* Te amo mucho: I love you so much * Te ves estupendo: You look stunning
Adrian's POV"Welcome to The Smith's Hotel and Suites," Leo announced, driving through a large iron gate into what looked like a garage.Leo quickly exited the car and walked over to let me in. As I stepped out of the car, the building before me took my breath away. The hotel's multi-story building was eye-catching and a testament to its luxury. It exuded luxury, from the front door's intricate design to the main entrance's grandeur.This is not just a hotel but a tribute to the Smith Family's legacy. There was no doubt that this breathtaking structure was a reflection of one of America's most powerful and influential families.An entourage of bodyguards were lined up from the entrance to the car, probably to ensure my protection.I couldn't help but frown deeply at the unexpected gesture."Mr. Smith holds you in high esteem," Leo stated.He must have noticed my discomfort."Still, I don't think this is necessary," I protested, walking on the red carpet with Leo, who was pulling my l
Joyce's POVWhen I entered Adrian's office that morning, I felt an emptiness in my heart. A tinge of regret crept into my heart as I recalled how we parted ways that morning. Maybe I should have just let it go and told him goodbye properly.Now, he was gone for God knows how long. I occasionally glanced at my phone, waiting for a call or a text message, but none came.It was now past lunch, and I had yet to speak with Daniel about the company's anniversary that we were planning.To be honest, I wasn't ready to speak or have anything to do with him. Still, I had to keep sentiments apart and remain professional.Instantly, an idea popped up in my head. I could ask Michelle to accompany me. That way, I would avoid any conversation that could pry into my privacy.With a deep sigh, I stood, laptop in my hand, and walked out of the office, remembering to lock the door.I found my way to her department and walked in. Everyone was busy with one thing or the other. Seeing this made me feel a s
Gabriel's POV"I'm leaving the company in your hands. Nothing must go wrong while I'm away," I had instructed Ivan that morning before leaving for the United States.The initial goal was to travel on the same plane as Adrian, but unfortunately, my flight ticket was delayed for some strange reason I was given. I was suspicious, but I had to get to the meeting to confirm my suspicions.I arrived in the United States thirty minutes before the meeting began. The car I had booked arrived on time to help me with my luggage and take me to my hotel. Ivan had already prepared everything I needed.When I got to the hotel, I didn't bother having lunch. Instead, I took a quick bath and changed my clothes. I ordered a taxi that took me straight to The Smiths Hotel and Suites, which Ivan deduced as the meeting ground.When I arrived at the hotel ten minutes after the meeting began, I walked up to the receptionist's table and placed a massive tip on it.The moment I entered the hotel lobby, I was sur
Adrian's POVI found it amusing that Gabriel would have the audacity to speak to Mr. Smith in such a manner, degrading himself. As a businessman, his actions were considered disgraceful.Access to the conference room must have been obtained through someone he had bribed, and Mr. Smith realized that, so he ordered the other lady, Evelyn, to get the receptionist fired.He suddenly turned to me when I least expected it, but I regained my composure.The instant he asked if I was behind it, I had an inkling that Daniel was the mastermind behind the delay, though he hadn't informed me.After our verbal exchange, he stormed out of the room, leaving I and Mr. Smith to continue with the meeting.It was apparent the man was still angry because of his heavy breathing."What temerity?!" He barked, banging his fist on the table.Evelyn walked forward to calm him down."Take it easy, Mr. Smith," I cautioned. "Ignore him. He's gone already."The middle-aged man took a deep breath and slumped into hi
Chapter 142Joyce's POV"Your plans have a lot of loopholes in them," Daniel declared condescendingly. If we settle for your plan, Santoria Industries will suffer a long period of image deterioration. I'll show you a sample we used last year.""Alright," I replied curtly, offended by his rudeness but refusing to make it obvious. Is it that he's blind to the countless hours and efforts I've put into this? Or did he think his arrogance would overshadow my dedication and sweat?"Can I see the sample you speak of?" I responded, the heat rising to my cheeks as I fought to maintain my composure.He fetched a file from the cabinet next to us and dropped it on the table."Here," he said, clasping his hands in resolute confidence. "It has everything we need."I tried my best not to flare up, but the proud peacock was stepping on my toes. Instantly, I decided to show him who the boss was.I picked up the files and reviewed them, pointing out the problems and gaps one by one, the damages they mig
Joyce's POV"Karma is a bitch!" Michelle cussed the moment I finished narrating my own part of the story. "How could she have been so rude? She isn't even your sister."I exhaled heavily. "Things just happen, Michelle. Sometimes, you just have to face them.""Yeah, I get that," Michelle nodded in understanding, her frown deepening. "I just don't see a justified reason for your sister's betrayal. I've been thinking about it, and there's this question on my mind, if you don't mind me asking.""Go on," I permitted.She cleared her throat and voiced out. "Aren't you guys born of the same parents? I mean, she's your biological sister, right? Why did your parents never say anything about it or even correct her?"Michelle's questions opened up a wound I had buried deep in my heart long ago. Though the incident left me in a bit of pain, I was willing to speak to Michelle about it."You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Michelle stated.She must have noticed my discomfort."It's noth
Natalia's POVBeing locked up in the mansion for days was making me go crazy. The only things I spent my time doing were taking showers and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner.The workers in the mansion and I had no good relationship, so talking with them to kill time was out of the question.Thankfully, Gabriel hadn't confiscated my phone, or I would have died of boredom and loneliness. The only person I had spoken to was Christina, who kept blaming my sister for everything happening to me. I felt she was right, and my hatred towards my sister instantly doubled.I swore I would do everything possible to remove Joyce from the picture. On one of my calls with Christina, she offered to trail Joyce. Since then, I've been briefed on her movement. I couldn't believe she was having a good time with a business magnate, a wealthy CEO, and one of Madrid's most desired bachelors. I couldn't understand why the public was ignorant of their relationship; it was none of my business.I was about t
Gabriel's POVI purposefully delayed my return to Madrid a day after Adrian left because I wanted to avoid clashing with him in a foreign country. Getting arrested by the US authorities was detrimental to our image and country.Ivan had sent my driver to come pick me up."Welcome, boss," he greeted politely, to which I nodded curtly.He put luggage in the booth and opened the car for me.As soon as we settled into the car, he asked, "Boss, where are we heading?"That was where the problem came in. I was torn between heading home and stopping by the company to see how Ivan was doing.What excuse would I give them for failing to get the Smith's project? Yes, the company was mine, but I valued my reputation greatly."To the mansion," I demanded."Yes, boss," he replied.The ride was long and silent, and I couldn't help but feel foreboding as we approached the mansion. The image of a lady flashed through my mind, ruining my mood further.I scoffed inwardly, looking out the window and ponde
Natalia's POVI had never been subjected to such barbaric punishment in my life. I should have just listened to Christina when she warned me, but I had let my anger take over. I then realized that the big boss was not feared for nothing. His reputation truly preceded him in every way. He was ruthless and brutal. He wasn’t a man who tolerated disobedience—or weakness. I learned the hard way.No wonder Christina couldn't fight back when she was physically abused. Talking about Christina, I still had a score to settle with her.Lying in bed for a week had been tiring. The pain was still there, my body was still sore but staying in my room for one more day could kill me. I had to go out there. I needed to see how that wretched woman and her brat were doing. I secretly wished she suffered the same fate as I did but knew that was impossible. the boss never wanted his hostages tainted in any way.I felt my anger begin to bubble beneath the surface. Even now, she was still preferred over me.
Natalia's POVI had never been subjected to such barbaric punishment in my life. I should have just listened to Christina when she warned me, but I had let my anger take over. It was then I realized that the big boss was not feared for nothing.No wonder Christina couldn't fight back when she was physically abused. Talking about Christina, I still had a score to settle with her.Lying in bed for a week had been tiring. The pain was still there, but staying in my room for one more day could kill me.Walking out of my room, I didn't know what led me to the room Joyce was locked up. The moment I saw the big boss come out of the room, I quickly hid.I had a feeling he knew someone was watching him but decided to ignore it. Better still, I had come this far and wasn't going back.I took a deep breath and stepped forward, opening the door without knocking.Joyce turned to look at me, her expression flickering between surprise and exhaustion. She looked frail, but her eyes still burned with
Joyce's POV"You're still trying to prove your stubbornness, aren't you?" Lionel smiled, his voice full of mockery. "Soon you'll have no choice but to let yourself succumb to my advances."For a week now, that pervert has been harassing me with threats. At one point, he starved me just because I made him angry. The way he talks and acts is always irritating, and it always makes me want to throw up. I was fed up with the sight of him.Well, at least, he ensured my son was well-fed as a way to appease me. But even that felt like a mockery—a calculated cruelty meant to keep me compliant."Mr. Lionel, men like you should be married," I stated accusingly.Lionel simply shrugged, a sly grin stretching across his face. "Yes, I am. I also have a mistress and I don't mind having you as the second one. Don't worry, you have nothing to be wary of. Like I said earlier, money isn't the problem.""Ugh... How many times do you want me to spell it out to you?" I scoffed in disgust. "I want nothing to
ADRIAN'S POV"Fine, let's work together. The police will assist us."Those were the last words I had spoken to Gabriel before Detective Torres suggested we have a meeting in his office. I had seen the incredulous look he shot at me when I agreed to work with Gabriel; like I had suddenly grown a second head with two horns. I decided to play it cool and act as though I hadn't caught that. I watched as the weak man was unstrapped from the chair and laid on a stretcher. The nurses attending to him applied first aid, cleaned up his wounds, set up a line, and whisked him out of the cell.Honestly, I was taken aback that I had agreed to work with him. What if t this was just another one of his manipulative game for him? What if he has something else planned? My family depends on this, but is it worth the risk? How many times had I underestimated him before? Was I doing it again now? It was a risky decision, yet my instincts weren’t giving me the warnings they normally did."Sir, we should
Adrian's POVIt's been a week since that bastard who calls himself Gabriel refused to tell the truth. Shockingly, I had been so occupied with issues at the company that I hadn't gotten time to balance my emotions properly. My eyes had dark circles around them like ominous curtains, my stubble had grown out, matching my disheveled state of mind, and I was a complete shadow of myself.Miguel still had nothing. No updates, no footage, no break, nothing. Whoever had taken them was yet to contact me for any demands, negotiations, or ransom. It was as though they had vanished into thin air, leaving me to face my demons.It was so hectic that I had become unable to control my anger. Most of the workers had become unwitting victims of my misplaced aggression.I sat trying to attend to the documents before me, going over them as fast as possible so I might leave for the police station. It was futile, though, as my mind was elsewhere: were they safe, was she alive, was Rafael okay? The uncertai
Gabriel's POVIt all felt so surreal, like a dream from the moment the cops barged into my house and arrested me till now. Never had such a thing happened in my whole life as a Moreno. Me, Gabriel Moreno, reduced to this pitiful state? My pride, my ego—it was shattered into irreparable shards. Life has been so unfair, unjust, and so relentlessly cruel to me. It was tiring, and I had thought of ending it countless times. If only I had gotten the woman I've always wanted in my life, maybe things would have been different; everything would’ve aligned perfectly. But no. Maybe.....just then, I heard footsteps approaching and snapped out of my thoughts. I couldn't turn to see who it was, because my hands were strapped to a chair, but the suffocating pressure that increased as the man approached reminded me of a particular person, and just before I could guess who the person was, I heard a familiar voice."He looks okay. Has the interrogation not begun?" I heard the man ask.That voice. I
Adrian's POV"What have you found?" I asked, my eyes on Miguel as he kept typing away furiously on the keyboard.His expression looked disturbed, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding—a sickening feeling gnawing at my gut. My heart thudded painfully in my chest. Something was clearly wrong, but he didn't want to reveal it to me."Miguel," I called, raising my voice and revealing impatience. I could feel the burn rise in my chest as my breaths came in shallow bursts. "What's wrong Miguel? Que? Answer me man!"Miguel sighed dejectedly then finally turned his eyes towards me, worry shadowing the lines of his face. "There is nothing-""What?!" Michelle gasped in shock, her voice hoarse. "No no no no! ¡Esto no puede estar pasando! Have you checked the toy section and also the pajamas section? That was exactly where the attendant and I left her. She has to have been captured by the cameras.""Sadly, she isn't," Miguel replied, his frown deepening as he fidgeted with the mouse.
Joyce's POVI blinked my eyes to stop the tears threatening to fall. No! I didn't want to give Natalia the privilege of seeing me vulnerable. Despite my efforts to not hate her, she kept stepping on my toes.What baffled me the most was the enemy she hinted about earlier. Admittedly, Adrian had many enemies and business rivals, but for someone to actually plan something as daring and repulsive as abducting a child? It would have to be a very powerful individual, someone who knew just where to hit. The last time someone -Elizabeth to be precise- tried this, it was a futile attempt.I kept sparing furtive glances at my baby placed on an old and dusty sofa. He was still asleep. His small chest rose and then fell, but his cheeks had reddened slightly and he looked so helpless. Panic clawed at my chest. What if he got sick while inhaling the dust? The thought that he was inhaling thick musty air made my stomach suddenly turn. I felt a grip in my heart at what could happen in case he did
Natalia's POVI could feel a sharp pain in my hand, seconds after I slapped the bitch sitting right in front of me. How dare she talk to me like that? Her words cut deep into my heart and I couldn't help but vent my anger with that slap.I wasn't satisfied. I badly wanted to claw her face and pull every strand of hair on her head out till she was bald. I wanted to set her on fire and watch her scream in excruciating pain.I know those around me were baffled by the level of hatred I had for my blood, but that was it, I honestly didn't care. I despised her greatly."You slut!" I heard her cuss. "Did you just hit me?"I snorted in laughter. "Si. Yes, I did. Tell me, what do you want to do about it?"She didn't reply and simply looked at me with hatred in her eyes. I had never seen such fierce hatred in her eyes before and honestly, it took me by surprise. Yet, I wasn't done with the mockery."You can hit me back if you can," I added with sarcasm in my voice."You're soulless, Natalia. You