However, Annabel was in a similar situation as Charmine. Would she be able to find someone who liked her, who would not mind her past and genuinely cared for her within such a short time? Before Charmine knew it, she stood right before Muse Club absent-mindedly en route to the company building. Tristan was sipping on his cocktail languidly at the lobby with a ukulele in his hands. Him strumming the strings sounded…awful! That did not stop his self-indulgence, however, and the staff dared not say anything. He spotted Charmine passing by at that moment and instantly sped outside. “Sweetie!” Charmine heard this almost familiar tone and did not want to respond to it. However, Tristan already walked up to her. “The children’s entertainment plan you told me yesterday is already set up. Would you like to have a look? We still have time to make some changes if you're unsatisfied.” It was not until then when Charmine stopped walking. She thought of how adorable Chris was earlier in
Charmine frowned. Who would use darts these days? The attacker was proficient with them, too! Throwing ten darts, one after another, was a display of stellar wrist strength. The darts were homing in from different trajectories: from above, below, left, and right. They were coming from almost all directions! Getting to the door was their only safe option. Alas, the door was closed and there was no time to even get to the door! She gave her undivided focus on the darts and parried. Charmine shuffled in her footwork, raising her leg and kicking away the darts as they came. She took up a stuffed toy and swung it nimbly, using it as a shield. Just like that, the darts were flicked away. Before the assassinator could register her movements, almost all the darts were countered. All but one dart, alas, that aimed for Charmine’s ankle. Charmine almost seemed to have missed the one dart flying below. The assassinator chuckled devilishly; it was good enough to hurt her an
“Still, I was genuinely trying to protect you moments ago, to make up for what I owed you.” ‘For what I owed you’? Alexander owed her something? It was then Charmine recalled what Rex said to her in that one night. It was Alexander Walker… So… Alexander eyed her intently, his usually flirtatious eyes bearing a glint of guilt. “Five years ago, I went to Royal Banquet Bar. When I walked past a room, I heard you hitting on the door wildly from the inside. I was going to send you to the hospital, but you were drugged and kept on sticking on me, so being the normal guy that I am…” His hoarse voice sounded somewhat guilty. “I should’ve taken responsibility, but I found out later on that you’re a mission taken on by the Walker gang. The Walker gang had to finish the mission, and we’re notorious for never failing. In order to keep the name of the Walker gang, I had to send you back to the room…” A surge of feelings mashed together welled in her chest. So many things happene
Charmine’s mind was plagued with thoughts of Alexander and Anthony for the entire day. It was not until the late afternoon when her phone on the desk rang hurriedly. Caller ID: [Luke]. Charmine was brought out of her dark study, and after a moment of hesitation, she picked up the call. She was instantly greeted with Luke’s anxious voice as he began, “Ms. Jordan, please help President Bailey. Please help him!” Charmine’s eyelids fluttered in worry. “What is it?” “President Bailey is helping Ms. Annabel to interview for a qualified partner from six in the morning to three in the afternoon now. Nine whole hours! And he hadn’t eaten! “Furthermore, some serious situations occurred in the company that requires his attention. He delayed them all, but these can’t be delayed no more…” Luke was so panicked that he almost cried. Charmine frowned. Nine whole hours? Was Anthony not resting until he picked the right person? Nine hours of not eating… If anything serious occurred i
That skyscraper was named the Magpie Bridge, a skyscraper with a unique design, built like twin towers that were 99 meters apart with an air bridge that linked the two towers. Walking on the bridge would be like walking on the clouds. The creativity behind the building was astonishing. Most astonishing of all was that the twin towers would be built with the cultural elements in Burlington as well as the fourth generation new-styled house design. Every floor would have their private garden, forest, and trees. The twin towers did not look like towers at a glance. Instead, they looked like two green and tall mountains pointing toward the clouds. Green mountains existed in the air, linked by the magpie bridge, exuding a dreamy sight. The Magpie Bridge project would take place in Burlington, expected to start in the second half of the year. Charles was elated. “So powerful! Burlington has such a genius architect? This will garner worldwide attention! We have to work with them
Charmine recalled that Uncle Max was talking about the Eway factory in Derby. Was she not talking to their representative at the moment? Her red lips curled up. “Yes.” Charles was shocked. How could it be? The Magpie Bridge was so tall and big, definitely one of the most challenging buildings of all times, yet Charmine designed it? Charmine looked like a woman in her twenties, but she was the mastermind behind the fabulous landmark architecture? Still in a daze, he quickly flipped open the proposal on his desk and looked at the design diagram. There it was by the red bottom corner, Charmine’s signature! In other words, the building was actually designed by Charmine! Charmine was a savvy mogul after all, and not just some pretty vase? Charles' expression instantly changed. “Misunderstandings! These are all misunderstandings! I knew Anthony had a keen eye—he’s lucky to have picked up a treasure like you!” That took Charmine aback. What sudden 180-degree change wa
Charmine frowned. “Give me his location.” “Pendulum Tea Shop,” replied Luke. Pendulum Tea Shop was located at the heel of the mountain in the outskirts of the city. It was a quiet location with high privacy. Charmine completed all her tasks before making her way for the tea shop. On the way there, her ears rang with what Luke told her while she got a flashback to the monitor she saw yesterday when Annabel’s mother begged Anthony. She should be pulling away from Anthony, but under such circumstances, she had to go there and meet him. When she passed by a restaurant, she ordered a box of seafood platter and placed it on the passenger's seat. It came as a surprise, however, as she made a turn in the secluded road before arriving at Pendulum Tea Shop, she saw Anthony’s car driving toward her. Somehow, he suddenly lost control. Crash! The car rammed against a large tree by the roadside. Anthony had an accident! “Anthony!” Face morphed into horror and worry, she q
Anthony’s gaze on Charmine darkened. “What Annabel and I had was merely puppy-love, no genuine love in that. Marrying her is unfair to her, you, and me. Also, if Annabel is willing to marry someone else, all that truly matters is that we find someone who truly loves her, cares for her—feelings can be developed slowly. She could get a loving family.” Charmine was stumped. What a double-standard statement! Annabel could fall for another person, but he could not develop his feelings for her? Marrying Annabel off would give her happiness, but marrying him would be unfair to everyone? Unable to accept that, Charmine warned, “Anthony, we have to do good things.” “I don’t want to do good things, I only want to do you.” His voice was unusually low, his hoarse voice sexy and flirtatious. Charmine’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could speak, Anthony pulled her to his chest again. “Charmine, don’t overthink it. We’ll get married in six days, just wait for it. Leave the rest t
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