Jaxon's POV"So he wasn't as ordinary as I thought all along?" I stared at the road ahead of me.As my car drove along the less congested road, travelling at a constant speed, I massaged my temples, pressing them, which were throbbing slightly because the fact that Vanessa had been living under the same roof as me for so many years was only made known through an article from a news portal.How annoying!I pounded hard on the steering wheel of the car I was driving. All these years, he had treated me like a fool to whom he could lie. She didn't tell me the truth about herself at all. What was she really thinking?I remembered what Catherine had said. Catherine said Vanessa did it because she didn't want me to take any part of her wealth. "Perhaps what Catherine said is true." I took a deep breath. "But how could she do it? Didn't she and I get along fine in the beginning?"I stared at the quiet and deserted night street in despair, throwing back memories of the past that I longed for.
Jaxon's POV"Thomas said he was here." I stare through the windshield at a café on the side of the main road.I couldn't find Vanessa's whereabouts. Relying on my skills, I practically knew nothing about her. I didn't know where she lived, nor did I know her phone number and how to reach her. Everything about her escaped me. It was like she didn't exist, and even worse, I couldn't just walk up to her, even if I had heard about her from the media. It was so frustrating.But thanks to Thomas, I knew a bit about him. I once met Thomas at the bar after an event at Catherine's father's house. At that time, I told him something that I thought was odd to me. I asked him to find Vanessa's whereabouts, but since she wasn't publicly recognized at the time and Thomas only knew her as my wife without any other information, he couldn't give me a report.Yesterday I contacted him again and discussed the article that just appeared in the media, he was just as surprised as I was. He didn't realize th
Jaxon's POV"What do you mean?" I looked at the officer in surprise, he looked back at me in surprise and made me think immediately. "You mean Vanessa and Andreas are sibling?" what happened? I stared at the man intently.The man who was the guard at the house nodded his head. "Yes, they are brothers, so which one do you want to see?" he asked again.I took a deep breath, moving my eyes to look at the magnificent house that stood before me, bordered by a fence that stood quite high. Something confusing was happening, and I still didn't understand. I need time to think about what kind of situation this really is. "I'll contact him later and come back another time." I reached into the cell phone in my pocket and took it out after glancing at it for a moment. "I have other important business and can't seem to meet him today." I averted my eyes from the gate before finally glancing at the man and withdrawing from there.The man looked somewhat confused by my sudden change of heart. "Well,
Vanessa's POV"Miss Vanessa?" I turned around and found the guard at the house's front door calling me. I stopped my steps to wait for him to approach.The man seemed hurried and looked like he had something to tell me. Did I leave things out front? Getting a package or something? "What's wrong?" I asked when he was closer and standing in front of me."Someone came looking, Miss." The man spoke with a heavy tone of voice, his stern and expressionless look making me feel like everything he said was important, even if he was greeting me at the exit as I walked out of the house.I furrowed my brow. "Looking for me? Who?"He looked semi-confused. "I don't know if he was looking for her or Mr. Andreas because I'm unsure." The man looked confused.Likewise, I now folded my arms and scrunched up my face. "Did he mention his name?" strange, how could he not know who he was looking for when he was the one searching?The man shook his head. "I didn't get a chance to ask his name. The man only
Andreas's POV"It's been a while since we've had time together." Jordan sits before me, his eyes moving from the menu book after mentioning his order for today's lunch with me.I flashed him a smile. "Since both me and dad have busy lives when we have time at home, we spend it together with the others." I lifted my gaze to him and studied the expression on his face. "Is there something you want to talk to me about?" I placed my hand on the table, right next to my second cup of coffee after this morning.He stares at me with his shaded eyes, similar in color to Vanessa's amber eyes, which make me think of Vanessa every time I look at him, even though the way they look and speak through their gaze is different.But some of his movements are typical of Vanessa. Growing up with her father made Vanessa inherit a lot of his attitude, I guess. The man nodded his head lightly with a faint movement. "Nothing. I just happened to be passing by the neighborhood where you work. So I'd like to tak
Andreas' POVI walked beside Jordan nervously, my mood out of control due to George's arrival this afternoon and Jordan's talk about George. Jordan's plan to bring George closer to Vanessa could be serious.Putting myself in Jordan's shoes, I understood his worries and anxieties about Vanessa. If I were Vanessa's real brother, I would agree with what Jordan said. I agree with Jordan, who wants to make George Vanessa's partner.Honestly, George is a nice guy. He's a jolly guy who's fun to talk to. Knowing how to start and break the ice, he has skills that make him more than just economically established but looks that cannot be called merely attractive.George has his charms. I heard from James about what the public thinks of George. James brought it up when he spent his time in my room with a business magazine with an article about me. Of course, he brought it up, intending to mock me. But he got serious when he saw that the article on Geroge was also published on the page next to me
Andreas' POVI stared at her eyes that were bulging, her retinas widening to show her surprise. Without speaking, the look on her face made it clear that she disagreed with what I had just said.Vanessa shook her head. "No, Andreas." She spoke out loud, though her tone was still soft and uncharacteristic of how she usually spoke. "I don't want you to tell them about us now." She released her hold on me.I stared at her detached hand blankly, her reaction sending a flutter through my chest. What had been a complicated thought was replaced with disappointment. The tiredness I had been trying to push away, now settled clearly in the corner of my heart. "Why? Shouldn't they know?" I tried to keep my tone regular, not intending to make her realize my annoyance or disappointment in her answer.Vanessa lowered her face, looking troubled and troubled alone. Then she looked back at me with an expression that pained me. "I know, Andreas..." her words trailed off, and she looked elsewhere to avo
Vanessa's POV"And what about the sales report? Did you finish it?" I asked the part of the sales team that handled the sales system for our newly released product.I had so much to do today, from working on this and that to discussing the upcoming agenda. I strangely found this quite enjoyable. I feel quite entertained with what I'm doing right now. It's a pity that I only found this kind of life in the second half of my life, after the first one I spent with a torturous and undeserved life."The report is still in process. I'll give it to you this afternoon." The woman from the marketing team answered straightforwardly.I nodded, pointing to the rest of the agenda that they needed to do immediately. "Alright, make sure the marketing of the products this time goes smoothly. Pay attention to what ingredients are listed in the marketed products and put up allergy signs so that no consumers taste the wrong food." I emphasized to them.In the introduction of products, some cases have occ
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