Maurice would tell them the reason why he was still single. This was hot news! Maurice began, “To be honest, I support bachelorism. I’ve never had a girlfriend nor do I have thoughts on getting married. This is my first time explaining it and also my last. Alright, next question please.” Charmine looked at Maurice in disbelief, suddenly realizing he was a precious guy. He was a gentleman, elegant, gentle, and had a brilliant attitude. Maurice answered questions regarding his personal life in order and then said, “Those answers were for my private life. Now, please only ask questions regarding the show.” Since they had gotten news of Maurice’s personal life, the reporters let Charmine go and began asking film-related questions. “Ms. Jordan, why did you decide to be in this show? What do you think of Maurice?” Charmine answered, “Because the main lead’s experience is similar to mine. Furthermore, this show is about recovery, and I look forward to it. As for Mr. Lukas, I fin
“Nothing.” Charmine drank the water from the bottle, saying nothing else. Maurice recalled the look on her face when they first met, and it clicked for him. “Don’t worry.” He smiled gently. “Don’t trouble yourself over it.” It was then the director called out excitedly, “We’ll go to the Red Café for lunch. I’ve already made the reservation, and everyone's invited. None of you can go missing!” Charmine looked at Maurice and bade, “See you later.” Maurice’s lips parted as he wanted to speak more, but Charmine had already left. He gazed at her gently before retreating to his hotel room.... Charmine went to her car and said to Eric, “I’m not going to the lunch gathering; I can’t be bothered to socialize. I’m getting some rest at the hotel.” “Okay.” Eric thus sent her to the hotel. As Charmine had been busy throughout the afternoon, she was already tired and fell asleep a few minutes after getting in bed. Eric left her room and went to the room next door for an afternoon
Just as the director expected, the #Charmine-Maurice hashtag shot up to the trending page, and in half an hour at that.A photo of them exchanging affectionate glances was leaked, as well as photos of them ditching the crew and fellow actors to dine on their own in a restaurant. They seemed to have had a good time, too. Such were the comments about the matter: [It can’t be... The two of them had love at first sight?] [Maurice was made for Recovery, isn’t he? His eyes are so gentle. He’s one of a kind!] [I’m so excited for the show! I can’t wait to see what’ll happen when the untamed, beautiful Charmine meets this middle-aged, gentle Maurice.] [A true love story! I suddenly feel like they look good together. What is this?] [OMG! They just started shooting, and I’m already a fan! When is the show streaming? OMG! Please publish as they shoot, I can’t wait any longer!] The director chuckled heartily as he read the comments. He had to give it to himself—he was good at getting
Charmine swiftly took out a tomato and an egg. Maurice saw how nice of a woman she was and thought that the rumors online were not to be trusted. Everyone said Charmine was cold, arrogant, and had a bad personality, but the Charmine he met was kind and easy-going. She had a pleasant personality, too. She cooked, at least, and his mother did not. Thinking that Maurice must be just as hungry and how awkward it would be to eat alone, Charmine cooked two packets of instant noodles and brought them out. “Mr. Lukas, come and have some, too,” she offered. Maurice turned her offer down with a gentle wave. “I’m not hungry. Dig in.” “Mmh?” Charmine was surprised. “It’s so late, and you’re not hungry?” Was he not human? That afternoon when they went to eat, he merely had a few bites and talked to her for the majority of their time. He had not eaten after they headed back home for the night. “It’s okay,” insisted Maurice, “go ahead and eat.” He gently pushed his bowl back to
Anthony used to take care of her the same way, cooking for her and washing the dishes for her. Sadly... Her eyes dulled as she massaged her temples. Why was she thinking of that fool again?! Charmine turned away to look at her script instead. After he finished washing the plates, Maurice sat before Charmine hushedly. His dark eyes studied her. He liked this young lady a lot. She was like his next-door neighbor, the pure and innocent kind, and he had this desire to protect her. It baffled him as to why people online would hate her so much. She was nowhere close to what they portrayed her to be! She was, in fact, a soft-hearted, kind, and almost adorable woman. Charmine could feel his burning gaze on her, so she looked at him and fell into his dark eyes. “Mr. Lukas…” hesitated Charmine. “What’s wrong?” Maurice looked away and gently replied, “I think you’re adorable.” “Mmh?” Charmine blinked. Adorable? Was he deluded or something? Not once was she called ‘ado
Both Maurice and Charmine walked out of Maurice’s hotel room, and he walked her to the lift. He only went back to his room when he saw the lift ascending to the floor above. The next day... #Charmine-Maurice-Late-Night-Date The hashtag had photos of Charmine going to look for Maurice at 9 p.m., only leaving when it was three in the morning. Maurice even walked her out of his room, and both of them looked visibly reluctant to part. Everyone online exploded into a flurry. [OMG! A man and a woman, parting at midnight?] [It’s not what I think it is, is it?] [We were still guessing their status, and now they verified it at night?] [It’s definitely what we’re thinking, alright! If they’re merely colleagues, why would she go to his room? Maurice isn’t this kind of man!] [From nine till three! Is Maurice's stamina that good? (don’t shoot me)] [Although I can’t believe that Charmine has taken Maurice, he has to be head over heels for her, seeing how gentle he looked. I hope
Filming began that afternoon, and the family of Gem Clarke—Charmine’s character—was killed by the man she loved. The man who harbored feelings for her was shot 28 times, then eaten by a wolf-dog, and died without a complete body. Unable to accept the tragedy that befell her, she lost all will to live and chose to end herself. Charmine had on a bright red ankle-length dress and stood by the edge of a cliff. Her dress fluttered with the breeze. She looked beautiful as ever. “Action!” the director called out. Charmine fell into her role, and her eyes glistened in despair. She looked in the direction of the camera and said her last words, “If I can just wish for one thing, Rory, I’d give up my future reincarnations in exchange for your next lives to be peaceful, carefree.” Having said her last words, she jumped off the cliff into the lake without hesitating. The bright red dress made her stunning as usual… The director watched in awe as she leaped; it was as if he had won the j
Everyone watched as Maurice jumped straight into the lake. “What’s going on?” questioned the director. Everyone shook their heads. They had no idea. Sabrina, on the other hand, stared at the lake with a look of disbelief. How did Maurice find out? Why would this man, he who was afraid of water, would fearlessly jump into the lake for Charmine? The director looked at the screen in confusion. It was only when he noticed Charmine already unconscious and had sunk to the bottom of the lake did he realize it was not in the script. Something was wrong.His face jolted. “Hurry!” the director’s hand shook as he said to the crowd, “Hurry and save her! We have a situation here!” After a few seconds of silence, everyone panicked and rushed toward the lake urgently. Charmine, unable to untangle herself from the waterweeds, grew listless, her head getting heavier and her vision blurrier. Right before she lost consciousness, she could hear someone anxiously calling out her charac
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