Unfortunately, a taxi cruised past me without stopping, as it was already occupied. Dispirited, I began to walk away from the villa, making sure I was out of sight in case Nora arrived. However, after half an hour had passed, there were still no more taxis in sight. Nevertheless, I didn't lose hope. I decided to wait for another ten minutes. Then, a sleek black sports car pulled up right in front of me. My heart skipped a beat as I anxiously wondered the identity of the driver. Shortly after, the car window slowly rolled down. I silently hoped I didn't know the person behind the wheel. Yet, as soon as I caught sight of his face, I couldn't help but bite my lower lip. It was Jake! "Hi, Angela," he greeted me with a warm smile before inquiring, "What are you doing here?" What could I possibly tell him? I felt completely lost and unsure of what to say. Of course, I couldn’t tell him that I was running away. Sighing, I struggled to gather my thoughts. It felt like my mind was no
Jake carefully parked the car by the side of the road. Then, he led me to a hidden spot nearby. As we arrived, I found myself gazing out at the breathtaking panoramic view of the city. To my surprise, Jake was absolutely right. The magnificent scenery before me had a mesmerizing effect. It was as though the world paused, and for that moment, I temporarily forgot the weight of my concerns and the turmoil in my mind. I took a moment to pause, closing my eyes and allowing the gentle breeze to caress my face like a warm embrace. With each deep breath, I felt a sense of peace and calm wash over me, as if all the troubles of the world had momentarily faded away. In the midst of this serenity, Jake remained silent, understanding the need for this quiet moment. He stood behind me, a reassuring presence, allowing me to immerse myself in the peaceful embrace of the city's spectacular beauty. As I sorted my scattered thoughts, I began to reflect on everything that had transpired. It dawned o
I anxiously glanced at Bella and then at Jake, unsure of how he would respond to Leo’s question. We hadn’t discussed it in advance. Bella gave me a reassuring smile while Jake calmly provided an explanation. "I saw her on the street, looking quite unwell,” Jake began. “And when I learned she was experiencing stomach pain, I thought it would be best to get her checked out. Unfortunately, the nearest hospital to your villa had so many patients in the emergency room, so I called Bella and decided to bring her here instead." He elaborated. I quickly chimed in to support Jake's story. "That's right, Leo. I thought a short walk outside the villa might help ease my stomachache, but it only got worse." "Next time, call me immediately if you're not feeling well or need any help, okay?" Leo instructed then he glanced at Jake, conveying his expectations. Understanding the unspoken message, I nodded in agreement. After collecting the prescription, Leo helped me up, and we exchanged farewell
Three days later, I found myself running low on toiletries, so I decided to make a quick trip to the mall to restock. As I entered the mall, I was pleasantly surprised as I spotted Jake among the shoppers. With a warm smile, I waved at him. I had become comfortable around him since we had been together, especially when he offered to help me. If I could call it help. Well, I was hoping that he might have realized he was wrong to accuse me of pretending to be Angela. Besides, I found it wise to maintain a friendly connection with him, as I wasn't entirely sure whether he was a friend or an enemy. If he happened to be an enemy, it was better to keep him close and observe his actions. "Jake, it seems like you're always wandering around here. I keep running into you," I remarked gleefully, my eyes fixed on him as I waited for him to draw near. A mischievous smile graced his lips while his eyes twinkling playfully as he approached me. "Well, it's either a coincidence or fate." He resp
The receptionist continued to blatantly disregard my request, leaving me feeling increasingly frustrated. I wasn't sure how to proceed when suddenly, an elegantly dressed woman in her thirties, entered the lobby. The receptionist's attitude seemed to change instantly as she greeted the woman with a friendly smile. "Good morning, Ma'am. How can I assist you today?" the receptionist inquired, her tone noticeably more affable. The woman reciprocated the smile and replied, "Hi there, I'm here to drop off some documents for Mr. LK." The receptionist, now eager to assist, asked, "May I have your name and your appointment time with Mr. LK?" Then, she turned towards her computer to check. "I'm Camille Shaw, and unfortunately, I wasn't able to schedule an appointment. However, he's expecting these documents," the woman explained before requesting, "Could you help me with this, please?" The receptionist warmly nodded and said, "Of course, Ms. Shaw. Please sign in here, and I'll inform th
Brimming with excitement, I hurried back upstairs and took a quick shower before I changed into a fresh dress. Every moment counted now. So, I didn’t waste any seconds, I dashed to the nearest drugstore to purchase a pregnancy test. As I arrived at the drugstore, my palms felt clammy as I reached for two pregnancy test kits on the shelf. I then approached the cashier, my nerves making my voice quiver. The cashier offered me a friendly smile and politely asked, “Is there anything else you'd like to purchase, Ma’am?” I replied anxiously, "Just these, please. Here’s my debit card." The cashier smiled. Then, she efficiently scanned the barcode and processed my payment. However, my heart sank when I heard Jake's voice from behind me. “Angela?” he asked, sounding genuinely surprised. With the small paper bag in hand, I turned to face him. "Hey, Jake. It’s you again," I remarked, beginning to wonder if our constant encounters were more than mere coincidence. Jake grinned, his eyes fi
It was the photo of Jake and me, taken during our visit to the city view spot, precisely capturing the moment when he placed his hand on my shoulder. My frown deepened, and I gritted my teeth in frustration as I grappled with the intrusion into my personal life. "Where did you get those pictures?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued as I pondered who might have sent them such misleading images. “That’s none of your business!” Bernadette snapped in response. After drawing in another deep breath, I asserted, "In that case, I don't owe you any explanations. You may leave now." Aunt Ofelia looked stunned by my dismissal, prompting her to mutter, "How dare you throw us away? You flirt! We were right from the start. We knew this day would come. Your true colors are finally showing!” "We'll make sure Grandpa hears about this, and we’ll see where you’ll end up when he learns the truth," Bernadette threatened before they turned and left. As soon as Ofelia and Bernadette departed, I was sudd
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. "