"Okay." I did not even open my eyes before I muttered a response.Joel left.As he reached out to press the button for the elevator, its doors slid open by chance. Finn walked out.Finn then headed straight for room 1302 and pulled out his key to open the door.Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a well-dressed man staring at him.When Finn turned to look at the man, he looked away and walked into the elevator.While something about the interaction felt off to Finn, he could not name why or what.By the time I woke up, it was already noon.I absent-mindedly ordered some food to be delivered before I hurriedly focused on messaging Joel. I could not let him change his mind after we did it.'Babe, I'm up. Have you had lunch yet?'When I sent the message, there was a red exclamation icon next to it.He blocked me! My guess was right!He wanted to leave just like that? Well, I would make sure he couldn't!As I was about to visit Old Mr. Lane with a gift, my phone
Joel immediately replied.Joy rose in me. What a coincidence that Joel came to visit me.'I'll be right there.'Dressed in my nightgown with only a collar shirt draped over my shoulders, I hurried downstairs.Joel was smoking inside the car. He stank of cigarettes.As I sat in the passenger seat, I asked, "Shall we go for a walk?"The look on his face was as dark as the night sky. He did not look like he was in a good mood."I would rather not. After all, you live here."What did he mean by that?I leaned closer to Joel and playfully asked, "Did you miss me?"Even though he stank of tobacco, I actually found the scent pleasant.Ever since I found out he was a wealthy magnate, I no longer minded his profession.As I stared at his handsome face, I realized I had feelings for him.He stared back at me with conflicted emotions shining in his dark eyes. Suddenly, he grabbed me by the neck and kissed me.The kiss was very emotional and filled with an overwhelming possessiveness
For the next two days, I did not contact Joel, and he did not contact me.However, my dad said the Lanes did help us. They had given us a very profitable contract and loaned us some cash for no interest.They had helped stave off my family's crisis.As long as the company did not go bankrupt, we could always rise again.To thank Joel, my dad treated him to a meal. It was a lavish feast with lots of drinks and food.My dad tried to be subtle. "What are your plans with Tina, Joel?"I turned to look at Joel and found him looking back at me."I'm a traditionalist. It all depends on what Tina wants."On the inside, I was scoffing. Traditionalist? He did the deed with me yet refused to call me his girlfriend. What a hypocrite, and now he was putting it on me.In that case, I wouldn't hold back. "The 18th of next month is a good day. How about we get married then?"Joel calmly looked at me. "Okay."That thoroughly confused me. If not for the serious look on his face, I would have t
With a smile on my face, I patted Finn on the shoulder. "Oh, good. You like girls. That's good. You'll have more fun then."It had been a week, and Joel had yet to even mention the wedding to me.Thus, I messaged him about it. 'Babe, why won't you have fun with me?'I had stopped by his home a few times but didn't see him. Old Mr. Lane said he was busy.The message was sent in the morning. It was afternoon by the time he replied. 'What is your condition for moving out of your current place?''I'll move out when we're married. Babe, are you so busy that you've forgotten to pick a date?''Will the break be clean?'I see. He did not want me to have any male friends.However, Finn and I were childhood best friends. We were like family. How could I ever cut ties with him?Still, to appease Joel, I agreed to the request. 'I will.'His reply was swift. 'Don't lie to me. (kiss emoji)''I would never lie to you, babe. (kiss emoji)'Joel called me and said in a warm and seductive voi
I stared at Finn with reddened eyes. For the first time in my life, I experienced the agony of being betrayed by someone I trusted the most."Finn, no matter what ends up happening today, we are through forever."Finn anxiously looked at me. "We're the perfect match. I know I'm not as rich as he is, but I can give you a good life. Please?"Ruby decided to add fuel to the fire. "Tina, Finn has been by your side for years. You two have been dating for so long and are clearly in love. Don't do this to him.""Shut your mouth!" I roared at her.I glanced at Finn, feeling despair. "I don't need to marry into a rich family. I also don't want you."I strode out of the Lanes' home.Joel and Finn raced after me."I'll sort this out. I want us to get married," Joel said, grabbing my hands before Finn could.I was not foolish enough to play hard to get."You really aren't the other man," I swore to Joel.I did not know if he believed me, but he reacted by wrapping his arms tightly aroun
To get Joel to trust me, I decided to come clean with him about my full dating history."Why did you break up?" Joel asked."We did it one night. Before he woke up, I saw the messages his girlfriend sent him. He lied to me. He was never single."The frown on Joel's brows deepened. "A message? What message?"I tried my best to recall the message. "I don't really remember. I think it was something about how she missed him and wanted him to head home soon."He suddenly chuckled.Embarrassed, I pouted. "Stop laughing. I didn't know he was lying to me. Darn it! He's one of the greatest humiliations in my life. That's why I lived in denial and insisted on repairing my hymen."I didn't even want to think of that man, even now. As for his looks, I had completely forgotten about them long ago.I was rather bad with faces anyway. I had only known the blond man for three days. Once I came home, I forgot all about him."Is it possible that I'm that blond man?"I stared at Joel in shock.
As soon as the door swung open, the smile on my face froze.The man standing inside was actually my doctor.There was a peculiar look in his eyes, too.“I'm Tina Tyler."After a few seconds of silence, I forced myself to casually introduce myself.After all, the name I used when getting treated was Cheryl Fisher.As long as I denied it with all my might, there was a chance I could pull the wool over this fool's eyes."Tina Tyler?" Joel Lane asked with a raised eyebrow as he scanned my face."Yes, that's me. Can we start?"I just wanted him to get on with the test."If I remember correctly, I told you to avoid doing it for a month or two after the operation. It has only been 20 days since the operation, Cheryl."Fresh out of the shower, he was dressed in a white bathrobe with a gaping collar that showed off his seductive muscles. His hair was still wet as it framed his sharp features. With piercing eyes, he scrutinized me.I was panicking hard, but I remained stubborn. "What
The caller ID was "Mr. Idol".His impression of me as a two-timing, loose woman was now set in stone.What rotten luck."While you're engaged to me, you're flirting around with another man."Joel looked so stern that it made my hair stand on end."I-I'm not."He moved closer. The air around him was oppressive as he scowled. "While you fool around in bed with another man, you have me repair your hymen. Cheryl, you're quite something.""I... Would you believe me if I say it's all a misunderstanding?""Do you think I would believe you, my dear Cheryl?"He spat out the words "my dear Cheryl" through gritted teeth.I could sense that my chance came and went. There was no point in struggling anymore.It was a fact that I was not a virgin. Still, I could not let him trample all over me.I pushed him away and swiftly put on a bold front. "So what if I'm not a virgin? You don't want to marry me. Well, I don't want to marry you either."You find me dirty, but do you have that right?
To get Joel to trust me, I decided to come clean with him about my full dating history."Why did you break up?" Joel asked."We did it one night. Before he woke up, I saw the messages his girlfriend sent him. He lied to me. He was never single."The frown on Joel's brows deepened. "A message? What message?"I tried my best to recall the message. "I don't really remember. I think it was something about how she missed him and wanted him to head home soon."He suddenly chuckled.Embarrassed, I pouted. "Stop laughing. I didn't know he was lying to me. Darn it! He's one of the greatest humiliations in my life. That's why I lived in denial and insisted on repairing my hymen."I didn't even want to think of that man, even now. As for his looks, I had completely forgotten about them long ago.I was rather bad with faces anyway. I had only known the blond man for three days. Once I came home, I forgot all about him."Is it possible that I'm that blond man?"I stared at Joel in shock.
I stared at Finn with reddened eyes. For the first time in my life, I experienced the agony of being betrayed by someone I trusted the most."Finn, no matter what ends up happening today, we are through forever."Finn anxiously looked at me. "We're the perfect match. I know I'm not as rich as he is, but I can give you a good life. Please?"Ruby decided to add fuel to the fire. "Tina, Finn has been by your side for years. You two have been dating for so long and are clearly in love. Don't do this to him.""Shut your mouth!" I roared at her.I glanced at Finn, feeling despair. "I don't need to marry into a rich family. I also don't want you."I strode out of the Lanes' home.Joel and Finn raced after me."I'll sort this out. I want us to get married," Joel said, grabbing my hands before Finn could.I was not foolish enough to play hard to get."You really aren't the other man," I swore to Joel.I did not know if he believed me, but he reacted by wrapping his arms tightly aroun
With a smile on my face, I patted Finn on the shoulder. "Oh, good. You like girls. That's good. You'll have more fun then."It had been a week, and Joel had yet to even mention the wedding to me.Thus, I messaged him about it. 'Babe, why won't you have fun with me?'I had stopped by his home a few times but didn't see him. Old Mr. Lane said he was busy.The message was sent in the morning. It was afternoon by the time he replied. 'What is your condition for moving out of your current place?''I'll move out when we're married. Babe, are you so busy that you've forgotten to pick a date?''Will the break be clean?'I see. He did not want me to have any male friends.However, Finn and I were childhood best friends. We were like family. How could I ever cut ties with him?Still, to appease Joel, I agreed to the request. 'I will.'His reply was swift. 'Don't lie to me. (kiss emoji)''I would never lie to you, babe. (kiss emoji)'Joel called me and said in a warm and seductive voi
For the next two days, I did not contact Joel, and he did not contact me.However, my dad said the Lanes did help us. They had given us a very profitable contract and loaned us some cash for no interest.They had helped stave off my family's crisis.As long as the company did not go bankrupt, we could always rise again.To thank Joel, my dad treated him to a meal. It was a lavish feast with lots of drinks and food.My dad tried to be subtle. "What are your plans with Tina, Joel?"I turned to look at Joel and found him looking back at me."I'm a traditionalist. It all depends on what Tina wants."On the inside, I was scoffing. Traditionalist? He did the deed with me yet refused to call me his girlfriend. What a hypocrite, and now he was putting it on me.In that case, I wouldn't hold back. "The 18th of next month is a good day. How about we get married then?"Joel calmly looked at me. "Okay."That thoroughly confused me. If not for the serious look on his face, I would have t
Joel immediately replied.Joy rose in me. What a coincidence that Joel came to visit me.'I'll be right there.'Dressed in my nightgown with only a collar shirt draped over my shoulders, I hurried downstairs.Joel was smoking inside the car. He stank of cigarettes.As I sat in the passenger seat, I asked, "Shall we go for a walk?"The look on his face was as dark as the night sky. He did not look like he was in a good mood."I would rather not. After all, you live here."What did he mean by that?I leaned closer to Joel and playfully asked, "Did you miss me?"Even though he stank of tobacco, I actually found the scent pleasant.Ever since I found out he was a wealthy magnate, I no longer minded his profession.As I stared at his handsome face, I realized I had feelings for him.He stared back at me with conflicted emotions shining in his dark eyes. Suddenly, he grabbed me by the neck and kissed me.The kiss was very emotional and filled with an overwhelming possessiveness
"Okay." I did not even open my eyes before I muttered a response.Joel left.As he reached out to press the button for the elevator, its doors slid open by chance. Finn walked out.Finn then headed straight for room 1302 and pulled out his key to open the door.Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a well-dressed man staring at him.When Finn turned to look at the man, he looked away and walked into the elevator.While something about the interaction felt off to Finn, he could not name why or what.By the time I woke up, it was already noon.I absent-mindedly ordered some food to be delivered before I hurriedly focused on messaging Joel. I could not let him change his mind after we did it.'Babe, I'm up. Have you had lunch yet?'When I sent the message, there was a red exclamation icon next to it.He blocked me! My guess was right!He wanted to leave just like that? Well, I would make sure he couldn't!As I was about to visit Old Mr. Lane with a gift, my phone
I instinctively hung up in guilt. It then struck me what I did. Why was I panicking? I was not cheating on Joel!The man outside my door was my childhood best friend who absolutely batted for the other team."I got it. Stop shouting! I'll bathe later. Just let me be," I shouted through the door.I swiftly called Joel.He hung up on me.I called him three more times, but he kept hanging up on me.Shoot. He had absolutely gotten the wrong idea.'Dr. Lane, it's not what you think. Hear me out.''That man was my friend. He's just a very close friend. That's all. I swear! (pitiful emoji)'I hurriedly sent two texts to Joel, explaining the situation.When he did not reply, I was panicking so hard that I sent him a few voice messages to explain myself.The messages could not be sent. How dare he! He actually blocked me!The wealth I was so close to had slipped away once more.I was so pissed that I immediately went to beat up Finn Moran, my best friend.I was about to give up on
To ease things up, I even sent Joel a cute cat sticker.According to the app, he was typing away. However, after 30 minutes, he still hadn't replied.Shamelessly, I sent another message. 'Dr. Lane, we can be counted as old friends. Still, there's another side to me that you don't know. Can you give us a chance to get to know me?'With my phone in hand, I waited for a reply.Finally, just as I was about to fall asleep, Joel replied.'Have you broken it off with him?'My thumbs danced across the phone screen to tell him I didn't have a boyfriend. I was about to hit "send" when I suddenly remembered that a man like him would surely have looked into me.There was nothing that could not be uncovered with a little money. Perhaps he even found out about my ex-boyfriend from my trip abroad.I instantly deleted my message and changed it to a simple 'yes'.The message was sent.There was no reply.I just did not get it. What did Joel mean by this?Old Mr. Lane asked me to visit him f
The caller ID was "Mr. Idol".His impression of me as a two-timing, loose woman was now set in stone.What rotten luck."While you're engaged to me, you're flirting around with another man."Joel looked so stern that it made my hair stand on end."I-I'm not."He moved closer. The air around him was oppressive as he scowled. "While you fool around in bed with another man, you have me repair your hymen. Cheryl, you're quite something.""I... Would you believe me if I say it's all a misunderstanding?""Do you think I would believe you, my dear Cheryl?"He spat out the words "my dear Cheryl" through gritted teeth.I could sense that my chance came and went. There was no point in struggling anymore.It was a fact that I was not a virgin. Still, I could not let him trample all over me.I pushed him away and swiftly put on a bold front. "So what if I'm not a virgin? You don't want to marry me. Well, I don't want to marry you either."You find me dirty, but do you have that right?