"Ericka," they called out. They couldn't believe the words she uttered earlier before Jenna held onto her two hands, acting like the goodie goody two shoes.
"Sissy, what are you talking about? Madison is just joking," she said, acting like she was consoling her step sister. She even managed to embrace her into a hug despite not wanting to do so in the first place.
Meanwhile, rationality left Ericka and all that was left to drive her right now was the unbearable pain she was feeling.
She tried to act with a firm tone and gulped several times before speaking again.
"There's no use in forcing ourselves into an arranged marriage. If Jenna loves Shawn then why don't the two of you just get married? I know for sure that you two will fit perfectly and…" she paused for a second, tears welling up to her eyes. She bit her lip before adding, "Shawn, I don't mind even if you marry her."
"What?" Ericka replied, her forehead knitting. It was obvious that she was starting to get annoyed at him. However, deep within her was a broken heart.Is this man seriously looking at her as though he is hurt with her words or is he just playing with her emotions to play along with this pretend marriage?"You are lucky, I can still control myself," the man replied, which made her raise one of her eyebrows. What is this man talking about? He is like someone threatening her and for what exactly?Just as blood started to rise to her head, she couldn't help but taunt him."Why? Are you planning to do something?" she asked, retorting his statement. She wanted to let out all the frustrations building up inside of her."I'm sure, you are not going to like it," Shawn replied and immediately made her stop. The thought of her daughter suddenly flashed through her head as
Truth be told, he was only fantasizing about this in their younger years but now, they're already engaged with one another."Soon, Dude," he replied afterwards.His fianceé Ericka might seem to dislike the idea of marriage between the two of them right now but he knows he can persuade her enough that she'll slowly open her heart to him."What a gaping smile you have there, do you like her?" Nick asked, which made him stop for a moment.His question was so sudden that he didn't know how to reply. However, his face says it all even if he doesn't directly tell him."I know that smile you got there, Dude. There's no use staying silent," his friend teased before his eyebrows raised up and down. "Did you just come from his office?" Nick added, after a while, pointing towards his disappearance earlier."Yes, I did," Shawn shortly replied. He leane
"Yes, you did. I've always remembered it since we've been friends since we were in elementary school. You were only a few years older than her," Nick reminded him, which made him knit his forehead."Excuse me, Dude. We're only a year older than her," he corrected, which made his friend pause for a second and bursted out laughing. He can sense how Shawn tried to emphasize on the age gap pertaining that they were not that old from the woman he loves."Whatever, I only saw photos of her before," Nick retorted after a long while and then shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure, she'll be more beautiful now," he added, which made him smile."Yes, she is indeed," he replied, the genuine smile flashing through his lips was an obvious indication of his infatuation over her.Just as they were having a good conversation talking about Ericka, the door suddenly swung open after three knocks and a person came in
"Caroline Sandoval. I picked this woman named Caroline Sandoval," she said, pointing towards one of the resumes on top of her desk.Mr. Gaston then just nodded his head upon getting the woman's name before saying, "Alright, I'll send an approved email. May I ask when you want her to start?" he added, lifting his gaze to look at her."She'll be starting tomorrow. Please let her know that the company wants her early by seven o'clock," Ericka explained before leaning her back on the backrest of her swivel chair."Alright, I'll inform her," the old man replied to which she just nodded her head."Yes, thank you, Mr. Gaston," she said afterwards and quickly stood up from her desk. The day had already passed and it was nearing night time when she decided to stare for a second at the gaping scenery of sunset from her window."Anyway, I'll be going home now," she added before
Just as she entered her room to take a short break, she quickly went to the couch and rested her body.She still couldn't stop thinking about the conversation she had with her nanny as she stretched her arms into the thin air.Since she only has two hours left to prepare herself for the gala, she managed to stand up on her two feet and walk towards the closet.Furnished with formal attires, casual wears and those granted for parties, it took Ericka a handful of thirty minutes to decide what to wear and what to match her outfit with."This is bothersome," she whispered to herself after exhaling a sharp sigh. Afterwards, she found herself taking a short shower to cleanse herself of the sweat and immediately continued with a few of her daily retouches.Just as she found herself strapped with only a towel in her body, she stared at herself for a second. 
"Why couldn't I see the excitement on your face, the way your eyes would light up whenever Shawn would visit you to pick you up? Did something happen? Do you love someone new?" she asked one after the other.Each and every question managed to hit her right in the chest. It was sad, lonely and maddening but it would just be a waste of time to console over and over again.Ericka took a deep breath before staring right through the worried eyes of her nanny."You're just thinking too much, Nanny. Ee grow up and mature over time, those kinds of small gestures will change," she explained, a bitter smile forming onto her lips. She can tell that those were all lies that she has to digest herself. "Sometimes, we just need to move on and face another chapter of our lives," she added.The old woman then frowned. It seems that she was skeptical of every word that escaped her mouth."Wh
Ericka fished out her phone from the inside of her purse. However, just before she could answer the call, it already ended right in front of her.She then decided to unlock her device before navigating through the phone call history, when the registered number flashing her face brought surprise in her system.Slowly, she frowned at the familiarity of the contact."What's wrong?" The reaction on her face did not escape Shawn as he shifted his view to her and the road."It's nothing," Ericka responded immediately and started fidgeting on her phone. It looks like something came up that made her act abruptly."Why are you looking like that? Did something happen to your daughter?" Shawn asked one after the other, concerned at the sudden expression she was showing."It's none of your business," she responded, which made the man knit his fore
"Make sure to stop crying when you're ready, alright? Please calm yourself. Auntie Nimfa is going to sleep beside you so you'll be secured," Ericka added, her face slightly flushed red from her self-consciousness."Alright, Mom. Please tell Auntie Nimfa about it," her child said. Truth be told, her baby was a brave young girl who can understand her fully.Even with her young mind, she is able to stop herself from crying as long as she is told to do so. She is also an optimistic girl with a promising future ahead of her."Baby, can you please give back the phone to Auntie Nimfa? I'll tell her to sleep beside you," Ericka explained, which made her daughter nod her head and reluctantly give the phone back to Nimfa.Meanwhile, it took several attempts to persuade her child before she finally calmed down completely. She even bid her baby goodnight before she was finally able to rest comfortably thro