Charmine looked utterly ethereal, yet Anthony was not her plus-one. “Okay.” Charmine took up the box by the side and donned her heels. Her disposition became even more charming. Anthony fixed her gown and held her hand as they headed downstairs. Nial was floored as they got out of the villa. “So beautiful,” he gushed unconsciously, but one look from Anthony, and he looked away instantly. Charmine held on to his hand and walked out of the villa. Anthony opened the car door for her and covered her head from hitting against the door frame. When he was sure Charmine was settled in, he looked at her meaningfully as if he was reassuring her, ‘I’ll be behind you.’ Charmine nodded. He then watched as Guy and Frank got into the car as well. With tightened fists, Anthony felt awful. When would the world see him with her? Would he still have a chance in life? Yvonne was the last to enter, and Anthony shot her a glance. It was apparent that he wanted her to make sure C
Charmine? Waverly frowned and sat back down. Hmph! Charmine dressed up so stunningly, but that would go down the drain when she embarrassed herself! Charmine’s skin was even fairer and seemed to glow as she walked in her black gown. She had a box at hand while her other hand was on Guy. After she answered some questions, she walked in. Behind her, Yvonne held onto Grandma Granger and said to Frank who was by the side, “Stay close to me as we go in, Frank. We have a lot of people right now.” “Okay, it doesn’t matter.” Frank could hear far and wide, and he could tell that the Cultural Olympics went smoothly. He walked beside Yvonne as if he could see and entered the venue with them. When Charmine entered, Uncle Sam walked over and greeted her, “Charmine, you can’t lose this competition! You must get first place and bring pride to Burlington! Otherwise, we’ll get laughed at!” Charmine glanced at the dancing participant on stage and looked away calmly. “Don’t worry,
“The young girl by your side has always been Charmine’s son! He pretended to be an orphan to win you over, and he used your kindness so Charmine could get those blood transfusions!” “What!?” Grandma Granger’s eyes were filled with cold fury as she growled at Charmine, “Is it true?” Guy took out the needle, about to prick into Charmine’s arm when Grandma Granger stopped him. She glared at Charmine. “Tell me!” She was so worried about Momo during the days in the bamboo forest that she barely slept, yet the child turned out to be Charmine’s son! He lied to her! “Grandma…” Guy looked at the aching Charmine who was in pain and exasperatedly urged, “We’ll talk later.” He wanted to prick the needle into Charmine, but Grandma Granger grabbed and slammed the needle onto the floor. “I asked you a question, Charmine!” Charmine had lost consciousness in pain and was confused. A young girl? Momo? What happened? Momo did this behind her back? “I don’t know anything…” she grogg
“Hmm…” Chris blinked and said innocently, “Nothing. Daddy has been outside in the past few days. Haven’t I stayed home diligently?” Luke thought of how he was by his side in the past few days. He was not to be blamed, was he? The car pulled over, and Luke carried him into the venue. When Anthony hung up, he looked at Grandma Granger and said coldly, “I’ll give you an explanation for this. Now…” He looked at Charmine, who seemed embroiled in agony, and ordered Guy, “Needle!” Guy instantly took the needle. The prick he did was wasted, but just as Guy wanted to prick his arm again... Grandma Granger grabbed the needle from him. “Before this gets cleared up, there’s no way Guy is helping her!” Anthony’s face turned a few shades colder as his clear knuckles clenched tightly, so much so that his veins protruded. Britney crossed her arms in satisfaction as she stood at the sidelines. Charmine wanted to compete against Waverly? How laughable! She would not even get to go
“I’m sorry, Grandma. This is my fault, but I didn’t have a choice. I genuinely treated you as—” “Go away!” All out of patience and with no intention to talk, Grandma Granger tossed Chris aside. His small frame fell backward as he rammed against the cold, hard floor. Grandma Granger jolted. She did not mean to use that much force… She pitied him, but as she recalled what he had done, she pushed it to the back of her head and insisted to pull Guy away. Chris sat up from the ground and hugged her leg as he pitiably whimpered, “Grandma, before you leave, hear me out, okay? Daddy took me, an infant all green and blue, from the morgue. Everyone thought I was a dead baby, but Daddy found out that I was still breathing. I was lucky I survived, but surviving still made me suffocated. I’ve seen how other kids have their mothers from a young age, and they so happily get to hug them. Me? Grandma and Grandpa hate me, nobody likes me, and everyone calls me a ‘wild breed’!” As tears brim
Grandma Granger looked at Guy and said, “What are you doing, being stunned there? Do you want her to suffer?” Guy reacted as he took the needle and pricked himself again. Britney’s eyes widened at the turn of events, unable to believe what she saw. Drats! How could that be? Why were things different from what she expected? How could that old woman forgive Chris so easily? She was rooted where she stood as she watched Guy stabbed the needle into Charmine’s arm. Would Charmine be able to compete after all? Britney knew things were not in their favor, so she hastily turned and walked back into the venue. The scene was chaotic. The host called out from the stage once more, “Burlington’s representative, Charmine Jordan, you have two more minutes. If you don’t show up, you’ll forfeit your chance.” Those from other nations, meanwhile, cheered in unison, “Forfeit! Forfeit! Forfeit! Last prize! Last prize!” Wayne, Uncle Sam, Uncle Pop, and others sweat bullets. Where did
With Charmine’s gesture, an assistant instantly went on stage with a wooden rack with two long scrolls by its side. The music played. Charmine held the brush as she wrote on the paper to the rhythm of the music. Each stroke was like a dragon that danced in the air; omnipotent yet elegant. As her brush landed, butterflies started to flutter her way from all directions, and what started as just a few then grew into tens and hundreds. Some rested on the paper while some danced around her brush. Even though her hand was moving, the butterflies remained where they were, unintimidated. The audience watched on with disbelief. They were so shocked that they forgot to cheer! Butterflies… So many butterflies! Charmine’s writing attracted that many butterflies? It was the twenty-first century! How magical! Everyone was bewildered at the sight, yet Charmine was unfazed as if she was in her own world. She continued to write, and with her powerful wrist, each stroke and brush
When Waverly got to the stage, due to the overly-excited crowd from Charmine’s performance, Waverly’s performance seemed boring and unusually quiet in comparison. It was quiet. Some even used the time to go to the washroom, buy things, or get food. Half of the audience went away. When the panel saw this, they all shook their heads. Waverly’s face turned pale. She trembled with anger but finished her performance as she bit her lip. Only a handful of people clapped for her when she got off the stage.Waverly went straight to the back, into her dressing room, and shut the door with a loud bang. The thought of it all only enraged her more as she swept everything off of her desk, causing them to crash on the floor. ‘Charmine Jordan! You may have embarrassed me today, but I’ll make sure you get it ten or a hundred times worse!’ Waverly looked at herself in the mirror, and her eyes darkened balefully. The solo-talent show of the Cultural Olympics had ended. The panel graded
There was an unnoticeable glint in Sonia's eyes. She nestled herself further into Harry's arms as she added, "Let’s go to Pares. We'll come back after I give birth to the baby.""Alright."Harry stayed by Sonia's side as he watched over her, cared for her, and talked to her until she finally slept in his care.He stood up tiredly and walked out of the room to sit in the living room.Thuck!Something fell out of his pocket.He narrowed his eyes to the source of sound and spotted a USB.Since when did he have a USB in his pocket?With a small frown on his face, Harry curiously picked it up and noticed the front side of the USB glowing. Something was carved onto its surface, too.[Granger].Was it Dior’s USB? Why was her USB inside his pocket?Harry’s clear fingers held on the USB tightly. He thought for a moment before he took out a laptop, turned it on, and plugged in the USB.A moment later, the screen showed what seemed to be peculiar surveillance footage with a descriptio
Dior was still lost in her storm of thoughts when a shadowy figure zipped past her and ran toward Harry.When she spotted this familiar figure, she reacted quickly and held onto him."Let go of me!" growled Guy. "How dare he slap you and misunderstood you? I have to beat some sense into him!"Harry broke free and chased after Harry.Dior, despite having lost all hope and life in her, mustered the last strand of her will to chase after Guy and reeled him back. "Brother, don't," she muttered, "spare your energy…" Her sorrow clouded her eyes as she mumbled, "He’s the man I love. Even though he hates me, I won’t allow you to hurt him. As for the explanation…"Dior smiled ironically. "Whatever. That slap decimated every beautiful daydream I have about him, anyway."She no longer expected anything from him.He had no trust in her, so what would it matter if she finally got him? He did not even love her, and he did not trust her either.Dior smiled elegantly, but her eyes were fille
Dior looked forward to that new shift.She watched as Harry made his way into the restaurant silently, unable to deter her mind from the daydreams she had of him, of the new chapter of their story they would have.He would apologize to her, trying to redeem himself, and kiss her dearly as he embraced her. Later down the line, they would have a child of their own, too.Harry's long legs walked in strides, his dark gaze trained on Dior.The bright light shone on Dior’s delicately stunning face, and she also wore a red dress.He remembered her wearing this back in Mount Village.He could remember how alluring she looked back then, how they stayed in the same room, how she put down her ego to treat him with so much gentleness.Harry’s cold face mellowed down, but recalling a certain memory, the vague wistfulness in him vanished and he sat in front of her.Dior looked at him fondly, like she always would. "Long time no see."Her eyes burned brightly as if she wanted to drink in his
Dior examined the footage the moment she received it.True enough, it showed Sonia and George talking about their little deal. It also showed how Dior was telling the truth while they both ganged up on her.Dior’s frail heart felt as though it was rejuvenated once more, feeling as though blood was once more pumped into her heart. Her dull eyes devoid of hope regained their lost luster once more.Not thinking twice, she dialed Harry's number with this evidence, though he had to be busy, seeing as he did not pick up even after the phone rang for a long while.Just as she was about to hang up, Harry picked up the phone."What do you want?"On the other end of the call was the voice that she had missed for so long. His low, hoarse voice sounded so cold and emotionless.Hearing his voice brought Dior back to the image of his handsome face, and her heart skipped a beat.She tried her best to restrain her fluttering emotions as she tried to speak calmly, "Do you have time? I’d like to
At Mount Village…Inside the elegant bamboo house was Dior, dressed in a beige dress. She sat in the front yard as she took sips of her wine.The sunlight shone past the leaves and illuminated her, yet she exuded an air of loneliness.She swirled the glass and could not help recalling the moments she spent with Harry.In the beginning, she was attracted by his looks; he looked so gentle and elegant.She gave him money, kept him company, and continuously showed up around him in hopes of conquering him.Alas, she ended up in this state.The time she spent with him in Mount Village was the happiest time she had ever had. They had lived inside the bamboo house together, where he took care of her and claimed her to be his woman.They even laid inside the same room.Everything was so beautiful.Cursed was her luck, however, that it was just an illusion. He had been using her from the start, while he chose to stay with the woman who lied to him and even hurt him!No matter how mu
"Although Susan was unhappy, she should've voiced out her displeasure instead of bottling things. Cheating is wrong, regardless. Furthermore, if she wanted a career, she didn't have to stay home and depend on her husband."Grandma Bailey halted.Was that what Charmine truly thought of?Grandma Bailey thought Charmine would find Susan too aggressive unto herself.Charmine glanced at Susan again and apathetically commented, "She doesn't want to make money on her own, but she wants to be rich while complaining about her man not making time for her and taking care of her? If a woman has no ability of her own and also blames others for her miseries, all she's worth is to sit quietly at home and wait for her husband to come home. She also has no right to cheat! This is how the world works."Charmine patted Grandma Bailey’s shoulder and held Anthony’s hand, her words met with everyone's evidently surprised gazes and their silence.Grandma Bailey was shocked. Sure, Charmine sounded rathe
The colossal cruise started to drift away from the pier.Eric stood on the cruise and let the wind blow at him, loneliness and hatred still oozing from his being.He stared at the blue ocean ahead of him as Charmine's words rang in his mind unceasingly.'Will you really feel good after you've killed them?''You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?'"Forgive them and yourself.'Deliberating everything carefully, his lips curled into a bitter smile.It was true, after all, that Charmine understood him the most.Eric poured himself another drink and downed it with loneliness as he allowed the cruise to bring him wherever it would take him.…Susan was still inside the operating room when Charmine and the rest of the Baileys rushed into the hospital.Darryl stood before the room, his expression blank, his figure lonely and helpless.So many things had happened in half a day.He found out about his wife's inf
"No one's stopping you now. Eat!"Anthony clenched his hands tightly and took another glance at Charmine. He was more determined than before, and he was close to eating the pills in the bottle.Charmine, who was held hostage, gradually opened her eyes at that moment. Her gaze drifted toward Eric before she asked, her tone challenging, "Will you really feel good after you've killed them? You saw Susan suffering from a serious wound; would you still kill the one sibling you have left in the world?"Eric halted, and his eyes darkened.Charmine had just woken up, yet what she said…He cast a cold glance at Charmine. "It's my business, and it has nothing to do with you!"They were his family, and he did not want a family like this!Charmine looked squarely at him. "Eric, I don’t care if you used me or plotted against me all these years; I've treated you like a true friend, nothing more nor less. You were the only person who stayed by my side in the past five years, so I hope that you
Anthony's breath hitched when he saw Charmine.He clenched his fists and, without doubting himself, relented "I can agree to your terms, so let her go right away. This has nothing to do with her; you only hate me after all. As long as you let her go, I'll take the pill. Everything will end right away."Susan shook her head. "We'll die after eating the pill. I’m not taking that!"She had just reunited with Eric, and she did not want to die yet. She looked at Eric and begged, "Please let Anthony be, why don't you? He’s your brother, after all, and he doesn’t even know about your existence. If you’re really angry, just kill Charmine, and I'll make it up to you—"Anthony's expression contorted in sheer fury upon hearing Susan's plea, and he glared at her with murderous intent."This was all your fault, so what right do you have to make Charmine take your blame?!""What on earth are you going on about?" snapped Grandma Bailey. "Charmine has been kidnapped because of you, yet you want