Andrea waited a few minutes more at the dining, hoping to see if Niklas would come. A submissive wife was meant to serve her husband his meals as she waited behind at the already empty table, hoping to see him come out of the room. Minutes passed and she does not see his shadow nor any sighs of him, so she stood up observing the photos hanged on the wall of the large room that joined with the dining, which seemed to be the living room, whiling away time with it. "This one over here is Niklas' grandfather, then his great grandfather and his father" she heard behind her and turned to see Mrs Eduardo back at the parlor. She was dressed up as if going somewhere and Andrea wouldn't lie, she looked very beautiful in the skirt and blouse that doled her body. She smiled while bending her head to her for what she had shown him. " They were good people, but they died early. Only his father is left" she said and pointed to the photo of the man near Niklas'own photo, the man she had seen at
The boardroom was opulently decorated, exuding power and wealth. The long, polished table was surrounded by board members, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. At the head of the table stood Mr. Eduardo, the retiring CEO, with a stern expression written all over his face, an air of finality around him as well. Beside him was Niklas his son, dressed in a sharp suit that was ironed and tailored to fit his chiseled bodh. He looked confident very confident as he stood beside his father even though his heart burned against him. His expression was calm, but his eyes gleamed with ambition. Sitting a few seats away is was Claudia, Niklas's aunt, formidable and with a body that was betraying her aging, her face was a mask of barely concealed disdain. Her son sat by her side. He had gently returned home the other day because he had had some issues to take care of at the office. He always stayed back numerous days without returning home taking care of things at the o
Andrea walked in to the office, hoping no one would notice the dress nor shoe she wore. She had not carried a bag with her because all the bags in the wardrobe had been designers, limited edition bags and celebrity collections that she only saw on TV. If she were to carry such to her place of work,she knew that she would not get enough stares and talking from the others. But even though she had walked meekly heading to the office of the Director, she still noticed heads turning and murmurs rippling through the crowd of coworkers. Among the people who couldn't let the dress, a striking departure from her usual outfits, was the head of the department she worked at and her assistant, Lisa and Jenny. She noticed Lisa's eyes widen. "Andrea, that dress is gorgeous! Where did you get it? Isn't that a Valentino Clemente flower of tears dress? How could you afford something like that?" She asked her bluntly, not mincing words. Everyone knew she was one of the poorest staff, she might
A smattering of applause filled the room, but it was hesitant from some people. Claudia's hands remained motionless on the table, her knuckles white with tension. Eduardo turned to Niklas, extending a hand. Niklas shaked it firmly, putting behind their differences aside for the sake of appearances, then stepped forward to address the room. "Thank you, President Eduardo for your trust and mentorship" he began,citing his father's new position, the new role he would start working tooth and nail to make from him again. " I am deeply honored to take on this role and continue the legacy that EMC Conglomerates has built" he finished and glanced around the room, making eye contact with each board member, including his aunt and cousins whose eyes beared hate and malice in them, as if they could kill him of people could kill with their eyes. Again the room erupted into an applause. It was not a new thing to them. It was a family business and the new CEO always came from their family, the onl
"What are you doing here Andrea? To get some women to throw a pity party for you?"Andrea looked up at the man who stood in front of her. He had been hers and everything she had wanted to own.Just a few weeks has put an end to what they were, to what they had been , to what they could have aspired to be in the future.How dare her try engaging her in a conversation now after he cheated on her with her friend. Not just was he adamant but his composure and reserve does not even look as if he is sad about cheating on her.She took a few steps sideways meaning to walk away from him.She didn't want to see him, she didn't even want to give a reply to anything he might ask.Why should she. She is no longer under the compulsion to do so, no one can force her to do so either.But as she meant to walk away from him, he walked to her front and blocked her way." Why? Do you feel wronged. Why would you feel so? You do not even have the right to feel so. Poor people shouldn't feel so, don't you
Dante was seen walking down the church hallway with a nun.He looked downcast and she understood his mood and did not try to engage him in a conversation, rather, trying to talk about the surroundings so he would forget what burdened his heart.This was the fifteenth time in the month that he was coming to the orphanage. It still looked familiar and as his eyes wandered aimlessly at all including the church by it's side which he was walking to, he couldn't help but recall his times at it in the past."You don't have to worry too much Dante. We will find her. We all just have to believe. Who knows,she might be looking for you as well. By the grace of God,I believe that sooner or later,you two will be reunited once again" the nun spoke up to console him.Her eyes could not leave him, pity and care filled her facial expressions as she stared at the once little boy she has once saved alongside his sister, all grown up now , successful and kind like he had being raised to be, but broken
"Forgive me father for I have sinned"Andrea's voice began but lost it's trail few seconds after she had mouthed the first words.She was here to confess her sins, her sins of promiscuity and losing her virginity to a stranger who had become her husband.It was true that she had gotten married to him but the fact that she had shared a night with him before meant that she still needed to confess her sins to her maker and that was why she had come to the church nearby her office as she was walking away from John who had made her day much more worse.Dante's mind was in a trance. It couldn't be. He had inadvertantly come to the confession room while trying to hide from the seeker in there children's game of hide and seek.Did the church change the location of their confession room or something of sort because when he was still in the orphanage, the confession room was not where it was currently and as he had entered the room from the priest's door, there had been no title or heading of w
" It's okay...... It wasn't your fault"...... He so desperately wanted to say to her but yet again, the words died at his lips before they could escape.There was something in her voice that seemed to be calling out to him. It seemed to be dragging him.An instinct kicked in. Perhaps she were his sister? Who knew? She grew with a step mother. She's going through hardships. His poor sister must be going through hardships as well.What if ........ He tried to reason but beat himself out of it.He had done so several times with other women but at the end of each, none of the women happened to be his sister nor came close to being her. None of them had her birthmark."It was also on that night that I had gone to a bar to drink my worries out but sadly , I ended up in someone's room and slept with him. I was drunk but then, the blame still boils down to me father. I am a sinner and have lot God's face"" But you said he were your husband. Did he marry you after he found out that you two s
The events of the other night replayed in Niklas' head like a movie being repeated.No, be hadn't planned to attend the ball, that was why he had sent the man whom he was told was her ex instead.He had no intentions of attending and he had no intentions of making Andrea's attend it either.The man had been paid to come to the function and play the recording and act like the mastermind behind it.He was to hack into the events computer system and was to do this through that way and when he'd get investigated, he would admit he did it because he was hurt that he had bee abandoned.Mr Lee had called him countlessly but he was not in the mood to answer any of his calls, but when his call came for the twentieth time, be was unable to ignore it and had to answer, which was how he got to know about how the man he had employed to carry out a very simple task had gone ahead to change the details of the script he had asked him to play by.It wasn't just a humiliation on Andrea's side, it was a
There was something hidden in the glare Mrs Eduardo had shot Niklas with. It wasn't just a normal glare and neither was it meaningless as well.It had to mean something, something mostly about her being disappointed in him and something he had done, what he had done what she was still trying to comprehend.She greeted her and turned to leave for her room. Holding the pains she felt from the heel in her feet still in.She wanted to pull the shoes off but thought against it. It was just a few minutes left before it would be over and she'd be in her room.Mrs Eduardo smiled at her as she informed her that she would going upstairs and Andrea plastered a fake smile on her face as well, even though her heart was bleeding with numerous questions she wanted to ask her.Maybe she left at the heat of the moment. Maybe she had gone after John had began badmouthing her. She wouldn't want to be present to witness her beloved daughter in-law being embarrassed that way in public because surely, the
The glass of water Dante held fell to his feet and broke."Is she going to allow him fool her this way? There's also something sinister with the glances he's exchanging with the man who did that, why is he beginning to act all saintly" he screamed at no one in particular as he watched clips of what happened at the EMC ball on his television.He hadn't want to concern himself with anything concerning EMC Conglomerates. It was none of his business. They did shady dealings for their business and he didn't want to get caught or get mixed up in it through one thing nor the other.But seeing the first headline on his phone about Andrea, the manipulative wife of the the CEO of EMC Conglomerates, he couldn't let his hate for EMC stop him from knowing what the news was about, and especially because it pertained to the woman he had a crush on. Seeing how things had unfolded and how he had begun in his revelation of what he had seen as the epic unmasking of the century, Dante could tell that i
She couldn't take her eyes off him.He sat on the next step in front of the entrance while she sat on the first.She had finished drying the wetness ok her body caused by the wine she got poured with a handkerchief he had given to her.It was seemingly the first time he was being this nice to her. And with the way he had defended her, she couldn't keep the recurring thoughts of it out of her mind. "Thank you" she managed to mutter as she stood up from where she was and handed him his handkerchief which he had lent her. He took it from her, but avoided his eyes from meeting hers.There was something with them earlier when she had given him thar close up look from her teary eyes.They called onto him for protection and warmth, and he had to train himself to ignore them."The driver will be here soon with the car, we just have to wait for a few minutes more" " How about mother?" Her voice came again, breaking as she called her name out. She had wondered where she was as well. She had
As the sounds of his intermittent claps echoed in the hall, Niklas felt a mixture of emotions churning within him. His heart ached seeing Andrea standing there, drenched in humiliation, her teary eyes scanning the room for any sign of refuge. This wasn’t what he wanted, not really. Yes, he had orchestrated this scandal to divert attention from his own public disgrace, but seeing her like this, so broken and lost, made him feel an overwhelming sense of regret.The sight of Andrea standing there, holding her cheek where she had been slapped, was more than he could bear. He had never intended for it to go this far. The plan was supposed to be a mere distraction, a temporary measure to shift the public’s gaze away from his own failings.He had enlisted John's help because he had felt like he would be the best person to crush her ego without her suspecting his involvement, but seeing how he took it personal and as an avenue to bully her, as well as the lady that had come with him, he cou
"I'll be your mother Andrea. Your papa told me what happened with your mom. I promise I won't be like her.i stay by your side, along side your brother" she said and turned to make way for her son to come forward and greet her.Andrea only managed to move her head and looked in his direction, before she looked away from them.He was young. Her father had married a single mother, like himself.But it was so soon, he didn't even give her the chance to mourn her mother who had abandoned her. Who had left her regardless of how much tears she shed as she begged her not to leave her with the car that came to pick her that rainy night.But her mom did not pay need, she didn't look back. She didn't even tell the driver to pause the car even for a minute so she'd get back and hug her daughter who was crying in the rain for her.Instead, she threw a few wads of currency notes at her, the notes which were destroyed in the rain that night.It hadn't passed a month she left and her father was takin
"Then I don't know how it happened. She suddenly became distant to me. She began to give me the cold treatment, not answering her calls, not replying my chats. She was never free for me again. I thought perhaps it was because she had graduated from art school and was looking for a job but I just found out the reason. I never knew she got married to Niklas Eduardo. I never knew she's his new bride. I'm confused. Did she use me and leave me when she found someone better? When she was suffering and everyone avoided her, I was there for her but the second she found a richer man, she left me for him. I'm curious if that's how all women behave and that is why I am asking Andrea for an answer, with you all as my witnesses"Andrea stood puzzled still. She could not understand what he was trying to do nor why he was trying to do so.For what reasons. Why was he lying against her in the presence of all the people. Even the paparazzi that had begun to take photos of her secretly.Was she going t
"Andrea?" She heard him call her name.The tone of his voice came awkwardly so familiar to her. What was he doing there and why today of all days.Why did he have to show his face to her, why did he end up being the first person she was bumping into.If she were allowed to choose between him and her arrogant husband, she'd chose Niklas over him. Atleast his face didn't hurt while being looked at."I heard you married the CEO of EMC Conglomerates. How did you do it? I'm curious, can you share some tips? " He began pestering her despite her body language indicating to him that she didn't want to speak to him nor answer any of his questions." Why are you being shy? We were dating before. Sharing such an information won't hurt would it? Or you have a secret you don't want to tell? Did you have a one night stand with him or perhaps have a secret baby for him no one knows about? Because I honestly can't believe what a man of Niklas Eduardo's standing would see in you to decide to make you
Mrs Eduardo said that she would look pretty in the dress and like she had said, she really did.Andrea could not help but marvel at herself and how fitting the gown was on her body.The world of the rich, they made sure everything they wore was fitting. If she had been in her former home and where she came from, she would have made do with any dress she could find for a company dinner party.Why was she getting over herself, it's not as if she'd get invited anyways. She had never gotten invited to any.She watched herself in the front window of the car as she waited for her mother-in-law to be out of the home so they could leave.She had promised to come with her. She was going to the party with her daughter in-law, like she had always wanted, like she had always hoped for.Andrea on her own part was happy she would not be going alone.She was Niklas' wife, but he had told her nothing about the party.She had heard about it from his mother and she was the one that had invited her beca