When I arrived home around 4 p.m., the girls were just waking up from their nap. Mrs. P seemed surprised to see me back home "so early," as she put it. The encounter with Noah had left an awkward atmosphere, so we returned to the dining room to have our meal.Our conversation consisted of forced small talk, which made the situation even more uncomfortable. Thankfully, having food in front of me gave me something to focus on when we ran out of things to say. We both knew it was best to avoid personal topics such as family, as it would only add to the awkwardness.I couldn't help but blame myself for how the lunch date turned sour, but there's no use dwelling on it now. Noah didn't mention anything about a second date or visiting my store again, which indicates that our connection has come to an end. It's difficult to admit, but I feel a sense of sadness knowing that our moment together ended so abruptly.Anna observes my somber mood and comments, "It doesn't seem like you had a good t
I could hear Najite take a deep breath before she began to explain. "Well, it seems that some paparazzi managed to capture pictures of you and Noah together at his place. They're referring to you as 'the mystery woman'. Although your face isn't clearly visible in the images, anyone familiar with you would recognize you instantly. These pictures have gone viral. Every blog out there has posted them on their websites. Darling, you've become famous!"My head starts spinning abruptly, as if I've been caught in a whirlwind that's swirling me around at an incredible speed. Someone managed to capture photos of me and Noah together, and now they've leaked them to gossip blogs. Who could have done such a thing, and what could be their motive?"Oh my goodness, Clara, please tell me this is just a joke," I urgently pleaded into the phone, hoping for some reassurance."No, I'm serious. You should check out the FameFamous Blog on Instagram. It's all over there. The pictures have also made their wa
My conversation with Noah didn't go as expected. It turned out that one of his kitchen staff members called in sick the day before. To fill the gap, Noah sent a replacement who, unlike the rest of the staff, was unaware of the identity of the house owner until she emerged from the kitchen with Draco and realized it was the renowned EN Taylor. Filled with excitement, she secretly took pictures of us through the kitchen window while Noah escorted me to the car. Later, she shared these photos with her friends, proudly boasting about working at EN Taylor's house.Unfortunately, one of her friends decided to sell the pictures to gossip blogs, causing an unwanted situation. "She has been dismissed," Noah informs me. "Moreover, I will be issuing a formal warning to my personal assistant for failing to ensure that the individual in question signed a non-disclosure agreement before commencing her duties yesterday."Every individual who collaborates with me, regardless of their employment dur
Suddenly, my phone began to ring, catching me off guard. Without even checking the caller ID, I unintentionally pressed the answer button and found myself speaking to Joe, my receptionist. "Hey Joe," I greeted him casually. "What's going on?""Cassandra , I anticipate that you'll terminate my employment or perhaps even harm me for what I'm about to confess, but before anything else, I want to sincerely apologize," he says, his tone tinged with foreboding.I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Joe has a tendency to exaggerate and make a fuss about even the most insignificant matters. "What's the matter, Joe? Will you be absent from work tomorrow because your boyfriend is unwell, or is it your grandmother this time?"He lets out a sigh, and the unease in his voice immediately catches my attention. "I wish the situation were that simple right now, but it's not," he admits, his nerves palpable.Concerned, I inquire, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"After inhaling audibly, he proceeds to spea
The store experienced an unprecedented surge in customers on Monday morning, which I found surprisingly gratifying given the scandal surrounding my leaked photo with Noah. Curiosity led me to check online blogs last night, and I was relieved to discover that 70% of the information circulating about me was inaccurate. According to the blogs, I am portrayed as an unmarried woman operating a clothing store, living a comfortable life with my affluent parents in the City.They claimed Noah and I met discreetly at a friend's wedding in Tacoma just last month, trying to keep our relationship a secret ever since. Thankfully, they made no mention of my past marriage, recent divorce, or the fact that I have twin daughters. I am truly grateful for that omission.As anticipated, a few envious trolls, predominantly female, resorted to posting spiteful comments beneath the blog posts, suggesting that I am not up to Noah's standards and even comparing me to a baby panda. Some of them even had the
"You really don't want me as an adversary, Cassandra ," she warned, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. With an air of indifference, she turns around and saunters out of my store. Joe and I were left speechless, merely observing her departure, as though she owns the place and we are her subordinates. It's incredibly frustrating!"What just happened?" Joe finally manages to ask, his voice filled with bewilderment."I have no clue, but I won't tolerate such nonsense here or anywhere else. I'm going to confront Noah and make it clear that this behavior is unacceptable," I assert, determined to address the issue.Leaving Joe and other workers to tidy up the store and prepare for closing, I march angrily to my office. Once inside, I snatch my mobile phone from the desk and dial Noah's number. He answers immediately, almost as if he's been anticipating my call."Hey, Cassandra ," he greets with a cheerful tone. "I've been contemplating the right moment to reach out to you. I'm genuine
"I have no regard for the court's decision. I am determined to take my granddaughters from the clutches of this immoral woman!" John Benson, my former father-in-law, passionately declares. His sentiment is met with a nod of agreement from his wife, Josephine Benson, and his brother, Jude Benson."Mr. Benson, please listen carefully. If you persist with this course of action, you risk losing your visitation rights entirely. What you are contemplating right now is classified as kidnapping, and everyone present in this room understands that it is a criminal offense," explains my lawyer, Grace Mac. "The court of law has granted my client full custody of her children. Therefore, if you have any reservations about that judgment, you should address them through legal channels, as responsible and law-abiding citizens would.""I will definitely bring this matter before the court," assures John Benson with determination. "However, for now, I am taking my grandchildren away from this woman of qu
Without hesitation, Josephine slowly stood up, tightly clutching her purse against her chest as if it were her protective shield. "We're leaving, not because of your threats, but for the sake of the children we came here to rescue. You will undoubtedly hear from us again, and when that time comes, it will require more than a cunning lawyer to shield you from our fury."With a subtle nod, she signals her husband and brother in Law to follow her, leading the way to the front door. Once outside, I swiftly secured the door and peered through the window, ensuring they’ve left.They all got into Jude's vibrant red Porsce, and a Mercedes benz. and the vehicles immediately zoomed away.As I let out a deep breath of relief, I made my way back to the living room. To my dismay, I found Grace engrossed in her phone, typing with urgency. "We need to take immediate action regarding tonight's incident.Filing a complaint is crucial, and we should also obtain a restraining order to ensure those indiv
As soon as news of our engagement spread through the media, it quickly became the talk of the town across various news platforms in Seattle. True to form, there were a handful of envious individuals who seized the opportunity to launch a barrage of insults at me, resorting to all kinds of derogatory names. Some even went as far as suggesting that I must have employed supernatural means to captivate Noah's affections, questioning how a prosperous and youthful man could possibly be enamored by someone like me. Fortunately, my loyal friends emerged as my staunch defenders, taking on the trolls and even granting interviews on Instagram live streams to clear my tarnished reputation.Both Noah and I have consistently turned down interview requests, including those from reputable media outlets. His stance was that our relationship is not open for public scrutiny, a sentiment I wholeheartedly share. In accordance with our mutual decision, we have chosen to have a destination wedding at a ser
After precisely two months of reconciling with Noah , I made the decision to organize a surprise birthday celebration for him. With his 33rd birthday approaching, my aim was to create an intimate and elegant party to honor him. To bring this event to life, I sought the assistance of his closest friends, Fredrick and Jamiu, as well as his parents. They were all eager to contribute and help organize the occasion. Today, his family will be traveling from Spain to Seattle to attend the party, which will take place at the lavish residence of their family friend, Mr. Matthew Dawnson, a billionaire tycoon.Marilyn, who suggested the venue, assured me that Matthew's house in Seattle was the ideal location for the type of party I have envisioned. As it turns out, she was absolutely correct. The mansion occupied a vast expanse of land that seemed to extend infinitely, bordered by the tranquil waterfront of Kirkland lagoon.It felt as though we've stepped into a breathtaking Caribbean paradise r
Acting on a tip from Marilyn, I decided to visit one of Noah's clubs where an artist signed to his record label was performing tonight. Noah was unaware of my surprise visit, although he knew his mother had come to see me earlier. She had asked if she should inform him about my desire to meet up, but I declined, as I was the one who had cut ties with him and explicitly forbade him from contacting me again.As I approached the entrance, the bouncers inquired if my name was on the guest list. For the first time, doubts crept into my mind, questioning the wisdom of my impromptu visit. A sense of déjà vu washed over me, reminiscent of the day months ago when I went to Noah's residence for an unexpected meet up. That particular evening marked the beginning of our relationship and held the significance of our first intimate encounter. The memory brought a smile to my face, instilling in me the confidence to proceed with my purpose for the night.Approaching one of the colossal bouncers, I
The children and I didn't make it downstairs until slightly past 10 a.m. It had been an incredible night, courtesy of my unexpected visit from my cousin, Samuel , who asked if he could spend the weekend with us. I was delighted to have his company, and thanks to him, we stayed up later than usual, engaging in enjoyable games, a family karaoke session, and indulging in the junk food he had brought along.Luckily, today was Saturday, so there was no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare for school and work. Samuel was still asleep on the couch in the living room where we had left him the previous night. I signaled to the girls to be quiet as we stealthily made our way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast."What are we having for breakfast?" Anna inquired eagerly. "I'm famished!""Shh! Let's not wake up Uncle Samuel ," Bella admonished her sister in a hushed tone."I agree," I responded softly. "After entertaining us so well last night, he deserves to rest.""Can we have eggs
As the new school year approached, my enthusiasm surpassed even that of my children. They often wondered what made me so cheerful. I was genuinely delighted to embrace the return of a structured routine. Each day held a sense of purpose: escorting my daughters to school, proceeding to work after bidding them farewell, accomplishing our weekly grocery shopping, enjoying quality time with my girlfriends every other weekend, and sporadically receiving visits from my siblings. These engagements filled my days with various activities, diverting my attention from ruminating about Noah and whether he and Reina managed to establish a connection after that dreadful morning four and a half months ago. It's astonishing how swiftly time has flown by!Interrupting my thoughts, Joe jovially exclaimed, "Knock, knock! Who's there?"I found myself seated in my office, experiencing a rather uneventful day in terms of business. Impatience consumed me as I eagerly anticipated the moment when I must pick
This morning's breakfast was a delightful and uncomplicated affair. I indulged in fried bean cakes, accompanied by corn pudding generously adorned with milk and sugar, and a serving of freshly baked bread. As I savored each bite, a rush of nostalgia envelopped me, transporting me back to my cherished childhood. It was during those Saturday mornings that my mother would skillfully prepare this delightful combination, her dedication evident after hours of meticulously cleaning the house and its surroundings. Ah, the fond memories of those days gone by.Noah, observing me intently with an inquisitive smile, playfully remarked, "Seems like our chef deserves a raise, considering the immense joy on your face. I never knew you were such an ardent fan of bean cakes. Or perhaps it's the velvety-smooth pudding that has brought about such happiness?"A gentle chuckle escaped my lips as I responded, "Not exactly. Although this food has undeniably transported me back to my childhood, it was my mot
The atmosphere in the car was heavy with silence as Noah and I made our way back to his house. The palpable tension reflected Noah's evident annoyance and embarrassment over the deplorable treatment I received from his parents during my inaugural visit to their home. While my family may not be affluent, I am certain that they would never exhibit such overt rudeness towards someone they were meeting for the first time. Age should not be a point of contention, and there is certainly nothing inherently terrible about having children. Yet, they made me feel as if I were afflicted with a contagious disease. Why did Marilyn, in particular, direct such venomous hostility towards me from the moment she laid eyes on me? And as for Reina , what is her ulterior motive? As we pulled up to Noah's house, his sour mood still hung in the air. I am torn about whether I should offer an apology to him, even though it was I who should feel offended, not him. With determined strides, he ascended the sta
As we reached the backyard, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Noah's father didn't match the image I had in my mind. Unlike what I expected, the elderly Taylor was tall, slender, and attractive, with hair that's gracefully greying. On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel annoyed when I saw Reina , who looked like she was part of the family. She was wearing tiny shorts that barely covered her buttocks, paired with a cropped knit top that showcased her extremely flat stomach. Her short hair was styled into shiny finger curls, complemented by sleek baby hairs at the front. She was also sporting a pair of Gucci slides, partially concealing her feet. As soon as she spotted me, she casted a deliberate, slow glance from my head to my toes, making it abundantly clear that she didn't welcome my presence. "Hello, Father!" Noah enthusiastically greeted his dad, extricating himself from his mother and approaching his father. "Hey, son!" Exclaimed the older Taylor , stepping forward t
Over the next three days, Noah and I immersed ourselves in exploring Spain to its fullest extent. We made it a point to visit various tourist attractions and indulge in sightseeing activities. To ensure my daughters were part of the experience, I diligently recorded each outing and shared the videos with them via my cousin's WhatsApp. Alternatively, I would connect with them through Skype during our trips, allowing them to witness our joyous outdoor adventures in real-time.On the fourth day of our stay in Spain, we were abruptly awakened at 7 a.m. by the persistent ringing of Noah's phone. Our sleep schedule had been adjusted since arriving in Spain, causing this unexpected phone call to catch us off guard."Darn it, I should have turned off my phone last night," Noah grumbled into his pillow. "Who in the world could be calling at this hour?""Please answer the darn phone so I can get some more sleep!" I replied drowsily, feeling increasingly annoyed by the incessant ringing that w