Charmine then recalled how she was too into work that she had forgotten about Anthony and Chris. Instantly, she carried Momo to the bed and sat down, patting him gently and coaxed, “I’m so sorry, Momo, it’s Mommy’s fault, but today’s my first day taking charge of the company, so I was busy with many things. Mommy promises that this will never happen again, but you also have to promise Mommy that in case Mommy forgets again, you give me a call instead of doing something dangerous, okay?” “Okay!” Chris cuddled in her arms. His soft body was like a kitten, incredibly therapeutic. Charmine embraced the boy, and all of her worries had instantly vanished. She wanted to talk to Chris more when he said, “Mommy, can I sleep here tonight? I’m sleepy… Can you sing me a lullaby?” That felt off. He just came and was already tired? Charmine shrugged that off, however, reasoning that it was natural since he was still a child and should be sleeping early. “Okay, stay here with Mommy to
Charmine sat by the bed as Anthony got closer to her, the atmosphere turning tense as he did. She wanted to use Chris to ease the tension, but he was fast asleep... It was then it clicked for Charmine, why Chris always fell asleep so quickly. He did it on purpose so she could have some space with Anthony! Charmine was too into her thoughts that she failed to see how close Anthony had gotten to her. His tall figure was merely 20 centimeters away from her, his shadow engulfing her. As Charmine’s heart thundered rambunctiously, Anthony took out a folded A4 paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “I’m here to report my progress.” Report his progress? Charmine looked down suspiciously and saw a nicely written report on the paper. [Today, 70% of work was done on Annabel’s house. Our prediction is that the work will be done by tomorrow. Helped her to secure an offer with a broadcasting platform, and her fixed salary would be 50,000 per month with 50% commission. [I’ve
Charmine walked toward the door hastily and opened it. Senior Jordan asked suspiciously, “Charmine, what took you so long to open the door? I thought you had fallen asleep.” “I was washing my face and just finished my skincare routine,” lied Charmine as she walked to the table and pulled out a single sofa for Senior Jordan. She changed the topic as she spoke, “What brought you here, Grandpa? Is something up?” “Hmm… Yes, there’s something.” Senior Jordan sat down on the single sofa and gazed into her eyes, concerned. “I heard from the Special Team about your performance today. You’ve impressed them all, and they genuinely like you, but I’m concerned about you! “You must’ve been tired from preparing so much information. As for the designs... When did you learn all that? You must’ve been through a lot over the past five years, no? You must’ve been working so hard.” His tone was full of concern and care. Charmine’s expression softened. After she came back for so long, Senior
Charmine, still on the sofa, felt as though Anthony would bust out of the wardrobe at any given time, and the document in her hands felt like a hot, flaming yam. Terrified, she threw the document aside and said to Senior Jordan, “Grandpa, I don’t like them. We youngsters don’t like blind dates, but I’ll look around myself. I’ll find someone I like one day.” “You’re occupied with the company work every day. When would you have time to look around? Grandpa is getting old; I hope I can see you getting married while I’m still alive. I want to make sure someone can take care of you, protect you, love you. Only so will Grandpa be able to die in peace…cough! Cough, cough…!” Senior Jordan wheezed and coughed painfully. Charmine hastily poured him a glass of water. “Grandpa, take care of your body and don’t think too much. I’ll ask Uncle Weir to prescribe some medicines for your health tomorrow.” “Sigh... It’s a heart illness, and only you can cure it. I’m too worried for you and con
“Acting for Grandpa? So you’d marry someone just to lessen Grandpa’s worries?” His magnetic voice was filled with displeasure and jealousy. The thought of her actually keeping the document made Anthony’s gaze sharper than ever. His large hand tightened around Charmine’s waist, pulling her closer as he spoke. Charmine was so close to him that her lips could graze Anthony’s chin if she was to raise her chin. Uneasily, she tried to get out. “Let go of me first, and I’ll show you the document. You’ll know why I looked at it for so long…” “You even want to make me help you look for a husband? Wow, Charmine, you’ve got guts.” Anthony’s eyes darkened. Suddenly, he grabbed Charmine’s chin. Charmine’s heartbeat fastened. “What’re you doing—mmph!” Before she could finish her sentence, Anthony lowered his head abruptly and kissed her lips roughly. Charmine wanted to struggle, but just as she moved, her back landed on the wardrobe wall, pushed up by Anthony. In that narr
Charmine thought that things would be alright so long as she dragged out the time, but as she stared at the confident Anthony, she felt as though she had somehow fallen into his trap. Would she end up marrying him anyway if he did as promised, fixing everything with Annabel in half a month’s time? This all seemed too sudden… “Can I take back my words?” “You’ve said it yourself, so you’ll have to keep it.” Anthony’s lips curled up, watching her dumbfounded face. Charmine was stunned silent. Whatever. They could negotiate on the matter when the time came. If he could fix everything within half a month, well… It was not a bad thing, no. She did not dwell on it any longer as she turned to walk inside the room. Suddenly, she remembered that Chris was still inside the wardrobe! Instantly, she walked over and opened the wardrobe door. Inside the wardrobe, Chris had already turned around and changed his sleeping position. He was curled up, hugging a pillar inside the wardro
Just as Charmine was about to remove his hands, Anthony reassured in his low voice, “Don’t worry, it’s only for a while. Only one hour.” His low voice was strangely sad and pitiable. After halting for a second, Charmine did not remove his hands and allowed his hands on her—they had not met since they parted yesterday, after all. She did not know whether they would meet tomorrow, so she allowed him to hug her as he pleased. Anthony’s hug was very comforting. He exuded a sense of calmness that made her feel safe. Perhaps she was too worked up during the day, but knowing that she had set an alarm, Charmine allowed herself to drift off gradually. Anthony, on the other hand, could not get some shuteye. With Charmine in his arms, his eyes were heavy and dark. Last night, he could not fall asleep without her. When the sun came out, he had to leave again. Why was it so difficult to be with her officially? Oh, Charmine! He really did not know what to do with her… He played wi
Later that morning... Charmine arrived at the Jordan Group building and held a morning briefing, delegating tasks needed to be done. Their most important task of the day was to recruit those staff who left. However, those staff lived on their wages and thus were scared of unforeseen risks. They feared they would not receive their wages or anything similar to that nature happening to the Jordan Group again, such as bankruptcy or internal conflicts. Charmine had to discuss a strategy with the human resource team to tackle that matter. At that moment, Charmine received a text from Kay. [Kay: Boss Jordan, Nial is doing the DNA test on the top floor of Royal Hospital. Would you like to have a look?] The four Uncles and Kay hoped for Charmine to go so she could get over Anthony. Anthony had a child with another woman. Why would Charmine still insist on staying with him? Charmine was at a loss for a good while, and it was only after a moment she texted, [I’m busy. I’m not
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