The name stared back at me in bold, impersonal letters—JTB Business.A company that, on paper, was clean. Too clean. It might be good in some cases, but in this world I lived in, the cleaner the outside, the dirtier the inside was. It’s a common secret in business. And this cleanliness was something that would required a lot of work for me.Like … a lot.Ren stood beside me, arms crossed, watching as Cyan’s fingers moved swiftly across his keyboard, lines of code flashing across multiple monitors in the dimly lit room. I really wanted to turn the lamp on, because why the hell he should do this shit in the dark? Those movies that show hackers in the dark should remembered that hackers worked with their eyes too. But Cyan loved movies. “It will make my work cooler,” was his reason, which was questionable, but I just let him be.“They only appeared a year ago,” Ren muttered, ey
AltheaI arrived at my office to find Tristan already waiting inside. He was seated on the leather couch near the floor-to-ceiling window, his posture unusually tense. A sleek tablet rested on the table before him, but his fingers were curled around a coffee cup, gripping it like a lifeline. He looked up as I entered, his dark eyes scanning me as if searching for something.“Althea,” Tristan said, exhaling in what sounded like relief. “You made it.”I closed the door behind me, shrugging off my coat as I took in Tristan’s expression—tight, wary, edged with something I couldn’t quite place. He wasn’t the type to rattle easily, yet something in his stance told me this was different. His usual composure was strained, his shoulders coiled with tension, his fingers curled around the tablet resting on the table like he was bracing himself for a fight.“You said it was urgent,” I said slowly, my eyes narrowing. “What’s going on?”Tristan gestured for me to sit, his movements stiff, controlle