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Chapter 33
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The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 34
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧"Are you sure?" Chloe asked with a hint of doubt, her gaze lingering on me. We’re sitting across from each other at a restaurant. She just got back yesterday but didn’t come to see me right away, needing some time to rest.Poppy is already back at their house. I called her last night to check how her sister’s return went. She said everything was fine, no confrontations, thankfully. But now, Chloe is grilling me, asking if there’s something between me and her sister, Poppy."Chloe, I answered this in our messages. You didn’t believe me then. Now I’m telling you in person, and you’re still suspicious? Don’t you trust me?"“Because I saw the way you looked at her, Faith. Even before I left for Singapore, I noticed that you looked at Poppy differently. It's something you never did when you looked at me.”I swallowed hard. “Chloe, I don't know what you mean. You're the only one thinking that way. Poppy is like family to us. My parents treat her like their own daughter, a
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 35
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I WOKE up with the faint sound of rain tapping against the windowpane. My eyes flicked at the clock: 2:00 AM. It’s still raining now. It started last night while we were celebrating Poppy’s early birthday party. I can hear the wind whistling through my closed window because it’s a bit strong outside.So far, even with the storm, her birthday has been super fun. Even without a karaoke machine, we managed to have a singing session using the Smart TV and the internet. Hope set up the mic, and he and Uncle Ryan took the lead, having a singing showdown.When Hope sang, Uncle Ryan danced. Then, when Uncle Ryan sang, Hope showed off his moves, flailing around like a salted worm. But it was all good because it added to the fun. In fact, Poppy was even clapping for them both last night.I hadn’t planned on getting up, but the dryness in my throat made my thirst impossible to ignore. Reluctantly, I slipped out of bed and quietly made my way downstairs.The house was still and
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 36
POPPY Five years old."Here’s more. These are all for you, Chloe."One by one, Dad pulled out brand-new toys from the big shopping bag, handing each of them to Chloe. I sat there, sprawled out on the cold floor tiles in the living room, keeping myself busy with my old puzzle toy."And this iPad, this one's for you too.""Wow!"I kept watching, hoping Dad had bought something for me too. But no, the bag was emptied without him giving me anything. When he noticed me looking at him, he shot me a glare, and I quickly lowered my gaze, focusing back on my puzzle.Ever since Chloe came to live with us, she’s the only one Dad pays attention to and talks to. As for me, he’s always scolding me, even when I haven’t done anything wrong. Even Mommy Jody yells at me all the time now.Dad has changed so much towards me. I don’t know if I did something wrong to make him ignore me. But I can’t think of anything. I’ve always been a good kid. We used to get along so well.When Dad left the living room,
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I’ve been driving for several minutes now, navigating through the blurred road under the heavy rain. My whole body feels numb with worry about Poppy, as I still haven’t seen her. I’ve called her number countless times, but she hasn’t answered yet. It keeps going to voicemail, and I have no idea if she’s even heard the messages I’ve sent.‘Where are you, Poppy?’ I whispered to myself.I turned down the road that led to the park, hoping against hope that she might have sought shelter there. The trees swayed wildly in the wind, branches snapping and crashing to the ground. I had to swerve to avoid debris, my knuckles white on the steering wheel.Finally, I reached the small parking lot by the park. I don’t know why my mind led me here, but I want to take a chance. I pulled in and turned off the engine, the silence inside the car suddenly deafening against the roar of the storm. I grabbed my flashlight and stepped out, bracing myself against the win
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 38
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧THE room was small and musty, but it was dry and relatively warm. I flicked on the light, casting a dull glow over the threadbare carpet and worn furniture. Poppy stood in the middle of the room, dripping water onto the floor."Poppy," I called, grabbing a towel from the bathroom and handing it to her. "Dry off first. I’m just heading downstairs to ask the clerk for something real quick."She accepted the towel with a thankful smile, and I stepped out of the room to give her some privacy. Outside, the storm still raged on—wind rattling the windows while the rain hammered relentlessly against the roof.“Good evening, Sir,” the woman at the front desk greeted me as I approached.“Hi. Do you happen to sell any shirts here? Or anything we could change into?” I asked, hoping for a simple solution.“Sorry, Sir. We don’t have any clothes for sale. But you can request a bathrobe for an additional charge, if that works.”I nodded quickly. “That’ll do. I’ll take two bathrobes
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 39
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧Poppy was crying uncontrollably as she recounted what had happened to her when she was five years old. Her voice trembled with fear as she described how her father had nearly suffocated her with a pillow. She shared the chilling conversation she overheard between her dad and stepmom after the incident."T-The next day… after that incident, Mommy Jody moved me to the small house behind the mansion. S-She said… she was afraid that Daddy would do it again if I stayed. So, even though I was terrified of being alone in that little house, I moved anyway, just to avoid being hurt by Daddy again."Is Mr. Lucio even in his right mind? How could he do such a thing to his own child? Poppy was only five then. What kind of person does that? To harm his innocent daughter over money? Over material things?"I wanted to leave the mansion a long time ago, Faith. But I felt powerless. I wasn't strong enough back then because I was just a kid. That’s why I endured it for a while. I tol
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 40
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧Despite my conversation with Poppy and assuring my family that we wouldn’t abandon her, she still refused to go home with us. She was scared. Even after I repeatedly reassured her, her fear lingered.She said she wouldn’t feel safe because she knew her parents were waiting for her eighteenth birthday. If I took her back to our place, they would undoubtedly send someone to retrieve her, forcing her back to the mansion whether we liked it or not.“What are we going to do now?” I asked Mommyla after a heavy sigh. I was still on the phone with her, standing in the hallway of the motel. I had intentionally stepped out of our room with Poppy so she wouldn’t overhear my conversation with my grandmother.Mommyla knew we were still at the motel. I had already shared with her why Poppy was reluctant to go home, which surprised her. She hadn’t realized how the Heralds treated Poppy.“How about... you stay at your daddylo’s vacation house for now? It's far from here. The Herald
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 41
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧After Poppy and I finished shopping for essentials for the house, we headed to a boutique to buy some everyday clothes. I told her not to worry about the costs and to pick up everything she needed since we’d be staying at the vacation house for a while.I had already mentioned to her that we’d be waiting there until her eighteenth birthday, but I hadn’t brought up the wedding yet. I didn’t want to overwhelm her with the news that it would be happening on the same day as her birthday. I figured it was best to wait until Mommyla arrived before telling her.While I was browsing the men’s section, I couldn’t help but glance over at Poppy in the women’s area. I saw her eyeing a couple’s matching pajamas on a mannequin, deep in thought. But she quickly looked away and focused back on choosing some T-shirts.Once I finished picking out clothes for myself, I took my basket to the counter for the cashier to start ringing them up. Then I walked over to Poppy. I noticed she ha
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The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 63
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I reclined on the couch, attempting to shake off the tightening knots in my stomach. My entire family was gathered in the living room, including Poppy. We all sat on the couch, anxiously awaiting news about the fake Lucio and the deception that had ensnared so many.A month had passed since the Samonte family was apprehended. The hearings had commenced, but today marked the first time the media would reveal the details of the case. Mr. Herald had been preoccupied with further investigations into the mansion and the company, uncovering a web of corruption tied to the imposter Lucio. The charges against them would multiply, thanks to slush funds that had come to light.Our faces were etched with tension as the broadcast began. The atmosphere was thick with unvoiced anxieties, each of us bracing for the next revelation.The news anchor’s voice sliced through the stillness, sharp and resolute. “Breaking news tonight as we delve into the truth behind the identity of the
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 62
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧We took Poppy home after the doctor gave us the all-clear. Aside from bruises on her skin—which, as we learned, were caused by the impostor, Lucio—she didn’t suffer any other injuries. Thank God.The doctor did warn us, though, that the bruises would deepen before they heal, so he advised us to do ice therapy on those areas and apply aloe vera regularly.The real Mr. Herald couldn’t join us just yet, even though he wanted to, since he has a lot to attend to right now. Among his priorities are the Samonte case and the company conflicts that arose once the truth about the impostor, Lucio, was revealed. He plans to go back to the mansion to straighten things out there before bringing Poppy back.He promised Poppy he’d visit her at home whenever he had free time, not only to spend quality time with her, but also to get to know Mom, Dad, and me better as her in-laws.“Poppy, I’m so sorry.” Summer was in tears as she hugged Poppy tightly as soon as we stepped into the hou
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 61
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧We dashed to the hospital, my mind spiraling through every possible scenario. The police officer hadn’t given Dad any details about what happened to Poppy, leaving me drowning in worry.The drive felt interminable, each minute dragging as we anxiously awaited news. When we finally arrived, we were met by a police officer in the hospital lobby."Here for Poppy Lee?" the officer asked us, his tone calm and reassuring. Mom responded with a nod. "She’s in the emergency room now. She’s been stabilized and is resting."I released a shaky breath, my heart still racing as we followed the officer to the ER. Beside me were Dad, Mom, Hope, Love, and Summer.As we approached, I saw Poppy lying on a bed, looking fragile and pale, surrounded by medical equipment that beeped and hummed softly. Despite the medical equipment, she looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling with each breath. But that wasn't all I noticed. Red marks were scattered across her arms. I stood frozen, ro
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 60
CHAPTER SIXTY: ARRESTED꧁ POPPY ꧂Those footsteps had always widened my smile as a child, a clear signal that he was home from work.I kept my gaze fixed on the door, waiting to see who the officer had summoned outside. After a few seconds, I gasped when I caught sight of a familiar figure. However, his face remained obscured by the officers surrounding him.The police stepped aside to let him through. As soon as he was unobstructed, my eyes widened even more, and my mouth fell open in shock. I heard Chloe inhale sharply when she saw him too; they shared the same face as Daddy.The moment he laid eyes on me sitting helplessly on the floor, he dashed over, dropped to his knees in front of me, and embraced me tightly, tears streaming down his face.“Poppy. My daughter…” he cried, his voice breaking.I was frozen, confused, and unable to react. I couldn't articulate what I felt as he repeatedly ran his fingers through my hair. Why did he call me his daughter? And why did he look so much
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 59
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: FOOTSTEPS꧁ POPPY ꧂Chloe had me sit on the sofa, and she took a seat beside me. Daddy stood across from us, flipping open the brown envelope he had brought along. Inside, I saw him pull out a stack of papers. My hands started trembling from nerves, and it felt like my throat was closing up. Was this it? The day I’d dreaded for so long? Would they take everything from me and then... what? Were they planning to kill me?Lord, please help me.I kept whispering a prayer in my mind, just like Faith once taught me when we were falling asleep side by side. His words echoed in my thoughts: “Whenever you’re scared, whenever you’re anxious or unsettled… just pray.”With my eyes closed and hands clasped tightly, I prayed silently, only to be interrupted by Daddy’s voice. “Poppy.”I quickly opened my eyes. “Y-Yes?” The documents he’d taken out of the envelope were now laid out in front of me.“Since you don’t know how to sign, I’ll need your thumbprint.” He pushed a stamp pad
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 58
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧The world seemed to blur as I dialed the police, my heart pounding like a drum. Every second Poppy was missing felt like an eternity. When someone finally answered, I immediately explained the situation. I reported her missing so we could speed up the search, because if we didn’t act fast, I might just die from worry—she’d been gone for nearly an hour."She's about 5'3", long brown hair, hazel eyes. She was wearing a peach dress with a black coat tied around her waist," I explained to the officer when they asked for a description of Poppy.“We'll put out an alert and start checking the area. Do you have any idea where she might have gone, or if anyone could have taken her?”My chest tightened as my heartbeat quickened, the thought of her greedy family flashing in my mind. Frustration bubbled up inside me. “Her family,” I said without hesitation.I briefly explained to the officer why I suspected her family, and after understanding the situation, they assured me they
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 57
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: IT'S CHLOETHIRD PERSON’s POV"Come inside first, Poppy," Summer gestured for her to enter the cubicle. "Just stay here for a bit, okay? I'll just check in for attendance real quick. Our room's nearby, I won't take long. I'll come back for you right away."Despite her hesitation, Poppy reluctantly nodded. Once Summer left, she quietly shut the cubicle door and waited. Only a few moments had passed when she heard the sound of footsteps and the laughter of girls entering the restroom. Some occupied the empty stalls, and Poppy could hear the loud slamming of doors."Hurry up! I really need to pee!" one of them shouted."Hold on! I just got in! I haven't even sat down yet!" another girl replied.Poppy listened quietly, but she jumped when someone banged on the door of the cubicle she was in. "Is someone in there?" a girl’s voice asked.The pounding echoed in Poppy's chest, her heart racing. Though she didn’t want to, she was forced to open the door. Embarrassed, she s
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 56
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧It’s Friday again, and Mommyla invited us over for another family dinner. Hope and Love couldn’t attend since they were both busy, so it was just me, Mom, Dad, Summer, and Poppy.After we finished eating, Aunt Baby took Poppy and Summer upstairs to her room, saying she had some clothes to give them—things she had only worn a few times but no longer liked. The rest of us stayed seated at the table, even though the meal was over. An awkward silence hung in the air until Mommyla turned to me.“Faith,” she said, her tone gentle but clearly leading somewhere. “How is Poppy adjusting to married life? Is she still finding her way?”“She’s doing fine, Mommyla,” I replied.“She’s eighteen now and fully entitled to her inheritance. Are there any issues we should be worried about? I remember hearing her parents wanted to remove her name from all the family properties once she turned eighteen.”A knot tightened in my stomach. “They haven’t made any moves yet, Mommyla. I don’t k
The Perfect Husband (Lee Brothers #1) Chapter 55
✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I FELT a surge of excitement as I closed my laptop and gathered my things. It was Wednesday, and taking a half-day off was a rare occurrence for me, but today was special because Poppy and I had plans.I glanced at my watch—it was 11:10 AM. Poppy’s tutoring session would end at noon, and I wanted to be home when she finished. She knew we were going out today since I had texted her earlier, but I hadn't told her where we were headed yet.When I arrived home, I saw Poppy’s tutor’s car still in the driveway, so I knew they hadn’t left yet. As I stepped into the house, I was met by Poppy and her tutor, who were just about to leave. The tutor was holding a box of cookies, and both of them were smiling, clearly having a pleasant conversation.The moment Poppy saw me, her smile widened, and I quickly returned it. As they stopped in front of me, Poppy eagerly introduced her teacher. “This is Teacher Nicole,” Poppy said, knowing I hadn’t met her before. When the tutor usuall
