David PoV"W-what, Mom?"The sentence uttered by my mother, with a smile still plastered on her face that still looked beautiful even though she had entered her age of more than half a century, made all of us in the room freeze."Why?" Jake asked, his voice filled with protest.This was a big surprise for me and my youngest brother. My parents had always been fine and harmonious all this time. We never saw them fight, or ignore each other, or anything that showed that they didn't get along.In fact, when my father told me about my engagement to Hailey, my mother also helped persuade me.That's why, I felt a little worried when I heard my mother was at Jake's house when we were going to have dinner here.No one knew about Loreine and the twins, except Jake and Dwyane, in my family. And I'm sure, the Hart family is still keeping the secret that they have found Loreine, from other members of the extended family.I only heard the news from Liam and his attitude at that time also sounded a
I've started to clean up. Alana helps me with work and the twins' school. David returned to Los Angeles with Abigail. He couldn't keep leaving his job because it was his responsibility.Every day we made video call, usually before going to bed, and exchange messages. I feel like a teenager who has just fallen in love with a man she has had a crush on for a long time.However, I still convince my heart not to expect too much of anything and also not to give David too much hope, even though with what happened to Abigail, I'm sure he will defend me if something happens to me because of David.I no longer believe in the institution of marriage, after what my father and Jared did, especially after hearing Abigail's story, the distrust in my heart grew even greater.I choose to stay single, rather than have a partner but continue to be hurt or the marriage is only used as a cover to form an image in the eyes of others."Loreine, don't forget you have to meet Mr. Damian, in half an hour," sa
I never answered Hailey's calls or messages. I didn't know her and I had nothing to do with her. Whatever happened between her and David, it was not my responsibility to know."Mom, tomorrow the event will start at nine in the morning," Shery said after school. "But I don't want to join it anymore."I looked at my daughter, who took off her shoes and socks listlessly and without a smile on her face.Today the twins only went to school for half a day because the teachers at school needed time to decorate the school for tomorrow's festival.I also deliberately took a day off from the office because my work was almost finished, although I was a little anxious because there might be a problem with Damian who would accompany me to Los Angeles.However, I didn't want to think too much about it. Let it be the management's decision. I can adjust to working with anyone later.I picked up the twins from school before lunch and noticed Shery's gloomy attitude.Usually every time she came home fr
There was a feeling of annoyance bubbling inside me right now, even though my lips were still smiling and my voice still sounded cheerful.David hadn't told me at all and it was only an hour before the twins performed on stage to play the drama."Mom, has Daddy come?" Shery asked for the umpteenth time. She looked around at the group of parents in the school yard.I stroked her hair that curled beautifully around her plump cheeks."If he really doesn't come, will you play the drama badly?" I asked softly.Shery stared at me for a moment, then smiled and shook her head."No, Mom, I will still play my role well. Daddy must have a reason why he can't come, so I won't be fussy," Shery said with a serious expression.I kissed the top of her head and patted her shoulder gently. "That's Mommy's girl. Go join your friends and spend time with them as much as you like today, because tomorrow you won't see them again."Shery ran back to her friends who were showing off their costumes. Shane was
David PoVD*mn it, Hailey!How could I be so stupid, not realizing Hailey's terrifying possessive side.Loreine's suspicion that she might have been spying on me since I left for Italy was true.We had a fight because she felt I was ignoring her. In fact, I was never interested in her at all and had repeatedly rejected the engagement plan.She tried to disturb Loreine? I wouldn't let her do it, especially if she dared to touch Loreine and the twins.If it was true that Hailey was spying on me, it was a bit surprising why there hadn't been a fuss about me, Loreine, and the twins until now.Did Hailey deliberately keep this matter to herself, so she could blackmail me whenever needed? I don't know how cunning that woman is, but seeing her cousin who turned out to have worked for one of my companies for a long time and had been corrupting for a long time, I felt that maybe it was in the Adam family's blood. Cunning and cheating."David, how are Loreine and the twins?" my mother asked whe
It was a picture of Damian holding my hand on the cafeteria table a few days ago when we met at the hospital to visit Ms. Petra.I guess this was the answer to the sudden uneasy feeling I had when I was there. I felt like someone was watching me."Who is he?" David asked. His tone was cold and stiff. "Why is he holding your hand like that? Are you guys in a special relationship?""David," I said firmly. I had a feeling this was going to be a big deal for David. "Tell me where you got the picture?""An unknown number sent it last night, right before I got on the plane to go here," David replied. His eyebrows raised. "Tell me Lou, who is he?"I caught something else in his words. There was no "baby," just "Lou." David was jealous."An unknown number sent you that picture and after our conversation about your future wife stalking you and possibly stalking me now, you ask me in such a tone?"I purposely made my tone sound irritated. I needed to know how David felt about this.Damian was g
"His name is Damian. He will be my partner when I run the Los Angeles branch of the company. He is a lawyer. When this happened, the twins and I were at St. Veronica Hospital to visit their homeroom teacher, Ms. Petra, who also happened to be his sister, who had an accident a few days before.""Then why are you holding hands like this?" David asked, still annoyed."This is not holding hands, Dave," I said in denial for the umpteenth time. "Look! His hand is on top of mine and this is because he is saying thank you to me for giving him time to come to Los Angeles later. He needs to do something for his sister before he leaves.""That doesn't give him the right to touch you indiscriminately," David grumbled.I stroked his chin. "Come on, I didn't respond at all, and immediately pulled my hand away from him. I will never do something appropriate.""That means someone was spying on you too and he took this picture and sent it to me to cause a rift between us. Hm, I need to talk to Paolo a
David PoV"Damian Trent."The man was wearing a casual suit, a light blue long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, black trousers, and white basketball shoes.He was handsome and his face showed a strong Latin blood. His attitude was also friendly and seemed easygoing.I could tell he was single. There was no wedding ring on his finger and instead he wore a nice turquoise ring that matched his appearance.I didn't like him."David Shane Arshen," I replied while gripping his hand a little tighter.His thick eyebrows rose. "Oh, so you are the father. Little Shane looks a lot like you."I nodded proudly and glanced at Loreine who was watching our interaction. She smiled when our eyes met and I felt calm.Damian could be in love with Loreine, but I was sure that Loreine's heart and body were completely mine.We had relived our first night, many times, without satisfaction and like an addiction as soon as we started again.Loreine's fuller body was like an addiction to
"Too busy with the pattern.""The material is hot and stiff.""Ugh, the color makes me look pale like a living corpse.""Ooh... I don't like the model, it's too revealing."Petra, Marisa, and Erika, sighed together. They slumped on the sofa and leaned against each other. I glanced and grinned at them.I was still choosing a dress from the many wedding dresses hanging, with a frown and pursed lips. I started to feel annoyed because none of the dresses felt right for me.A very pale light blue dress, tucked between several white lace dresses caught my eye. I pulled the dress off the hanger and immediately fell in love.The dress had a cheongsam-like style, with a high collar, sleeveless, heel-length, and a high slit to mid-thigh.The beautiful silver peacock motif on the smooth pale blue satin material, would sparkle when the wearer moved."I want this dress," I said, to the three exhausted women on the couch, my future in-laws.Marisa stood up quickly. "Loreine, honey, it's too plain."
"Oh my God, this is really amazing," Wendy said with tears in her eyes. "I've been anxious for days. I don't know what I'm going to do if you guys go back to Italy and I have to work with new people."I laughed and hugged Wendy tightly. Damian patted her shoulder gently. The results of the assessment from the head office had been announced. Damian and I were asked to continue leading the Los Angeles branch because we were considered to have achieved a lot. Several big clients who worked with us, were proven to increase the company's turnover with a fairly profitable value.There was a debate, seeing our good work, Damian and I, several higher-ups at the head office wanted us to be transferred to the London branch to fix the chaotic situation there.However, more people opposed the idea and thought that the London branch might be fixed if Damian and I were sent there, but the risk of the Los Angeles branch experiencing a decline in performance if it was not handled by Damian and I worr
I felt restless. Since morning my mood had been messed up and I couldn't focus on anything."Calm down, baby, I'm sure you'll get through it just fine. You've worked hard all this time and the results you've gotten are also amazing," David said, trying to calm me down with his gentle words and his hand stroking my hair.I took a deep breath, convincing myself that what he said was true. But, I still felt nervous.The assessors from the head office had arrived last night and today they would assess me and Damian after lunch.I took a deep breath several times before getting out of the car in front of the office. David smiled and squeezed my hand gently."Dave, you want to pray for me today, right?" I asked while looking at him."Of course, baby, I always pray for you without you asking me to," David replied softly.I reached out and hugged his neck tightly, trying to absorb all the good energy and enthusiasm from David to face the examiners from the head office soon.Damian greeted me
"Here's the plan," Abigail said, pushing a light blue folder in front of me and David. "Everything is written down in detail, complete with a cost breakdown and a backup plan.""But don't mind the numbers, because we've got it all covered. This is just to let you know that this is what we're trying to do for your wedding," my mother said quickly."I don't think we should have included any numbers at all," Abigail muttered."I told you before," snapped my mom.I nudged David's arm and he took the folder and opened it. I leaned in to read the contents.David held his breath and looked at me, then turned to my mother and his mother who were sitting side by side in front of us, waiting for our reactions."Mom, this is too... Uh, grand?" David said hesitantly."Of course not!" my mother quickly denied. "It was the simplest concept I could have chosen among the many other luxurious wedding options your mother offered, David. You'd be surprised if you saw the other options she offered me bef
"We're going home, mom, to my apartment," I said while combing my mother's hair which had grown longer than before, when I first visited her.At first the doctor was optimistic that my mother could go home sooner because of the progress she had made during the treatment.But, it seemed that the divorce process between her and Alexander had a big impact, even though it was what she wanted, so her condition worsened again.Now, after being tested several times, the doctor said she was ready to go home. I've talked to David, I picked her up myself and took her shopping before going back to my apartment."Why to the apartment?" David asked last night before going home. "You guys should go back home, your mom too. Just leave the apartment. My home is your home, baby."I smiled and reached out, brushing away the hair that had fallen onto David's forehead."I'll take the kids and my mom there, but after we get married. I need to be sure first," I said softly."You're still mad at me," David
Hailey's funeral procession was solemn. Quite a lot of mourners came, including grandpa Jameson, Alexander, and Liam.The Arshen family, not only Abigail and Gregory, but also several other relatives. The Reiner family, Jared was not there, all gathered in the hall of the Adam family's house, to release Hailey together.David and I brought the twins to attend the funeral. They looked a little confused but enthusiastic, seeing the process and atmosphere of the funeral. This was something new for them."Mom, does everyone here know each other?" Shery asked in a whisper.I shook my head. "I don't think so. I don't know some of the women in the corner over there, but all of these people are connected by one thing in common.""Hm? What is that?" Shery asked seriously."They all know Hailey and gathered together to release her to her final place," I answered.Shery nodded and then she whispered to Shane who seemed to be listening seriously. I turned to David, who was looking at me with a ra
"I remember everything."David, Leroy, and I exchanged glances. Hailey's voice was soft and slow, but we could hear her clearly and what she said surprised us all."W-what do you remember, honey?" Leroy asked nervously.David held Leroy's shoulder. "Leroy, you should call a doctor first, to check Hailey's condition. Loreine and I will guard here."Leroy looked nervous and confused after Hailey opened her eyes. He looked like he could go hysterical at any moment, so David tried to take control.However, after hearing David's words, Hailey pressed my hand which she had still been holding since she opened her eyes five minutes ago."No, don't call a doctor," Hailey said in a hoarse voice. "I don't need a doctor. I want you guys to just listen to me for a moment."I rubbed Hailey's hand. "You need to be checked, Hailey."Hailey shook her head stubbornly. "No need. Loreine, David, I just need to apologize to you for what I've done to you all this time. I know that you two will never be apa
"I don't like him," David grumbled for the umpteenth time. "He looks like a playboy."I sighed, for the umpteenth time too. David continued to nag about Warren even after the man and Dwight had left and we were on our way to the hospital.Leroy Adam had let me visit Hailey at the hospital and David had come to pick me up when he bumped into Warren who was about to come back into my room after coming back from the bathroom.They bumped into each other in front of my room door and got suspicious of each other until they argued. Dwight and I could only shake our heads at their behavior."David, you're being unreasonable," I said in a tone of annoyance that I deliberately made audible. "Warren and I just met today. When you bumped into him at the door, he had only been in for about ten minutes and asked to go to the bathroom. He was with my client, Dwight.""He seemed very attentive to you, for only being in for ten minutes," David said. His voice was a little softer. Maybe because he sen
"Can I visit her?"David looked at me. He seemed hesitant. I, myself, said that spontaneously, responding to David's story about Hailey being treated in the hospital because her condition suddenly declined, last night."I'll ask Leroy, I mean, Hailey's father. I have no right to decide because it's not my authority," David replied after a while."You didn't get enough sleep," I said while wiping under David's eyes with my thumb."Yes. Leroy doesn't want me to leave. He said he wasn't sure he could support himself if something happened to Hailey. I stayed with him until this morning," David responded in a tired tone. "I could only leave after I said I had to attend a meeting with a client."I adjusted my sitting position and turned David's body so that his back was to me and then started massaging his shoulders.David groaned softly, as I touched his stiff muscles. "Oh God, I really want all of this to end soon," David said. "But, do you know, baby, that kind of thinking makes me feel