Amelia then asserted, “As you’ve heard, Eunice mocked me for being a lowly assistant. I’m a Jordan too! Being an assistant is so embarrassing! You have so much money now, so why don’t you invest some on me? Let me become a supermodel again to ruin those people! Isn’t that better?” “Hah!” Charmine nonchalantly let out a scoff from her red lips. Charmine raised an eyebrow at Amelia. “You want me to invest in you, so you put on an act with Eunice? Your acting skills have improved, Amelia.” Amelia’s face turned green. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “There are only a few people who can get up to this level. Why would Eunice come in here without you acting up? Amelia, do you genuinely think I’m that same fool from five years ago?” Charmine stared at her coldly, her face fierce and brutal. Amelia reeled back in shock, knowing Charmine saw through her facade. She was acting so well, yet Charmine still saw it through? Amelia decided to cut the act and stared Charm
Even if Anthony did not dump Charmine, the Baileys would never accept her anyway. Due to what happened to her five years ago, she did not have enough courage to see herself as Anthony’s equal. If the Baileys found out that she bore a child and gave birth to a stillborn, all hell would break loose. Charmine wondered how much longer she had to endure such days. Her man, the man she married, had to care for Annabel while pretending to date Waverly. Was there any meaning to this marriage? She suddenly recalled that one word from Julian that never left her… ‘Struggling’. Anthony and Charmine were indeed struggling. This was a fight with the demons! Had it not been for that alexandrite ring from Monster Museum, she would have broken up with Anthony instead of going through this painful torture… Out of the blue, a sound was heard from outside, followed by the sound of footsteps. Someone invaded her home! She did lock the door with Kay guarding from the outside, and nobody
Caught off-guard as she fell into Anthony’s arms, Charmine wanted to move before deciding against it and settling in his embrace. His chest was so firm and wide, and his body scent calmed her senses. Her uneasiness was dispelled at last. Anthony placed his chin on her head as he held her in silence hugging her silently. He gradually lowered his head and landed kisses after kisses from her forehead to her eyes, then her nose bridge, and eventually aimed for her lips. Each kiss was deeply filled with meaning. When he was about to kiss her on the lips, Charmine instinctively moved back. Strange as it was, Charmine would resist instinctively whenever they got intimate. Perhaps she was still traumatized by what happened five years ago… Anthony could feel that she was still resistant against him, or perhaps it was due to what happened with Waverly. He pulled her deeper into his chest and comforted her with a low and deep voice, “Charmine, remember: I’m your man, your husband b
“Did it cross your mind that I’m your cousin when you cursed me?” challenged Charmine. That took Amelia by surprise. As everyone was watching, she walked toward Charmine and growled through gritted teeth, “Yesterday is yesterday. I’m a Jordan after all. How can you fire me just like this? Can you show me some respect?” Charmine rolled her eyes at her as she debated, “Did you show me any respect when you cursed at me yesterday?” Amelia’s blood boiled in anger. Why did she have to bring up what happened yesterday?! “You’re using this for your vendetta!” “Vendetta? Heh!” Charmine’s red lips curled up beautifully as she shot Amelia an aloof stare. “If you’re that capable, why don’t you be the director and get back at me?” Amelia was so frustrated that her face turned greenish-purple. Would she even waste her time with Charmine if she could be the Jordan Group’s director? Charmine was using her authority to ruin her! Charmine glared at her and continued, “Before you’re c
Seeing that she did not reply, Anthony’s lips curled up. It seemed that this woman could still get jealous. She had only him in her heart. He texted and sent, [I’m just joking. Don’t worry, I know what to do. If you really mind, perhaps consider giving me a title?] Charmine was speechless. This man would do anything to officiate their relationship! Nonetheless, it was too early for that. They had to at least wait for Annabel’s situation to progress for the better, and they had to wait until Momo had greater hope of getting healed. She replied, [Don’t worry, I really don’t mind.] Inside the Bailey Corporation building. Reading her reply, Anthony turned off the computer. He removed the suit and instructed Luke, “Bring everything in.” Luke brought a pair of soft iron armor to him and respectively helped Anthony to put them on. … Even though Charmine said she did not mind, the thought of Anthony dining a couple’s meal with Waverly still upset her. While on t
Regardless, Alexander was in no hurry. He could take it slow. Both his car and Charmine’s pulled over by the restaurant’s entrance. Charmine got out of the car, not bothering to wait for him as she marched into the restaurant. However, the staff by the entrance lowered his head politely and said, “Pardon, Madam, but only couples can enter the restaurant.” Only couples? She could not enter alone, even with a ticket? As she was frowning, Alexander walked to her side. “I hope we can enter now?” “Yes, you may. Please, follow me.” The staff led them in politely. Charmine stopped in her tracks. Entering with Alexander? What if Anthony saw them? Knowing Anthony, he might… Alexander walked beside her and said in a half-whisper, “Don’t worry, I’ll find an excuse to leave after sending you in there.” Since Charmine was already in AL, she could not just leave like that. After a moment of hesitation, she marched ahead. Since Alexander was only sending her in, Anthony would
Since there were a few rooms between them and Anthony, along with some corridors separating them, was it likely he would not see them? Charmine had to decide whether to stay or leave. Assessing that Anthony and Waverly were not far away, she finally decided to stay. She went through all the trouble to get to AL, Charmine would rather find out more about Waverly. As she went through the menu, her lips twitched. This restaurant was indeed the No.1 Couple’s Dining Experience in Burlington. Even the menu only consisted of dishes for two with no a la carte dishes in sight. It did not help that the names for the dishes were so sickening. They had ‘Love Birds’, ‘Matching Wings’, ‘Lover’s Tears’, and ‘Forever and Ever’. Each was more sickening than the other. Charmine rolled her eyes. She had no choice but to finally order ‘Full Moon’. The term ‘Full Moon’ was not specifically used to describe a couple, so it was less sickening. The serving staff left with the menu, once
Anthony glared at the glass as he tried to see through the matte lower-half who else was inside that room. Charmine was about to eat when she felt a strong pressure on her. Instinctively, she looked up and met a pair of darkening eyes. Anthony… He found out! Her usually calm face was now uneasy. She felt as if she was caught cheating… Across the hall, Anthony picked up his phone. Soon… Ding! A few words appeared on Charmine’s phone screen. Anthony texted, [Who did you come with?] Charmine felt her heart beating faster. He sounded as if he was interrogating his cheating wife. Why was she so scared? What a weak stance! Recomposing herself, Charmine then texted, [Someone I simply found on the way. I came here to check on you.] Right, she was the one checking on him. She should not feel guilty! When Anthony saw the text, he frowned. Simply found? Who? Where was the man? Was he laying on the sofa, afraid to be seen? The thought of Charmine dining with an
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