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
Jameson Hart IX was a tough man. Since he was young, he had shown himself to be a reliable leader. He was agile, hardworking, brave in making decisions, and decisive.The previous leader of the Golden Triangle family was Benjamin Rudy Arshen, who was impressed by the young Jameson. He only had two daughters and it was impossible to pass on leadership to his son-in-law, and the same was true of the Reiner family, no one was worthy.A big decision was made and when Benjamin decided on Jameson as the new leader, no one opposed it because at that time he was the only one worthy, even though his appointment had passed a generation.Jameson always took care of his health and fitness. He only ate healthy food, exercised regularly, and regulated his rest patterns.I remember, when I returned home after spending the night with David that time, Grandpa Jameson's gaze was very sharp at me, as if he wanted to strip me naked and find out what I was hiding.Seeing Grandpa Jameson's condition in fro
Alexander PoVI don't know since when I started to pay attention to Jared. He is the only son of Alma and Dean Reiner. His age is more or less between Liam and Lucas.Because he is an only child, since he graduated from high school, Dean has often brought Jared to several business meetings and helped him with several company matters.Dean has no other heirs and it is certain that Jared must take over all his business and company matters when Dean retires later.Sometimes Dean asks me to teach Jared a few things when we meet and I am happy to provide assistance to the enthusiastic young man.Dean and I have been friends since our junior high school days and I automatically consider Jared like my son too. He often contacts me to ask one or two things related to business and occasionally we meet for coffee or just to talk, after he represents his father in the company.Dean's health condition is not good, since he was declared to have kidney failure, so after Jared started college, he mo
Marisa removed the stethoscope from her ears. Her face looked calm. "He had a mild heart attack, but he's doing well now. I think it would be best to take him to the hospital for further examination and treatment.""I'll take him to the hospital now," Liam said quickly."No need," Marisa said quickly. "My husband has prepared a car. I'll take him to give a statement to the doctor who will treat him. You guys, please continue."All eyes were on Marisa and Dwayne leaving, taking Alexander to the hospital. He was carried by several guards to the car that Dwayne had prepared."Jared Reiner," Grandpa Jameson said in a low voice. "Can you explain what happened?"Jared turned his tearful eyes to me. There was sadness, anger, and confusion in his eyes."Why did you do it, Loreine? Do you hate me so much that you would do something like that? You also hurt Alexander, your own father!"I shrugged and pouted. "I've had nothing to do with him, since I saw him having s*x with you. Do you know what
"I just left them for a while to get the ice cream they wanted, but when I came back, they were gone," Nadia said in a hoarse voice from crying too much. "I asked the other caregivers and they just said that their aunt took them away earlier.""Auntie?" I asked confusedly. "Which auntie? Erika is with us in the room, so is Petra, and Marisa is at the hospital."David entered the room with two police officers. They had been called as soon as we received the report of Shane and Lulla's disappearance.The other three children, Shery, Luna, and Dylan, looked confused and scared. Shery kept asking about Shane, and Luna asked about Lulla.I asked Nadia to take them to wait in the playroom and distract them from panicking. Abigail decided to go with Nadia and Gregory followed her."We have checked the CCTV around the building and it seems like there was an element of intent, because the CCTV at the back doors had been damaged earlier and we could only check the CCTV in the children's playroo
"I don't know who that woman is," David said with a confused face. "I don't even think I've met her, even though her face wasn't clearly visible.""The car she used didn't have a license plate," Captain Ricky said. "I've ordered all my men to be on standby and check CCTV on every road that the black Bentley might have passed.""A Bentley is a car that not everyone can have because it's expensive," Lucas muttered. "I think we should investigate the car dealership that sells Bentleys, to find out who owns a black Bentley throughout Los Angeles.""Wait a minute, I have an old friend who works at one of the famous car dealerships here. I'll contact him," Dwayne said quickly. He left Captain Ricky's office and called his old friend.I rested my head on David's shoulder. My head hurt and my chest was so tight. I was worried about what would happen to Shane and Lulla. They were just little kids who didn't know anything, why would anyone be cruel to them?David put his arm around my shoulder
"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