Natalia's POV"How dare you?" Antonia exclaimed, her face red with anger.It took me great resolve to control the laughter threatening to erupt from my belly."Girl, relax. I was just giving a general warning. Why are you getting all worked up?" I asked scornfully. I'm sure you can replace any artifacts you break. You know, maybe we should give it a...""That's enough!" A voice rang out, commanding attention.Everyone's gaze shifted to the source of the voice. There, we saw Ligia and Luis walk in. The man seemed to have an air of pride looming over him. It was clear he wanted to show off."What's going on here? My fiancee told me you ladies have grown past throwing shades at each other, but it seems she made a mistake," Luis complained, his hands clasped in Rose's."I'm sorry, Mr. Lopez. Natalia insulted me, and I couldn't take it," Antonia whined like a child, stomping her feet on the ground.I felt Luis's lewd gaze on me. It was disgusting, but I had to endure and use it to my advan
Joyce's POV"Thank you very much for taking good care of Rafael. I'm truly grateful," I said, expressing my appreciation to the woman standing before me.She seemed pleased as she smiled sweetly. "You're welcome, Joyce. He's been a good boy since day one. Though he's a little naughty, like any kid his age, he's a bright child. The day he answered the teacher's question, I instantly knew he was quite brilliant and must have gotten it from his parent's good genes."I blushed hard as Adrian's face popped into my head."I guess so," I muttered, avoiding her gaze."Are you okay, mommy?" Rafael asked his innocent gaze on me."Of course, darling. I'm okay," I replied with a soft voice."But your face is all red," He retorted with a cute frown."Oh, is it? It must be the weather," I said. Let's go home.""Byee, Madame Pat," Rafael's babyish voice echoed through the room."Hahaha... Bye, Rafael," Madame Pat chuckled heartily, shifting her gaze to me. "Goodnight, Joyce.""Goodnight, Madame Pat.
Adrian's POV"Wow! Did you make some changes to this house?" my mom asked the moment we stepped out of the car.I nodded in reply. "Yes, I renovated it to suit my taste."A frown rested between her brows as her eyes scanned the entire surroundings. "I hope my room is still the same?""Yes, Mom. It's just as you left it—full of items you have yet to touch," I replied with a hint of sarcasm. Sebastian ensured the maid cleaned it up anytime she came to do her job.""Oh, is that so?" Her eyes lit up as she hastened her steps into the house.As usual, Sebastian was at the door waiting to welcome me.His eyes widened in surprise as he stared at my mother. "Madame Luisa, it's so lovely to see you again.""It's nice to see you again, Sebastian," my mother smirked. I can see you've gotten robust within the few years I was away.""Well, Master has been treating me well," Sebastian replied with sincerity dripping from his words."Hmm... He's quite a gentleman, isn't he?" my mother uttered mischi
Natalia's POVAfter Carmen and Ruiz left, Antonia never, for a second, stopped running her mouth. Even the others were getting tired of her boring, repetitive talk. Ligia kept busy on her phone while Sergio continued with his meal. All this time, Luis's gaze was lustfully fixed on me.It made me wonder whether Ligia was unaware of the kind of man she was engaged to or if she knew and was simply pretending to be blind to it. His persistent stare made my skin crawl; I needed to excuse myself.I stood up slowly from my seat, my eyes on Ligia. "Ligia, I need to use the restroom. Where is it?"She raised her head and pointed to her right. "The restroom is down the hall, second door on your left.""Thank you," I said in a low voice as I caught Luis's mischievous smirk. I felt he was up to something, but I dismissed it.I followed the directions and found the restroom designated for females. I pushed the door open and walked in.The restroom was spotless and had an automatic hand dryer, scen
Gabriel's POVI couldn't stop smiling gleefully as I watched Natalia go about her morning activities, humming a song known to her alone. She had arrived home last night, and had thankfully gone to bed without causing any scene.It could only mean she hadn't noticed the glitch in the system after Ivan had found a way to manipulate the cameras she installed in my office. Now,she wouldn't even notice when I leave the office,or stay out for too long.A light tap on my shoulder cut short my musings."Gabby, are you okay?" Natalia's voice rang in the silence.I nodded in reply. "Yes.""Are you sure? I know that look very well. Is there something I need to know? Are you hiding something from me my love?" she probed further."There's nothing, Natalia. I'm just thinking about how good today is going to be," I replied, trying to mask my excitement. “ Birds are chirping excitedly, the sun is shinning brightly and the wind is humming a beautiful tune.”She looked at me with deep skepticism. "Don
Elizabeth's POVThe previous incidents from the blind date kept replaying in my mind as I stood in the middle of the garden, enjoying the cool breeze, which soothed and comforted my aching heart.Javier had ensured he got rid of everything that might remind me of the pains, but it was inevitable. I didn't want to forget. I wanted to feel the pain, so it served as a reminder and fueled my resolve for revenge."Madame, breakfast is ready," came a female voice behind me, and I turned to respond."Wait a little bit, Jimena. Javier is on his way," I said. I want to have breakfast with him.""Okay, madame," Jimena replied with a bow.I gazed piercingly at her as she walked away. Though skeptical about getting a maid, I didn't know what I needed to do to ensure my well-being. Now, I was weighing the possibility of her being one of my pawns and allies, just like Javier.The doorbell ringing snapped me out of my thoughts, and moments later, Javier walked in."Elizabeth, how are you?" He asked
Joyce's POVThe day of the celebratory party crept up surprisingly fast. It took me almost an hour to select a suitable dress for the occasion. Even Rafael kept staring at me like I was a stranger.It was my first gathering in two years, so I needed to look my best. After much consideration, I finally settled for a navy blue tailored A-line dress with a fitted bodice and flared skirt that hit just above the knees. It had cap sleeves for added coverage.I slipped on my heels and grabbed a designer bag I had kept in my possession for a long time. I had purchased it with my money, so it felt comfortable to use.Standing in front of the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness."Yay, mommy, you look pweddy," Rafael complimented in his tiny voice, pointing at me with his chubby fingers.I turned to look at him. "I do?""Yeth, mommy," he replied, jumping up and giggling excitedly.I carried him up, kissing him lightly on his cheek."Thank you, darling," I whispere
Joyce's POV"Thank you, sir," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. I could tell my face was red because of the heat washing up from my neck. I couldn't believe I was blushing at a harmless compliment."You should get back to your table," Adrian said, pulling me from my trance. Embarrassment washed over me as I realized I’d been standing there staring at him for far too long.I walked back to my seat, cross-checking, proofreading, reviewing—anything I could do to keep myself busy until 12 p.m. I glanced occasionally at him, only to find his face buried deep in the documents on his table.'Rafael's father,' I said inwardly. It was such an irony—the same man Rafael was pestering me about. I felt the urge to walk to him and slap him in the face for forgetting me and leaving me alone with our child, but it wasn't going to make any sense.If I'd really wanted him to know, I should have mentioned it the first day I stepped into his office for the job interview.A knock on the door sn
Natalia's POV"What the hell is going on in this basement?" I grumbled, walking along the dingy hallway. Since I left Gabriel's mansion, I have gone into hiding, hoping the police wouldn't track me down. Anyway, I was hiding in the basement, but I kept having this feeling that something was going to go wrong.I hadn't seen Christina for days, not even Lionel. I made my way to the room Joyce was always held. My fingers hesitated on the rusted handle, a chill running down my spine.With a sharp push, the door creaked open, the sound cutting through the oppressive silence like a scream. Surprisingly,the chair was empty. Joyce wasn't where she used to be. The ropes used to tie her were dangling on the arms of the chair.“What the...?” I whispered, stepping into the room. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her but it was empty. I was stunned. I turned to leave and ended up bumping into someone."Ouch!" We groaned at the same time.I massaged my shoulders and raised my head
Gabriel's POV"Adrian is an ally now. Learn to respect that" I warned Ivan after Adrian and his friend had left."I know, but I'm finding it hard to do so" Ivan retorted. "Seeing his face reminds me of all the problems we faced in our company.""Those weren't his fault. We weren't competent enough" I explained. "We slacked off, remember?" The guilt gnawed at me, an ever-present reminder that I was part of the problem.Ivan sighed deeply. "Yes, sir. You're right," his gaze drifting towards the floor. "Good. Now, let's focus on finding the password to unlocking this file," I stated, my eyes on the computer.This was the first time I had actually laid a hand on it. She was always so very overprotective where her stuff was concerned, yet one more reason I wouldn't be trusting her anymore. I didn't."Check the hint," Ivan said, interrupting my thoughts.I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What hint?""The hint below the password box," Ivan replied, tapping the screen with his index finger,
Joyce's POVThe ride was silent. The fact that he was so clingy, even after I made it obvious that I didn't want him close to me, was so annoying that I wanted to puke. I wanted to be out of that space as soon as possible."When are we getting there?" I questioned with exasperation."When we get there," he replied with a playful smirk, obviously pleased by my discomfort. "Do I irritate you that much? You should get used to my presence because you'll be seeing me for a long time."Thinking about it made my gut churn. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, an embarrassing flush of anger and helplessness. I frowned. "What happened to handing me over to Natalia after everything is over?"Lionel leaned back, a calculated look in his eyes. "I'm quite unpredictable when it comes to deals. She broke one of the rules I love dearly," Lionel replied, his tone laced with mockery like that of an evil villain. "Right now, I see no reason why I should keep my own part of the deal."This man was
Madrileno's POV"Don't kill him. Burn him alive," I declared coldly, The men merely nodded, showed no hesitation, and pulled the bloodied, shaking figure from the ground. He whimpered, his lips working silent pleas, but I didn't bat an eye. Mercy wasn't currency I dealt in.Whoever dared to steal from me or betray me never saw the light of day. Yes, he was one of my closest men, but he had chosen to side with the enemy. Thanks to Barrio, we caught him sneaking out of the base with a large amount of our goods.Initially, I was furious, but I had come to understand that humans could be selfish. Selfish enough to sell their comrade off."Jefe, we've recovered the stolen goods," I heard Barrio say and I turned to him."And the enemies?" Barrio exhaled heavily. "We burned their base down, but a few of them managed to escape.""That's not my problem," I said coldly. " “Find them. All of them. If it takes their families to flush them out, so be it.”"Yes, big boss," Barrio said and turned
Joyce's POV"I want to see my son," I demanded my voice steady and unwavering. I waas determined to seemy son today no matter what.I had been waiting for when an opportunity would present itself to use his obsession to my advantage. I couldn't even tell the time I had spent in this room. It didn't help that I was stuck in one place. It was excruciatingly exhausting.The room felt stifling and claustraphobic—four white painted walls closing in on me. Time blurred into an eternal haze of waiting. The pain in my legs and back was a stark and constant reminder of where I was. I'd been eating, sleeping, then waiting again, my life going round in circles at one spot for what felt like an eternity. If I could see my son and take a walk outside, then I'd be a bit relieved."Your son, huh?" Lionel smirked, pretending to be thinking. His dark eyes glinted with satisfaction, like a predator toying with its prey. "Fine. You'll see him after agreeing to go out with me."The words sent a chill t
Adrian's POV"I can't believe I slept for this long," Miguel said, stretching his arms as he yawned loudly."You needed it, bro. You've tried a lot and I'm grateful," I sighed, leaning back in my chair.Well, after my conversation with Gabriel, I sat next to Miguel and watched as he slept like a baby."Oh, my goodness!" he exclaimed, rubbing his grumbling stomach. "I'm famished. Please tell me you thought ahead," he said sheepishly, rubbing his neck."I know, right?" I smirked, pushing one of the two white polythene bags beside me to him. "I ordered takeouts, and was waiting for you before having lunch.""Awwwnn..." Miguel drawled playfully. "How come I didn't know you cared this much about me? You’re too kind,” Miguel teased, batting his eyelashes dramatically.""You’ve got jokes, huh?” I shot back. “Eat your food before I hand it over to one of the officers outside.” I snarled.You wouldn't dare!" he exclaimed in mock horror. "I'm the brains of this operation-you'd be lost without
Lionel's POV"Dr. Mark, is there an alternative?" I asked, hoping for a positive answer.Mark shook his head with a somber look on his face. "The best I can do is to ensure she's only crippled; nothing else can be done. If it weren't for you, I would have called the police on whoever committed such an atrocious act.""Tch...that witch," I cursed. "Don't worry. I'll take care of her."Mark sighed and leaned back in his chair, his professional demeanor unshaken. "I'll try to communicate with some specialists who might be able to help. If I find anyone willing to take on her case, I’ll let you know.""Fine. Keep me posted," I said and stood up.Mark rose as well, escorting me to the door. Just as I was about to step out, he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Lionel, you should contact her family or send someone to check on her regularly. She’ll need support, and I doubt you’ll have the time to be there constantly,” he advised cautiously.I contemplated his words for a moment. Family? Support
Gabriel's POVFor the first time, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I've heard it happen to people, but now, I have experienced it myself. I actually thought he was going to kill me. Initially, I wanted death and could face it if it came, but when my life began to drain away, my survival instinct kicked in and I struggled helplessly.Thankfully, he had let me go and even as I slipped in and out of consciousness, I could see the nurses work quickly to place an oxygen mask on my face. The sterile, clinical smell was almost comforting in contrast to the fear that was suffocating me just moments before.But the fear only lasted briefly until confusion set in. I was baffled as it turned out that Joyce's bracelet, something I had never seen, was in my study. Except for the gifts I'd given her in the past that Natalia had hijacked, I didn't own anything that belonged to Joyce.How had it ended up in my home?I had to think and rethink again to clarify. Only concrete evidence could save me
LIONEL'S POV"Christina," I called out walking towards her, my nose twitching in disgust.The stench of blood was quite strong. Cuts and burns marred her once flawless skin, painting a grotesque picture of Sarah’s handiwork. Sarah had gone beyond the norms. I needed to teach her a lesson and set some boundaries. I understood I wasn't faithful, but this act was inhumane. "Christina," I called again, but still got no response.I picked up her wrist with my left arm and checked her pulse. Oh my God, it was so weak that I could hardly feel a thing.I grabbed her bloody chin to see her face clearly. Her swollen eyes were tightly shut, and blood streaked her cheeks. Her lips, cracked and pale, barely moved and I couldn't even feel air coming out of her nostrils."Christina," I called for the last time, and she stirred but her eyes remained shut.I turned sharply and barked. "Hey! Who’s outside? Someone get in here NOW!"Instantly, two men rushed in guns drawn as if ready for a fight. Their