"I'm busy, you guys have fun!"
His voice was cold and devoid of emotion as always. He didn't even wait for a response before he hung up. Beep! Jonas stares at his phone to see that the call has ended, he sighs heavily. "He still doesn't wish to see us?" He picks up a framed picture he keeps on his desk, in the picture you could see two young college boys. One had a smile so bright it could put the sun to shame while the other was the complete opposite, on his face was a frown of displeasure and he didn't seem enthusiastic for the photo. "Time does change ." He sets the picture back in place and resumes work on his laptop. ... Vanessa drives into a villa where her grand mother reside, though in her past life she didn't have any relationship with her grand mother and she barely had a relationship with her parents. She vows to build a good and healthy relationship with her family, she refuses to lose them in this lifetime! After losing them, she had no one to care for her. She knew loneliness like the air she breathe, though her child gave her solace, Khloe and Francis killed her. They snatched and destroyed her happiness, now she'll make them pay tenfolds! Vanessa waltz into the building and what greeted her was the fragrant aroma of cooking that filled the air "Grandma!" She calls out startling old Mrs Lawson who was looking at the picture frame of her late husband; Mathias Lawson. "Vanessa?" Old Mrs Lawson was shocked as her granddaughter never visited her and they met only a few times. A smile graced her beautiful face though she was surprised, she was greatly pleased that Vanessa took the initiative to visit her. "What are you doing here so early?" She asked as she motioned for Vanessa to take a sit. "Don't you want to see me?" Vanessa asked with a pout. "I always want to see you. Though you hardly visit me, I'm glad you're here." " I... I haven't been a good granddaughter and I've neglected you. I apologize to you grandma, please forgive me" Vanessa apologized earnestly while bowing her head down to her grandmother; Venice. Vernice eyes turned teary as she couldn't believe her ears. "Are you serious Nessa? You've finally acknowledged me as your grandmother?" " You've always been my grandmother " Vanessa walks to where Vernice is seated and kneels in front of her, placing her head on Vernice's lap. Vernice gladly caresses her head with a doting look on her face. She used to be proud to show of Khloe, her 'granddaughter'. But after discovering that Khloe isn't related to the Lawson's she became apprehensive for she knows Khloe might seem like a gentle yet strong and confident woman but deep down she's manipulative and shrewd. She does everything in her power to get what she wants. She tried to convince her son and his wife to let her go back to her family as they reunited with their daughter but they refused since she was the daughter they loved and raised for twenty years. "What's cooking grandma?" "Oh dear!" Vanessa had breakfast with her grandmother. She couldn't believe her grand mother's cooking could be so delicious, she had to get seconds. "To think this is what I've been missing" Vanessa said with a satisfied smile on her face. Vanessa's comment brought a beautiful smile to Vernice's face, she loves cooking but after her husband's passing two years ago there was no one to share a meal with. Her daughter-in-law visits from time to time. She was excited to have Vanessa with her and Vanessa being a foodie was a bonus point as she could cook all she wants and Vanessa will eat! "You should come by often." "Of course I will! Your cookings won't eat itself, I have to help you so you don't put on too much weight" she couldn't contain her excitement. "Come child, let's go for a walk in the garden" Vanessa and her grandmother Venice walked in the garden, the weather was pleasant to the skin, the breeze was refreshing. They sat in the rose garden, discussing so many topics from how Vanessa's childhood with the Hudgens were. Though they lived in the country side and were just farmers, they did their best to provide Vanessa with the best life they could give. She learnt martial arts, painting, how to play the piano, dancing and many more. They wanted to give their daughter their all. She always got in to trouble, her brothers will stand up and protect her. She thought it was perfect as the country side wasn't as polluted as the city and the people there wasn't conceited. Vernice was glad to know the Hudgens though not rich gave her granddaughter the best training. She loved how carefree and simple minded Vanessa grew up to be, but she couldn't help but worry as Khloe isn't easy to deal with. She wants both to co-exist peacefully since her son refuses to be separated from Khloe. "Nessa" " Yes grandma?" Vanessa who was taking a picture of the roses in the garden turn to look at her grand mother. "I know you've decided but I can't help myself. Do you really want to get married into the Woods family?" Vanessa had a serious expression on her face. " No" "I know you love him but... Wait?! Did you just say no?" Happiness could be heard in Vernice's voice but she soon turned confused. "You don't want to marry Francis? Thought you loved him" " Grandma, I don't feel like we could work. You and my parents strongly disagree with us being together plus he doesn't seem to be interested in me. I have been stubborn and refuse to back down, but the more I think about the situation, the more I realize you all want the best for me and since Francis isn't good enough to get your approval then he isn't good enough to be with me. I don't want to marry the wrong man" Vernice couldn't believe her ears, though the Woods family is a prestigious family they are not on par with the Lawsons. The Woods boy, Francis doesn't seem like a good man and he isn't very outstanding. She believes he doesn't deserve her granddaughter after all she has only one granddaughter and she deserves only the best things life has to offer. Vernice couldn't contain her happiness as she let out a hearty laugh and pinched Vanessa's cheeks. "That's how the Princess of the Lawsons family should behave, never settle for anything less. You deserve only the world's finest!" She hold Vanessa's face in her hand as she placed a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, just trust grandma. I'll find you the world's best groom. That Quinns boy would have been a good choice, unfortunately he is bound to a wheelchair and can't walk. He also can't function as a man. I wouldn't like that, I plan to hold my great grandchildren before I depart to meet your grandfather in the afterlife." Vanessa pouts "You want to leave me?" "Hahaha, of course not, silly girl. This old woman isn't getting any younger. I have to make sure everything is in place before I leave, else your grandfather will be to lonely there all alone." She looked up to the sky with a sad smile. Vanessa hugged her grandmother who was still mourning the loss of her love. She left after her grandmother calmed down and they talked a bit. She drove to the Quinns empire with a red rose she plucked from the garden. Just as she arrives she sees Young master Leonardo leaving the building, he seemed busy as his assistant followed closely and takes notes of what's being said to him. "Young master Leonardo!" She calls out as she quickly approaches him, she stands before him with a beautiful smile on her face. Leonardo had his bodyguard behind him as he silently looked at the woman in front of him grinning like a Cheshire cat. "What!" His tone was so cold that his assistant Mr Toby Reynolds felt a chill go down his spine. "Let's have lunch together" Vanessa pleaded with Leonardo even though he rejected her offer the moment it left her mouth she refused to give up and kept pestering him, telling him of her efforts to arrange their lunch date while the bodyguards and Leonardo's assistant watched with their breaths held, they could hardly believe that the young master was actually listening to her persuasion as he would have had them throw her out of there but instead he listen to her with a blank look on his face. "So would you please consider it?" She begged again going all puppy eyes on him. "Cough" He turned to his assistant. "I'll be having lunch with Ms Lawson, have the appointment with Mr Newton moved." He then signalled his bodyguard to move leaving Vanessa and the assistant standing there stunned. "Are we having lunch here?" Vanessa was snapped back to reality by the question, she hurriedly followed him to the car and even shamelessly sat with him in the back. She kept talking about how lovely the date she planned for them is and how he'll surely have a great time. While Vanessa kept chattering on and on Leonardo looked out the car window and muttered below his breath "noisy" with a small smile on his lips.Vanessa pushed Leonardo into a garden where children's laughter could be heard, you could literally feel the joy and happiness radiating from everyone present in the park, the garden was a small yet incredibly beautiful space inside the park filled with lovely flowers in full bloom. Leonardo barely had an expression on his face but his eyes had a mix of emotions swirling in them. "I made everything myself" Vanessa displayed the meal she prepared with a proud look on her face. Leonardo looked at the meal and he knew it looked appetizing, so he looked at her to praise her culinary skill but stopped short when he saw her proud smile with her nose to the sky, he held back his praise while he thought 'she looked like a peacock showing off his feathers' "Doesn't it look good?" "Who knows?" He sat down and looked at his plate filled with the food Vanessa served him before eating, his eating habits were so graceful and elegant. Vanessa couldn't take her eyes off him. She kept staring hi
When Vanessa walked into the house, she felt a pain, a dull ache in her chest. She had list everything dear to her in her past life and now that she has a second chance, she swore to make everything right! "Vanessa, Vanessa." She heard a familiar, warm but anxious sounding voice calling out her name. Immediately, Vanessa turned her head instinctively to see her mother's beautiful face. "Vanessa, where did you go? I've been looking for you, are you alright? Do you feel dizzy? Are you hungry? You scared me to death! You just returned from the hospital and the doctor said you need rest. You didn't even inform anyone of your whereabouts. If something happened to you you, what should I do then?" Maureen grabbed Vanessa's hand tightly, and Maureen's eyes reddened as she spoke. The doctor had stressed on Vanessa getting at least a week's rest after she had a terrible fall down the stairs that could have claimed her life. It's just been three days and Vanessa is already running around
"Nessa, I've prepared some porridge for you with lots of herbs it will help you recover quickly. Eat while it's hot." Khloe had a sweet smile on her face. She grew up as the Lawson's family princess, the education she received was on a completely different level when compared with Vanessa's. Khloe had both extravagance of a wealthy family and the ability to work. This gave her a gentle front but she was shrewd and manipulative. After all she had written Vanessa's previous life story. Vanessa glanced at the food Khloe made and put her arms around her mother's arm, whining, "Mom, I want to eat the food you made, not this porridge" Although khloe's eyes flickered, she maintained her smile as if she didn't care about Vanessa's comment on her porridge. The two actually born on the same day; Khloe was born in the morning whereas Vanessa was late at night. Maureen turned to look at Khloe, who smiles back at her and said "If Nessa craves the food you make mom, you can cook for her, so she
Khloe walked up to her delicate flowers and felt like they were taking their last breath. The more she looked at it the madder she became. She really wanted to wipe off that smug smile of Nessa's face or just chop of her head with the scissors. "What's the matter" Maureen rushed to the girls when she heard khloe's cries. Almost instantly, Nessa's eyes turned teary. "Mom, I saw these plants getting a bit wild so I helped prune them. I'm sure they will grow better is trimmed but Khloe is blaming me for it." " Do you know how much effort I put into growing these pots of flowers? They just started to bloom but look what you did! " Khloe was fuming. " Mom, I-I was just trying to help. I didn't know I was going to ruin it" Nessa looked aggrieved and pitiful. Maureen couldn't stand the sight and hurriedly consoled her daughter" it's alright, not everyone is green thumbed you know. The plants are still alive so they'll grow right back looking healthy and beautiful, so don't fret
When the Quinns brought a proposal to their doorstep, he was in a dilemma. Though he wanted to be in-laws with the Quinns, he has to consider his daughter's happiness. He was worried she would be unhappy in the union as she 'loves' someone else. Hence, he listened to khloe's advice and placed the decision in Vanessa's hands. However, he didn't think his daughter would cause a massive mess for him by not only rejecting the proposal with no ounce of respect but also calling the heir of the Quinns empire degrading names and still having the guts to go see him after that, doesn't she fear death? Just the thought of Leonardo's face sent chill down his spine and he urge his daughters to go quickly. "Alright, I'll go with Nessa to the Quinns estate." Despite feeling reluctant, Khloe had to agree to it because of her father's urging. Hearing the noises in the living room, Maureen came out of the kitchen again and happened to see both girls leaving the house . "Where are the kids going?" Sh
Keeping his silence, he didn't even say a thing, nor did he glance at the girls, he completely ignored their presence while the bodyguard stood there quietly awaiting his orders. From the corner of her eyes, Vanessa caught Khloe who stood next to her trembling slightly in her legs and she kept both hands at her sides without moving a muscle. Even though she knew that Khloe was afraid of Leonardo, she didn't think that she was this terrified. Did she do something she shouldn't have? Now she's afraid of him because she's guilty? With that thought in mind, she tilted hee head as she observed the man, who look extraordinarily handsome and distinguish like no mortal despite being on a wheelchair. Then she thought cheekily, Khloe must have tried to get into his bed but he kicked her off! Imagining the scene in her mind, Vanessa felt it was too funny and couldn't suppress her amusement, sniggering in secret. Leonardo who have been watching Nessa through his lashes couldn't help bu
Vanessa couldn't help but flinch at the rough treatment when she witness khloe's quick exit at his word. This man is completely emotionless, not even a shard of emotion from him all through that scene. She recalled what she had done to him and suddenly felt that he had shown her mercy. At least, he didn't order someone to drag her out like an animal after she bit him like one. "Why tucking your neck? Are you scared? Hmm?" The edges of those thin pink lips turned upward into a sarcastic smirk. "Well... Urh... Leonardo, I realize that my earlier actions hurt your pride, which was terribly wrong of me. So, I quickly came over to apologize without even taking a bath or changing out of my clothe. So, please be a generous man and forgive me this once." " Forgive you once? Are you planning to do it again? " Leonardo's changed his tone, his voice sounding fierce as he glared daggers at her. "Oh no, Not again. I mean never! How could I repeat my foolish mistake of being disrespectful i
"Young master, the cutleries are here." Leonardo gestured to the body guard to set the new set of cutleries in front of Vanessa."Since you're here to apologize, have a meal with me, " he said, placing food onto her plate, all the while saying how nutritious it was and the benefits of that food as though he was a certified nutritionist.Vanessa who had long time ago forgotten about the extra spiciness added to the food, gladly picked up the cutleries placed before her. She popped the food covered in chili oil into her mouth, and the spiciness spread out in her mouth, so spicy that her eyes teared up and she wanted to spit it out. But when she saw Leonardo watching her emotionlessly, she didn't dare to do so and forced herself to swallow it.After swallowing that, she hurriedly took a glass of water and downed it to quench the heat in her mouth. "Leonardo, I can't eat spicy food. You didn't even remind me of the extra chili added into the food." He gave her the evil eye, which sent sh