"Are you home?" Maria greeted me by coming over and hugging me.I returned the hug, although I was a little confused. I don't know what happened to Maria while we were away, but she looked so happy to see us back together.Maria released her hug from me, her warm face looking up at me as her hand gently rubbed my cheek. "I'm so happy to see you together."I involuntarily froze, raising my eyebrows as what Maria said sounded ambiguous."I knew Andreas would like you. He's always wanted a sister, and now that he has one, he'll be happy." Maria's feelings seemed genuine.I smiled awkwardly at her. It made her look so happy to see us getting along like brother and sister, but it differed from what she knew. Andreas didn't see or think of me as her sister.I felt guilty for Maria. How would Maria feel if she found out that her son had the feelings and attraction of a grown man to his stepdaughter? Would she be able to accept it? How devastated would Maria's happiness be if she found out?"
"Have I lost my mind!?" I shut my mouth quickly due to my loud voice, and as I looked around me, I realized I was currently in my room.I glanced at Andreas, who was lying next to me. Before I opened my eyes, I found it difficult to move. I felt a hand hug me, warmth spread across my body, and just as I opened my eyes, I saw Andreas lying comfortably and peacefully."Andreas!" I muttered his name loud enough for him to wake up. I moved restlessly, wondering what exactly was going on. Why did Andreas hug me and fall asleep in the same bed as me?Andreas groaned as he tightened his embrace on me even more, and it certainly stunned me. "Go back to sleep. You'll lose sleep if you wake up too early.""Are you crazy?!" I snapped at him with a stifled voice.I pushed her body frantically and stared at my door. "Andreaas hurry up and get out of here. What will people think if they see you sleeping here." Despite my best efforts, the body didn't budge at all. "People will get the wrong idea, A
"Where did I put my hair dryer?" I walked out of the bathroom and approached my dressing table.In front of it, I pulled out the shelf that usually held the hairdryer and vice. I found what I was looking for there, then dried my hair.Earlier, a waiter called me downstairs to have breakfast with the others. But I was just about to shower, and told her that I'd come down later, after all I could explain my reasons for coming down late for breakfast."Maybe they'll eat first if I wait too long." I was sure of that, so I didn't feel the need to rush.I opened my wardrobe and started picking out the clothes I would wear today. But suddenly, my bedroom door just opened at the worst possible time.The towel I was wearing moved down as I reached out my hand to grab my clothes. At the same time, I saw Andreas open my bedroom door.I was silent for a moment, as was Andreas. When I saw his eyes drop down to my chest, I was stunned. "Andreas! What are you doing?!" I shouted quite loudly. Whether
Andreas' POV"Stop it...." I smiled, reading the movement of Vanessa's lips hissing at me with her eyes wide open.But of course, I wasn't going to do what she asked. I am not a submissive person unless she recognizes what I feel and accepts me.I ignored her warning and kept caressing her calf with my foot. As I did so, I felt her soft skin, leaving me stunned. All of a sudden, my logic seemed to depart from my body, and I followed my instincts.Recalling my memory of what happened upstairs, I was also completely shocked. But I was a man, and hormonally I was normal.Just seeing her back exposed, my mind was already wild, and I started to imagine how the other parts looked, let alone see her chest without a single thread covering it. My chest felt hot, and my instinct wanted to run over her and make her under my body.I want to bury my head in his neck, then move down to massage her chest and start giving kisses on every inch of her skin. Then I will make sure to suck on his pink nip
Jaxon's PovI stared at the television screen indistinctly, my eyes blurry as my head was focused on different things.A few days ago, I met Vanessa, but Vanessa looked different from when she became my wife. Vanessa looks beautiful. She looks elegant and classy.Her face was so charming that I couldn't take my eyes off her and was stunned momentarily. Luckily, Catherine didn't notice."However, she must still have feelings for me. She used to love and obey me so much." I muttered under my breath, recalling those memories.Lately, I felt something was missing after meeting Vanessa, but I didn't know exactly what I was missing. I just felt a little empty."Jaxon!" I heard my mom's voice yelling for me, breaking my reverie. "What are you doing?"Before I could go to her, I saw Mom already standing in front of me with her appearance looking a little messy with an apron on her body. She was bent at the waist, staring at me."I was just about to come over to Mom," I argued, but she snorted
Jaxon’s POVI don't know why I keep thinking about Vanessa in my head. Every time I see Catherine, I think of Vanessa's face.Then, every time Catherine treats me rudely and indifferently, I also think back to Vanessa, who was gentle and sweet to me.I felt like I was going crazy thinking about Vanessa, who kept popping up in my mind. She was in various states that I found more attractive and better than Catherine.I didn't understand why I was comparing them. Why, all of a sudden, after everything became like this, that woman kept appearing in my mind and tormenting me."Jax....Jaxon!" I heard Catherine's voice calling out to me, and in that instant, my thoughts of Vanessa dissolved.I went to her. "Yes, baby?" I said to her sweetly and wrapped my arms around her waist.I had to control my mind to stay focused. I can't think about anything else, my life is in trouble right now, and only Catherine can help me because she can get me a job, and she's rich. Even if Catherine lied to me a
"Vanessa, how are you doing?" Dad asked in the middle of our dinner.I took my eyes off my plate and looked at my father. Our dinner was a quiet, friendly affair where we talked about simple things, like today. When he asked again about my progress with some things I had learned."So far, I haven't had any difficulties, dad," I answered with the response closest to my situation. Because to judge the results of my progress is not my part.Andreas was the one who had the freedom to judge because he was guiding me. These few days, I've been putting in a good effort. I worked on various things occasionally while checking every market branch that opened around the city.As Father had requested, I sent in the checking reports at regular intervals. As for Andreas's guidance, I deliberately asked him to send me what I needed to do via email. I reasoned that I was busy outside, and it just so happened that he was also swamped out, so we hadn't seen each other in a few days.Strangely, I felt l
I stare at myself in the reflection of the glass. After a long time, I now see the old me again. I don't know exactly when I stopped getting ready for a party in a beautiful dress, wearing jewellery and perfect makeup on my face.Maybe since I married Jaxon, I rarely attend parties with Jaxon plus. Jaxon is always complaining about women dressing up and all that. So, I never dress up in full makeup.I often went out with a natural-coloured lipstick or a lip moisturiser so that Jaxon wouldn't complain.For that reason, I often saw my reflection in the mirror looking dull, pale and shabby. I forgot I had an attractive face and appearance, especially since Jaxon never complimented me."You're gorgeous, miss." The words of a waiter who helped me get ready today made me turn to him with a faint smile.Then I looked back at myself, wrapped in a black slip dress with cotton material. It looks straightforward for a dress, although the back that reveals my back is relatively wide open, looking
Vanessa's POVI stepped into a beautiful place with a vast expanse of grass. I hadn't seen Andreas since earlier, so I wondered to myself. Where else would Andreas be? Why did he suddenly disappear?I took a deep breath. I tried to ignore my thoughts about Andreas and chose to enjoy this beautiful place I was visiting. This place is so lovely. I didn't get tired of stretching my arms while occasionally taking a deep breath of air. I was really in love with this place.I've been struggling with my feelings of comfort for a while when Andreas suddenly appears behind me. The man smiled sweetly at me as he handed me a bouquet and a box of cakes. "Vanessa, I brought you a bouquet and some cake," Andreas said.I smiled enthusiastically. I immediately grabbed the bouquet and cake with my right hand. Meanwhile, my left hand stretched out to cup Andreas' free wrist. "You're so romantic, Andreas." I smiled mockingly at him. Being nosy is my hobby these days with him.Andreas chuckled. "How was
Vanessa's povI was annoyed when he took me away from our still-unfinished wedding party. Was it okay for the guests to stay without the person who owned the event? I mean, was it polite to just leave them there? But Andreas didn't seem to care.He impatiently carried me into the room without turning my head to the right and left. I then put my hand to hold on tighter to him. In case he was having trouble, I murmured near his ear, "I hope this marriage continues to work well, Andreas."I saw Andreas nodding. "Sure, this will go on forever." He lowered me from his arms and then took off his suit. The man then smiled and walked towards the bed.I, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, did not dodge when Andreas suddenly touched my arm. And was groped my arm until I have amused myself. "Andreas, stop it! I felt ridiculous when you touched me."Instead of stopping the touching, Andreas moved to grope my neck. Then, his palm moved to my back until he embraced me completely."Why are you
Vanessa's POVStep by step, I walked closer to him, slowly gazing at him. The moment felt very sacred like it was filled with blessings and happiness. Each step I took toward him made what happened and what I went through with that man flash in my head.I felt like I was the one who rejected him so harshly, the one who mistreated her and denied my feelings, and when I thought about it now, I felt guilty for him, especially after seeing how much effort she put into making our relationship an approved one.Throughout his absence, I kept cursing him, not knowing what he had secretly prepared for me. He kept his promise to me, kept his promise to his father, and melted his mother's heart. He almost did everything just to accept me into his life.I laughed, looking at him on the other end, who gestured with his hands for me not to cry. We laughed at this happiness that was about to be achieved and only a few steps away.Right in front of me, as we stopped by the Altar, Andreas extended his
Vanessa's POVMy wedding day finally arrived. Two days before the wedding day, the others and I had prepared a private jet to take you to the private island where our wedding would be held.It wasn't for nothing that the island was chosen as the location for the wedding. Father decided on it because he knew his daughter well and didn't like her private life to be highlighted by people and enjoyed by the public. Even though I realised that I had become a public figure, I didn't want that kind of thing, on the contrary. I hoped that everything would go smoothly."Vanessa, I'll put the necklace here, then return later." Maria put down the jewellery box I knew contained a necklace she gave me yesterday.I nodded my head. "Yes, ma'am. I'll make sure to ask them to wear it." I glanced at her, who passed beside me with a nodding smile.It was hard for me to look at her because I felt like I was being used as a mannequin by the makeup and fashion artists in charge of my appearance today.They
Vanessa's POVI was walking out of the house doorway with my eyebrows raised when I found Andreas pacing back and forth incoherently with a worried expression like that. He was worried about something. He didn't usually look that worried.I let out a short breath. I tried to steady myself before stepping towards the man who now made me feel better than ever.He turned to me. "Vanessa?" he sounded panicked for no reason, even though I had only been out of sight for a few moments.Suddenly, I heard a voice that sounded worried. Andreas quickly pulled my hand away, and I was told to face him fully, close enough that my breath and his breath almost met.Andreas touched my cheeks hard enough to make me feel out of breath. I patted his waist, and sure enough. Andreas immediately released the choke hold."I've been waiting for you. What took you so long?" Andreas asked later. He seemed incoherently annoyed. "What are you guys doing?"I stayed where I was standing. I let the seconds pass by,
Vanessa's POV"I don't think this is a necklace that just anyone can wear. Why did you give it to me?" I touched the necklace carefully around my neck, then looked at it in the mirror with an enchanted look.That necklace was so beautiful. It was like wearing a tiara around my neck and seeing firsthand the necklaces that nobles used to wear years ago. Compared to how much it could cost, I was more fascinated by the history of what it had gone through to reach this generation, and it was still well preserved. One thing I was sure of was that this necklace seemed to be a precious treasure belonging to the Andreas family.My fingers clenched into fists, and suddenly, my courage to touch it shrank. "Are you sure you gave it to me?" I turned to her, staring doubtfully.Maria nodded her head. Now I understood why when I saw the sapphire stone, I felt familiar and like I had seen it before. It was because the blue stone had the same colour as her eyes, the same as the colour of Andreas' iris
Vanessa's POV"Let's take a short walk before we go home." Andreas stood up from where he was sitting and extended his hand to me.I grabbed his hand and pulled him so I stood beside him. "Where are we going?" I asked him, holding my hand tightly as we walked out of the café where Steve and I had signed off on our project."Mmm... just walk around here. I saw a park when we were walking here earlier. It's nice outside, so let's go outside." He glanced at me with a warm smile on his lips.I nodded my head, walking out of the place with him. The park, she said, is not far from there. The park was near an artificial lake in the city's centre, but even though it was an artificial lake, the lake's size was quite large.The atmosphere in the garden looked very shady and pleasant. In the sunny weather with a brightly lit sky, the garden showed its dominant, alluring green and brown colours. Walking there felt cool because the wind first hit the leaves and made the breeze feel cooler.I sighe
Vanessa's POV"Are you sure you want to join us for the meeting? Don't you want to wait in my room?" I asked him as he opened the car door for me.Andreas shook his head. "Why, you don't want me to interrupt your meeting with him?" he glanced at me with a serious look, even though I knew he was joking, while extending his hand to me.I grabbed his hand and joined him, walking out of the car. "I'm not." I denied it. He was still being nosy about it. "I'm just worried that you'll get bored waiting for us to talk about work," I replied casually. I was hooking my arm tighter around his.Andreas turned to me with his eyebrows knitted together and a fierce look on his face. "Me? Bored with talking about work?" He twitched her lips with a playful face. "Seriously, have you forgotten who I am?" he pretended with his annoying face.I stare at him in astonishment, right? For a moment, I forgot that Andreas was someone like that. He was a workaholic, and it was impossible for him to feel bored w
Vanessa's PoV"Are you tired?" I asked him with my hand gently stroking the head. As he breathed deeply into my shoulder, I could hear the sound of his breathing in time, with his heartbeat beating in a matching rhythm.Andreas shook his head. "I'm tired of talking to them, welcoming their congratulations and other pleasantries." He raised her head slightly, peering at me. "I bet you went here too because you were tired of everything."Andreas laughed. He looked at me with a nosy expression, like he had read what was going through my mind. "You must be getting sick of them talking like sycophants, right?" he grinned.I raised my eyebrows at him in astonishment. "You're just like a psychic." How could he know? Was he reading my mind? Or was the expression on my face too evident and easy to read? I furrowed my eyebrows.He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "I'm not psychic. I know you well." He replied with a smile on his face that seemed to tease me. "Let's go out. We ne