(Memories)As I stepped into my unlocked dorm room, my exhausted eyes fell upon Penelope, who was completely engrossed in her artwork "I thought you were taking a break from painting," I asked, taken aback by her seriousness. She was usually the life of the party, so seeing her so focused was a bit strange "I was, but Tate called. She said she had an opening for my art and mentioned that new investors were in town" Penelope explained, briefly glancing at me. "What happened? You look awful." "I had a terrible day" I sighed, dropping down onto my bed. I checked my phone and realized it was already 11:30 pm. Exhaustion washed over me, reminding me of the long day I had ahead of tomorrow "I might need to borrow you for the whole day tomorrow" Penelope announced, her voice carrying a sense of urgency "The whole day" I asked. Both curious and hesitant. "Yeah" she responded , continuing to paint as she spoke. "I need to check out the art gallery venue. I want to find a perfect spot". "
(The art exhibition)I felt a sense of uneasiness as her gazes shifted uncontrollably giving me a death glare. It had been an hour since I arrived, and at first, she ignored me but later asked me to wait. So there I sat, admiring the structures and decor of the main office.“Maybe you could try calling him again, I have been waiting for hours,” I said, my voice getting irritated “You can't yell at me Miss, or I might have to call security, go back, sit down, and wait,” the hot brunette sitting at the receptionist's desk replied, her eyes glaring at me, before returning to her laptop.“Excuse me Lady but I never yelled at you,” I said, feeling my anger rise, she was pushing my patience to its limits. “I don't know or care, if this is how you treat other visitors, but am not one of them” I warned, my voice dead serious.She stared at me surprised, her gaze unmoving.“ when your boss comes back, tell him Gemini Victoria Saint stopped by” I added, noticing the surprise on her face“
(A white lie)My heart sank a little at the news. The painting held so much sentimental value to me and losing it felt like losing a piece of my mom."Why would you sell it?" I couldn't hide the disappointment in my voice, a tinge of frustration seeping in. Tracy's smile faltered slightly, sensing my disappointment."Calm down G, you are yelling" Penelope's voice sooth in, trying to calm my enveloping anger "You don't get it, Penelope, that painting had my mom's initials, it was probably stolen and auctioned here, I bet Grandma doesn't have a clue of such a transaction, seeing she has been busy a lot" I chipped in."I'm sorry Victoria, I had no idea, and am currently not in charge of handling this stuff, I was asked by your grandma to organize the auction for some of the artwork in the house and I didn't pay attention to all the artwork that was brought in. And we can't just leave some artwork and focus on the newest, auctioning them out seems like the best way of handling them" she e
Reunion "I heard you came over," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. I watched her in horror, knowing that she was pretending, but her acting skills were so good that it only fueled my hatred for her even more."You should stay for dinner, my love," she continued, her words laced with cruel intentions. "It looks like you haven't been eating well. You appear so pale.""Well, when you have a thief in your midst, it's bound to happen, I suppose," I replied, my voice filled with anger. "Stealing artifacts seems to be her expertise, along with stealing my happiness."Before I could deliver a final blow to her verbally, a familiar voice interrupted me. It was Gustavo, standing behind me now, his gaze fixed on me. I couldn't believe what he was doing. Who gave him the right to interrupt me? I forced a smile and walked away, heading towards the front door."Gemini!" Gustavo called after me, catching my hands to stop me. His eyes scanned the surroundings to ensure we were alone.
(Inheritance)Since the incident at the birthday party, things have taken a turn for the worse. The meeting seemed to drag on forever, and I could feel the piercing stares of my dad and Gustavo directed at me. Were they looking at me?"Has Simon reached out to you, Gustavo?" my dad inquired with curiosity evident in his tone. Gustavo, seemingly calm despite their previous altercation at Simon's father's birthday party, responded, "No, sir.""I'm not paying all of you to simply say no. Figure it out, we need Simon here. He's a valuable asset that we can't afford to lose," my dad sternly addressed the room. "We need him before the next scheduled meeting. This meeting is adjourned.""Mary, is he inside?" I asked, concerned."He is. Should I let him know you're here?" Mary offered, reaching for the intercom."No need. It's urgent. I'll go in myself," I swiftly responded, noticing Mary's anxious expression. "I promise I won't get you in trouble."With a soft knock, I pushed open the glass
(Desires)Once again, I found myself in that very place I had sworn never to return to."Whisky or wine?" Simon asked from behind the bar."Wine, please," I replied.He approached me with a glass of red wine, offering it to me as he raised his for a toast."Cheers to... Is there anything else you'd like to add?" he paused, his eyes locked onto mine."Cheers to not caring," I said.A smile formed on his lips as he took a sip from his glass, then sat down on the couch behind him, pulling me down onto his lap.I perched uncomfortably, his pristine white sleeve unbuttoned halfway, revealing a hint of his chest and his disheveled hair contributing to his bad boy image.He was undeniably attractive, but I felt uneasy being in such proximity to him. I attempted to get up, but he tightened his grip, his hand resting on my thigh.I could feel his warmth and the intensity of his touch sent shivers down my spine. As we sat there, surrounded by the lit ambiance, the soft music, became a distant b
(A romantic gesture) (Gustavo pov)**********"You should get dressed,” I said, my voice tinged with urgency.She turned towards me with a mischievous smile. "We still have time," she whispered, pressing her lips against my neck. "Let's go one more round."Annoyed, I tossed her clothes towards her. "We don't have time for this," I insisted.For the past two weeks, I had been tirelessly working to secure those funds, knowing that one wrong move could ruin everything. The thought of being arrested for embezzlement sent a shiver down my spine.Gemini was still essential to my plans, despite how aggravating she had become lately. I needed her, whether I liked it or not."So, what's the plan?" Mrs. Ciara's voice interrupted my thoughts."It's simple," I replied, turning to face her. "You continue playing the role of Saint's devoted wife, earning his complete trust. We need access to those assets."Mrs. Ciara's voice dripped with contempt. "Saint doesn't easily trust anyone, especially when
(Not a request) ~~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~~As I sat down to eat, the sound of my fork clicking against the plate ruined my appetite. I couldn't help but shoot a glance at Simon. How was it that he always seemed to be everywhere?"Mrs. Saint, I have to say, this meal is divine," Simon praised my stepmother, causing her cheeks to turn a faint shade of red.I watched, annoyed, as she basked in his compliment. What a cunning charmer he was. I couldn't keep quiet any longer. I had to put an end to this charade."Just so you know, Simon, she didn't prepare this meal. She simply enjoys putting on a show in the kitchen, pretending to be devoted to it," I interjected, cutting short their moment of happiness.The entire house fell into a tense silence. I could hear a faint chuckle from the maid standing behind us, her gasp barely audible. My father's eyes filled with rage, capable of knocking victims to the ground. And as for Simon, a mischievous
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