The table, including Eloise, was shocked as Vaughn sat beside her. Some of the parents also glanced their way, whispering among themselves about the arrival of a hot “dad.” His appearance made quite the buzz, and Eloise felt a sense of jealousy in her heart. “Isn’t that Vaughn Ryder?” one mom pointed out. “The CEO of Cavallerizzo? What is he doing here?”“Did he come to accompany his relative? His niece of nephew, perhaps?” another one asked. "Maybe he has a child that goes here.""That's impossible! He just broke up with Alina Jenkins."The crowd buzzed with gossip. Vaughn, however, turned a blind eye and focused his attention on Eloise and their table. The wives on the table looked at Vaughn with agape mouths. Meanwhile, the husbands felt insecure about their partners’ reactions. Mrs. Brown calmed down, fixing her hair and leaning on the table. Her eyes sparkled with interest and kindness—as if she wasn’t just badmouthing Eloise a while ago. “Mr. Vaughn?” she said with a smile.
Cadence arrived at the office with a huge smile on her face. She used to not like working at all, hoping to marry into a rich family and live life like a trophy wife instead. Being able to marry a rich guy who was on the verge of dying was even her ultimate dream, hoping to get a hefty amount of inheritance after a couple years of marriage. However, as she started working in Cavallerizo, she came to love her job. She even goes to the office earlier than her work hours to see a certain person. “Cadence!” Xavi excitedly greeted, waving his hands enthusiastically at her. “Xavi,” she exclaimed, sitting down next to him in the office’s lounge. She smiled as she took in his features. He's still as handsome as ever. “Coffee?” he offered, sliding Cadence’s favorite blend in front of her. “I made it for you since I knew you’d be grumpy without it,” he smiled. Cadence couldn’t help but feel flattered. How could she not like Xavi when he acts like this? He’s like a big, soft puppy who’s loya
Cadence didn’t even know why she agreed to this. Was it her pride? Definitely not. Was she a masochist who wanted to see Xavi’s so-called girlfriend? Probably.Cadence got out of her car and looked at the fancy restaurant up front. She hesitated to enter, wanting to go back to her car and drive back home. She could just come up with a lame excuse if they try to look for her. “Should I?” she whispered, glancing back and forth between the car and the restaurant. “Ah, fuck it,” she cursed, marching over to the restaurant. It’s going to kill her not knowing what Xavi’s girlfriend is like. She already hasn’t gotten enough sleep for the past few days after Xavi told her he had a girlfriend. “A reservation under Xavi Cortez,” Cadence said to the waiter serving up front. “Ah, the table for four,” he said. “Come this way, ma’am. You are the first of your party to arrive.”She smiled and followed after him. He sat her down in a wide booth, and above it was a crystal chandelier. “Would you
"What? No!" Cadence tried to deny it, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her. Red chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't tell him. Although it's pretty obvious."Cadence's facade crumbled. "Is it really obvious?""So, you do like him!" he exclaimed, pointing at her. Her eyes widened. No way! Did he just trick her into telling her real feelings? "Don't tell him!" she quickly said. "I don't think he caught on yet.""Oh, he definitely hasn't caught on," Red said. "That guy's as dense as a rock on the bottom of the ocean. If you want him to know about your feelings, you'd have to tell him up front."Cadence sighed. "I don't know if I would get the courage to. I honestly considered telling him my feelings the other day, but he decided to set me up with you!""Ouch," Red said. "Am I that disappointing?""It's not that," she said. "But you're not Xavi, you know? We've been friends for the past few months, and I've come to like every aspect of his being. I met you for the first time today, and
“Well, thanks for the warm welcome, sis,” the young lad said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I went away for a few months, and you’re hugging Ken over here.”Vaughn cleared his throat and offered his hand to Cameron. “Cam, long time no see. It’s nice to meet you again.”Cameron glared at Vaughn and slapped his hand away. “Nice to meet you again, my ass.”He went to Eloise’s side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Is he bothering you, sis? Should we file a restraining order against him?”Eloise sighed. “Calm down, Cam. Everything’s good.”“Good?” he scoffed. “This bastard is back, and you expect me to calm down? Let’s go to my car and go home. Did you leave Ollie at Cadence again?”“He’s in the car,” Vaughn responded. “What car?”“My car,” he said. “I brought him here.”“Oh, you brought him here—WHAT? You know about Ollie?” he exclaimed in shock. “Yes,” Vaughn nodded. “Of course, I know about my son.”Cameron turned to his sister, betrayed. “You told him abou
The siblings were shocked after Vaughn’s long statement. Ollie, too, looked at his dad with awe. And despite not understanding most of what he was saying, he tapped Vaughn’s arm and gave him two thumbs up. Vaughn smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. Eloise and Cameron were still speechless. Eloise never thought Vaughn had it in him to say such beautiful words. He had apologized plenty of times, but this was a whole other story. She even felt tears dwelling in her eyes at one point. Cameron snapped out of his daze and chuckled awkwardly. “I was just asking for an explanation, man. I didn’t think you’d say a full wedding vow,” he chuckled. Vaughn chuckled with him. “I don’t know. Words just came flowing out of my mouth. I am really sorry about everything I’ve done.”Cameron felt conflicted. He knew how much Vaughn had hurt his precious sister, and he didn’t want her to experience heartbreak again. However, while watching the two of them since earlier, Cameron wondered if Vaughn could
“I can’t believe Eloise and Vaughn are going on a trip,” Cadence said, leaning against her hand. Xavi and her decided to spend their breaktime together, so they were currently at the lounge room with their usual drinks and snacks. Xavi chuckled. “That’s nice, though. Vaughn has been preparing for the trip so much for the past week. He wants to make it perfect for Eloise. Why? Don’t you want them to be together?”Cadence raised both her eyebrows. “Oh, boy. If you only knew! I’m probably the biggest pusher of their relationship. If it weren’t for me, Vaughn surely wouldn’t even know that Ollie is his son.”He laughed out loud. “Then why can’t you believe that they’re going on a trip together?”“Because they didn’t take me!” she joked. “No, kidding aside. Eloise told me she doesn’t want to enter a relationship yet. However, with how things are progressing, I think she’s going to swallow her words very soon. They’re even going to the city of love, for god’s sake!”“Hmm,” Xavi nodded. “An
The bustling airport terminal was filled with travelers hurrying past. Vaughn and Eloise were waiting for their flight number to be called when they were suddenly faced with an unfortunate event. “What? The flight’s canceled?” Vaughn said through the phone, catching Eloise by surprise. She frowned and stood up, trying to listen in on their conversation. Vaughn massaged the bridge of his nose. “Well, get someone to fix it real quick. I book the whole plane for someone special, and now you’re telling me it isn’t even working?”Eloise held onto Vaughn’s bicep. “Is everything alright?” she quietly asked. “Wait for a second,” he softly said before turning his attention back to his phone. “What time can we get on that plane? Tomorrow? You must be kidding me,” he said in a frustrated voice. Eloise could now guess what was happening. Vaughn told her he rented an entire business class plane for the two of them, and she almost couldn’t believe him. How much would that have cost? Eloise cert
The anticipation in the air was palpable as the doors to the grand entrance slowly opened, revealing Eloise in all her radiant glory. As she took her first steps down the aisle, Vaughn couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She looked like an angel, a vision of beauty that took his breath away. At that moment, he was reminded of all the struggles they had gone through, all the obstacles they had overcome, and how far they had come to reach this point. Memories flashed before Vaughn's eyes – the first time they met, their initial disagreements, the tender moments of understanding, and the countless instances they had supported each other through thick and thin. Their journey had been far from easy, but it had brought them to this magical moment, where they were about to vow their love and commitment to each other. As Eloise finally stood before him at the altar, Vaughn's heart swelled with emotion. He held her hands gently, the warmth of her touch sending shivers down his spine. The of
The day of Vaughn and Eloise's wedding had finally arrived, and the atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation. The venue was adorned with ethereal decorations, and soft music filled the air as the guests took their seats. It was an intimate setup, surrounded by their closest friends and family who had witnessed their tumultuous journey toward love.Inside the bridal suite, Eloise was getting ready, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Cadence, her best friend, and maid-of-honor, bustled around her, making sure every detail was perfect. "You look absolutely stunning, Eloise," Cadence beamed, her eyes glistening with joy for her friend.Eloise offered a shaky smile, clutching her bouquet tightly. "Thank you, Cadence. I can't believe this day is finally here."Cadence placed a reassuring hand on Eloise's shoulder. "You and Vaughn have been through so much together, and today is the day you get to celebrate your love. It's going to be perfect."Meanwhile,
After Alina's revelation to the public, Vaughn wasted no time in setting a press conference. Not only did he want to clear up everything with the public and start a new, clean slate, but he also wanted Eloise's first movie not to be affected. The news of Vaughn's press conference spread like wildfire through the media and social media platforms. Speculations were rife about what he might reveal, especially after Alina's scandalous revelation. Reporters and fans alike were anxiously waiting to see what the multi-millionaire would say.As the clock ticked closer to the scheduled time, Vaughn felt a mix of nervousness and determination. He knew that this press conference was a turning point in his life, and he was ready to face the consequences of his actions.The conference hall was filled with reporters and cameras, all eager to witness the drama unfold. Vaughn stepped onto the podium, taking a moment to survey the crowd. He knew that this was not just about him but also about the wom
The red carpet buzzed with excitement as hot stars came to promote the long-awaited movie—“Dreams Come True.”Director Hugo’s movies would always make it into the trending list during premier days, and this movie wasn’t an exception. Despite the numerous controversies that surrounded it, “Dreams Come True” still managed to capture the curiosity of viewers. “Grayson, over here!” The paparazzi and cameramen scrambled to get interviews and pictures of the young actor. The girls waiting outside the red carpet screamed as they were grazed by his handsome presence. “Why are you all alone tonight?” One interviewer asked. Grayson smiled. “Don’t worry. My Zoe is coming here later.”That’s right. His “Zoe.”Grayson had tried inviting Eloise to the red carpet-event, but it seemed like she already had someone else in mind. At the end of the day, the only version of Eloise that would be his is Zoe. Because the real Eloise already belonged to Vaughn. It was hard to accept at first, especia
“Xavi, let me go,” Cadence said, trying to tug her arm away.“Let’s talk,” Xavi said, locking themselves in a stock room and standing in front of the door.Cadence bit her lip in embarrassment.“There isn’t anything to talk about,” she muttered.“That’s not what I heard.”“I was just ranting to Eloise,” she said. “We should really go. Our break is almost over.”Xavi sighed and held onto Eloise’s shoulders, gently slamming her back on the door and caging her in his arms.Her eyes widened in surprise.Well, that was hot."Listen to me, please," Xavi begged. "I can't let this go on any further."Cadence slowly nodded. “I know this might sound stupid after I rejected you just yesterday, but I have realized that I like you,” he said.Her mouth went agape.So, it wasn’t just her imagination?“What do you mean?” she asked.He sighed and leaned even closer to her. Cadence felt her breath get stuck at the back of her throat.“Damn, you’re really so pretty,” he whispered. “You’ve always been p
The office was busting with the usual sounds of ringing phones, clacking keyboards, and business talks. In the highest office, near the large windows, Vaughn and Eloise shared an intimate moment, their eyes locked with affection as they leaned in. “Can we do this here?” Eloise asked. “I could literally see some of your workers walking past the office.”“It’s a one-way mirror,” Vaughn said, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “We’re not going to get caught.” With that, Vaughn captured Eloise’s lips in a hot kiss, their tongues battling for dominance as they ventured into their new relationship. Eloise wanted to laugh since the two of them seemed like teens. It was like they had a newfound relationship, and everything just seemed to be exciting. The kiss lingered for a moment, their faces flushed with a mixture of excitement and lust. They stole glances at each other as they kissed, loving the way their lips felt against each other. Eloise wrapped her arms around Vaughn’s neck while V
“So, why did you call us out for a drink again?” Dylan asked, popping a chip in his mouth.“I think I know why,” Red said. “Did Cadence finally confess to you?”Xavi stopped mid-drink. “Did she tell you?”“Yeah,” Red chuckled. “She wanted to confess no matter what. Actually, the lunches we had for the past week were filled with conversations about you. You’re so oblivious.”“Fuck,” Xavi cursed. “Am I really that oblivious?”“Yes,” his two friends said in unison.“But how is this a problem anyway?” Dylan asked. “I thought you wanted to give every girl a chance until you find the right one.”“He still does,” Red responded. “But Cadence is his f-word.”“His fuckbuddy?” Dylan asked with wide eyes. “Damn, Xavi boy. I didn’t know you had it in you.”“No, idiot,” Red slapped the back of his head. “Cadence is his friend.”“Oof,” Dylan winced. “That’s even worse. So, you rejected her?”Xavi didn’t respond.“You did,” Red deadpanned. “I can’t believe it. Are you allergic to good women or someth
The plan was all set. Cadence drove her car back to her apartment during the lunch break just so she could ask Xavi to drive her home. Fortunately, he agreed, and now all she had to do was confess her feelings. “I thought you came here with your car this morning,” Xavi said, opening the car door for her. “Uh, no. You must have seen wrong,” she bluffed. “I took the bus this morning.”“Oh,” he said. “Must be my imagination, then.”“Yeah,” she nervously chuckled. “Thanks for agreeing to take me home, by the way.”Xavi shook his head, walking over to the other side. “No worries. I can take you again tomorrow if you’d like.”Cadence smiled as she sat in the passenger seat. Her heart beat even faster in her chest. How the hell is he making her feel giddy even until now? Xavi got in the car, too, and he started driving to Cadence’s apartment. It was only a short drive from the office to her apartment, so Cadence had to act quickly. “How was your day?” Xavi asked. “I heard you went out to
“We broke up,” Xavi calmly said, taking a sip from his coffee. Cadence almost choked after his revelation.“What?” she asked, some of the whipped cream from her frappuccino on her nose. She couldn’t believe what she just heard. Xavi chuckled and reached across the table to wipe her nose. Cadence felt another tug in her heart. For the past few days, she had been contemplating whether to forget about her feelings for Xavi, but it’s times like this that make it so difficult for her to move on. “We broke up,” Xavi repeated. “Trina and I.”“B–but why?” Cadence stammered. “I thought it was going well for the two of you.”“I thought so, too,” Xavi said. “But I saw her true colors. I visited her last night to surprise her, but I found another guy in her bed. I really thought she was the one, but I guess the right hasn’t arrived in my life yet.”Cadence pursed her lips together. That bitch. She actually had the audacity to cheat on someone like Xavi? The guy she’s been dying to have ever si