"When did you—?" Kai had never looked this confused in his life. He stared at Griffin, hoping to see the same bewilderment reflected in his expression, but Griffin remained calm."We’ll answer all your questions later, Kai. Just do what Mr. Stefan said so we can find the young mistress in time," Griffin told him.Kai glanced between Stefan and Griffin before nodding and dashing out of the office. Stefan settled into his wheelchair while Griffin wheeled him out. They reached the car, and as Griffin drove, Stefan operated a small machine."I just found where the phone is," Stefan muttered.In a small, unkempt house, a familiar phone sat on the table, surrounded by some dangerous-looking equipment. A pair of black leather-clad legs crossed as someone sat on a worn-out chair. Chole stared at the phone, frowning."How do I get the stupid battery out? None of my tools seem to be working," she thought to herself, biting her fingers thoughtfully.Earlier, she had been eyeing Dorothy ever sinc
If you're unlocking Chapter 20 with me, then wow—congratulations, you must be really rich! I might just have to marry you… Just kidding! (Or am I?)But seriously, thank you so much for supporting this book. I’m beyond grateful for every coin, ad, review, and gift you've used to show your love. It truly means the world to me. I promise to keep updating and making this story worth your time.With love,Rhema J.
Dorothy bit her lip as she stared at Stefan. He looked so blank, so disappointed. He wouldn’t even talk to her."I shouldn’t have lied about where I was going. If I had told you, you wouldn’t have let me meet her. And the only reason I wanted to talk to her in the first place was because she’s still your mother," Dorothy mumbled. But Stefan showed no reaction. He just sat still in his armchair, watching her."I didn’t expect her to still have no good left in her," she continued. "She told me she wanted me to marry Tristan, but I told her that was absurd. I warned her to stay away from me.""She will never be a good person. She will never see me as her son, and I will never see her as my mother. Do your best to stay away from her," Stefan finally spoke, his voice firm. Dorothy couldn't help but nod.Stefan studied her for a few minutes. She stood there, playing with her fingers, looking so cute—like a child. It was strange because he had never found children cute before."Come here," h
Griffin stood in a corner, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Chloe stared at him, speechless for a few seconds."I'm going to pay you back," she mumbled.Griffin looked confused as he stared at her. "You want to pay me back? I thought you liked money?" he asked."Well, yes, I do love money, but this is just too much. I don’t want to believe this is real life. You're such a fool! Do you even know how much money that is?" she asked, her eyes wide.Griffin simply shrugged, looking nonchalant."Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be with your boss?" she asked again.Griffin sighed. "You love asking so many questions, don’t you?"Chloe rolled her eyes. "Why did you do this? What do you want from me?" she asked, then her eyes widened. "Don’t tell me you're in love with me already? You were the one who ditched me for some other girl."Griffin stared at her quietly for a moment before taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. His hands remained in his pockets, and his in
At Everest Stock Exchange, the company was busy as usual. Stefan had stepped out with Griffin for a business meeting, leaving Dorothy alone in the office.A knock sounded at the door before an unfamiliar yet stunningly well-dressed woman entered."You must be Mrs. Dorothy Everest. Nice to meet you," she said politely, extending her hand for a handshake.Dorothy was confused, but she had been taught to be polite, so she accepted the handshake."My name is Gloria. I work with Florida Designs," she introduced herself, showing Dorothy her ID card.Florida Designs. Who wouldn't know it? It was one of the top design companies in the world."Recently, Everest Stock Exchange partnered with us, and we were given orders from Mr. Stefan to take you on a tour so you can choose whatever you like. We'll also take your measurements to design a custom outfit for you based on your preferred style," Gloria explained.Dorothy was speechless until Kai entered the office."I would have accompanied her ins
Clarissa was furious when she got home. She threw her purse to the ground in frustration, and as if that wasn’t enough, she began picking up flower vases and hurling them against the wall. The maids stood watching, but none dared say a word."What is going on?" Agnes emerged from her room, looking confused. She glanced at the broken vases, then at Clarissa."Mom, it's that good-for-nothing, ungrateful Dorothy! She humiliated me today!" Clarissa screamed.Agnes walked toward her cautiously."Do you want to sit and talk about it?" she asked gently, taking Clarissa’s hand and leading her to the couch. As she walked away, she turned to a maid and gestured for her to clean up the mess Clarissa had made.Once they were seated, Agnes rubbed Clarissa's back soothingly, waiting for her to calm down before speaking."I was shopping at Florida’s Designs, one of my usual places, and I bumped into that slut! She was with another man, and they were shopping together," Clarissa began angrily. "I ask
After a while, Griffin returned to the corner where he had hidden Chole. She sat on the floor, looking at him without a hint of regret."Is it until you get yourself into real trouble one day then you'll learn your lesson that stealing is a crime?" he asked with a scolding voice.Chole let out a small scoff. "How about you finish what you were doing earlier, you two-faced loser?""Excuse me?" Griffin gave her a confused look."At least you should have told me you were booked for tonight!" Chole snapped, standing up. "You kept me waiting while you were out with some other girl!"It was only then that Griffin remembered Karen. He closed his eyes, silently cursing himself."And I don’t want to stay connected to you, so don’t bother convincing me to keep quiet about your boss’s secret. I won’t say anything," she added, turning to leave but stopping to glance back at him."And next time, don’t chase me again. I stole that money because I was trying to pay you back the debt I owed!" she dec
"Master... Master Kai," Emily stuttered, seeing Kai casually walking toward them. She glanced between Dorothy and him, unable to think of a convincing lie."You're not moving, Emily. The young mistress just told you that you're fired, so start packing your things. Or do you want me to have security give you a special escort?" Kai asked, his tone casual yet serious."Master Kai, I can't leave," Emily said."Why not?" Kai asked dryly, crossing his arms over his chest."Because I love you, Kai," Emily cried. "Don't you see? Everything I've done, the reason I took this job as a maid here, is all because I love you," she added desperately.Kai didn’t look moved by her confession."That's not enough reason for you to still be standing here," Kai said, his tone flat."Mr. Stefan doesn’t know you’re kicking me out," Emily said with a hopeful smile."You should thank God for that. He would’ve done it himself, but it slipped his mind. You think we don’t know you’re working for his mother, Emily
In VitMed, the lecture room was empty as the first class hadn’t started. Students were talking and laughing, some even sitting on Dorothy’s table, but as soon as they spotted her, they quickly stood up.Dorothy took her seat, and Kade sat behind her.The students kept stealing glances at her and murmuring. Whatever it was they were holding in, they didn’t dare say it to her face."That’s enough already. So what if she didn’t write the exam with us? I heard she wrote it last year and got the highest score," Beauty said to the group of girls murmuring around Dorothy."Yeah, she was the top scorer. Probably her husband bought that too," one of the girls replied with a loud scoff.Dorothy had had enough; she angrily stood up and walked toward them."What’s the matter with you people?" she asked irritably. "Especially you, Beauty, if you hate me, then do it openly like the other girls. You don’t have to be a snake about it," Dorothy was exasperated."These girls were totally talking shit a
Slap!Arthur's hand flew across Tristan's cheek the moment he spotted him. Tristan held his cheek, looking confused. His father had requested him, only to greet him with physical abuse."What did I do to deserve this, Father?" Tristan asked calmly, though he was boiling inwardly."You seriously asked me that question?" Arthur yelled. "Tristan, if I had a gun, I'd shoot you right now, shoot you countless times because I am very embarrassed!" He yelled painfully and threw a magazine toward him.Tristan slowly took his hand from his face and picked up the magazine. He opened it and began going through it."When you're done, tell me what you observed!" Arthur demanded.Tasha, who had just come back from work, hastened her steps toward Arthur. She had heard his scolding voice from outside and knew something was wrong."What's going on, Arthur? I've told you to be lenient with the way you treat your son!" Tasha stood beside Tristan as she spoke. She could see the handprint of Arthur on his
"Are you kidding me right now, Tasha? You looked me in the eyes and asked me to be a cleaner for your mansion!" Agnes was flaring up.Tasha leaned back in her chair, her facial expression innocent as she sipped on her drink."I never knew I was in the wrong here. I was only trying to help you, like you asked me to," Tasha said harmlessly, but she was laughing out loud in her mind."You need to think of something else. I can't stoop so low as to be a cleaner!" Agnes shook her head. She couldn't even picture herself dressed in a maid's outfit, scrubbing the floor with a brush. Ever since she was a kid, she had never done physical work, and she couldn't start now."I don't know what you want from me, Agnes. You literally begged me! You said you needed a job because you're broke, and I offered an available one, so why are you complaining?" Tasha was starting to feel offended."But look at what you're offering me, Tasha, you're asking me to be a...""Oh my God, I can't with you right now,
"You've got to be kidding me!" Clarissa exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. She stood in front of a small, shabby-looking house, unable to believe her eyes as she analyzed everything."Please tell me this isn't where we'll be living now. Mom, of all the houses out there, is this really the best you could afford?" she complained, clearly displeased."This is what we can afford," Agnes replied with a shrug."You're kidding, Mom. Tell me you're kidding!" Clarissa refused to accept that this was her new home. Even the security guards back then when they still lived at the Florence household, had a better place than this.Clarissa wondered how low she had stooped, ger life was practically over, and she blamed Dorothy for it."Maybe if you had left the Florence household when I told you to, you wouldn’t have gone to jail. I wouldn’t have spent forever trying to fix things, and I could’ve found us a better place than this," Agnes said, rolling her eyes."Mom, why ar
The next morning, in Stefan's mansion, he watched as Dorothy packed everything she would need. Today was the day she was leaving for school."Alright, I'm set," Dorothy informed him once she was done."I didn’t see you take any of my clothes. You should take them, love, because what if you get cold and need someone to hold? I’m sure my shirt would fit into that space," Stefan said.Dorothy smiled and walked closer to him, standing between his legs and resting her arms on his shoulders."I already took plenty of your clothes, love," she said."Oh? Then did you take—""Everything, love. I took everything," Dorothy cut him off, giving him a knowing smile. She knew Stefan wished she didn’t have to leave—she wished the same—but there wasn’t much choice. She had to go."Seems like you're fully prepared. I wish I could go with you, but I can't leave the company," Stefan sighed. "Your ride will be here in the next five minutes. I wish I could take you one more time.""Stefan, five minutes? An
Police Station.Clarissa looked like she hadn't slept all night. The room was dark, the ground dirty and cold. She squeezed herself against the bars, crying loudly—simply because a cockroach was crawling toward her."Someone get me out of here!" she cried, banging on the cell door in sheer panic. The cockroach kept moving forward."Ahhhhhhh... Mummyyyyy!!!" Clarissa screamed even louder."Can you keep it down? You're not the only one sleeping here tonight," a chunky woman with a groggy voice grumbled angrily.She had been in the cell when they brought Clarissa in. Judging by the way Clarissa was dressed, she knew this was her first time here."Who are you to tell me to be quiet when that disgusting animal is coming toward me?" Clarissa retorted rudely.The woman smirked and stood up. "Woman, it's just a cockroach. Haven't you seen one before?" she asked with a curious look."Take a good look at me. Do I look like someone who should be anywhere near this filthy creature? Look at you—it
Two days laterSomeone knocked on the door repeatedly, the sound growing louder every second. Clarissa was getting sick of it. She slipped on her expensive dress and sunglasses before going to open the door. Standing at the doorstep were two unfamiliar men accompanied by the family butler."Miss Clarissa, I'm surprised you and your mother are still here. I expected you both to have packed up by now," the butler said.Clarissa burst out laughing. "You were serious about giving this house to charity?" Her expression made it clear she didn’t believe him."Miss, these are the founders of the Mary Jane Orphanage Organization" He introduced her to the men. "We've already finalized everything, and they are taking possession of the house," the butler replied.Clarissa looked at him like he was joking. "This is my family's house. It has existed for decades, and you think I'd give it up for charity?""Baby, let's just go," Agnes said tiredly from behind. She had already packed everything they n
Agnes could swear that she almost fainted, but Clarissa caught her immediately."Charity? Are you out of your mind!?" Clarissa screamed, and Dorothy responded with a nonchalant shrug."I don't want anything from that man, and both of you already got fifteen percent. Why don’t we just give the orphanage the house, money, and car? They’ll really need it," Dorothy said dryly."I agree," Stefan nodded.Clarissa gritted her teeth, flying toward Dorothy and attempting to slap her, but Dorothy was quick enough to throw her own slap first. Clarissa, who hadn’t been slapped by anyone in a long time, couldn’t believe how much it hurt."You and Agnes should be ashamed! You know what your father did to me, right? I'm not related to you, not even by blood. For years, you made me believe you were doing me a favor, but your father killed my family just to take me. Now, what have I done to deserve any of that?" Dorothy screamed with teary eyes.Stefan, who was standing beside her, moved forward and g
The next morning, Mason stood by his car with Griffin, his hands in his pants pockets, watching as the guards searched for the basement key."So incompetent. Mr. Stefan just left you people with one job!" Kai said, shaking his head in disappointment.The guards had no idea how to explain what had happened. They had all strangely fallen asleep and could only hope that the lady was still in the basement, or else Stefan would not take kindly to them.One of the guards spotted the key on the floor, his face lighting up with happiness. "I found it!" he exclaimed, picking it up and rushing to open the door. As the door swung open, the guards began coughing.They pushed through the dust, their smiles fading when they found Emily lying lifeless on the ground. Her body looked shriveled and dried up.The guards murmured in confusion. None of them had received an order from Stefan to kill anyone, so they wondered who had done it. Meanwhile, Stefan looked up, troubled, watching from where he stoo