Rowan was taken aback by Maria's words, her mind reeling with disbelief. She had to ask for confirmation, hoping against hope that it was all a misunderstanding. "Is David... at home this morning?" she inquired, her voice trembling.Maria nodded, her eyes widening with surprise. Breaking free from her usual reticence, she spoke hurriedly. "Yes, madam. He's been here since morning. I was just as shocked as you are. He hasn't been home for weeks, and he rarely spends a night here. He even mentioned wanting mung bean porridge, but he only had a little... By the way, madam, would you like some before you go out?"Rowan shook her head, still trying to process the unexpected revelation. "No, thank you. I'll have it in the evening," she managed to reply, her voice barely above a whisper."Alright," Maria responded, her earlier question forgotten.But Rowan couldn't let go of what she had just heard. She asked Maria if everything she had said was true, still struggling to believe it."Yes, ma
As David's voice seductively whispered into Rowan's ear, she instinctively pushed him away, unsettled by his words and the sudden proximity, unsure of their meaning.When Rowan lifted her gaze and glared at David, she discovered him looking at her calmly. In his dark and profound eyes, she sensed a myriad of emotions, yet they remained still, devoid of any movement.Suddenly, Rowan snapped out of her daze, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her, and David reverted to his usual self – cold and unyielding as ice."I already warned you long ago, when you married me, not to expect anything from me besides the title of Mrs. Thompson. How could you forget?" David's words pierced through Rowan, causing her to bite her lip, refusing to utter a single word.Unfazed, David continued, "This afternoon, I signed a contract with your company. If you unilaterally fail to uphold the agreement, not only will the company suffer misfortune, but you will also be required to pay a hefty sum
Rowan was only seven years old when she met David during a school holiday. It was a day like any other, with Rowan heading towards the playground when tCSMee troublemaking boys suddenly appeared. They taunted her, calling her names and pushing her to the ground. Tears streamed down Rowan's face as she feared what might happen next. But just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, David came to her rescue, fearlessly standing up to the bullies and defending her.If David hadn't shown up when he did, Rowan shuddered to think what might have befallen her. The boys could have left their cruel marks on her, as they often did. But David's timely intervention saved her from further harm.Sadly, that fateful day marked the end of their time together at that school during the holidays. However, after much searching, Rowan eventually discovered that the boy who had come to her aid went to a school just a couple of streets away. He was known for his outstanding academic achievements and
At that moment, Rowan and Rolland stood there, determined to find a way to clear her name. Suddenly, an idea came to Rolland's mind."Rowan, why don't you talk to David? He witnessed how Mr. Johnson tried to force himself on you, and he might help. Besides, he publicly declared you as his partner," Rolland suggested. However, Rowan shook her head, recalling how David had mistreated her the previous night."Let's find another solution," Rowan muttered.So Rowan and Rolland continued discussing for a while, trying to find a solution to their problem. But when they couldn't come up with any answers, they decided to return to work for now and brainstorm a solution later.As they made their way back to their office department, even though it wasn't yet time to resume work and there wasn't much to do, several staff members in their department gathered in the rest area. They stood close together, whispering, their eyes fixed on the TV screen."Wow, isn't David Thompson the president of The O
Chapter 28: Not by the Donavon FamilyThe day after David's father's visit, Ava received a call from her husband, David. His voice on the phone was filled with cynicism and hostility."Rowan, I underestimated you. So, you went to ask for help from my father, hoping he would become your lobbyist, didn't you?" David said, his words laced with sarcasm."It seems I've been too lenient with you before, which has only made you more aggressive! Let me make it clear, asking anyone for help is pointless. Since you don't like it, then let's do things my way and get a divorce," he snapped, not giving Rowan a chance to explain, and abruptly hung up the phone.Rowan felt utterly helpless and a wave of unease washed over her. She couldn't comprehend why David was so furious, or what his father had told him to elicit such a reaction. She had no idea what David would do next, and the uncertainty left her wondering if she could handle his upcoming actions.Her anxiety didn't last long because David's
Arriving at the company, David was greeted by scorching heat and an empty building, with only a handful of people around. Suddenly, the Vice President rushed towards him, accompanied by a group of individuals, creating an atmosphere of inspection.David cast an annoyed glance at Richard, his personal assistant. He had asked him to find someone, but instead, Richard had managed to gather a bunch of lackeys.Just as David was about to speak, the Vice President cut him off abruptly."Mr. David, please hold your thoughts for a moment. We are prepared to cater to your every need and provide you with utmost entertainment.""I didn't come here to be entertained. This is a personal matter," David replied curtly and rudely. The man didn't dare to show anger; instead, he continued to wear a smile and accompany David."Anything concerning you is our top priority. We can arrange anything you desire, and we'll give it our best effort," the Vice President reassured, speaking in a hushed tone. "Rega
While driving back from the hospital, Rowan's parting words echoed relentlessly in David's mind. Her declaration that she wouldn't allow her friends to bow before him, as he didn't deserve it, weighed heavily on his thoughts.As they neared their destination, David turned to Richard and abruptly gave him instructions. "Investigate that man thoroughly. I want to know everything about him."Richard was taken aback, momentarily stunned by the sudden demand. He mustered his words cautiously and asked, "Mr. David, what exactly am I investigating?"David, without uttering a word, cast a sidelong glance at Richard, implying that he should be aware of the significance behind his request.Richard, growing more persistent, pressed on. "Mr. David, I need some direction. Are you interested in delving into the past affairs of your wife, or are you seeking information about her current relationships?"With an icy expression and a disdainful tone, David retorted, "Focus on the past—every detail of h
David slowly regained consciousness, and his eyes fluttered open, only to be met with a shocking sight. He found himself lying naked, and next to him, peacefully sleeping, was Flora. Instantly, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he hastily removed the quilt covering his body. His heart raced as he realized he was only wearing his pants.His mind filled with a whirlwind of confusion and questions, wide-eyed and startled, David tapped Flora gently, hoping to wake her up without revealing his surprise. Flora rubbed her eyes, her expression feigning innocence and surprise as she looked at David, ready to greet him. However, he couldn't shake off the urgency within him."What happened between us?" David asked, his voice trembling with anxiety. He needed answers, he needed to understand how they had ended up in this intimate situation.Flora looked at him, her eyes widening in surprise. "What are you talking about, David? Don't you remember how you took my virginity last night?"Her words h
Instantly, the air around David crackled with tension. He swiftly shed his suit, the fabric feeling heavy in his trembling as he handed it over to Richard, who felt like crying at the back of his boss—this was all his boss had been working for in the past few months: to have Miss Rowan to himself finally, without fear of Flora hurting her again. Just then, James' phone buzzed, interrupting the silence that engulfed the atmosphere. Seeing the caller, James picked up at once. "Hello, babe," James said into the phone, drawing curious glances from David and Richard. To them, only Rowan would receive such a nickname. Seeing their suspicious gazes, he switched the phone to loudspeaker. "Hi, Naomi, you can speak now," James invited. "Miss Rowan has been rushed to the hospital. She's unable to fly; she started having contractions before she entered the plane," Naomi informed them. Before James could reply, David snatched the phone from his hands. "Miss Naomi, this is her husband at the ho
The room was alive with happiness as Flora jubilated, knowing that in a few hours, every TV station and blogger would be buzzing about her wedding to David Thompson, the president of the Oregon group of companies."As the heiress of Seraphims Holding, I only deserve the best," Flora declared from where she lay on the bed, with Andrew planting kisses on her neck and along her jawline."You know I will compensate you handsomely. I panicked when I found out David had regained his memory but didn't want me anymore. I thought everything was over, after years of patiently waiting," Flora confessed, a smile playing on her lips."I've told you that you don't have any problems. Since you've opened up to me about your true feelings and that it's me you love, and only his money you desire, since you've promised that it's my child you'll carry in his house, then I don't have any issues. The wedding is set to proceed, and in a few hours, you'll be Mrs. Thompson officially, but inwardly, you'll be M
It had been a few days, and tension hung thick in the air as Steve returned to James's house to deliver his response. The silence that filled the room was deafening, each breath heavy with anticipation. Jessica, though she thought she was prepared for any outcome, couldn't help but rub her hands together nervously. Ryan, sensing the tension, rested his head on her lap, his instincts picking up on the palpable anxiety swirling around them. "So, brother, have you finally made your decision?" James asked, his tone harsh yet tinged with regret. In the past few days, he had come to realize that his emotions had clouded his judgment. He understood that everything Steve had done was out of love for him — Steve didn't want him to lose the love of his life, just as James had lost his. It was this realization that had prompted James to allow Steve to make his own decision, even if it meant James would have to bear the pain of parting with his brother, if only for a while. "Yes, kid brother,"
What?" David's father asked, surprised by his son's allegations. "Dad, answer me. Are you involved with her too?" David demanded. "No, I'm not. And I'm disappointed that you would think so little of your father," David's father said. "I don't care, Dad. If she knows something about you significant enough to trade for my safety, then it must be substantial, and I need to know about it today," David said defiantly "Sit down, and I will tell you everything," David's father said. Reluctantly, David slumped into the chair, his anger palpable, emanating from him like a dark cloud. "Firstly, I discovered the kind of person Flora was after you started seeing her. Knowing how much you love her compelled me to dig deeper. I didn't want you to end up with the wrong woman. After finding out that she was involved with different men, I decided to confront her myself instead of letting you do it. During our conversation, she confessed that her uncle had forced her into those situations and that
"What do you mean, David? It was the marriage certificate we both signed, isn't that what we both wanted back then? Just because you didn't have the memory doesn't change the fact that your mother is aware of it, and a mother can't lie," Flora's voice came over the phone, her tone laced with frustration and desperation. She wasn't even attempting to come to David's house, realizing she had nothing left to lose."Flora, even if it is true, I don't want this marriage anymore. We have to annul the certificate," David stated firmly, using a word he never wanted to utter."What? David, are you trying to use me and then discard me? We've been dating for almost seven years. Now you don't want me anymore, and you didn't consider the repercussions it will have on my family and me, on the company, on everyone who believed we would end up together... I won't force you, David, but think about the consequences. We are legally married starting next week. If we don't announce it publicly, I don't kn
Naomi could only hum softly as she listened to Rowan's teasing remarks. Bending down, she reached for the coffee cups placed in front of them, an order she had made for both of them. Savoring the warmth, she took a delicate sip before carefully placing the cup back on the table.Inwardly, Naomi grasped the subtle undertones of Rowan's words. Since meeting James, she felt a shift within herself, a desire to embody qualities that might earn his admiration. But could she confide in Rowan that the catalyst for her change was the very man who harbored feelings for her?"Miss Rowan, I can't say there's any love involved. Let's just say someone's critique nudged me towards self-improvement," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Rowan's gentle smile lingered, leaving Naomi to ponder if her response had hit the mark."You know, being challenged by someone and feeling compelled to better oneself because of them, well, it's akin to love. You might not realize it now, but soon enough
Before James exited the hospital, he had arranged to meet Naomi, only to hear the distressing news that she was banned from leaving the house. Naomi, a pivotal figure in her father's company, had inadvertently stirred up trouble by being seen at clubs, inviting scrutiny from shareholders and adding pressure to her father's plate. She was slated to marry into another wealthy family to enhance the company's stature. James, though conflicted, found himself driving toward Naomi's house despite his vow to stay away and avoid complicating matters for both families. The prospect of being desired by Naomi's father for his daughter weighed heavily on him, even as he questioned his own intentions. Arriving at the grand mansion, James couldn't help but admire the exquisite taste of Naomi's father. The meticulously landscaped gardens, the elegant architecture both inside and out, and the grandeur of the estate left James in awe, despite his familiarity with opulent surroundings. "It seems I'll
David's desperate calls echoed in the air, chasing after Rowan who seemed to be slipping away from him. The tears streaming down her face mirrored the storm of emotions raging within her. The weight of reality crashed upon her, a cruel revelation that left her heart shattered. The love she thought would one day be hers had been claimed, sealed, and signed on a marriage certificate.Her steps quickened, driven by a mix of anguish and fear. She wished she could stop, and gather herself, but the intensity of her emotions made it impossible to fake composure. The fear of David thinking she was running away from his happiness gnawed at her, yet the pain of witnessing the love of her life marrying someone else was unbearable.Lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts and the ache in her chest, Rowan's misstep jolted her back to reality. Her leg collided with an obstacle, threatening to send her crashing to the ground. Just as she teetered on the edge of falling, a strong hand encircled her, savi
Three agonizing days had crawled by since Rowan left David's house. The deafening silence hung heavy in her heart as she resisted the urge to reach out to him or answer his father's calls. Flora's mysterious behavior and her cousin's news about an award only added to the tumult of emotions swirling within her. The absence of David was a constant ache, the void left by his departure filled with memories that refused to fade. Today found Rowan grappling with the challenges of the IT department at the hospital, a temporary distraction from the emotional turmoil. As she navigated the hospital corridors, a man emerged from a ward—discharged after six months of battling mental illness triggered by a traumatic accident. His struggle mirrored Rowan's own internal conflict. The man, seemingly normal at times but haunted by bouts of lunacy, resonated with her. What gripped her most was the unwavering love poured onto him by his family, clinging to the hope of his eventual restoration, even in