(The Truth)I sat there, struggling to comprehend a single word of what Nanny Laura was attempting to convey. "Wait, are you saying my mom knew my stepmother?"Nanny Laura sighed, her gaze fixed on some distant memory. "Yes, Madam Ciara was employed as your mother's secretary in Paris. She had complete access to your mother's work because she knew every intricate detail like the back of her hand."Confusion consumed me as I absorbed this information. "But how does Gustavo fit into all of this?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Nanny Laura hesitated for a moment before answering. "I only recently discovered that they have been seeing each other secretly. It seems that when Gustavo was newly employed, your stepmother staged their introduction. It appears she set him up with your father."The realization hit me like a wave, leaving me with more questions than answers. How deep did this secret web of connections go? And just how well did I truly know the
(The pregnancy)I sat in silence while Penelope paced back and forth, muttering to herself."Just tell him," she finally declared."Tell him what, Pen?" I asked."The truth. He's responsible, isn't he?" she replied."Yes, Simon is the father. But Penelope, he's been avoiding me," I reminded her."What exactly happened?" She sat down next to me, curious."He saw Gustavo kissing me and he lost it. He just started avoiding me. The way he looked at me, it felt like I had done something wrong. I felt guilty, even though we were just fulfilling each other's desires. I despised the hatred and disgust in his eyes whenever he looked at me," I managed to explain.“Why was he jealous” she asked “I know right, why was he jealous, he agreed on just being friends and nothing more” I managed to say “Well that's not important, this pregnancy is” Penelope simply added This was too much for me, a child at this moment in my life, how did I make such a mistake, I wasn't th
(contract marriage)A heavy silence filled the room as everyone's eyes widened in shock. Tiara, my stepmother, gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth.Gustavo looks away, his face masked with disgust and disappointment.My dad's face turned Ashen, his confusion slowly melting into anger. “What nonsense are you sprouting, Gemini” he growled, his voice dripping with disbelief and anger.“It's truth, Papa” I replied firmly, my voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at me from within. “I'm pregnant” Finally, my father broke the silence, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and disappointment. “How can this be, Gemini, we raised you better than this! I have given you everything, and this is how you repay me,?” Hot tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Papa, please, listen. I didn't plan for all this to happen. It just did. I need your support now more than ever.” His face contorted with rage, and I saw the familiar fire
(The decision)(Simon pov)I couldn't help but think that she was joking. After all, this demand of hers had to be a prank in retaliation for my refusal. There was simply no way she could be pregnant. When did I make such a mistake?The thought that she might be desperate crossed my mind. I couldn't allow myself to fall for this. It had to be some kind of ploy. I decided to tease her, hoping to expose her prank."You must be joking, right? This is all because I turned down your proposal," I said with a smirk.But her response caught me off guard. She spoke with a seriousness that made me pause."Simon, have you forgotten so easily? Well, I suppose with the number of women you sleep with every day, it's no wonder. But we had sex in your office, unprotected. Do you remember that, or should I provide more details to jog your memory?" She looked at me intensely, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions.I gripped the table, realization sinking in. She was ri
(The promise) *•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•He suddenly felt remorseful, his anger dissipating as he realized the impact of his words.“I didn't mean that,” he said his voice filled with regret.But it was too late. The damage had been done. The words hang in the Air, a bitter reminder of the truth.Feeling a mixture of hurt and betrayal, I wiped away my tears and turned away from him. “Gemini” he called as he grabbed my hand I pulled away, “don't” I warned, stepping into the house.We sat at the dining table, eating our meal in silence, Simon's eyes were fixated on me, I could tell he was feeling guilty but that was none of my business “So you are a doctor” Grandma asked Simon, I could see the excitement in her eyes.“Yes, A cardiologist Ma’am” he answered Grandma's face lit up with a smile as she clapped her hand in joy. “Oh, how wonderful! A cardiologist! That is such an important and Noble profession. You must be proud. She said glancing at me briefly
(The slash funds) (Simon pov)The drive back home felt long as I pondered over the last 30 minutes that just happened. Lying to her about how I felt, I hated myself, I was scared, scared of the way she made me feel, scared of being vulnerable in the process I hurt her.I could see the hate in her eyes when I told her I couldn't love her, the pain, the disappointment. I never wanted to hurt her. But it felt like the only way to protect myself.The truth was, I did love her. I love her more than anything. But I couldn't bear the thought of opening up, of letting someone in so completely.The walls I have built around my heart seemed impenetrable, a shield to protect me from the pain that love inevitably brings.But in pushing her away, I had caused more pain than I ever imagined. The regret washed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in sorrow and guilt. I replayed the moment over and over again in my mind, wishing I could turn back time and find the bravery, to be honest with her.
(MINE)(Gustavo pov)Her hand connected with my cheek, the force of the slap echoing through the room. I could feel the anger, the hatred radiating from her stare. It infuriated me to see her look at me this way.If only she understood the depth of my love for her and the lengths I would go to ensure her father's company remained in capable hands.I had worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to build my reputation and secure this position. I couldn't simply stand by and let some entitled, spoiled brat come in and ruin everything I had worked so hard for."You want Saint Global to continue to thrive, and I want to protect it from destruction," I tried to reason with her."What the hell are you talking about? Protect the company? Is sleeping with my stepmother part of that plan as well?" Her voice dripped with contempt and mistrust.As for her stepmother, Gemini, she was merely a pawn in this game. I didn't love her; I was merely biding my tim
(The Gathering)(Gemini pov)Simon and I entered the room. I felt a strange mix of emotions as I tried to follow his plan to act in love. I mustered a smile as his gaze met mine.Sitting in the family room adjacent to the kitchen, my stepmother's eyes emitted pure hatred. She scanned the room, her grip on a glass of champagne tight.Suddenly, her gaze landed on Simon beside me, and her eyes widened in surprise."Wow," she exclaimed, capturing the attention of everyone in the room. All eyes turned to me and Simon, who stood closely intertwined, observing each person in the room.The expression on my dad's face was the most stunned of all, his eyes fixated sharply on Simon. Clearing his throat, Simon began speaking."Hello, and good evening," he announced confidently. "I am Simon Sinclair, Gemini's fiance."Aunt Becky coughed abruptly, nearly choking on the champagne she held in her hand. Her husband quickly came to her aid, gently patting her back to ease
Chapter 61To Protect You.Simon kept his eyes fixed on the road as he drove Gemini to his villa. He knew he wasn’t going to let her return to her father’s house—not after that confrontation. The nerve of that man.“Simon,” Gemini called out, but he didn’t respond, his jaw clenched in frustration. Was he angry at her? She hadn’t done anything wrong. “Are you angry with me?” she asked again, her voice tinged with confusion.Silence met her, and Simon continued to ignore her. He didn’t want to engage in an argument, not now, not when his temper was already flaring. “Seriously? You won’t even answer me?” she pressed, annoyance furrowing her brows.Finally, Simon arrived at his villa, parking the car in the garage. He stepped out and unlocked the door, gesturing for Gemini to follow. She hesitated for a moment, unsure, but eventually complied.As he walked ahead, she trailed behind, irritation bubbling inside her. Why had he brought her here instead of taking her back to her father’s hou
Chapter 60JEALOUSY.Gemini made her way toward Gustavo, who had been drinking heavily since the event began. It was obvious that something was bothering him.“Didn’t you drive here?” Gemini’s voice cut through Gustavo’s tension, causing him to focus on her. His green eyes, usually bright and sharp, now appeared dull.“Is that concern I sense in your voice?” he replied, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he studied her. When was her due date? Her stomach was so prominent, yet he hated that he still found her incredibly attractive.The dress she had chosen for the evening accentuated her baby bump beautifully; she looked slender and had been keeping in shape. Her golden-blonde hair fell straight and perfectly down her back, and her sea-blue eyes seemed to shimmer more than usual, deepening in color. Her fair skin glowed under the warm lights of the room.Gustavo couldn't shake off the bitterness he felt toward Simon for taking her away from him. This beauty standing before
Chapter 59Wavering Allies.Ciara made her way towards Lilac with deliberate slowness, fully aware that she wasn’t ready to be ensnared in Gustavo's drama. It was high time she found a way to extricate herself from any alliance with him before his chaos swallowed her whole.Her plan to gradually poison Saint was progressing smoothly; everything was falling into place as long as he didn't interfere. She knew without a doubt that Gemini—the insufferable brat—needed to be dealt with soon.“Ehhmm,” she coughed, drawing Lilac's attention from the crowd of people she was engaged with. Lilac turned to face Ciara slowly, her brows arching slightly in curiosity.“Hello, Miss Sheinkaih. My name is Ciara Saint,” she introduced, forcing a smile as she extended her hand for a shake.Lilac hesitated for a moment, causing a flicker of embarrassment to wash over Ciara as her hand lingered in the air. She quickly glanced at Gemini, who shot her a scathing glare.“It’s nice to meet you,” Lilac finall
Chapter 58Old Friends & Foes.Gustavo leaned on the bar counter, twirling his drink in his hand as his eyes lingered on Jerome who had been smiling and making connections since the event ended.Why wasn't he leaving, Gustavo thought as he took a full sip of his drink.“Your friend seems to be enjoying himself,” Simon said as he approached Gustavo, planning to get on his nerves.“What do you mean by my friend Simon?” Gustavo asked in annoyance. Gustavo was very aware that Simon had been doing some digging concerning Sevan's holding.The reason he had invited Celine back to New York was so he could keep Simon and Gemini busy so that he could move on with his plan.Celine was of no use to him anymore, now he has to look for another way to get rid of Simon.“Jerome spine….you know Gustavo I heard interesting news that he was missing” Simon trailed in hoping to get off Gustsvo's skin and make his falter.“Well a missing man won't be here enjoying the night of his life” Gustavo answered ir
Chapter 57The Donation.Gemini couldn’t believe her eyes. Was this some kind of sick joke? The news of Jerome's disappearance had rocked her just months ago, and now, here he was, standing alive and well in front of her. The fundraiser ceremony took on a life of its own as the MC stepped up to deliver his welcome speech, commanding the attention of the attendees with an enthusiastic grin. “Welcome to the 13th edition of our human rights fundraiser! We are thrilled to see so many familiar faces return to this esteemed organization!” he announced, his voice echoing through the crowd. Gemini’s gaze, however, remained locked on Jerome, who was smiling as if he hadn’t a care in the world.“He must be in a good mood for someone who just came back from the dead,” Simon quipped, throwing a glance at Jerome before redirecting his attention to Gustavo beside him.Gustavo’s heart raced as he processed the sight of Jerome. He fought to maintain his composure, though the revelation of Jerome’s
Chapter 56The fundraiser two.Gemini pulled away quickly, stunned by Simon's audacity. Did he forget that they were getting a divorce soon? The last thing she wanted was to complicate things or give him false hope.“What are they doing in public?” one of the guests murmured, causing Gemini to hide her face in her hands.“All this young love makes us feel old,” another guest chimed in, chuckling lightly.Gemini’s attention shifted to her stepmother, who wore a disapproving glare as she processed whatever had just transpired between Gemini and Simon. As for Gustavo, well, she didn’t give a damn about his opinion. To her surprise, she spotted her uncle Brandon at the fundraiser—a rarity, since he usually avoided such events, no matter how much Grandma begged him to attend. She thought he would be home in San Francisco by now, but clearly, something was keeping him in New York.“That was quite the show you put on, you little rascal,” Uncle Brandon teased, a playful glint in his eye. “
(The Fundraiser One)Mrs Ciara grabbed hold of Tiara's arm tightly, staring at her, her mind contemplating how to go about her revelation.“You better keep this mouth of yours shut Tiara” Mrs Ciara threatened as she let go of her daughter's hand. This wasn't what she wanted, She didn't want to get her daughter to see this side of her.“I will Mother, as long as you are supportive of my decision and get your husband under control, we don't want Gemini finding out about your little secret” Tiara threatened with a mischievous smile plastered on her lips.“Tiara” Her mother called out her name, her tone soft with concern.Tiara stood up from where she sat, making her way to the door as she paused halfway, shooting her mother one last side glance. “I trust you will handle everything Mother” she added unlocking the door and stepping out of the room knowing she had achieved what she wanted, all that was left was to get her hands on those documents her mom had just shown her.The day of the
Chapter 54Bitter Truth A silence followed, thick and uncomfortable. The clatter of forks and the soft hum of a distant refrigerator were all that could be heard. Tiara glanced between Gemini and her father, desperately trying not to add to the heat already brewing.Saint’s features hardened again, though perhaps not quite so fiercely as before. “You think I don’t care about you? I’m trying to protect you from making decisions you’ll regret!”“By controlling my choices?” Gemini shook her head, her resolve unwavering. “You don’t get to dictate what I should or shouldn’t regret. I need to feel that freedom for myself, even if it means stumbling along the way.”“Gemini, listen—” Tiara ventured.“No, you listen for once, Tiara!” Gemini cut in, her voice steady. “You have your own life to lead. Don’t let them keep you locked in either. This is about me today, and they need to hear me. If he can’t accept that I’m not going to be the daughter he envisioned, then he needs to figure out how
Chapter 53(Being Merciful)Gemini strode down the hallway to her room, a smile dancing on her lips. She couldn’t believe she’d just shared a normal moment with Tiara—no fighting, no animosity; just a fleeting glimpse of sisterly connection. Yet, the joy was quickly overshadowed by Gustavo’s chilling words echoing in her mind, urging her to terminate the pregnancy. She couldn’t help but caress her stomach, the thought sending a tremor of both fear and defiance through her.As she approached her room, she noticed her stepmother, Mrs. Ciara, approaching her with that familiar stern expression. Gemini took a steadying breath, determined to avoid conflict, but she could feel tension crackling in the air between them.“Your father mentioned you’d be attending the fundraiser,” Mrs. Ciara stated, her tone clipped.“Yes, I will. Is that a problem for you?” Gemini shot back, narrowing her eyes. “You little brat. If you have any ulterior motives for being there, you’d better reconsider,” her