Lucy’s POVONE WEEK LATER, Cecille sobbed to Alecia, "She won't leave her room no matter what I do. Can you please talk to her?" I stare at my phone every day just to receive a call from Arman, but I guess I was only waiting for nothing. "Lucy..." Alecia said as she walked toward me with a sad face. "Maybe you need to pick yourself back up again." It might be time for you to eat and take care of yourself. If things get worse, you'll become depressed, and I don't want that to happen.""Why do you care about me?" My shoulders trembled as I sobbed hysterically as if mourning the loss of something dear in my heart, and I pleaded with the universe to simply let me rot in this place; I no longer want to live. "Lucy, I'm not just your secretary; I'm also your friend. In fact...." Alecia grabbed Cecille's hand and continued, "We are your friends, and we are here for you. We want you to know that you're not alone as you go through this breakup." After wiping away my tears and trying not t
Lucy’s POV"Who the f*ck is this?" I asked madly as I pulled over to the side of the road. I was so scared that I forgot the man's voice on the phone because my heart was beating so fast.He laughed and said, "Just kidding. I have your flower shop's number. Is this your real phone number?""Look, if you don't want to order anything, don't call me," I said with a soft scoff and a roll of the eyes.And he said, "I already bought your grandma's traditional house—" "So, you're Hugo?" I asked with a sigh, my mouth splitting open as I remembered him."I thought it would take you too long before you remembered me," he said."So what do you want from me?" I asked him softly and waited for him to answer because I knew I had to get to my dad's grave today immediately. I'm in such a hurry but this monkey wants me to work for him. "Well, since I bought your grandmother's house, I can see that this garden needs some fresh flowers from your farm. Could you do me a favor? I know you're a florist.
Lucy’s POVI bit my lip and rubbed my temple in response to stepmom's viewpoint, then sent her a furious glance and asked, "Why would I do that to the poor baby? Of course, once the baby is out, it will belong to Peter since he's the child's father. And Jane will spend the rest of her life in jail." As she slowly nodded in agreement with what I had just pointed out, she finally remarked, "Oh, that's right. Actually, did you know that this is the reason your grandmother's business is slowly falling apart? Don't you feel bad about it at all?" I put down my bag and let out a sigh to calm down. If I couldn't calm down, I would have hit that woman in front of my dad's grave already. "No, it doesn't make me feel bad at all. That's their choice; they want to support Jane, the criminal."The moment I turned my back on her, she looked disgusted and asked, "How can you treat Jane like that? You think your cousin is a criminal? She didn't put you in the water or shoot you, so Lucy, please stop
Lucy’s POVI really wanted to know what happened to him after we broke up. Hearing his name makes me feel like I'm stuck and can't move on."Well, it's just a rumor, so you don't have to believe it," Hugo said, his voice dripping with mystery. "Besides that, your secretary made a meeting for us tomorrow at 10 a.m.” I reluctantly agree, my face betrays the despair I'm trying to hide. "Alright, Bye." I put the phone down and sat down at the desk, my gaze fixed on the empty wall. The heart ache in my heart deepened, a constant, relentless reminder of the love I've lost, and a love that still echoes in the empty spaces of my life.“I miss him….” I heard a sudden knock on my door, I looked up and said, “Come in.” Alecia walked in and said, “Your grandma is here.” "Oh, tell her I'm busy today and don't have time for visitors." Alecia asked, "Do you want me to lock your door so they won't bother you anymore?""Yes, lock it," I say with a nod. She asked, wide-eyed, "Are you serious Mi
Lucy’s POVHugo Ricci walked around me as if he were going to attack, smirked, and murmured in my ear, "I know everything about you, Lucy..." I took a deep breath and tried not to show him how scared I was. Then I glared at him and asked, "What do you know about me?" He smiled at me and said, "I told you... everything." I slowly stepped back until he laughed and said, "I got you!" I slapped his chest and said, “Do you think this is funny, huh?!” He replied, "No," and added, "But you seem so serious, so maybe it's time to put everything else aside and get your work done, Lucy. This might be your big project. Think about it: I'm going to let you decorate your dad's childhood house. What do you think?""You don't know anything about my life," I said as I shook my head in anger. "Thanks for your time, but I'm done doing business with you."“Hey…” he chased me outside but I kept walking without glancing back at him.He grasped my wrist, making me stop and turn my head to look him in t
Lucy’s POVI didn't know what was happening, but I could hear Alecia's voice shaking. "L-Lucy, something happened..." I held my breath and waited for her to speak; my heart beat faster with fear. She took a deep breath and said, "Enchanted Blooms….. is gone." The air rushed into my lungs, a sharp blow to my senses. I was speechless while covering my mouth in disbelief."What's going on, Miss Lucy?" Hugo's driver asked in worry."Take me to my flower shop," I blurted out. "Yes, Miss," he affirmed before driving away. When we got there, I saw a big fire that had spread to my flower shop building. As I stood there, tears slowly ran down my face, and I let out a soft sob. Alecia hugged me with tears and said, "Lucy, let's go... Now that it's all gone, you can't just stand here; it's dangerous for you. Let the firefighters do their work." "No, my dad's handkerchief was nestled inside. I put it on my desk along with the picture of us. That's the only thing I have with my dad, and it h
Lucy’s POVAll of a sudden, I felt bad about everything. I am at a loss for words; I'm lying in bed, trying to make sense of everything that has happened to me.I didn't know what to do anymore, so I got out of bed and cried my heart out for as long as I wanted. Having a life like this is slowly and truly killing me. It's like I can't rely on anyone but myself. This way of life is exhausting, and I am sick of it.I stepped outside, let out a quiet sigh, and lowered myself into the pool, closing my eyes as I prepared to drown. Because I am so tired, so tired of living with people who always hurt and betrayed me over and over.And later on, I heard a piercing splash in the pool, and someone pulled me out of the water, "Lucy!" Then I coughed uncontrollably, and when I finally opened my eyes, I saw him--HUGO!He tried to save me, and I was so confused about why he had to. Until I heard Cecille’s voice, “Thank god, she’s okay!” Hugo picked me up and carried me to the living room. Cecil
Lucy’s POV"Why would I kill myself just for him?" I asked him with a laugh and added, "That's not who I am." He didn't say anything; he just looked at me as if he had something on his mind that he couldn't say. I met his gaze head-on, "Hugo, I'm fine. Do yourself a favor and go home." His hand went into his pocket as he stood up, his face a mask of concern. "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself here?" he asked."Hugo, why do you care so much about me? Watching people die is probably nothing new to you," I said, my voice tinged with bitterness. A flicker of pain written on his face and he replied with clenched jaw, "You don't know anything about me. Yes, Arman and I are the same people who grew up in that world. But I am not ruthless like him." I watched him walk to the door. Before he opened it, he glanced back at me and said, "I know you think I'm a bad person, but I'm still human. And when I care for someone, Lucy, I don't fake it. Remember that."And he left me with a hea
Arman’s POV"Loretta is here; she wanted to talk to you." Ray said as he sat on the couch, playing with his gun.Even though it's crystal clear that I don't want her or want to see her, this woman is continuously trying to force herself on me. I let out a soft sigh and walked to the door. When I opened it, I saw her in her pajamas. Her feet were so dirty that it looked like she had run away from home and come here to see me.I asked with narrowed eyes, "What are you doing here?""H—Help me. My father wants to kill me, and you're the only person I can trust." She said it with a voice full of fear. She looked around, and as she did, her tears began to roll back into her cheeks. I need your help; if he finds out I'm here, he'll kill me.She pushed her way in, which shocked me. Even Ray looked at her in shock and confusion at what she was doing in my house. Ray got up and said, "She left her house. I think Mr. Patani has a bad temper. Are you okay, Loretta?" "Please don't tell him I'm he
Lucy’s POV"Yes, Grandma." I said, lowering my head, trying not to shed tears this time. "But I guess Jane needs you the most now. She just lost her child and it must be painful for her to lose two people important in her life."Grandma sighed in remorse, her voice mixed with pain as she said, "I didn't know that we were being too considerate with Jane but not with you, my dear."I smiled. "It's okay; life is like that. I have to go."I glanced at Uncle Robert, who looked so worried about Jane's condition, and Aunt Cecille ran outside to call the nurse and doctor. My heart felt like it was wrenched a thousand times because Jane still has parents who love her truly, but I am here, feeling like a lost daughter.Aunt Cecille glanced at me as I turned my back on them; she said nothing, but the look of unfathomable guilt was written all over her face. As I made my way outside, I noticed the two bodyguards still standing there. To be honest, I wasn't used to having security. But if my life
Lucy’s POV"What's wrong?" It looked like he didn't want to talk about it again. So I blocked his way and asked, "Say something." "I guess someone hired him to kill you. But no one still knows who that guy was. Why don't you forget about it so you don't have to worry about it anymore?" "How can I forget about it if my life has been in danger and people have tried to kill me ever since my father died?" I asked with disdain. He touched my face and whispered, "You need not be afraid anymore. Please know that I am here for you and will protect you as long as you are with me."I felt a pang, a bitter ache in my heart as I stared at him. He says the same things that Arman always told me, and I can't help but think about the good old times with Arman. Looking at him, though, brought back a memory. I remember another smile, one that completely captivated me. It was Arman's smile, the one that never failed to make my heart race and flutter. “Are you alright?” Hugo asked as he scanned my f
Lucy’s POVI'm out here in the street, shivering from the cold and the agony in my heart from my feelings for Arman, and it's raining again. It's been hard for me to forget about him, but now I'm crying again because of him. I took a deep breath and hailed a cab. When I got inside, I saw a suspicious-looking knife and a rope. I retreated and said, "I think I forgot something. Sorry." I then closed the car door and ran away in fear.But the taxi followed in the street, I frowned and muttered in panic, “What’s wrong with him?” Even though it was pouring rain, I kept running until I tripped and looked like I couldn't go on. The cab driver stopped in front of me. As I tried to crawl, he got out of his car and smiled at me. He had a deep scar on his face. "So, you're Lucy Hansley? You've been on my radar, Lucy...""Who are you?! What do you want from me?" I yelled in fear and then grabbed a rock to throw at him. As I stood up, I groaned in pain and tried to run as fast as I could, even
Lucy’s POVI pushed him away, desperately trying to escape from his grasp. "Arman, I can't! I am dating Hugo now... I can't bear the thought of betraying him!""No, you belong to me. You felt sorry for him, that's why you gave him a chance! I know you still love me—"I slapped his face, my tears slowly rolling down on my cheeks. My heart throbbed in pain as I said, "And after this, what?! You're going to leave me again! How can you kiss me, want to make love to me, and in the end, you're still going to leave me like nothing happened between us?!""Lucy…" Silence engulfed the room as he watched my tears trace paths down my cheeks. Just as I turned to leave, a deafening crack of thunder split the sky, and a blinding bolt of lightning illuminated the downpour that drenched the place in an instant. I stumbled back, only to find myself enveloped in his warm embrace. His arms wrapped around me, and as I looked up, his gaze held me captive, and I whispered, "A-Arman..." "I'm sorry..." he
Arman’s POV"Delayed?!" I growled angrily, my voice a rumble that sent shivers down the spines of my men lined up before me. They all lowered their heads as I barked into the phone, "What do you mean by delayed? It's been three damn days that shipment's been floating in that damn ocean!"Ray answered, "Port security's been doing thorough inspections, and we can't afford to lose another shipment. So, we asked the captain to hold standby.""Ray..." I sighed, my anger simmering. "You better handle this. No more delays by tomorrow, or else we lose the Pattani deal."Looking up, I met my men's eyes and issued a command: "Request an extension from Pattani. I want one of you to dig deeper into Hugo Ricci. I want a comprehensive report on him.""Yes, boss." Then they started marching out.I stepped outside while my chest pounded angrily just thinking about the shipments. Then, my thoughts drifted back to Lucy and Hugo again. I sighed as I saw Loretta, Pattani's daughter. She waved and smiled
Lucy’s POV"Lucy," he said gently, drawing me back to the conversation. But I didn't know what to say to him; my mind was a tangled mess. How could I respond to his question? Part of me feared rejecting him, but another larger part was that I couldn't ignore the growing unease in my gut. Ever since his relentless pursuit began, his true colors had started to show. He didn't just give up so easily; he tried to make me happy again, which made me reluctant to ignore his feelings. Before Alicia could spot us, I dragged Hugo into my office and locked the door. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my nerves. He waited patiently, his gaze fixed on me. Then I turned to face him and bit my lower lip. "Hugo..." He smiled."How can you forget him if you don't want to try dating me?" he asked, suggesting a relationship.I took another soft breath and let out a nervous chuckle. "What? What are you talking about? I have already moved on and am trying to make myself happy again. See? I'm happy
Lucy’s POVHugo arrived, his gaze lingering on me as if he longed to offer comfort but held himself back. He watched silently as my sobs wracked my body.Wiping away tears and sniffling, I forced out the words, "I think..." I paused softly and expressed, "I think it's best if you distance yourself from me." "Why?" He reached out a hand hesitantly, then stopped before making contact. "I know I must seem like a stranger, but seeing your pain... It hurts me too. I can't bear to see you cry because of him. I know you don't understand me doing this to you, but trust me, I don't know either." "I know you're trying your best, but seeing you reminds me of him too much."His eyes clouded with sadness as he took a step back. "Well, Lucy," he said softly, "If that's what you want, I can't argue. But remember, whenever you're ready to face the world again, I'm just right here for you, okay?" I nodded, offering a weak smile of apology as I slowly closed the door. Left alone, I sank to the floor
Lucy’s POV"Why would I kill myself just for him?" I asked him with a laugh and added, "That's not who I am." He didn't say anything; he just looked at me as if he had something on his mind that he couldn't say. I met his gaze head-on, "Hugo, I'm fine. Do yourself a favor and go home." His hand went into his pocket as he stood up, his face a mask of concern. "Are you sure you'll be okay by yourself here?" he asked."Hugo, why do you care so much about me? Watching people die is probably nothing new to you," I said, my voice tinged with bitterness. A flicker of pain written on his face and he replied with clenched jaw, "You don't know anything about me. Yes, Arman and I are the same people who grew up in that world. But I am not ruthless like him." I watched him walk to the door. Before he opened it, he glanced back at me and said, "I know you think I'm a bad person, but I'm still human. And when I care for someone, Lucy, I don't fake it. Remember that."And he left me with a hea