Leo still didn’t listen to me. And to my surprise, he didn’t take the stairs anymore. Instead, he walked straight toward the direction of the elevator. Then, we entered the lift as soon as it opened. My brows furrowed as he seemed to have no plans to put me down. “Can you put me down on the floor now?” I exclaimed as I frowned after he pressed the close button of the elevator. “Sure,” He said with a meaningful smile on his lips. Then, he quickly kneeled and laid me down on the floor. My eyes bulged while my mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe what he just did! And as soon as I recovered from the shock, I swiftly got up, beat the dust off my clothes, and confronted him. “Hey–” But I could not continue what I was going to say as the elevator door opened. Then I saw three people waiting outside the lift. Leo gave me an annoying smirk before he walked outside the lift. I could feel my face flushed red in irritation as I could not say anything, and I could not do anything but pout
My eyes bulged slightly as I stared intently at the tall, blonde-haired man with blue eyes approaching us. ‘He’s the man in the picture that Angela showed me!’ My mind shouted. “You’re right, but he doesn’t know,” Leo confirmed in a low voice as though he had read what was on my mind. Then, as soon as the man came near, he tapped Leo on his shoulder as they greeted each other. “Happy birthday, bro,” Leo stated. “Thanks. But I thought you were on a honeymoon?” The man asked, crossing his arms. Leo smiled thinly as he gave me a quick glance before he answered, “Well, change of plans.” The man chuckled while shaking his head. “I can't believe you. Anyway, won't you introduce me to the beautiful woman next to you?” He queried, peeking at me. “Right,” Leo agreed as he put his left hand on my shoulder before he added, “Meet my wife, Angela. Angela, this is my best friend, Daniel.” “Nice to finally meet you, Angela." Daniel expressed, extending his right hand before he continued, "I
My brows furrowed as I looked at Stella’s reflection in the mirror. “How did I flirt with him?” I repeated, greatly appalled by her question. “Yes. You flirted with him, that's why he married you, didn’t you? Because if not, I’m very sure that he would not marry you. Look at yourself and look at how you’re dressed. Eww!” She emphasized with a scowl, scanning my outfit from head to toe. I could feel my blood shoot up in my head, disgusted by her statement because she was right since I was only wearing a loose white shirt and skinny jeans. I assumed she was not aware of the arranged marriage. Sigh. If only I could tell her the real story. But since she insulted me, I would give her what she wanted. “Look who’s talking? Aren’t you the one who’s flirting with him just a while ago? Well, I pity you that even if you look stunning, he still chose me to become his wife,” I countered with a sarcastic smirk. I could see in the mirror how Stella’s expression changed from mocking to furious
“Sorry, babe. But I want to dance with you tonight.” Denver hissed as he pulled my body closer to his. Then, he looked down at me as though he was going to kiss me. My mind was telling me to push him but I still couldn’t find the strength to do so. Moreover, I couldn't move since he was holding me so tightly. Good thing, I was able to avoid his lips. Denver smirked as he stated meaningfully, “Okay, let’s wait for a few more minutes. Let's see if you can still resist my kiss." His words only strengthened my suspicion that there was a drug in the wine I consumed earlier. I assumed he would wait a few minutes more for the drug to completely take effect in my body. So, I thought I had to get out of there immediately as I couldn't imagine when it happened. Then, an idea suddenly popped into my mind. "Denver, please. Leo must be looking for me," I begged one more time. "And why would he look for you?" He asked, raising his brow. "Because h-he's my husband," I answered with the hope
Leo didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to the bedside table and poured water into a glass. "Drink some first," He uttered while handing me the glass of water. And since my throat felt dry, I didn’t hesitate to accept it and drank half of it. Putting down the glass, I turned to him and queried, “What happened last night? Why can’t I remember?” I suddenly felt a lump in my throat while tears stung my eyes as I got anxious about why I couldn’t seem to remember what occurred. And why did he seem so concerned? Nevertheless, I still tried to recall what exactly transpired last night while waiting for his reply. “Calm down, Angela. Don’t worry, nothing bad happened.” He declared solemnly as he stared straight into my eyes. I didn’t know but I was not convinced by his statement. However, I really struggled to recall what occurred. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t remember. I suddenly held my head as it hurt the more I forced myself to recall what happened. “Are you okay?” He asked wo
As I went out of the room, I tried to call Leo to ask him where he was. However, he was not answering my call. So, I proceeded to the lobby. Then, I asked the lobby attendants if they happened to be familiar with Leo. Good thing, they knew him so well as it transpired that he was a stockholder of this private beach resort. So, they told me that they saw him going in the direction of the party hall. I did not waste any second, I impatiently marched to the party hall, disregarding the discomfort I was feeling. I wanted to go there as soon as possible as I wanted to see if my suspicion was correct. However, I could not make my step any bigger. Nevertheless, I did not force myself as I knew that I would get there in a few minutes since it was not too far from the lobby. And so, I crossed the hallway heading to the party hall. However, the corner of my eye caught a lady wearing a white dress from afar. She was standing near the shore while her dress was gently dancing in the wind. I g
"See, you don't believe me!" I muttered with a grimace. Then, I pursed my lips as I attempted to stand up, but Leo swiftly tightened his embrace around my waist. Subsequently, he delicately lifted my chin, redirecting my gaze towards him. "It’s not that I don’t believe you, Angela. I just want to know every angle of the story. And to be honest, the evidence pointing to Denver as the culprit isn’t quite convincing. There were loopholes,” he said, his voice laced with a sigh. After a brief pause, he added, “Anyway, I know you’re already starving. Let’s have dinner first.” With those words, he helped me to my feet. Well, he was right. I was already starving since I hadn’t eaten anything yet due to sleeping all day. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. It seemed he deliberately avoided discussing the possibility of Stella's involvement, abruptly ending our conversation on the matter. I wondered if it was due to the fact that Stella was his best friend’s sister and
The next morning, I was startled to wake up and discover Leo and myself entwined in an intimate embrace while my head nestled comfortably on his other arm. He was still in a deep sleep. So, I tried to remove his arms from my body. However, having his arms wrapped around me, made my attempt to release myself a hopeless effort. Clenching my lower lip, I mustered one final effort to free myself from his grasp, but my strength fell short of the task. I let out a deep sigh as I gave up and decided to wait for him to wake up. As my thoughts wandered, I couldn't help but replay the events of the previous night in my mind. I wondered about the conversation between Leo and Stella after I had left, and what time they separated as I realized that I hadn't noticed him entering the room last night. Perhaps, I fell asleep already since I was still feeling exhausted and tired. But the idea that they might have spent a significant amount of time together stirred an unwelcome pang in my heart. ‘
The thought that Jake might notice my deception, filled me with dread. Hence, I decided to run upstairs. I heard Angela calling me twice, but I didn’t dare to look back, completely ignoring my twin sister’s call. I gasped for air as I finally reached the guest room, my back leaned against the door, and my heart was pounding like a relentless drum in my chest. The sudden arrival of Sarah and Jake had caught me off guard, leaving me entirely unprepared to face them. And as I caught my breath, I couldn't help but question myself. Why had pretending to be someone else felt easier than now when I had to face them as my true self? Then, I realized that I really didn’t pretend to be someone else. I just used my twin sister’s name. But everything that I showed them was real. My personality and feelings towards them were all real. That’s why it was so difficult for me now to face them and make a different impression of me. I released a deep sigh. After a while, I decided to send a messag
My heart pounded in my chest as Leo’s scrutinizing gaze lingered on me, his jaw clenched in anticipation of my reply. Indeed, my twin sister had transformed as though she was now a completely different person. And that realization hurt me deeply. ‘Can a head surgery really alter someone’s personality?’ I wondered silently. Then, I nervously wiped my mouth with the table napkin as I contemplated how to respond to her statement. For a moment, I hesitated about denying her words. Despite everything, she was still my twin, and I held love and respect for her. Choosing to give way and let go of my feelings for Leo was a decision made out of that love. However, I was not martyr enough to let her tarnish my reputation with lies. Putting down the table napkin, a thin smile graced my lips as I prepared to reply. "I'm sorry, Anj. But I couldn't recall. And why would you text me that fact as if we had a good relationship before? Didn't you mention earlier that I was yet to accept you as my
I really wanted to ask Angela if she could leave and let things be as they were, with me as Leo’s wife. I believed she could repay me that way. However, I was fully aware that she would not agree. Moreover, just like what she told me before, I didn’t wish to become her rival as well. Thus, I decided to give way, acknowledging that I had no rightful claim in the first place. And I confirmed her displeasure when I witnessed her expression darkening upon hearing my words. It was evident in her eyes that she didn’t like what I said. Since her return, I noticed a significant change in her. She was no longer the gentle and sweet Angela I once knew. Aside from taking back her real identity, she set clear boundaries between us, emphasizing that my role was merely a substitute, without any regard for my feelings as her twin. "What did you say?" She asked bitterly while crossing her arms and raising her brow. "I said, I would like to leave, Angela. Maybe tomorrow," I repeated, amending my w
Angela and I were sitting on the plush couch in the living room, our anticipation heightening with each passing moment as we awaited Leo's entrance. This time, however, I was the one wearing the wavy, long wig and eyeglasses. Yes, it was the moment when Angela and I exchanged identities, restoring everything to its rightful place. As I sat there, I drew in a deep breath, mentally preparing for the upcoming encounter with Leo, where I would meet him for the first time as the real me–no longer Angela, but Ashley. The suspense in the room peaked when Leo finally stepped through the doorway. I could feel the atmosphere charged with tension as his gaze shifted between Angela and me. And as Leo's eyes met mine, a flicker of astonishment danced across his face. The seconds that passed between Leo's entrance and the interactions that followed seemed like an eternity, each tick of the clock resonating with heightened anticipation. With a mixture of nervousness and curiosity, I couldn't br
I made the decision to confess everything to my twin sister, believing in the strength of our bond and hoping for her understanding of my complex situation. I was silently hoping that she would understand, especially considering the tiny life growing within me. However, just as I was about to begin sharing, her attention shifted to the necklace adorning my neck. "Wait, Ash. Your necklace looks beautiful. Is that the one Leo gave you on your second month together?" Angela asked cheerfully, holding the pendant and gazing at me with anticipation. "Hmm… Yeah," I reluctantly confirmed. With no one else to share my feelings with, sending short messages to Angela became my hobby, updating her on my excitement and disappointments, thus finding a release for the emotions that overwhelmed me. Angela's radiant smile widened, and she eagerly made a request that caught me off guard, "Can you put the necklace on me?" "Huh?" I mumbled, my heart quickening its pace as a wave of emotions surged t
I stared at my phone, my mind unable to process the name that had unexpectedly appeared on the screen. ‘Impossible,’ I muttered to myself, furrowing my brows as I continued to gaze at the screen. Shortly thereafter, my phone chimed again, abruptly pulling me from my daze. Suddenly, a wave of goosebumps rippled across my body as I read the sender's name on my screen. "A-Angela?" I stammered in disbelief, my voice barely audible. It was a message from my twin sister, and the sheer surprise left me speechless. I couldn't believe that I received a text message from her. With trembling hands and a heart pounding like a drum, I pressed the screen to reveal the message. My hands continued to tremble as I read the message. ‘Ash, surprise? I just arrived here in Southland. Let’s meet. I miss you so much!’ I stood frozen in my spot feeling as though a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over me. "How is this possible?" I questioned myself as a paralyzing shock surged through me.
"Is Mr. Scott's claim true, Angela?" Grandpa queried coldly, his gaze fixed on me, intensifying the gravity of the moment. The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone turned their attention toward me, waiting for my response. I cleared my throat, preparing to reply, but before I could speak, Aunt Ofelia abruptly interjected, her tone accusatory and skeptical. "Dad, why are you even asking Angela? Do you think she would agree with what Mr. Scott says? I mean, no one in their right mind would admit to such a shameless act," she remarked, her words laced with insinuation, clearly aimed at undermining my credibility. “I did nothing, Auntie,” I responded fearlessly, my frown reflecting my resistance. Aunt Ofelia's subtle insinuations continued, "Oh, I didn't say anything, Angela. But I do wonder, what were you doing in Mr. Scott’s room?” I clenched my fists as frustration and anger welled up within me, sensing Aunt Ofelia's attempt to discredit me and strengthen Mr. Scott's false
"Where do you think you're going, my special present?" Mr. Scott inquired, his tone sending shivers down my spine. “What do you mean by 'special present'?” I asked anxiously, struggling to understand his disturbing words. “Do you think I would easily agree to marry my daughter off to that orphan without receiving something in return? Of course not. It's because, in every agreement, there’s a hidden endowment. And I must confess, I'm delighted that it turned out to be you," he divulged with a malicious glint in his eyes. I was stunned upon hearing his statement, a sinking feeling gnawing at my gut. Nonetheless, I kept my composure and looked at him straightly in his eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking about. So please, just let me leave," I uttered firmly, my voice unwavering. But he continued as though he didn’t hear what I said, "You know, I couldn't help but admire you earlier during dinner because your beauty has this captivating innocence," he stated, his gaze sweeping
As time passed, I couldn't help but wonder why Leo hadn't mentioned anything about Aunt Ofelia and Bernadette's false accusation. The weight of their allegations still lingered in my mind, so I decided to visit Leo in his library, where he often worked. "Leo," I called out as I knocked gently on the door. "Come in," his voice replied. Upon entering his library, I found him seated in his swivel chair, engrossed in his work on his laptop, wearing a pair of eyeglasses. When he noticed me, he removed his glasses and swiveled his chair to the side. "Sit here," he invited, extending his arms toward his lap. I walked over and settled on his lap, seeking comfort and closeness. He inquired with a grin, "Do you need anything?" "About Aunt Ofelia and Bernadette," I began, a slight crease forming on my forehead. “What about them?” He asked, his forehead furrowed. “Did they call you already?” Puzzled, I asked, "Why would they call me?" "Well, I talked to them last night," Leo explained. "