Emily gulped because Harold was right, but she didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness. If he truly loved her, it would be bad for him to marry her while she couldn’t love him back.
“I can’t ….” She shook her head again. “Let’s not discuss it for now.” She was quiet for a while. “You are a kind man, Harold. I want you to be happy. I can’t marry you because I can’t love you back.”
He sighed because he truly expected her to accept his proposal, but she tried to be fair to him. So, he reached out his hand to hold hers and kissed the back of her hand.
“Baby, it’s okay if you haven’t loved me. I can live with that.”
“No, it’s unfair.” She insist
It was Friday night when Jacob got a call from his office janitor. He was at a gala dinner and already met with some prospective clients. They wanted to buy or rent various kinds of buildings.“Sir, we’re on fire!” The janitor was panicking. “Suddenly, there was a fire, and I already called the fire department. They’re on the way here.”“Okay,” Jacob said calmly. “Let me know if all is good. Good job of contacting the fire department!” Then he ended the call.Having a fire accident in summer was normal, so he thought a little about it. He would surely give the janitor a raise because he worked well.However, a half hour later, the janitor called again. “Sir, the firefighters are here, but the f
“Who?” Jacob creased his forehead.“Gwen Johnson, your ex-fiancee,” Harold said lightly. “She is no longer in the mental rehabilitation center.”“Ah, good for her if she has recovered.” Jacob was about to pass through Harold because he didn’t find any connection with him. However, he stopped because of Harold’s words.“Her first hello was the fire.” Harold chuckled because Gwen’s idea was splendid. “I guess you must admit she has a creative mind.” Then he walked away.Jacob turned his body to talk to Harold, but the man talked with someone else. He couldn’t make a fuss because they were at a gala dinner. Many people were near them too. Besides, he didn’t have any p
Jacob took the picture in his pocket to see Emily once again. She sat in a garden with a hand protectively on her stomach. She looked radiant and peaceful.He missed her more than he wanted to admit, but it was shocking to see her pregnant. Was Gwen right? Was Emily pregnant with another man’s baby? What if it’s his?His thumb caressed her face in the picture. Then he tried to analyze the surroundings. It could be everywhere because nothing was unusual he could recognize to help identify the place. However, his mind wandered to what Harold said.It was obvious Gwen and Harold knew each other. It was possible Gwen worked for Harold. Also, Emily used Montgomery’s Express on the day she ran away. Was Emily with Harold? Could it be that the baby was Harold’s?
The next day, Jacob asked his staff to go to the insurance company as they always paid the insurance. He also waited for Al to call him because he wanted to meet with Emily soon.When Al called, Jacob immediately picked it up. “Yes, Bro?”“After I checked again, the garden is a garden in Argentina, but the problem is it was an edited picture.”“What?!”“Both Emily’s picture and the garden picture are real, but they were mixed together.”Jacob blew his breath. “So, it’s enough to conclude Emily isn’t in Argentina.”“Yes, I don’t think she’s there. If she were there, they wouldn’t n
Harold held Emily’s hand, wiped her sweats, and let her squeeze his hand hard while she tried to labor.“You can do it!” he encouraged her.“Breathe, madam,” the doctor said.She followed what the doctor said. After an hour, finally, she could deliver Jason. A nurse helped to wrap the baby boy with a clean towel, then cleaned the blood and liquid from his body.After a half hour later, Emily could deliver Mia too. The baby girl didn’t breathe, and Emily thought she would lose her baby. The doctor pushed the baby’s chest a few times, and soon, Mia’s bawl filled the delivery room.Emily sobbed to see her baby girl could make it. Another nurse took care of Mia and
Harold froze to hear what Emily said. He didn’t expect her to say yes. In fact, he prepared himself to convince her with many things in the hope she would finally accept his proposal.Since he said nothing, she put her hand on his cheek. “Harold, what’s wrong? Did you hear what I said?”“I did.”“Say something.”He grinned, then bent his head forward and captured her lips in a tender kiss. “You make me the happiest man, baby.”“But I only agreed to what you said.” She bit her lower lip and whispered, “A fake marriage?” Her voice trembled as she was uncertain if it was what Harold truly asked.
Harold bent his head forward to whisper in Emily’s ear. “The woman who just left is classy. I’ll tell you the complete story later.”Emily nodded and smiled at her husband. She was curious but their marriage was just an arrangement for giving a public appearance. So she didn’t want to ask further. Yet, these women’s envy toward her was obvious.Before Emily could say something, a woman who sat next to Harold said, “Despite your being a married man, I wonder if we can still spend some time together.” She even dared to squeeze Harold’s thigh.He immediately stood. “Change seats with me, baby?” he whispered in Emily’s ear.Emily raised her eyebrow but did what he asked. The woman’s audacity
When they were already in the car, Emily leaned her head to the seat and closed her eyes because she was exhausted. Talking, smiling, and trying to bring herself as Harold’s wonderful wife was such a hard chore.She didn’t lie to the women when she said she was sure Harold was serious with her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t say yes to him. Yet, paying a role as his actual wife was draining.They sat on a limousine, and Tom, Harold’s driver, already set the car partition down so the newly wed could have privacy.She sighed because Harold’s hand massaged her shoulder. But then, when his hand moved to her bosom, she gulped.While holding his hand, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want this …. It’s
They didn’t explore Santorini further because they were too busy with each other. A week passed swiftly, and they only spent most of their time in the hotel room.She giggled and shook her head. “What should we tell Mom and Dad if they asked what we did on our honeymoon?”“They won’t ask because they once were young too.” He chuckled.“But we must bring some souvenirs for them and also for the children. I also want to buy something for Pauline. You, too, should buy something for Al.”He closed his eyes, pretending to let out a sigh, but then he opened his eyes again and grinned. “Fine! Let’s hunt for the gifts!”Later, Nikos drove them to Fira, the capital of S
They finished the ceremonies, and some guests already left because they would have a wedding reception at Hoffner’s Hotel. Jacob booked the hotel for the reception, and Samuel gave him a special price.They met with Samuel and Amy’s children: Shane, Melanie, Sammy, and Vivi. Later, the children played with Jason and Mia.Amy hugged her distant cousin. “Congratulations on your wedding.”“Thanks, Amy.” Then she whispered, “At first I was insecure with you since I knew Jacob still loved you. But now, I know he already got over it.”Amy shook her head and smiled. “He didn’t have any feelings left for me.” Then she whispered, “Look how he stares at you? It’s the sign of a man who loves h
The musician played the hymn “Amazing Grace”. It was the sign for the wedding ceremony to begin.Elsa nodded at Mia. “It’s your time, sweetheart.”The little one smiled and nodded. “Yes, Grandma.” She walked to the back of the aisle then started stepping forward through it by spreading the flower petals, following the song.The guests smiled to see the adorable little girl. Jason, who glanced at his sister, also raised his thumb and smiled to support her. Mia kept smiling and looked to the right and left as she walked and spread the flower petals.After the song finished, it changed to another song “Second Chance” by Trisha Yearwood. It was a song that Pauline chose because she knew what the wedding meant
When seeing the ladies, Jimmy, Jacob’s driver, smiled and opened the limousine door for them. Meanwhile, Jacob, Al, Jason, and Daniel were already waiting at church.All the Cleaner Gold leaders were there. Some of Jacob’s staff from JJ’s Properties were there too.Jacob and Al stood outside of the church on a terrace. They could see the parking lot and the church door clearly from their place.He glanced at his wrist many times to see the time. Then he gazed at the parking lot to see no limousine had already arrived. Later, he took a deep breath to calm himself.Al chuckled and shook his head to see his friend’s obvious nervousness. “She’ll be here soon. Don’t worry, Bro!”&ldq
A week swiftly went by like flying as they were busy with the wedding preparation. Finally, it was four a.m. on the wedding day.Two makeup artists and a hairdresser already arrived at Emily’s house. They prepared the living room for working.Now, they were busy putting makeup on Emily, Pauline, Elsa, and also Mia. For Mia, the makeup artist only applied powder and lip gloss because Emily didn’t want her daughter to put on makeup while the little girl was still too young for that.Two hours later, the hairdresser and makeup artists finished their work. They left the house and went to the church because they prepared if anyone needed a makeup or hairstyle redo. It was because Jacob wanted everything to be perfect today.Then Elsa and Pauline helped
Emily stared at Jacob and the ring. She bit her lower lip because she didn’t know what to say.Jacob took a deep breath because he wasn’t ready to accept a refusal. Then he forced a smile. “It’s okay if you don’t want to marry me now. Maybe you want to enjoy your time alone first.”But then Emily shook her head. “No.” She held both of his hands. “I want to make you the happiest man, Jacob. So, it’s a yes.”Jacob immediately stood and put the ring on her finger. Then he kissed her lips and hugged her tightly.He laughed and shook his head. “I thought you would say no. I don’t know what I would do if you refused me.”She giggled and cupped his f
Jacob, Jason, and Mia went to a Chinese food bistro. Jacob already ordered by phone various dumplings for them all, wonton soup for Jason, then salt and pepper chicken, stir-fried beef with ginger, Peking duck, and seafood fried noodles.The service was fast. After they arrived, in five minutes, all the food was served. Mia frowned because she didn’t have the wonton soup either.“Dad?”“Yes, sweetheart?”“Why I don’t get the soup?”“It’s because your brother has a cold. Do you want the soup?”The little girl glanced at Jason’s bowl and nodded. So Jacob raised his hand.
Soon after the meeting ended, Jacob entered a room next to the meeting room and pressed the button from Harold three times.Then, after a minute, Harold called him. “Well?”“We have agreed. The offer is fifty trillion with fifty years of credit and a trillion of payment each year and a trillion for the down payment,” Jacob said.Harold whistled to hear the number, but he knew with various businesses the Gold Cleaner had, fifty trillion was a reasonable price. “Anyone in your team want to enter our boat?”“Nope, they are happy with us.” He was smiling when saying it. “So, it will be purely a facility, land, building, systems, and the networks we will sell and transfer to you.”
Warning: violent scene. Please proceed with precautions for readers sensitive to violent scenes.“You called him too, Al?” Jacob asked. “I also called him back then, but he didn’t pick up the call nor called me back either.” He let out a sigh. “Now we know why.”Al said nothing, but his eyes glared at Stanley. It was an unforgivable act because Stanley’s betrayal cost Art’s life.Jacob’s eyes were chilly when he gazed at Stanley. “You told us earlier that Gold Cleaner is your family and will stay like that. You even said you didn’t want to work under Montgomery and the Silent Syndicate.” Then Jacob added slowly to emphasize his words, “Now we all know it’s all just bullshit!”