LAURA'S POV"Thanks for informing me, Julie," Kora thanked her, as she made her way into the gym with her hands in the pockets of her pants."I have some business to take care of, girls," Julie announced and walked out immediately."Kora..." I murmured."Don't talk to me, Laura..." she whispered, and I bit my lower lip in guilt when I heard her voice breaking at the edge."I'm sorry," I whispered as tears rolled from my eyes, wetting my hands."No, you're not. If you were, you wouldn't hide your pain from me when all my life I've shared mine with you," she sobbed."Kora, please..." I pleaded weakly."This is not over," she muttered as she helped treat my knuckles."Ouch... slow down," I moaned in pain."Are you trying to remind me that I dropped out of med school?" she exclaimed, and I stared at her in shock. It was something she would always say when we bantered words in the past."When did I say that?" I inquired, and she smirked."Patients are not supposed to complain. You're only
LAURA'S POVThroughout our ride to the airport, my heart squeezed in hurt as I looked out of the windows.'She thinks I'm jealous of her and her daughter? Why would I even...' I mumbled under my breath, as I rubbed my forehead and bit my lower lip in annoyance.When we got down to board the flight, that's when I realized we were going to the city I had just left. Why didn't Trenton mention this?"Rich city?" I inquired, and he sighed softly."We are actually going after Mr. Viktor, a young politician who happens to be one of the members of the group we are up against," he began."Oscar believes Viktor is a very smart man and must hold a top rank in the gang, one of the reasons why Blake would keep him close to his dirty secrets," he explained, and I suddenly became more interested.After all, this was the first time we were having a conversation where we weren’t biting each other's heads off.'If we are not mistaken, we feel the headquarters in Rich City is the biggest they have. Coul
BRYAN'S POVMy mind has been wandering ever since we arrived, especially when Jacob informed me about our fake marriage. How do I pretend to love a woman that messed up my life, our life?Jacob's younger sister, Berna, decided to see me off to our so-called room. When she left, she was the first to go in. I walked in, and she closed the door.She was acting very awkward the entire time, like right now, she just stopped walking. I walked past her and sat on the bed.I started going through my stuff. When I looked up and noticed her standing, I frowned."Go freshen up," I instructed without glancing in her direction."You go first," she responded immediately, and I rubbed my face. What gives her the impression that she can even tell me what to do? But you told her what to do first, my mind mocked."Look, we don't have time to start this cat and mouse fight, Laura," I snapped angrily, and she looked away as she pulled her stuff to the wardrobe.That's what I hate about her. She's the typ
LAURA'S POVHow could he be so mean to me? I felt it, the coldness in his voice as he snapped at me.Did I really damage him this much? I didn't want anything, just a shirt.Walking into the bathroom, and after I was done, I wore one of the simple dresses Jacob had bought."Nuella, darling, we have been waiting for you to join us, sweetheart," Jacob's mom exclaimed excitedly."Is that Mr. Elroy's wife? She's so beautiful. I'm Lora, Jacob's fiancée," the beautiful lady introduced herself and hugged me in excitement."Hi," I muttered, suddenly not liking the attention I was getting from everyone."You're scaring the innocent girl, Lora," Elise pointed out, and Lora blushed in embarrassment."No, it's okay," I replied, and she squealed."See, Nuella doesn't mind. You guys look so cute together," she chimed excitedly.Surprisingly, the family said grace, after which everyone decided to dig into their food. Everything was surprisingly delicious.I was worried about Bryan, wondering if he c
LAURA'S POV"Ahhhn," my head hurts so bad. I rolled on the bed and landed butt first on the floor."Shit," I cursed under my breath as I rubbed my arms.I stood up from the bed, and my eyes widened as I stared at it, then at my dress. How did I get to the bed? I wondered, staring at the bed in confusion.I rubbed my head as my mind went back to last night, remembering how I felt him carry me in his strong arms.This is so embarrassing. How am I going to face him now? First, I raised that skimpy nightwear in front of him, and now I let him carry me.You were asleep. It's not your fault, my mind reminded, and I sighed in relief.I quickly freshened up and changed into a pair of jeans and a formal shirt, paired with shoes."Good morning," I greeted, and he glanced at me, then back at his phone."Good morning. Everyone has gathered for breakfast already; we should go down," he replied, and I nodded.I was already in front of the door when he called my name. "Laura..." I stopped and turned
LAURA'S POVWhy is he staring at me like that? I wondered. Was it just my thoughts, or has Bryan been staring at me ever since he entered this house?I hope he hasn't found another reason to start a fight with me. I've done nothing wrong. I pulled my dress down a bit but stopped myself immediately. What's the use of pulling my dress down?It's not like I'm dressed in an indecent manner, I thought with a frown on my face. As I tried to leave the room, he cleared his throat, which made me halt my steps immediately."Come over here," his voice called out to me. Ever since I hurt him, he's distanced himself, even his emotions."Huh?" I replied immediately as I got to where he was seated."How was your first day? What did you encounter at the mansion?" He inquired professionally."Nothing much everything was pretty normal. Even the head maid was pretty nice. According to her, the boss doesn't come over that much, but he comes by whenever he wants to," I explained, and he pinched the bridge
BRYAN'S POV"How was work?" Jacob inquired as he blew out the smoke from his cigarette in his room."I met Viktor, and trust me, the guy knows I can be used to his advantage. He mentioned something about me gaining his trust," I responded, and he smirked."Good one. I feel we are playing our cards right, but even at that, we need to make sure he trusts you soon. That's the easiest way we can get the information we need," he remarked and drank from his glass of wine."Is it really necessary for her to work at his mansion?" I questioned, and Jacob turned in my direction."Is there something you're not telling me? I see the way you look at her, Bryan. I thought you had a fiancée," Jacob teased."It's complicated. Laura and I used to have something in the past, and... she broke up with me," I confessed, trying to control my emotions."That's sad," Jacob muttered as he poured wine into his glass."She doesn't feel the same way for me, I guess. It's my fault that, after all these years, my
LAURA'S POV"Rest," his words echoed in my ears as I glared at the door where he had just exited.How could he be so arrogant?And his shirt... I frowned as I raised it, staring at it and then back at the door he had just left through.My mind wandered to the way he peeled the shirt from his body... his biceps and abs."Fuck," I cursed under my breath, rubbing my face in frustration. I managed to take a shower, and when I walked out of the bathroom in my robe, he was sitting on the bed, drinking coffee."You haven’t left for work?" I inquired, folding my arms."I'm making sure you arrive safely before I leave," he responded, and I scoffed immediately."That's not necessary, Mr. Finch. We are only business partners, and I can take care of myself," I remarked, and he smirked."I can see that," he commented mockingly, and I knew he was referring to the bathroom incident. I ignored him as I strolled toward the wardrobe and picked out my outfit for the day."I made you breakfast," he infor
LAURA'S POV We returned to the city after that weekend, and the whole family was happy about the news, especially his mom and friends. The plans for our wedding went on with full force. Bryan and I wanted something simple, by the sea with family and friends, that was it. A few days before my wedding, I noticed I was seriously sick. I couldn't eat anything because the moment it got in my stomach, I threw it all up. I couldn't even leave the bed. Bryan was out of the country with Oscar for business otherwise, he would be worried sick. "Babe, get off the bed, we are supposed to go cake tasting today," Kora complained. "I can't... I feel so weak... my boobs ache a bit, they feel so full..." I murmured weakly. "What?" Julie inquired, and I rubbed my forehead. "Have you eaten something? Besides, you're burning up pretty badly." "I throw up the minute it gets in my stomach," I replied, and she gasped. "When was the last time you saw your periods?" she probed, and I stared at her. "I
BRYAN'S POV It's been two weeks since the incident with Mikoy and the rest. Laura hasn't been herself, she's been quiet, and the nightmares have moved to a whole new level. It hurt me because it felt like the devil still controlled her happiness from the land of the dead. She has been seeing a therapist, and we are hoping for positive results. I just want my woman to be okay, and maybe a change of environment for a while would help, I thought calmly. "What are you thinking about?" she inquired while walking into our room. It's crazy how I went into a state of confusion when I found out Ruby was not mine. I did a DNA test and I'm waiting for the results. "About you, about us... I think we need space from everything, love," I stated, and she looked at me in confusion as I held her hand. "Let's go out of the country for a while," I suggested, and she stared at my face. "But what about our daughter...?" she trailed off, and my heart warmed at her ability to always create spa
AUTHOR'S POINT OF VIEW "Sylvia didn't commit suicide. The annoying thing is the fact that she was murdered right under our nose," Oscar declared angrily as he fixed his tie. "Who killed her then?" Chase inquired as he took a drag from his smoke. "Her former boss," he replied, rubbing his forehead. "Madam Valencia?" Bryan cursed under his breath as he looked away. How she managed to get her men into the estate was definitely something to worry about. "She didn't send her men, she paid one of our men to do it, then sent a letter of apology after her job was done," Oscar responded as he threw the envelope. "And the fucker that betrayed us?" Bryan inquired. "Nowhere to be found for now. I think he went into hiding." "I always knew she wasn't stupid enough to take her own life. Too bad her past came back at her," Trenton commented, shaking his head. "Enough of Sylvia. Tonight is Cindy's party. Everyone must stick to the plan. I want this over. I've had enough of their madness," B
LAURA'S POVBryan smiled softly as he looked in my direction. I returned the same hearty smile to him.The meeting moved from dinner to the discussion of our plans and how things would be done."Cindy is already a fool right now when it comes to me, so letting me into her party is gonna be the easiest thing to do," Trenton spoke up, telling us his plan."So Laura is gonna be the bait?" Bryan inquired immediately after I came into the picture."It's a brilliant idea," I uttered before he would say no."Brilliant idea? My love, you can't face that bastard. Remember how it turned out the last time?" He questioned, concern written all over his face."How long will I keep running, love? It's high time I face my past and put an end to Mikoy once and for all, so I'm in," I declared firmly, and he sighed softly without saying anything else.He was angry, but I'd deal with his drama later. We can't add that to the list of our numerous problems.Trenton chipped in, "This time around, we have to
BRYAN'S POVThey used to have a romantic relationship in the past? If it really isn't something to be worried about, why didn't she tell me? I wondered as I ran my fingers through my hair with a frown on my face."Don't tell me you're still thinking about that stuff," Trenton nudged me on the arm as we walked toward our rooms."I can't help myself," I replied, and he chuckled."Talk to her, then. Don't let doubt creep in. This is the time when you both need each other the most, man," he urged, and I nodded as he walked in the opposite direction.I walked to my room, and there she was, in her nightwear with Ruby in her arms."Hey, love," she greeted with a bright smile on her face.I couldn't return the smile, though, even if I tried, my mind kept going back and forth."My crown," she called, and I sighed softly."Why didn't you tell me you used to have a past with Cris?" I inquired, and she turned to me in confusion."Are we still talking about him, love? I told you, there's no need t
LAURA'S POV"He asked about Cris," I told my best friend, and Kora stared at me."And what did you tell him?" she questioned while folding some clean towels."Nothing, I didn't tell him. What would I have told him?" I frowned, even the thought kept a rotten feeling in my stomach."At least, Cris used to work for you, so he would let it slide. You don't know how men can be," she chuckled."Cris used to like me so much, there was a time we even kissed, like, made out," I said, scratching my neck nervously."Wait, did you guys sleep together?" she exclaimed, her jaw literally dropping."No, no, bestie, what would make you even think that?" I replied, and she raised both hands in surrender."Don't blame me, baby girl, that guy is smoking hot..." She trailed off."Plus, you guys used to make out in the past," she teased, and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment."Kora..." I whined, and she burst out laughing."Chill, it was in the past. Bryan also had a relationship with Sylvia, they even
AUTHOR'S POV"Is he okay?" Diane inquired, as she rubbed her arms softly."Mom, you need to calm down, please. At least eat something, Bryan wouldn't like to see you in this condition," Stephanie complained, as she hugged her mother closely."I can't eat with all those pipes connected to his body. I'm so scared, I can't lose any of my children," she voiced her fear."Bryan is a fighter, he'll be fine. Just be strong," Stephanie assured her mommy, and she nodded slowly.She had to be strong for her children. Bryan wasn't going to die on her, and that's one thing she strongly believed, even as fear gnawed at her."Hello, ma'am, the lady is awake," one of the nurses reported."Laura is awake, Mother," Stephanie exclaimed happily and left with the nurse to Laura's ward.Laura's eyes fluttered open for the second time, she closed them immediately due to how the bright lights burned her eyes.She opened them again and winced at how sore her body felt, her throat dry and her head hurt."Brya
LAURA'S POVBryan has been the sweetest since I woke up. I was strangely craving noodles, so I asked him to make me some.He stared at me in amusement because noodles weren't something I craved on a normal day. But he left to make me some, after which I invited him to join me.We ended up eating together, and his phone rang in the middle of the meal. I stared at him curiously as he picked up.He looked shocked about whatever he heard at the other end because he started talking in monosyllables.Something told me deep down that something was off."Huh..." He trailed off and stopped himself from continuing."I need to go," he announced immediately after he hung up the call."Go where? It's evening, and I want you here with me," I replied, and he bit his lower lip."It's very important, baby, but I promise I will be fine," he expressed, and I sighed."At least tell me where you're going, I don't feel too good," I complained."Maybe you're worrying too much," he mentioned and kissed my fo
BRYAN'S POV"How is she doing now? Is she okay?" Her best friend Kora inquired as she rushed into my room where Laura lay unconscious on the bed.We moved her to my place after the doctors were done with the most important treatment."She's still unconscious, but the doctor assured us she's out of danger," I responded, and she heaved a sigh of relief."Glad to hear that. I was worried when they told me what happened," she remarked, and I smiled."I caused it though, I made things worse," I mumbled, and she chuckled."Oh c'mon, it's not easy to be with Mikoy in one space and not want to end his life, not after everything he put our girl through," she said, and I pressed my lips tightly together."Be careful, Bryan. I know Laura would want this fight to end with everyone alive," she commented, and patted my back."I will come to check up on her again. Yvonne is awake," she informed me, and I murmured an okay."Everything is complicated, Cindy is part of Mikoy's team, meaning they planne