Fenella’s POV"In summary, each participant would share a story. Then other students had to guess whether the story was true or false. If they guessed wrong, the participant would receive some money. If their guess was correct, the contestant would get nothing.""Oh..." My mouth rounded, and I nodded in understanding."The money comes from voting tickets that can be bought by the students. Because it's covered up under the guise of a quiz show, the faculty just agreed to that crazy idea.""Imagine that if a student votes incorrectly, half of the money goes to the contestant and half to the committee. If a student makes a correct guess, they will receive twice as much voting money back. It's like gambling, right?" Skye grumbled irritably."I think it's more like a game for rich people who just want to find ways to waste money," I said, joining in the annoyance."That's why I said the committee head this year is really bad. They've got many sponsors, but they still want to squeeze the s
Fenella’s POV"Only fools like you dare to open the curtain. Other kids are smart enough not to disturb us."I was so weak and helpless. Coupled with my body's weakness from a fever, I could only grimace. My back ached from the pressure of my backpack's contents pressed between my body and the wall."Stop it, Amy. You're hurting me." Both of my hands gripped Amy's wrists as hard as I could. I tried to release her grip on me, but Amy was stronger."Why? Do you feel like you can't be hurt when you've already hurt me? Do I not know you're a two-faced traitor? You act like you support me, but you always undermine me in front of Laird."Amy hissed right next to my face. I could even feel her breath in my ears, and I shivered because of it."I despise losers like you. I hate traitors like you. You make me sick!"Amy pushed me again until I staggered back to the wall. My breath felt heavy, and my ears were ringing after hearing Amy's threats. I tried to stand as straight as possible, even th
Fenella’s POVThe doctor then drove us back to the dorm using an ambulance without sirens. He dropped us off in front of my dormitory. After expressing many thanks, I entered the house with limp steps supported by Laird.The house was still quiet. The front lights were still off, and the door was still locked. It seemed like Amy and the other girls had gone out for dinner as usual."Where did you fall?" Laird asked after helping me sit on the edge of the bed."Uh, that, um... I fell on the stairs. I was feeling very weak earlier, and I accidentally slipped in a puddle of water." There was a momentary pause as I tried to come up with an excuse to lie."You're not good at acting; you know that, right?" He snorted with his usual crooked smile."I'm serious," I insisted, although I felt my heart pounding faster.He sighed heavily and ignored me. He seemed to know but didn't press the matter anymore. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and he immediately went out to open the door.I opened my bag
Fenella’s POVThe doorbell rang, and I immediately ran out to open the door. Laird stood before me in a dark gray tuxedo, matching gray pants, black shoes, and a cream-colored tie. He slicked back his dark blonde hair. He carried a large bouquet of roses for me, like a prince.Good gracious Lord! He was so handsome!"Hi, Laird!" With a rapidly beating heart, I grinned widely at him."Hi, wow, Fenella." Laird smiled, and he gazed at me for a long moment. Was he captivated? Maybe."Your blonde hair is back." He spoke with a broad smile and fixed his gaze on my face."Yeah, I wanted to look a little different than before." I blushed shyly."It suits you so well. Just like the Fenella I used to know in a more mature version." He chuckled, and my face grew warmer with embarrassment."Oh, this is for you." He handed me the bouquet of roses."Oh, my goodness, Laird. It's so beautiful. Thank you." I took the bouquet with a wide smile and examined each pink-white petal."You're prettier than t
Fenella’s POVThe host suddenly announced the start of the special session. The music blared, and everyone cheered loudly."Everyone can buy voting tickets at the ticket booth! Vote as much as you can to support your friends!"Finally, the special session arrived. This was the moment I had been waiting for. Despite being the last in line, I felt that it was best to start as soon as possible. If necessary, I wanted to overtake Amy's session so that Laird wouldn't have to bother answering her anymore."Hey, Laird, I have a surprise for you." I said this to Laird as we rested at the edge of the dance floor."What surprise?" Laird asked curiously."I can't say it now, but will you wait for me?" I asked Laird with pleading eyes."Are you going to leave me alone here?" Laird raised an eyebrow."Just for a moment. I promise." I assured Laird."Whatever. I don't guarantee I'll still be at this event if you leave me." Laird grumbled irritably."Hey, Laird. Trust me. I promise, I won't leave yo
Fenella’s POVWhile whispering those sorry words in his ear, I still hugged him tightly. Clark's hunched posture made it easy for me to whisper in his ear. He hugged me tightly, as if I were going to leave him forever. He was still crying, and his tears wetted my shoulder.I don't know why, but I understood Clark's feelings. Just like Lloyd, who also hoped to be treated seriously, even though he was younger. Just like me, who really liked Laird. We tried various ways to get attention from the person we liked. We fought for many things to be able to continue being with that person.Some time passed. I faintly heard Clark's name being called by the host for the third session. Leo seemed panicked, and finally the fourth participant stepped forward to replace him.Gradually, his tears subsided. He released the hug and stood up straighter. He wiped his tears from his cheeks several times."I'm sorry, Fenella. I was careless. I should never have listened to Amy." He looked down, tears stil
Fenella’s POVI stepped onto the stage with a pounding heart. My hands trembled as I reached for the microphone hanging on its stand. From the corner of my eye, I could see that Amy looked annoyed. I could also see hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at me under the bright lights."Hey, everyone. I'm Fenella Baxter," I said nervously.Suddenly, the spotlight moved, this time illuminating Laird. Now I could see him clearly from the stage. His gaze outshone all other gazes, and for me, there was nothing more important than him at that moment."Hi, Laird. You must be wondering why I'm here. Surprise!" I laughed nervously, but no one else joined in."Uh, okay." I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I gazed thoughtfully at Laird, who was also looking back at me from the front of the stage."I'm so glad to be with you, Laird. Since childhood, we've always been together in Boston. We were always together throughout elementary school, and I consider those times to be very memorable." I chuckl
Fenella’s POV"A very touching confession. Congratulations, Fenella. You've just admitted to everyone that you're a traitor," Amy hissed."I'm not a traitor, Amy." I stepped forward in front of Skye and bravely confronted Amy."For years, I held myself to give you the chance you asked for. But what is the truth? You're the one playing with your own feelings and selling yourself cheap to many boys in school," I said, squinting at the bitch."Then why didn't you hold yourself this time? Why did you have to ruin my last moment in high school? Why do you always, always, again, and again, disturb me and Laird from being together?"Amy's voice grew louder with each emphasized word. Her teeth chattered, and I knew she was trying to control herself to maintain her image in front of people.Oh, damn! She's so angry, but I don't give a fuck!"I'm done lying to myself, Amy. I won't apologize if Laird chooses me later," I said.I am still firm in my stance against her."What? So you still think L
Fenella’s POVThree months later…“State of New York vs. Alan Schmidt! All rise, and please be quiet!”The bailiff announced the case name in a loud voice. I sat in the audience with my heart pounding and my feet restless. The reporters waiting in the back of the room fell silent, capturing every moment as the judge entered.I squeezed Laird's hand to quell my nerves. He smiled at me and whispered that everything would be okay. I nodded and offered a small, reassuring smile in return.This was the final appeal at the Supreme Court. After this, Alan wouldn’t be able to appeal again until his sentence was served. After two long years of a drawn-out case with various appeals from Alan’s side, we had finally reached the finish line.The judge began reading various considerations and court notes. They took turns reading the decision documents. Time seemed to crawl, and I began to feel drowsy.I occasionally glanced at Alan, who sat in his prison jumpsuit. His once curly, neat hair had grown
Fenella’s POVTwo years later…I held Laird's hand, squeezing the palm that felt damp with sweat. A smile appeared on my lips as I tried to calm the nervousness he had felt since we left the house. This was the first award ceremony for him, Dave, and Rowan. They couldn’t sit still in their seats either.I couldn’t deny that I felt the same. My heart raced, even as the host made jokes that had the audience laughing. Still, I tried to remain calm because I didn’t want to make him more anxious than he already was.“The winner of the Best Mobile Game of the Year is...” The music stopped, the announcer paused, tension built, “My Supermodel!”“Oh! Thank God!” I exclaimed behind my hands that covered my open mouth.“Congratulations, honey!”I immediately stood up and hugged Laird tightly beside me. I cupped his face in my hands and kissed his lips strong and quick. He smiled broadly and whispered for a moment, “I love you, baby. Thank you.”“Congratulations!” I shook hands with Dave and Rowa
Fenella’s POVI stood at the edge of the balcony. My hands are firmly gripping the iron rail of the balcony as my eyes gaze at the nighttime scenery in the distance. Puerto Vallarta, a cliff with a stunning coastal view that showcases the beautiful side of Mexico.Perhaps there is truth in the saying—including Lloyd's yesterday—that bad memories must be replaced with good ones.Since arriving in Mexico until now, all the bad memories have been erased and replaced with the beauty of a honeymoon vacation with the love of my life. It's not bad, really.Despite the heavy trial we went through yesterday, we finally had some peace of mind. The night breeze blows through my hair. There's a strange sensation, but I don't want to go into the room yet. Until Laird came from the balcony door and immediately hugged me, enveloping me in soothing warmth.“Hey,”“Hi, baby. Are you done showering?” I asked, raising my head to look at Laird's face for a moment.“Yup.”“You smell nice,” I said as I inh
Fenella’s POV“Oh, sweet Mother, that was divine!” Jessy took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he opened his eyes wide while his mouth continued chewing my mother’s crab cakes. The murmurs and cheers were still heard until he finally finished his last bite.“I was glad you liked them,” my mother smiled broadly.“I didn’t just like them. I loved, loved, loved them!”Everyone around us laughed at Jessy’s confession. We felt the same way because my mother had succeeded in making a super delicious wedding reception dish. Truly, our Baxter family home was filled with guests. Even though we had invited only a small number of people, our home had never been this lively.The decorations of pink, white, and red flowers and balloons filled the entire room. The furniture had been rearranged to create enough space for the guests to dance or chat. Soft music played through the speakers set up in the corner of the room.Occasionally, guests would step up to change the music, hold the microph
Fenella’s POV“Honey, you looked absolutely stunning,” my mother said. “Thank you, Mom.” I smiled wide upon hearing my mother's compliment. She handed me a bouquet of wedding flowers that was a mix of pink, red, and white colors. I then grabbed the small bouquet and held it tightly. “I couldn’t believe we pulled this off all in just a week.” My mother shook her head, her eyes wide. “We even thought to get married the day after he proposed, but I remembered your words about wanting to prepare every detail of my wedding. You only have one chance because I'm your only daughter, so here we are.”“I just hoped those fruit tarts and crab cakes would be enough for all the guests.” “It’s okay, Mom. If the food wasn’t enough, we could stuff them with the wedding cake. That’s the job of the five-tier cake you ordered.”“You're right. I'm grateful that Mrs. Maddox's bakery shop is willing to take on the order." She sighed and stared at my face."Oh, I wish your father could see you, even th
Fenella’s POV“Fenella.”“Yes, Laird.”Laird called me right after I arrived at the apartment.“Where are you right now?”“I'm at the apartment,” I replied quickly as I grabbed a glass of mineral water from the dispenser.“Oh, thank goodness. I'm on my way home,” he said.The apartment door opened, and I immediately saw Laird's figure enter. My mouth was slightly agape, with my eyes widening. My forehead wrinkled as I watched him walk in. I glanced at the clock on the table and realized it was 2 p.m.“Fenella,” he called in his distinctively low voice.He stepped inside and met me in the kitchen. I hurriedly set my water glass down on the dining table. For some reason, Laird's face looked different. There was a hint of a happy smile on his face, though the look in his eyes was dark, and I couldn't describe the meaning behind it.“You're home? One second you're calling me, the next you're standing in front of me,” I chuckled.Suddenly, he let down his backpack on the floor. Then he hug
Laird’s POVI took several deep breaths and let them out. I couldn't help but feel uneasy and anxious, and various bad thoughts were raging in my mind. My hands repeatedly smoothed my tie or combed my hair. Hell, I couldn't calm myself down!This wasn't the first time my father had gone this far. Using bodyguards to pick up other people by force, who does he think he is?I hate his methods. He's called the shark of the legal world for a reason. This is how he acts. Stalking, coercing, and making people bend to his will until they're crushed by Hugo Evans' ambition.Now he was after Fenella. He flew from Boston to New York for her. I just knew it.I almost know what my father wants from my girlfriend. Maybe he wants to tell her to stay away like some of the girls I dated at university. It could also be that he wanted to ask about the case involving me and Malgolm Golden together.Whatever it was, I was waiting for a call or mes
Fenella’s POVMy eyes blinked after hearing Mr. Evans' words. My brow furrowed as I tried to understand his reasoning and failed miserably. I remained silent, but eventually, my heart was stirred to dig deeper.“Excuse me? Why is that?” I asked slowly, being careful not to make a misstep.“Because he helped my enemy,” Mr. Evans replied firmly.Again, I could only blink. An enemy? Yes, Laird had told me how Mr. Golden had an affair with his mother. But wasn’t that ten years ago? In fact, Mr. Evans had been busy with his young girlfriend.Still, Laird had helped to do the right thing. I didn’t want to argue with him, but I began to feel that Mr. Evans' disappointment in Laird was beyond reason.“But he helped capture criminals. He has contributed to the community.” I voiced my opinion again and swallowed to ease my nervousness.“You don’t know anything, kid. He helped my arch-enemy without considering my feelings.” Mr. Evans scoffed in frustration. “How dare he? Sometimes Laird can be u
Fenella’s POVI willingly got into the black van, leaving Jessy alone on the sidewalk. I was sure he would immediately contact Laird. Maybe he would explain the situation to him, and Laird would call me right away.Sure enough, my phone rang just minutes after the van had driven away from Laird’s office building. I answered the call immediately.“Hello, Laird.”“Hey, Fenella. What is this about Jessy seeing you being abducted by a black van? He said you willingly got into the vehicle and mentioned it was my father’s men.”Laird asked with tension in his voice. His breath sounded hurried on the phone, but I didn’t want to make him more anxious.Well, yes, I was panicking too because suddenly I had been approached by men in black suits who resembled mafia. However, they mentioned Hugo Evans, Laird’s father. I didn’t want to give his father a bad impression, or I would lose th