They entered a hotel in the suburbs. I got goosebumps and unconsciously squeezed David's hand that was holding mine, while his other hand was holding his phone to record.From getting out of the car to entering the elevator after registering at the reception, they didn't distance themselves at all.Jared's hand was always on the other man's waist. Sometimes the man leaned his head on Jared's shoulder, sniffed his neck, or kissed his cheek affectionately. Likewise, Jared would kiss the side of the man's head, squeeze his butt, or tidy up his hair."They're a couple," I murmured. "Those are things we often do together, right, honey? Because we're a couple, so we show it as a form of expression of affection."David stopped the recording after Jared and the man entered the elevator. He led me out of the hotel lobby and back to the car."So, Jared has another boyfriend besides my father," I said while looking at David with a raised eyebrow. "Love triangle?""Hm. That's for sure," David sai
St. Benedict's Mental Hospital is a large two-story building located in the Agoura Hills area.The building is in the middle of a very large field, which has been transformed into a beautiful and comfortable like city park.I don't really know the history of St. Benedict's, but as far as I can remember, the mental hospital has received awards several times as the best mental health facility in the world."Ten years ago, this hospital was in financial trouble and almost closed," David said when we arrived. "However, my grandfather decided to invest secretly to save this hospital and handed over its management to my mother and her two cousins from my grandmother's side. Since then, this hospital has been operating well until now.""Hm? Why did your grandfather hand over its management to your mother and not your father?" I asked confusedly."That matter is still a mystery to all of us. Even my father was angry and questioned it before my grandfather died, but my grandfather did not gi
She kept crying and I was worried that her health would be affected if she did this."Mom, please, don't cry anymore," I begged. The shirt I was wearing was already wet on the shoulders and chest from her tears. "You'll get sick."My mother lifted her face from my shoulder and looked at me with her swollen eyes. She was so thin and pale. My heart ached so much.She bowed to me when I entered her room. She knelt at my feet and held my feet while crying and saying "I'm sorry" over and over again.When I hugged her, she burst into tears, and so did I. We hugged each other while sitting on the hospital floor, until I coaxed her to stand up and we sat hugging on her bed."Will you forgive me, Loreine?" my mother asked in a hoarse voice from crying too much. "Will you forgive your evil mother?"I stroked her tangled hair and wiped away her tears that seemed like they couldn't stop flowing."I've forgiven you, Mom. I hope you forgive me for making you face everything alone," I said softly.M
"Oh, they're so adorable," Wendy said. Her eyes sparkled and her hands moved, caressing the glass of the frame. "Very much like their father, but the smile is definitely yours, Ms. Loreine.""Umm, Wendy, could you just call me Loreine? You're older than me and I don't really like too much formality," I said, giving her a small smile to reassure her.Wendy's face lit up. "Of course, Loreine, I'd love to.""Sometime, you should bring your daughter to meet and play with the twins. They'll be so happy," I said as I handed her two sheets of paper that I had prepared earlier.Wendy took the paper and read it carefully. I saw her reading it over and over again while memorizing and marking some parts that she might think were important."Okay, Loreine, I understand and I'll try to do my best," Wendy said after a while. "But, please, tell me when I'm wrong or lacking in doing something.""Deal," I said, extending my hand.She took my hand with a big smile and I felt confident that my relations
Jared PoV"Loreine? She's back?"I felt my blood flow stopped suddenly. My body felt cold and my vision became a little blurry.My mother suddenly came to the company and came to me in the work room, past my secretary who tried to stop me because I was busy dealing with a mountain of documents that had to be signed immediately.Then, my mother burst into a tirade that to me only sounded like a series of machine gun shots, mixed with crying.Then, I heard Loreine's name called and the words that she had returned, making me understand what my mother was babbling about."She insulted me, insulted you, said inappropriate harsh words," my mother snapped. She sank down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and massaged his forehead.I came out from behind the work desk and sat next to her. What I heard from my mother was truly surprising.Loreine disappeared two days before she and I got married and after that she was never
David PoVI stared at the man in front of me, sitting upright and arms crossed in front of my chest. I didn't want to give him a friendly attitude, let alone a friendly one.Since we met by chance at the club, when Liam invited me to have a drink together, he had tried to contact me several times and I had declined all his calls. I didn't want to have any contact with him at all.This morning, I received a message from him. Short, but it made me think."We should meet, before Mr. Jameson's birthday. It's about Loreine"Then, as if he was sure that I would accept his invitation, he sent a map of the meeting location, at a restaurant."I'm glad you finally agreed to meet me, David," Jared said with a smile.I could see that he was being careful and studying my body language carefully."You've been refusing my calls all this time.""What do you want? I feel like we have no business talking about anything. You know, you and
"No!"I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror in front of me, checking again if there was anything wrong with my appearance.The dress I was wearing was a dress made of number one silk, jet black in color, with very thin gold thread shadows forming a scattered rose pattern.The dress was made in an A-line shape that widened below the knee, with a sleeveless Sabrina collar and a gold silk obi that formed the waist.The handbag and shoes I was wearing were made as a set with the dress, covered in gold silk fabric with variations of black lines.My makeup was natural with my hair in a simple bun and decorated with fresh red roses. Wendy had found a beauty salon that was not too big but very good and I was satisfied with the results."What? What's wrong? Is my dress too revealing? Or is my makeup too thick?" I asked while turning around.David approached me and hugged my shoulders from behind. I looked at him, putting my chin
He stood very awkwardly. I could see the corners of his eyes quivering, as well as the corners of his mouth, as he tried to smile. I could even see that his hands were shaking, and his fists kept slipping, probably because his palms were too sweaty."Loreine," he greeted in a low voice. "You're finally here."I didn't move, holding my kid's hands tightly on my right and left sides, and looking straight at him."Alexander," I said in a formal tone. "I heard you're the chairman of the committee for this event. So could you change my name, then re-announce it, so I can come in?"He took a step towards me, but I immediately took a step back from him. No. I didn't want to be too close to him.I used to like his scent. He smelled like Woody and cinnamon. Masculine and calming.However, ever since I caught him in the Stables, I could only remember the smell of s*x that made me nauseous about him. I didn't want to be considered rude by throwing up a
"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