《Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire》 Chapter 1 She slept wide on the bed, smiling in her sleep as her tongue stole out to lick the drool that was about to wet the bed. It was obvious she was dreaming. A very sweet one. Suddenly, the door burst open. ¡°Valerie! What is wrong with you? Wake up¡± Sandy tapped her continuously. Valerie stared at Sandy with half-open eyes. She looked angry. ¡°What?¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°You should leave for work¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even time yet, so stop bugging me¡± she drawled ¡°It¡¯s 8am¡± Sandy deadpanned. Valerie Gardner¡¯s eyes flew open. ¡°You¡¯re serious! Oh, God! But¡­. I set the rm yesterday. How¡­..¡± ¡°Your rm was ringing nonstop at 7. I thought you were up at that time¡± Valerie hurried out of bed, to the bathroom, kicking her leg against the bedside table in the process. ¡°Ouch¡± she rubbed the affected area and ran to the bathroom, where her head collided with the wall. She screamed in pain. Sandy shook her head helplessly. ¡°So clumsy. She¡¯s sure going to get a nasty bump¡± he tutted. Valerie exited the house at exactly 8:30, ditching breakfast and silently praying not to lose her job. She arrived at her workce. New life mall was written in bold at the top of the building. It wasn¡¯t a massive mall, but customers came in steady. She skedaddled to the entrance and ran straight into Mr Duncan, the manager. ¡°Damn it¡± she muttered. He sent a tight smile her way. ¡°Hello Miss Gardner¡± ¡°Good morning Mr Duncan¡± she looked down at him. He was a short man, probably six feet two. His belly protruded, making him even less attractive than he was. ¡°You are 55 minutes and 48 secondste¡± he pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, sir. It won¡¯t happen again¡± ¡°You are saying that for the third time this week!¡± He boomed. It directed people¡¯s gaze towards them. ¡°One more chance, sir. Just one¡± she pleaded as she raised her index finger, putting on her best puppy eyes. His face hardened even more. ¡°Just one more time and I will send you out of here¡± she breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away. She changed into her uniform and went to her post. She heard someone, or specifically, two people, snickering beside her. ¡°See, I told you she was going to be allowed in¡± ¡± The man is always so strict. I wonder what she gives him in return for keeping her job. She should perhaps teach us, right?¡± The other said, and they chortled scornfully. ¡°Oh, right. I think I know¡± The first girl snapped her fingers. ¡°I just have toy on my back and my job is secured¡± Thy both chuckled. She was about to snap but calmed herself down. They were no match against her, but it wasn¡¯t the right time. She ignored them and began the day¡¯s work. ************ Outside, in a Chevrolet Traverse SUV, sat two young men in suits. The handsome one was wiping his coffee-soaked shirt, looking like he could puke any minute. ¡°Boss, I think you should get another one¡± the other man said. ¡°Where do you expect me to get one at this time?¡± Jared Smith wiped it with extreme vigor, muttering curses. Will raked his hair, looking confused as he looked around. They had a meeting in a few minutes. ¡°Oh, look! There is a mall over there¡± he eximed, pointing. Jared stared at him like he had just grown an extra head. ¡°You want me to get my clothes from this cheap mall?¡± ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve got no choice. You can¡¯t go to the meeting in a ruined shirt¡± Jared poked his tongue in his cheek, contemting. That bitch. She had soaked him in coffee while trying to seduce him. Now, he had to buy from a chap store when all his clothes were custom-made. ¡°Fine¡± Will quickly alighted and was surprised to see Jared exit the car. ¡°Boss. I will get the-¡± ¡°Shut up and let¡¯s go¡± Will was about to say something else, but Jared hissed and he chose to keep his mouth shut. They entered the mall and Will began to look for shirts that fit his boss. He finally found one and showed it to him. Jared shook his head in disapproval. He showed him something else, but his face scrunched up loathingly. It went on and on. He had shown his boss everything on the deck, but he was having none of it. Will was already exhausted. ¡°Excuse me Mister. How may I help you?¡± Jared turned in the direction of the voice. ¡°You seem to be looking for something¡± ¡°Yes. By any chance, do you have-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take this¡± Jared picked a random shirt from the rack. Will looked on, surprised. This was the same shirt his boss had scrunched up his face for. ¡°But boss-¡± ¡°Shut up, you idiot¡± He turned to smile at Valerie. ¡°Oh. I see you¡¯ve picked what you want. Please go on to pay and thank you for buying from us¡± She gave him a tonic smile. Jared was bedazzled by that smile and was rendered speechless for seconds. ¡°Boss¡± Will whispered No response. ¡°Boss¡± Jared snapped out of his reverie and realized the littledy looked guarded against him. ¡°Thank you so much, Miss¡­¡± Will nced at her name tag. ¡°Miss Gardner¡± He practically pulled Jared away. Valerie blinked severally. It felt weird being stared at like that. It was time to get off work. Her phone rang. Her boyfriend¡¯s name was boldly disyed-Ivan. With multiple love emotions. ¡°Hello¡± she said coyly. ¡°You¡¯re at work?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°There is something I want to say to you¡± Valerie waited for him to speak more. ¡°Val, let¡­.. let us¡­ You know what, let us meet up. I will send you the address and time¡± The line went dead. Valerie¡¯s mind travelled to different ces at once. ¡®Let us¡­? What could that mean?¡¯ She thought. She suddenly thought of something and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. Was he going to propose? She almost screamed in excitement as she packed her bags and ran out of thepany. Her phone dinged as she received a notification. Chapter 2 Valerie breathlessly opened the message. ¡®Amber restaurant at 7pm¡¯ It was 6 already. She had to run. She burst into the house as the girls screamed bloody murder. Each with a weapon to attack the intruder. La held up a ceramic cup, while Sandy¡¯s weapon was a pepper spray. ¡°Hey, chill. It¡¯s just me¡± Valerie said, and they finally dropped their ¡®weapons¡¯. Sandy and La patted their chest from fright. The three of them had been best friends since college and had nothing inmon. For example, La was the manager to a small-time Hollywood actress and was thepletely crazy type. No man wanted to mess with her. Sandy was the gentle one and always mediated when Valerie and La locked horns. She recently resigned from her Job as a teacher. Reasons unknown. Valerie was, well, in-between. She was mostly gentle. Not many people had seen her crazy side. ¡°Guys, take a guess¡± Valerie said, excitedly. ¡°Guess? After scaring the bloody hell out of us?¡± La was disgruntled. It was already a miracle that she didn¡¯t pick a fight. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m sorry. Now, guess¡± None of the girls spoke. ¡°Okay, if you¡¯re not going to reply, I¡¯ll just say it. Ivan asked us to meet, and I think he¡¯s going to propose¡± She jumped, thrilled. She received no reaction from them. ¡°You won¡¯t say anything. Are you not happy for me?¡± ¡°Wow. Congrattions Val¡± Sandy forced a smile. ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ll nevere to like that man. He looks so calcting and maniptive to me¡± ¡°Come on, La. Ivan is a nice guy if you get to know him. Also, he loves me so much¡± ¡°Good for you¡± She said dully. Valerie rolled her eyes and ran to her room to pick clothes for the date. Her friends were not going to help anyway. She chose a shy red dress and a smoky makeup to match. She made her hair in minutes, and she was finally set. Likewise, she checked herself in the mirror and smiled satisfactorily. It was already 6:45. She had just 15 minutes left. She bolted to the living room. ¡°You like?¡± She spun around. ¡°Pretty, but would have been better if you had not worn it for something¡­. or should I say someone, so useless¡± Lamented. ¡°You really have a way of putting me down¡± Valerie replied. ¡°You look dashing¡± Sandy said. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be back soon¡± She air-kissed them and left. ¡°Do you think he will propose? He doesn¡¯t look like someone who is in love¡± said Sandy. ¡°Well, our dear friend thinks otherwise¡± ************ Amber restaurant was not too far as she arrived in 15 minutes. She assessed her appearance in the restaurant¡¯s door, which was made of ss. She exhaled and took a bold step in. Ivan was seated in a corner, and she immediately saw him. She was, however, disappointed that there were no candles, flowers, or something that could imply a proposal. There was a cup of coffee before him and his face was glued to his phone. Valerie slowly walked towards him. ¡°Hi¡± He finally looked up. She wanted to kiss him, but he avoided it. ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a seat first¡± Valerie sat down, embarrassed? Luckily, no one saw them. ¡°You are 6 minuteste¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± was all she could say. ¡°You must be wondering why I called you here. So, I¡¯ll just go straight to the point. Valerie, let us-¡± ¡°Yes¡± she screamed, attracting attention. Ivan looked confused. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll marry you¡± ¡°That was not what I wanted to say¡± He finally burst Valerie¡¯s bubbles. Her shoulders drooped in disappointment. ¡°You are a superb woman, Val. Hardworking and lovable¡­ but I realized this won¡¯t work¡± She shifted in her seat. ¡°What won¡¯t work?¡± ¡°Let us break up, Val¡± Valerie¡¯s mind went nk. ¡°Ivan, are you serious right now? Why? Did I do something wrong? Tell me and I¡¯ll make amends. Please don¡¯t break up with me. I love you Ivan¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t¡± He snapped. Valerie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Not anymore¡± he added. ¡°I¡¯m ending this and it is final¡± ¡°Is there someone else, Ivan?¡± He looked away, but that was enough answer. He stood up, paid for the coffee, and left without looking back. Her mind was still reeling as she stared into space. After a while, she stood up to leave. Everywhere was dark, and it was momentarily brightened as lightening struck and a resounding thunder followed. It only meant one thing-rain. Valerie took off her heels and began to walk to only-God-knows-where. On the top floor of Smith Industries, the office of the CEO was filled with the clicking keyboard. Jared was seated at the table, typing away as the rain beat the floor to ceiling windows. His tie was off, and the first few buttons were open, making him as sexy as ever. There was a knock on the door, and he didn¡¯t bother to respond as he already knew who it was. Will entered. ¡°Boss. You should go home¡± Will said, with hands on his hips, like a nagging wife. ¡°You should go if you want to¡± He said without looking up. Will sighed. His boss had been pulling an all-nighter for the past few weeks, and he knew why His fianc¨¦e could be in his house, waiting for him. Will and Jared had attended the same high school and were friends. He was on schrship as his parents could not afford the high fees of the school. Jared had offered him a Job when he resumed as the president of the all-powerful Smith Industries, and he had agreed without second thought. Jared was his friend before being his boss. ¡°How about we just, you know, chill out, like old times. What do you think?¡± Jared stopped typing, then resumed. ¡°No, thanks¡± ¡°Come on, Man. It¡¯s been a while since we had fun. And you really look as if you need it¡± he persuaded. Jared knew he had to go out and let off some steam, especially when that vixen was waiting for him at home. His grandfather had revealed the password to his penthouse to her. He had changed it several times, but his grandfather always seeded in cracking it. Chapter 3 As a result, he would find Jane in his apartment, scantily dressed or not even dressed at all, trying to seduce him, but he wasn¡¯t interested in her and ignored her everytime. There¡¯s was a time when she had tried to drug him, but his willpower was stronger than that. Damn, she was so desperate. His grandfather was a headstrong, adamant and unrepentant man. He must have gotten those genes from his grandfather. Jared finally stood up and Will released the breath he was holding. Jared shut down hisputer. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± Jared questioned. ¡°Perhaps, a bar¡± ¡°Perhaps?¡± ¡°A bar¡± Will quickly asserted, afraid he would change his mind. ¡°Did you dismiss her?¡± Will raise a brow, confused. It was when Jared turned to him then it clicked. ¡°Oh, yes. I did. With immediate effect¡± He was referring to the secretary who tried to seduce Jared and had identally poured coffee on him. Now, he had to start looking for someone else to fill the position. Will got into the car after Jared and started the ignition. He drove towards the nearest bar, as he could not drive a long distance in the rain. He was just a few steps away from the bar when he almost hit someone. A woman, specifically, in a red dress. He honked angrily. She was walking in the middle of the road. He poked his head out, through the window. ¡°Get out of my way, woman. If you want to die, do it somewhere else and not in front of this car¡± he yelled. She continued to walk so slowly that he got frustrated and alighted the car, to confront her. ¡°Are you crazy? What is-¡± He stopped when he saw her face. ¡°Miss Gardner, what are you doing in the rain?¡± She looked him dead in the eye, then ignore him as she walked towards her destination. ¡°Who was that?¡± Jared asked as soon as Will returned. ¡°It was that woman earlier, at the mall. The attendant¡± Jared kept silent, looking contemtive. They were met with a st of loud music as they entered. He looked around for the object of his curiosity and finally found her. She was seated before the bartender, drinking inrge gulps. ¡°I¡¯ll go sit next to her¡± Jared shouted, trying to make his voice heard, above the ear-splitting sound. ¡°What did you say?¡± Jared pulled Will closer and said directly in his ear. ¡°I¡¯ll go sit next to her¡± He pushed Will away and left without waiting for his response. Silently, he upied the seat beside her. She drank a whole ss before going for another one. ¡°You know¡± She said to the bartender. ¡°Men are the worst creatures ever. Dogs are way better than they are¡± she was getting drunk. ¡°After-¡± she huped. ¡°After 3 years. Devoting my love to no one but him, now, he wants a break-up. Is that pathetic? Am I not pathetic?¡± ¡®Oh. So, it was a break-up¡¯ thought Jared. ¡°Perhaps, you should leave. You are drunk, ma¡¯am¡± ¡°You!¡± She pointed her index finger at him. ¡°How dare you do this to me. I will make you pay¡± Without warning, she raised her ss and threw it in his direction. Luckily, he avoided it just in time. Her phone rang. Bestie was disyed on the screen. The bartender quickly epted the call. ¡°Where are you?¡± Sandy asked. ¡°Hello ma¡¯am, your friend here is drunk and needs to be taken home¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°You are the drunk one, you bastard¡± She slurred. Jared watched on, wondering how someone could be so cute. The man gave Sandy the address and hung up. Valerie continued to curse at him as he moved far away from her. She turned her head in Jared¡¯s direction. ¡°Huh! I know you¡± she squinted, trying to remember. She brought her face closer to his till they were just an inch apart. She cocked her head, thoughtfully, unaware of the effect she was having on Jared. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve seen you before¡± she pouted. ¡°Can you dance?¡± She asked, all of a sudden. ¡°Huh? I-¡± Without waiting any further, she grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor. She danced wildly as Jared stood there, like a statue. Sandy and La entered the bar and looked around. They went to the bar tender and ask him her whereabouts. ¡°She went to the dance floor with a man¡± he replied. They headed there, constantly shoved by intoxicated men and women. They finally saw her, dancing crazily before a man. They ran towards her and held her. ¡°Let go of me. Who are you?¡± Valerie looked up and realized they were her friends. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s Sandy. You¡¯re here too¡± she said to La. ¡°I apologize on her behalf, sir¡± Sandy pleaded. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Jared replied and watched as they dragged her out of the ce. ¡°What are you doing in a ce like this¡± Sandy pped Valerie¡¯s butt repeatedly. ¡°Ow! Ow! It hurts¡± She whined. La hailed a taxi and they entered. That was thest thing Valerie knew before passing out. ************ The headache was splitting. She struggled to open her eyes and looked around. Valerie wondered how she returned to her room. La suddenly burst in, looking at her like she could kill her any minute. Valerie secretly wondered what she did. Thest thing she remembered was entering a bar, the rest of it was a total nk. Chapter 4 La was about to charge at her when Sandy ran in and quickly held her in ce. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± La screamed as Valerie looked on, confused. ¡®What on earth was going on?¡¯ she thought. Sandy forcefully pulled La out and returned minutester. ¡°What happened?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Valerie shook her head. Sandy sighed. ¡°You vomited all over herst night when we arrived. She fainted¡± Valerie gasped and covered her mouth with her palm. La was a clean freak, and that must have shaken her to no end. ¡°I should apologize¡± Valerie said. ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t go now. There is a high possibility she will tear you apart¡± Something suddenly dropped into Valerie¡¯s mind. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°8:30¡± ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± Valerie eximed. ¡°I¡¯mte for work¡± She hurried out of bed, to the bathroom to brush her teeth and rinse her face. ¡°You know you have to take a bath, right? Because you stink¡± Sandy yelled from outside. Valerie shut her eyes in despair. She scurried out of the house and took a cab. She didn¡¯t see Mr Duncan outside, so she ran in. She was about to change her clothes when another worker walked up to her. ¡°Mr Duncan wants to see you¡± Valerie¡¯s heart thumped in fear. She knocked on the door with shaky hands. ¡°Come in¡± she entered and closed the door behind her. He looked up and rested his back. ¡°Good morning sir¡± ¡°Good morning to you too, Miss Gardner, I know you have guessed the reason you are here. It hase to the notice of the top management that you don¡¯t take your job seriously. Youete consecutively¡±. He took a letter from his table and handed it to her. ¡°You are fired, Miss Gardner¡± He said. Valerie was about to cry. Her eyes blurred with tears. He went back to work and Valerie left the office. She packed her things, and exited the building. She knocked on the door to her house, and it opened in seconds. ¡°Hey, why are you back this early?¡± Questioned Sandy. ¡°Can Ie in first?¡± Valerie asked dully. Sandy moved to the side and she entered. She sat heavily on the sofa, ignoring La, who still looked angry. ¡°What happened?¡± Valerie handed her the letter and Sandy read it aloud. ¡°You lost your job¡± ¡°Obviously¡± ¡°What will you do now?¡± ¡°I have no idea¡±. Sandy sat beside her and patted her back. ¡°Everything will be okay¡±. In Smith Industries, Jared stood before the floor-to-ceiling window looking at the people below, but was lost in the thought . The sound of the door opening brought him back.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± He asked Will. ¡°Yes¡± He handed him a file where he read everything about her. ¡°She grew up in an orphanage?¡± He raised his head and Will nodded. ¡°There¡¯s something else that is not in there¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°She recently lost her job. Yesterday, to be precise¡± Silence descended on the office as jared fell into deep thought. ¡°Recruit her¡± he said suddenly. ¡°But boss¡­..¡± ¡°Do as I say¡± He ordered ¡°Okay boss¡± Jared¡¯s phone rang and he dismissed Will. ¡°Hello grandfather¡± ¡°You little bastard! Won¡¯t youe home to visit this old man?¡± Jared pursed his lips, silent. ¡°I want you at that mansion today for dinner. Your parents and brother will be there too, so don¡¯t you dare tell me you¡¯re busy¡± ¡°Okay¡± he said simply and disconnected the call. His family was there, of course, his fianc¨¦e will be there too. His grandfather had set them up together, ording to him, she was the granddaughter of his dead friend. Her parents were based in another country. Night came and Jared drove to the old mansion ¡°Good day, young master¡± the butler collected his coat and he walked to the dinner table. It was full. At the head of the table was his old grandfather. His face was wrinkled, but he still looked energetic. On the first two seats on the right were his parents and seated beside them was Jane, his fianc¨¦e. On the left side was his older brother, who was running for president of the country. All eyes fell on him as soon as he entered. ¡°You¡¯re here¡± Jane smiled and patted the seat beside her. Jared ignored her and sat beside his brother. His grandfather red at him, but he yed dumb. ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s start¡± Dn, his brother said. Everyone dug in, but their grandfather had more to say. He turned to Dn. ¡°I should start setting you up on blind dates¡± Dn did a double take. ¡°What! No. I¡¯m not going for blind dates¡± ¡°How do you want to be a president without a wife? Huh? Tell me¡± Their grandfather yelled, pointing his fork at Dn. ¡°I¡¯ll bring someone soon. Don¡¯t worry, grandfather¡± ¡°Your time is limited¡± He turned to Jared. ¡°And you, I want both of you to have your engagement party¡± Jane perked up. ¡°It will happen in three weeks¡± ¡°That is too fast, grandfather¡± Jared objected. ¡°I said it will happen in three weeks, so it has to¡± He said angrily. ¡°When did you say your parents are arriving?¡± Grandfather asked Jane. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but they will be in time for the engagement¡± ¡°Very good. Dn,e to my office after dinner¡± Jared was enjoying the breeze I¡¯m the garden when he felt a hand wrap around his waist. He shut his eyes and exhaled to tamp down his anger. ¡°Let go¡± he growled. She yed deaf. He yanked her off him and she fell, letting out a yelp. He without an ounce of sympathy and walked away. A servant came forward to help her up. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± She said. The servant backed off in fear. She rose on her own and pped the young girl across the face. She held her cheek as tears gathered in her eyes. ¡°That is forying those filthy hands on me¡± She said and strutted off. Chapter 5 The next morning, Valerie slowly opened her eyes and sat up, stretched and yawned. She nced at the wall clock ¨C 7am. ¡°Great. Just great. Now I¡¯m unemployed¡± She stood up and trudged towards the kitchen where she heard constant clinking of utensils. La and Sandy were making breakfast. ¡°Good morning¡± Valerie yawned again. ¡°Waking up early now that you have lost your job?¡± La said without looking back. ¡°Stop that¡± Sandy chastised as she rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m off to get some groceries¡± Valerie said and left. She headed directly to the department store not too far away. She bought what she needed and was about to head back when she was stopped by someone. A man, specifically. ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am¡± ¡°How may I help you?¡± She stared at him, suspicious. He chuckled lightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so guarded against me¡± ¡®Does he want to hit on me?¡¯ she wondered. ¡°I am here to offer you a job¡± ¡°A job?¡± She became even suspicious. ¡°Yes¡± He dipped his hand in his shirt pocket and handed her a business card. She nced at it. ¡°Liam Roberts. Marketing officer at Smith Industries¡± She read out loud. ¡°You work at Smith Industries?¡± She inquired, perplexed. He nodded. ¡°I want to invite you for an interview on Monday at 9am. It is for the post of a secretary¡± ¡°An interview? Why would you do that? I don¡¯t know you, neither have I seen you before¡± she stated. Who walks up to an unknown person to offer her a job? He smiled. ¡°Someone introduced you to me. A person who knows you quite well¡± Without another word, he got into his car and drove off. He picked up his phone and dialed a number. ¡°All done, boss. I invited her already¡± ¡°Very good¡± The man on the other end said, and the lie went dead. Valerie was not herself for the next few hours. She was being offered a job in thergestpany in the country? Was this really happening? What if it was a scam? Millions of thoughts were running in her mind. ¡°Are you okay? You look disturbed¡± Sandy¡¯s voice brought her back to the present. ¡°Care to share?¡± Valerie sighed. ¡°I was offered a job¡± ¡°When? Howe you didn¡¯t tell us?¡± Asked La. ¡°It happened just this morning when I went to the grocery store when a man stopped me saying he wanted to offer me a job¡± She gave them the card. La choked on her food as Valerie gently patted her back. ¡°Oh my God! Smith Industries? How is that even possible? Woah! You are so lucky¡± Sandy eximed. La had not recovered from her coughing fit. ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°Yeah. I just choked, you know, from the surprise¡± she said hurriedly. ¡°Congrattions Val¡± Valerie shifted in her seat. ¡°It¡¯s too early for that. What if the whole thing was a lie?¡± ¡°It is not¡± La said with suspicious certainty, as two pairs of eyes turned towards her. Sheughed awkwardly. ¡°I mean, for a giantpany like that, they definitely would not lie about such. Sandy seconded. ¡°He said the interview will be on Monday, at 9am¡± ¡°Today is Friday. You have two days to get ready¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, and I am nervous already. But don¡¯t you find it weird? He didn¡¯t ask me anything about my r¨¦sum¨¦? He just asked me toe for an interview¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s your lucky day¡± Said Sandy. None of them realized La had an odd expression on. Monday morning arrived in a sh and Valerie made sure to get ready really fast, but not without the help of her dear friends. She stared at the corporatedy in the mirror and smiled contentedly. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, Valerie Gardner¡± She cheered herself on. La and Sandy were waiting downstairs. ¡°I¡¯m off, guys¡± ¡°You can do it¡± ¡°Good luck¡± They chorused and gave her a hug. Valerie immediately felt the jitters as soon as she stepped foot in the building. She inquired about where the interview will take ce and was directed to the 6th floor. Five people were seated already. She sat in silent. Oddly, not many people came for the interview. Only two came after her. Usually, for apany as big as this, even a low rank job vacancy is enough to attract a throng of people. She was called in before a panel of six judges. Her insides shook in nervousness. ¡°Hello Miss? What is your name?¡± A scary, poker-faced man asked. She answered as smoothly as she could. She was asked other questions, which she answered. She walked out of thepany in slow steps, unaware of the pair of eyes that had been trailing her since she stepped into the building. ¡°How was it?¡± Jared asked, his eyes locked on her as she walked on. ¡°The panel had no problem with her¡± Will answered. ¡°Tell them that this information must not get to grandfather before she is recruited. He will probably find one of his people to be my secretary and spy on me¡± ¡°Yes boss¡± Jared turned to continue staring at his object of fancy, but she was gone. His tongue poked his cheek, disappointed.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Valerie returned to the house and knocked. It opened, and she wondered why the girls refused to lock the door. She was met with a pleasant aroma as she closed the door behind her. ¡°You¡¯re back¡± said La. ¡°Yeah. Is Sandy home?¡± ¡°Nope. She left to visit her parents¡± ¡°Oh. So it will be just the two of us now?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°Obvi. Why? Not happy?¡± ¡°Not really. But Sandy leaving me alone in the house with a crazy woman is a little too cruel¡± La red at Valerie. ¡°How was the interview?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what wille after this. Getting an interview in thatpany is already a dreame true for me, so I shouldn¡¯t hope for much¡± La pursed her lip, wanting to ask something but didn¡¯t know how to. Chapter 6 Valerie had been friends with her for years and knew something was bugging her. ¡°Just spit it out already¡± ¡°By any chance¡­ did you see the CEO?¡± La asked, tentatively. ¡°Of Smith Industries? No, I didn¡¯t. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just asking¡± she quickly looked away. Valerie crossed her arms over the other. ¡°Now, this is getting suspicious. Do you have a crush on him?¡± She questioned suddenly. ¡°What! No, of course not¡± she replied a bit too hurriedly. Valerie squinted at her. ¡°You should change your clothes ande back for lunch¡± she pushed Valerie towards the stairs. La breathed a sigh of relief after Valerie left. ¡°Whew! I almost blew my cover¡± she said and went back to cooking. The next few days passed ordinarily. Sandy had still not returned. Valerie sat on her bed, dozing off, when she received a message in her e-mail. She opened it and her eyes widened. It said she had been chosen for the position of secretary at Smith Industries. ¡°OMG!¡± She eximed. She screamed and ran to La¡¯s room. ¡°La!¡± ¡°Christ! Stop screaming my name, Val¡± ¡°Guess what?¡± ¡°You know I suck at guessing¡± ¡°I got the job¡± ¡°And how is¡­.. wait, what! You really got the job?¡± Valerie nodded excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m so happy. We should go out and celebrate¡± She ran back to her room to get her clothes as La stood rooted to the ground, with an unreadable expression. She didn¡¯t know whether Valerie getting a job at thatpany was a good or bad thing for her. Valerie returned and dragged to a restaurant, where she ordered the most expensive dish on the menu. She had saved some money while she was still working. Moreover, her sry was going to be more than that anyway. La shook her head at her enthusiasm. Valerie did not stop talking throughout. Fantasizing how amazing an experience it will be to work in such a prestigiouspany. By the time they returned, Sandy had already arrived. ¡°Where were you guys?¡± She asked. ¡°Sandy, I got the job¡± Valerie announced. ¡°Really? Wow. Congrattions hon¡± she went ahead to hug her. Sandy¡¯s phone rang and she bit her lip. ¡°Excuse me¡± she left to pick up the call under La¡¯s watchful eyes. ¡°Hey¡± She nudged Valerie. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Is it just me, or you also think Sandy has lost some weight¡± Valerie cocked her head. ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°Yes. She looks worn out¡± ¡°You think so?¡± Valerie asked again as La sucked in a deep breath angrily. ¡°Go to your room, Val¡± La said. ¡°You think¡­.¡± ¡°Go!¡± She screamed as Valerie scurried off to avoid the wrath of the loco woman. Valerie slept happy. She was to resume theing Monday and was already impatient, wishing Monday would arrive as soon as possible. After the long wait, it came and woke up as early as 6am, surprising the girls. At 7, she was done and bolted out of the house without breakfast. ****************** ¡°Isn¡¯t she here yet?¡± Jared asked himself, impatient. He paced around, biting the insides of his cheek. He heard a knock. ¡°Come in¡± Will entered ¡°She is here, boss¡± Jared ran to his seat, crossed his legs and arms, then rested his back. Trying as much as possible to look cool. ¡°Bring her in¡± he ordered.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Valerie was brought into the office. She secretly wondered why the man who led her in looked so familiar. She proceeded in and was immediately mesmerized by the magnificence of the off. It was thrice the size of her room! She was even more dumbstruck by the man seated at the table. Beautiful was the right word for him. Still, he looked familiar. ¡°Good morning, sir. I¡¯m Valerie Gardner, your new personal secretary¡± she announced. He cleared his throat and straightened out his tie, which was never out of ce. ¡°I see. You should ask him to show you around¡± he said. ¡®She is damn pretty¡¯ he thought as Will followed her out. She toured almost half of the building until she could not take it anymore. Will waspassionate and agreed to tour her the next day. Will turned to leave, but not before hearing her mutter; ¡°Why does he look so familiar?¡± The first day of work was more strenuous than thought. She followed her boss to five different meetings. Five! She trudged home after work, walking like a zombie. She sighted an ice cream truck and suddenly craved it. She moved towards it but stopped in her tracks when she saw two people, one of whom she recognized. ¡°Ivan¡± her voice shook. Memories of that night came rushing back, and her heart broke into whole new pieces, not because of the memories but because he had someone else with him, a woman, precisely. He was holding her intimately and even kissed her. Her eyes were blurred by tears which threatened to spill out. A lump formed in her throat as she watched them walk away. He was the first man she ever loved. ¡°Forget him, Val. He is not worth it¡± she said as tears trailed down her cheeks. She walked towards the truck and ordered a cone of ice cream. She finished it in two gulps, hoping it will cool her down a little, but it didn¡¯t. She returned home with swollen eyes. ¡°What happened?¡± Sandy asked, worried when she saw her appearance. ¡°I saw Ivan¡± La rolled her eyes. ¡°And?¡± Questioned Sandy. ¡°He was with another woman¡± ¡°Oh. So, the bastard moved on¡± Lamented. ¡°See? Definitely, he was already cheating when you two were together. He was never in love with you¡± Valerie¡¯s lips drooped as the cruel truth hit her. ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± La asked suddenly. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°His new girl¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I was wondering, I could beat her up or teach her a lesson however you want. Example¡­¡± She made a killing gesture with her hand. ¡°La!¡± Sandy was incredulous. ¡°What? Just wanted to help¡± ¡°Can you help me find out who she is?¡± ¡°Why? You want to do what I suggested?¡± La asked, expectant. ¡°Just wanna know¡± Said Valerie as La pouted in disappointment. She stood up and proceeded to the ¡®power room¡¯ as she called it. ¡°Now let¡¯s get to work¡± She said as Sandy and Valerie surrounded her, watching her type some unidentifiable codes. Chapter 7 They had found out La was a hacker around the end of college. A skilled one at that. They watched as she furiously tapped on the keys, not stopping for even a second. Valerie became dizzy from staring at the codes too much and looked away. She soon broke out in sweat and after what seemed like an eternity, someone¡¯s profile appeared on the screen. ¡°Is this her?¡± La pointed at thedy in the picture. ¡°She should be¡± ¡°Ava Hughes. Ugh. Even her name repulses me¡± La scrolled down. ¡°Damn¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°She is one rich wench. Her father is a multimillionaire. It says here that her father owns a Winery¡± She tutted. ¡°Now I see why that bastard left you for her. How I wish I could cut off his balls¡± ¡°Now that you know who she is, what do you want to do?¡± Sandy inquired. Valerie shrugged. ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°Just forget about him, Val¡± Sandy implored. ¡°It is not that easy!¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m trying to get him off my mind, but it¡¯s just not happening, don¡¯t you get it?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to let him win?¡± La asked. ¡°When you two were dating, everyone around you knew how much love you gave to him. Ivan knew. But he still cheated. He most likely knows you won¡¯t be able to move on anytime soon. Are you really going to let that happen?¡± Valerie was silent. ¡°I¡­ I want to be alone¡± she said and exited the room. She slowly closed her bedroom door, rested her back and slid down with a heavy sigh. She didn¡¯t know a breakup was this gut-wrenching. ¡®¡­ everyone knew how much love you gave to him. Ivan knew. But he still cheated¡¯ La¡¯s voice rang in her head. Valerie hugged her legs close to her chest. ¡®Forget him, Val¡¯ Sandy¡¯s voice said and Valerie slowly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m trying to, but it¡¯s not working¡± she said to herself. She was clueless as to when she slept off. ************ The sun rays seeped into her room as she slowly opened her eyes, trying to get used to the light. She was definitely not on her bed, as the surface she was on was hard. She sat up, realizing at that moment that she had slept on the floor. She rummaged her bag, searching for her phone. It was 7:30 already. She had received permission from her boss to resume by 9am. She has a shower, wore a while pencil skirt and a blue shirt. She styled her hair and exited the room. As usual, Sandy and La were in the kitchen. Sandy noticed her first. ¡°You¡¯re okay?¡± Valerie slowly nodded. ¡°I¡¯m off to work¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you have breakfast? You skipped dinnerst night¡± La pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry¡± ¡°Are you sure about that? Look what I made¡± Sandy shed a te of whoopie pies in Valerie¡¯s face. Her face immediately brightened up. ¡°Whoopie pies!¡± She eximed and snatched the te, gobbling up the content. In two minutes, she finished 4 pieces of the pie. ¡°Can I have more?¡± She said sheepishly. ¡°Sure¡± Sandy chuckled and stuffed her te with four more pieces. She left the house in a better mood. Arriving at the entrance, she cheerfully nodded at the poker-faced security men. She entered the office at nine o¡¯clock sharp. Valerie walked into Jared¡¯s office and ced a very hot coffee on his desk. Something she had been instructed to do every morning. She returned to her cubicle and began the day¡¯s work. About five minutester, Jared arrived, looking as handsome as ever. Her cubicle was facing his office, so she saw him. She was about to head over to his office when the telephone rang. ¡°Come to my office¡± His deep authoritative voice sounded. She knocked on his door thrice. ¡°Come in¡± she cautiously turned the knob and entered. ¡°Good morning, Mr Smith¡± She greeted. He replied with a nod. Then Valerie noticed something. His suit. First, it wasn¡¯t custom-made like most, maybe all of his clothes. Second, the suit looked awfully familiar. She squinted and cocked her head to the side as Jared watched on, enjoying every bit of her actions. He had worn it intentionally to see if she would remember. He smiled as she pouted her lips.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡®So cute¡¯ he thought. Slowly and slowly, she traced back her memory. ¡®Where have I seen this before? On someone? Perhaps at the mall? Wait¡­. The mall¡­¡¯ It all came rushing back as her eyes widened in horror. The guy who stared weirdly at her few weeks ago¡­was this man! Jared fought back a chuckle at her reaction. ¡°Are you okay, Miss Gardner?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh yes, of course¡± she managed to say. ¡°What is my schedule for today?¡± He asked. Valerie cleared her throat and looked through her note pad. ¡°This morning, you have a meeting with Mr Spencer of Blue night Winery at 10:30 and in the afternoon, you have a meeting with the CEO of Sawyer Corporation. Then in¡­.¡± ¡°Cancel all my meetings after those two¡± ¡°Okay sir¡± ¡°You can leave now¡± he said, taking a sip of the coffee. Valerie hurriedly left the office. Her heart mmed against her chest repeatedly. She tried to remember if she did anything rude that day. ¡°How could it be him? God, this is embarrassing¡± She sat down staring at the mountain of paperwork on her desk. She began to work in earnest. Her face was glued to herptop until it was lunch break. She wasn¡¯t even half done yet. She watched as her colleague left for the cafeteria. She continued typing furiously, as if that would speed it up. The break was almost over, and she lost all hope of eating at the cafeteria. Her colleagues were already returning. Suddenly, a brown paper bag was thrust towards her. She looked up and met the eyes of a cute-lookingdy. She had lensless sses on. ¡°Have it¡± she said, noticing her confusion, as a dimple appeared on each of her cheeks. Valerie tentatively epted it. She opened the bag and stared at the content, surprised. Chapter 8 There were two pieces of hamburgers. Valerie looked up at her again, wondering why she would buy her something. Then again, maybe she was expecting payment. ¡°Thank you. How much is it?¡± She asked, opening her purse. Thedy chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t need that. I saw you were busy, I just wanted to help. I¡¯m Kathy, by the way¡± She stretched out her hand and I took it. ¡°I¡¯m Valerie. Nice to meet you¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too¡± That was how she made her first friend in thepany. About two hourster, the telephone rang. She already knew who it was. ¡°Come to my office¡± he said. She knocked softly and only entered when he approved. ¡°You called for me¡± Jared shut hisptop and arose. ¡°We are leaving for the meeting¡± Valerie looked lost. ¡°With me?¡± He stopped walking. ¡°Obviously¡± It was the first time she followed him to a meeting. Though she was his personal secretary. It was Will who went with him every time. She ran to her office and picked up her bag, sheepishly walking after him. More like running, as his walked really fast. Jared smiled, hearing the pitter-patter of her feet behind him. He knew it was petty of him, but he just couldn¡¯t help it. The ride to the ground floor was awkwardly silent, especially when she already remembered him. The elevator opened and we walked towards the car. Will was already at the wheel. Jared entered the back seat and stared at her, waiting for her to sit beside him, but she misunderstood the look as waiting for her to close the car door after him. She shut the door and went to sit beside Will. She nodded at him and he replied in kind. Will nced at Jared¡¯s disappointed face and shook his head. The meeting ce was a high-end restaurant. They were ushered in, towards a VIP room. Already waiting was a middle-aged, pot-bellied, bald man. Everything about him was practically bloated.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He exchanged pleasantries with Jared. They all sat down. The man and Jared talked at length, while Will typed away. At one point, Valerie noticed the man was ncing in her direction. She didn¡¯t take it serious at first and even smiled at him. Then it became incessant, that she began to feel ufortable. Jared noticed it too and was about to say something when his phone rang and had to excuse himself. Now, it was just Will and Valerie with Mr Sawyer. The CEO of Sawyer Corporation. After Jared stepped out, he didn¡¯t bother to hide the lust in his eyes, disgusting Valerie to no end. Will, who watched intently and cleared his throat, trying to get the man¡¯s attention. It didn¡¯t work, as the man continued to stare lewdly at Valerie, licking his lips. ¡°Hey beautiful¡± His voice was gruff, and he stretched his phone to her. ¡°Your number?¡± It took all her willpower to mask her disgust. ¡°What for, if I may ask, sir?¡± She asked, trying to look professional. His greasy face was enough to make her puke. ¡°You can have mine, sir¡± Will interrupted before Mr Sawyer could reply. Without waiting any further, he snatched the phone and inputted his number. He returned the phone to the angry man, with a smile. Coveting a woman his boss was interested in. He was definitely courting death. Crushing the Sawyer Corporation was like crushing an ant, but Mr Sawyer was not seeing that. Before he could go on an angry tirade, Jared returned. They ended the meeting towards the evening and Valerie was given the permission to return home. She thanked them and boarded a taxi. Jared and Will returned to thepany. Valerie was focused on her phone all through the ride. It was about twenty minutester that she looked up and realized they weren¡¯t going in the direction of her house. Her heartbeat elerated. ¡°Hey! Where are you taking me?¡± She could not see his face as he had a ck face mask on. His eyes bored into hers as he stared at her through the rearview mirror, scaring her even further. He took a spray can and sprayed the content. Before she could say Jack, whatever he sprayed took effect and she cked out. ************* Sandy pushed the curtains aside and looked outside. Her face clouded with worry. ¡°She isn¡¯t usually thiste¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably workingte¡± La reasoned. ¡°She should have called¡± ¡°You¡¯re right¡± La nodded. They tried her number for the tenth time. It was still the same ¨C Switched off. Sandy paced back and forth. ¡°We should call the police, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait. She might be workingte like I said¡± An hourter, Sandy¡¯s phone lit up with a message from Valerie. ¡®I will not be able toe home tonight. Go to bed without me¡¯ The message read. She didn¡¯t state the reason, but the message was enough to ensure that she was okay¡­.. or was she? ************ Valerie¡¯s lids felt heavy, like they were coated in msses. Her body felt like something huge was pressing on it. She willed her eyelids upward and looked around through the thin opening. The ce looked like a bedroom and it was dully lit. She opened her eyes further and forced herself up. Her head was pounding. She tried to recall what happened and when she did, she covered her mouth in horror. Was she kidnapped? But her hands and legs were not tied, leaving her confused. She searched herself for her phone, hoping to check the time, but didn¡¯t find it. She stood up but fell right back as the effect of the drug was yet to wear off. The door was suddenly flung open and two burly men in ck stepped in, followed by someone she recognized. ¡°Mr Sawyer¡± she muttered. ¡°Hello beautiful¡± he said. ¡°Why did you bring me here? What do you want? Let me go now!¡± ¡°Take it easy, dear. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you go¡­ only if you do what I want¡± He said, staring at hersciviously. Chapter 9 Jared entered thepany, ignoring every greeting that came his way. He proceeded into his personal elevator, then to his office. He was surprised when he couldn¡¯t find his coffee at the ready. Sitting gingerly, Jared rang her, but he received no response. He had no choice but to go outside and check. She wasn¡¯t in her office. He pursed his lips. ¡°Any problem sir?¡± Kathy asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. ¡°Have you seen Miss Gardner today¡± Kathy slowly shook her head. ¡°No sir¡± Without saying anymore, he left for his office. He called Will immediately. ¡°Come to my office¡± he hung up. Will appeared in a minute. ¡°Did she call you?¡± Will looked clueless. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Valerie¡± ¡°No, she didn¡¯t. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t arrived yet¡± ¡°Maybe she will arrivete. I¡¯ll check what is going on¡± he said and headed for the door. However, he stopped when his hand was close to the knob. ¡°What is it?¡± Jared asked, when he noticed Will had be still. Will walked back. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should tell you this¡± ¡°Just say it¡± Jared said, impatient. Will went ahead and narrated everything that happened the day before. Jared¡¯s veins were already bulging, and his eyes were bloodshot, by the time Will finished speaking. ¡°That son of a bitch¡± he ground out. He had noticed the bastard staring at Valerie on that day. ¡°You have five minutes to find out what is going on¡± ¡°Okay boss¡± Will walked out, briskly. Jared tried to control his anger while waiting for Will. Even if the man had nothing to do with this, he was definitely going to pay for staring at her for long. Will returned, looking glum. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, boss. Sawyer took her¡± Jared shot up from his seat and stormed out as Will tried to keep up with him. ¡°I want his address immediately¡± he barked. He got into the car while Will sat beside the driver, staring intently at his tablet. ¡°To Primrose hotel¡± Will said while Jared clenched his fist. It looks like the man didn¡¯t want his life anymore. They arrived at a luxury hotel which costs thousands of dors per night and barged Into the reception. ************ Valerie receded as Mr Sawyer walked towards her, staring at her like a predator. ¡°Stay back¡± she said. They were the only ones in the room. His bodyguards were outside. He suddenly carried her and threw her on the bed, eliciting screams from her. She tried pushing, but he was too big for her. He climbed on her and tore her clothes apart. She continued screaming, and he pped her hard across the face. There was a heavy ring on one of his fingers, which caused a gash in her skin. He brought his mouth close to hers, repulsing her so much that she fainted. But he didn¡¯t care. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, the door was flung open. Mr Sawyer sucked in a deep breath of annoyance. He looked back, ready tosh out at the person, but froze when he realized who it was. ¡°President Smith?¡± He blinked, to be sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. Jared¡¯s previously bloodshot eyes became even more bloodshot. He rushed at him, pushing him off her, as Mr Sawyer hit his head against the wall in the process. Jared became scared when he saw her unmoving body. He ran towards her and felt her pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized she was still breathing. He took off his overcoat and covered her. Mr Sawyer slowly stood up, his face scrunched up in pain. He touched the injured ce and was mad to see blood on his hand. His expression quickly changed to that of anger. ¡°President Smith, what is the meaning of this?¡± He asked, angrily. Hispany was not as big and sessful as the Smith Industries, but hispany was still well-known. And he was acquaintances with the grandfather of this boy, who was old enough to be his son. Jared looked up slowly, looking murderous, almost maniac. A chill ran down the spine of everybody present. Mr Sawyer looked away, not knowing when Jared came towards him andnded two heavy punches. ¡°This is for staring at her¡± Another punch. ¡°This¡­. is for abducting her¡± He then punched him severally, not stopping. ¡°This is forying those filthy hands on her¡± He continued with the assault. Will tried to look for a way to stop Jared from killing him, not like anyone would query him, but the poor guy looked like he could not hold up anymore. ¡°Boss, I think Miss Gardner should be taken to the hospital ASAP¡± Jared¡¯s hand stopped midair. He pushed Sawyer to the ground and carried Valerie out, ignoring the bodyguards sprawled on the floor. Will did not follow immediately, he stretched out his hand to the bloodied and battered man who grunted in pain. Sawyer brought his hand forward, thinking Will wanted to help him up. In response, Will pped his hand away. ¡°The phone¡± he demanded. ¡°What?¡± Sawyer asked, not understanding what he meant. Will proceeded to search the man roughly and found Valerie¡¯s phone. He smiled at Sawyer and left the room. ¡°Bastards¡± Sawyer said weakly. ¡°You will regret this¡±Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Outside, Jared entered the car with Valerie, who was still unconscious. ¡°Where to, boss?¡± ¡°The hospital¡± Will didn¡¯t ask anymore, he already knew where. She was taken to thergest hospital in the city, Belmont hospital, owned by Jared¡¯s friend. On arrival, she was immediately wheeled into the Emergency room. Will and Jared waited outside. ¡°Will¡± He called. ¡°Yes boss¡± Why did he feel he knew what his boss was about to say? ¡°Take care of him¡± Jaredmanded coldly. ¡°Got it, boss¡± Looks like Sawyer was not going to be spared. Will remembered something. ¡°Ha, boss. We should contact her friends. They would be worried¡± Jared only nodded. ************ Sandy sat on her bed, with her Laptop, looking for Job vacancies when she received a call. Valerie¡¯s name was disyed on the screen. ¡°Val. Where on earth are you? You had us worried sick. When¡­¡± ¡°Hello ma¡¯am¡± A deep male voice sounded. Sandy stared at the phone screen to be certain it was Valerie¡¯s number. It was. ¡°Who are you?¡± Will ignored the question. ¡°Your friend has been admitted to an hospital and¡­..¡± ¡°What!¡± Sandy screamed, hurting Will¡¯s ears. Chapter 10 ¡°Which hospital?¡± She asked, rushing out of bed. He gave her the address of the hospital and hung up before he could speak any further. La was just about to leave the house when she heard Sandy¡¯s scream. She was about to proceed to her room when Sandy came out, looking anxious. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I just got a call that Valerie is being hospitalized¡± ¡°Why? She was okay just yesterday¡± ¡°Are youing with me?¡± ¡°Sure¡± They both left the house. Sandy rushed in and inquired. They were directed to the VIP floor. Sandy had no time to wonder how Valerie was able to get a bed on the VIP floor. The elevator opened when they got to their destination. Sandy came out first, followed by La. Will, coincidentally, wasing in their direction. La¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°Shit. Why is he here?¡± She quickly covered her face with her hair. Will had never seen the girls before, but he immediately knew it was them. ¡°Miss Sandy¡± Will called out. She turned in the direction of the voice. ¡°You called me, right?¡± Will nodded. His gaze strayed to the dodgydy behind her. ¡°Where is she?¡± Sandy questioned. ¡°Please, follow me¡± ¡°Excuse me. Do you know where the restroom is?¡± La asked, altering her voice as much as she could. It was then that Sandy saw how La looked. ¡°It¡¯s over there¡± he pointed at a ce on the left. She ran towards it, locked the doors and stared at herself in the mirror. She wondered if she should go back home. Dismissing the thought, she concluded it wasn¡¯t going to be nice. She bit her nails fiercely. ¡°What the hell is he doing here?¡± She re-opened the door of the restroom, looking around like a thief. She tiptoed down the hallway. She sighted a nurse and got hold of her, scaring the hell out of the poordy. ¡°Hey, can I get a mask..¡­ and sses perhaps?¡± The nurse hesitated, but this was the VIP floor. Not just anyone coulde there, and anyone who could, was definitely not an ordinary person. In the end, La got what she wanted. She went back and wandered around the wards and finally found the right one. She opened the door, and was met with four pairs of eyes. Her eyes became as round as saucers when she saw Valerie¡¯s boss. He was here too! They had already seen her, so she could not go back. She gently closed the door, and she walked towards Valerie, who sat on the bed. ¡°Why are you dressed like this?¡± Sandy asked. La only shook her head, not willing to speak, but when she saw the injury on Valerie¡¯s face, she cursed loudly. ¡°Which bastard did this to you?¡± She asked. She immediately regretted speaking, as the eyes of the two men were trained on her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± Valerie replied. She turned to Jared, who stood like a statue. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr Smith. I don¡¯t know what would have happened if you didn¡¯t arrive at that moment and also for staying with me. Thank you¡± She bowed her head a little to the two men. She also felt bad that she bothered them when she had resumed only some days ago. Jared nodded. His phone rang. He already knew who it was and the reason for the call. ¡°I need to leave¡± He said. Valerie nodded and watched as he left with Will. La secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She took off her nerdy sses and the face mask. ¡°Wow. Your boss is really nice¡± Sandy said, looking around the ward that was three times the size of her bedroom. Valerie didn¡¯t know how to feel about it, but she felt it was too much. The TV was on, but the volume wasn¡¯t turned up. She was not interested in watching until something on the news captured her attention. The picture of Mr Sawyer Turner was disyed on the screen. She picked up the remote control and increased the volume. The headline read: SAWYER CORPORATION DECLARES BANKRUPTCY. Valerie raised a brow, surprised. Dering bankruptcy when thepany was just fine 24 hours ago? For some reason, she wondered if it was Jared¡¯s handiwork, but she shrugged off the thought. He would never do that for her. She was merely an employee, or so she thought. ************ Jared¡¯s phone rang again. He refused to ept the call and instead, sent a message. ¡®I wille home for dinner¡¯ He threw the phone on the seat and looked out the window, thinking of Valerie. Night came earlier than expected, and Jared left for the Mansion. Just like before, everyone was present, except Dn. He ignored Jane¡¯s inviting smile and sat. His grandfather kept ncing at him all through the meal, but he pretended not to notice. He was immediately called into his grandfather¡¯s office after dinner. His grandfather remained silent for a period, staring at his grandson, who was all grown up and rebellious. ¡°You did it, didn¡¯t you?¡± He asked. Jared kept a nk expression. ¡°Sawyer Corporation¡¯s bankruptcy. It was you¡± ¡°Ah. I see he came crying to you for help. Why? You want to help him¡± ¡°Why did you do it? I knew you wouldn¡¯t take such decisions without a reason¡± ¡°Grandfather, you should rest¡± Jared said, ready to storm out. ¡°He said you did it for a woman. Is that true?¡± His grandfather said behind him. Jared stopped just for a second before turning the knob. He left his grandfather¡¯s question unanswered. Jared closed the door, unaware that Jane was hiding behind a pir. She had wanted to serve him brandy when she heard their conversation. Jared bankrupted apany for a woman. She knew Jared didn¡¯t love her. He hadn¡¯t even touched her once, so the thought of another woman being with him made her blood boil. She went back to her room and dialed a number. The call was epted on the third ring. ¡°Hey babe¡± A male voice said. ¡°Missing me already? How about we meet up?¡± Jane grimaced in disgust, but didn¡¯t let it reflect in her voice.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°I need you to do something for me¡± she said coldly. Chapter 11 Valerie was discharged on the third day. Luckily, the injury on her face didn¡¯t be a scar. Sandy came to pick her up. La had gone to her actress¡¯s filming location. She exited the hospital, towards the waiting taxi, when she was suddenly blocked by someone, which made her butt almost hit the ground, but Sandy held her. She gritted her teeth and her emerald eyes burned with anger, ready to give the person a perfect tongueshing. She however stopped short when she realized who it was. Her gaze hardened even more. She kept her guards up. ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked, letting go of every ounce of respect. She was surprised when Sawyer went on his knees. At this moment, he was no longer as arrogant. He had finallye to his senses. He had lost everything in one day. Thepany, his house, everything was long gone. He had never expected that Jared would do all that, just for a woman. He had gone to Old Smith, sure as hell that Jared would change his mind as long as his grandfather talked to him, but he was mistaken. Very mistaken. Now, the only thing he wanted to do was beg for forgiveness and hope to be let off the hook. ¡°Miss Gardner, please forgive me. I won¡¯t hurt you anymore. I¡¯ll definitely avoid you when I see you in the future. Please save me¡± his hands were sped. He looked like he was about to cry. Valerie stared at the man before her, confused. He was almost unrecognizable. He had shrunk considerably and the colour of his skin was beginning to change. His face was covered in bruises. Long gone was the proud and egoistic president of Sawyer Corporation. She knew hispany folded up, but she didn¡¯t understand why he came to her, asking to save him. She wasn¡¯t the one who bankrupted hispany, right? Sandy stood at the side, watching the drama. ¡°Save you? I don¡¯t know what you are talking about, so if you will excuse me¡± She feared that she might do something she didn¡¯t like if she stayed. He desperately reached for her leg, but she quickly took two steps back. She cursed silently. People were beginning to stare at them. She licked her lips, embarrassed. God, she hated the attention. ¡°What do you want?¡± She bit out. ¡°Please, speak to President Smith¡± Her brows furrowed. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°He did everything¡± he said desperately. ¡°He made me lose everything. I didn¡¯t know there was something going on between the both of you, if I had, I would have steered clear¡± Valerie lookedpletely lost. Her gaze shifted to Sandy, who looked equally surprised. ¡°Why would you think there¡¯s something between me and my boss¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet¡± They all turned in the direction of the voice. Will walked towards them. ¡°Asshole¡± he cursed as soon as his eyes caught the kneeling man. He had gotten a call from those who were tasked with secretly looking after Valerie, that a man was harassing her. The described him, and he immediately knew it was this motherfucker. He had driven fast to the hospital, or else, the fool will spill the beans. His face changed to a smiley one when he got to them. ¡°You should not stay out in this sun. You just got discharged¡± Like she didn¡¯t know. ¡°But-¡± ¡°No buts. It¡¯s a direct order from the boss¡± Valerie nodded reluctantly. She bowed a little and entered the taxi. He kept the smiley mask on till they were out of sight. His expression changedpletely as soon as he faced the still-kneeling Sawyer. It sent shivers down his spine. After what happened, he had realized that this man was just as important. ************ Jared sat at his table, deep in thought. Will had informed him of the situation, but he was in the middle of an critical meeting. He was about to call him when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Will walked in. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Miss Gardner has been sent home¡± Jared nodded in approval. ¡°Sawyer?¡± ¡°We have him. What do you want us to do, boss?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see him anymore¡± Will raised a brow. ¡°You mean¡­..?¡± Was his boss going to kill him. Not like it was the first time, but he felt it was a bit too much. ¡°I mean, I want him out of the country¡± ¡°Okay boss¡± ************ The drive home was silent until Sandy decided to break the ice. ¡°That man, is he a business partner?¡± Valerie nodded absentmindedly. Why would he think she and her boss were an item? Because he was nice to her? Because he rescued her? Different thoughts were running in her mind. ¡°Do you think your boss¡­ likes you?¡± Sandy asked, cautiously. Valerie chuckled. ¡°Come on, that is impossible. He has a fianc¨¦e and everyone in the country knows that¡± Sandy decided to keep quiet after that. ************ A woman covered with a scarf, and had sunsses on, walked into an almost empty caf¨¦. She immediately saw the one she was looking for by the window. A man covered in tattoos was seated, looking out the window. He immediately stood up when he saw her. He advanced, ready to kiss her, but she stopped him. She saw anger sh in his eyes. She quickly looked for an excuse. ¡°Someone might be watching¡± she said, and he sat, begrudgingly. She secretly heaved a sigh of relief and sat before him. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°There hasn¡¯t been many women around him recently, but I found this one¡± He reached for his pocket and brought out an envelope, stretching it out to her. She epted it and brought out the contest. They were photographs. ¡°It¡¯s her?¡± ¡°Your fianc¨¦ recently employed a personal secretary. A female¡± She looked at every one of the pictures. But stopped at a particr one. ¡°She was hospitalized?¡± The man nodded. ¡°She was discharged few days ago¡± Jane¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°Bitch¡± she muttered. Chapter 12 Valerie woke up quite early. She walked up to her life-size mirror and touched her cheek. The mark was almost gone now, just a bit of concealer, and she was good to go. She took her bath and wore her dress and make-up before leaving for work. She bid her friends goodbye before hitting the road. She arrived at thepany, cing Jared¡¯s coffee on the table before moving on to her office. ¡°Where have you been for the past few days?¡± Kathy asked immediately she saw her. Valerie didn¡¯t want to tell her the details and only said she was sick and had to stay at home to recuperate. After Kathy left, Valerie sat and buried herself in paperwork, not knowing when Jared entered his office. Jared walked into his office and was surprised when he saw the familiar coffee on his table. He smiled as he sat down and rang her. She appeared in a minute. ¡°Good morning, Mr Smith¡± He nodded in response. ¡°How do you feel?¡± He questioned, trying not to sound too concerned. ¡°I am okay now, thanks to you¡± she suddenly remembered what Sawyer said about her and her boss being an item. ¡°Erm¡­boss¡± He looked up. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should ask this¡± She said, hesitantly. She didn¡¯t want to lose her job again, at the same time, the issue bothered her. ¡°Go ahead¡± he already had an inkling about what she was going to ask. ¡°About the Sawyer Corporation, was it you?¡± She asked tentatively, ready to apologize if there was any change in his expression. ¡°Yes¡± Valerie¡¯s heart leapt. ¡°For what reason?¡± Even she felt like she was biting more than she could chew. ¡°Professional purpose¡± he deadpanned. Valerie finally calmed down. Of course, there was no way in hell that her boss will bankrupt someone for her. Sawyer was talking nonsense. She excused herself and Jared breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Whew! That was so close¡± Valerie sat, her face, glued to the screen of herptop. She was, however, distracted by the sound of heels hitting the floor. She looked up and met the eyes of a woman. She looked like she was from the upper-ss. The woman didn¡¯t say a word and headed for Jared¡¯s office. Valerie wanted to stop her, but Kathy held her in ce. ¡°Don¡¯t you know who she is?¡± Valerie shook her head. She didn¡¯t know if she was wrong, but she felt hostility oozing from thedy, towards her. ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s boss¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡± she announced. Valerie raised a brow. Kathy tutted. ¡°From what I heard, she¡¯s the only child, and shees from a damn wealthy family based overseas¡± Kathy gossiped. ¡°I adored her so much before I started working here. It was here I saw her true colours. She¡¯s a two-faced bitch¡± Valerie bit the inside of her cheek, thoughtfully. Whoever she is, she definitely doesn¡¯t look nice, so she would have to stay away from her. ************ Jane entered Jared¡¯s office without knocking, walking like she owned the ce. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± Jared asked. Anger was apparent on his handsome face. ¡°Hello Jared¡± She said and walked towards him, but he was quick to push her away. ¡°Want do you want?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I miss my husband?¡± She said, admiring the paintings on the wall. Jared¡¯s gritted his teeth. ¡°I see you employed a new secretary¡± Jared sat up straight. ¡°Is she prettier than me?¡± Jared kept mum.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°I overheard you talking to grandfather. The Sawyer Corporation folding up was your doing. You did it for that woman¡± she pointed out. ¡°Valerie has nothing to do with this, so don¡¯t touch her¡± He knew exactly what kind of person she was. She managed to fool his family, but she could not fool him. ¡°Valerie¡± she drawled. ¡°So that¡¯s her name. I see you are on a first name basis. Interesting. She has nothing to do with this? Why? Are you scared I¡¯ll do something to your little secretary?¡± Jared¡¯s veins throbbed. He looked like the king of hell at that moment, but Jane didn¡¯t let her fear show. Yes, her parents were wealthy, but they still bowed to the Smith family. Her heartbeat skyrocketed when Jared stood up and walked towards her. Now, she regretted going against him. ¡°If you touch a strand of her hair, I¡¯ll make you miserable¡± he threatened. ¡°Did you forget I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e. We¡¯re going to get married!¡± She said incredulously. Jared smirked. ¡°Get out¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Jared¡¯s smothering gaze shut her up. She stormed out. ************ Valerie looked up when Jared¡¯s door opened. The youngdy came out, her expression even more unfriendly than before. She walked off haughtily, leaving Valerie wondering what the hostility was all about. Jane¡¯s face was ugly as the chauffeur opened the door for her. He went to the other side and got into the car. ¡°To auntie¡¯s ce¡± she ordered. She needed to speed up the process of the engagement and the wedding. If she got married to him, then her position will be unshakable. The car stopped before the mansion that belonged to Jared¡¯s parents. It was modern style, unlike Grandfather Smith¡¯s mansion. She ignored the servant¡¯s greetings and proceeded to the living room, where a beautiful and elegant woman sat, knitting what looked like a scarf. ¡°Auntie¡± Jane called out sweetly. Her previously ugly expression was nowhere to be found. Mrs Smith looked up. ¡°Jane. You didn¡¯t say you wereing. Here, have a seat¡± She tapped the space beside her. Jane smiled and sat beside her. She reached in her purse and brought out a small box. ¡°This is for you, auntie¡± Mrs Smith epted it and took a look at the content. She marvelled at the exquisiteness of the jewelry. It was a jade ring. Jane was wondering how to begin while trying not to sound desperate. She cleared her throat. ¡°Erm¡­auntie?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± She was interrupted when her phone dinged and lit up with a notification. Her face turned furious as she read the message. Chapter 13 ¡°Are you okay?¡± Mrs Smith asked when she sensed her mood change. She quickly smiled and shook her head. ¡°Nothing auntie. I have to leave now¡± she replied the bewildered woman. ¡°But you just arrived¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡¯ve got something to do. Just wanted to check up on you. Have a nice day Auntie¡± With that she left the house without looking back. Immediately the door mmed shut, she cursed loudly and stared at the message she had received earlier. ¡®Jasmine hotel. Room 105. Meet me there in an hour. Don¡¯t even think of giving excuses¡¯ It was from Xavier. The man she had hired to find out Valerie. She knew better than to disobey him. She bit her lips as they set off to the hotel. She knocked twice, and it opened to Xavier smiling and satisfied expression. He let her in and immediately the door closed behind her, his lips crashed against hers. ¡°Damn. I have missed you so much¡± he whispered huskily as he squeezed her butt cheeks. Jane hit him repeated, but it had little to no effect on him. She struggled to break free, but he didn¡¯t let her She wished she could fight him . He did all the dirty work for her in the past and knew all her secrets. He was capable of destroying her in a second. Jane didn¡¯t know why, but she soon closed her eyes and responded to the kiss with equal intensity. Maybe because she had not been with a man for a long time. Xavier was surprised. She was always resisting when he asked for it. He didn¡¯t think further and deepened the kiss. The hands that were pushing against his chest slid up to his shoulder and wrapped around his neck, pulling him close to her. He rubbed his throbbing member against her. He carried her, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. Xavier threw her on the bed, not even trying to act gentle. Jane smiled. She liked it. With a swift pull, he took off his shirt and his numerous tattoos came into view. She watched him take off his pants and his little brother sprang free. Jane gulped. This wasn¡¯t the first time she saw it, but it lookedrger than before. He climbed onto the bed, helping her take off her dress until she was stark naked. He smiled at the sight of her breasts andtched on the left one, sucking like a baby starved for days, his hands were working on the second one. Guttural moans escaped Jane¡¯s lips. She shut her eyes, lost in ecstasy. His hand travelled downward, to her core. Without warning, his middle finger entered her. She gasped as her eyes rolled upwards. She began to moan loudly as he inserted another finger, then another, thrusting in and out. ¡°Faster baby¡­.. faster Jared¡­yes¡­yes, right there, yes Jared¡­.¡± Xavier¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. He didn¡¯t like it that this woman was calling another person¡¯s name under him, but he proceeded. He knelt and positioned his member before her entrance. ¡°Wait!¡± Jane suddenly stopped him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to use protection?¡± Xavier muttered a curse. ¡°What are pills for?¡± He was already pissed off by what happened earlier. He thrust into her. Immediately, every thought of protection flew out the window. Each of the thrusts were powerful, and his hands were working on her breasts. She came, but he didn¡¯t pull out. He continued till he bucked and released in her. He went for another and only stopped when she fell asleep from exhaustion. His eyes lingered on her for a while before he pulled out. ************ Jane squirmed a little before forcing herself up. She tried to stand up, but her lower part was aching badly. ¡°That beast¡± she found her clothes and was about to wear them when she stopped, horrified at the number of hickeys on her body. She ran to the mirror, checking herself out. Her neck, arms, breasts. They were hickeys on them. ¡°Shit! Shit! Shit¡± The ones on her breasts could be covered, but her neck and arms¡­.. Oh, God! Just then, the door opened and Xavier walked in with something that looked like a takeout. She did mind that she was naked, he had seen it all anyway. Her nose red as she confronted him. ¡°You did it intentionally, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What?¡± He feigned ignorance. ¡°This. All this¡± she was pointing at the marks. ¡°Oh that. But you loved it. You were begging me not to stop¡± he smirked. Jane was irked and proceeded to wear her clothes. Fortunately, she had a concealer in her purse. ¡°You should eat before you leave¡± he said, watching her. ¡°No thanks. ¡°She responded dryly. She finished applying the product, added some makeup. ¡°You should think twice before calling me next time. Don¡¯t get us in trouble¡± With that, she stormed out. Xavier¡¯s jaw ticked. ************ Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window and staring at the pediatricians below, Dn Smith had his hands in his pocket, lost in thought. Memories of that night haunted him. Her silent tears and the nk look that followed kept him up at night. He wondered if she was a spy sent to get him. A knock interrupted his thoughts.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Come in¡± he said dryly, not turning back. His secretary came in. ¡°Sir, you have a meeting with the ambassador from Nolkshore¡± Sebastian announced. ¡°Cancel it¡± he said, without thinking twice. Sebastian¡¯s head jerked up. He was really going to give up on the meeting. It was going to help him with his campaign. ¡°But, sir¡­.¡± Dn gave him a dangerous side eye and that shut him up. He knew he had an important meeting with the ambassador of that country, but he knew he was better off not going. He knew all he would think of was that woman and what happened that night. ¡°Have the meeting postponed to tomorrow. Just give him an excuse¡± Dn said, dismissively. First, his grandfather wanted to find a woman for him. Second, he had the presidential campaign to think about. Then another problem happened, throwing himpletely off bnce. ¡°Wait¡± he said to Sebastian, who was about to walk out. ¡°I need you to find someone for me¡± Chapter 14 Valerie sat, working, when her eyes strayed inadvertently to Will, who just entered Jared¡¯s office. She cocked her head to the side. She turned to Kathy and beckoned her over. Kathy looked ever so ready for gossip. ¡°How long has Mr Will been here?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but he has definitely been here for a long time¡± ¡°What is his job description?¡± Kathy finally got what Valerie was trying to ask. ¡°You¡¯re wondering why you were employed when he is already here¡± Valerie bobbed her head. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say he¡¯s a very personal secretary¡± she emphasized on ¡®very¡¯. ¡°He will probably share things he can¡¯t share with you, with him. From what I heard, they knew each other before he became the CEO¡± Kathy exined. ¡°Oh really. Thank you¡± Kathy nodded. ************ Dnzily answered the knocks on the door, his back reclined on the chair. He looked stressed out. His insomnia had be worse. Sebastian cautiously entered. His boss¡¯s temper wasn¡¯t the best these days. ¡°I have what information you asked for¡± Dn quickly sat up, snatching the file. He stared at her profile for a while. Nothing about her seems out of the ordinary. ¡°Is this all?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes boss¡± Dn sighed ¡°You can leave¡± He closed his eyes, but opened them again when he didn¡¯t hear the sounds of receding footsteps and the door closing. ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡± ¡°Sir, I¡­ there¡¯s something I have to tell you¡± Dn didn¡¯t speak. ¡°When you asked for her information, I secretly followed her and¡­. and found out that she went to a hospital.¡± Dn jerked up, almost falling off his chair. ¡°What did you just say?¡± He wanted to be certain he heard right. ¡°She went to a hospital. After she left, I went to inquire from the doctors and realized that¡­.. that¡­ she was pregnant¡± ¡°Wha-¡± Dn¡¯s hand raked through his hair in frustration. ************ Sandyid down on her bed, looking half-dead. This wasn¡¯t the life she had envisioned for herself. A baby? Damn. Everything was just going wrong. She felt her head ache from thinking too much and took some Advil before going to sleep. It didn¡¯tst long, though, as she suddenly woke up. The pain in her lower part was tearing her apart. She shifted the duvet and was shocked to the core to see blood stains. The pain was driving her crazy. She reached for her phone, but as she struggled to get it, it fell off the table.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She was soon covered in sweat. She heard the door downstairs opened. She screamed as much as she could. Her sight was bing hazy, and she soon passed out, but not before seeing Valerie run towards her. ************ Valerie sat in the ambnce with Sandy. Her skin was as white as a sheet. She had arrived earlier and had heard a scream, she ran towards Sandy¡¯s room, where the voice came from and found her, passed out on the bed. The bed was soaked in blood. She was disoriented at first, before thinking of calling an ambnce. She watched as Sandy was wheeled in. She dialed La¡¯s number. She picked up on the first ring. ¡°You need toe over right now¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Juste. I¡¯ll send you the address¡± She wasn¡¯t in the mood to exin anything. Forty minutester, she saw La walking towards her. ¡°What happened?¡± Valerie exined everything that happened. ¡°Really? This is the fifth time in this month I¡¯m visiting a hospital. Just because of you guys¡± Valerie ignored her ranting and focused on the doctor who just came out. ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°We were able to save her. She probably bled due to the Advil she used, as it was dangerous at the early stages of pregnancy. Luckily, she didn¡¯t lose the baby¡± Valerie and La turned to look at each other. ¡°Baby?¡± They chorused. ¡°Yes. Your friend is seven weeks pregnant¡± ¡°Oh My God. How is that even possible?¡± La looked genuinely dumbstruck. ¡°Can we see her now?¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°But she¡¯s in the recovery room currently and I suggest you don¡¯t disturb her¡± La nodded. Valerie was still reeling from the shock. ¡°The doctor is mistaken, right?¡± La could not say anything. An hourter, she was taken to the ward and the nurse announced they could see her. They entered the room and met Sandy on the bed, eyes closed. They knew she wasn¡¯t asleep because the nurse told them she had woken up. ¡°Sandy¡± Valerie gently called out. She received no reply. ¡°You can stop pretending already¡± La said. She didn¡¯t open her eyes, but she spoke. ¡°I guess you already know¡± ¡°Yes¡± they chorused. ¡°How did it happen?¡± Valerie asked. Sandy opened her eyes and shook her head. ¡°By any chance, was it¡­ rape?¡± La asked. Tears pooled in Sandy¡¯s eyes. That was enough answer for the two girls. ¡°Tell me who the bastard is¡± Sandy shook her head again. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± she only saw his face. She didn¡¯t know who he was, but he looked like he came from a wealthy family. She would rather not deal with that. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Valerie held her hand. They were going to take care of it with her. ************ The family gathered again at the old mansion. Dn was present this time but lookedpletely worn out. His mother fussed over him. ¡°Is this about the campaign and election? If it is about that, you should give up, your health is important. We have more than enough anyway¡± She asked, touching his face tenderly. ¡°No mum, it¡¯s okay. It is just for a period of time¡± he said, leading her back to her seat. They sat at the table for dinner. Jared knew that whenever his Grandfather insists theye for dinner, he definitely had something to say. It was true because ten minutes into the meal, he cleared his throat. ¡°Dn¡± ¡°Yes, grandfather¡± ¡°I found a woman for you. Shees from a good family and will help your pursuit of the presidential seat¡± he announced. ¡°Grandfather!¡± ¡°What? You said you will bring a woman, but here we are. Nothing. You have to go on a date with that woman. Come to my office after dinner. I¡¯ll give you the address and time. When you meet her, you must¡­.¡± ¡°I have a girlfriend!¡± He burst out, shocking everyone present at the table. Even Jared raised a brow. His grandfather pointed his index finger. ¡°I see you are having fun, teasing this old man? Huh?¡± ¡°I am not teasing you, grandfather. I have a girlfriend, and I¡¯m going to marry her¡± Chapter 15 Dn stood in the garden, staring at the full moon, like it will solve all his problems. He took a sip of his vodka, his other hand In his pocket. He tore his gaze away from the sky and when he felt a pat on his back. ¡°Am I getting a sister-inw soon, or you¡¯re just pulling the old man¡¯s legs?¡± Jared asked. Dn sighed. ¡°It¡¯splicated¡± Jared¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Care to share?¡± Dn turned to stare at his brother, as if wondering if he should tell him or not. ¡°It all happened on my visit to Elgar city. I went alone and after the meeting, the head insisted that I stayed for a drink. I drank a bit, unaware that it was spiked. They tried to force ady on me but with the little consciousness in me, I resisted. I somehow returned to the hotel and entered my room. A few secondster, I saw a woman enter my room. The effect was at it¡¯s peak, so I lost all sense of reasoning and¡­..¡± He sighed again. He could count how many times he sighed in a day. ¡°At first, I thought she was a spy at first but ording to Sebastian¡¯s report, she was not¡± he paused. Jared kept silent, giving him all the time he needed. ¡°You know the most interesting part? She is pregnant¡± Jared looked genuinely surprised. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°Why would I joke about it?¡± ¡°You are sure it is yours?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find out, but that is most probably the case. ording to my research, she doesn¡¯t even have a boyfriend¡± ¡°The old man wants me to bring her in four days max, and I haven¡¯t even seen her yet¡± ¡°Tell me if you need any help¡± Dn nodded absentmindedly. ************ Sandy was back home. She sat on her bed, resting, ording to the doctor¡¯s instructions. She had epted her fate. She was going to keep the baby, secretly praying not to meet the man, so he won¡¯t force her to abort the baby. It was no news that the wealthy having a baby with amoner was considered shameful. Her phone rang. She reached for it and epted the call. ¡°Is this Miss Sandy Cornell?¡± ¡°Yes¡± she answered tentatively. ¡°You might not remember me, but we met weeks ago, at a hotel at¡­.. Elgar¡± Sandy¡¯s heart beat sped up. ¡°Wait, are you¡­.. that man?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Dn answered solemnly. She took in a sharp breath. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I want us to meet¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Look, Miss Cornell, I promise I won¡¯t hurt you. I just¡­.. I have something to tell you¡± Sandy contemted whether going was the right thing to do or not. There was no way he would ask her to get rid of the baby, since he didn¡¯t know, right? She also wondered how he was able to find her since they met in another city. ¡°Where are we meeting?¡± She asked, making her decision. Before he could reply, she added. ¡°I want it to be outdoors¡± Dn smiled ruefully. He could understand her fears and reservations, but he could not me her. He chose a restaurant, very close to her house. He asked her to set the time. She decided to leave the house at that moment and return before the girls returned. If they found out, they were going to nag nonstop. She arrived, and her gaze zeroed in on someone seated at the far end of the restaurant. He raised his hand, letting her know where he was. She walked towards him. He had on a long coat and sunsses. He looked like he was in disguise. He stood up as soon as she reached him. ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked without sitting. ¡°Can we talk somewhere else, a bit more private?¡± Sandy¡¯s brows furrowed and was about tosh out. ¡°Please¡± he pleaded. She swallowed her words, kept quiet for some seconds as if thinking about it. He should be able to do anything, right? Even if he tried, she had her penknife with her, in case he tried anything silly. ¡°Okay¡± She followed him to a private room in the restaurant. She sat facing him as he scrambled for what to say. He was never like this. Many people bowed to him and always dished out criticism when needed, so this was a first.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°I¡­ want to apologize. I know I acted like a jerk and no amount of apology can undo what happened but, I am sorry¡± Sandy only stared. Dn swallowed. ¡°I also want to offer you a deal¡± Sandy brows wrinkled. He surely didn¡¯t know about that, right? Dn licked his lips. He hated how vulnerable he looked at the moment. ¡°Let¡¯s get married¡± he mustered up his courage and said. She looked at him like he had gone nuts. ¡°You are crazy¡± she said, for the first time since they arrived in the room, like she was stating a fact. ¡°I know it sounds that way, but can you just think about this?¡± ¡°Think about what? I barely know you. You know what? I¡¯m leaving¡± she made to stand up. ¡°The baby¡­.. It¡¯s mine, right?¡± All the blood drained from her face and she automatically fell back on her seat. This cemented his uncertainty. ¡°How¡­how did you know?¡± She looked like she could faint any moment. ¡°I had you investigated?¡± He said, honestly. ¡°You-¡± ¡°I will not marry you¡± she said stubbornly. ¡°I will help you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I will finance your father¡¯s surgery¡± Sandy¡¯s head shot up. ¡°You know about that too?¡± He nodded. She sighed tiredly. She had visited home for that very reason. Her mum had contacted her that her father had been diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, lung cancer to be precise. It was still in the second stage. Brandy Cornell, her father, was a heavy smoker, a drunk, and a chronic gambler. Presently, he owed a loan shark an exorbitant amount of money and the man had been threatening her mum. They needed money for his treatment and his debt, but their family had no one to turn to for help. Her mum handled a small restaurant, and her dad was unemployed. He lost his factory job due to alcohol. He wasn¡¯t a responsible man, but he was still her father. Now, she received an offer to pay for his hospital bills, but it came with a price-marry him. She was tempted. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it¡± she said finally. Dn nodded. That was a good sign. ¡°Can you not take too much time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try. What is your name, by the way?¡± ¡°Dn Smith¡± She felt the name sounded familiar, but she waved it off. They parted ways, and she returned home, looking three times paler. She plopped down on the bed and reached for herptop, hoping to find information about him on the inte. Chapter 16 Sandy gasped, as results about him showed up on her screen. ¡°Oh my goodness¡± He was the first son of the most powerful family in the country, which was also one of the top five most powerful families in the world, a popr politician and presidential aspirant with the highest chances of getting elected. At that moment, she went through what she would call a rollercoaster of emotions. Then¡­.. if he wins the election, and she agrees to marry him, that would make her¡­. the firstdy! And she was even carrying his child. She shut her eyes in despair as she thought of a way out of this mess. Her father was dying, she was pregnant for a very powerful man and now, he asked for marriage in exchange for taking care of her father. The offer was enticing but¡­. if he were someone else, not so popr and wealthy, she could have considered, but a presidential aspirant? If he won, she would have to shoulder the responsibilities of the president¡¯s wife, which she knew nothing about. She quickly shut herptop when she heard knocks on the door. She went downstairs and opened the door. La smiled. ¡°Wee back¡± Sandy saidBelonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re okay?¡± La said, entering the house. ¡°Yeah¡± ¡°You look a little pale. Sure you¡¯re fine? Do you need to go to the hospital?¡± La fussed. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine¡± La shrugged. ¡°If you say so¡± she walked towards the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll change my clothes and get fix something for dinner, okay?¡± Sandy nodded, forcing a smile. La returned minutes, in morefy clothes. Sandy entered the kitchen but was forced out by La, who insisted on doing it alone. Sandy sat on the sofa and switched on the TV. She was going to change the channel but halted when Dn¡¯s face appeared on the screen. She bit her lips, thoughtfully. She was interrupted again when someone knocked on the door. She stood up to get it. It was Valerie. She proceeded into the house, asking after Sandy¡¯s health. She took off her work clothes and joined La in the kitchen. Something she didn¡¯t do on normal days. Sandy stood at the entrance of the kitchen, wondering if telling them, at the moment, was the right choice. They were definitely going to freak out. That was a given. In the end, she decided not to¡­at least not now. They all went to bed after dinner. ************ Sun rays seeped into Sandy¡¯s room. She squinted and sat up. Her phone rang. Her breath caught as she saw the caller. She epted the call. ¡°Hello mum¡± she said slowly. ¡°Dear, did you find anything?¡± She was clearly agitated. Sandy heaved wearily. It was just morning, but she had started to feel tired. ¡°No mum¡± ¡°What do we do now? The doctor insists your dad has to go through chemotherapy. It¡¯s too expensive. Where do we get money now?¡± Leah Cornell¡¯s voice shook. Sandy¡¯s felt a headacheing. Telling her mum about her pregnancy at this point was a no-no. She might even faint. ¡°Sandy?¡± Leah called. ¡°I¡¯m with you, mum¡± There was silence on the other end. She was clearly waiting for her to speak. ¡°I¡¯lle over¡± She said and hung up, without waiting for her mother to reply, and threw her phone on the bed. She took a shower and wore something casual. She went downstairs and saw only Valerie. La was probably not up yet. ¡°Good morning. You seem to be in a hurry. Where to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to visit mum¡± she didn¡¯t tell them about her father¡¯s sickness. ¡°I have to go now¡± ¡°Say hello to auntie and uncle for me¡± Sandy nodded and left the house. ************ She went by train and entered the city in two hours. She boarded a taxi to the hospital. She sat beside the window, staring outside, watching as cities flew by. She was an only child and the bread winner of the family. But she had resigned from her previous job as a teacher because the school principal was making advances towards her and was ready to make her life hell if she didn¡¯tply. The small restaurant her mother ran was not enough to feed. Then, there was the debt. They arrived and she paid the fare before alighting. It was an average hospital. She exchanged pleasantries with the front desk and proceeded to her father¡¯s ward. She stopped at the entrance and looked inside. Her mum sat by her father¡¯s side, crying as always. He was asleep, breathing through oxygen and looked deathly pale. The door made a sound as she entered which made Mrs Cornell look back. She stood up immediately and ran towards her daughter. She held her hand. ¡°You¡¯re here¡± Sandy wiped her mum¡¯s tears. ¡°It will be okay, mum. I find a way, okay?¡± Mrs Cornell reluctantly nodded. ¡°I was waiting for you. Stay with your dad while I go home to make breakfast¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go¡± Sandy said, dropping her bag. ¡°No. Just stay with him instead¡± She insisted on going home to make breakfast. For some reason, Sandy felt ill at ease, letting her mum go home alone, but she was stubborn. Sandy caved in and took the chair beside her father¡¯s bed, waiting for her mother toe back. ¡°Dad, this is all your fault¡± she muttered. After an hour, she received a call from her mother. ¡°S.. Sandy¡­. you¡­¡± What followed was a loud bang and her mother¡¯s scream. ¡°Mum! Are you okay? What is happening?¡± The line went dead. She sprang up, her heart In her throat. She ran out of the hospital and boarded a taxi that stopped right in front of the house. She walked closer and the first thing she noticed was that the door was broken. Her heart rate sped up even more as she heard the sounds of ss breaking. She slowly walked into the house and gasped at the interior. It didn¡¯t look like a living room anymore. Chairs and tables were overturned. Shards of ss were scattered on the floor. Her eyes caught her mother, balled up in a far end corner of the living room. Sandy ran towards her and noticed the blood and bruises on her face and body. She had been beaten, and her face was wet with tears. Sandy felt her heart twist in pain. ¡°Mum¡± Sandy called, teary-eyed. She looked back when she heard the sound of doors closing. Her heart skipped beats, as she met the eyes of a rough-looking man. He had a scary scar that trailed from the side of his face to his neck. He had a white golf club in hand. One after the other, men came out from the room after destroying it, and probably looking for valuables. They were undeniably the loan sharks that her father borrowed money from. That all had golf clubs with them. ¡°Who is this?¡± One who looked like their leader asked. ¡°I think she¡¯s the old guy¡¯s daughter. The one who lived in another city¡± a young man answered. ¡°She¡¯s so damn pretty¡± the leader licked his lips. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do this. I pay the money¡± That burst intoughter. ¡°Your father said that too, months ago. Now look where we are¡± he paused, scrutinizing her. ¡°But there is a way¡± Sandy had a horrible feeling. ¡°Pay back with your body¡± Chapter 17 The others murmured in approval as the leader walked towards her, she took a step back in fear. At that moment, Mrs Cornell, who sat there, numb, suddenly scrambled up and stood before her daughter. She spread out her hands protectively. ¡°No! You can¡¯t. I promise, I will pay you¡± she patted her chest as she said it. Without warning, he pushed her aside and she hit her head against the edge of a table. He grabbed Sandy, ready to take her away, but stopped when some of his underlings called his attention to something. Sandy¡¯s eyes widened as she saw blood, starting to pool at her mother¡¯s head. ¡°Mum!¡± She screamed and tried to break free, but they were too strong for her. ¡°Is she dead?¡± One of them asked. He shook her. No response. They only want to scare them. They didn¡¯t want to be jailed for murder. Sandy took advantage of their distraction and freed herself, running to her mother¡¯s side. ¡°Mum! Mum! Wake up¡± Sandy shook her, but she remained unmoving. Suddenly, wails of police sirens and ambnces filled the air. ¡°Shit! The cops. We need to leave¡± They ran out, only to fall into the hands of the police. Only the leader escaped. Sandy kneeled beside her mother in tears, unaware of the person who had entered and was standing beside her. ¡°We need to move her to the hospital¡± A rich baritone voice said. Sandy looked up. ¡°Dn?¡± She said before she could shut herself up. He was no ordinary person. The paramedics wheeled her out. She quickly followed them, immediately forgetting that Dn was there. ¡°Is she going to die?¡± She asked tearfully. ¡°Her pulse is so faint. We can¡¯t rule out anything at the moment¡± Sandy shut her eyes. Things just got a whole lot harder. They were taken to the hospital, where her father was admitted. Sandy stayed outside the theatre, walking to and fro, ignoring Dn, who stood there with her. He remained silent too. His bodyguards were scattered on that floor. After a few hours, the doctor came out. She ran towards them. ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°Fortunately, she pulled through. She is okay now and only needs a lot of rest. Sandy was so relieved that she slumped on the chair. Dn requested to see the doctor privately. She didn¡¯t bother to find out what it was, she was only filled with relief. Only Dn returned. It was then she wondered how he found her. No, how did he know where she was? ¡°Are you okay now?¡± He asked, when he noticed her staring at him. He received no response, making things a bit awkward. ¡°How did you know where I was?¡± She questioned. He was not caught off guard by the question. He knew she was going to ask, but he didn¡¯t know how to tell her that he had been keeping tabs on her. ¡°I¡­I asked someone to watch you¡± he said. Sandy¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How dare-¡± She stopped talking. She would rather not bite more than she could chew. Even if he wasn¡¯t the president yet, there was still a vast different in their status. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± Sandy looked at him, surprised. She wasn¡¯t expecting him to apologize. Dn himself was shocked. The word came out of his mouth spontaneously. He had never apologized to anyone. Not even his grandfather and parents. At that moment, she realized her parents were being wheeled out of their ward. ¡°Hey! Stop! Where are you taking them?¡± The nurse smiled and said, ¡°We were instructed to move them to the VIP ward¡± ¡°Who instructed you?¡± She was the only family that was present. ¡°The young man here did¡± she pointed at Dn. Sandy¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°Please, go ahead¡± he said to the nurse. She nodded and together with the others wheeled them away. Everywhere became silent. It was just the both of them in the hallway. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± She didn¡¯t let him reply and continued ¡°To make me feel indebted to you and agree to your proposal?¡± Dn fell silent. Sandy scoffed. ¡°So, I¡¯m right. You¡¯re from the Smith family, right? You could get any woman you want. There are hundreds of heiresses out there wanting to marry you, so why me? If you¡¯re thinking about the baby, then no worries, I raise it alone and-¡± ¡°No!¡± He said, startling her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that cannot happen. It is my responsibility, so I¡¯ll take care of it¡± She was about to reply when the nurse returned. ¡°Your parents are awake¡± Sandy nodded, smiling, and thanked her. She proceeded to the elevator, ignoring Dn again. He followed her. The ward was not as luxurious as the VIP wards inrge hospitals, but it was better than the normal wards. They entered and met her mum seated up. She ran into her arm, taking care not to injure her. Her head was bandaged, and the bruises were still visible. The sight was like a knife, stabbing her heart. Mrs Cornell patted her back. Her dad was in the other bed. ¡°How do you feel, dad?¡± He only nodded. Her mother noticed the handsome man at the entrance. ¡°Er¡­.. and you are¡­¡± ¡°Hello, Mrs Cornell, I¡¯m¡­..¡± ¡°He¡¯s my boss¡± she said quickly, surprising Dn. Boss? ¡°I thought you had resigned¡± her mum pointed out. Shit. That was a faux pas. She didn¡¯t think before speaking. Of course, her mum knew she had resigned. ¡°She only started working a few days ago¡± Dn came to the rescue as Sandy was short if what to say. She heaved a sigh of relief. She didn¡¯t know what to introduce him as. Future president? Popr politician? Or the son of the most powerful family in the country? Damn. Her parents were going to faint from fright. Even though they had no idea who the Smith family was, since they were located in the suburbs. ¡°By any chance, did he pay for this room?¡± Mrs Cornell asked. She knew her daughter couldn¡¯t afford it, even if she was working. Sandy nodded. ¡°Goodness! Thank you so much, handsome mister¡± she said gratefully. Handsome mister? Yeah, he was handsome but calling him that sounded weird. She turned to look at him. He looked as if he had no problem with that. Her eyes strayed to her father again. He was staring at them. She wanted to me him, but it wasn¡¯t the time yet. She stayed with them until sunset. Dn was still present, refusing to leave despite Sandy¡¯s pleas. He had a mission he had toplete. It was 9 already and her parents were asleep. ¡°You should get some rest¡± he said. She nodded. ¡°I will sleep here¡± ¡°There¡¯s a hotel somewhere around here. We could spend the night there¡± We? Was he kidding? ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ll just stay here and watch over them¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°My men will do that¡± Of course. She knew his bodyguards were top-notch and nothing could happen to her parents under their care, but she didn¡¯t want to be alone with this man. ¡°I know what you are thinking. Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen. We¡¯ll have different rooms. I promise. You need to have a good sleep to be able to take care of them¡± Sandy bit her lips. She knew she wasn¡¯t going to befortable sleeping in the hospital but¡­.. ¡°Okay¡± she eventually concurred. After checking up on her parents, she left with Dn in his car and drove over to the hotel, where they met for the first time. It was the only hotel that was nearby. The other one was about an hour drive, so they had no choice. She left him to take care of booking the rooms. She, however, noticed it was taking too long, so she walked up to them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry sir. We only have one room left and that is room 222¡± Sandy¡¯s eyes widened as her eyes met his. That was the same room where ¡®it¡¯ happened. Chapter 18 Dn took off his jacket as he entered the room, after Sandy. She felt nauseous, returning to the room, where this gentle-looking man acted like a beast, almost tearing her into pieces. ¡°I¡¯ll take the couch¡± Sandy said. ¡°No. You should take the bed. I¡¯ll sleep on the couch¡± Without waiting for her to refuse, he sat, taking off his shoes and socks andid down, his eyes, closed.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Sandy pursed her lips. The couch looked too small for him. She felt bad. He was the one paying for the room, after all. Sheid down on the bed, lost in her world of thoughts before she fell asleep, but not before calling La and informing her that she was not returning that night. Dn opened his eyes as soon as he felt her breathing be even. He stood up and went to the balcony, overlooking the city. He was not scared of the Old man, but he felt like marrying her was the right thing to do. She was carrying his child, so he couldn¡¯t marry someone else. He had his integrity intact. But why did he feel like he was lying to himself? That this wasn¡¯t the reason. He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. ************ Sandy woke up first and instinctively, she looked towards the couch. He was asleep, curled up in an awkward position. He definitely felt ufortable. She walked towards the bathroom, brushed her teeth. Thankfully, the hospital had everything. She had just finished when Dn knocked and came in when she told him to. He extended a paper bag to her. He looked embarrassed. ¡°What is this? She asked, epting it. She looked through it and realized they were clothes. There was even a bra and a panty! Her cheeks burned red. ¡°How¡­. how did you get this?¡± ¡°One of the workers got it for me¡± ¡®How the hell did he know my size?¡¯ She didn¡¯t dare to say that out. ¡°Thank you¡± she shut the door, stared at the clothes and made her decision. They checked out of the hotel and walked towards the car. ¡°Mr Smith¡± she called out. He stopped. ¡°Please don¡¯t call me that. Dn is fine¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry, Mr¡­.. sorry, Dn¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°I have made my decision¡± Dn faced her squarely, waiting for her verdict. He knew if she refused, he could not force her. ¡®Sandy, you can do this. You made the right decision¡¯ she encouraged herself. ¡°I thought long and hard about it and decided¡­. to will marry you¡± she responded finally. She never imagined this was how she was going to ept a marriage proposal. Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted off the ground and the world around her turned. She shut her eyes as he put her down, staggering a bit. They were both left surprised. Dn could not believe he actually did that. What was wrong with him. He cleared his throat. ¡°Thank you, Miss Cornell¡± ¡°Call me Sandy¡± He nodded obediently. The ride to the hospital was awkward. Sandy looked outside the window on her side, and Dn did the same. They entered the hospital¡¯s elevator and got out when they reached the floor. When they were about fifteen deets away from the ward, Dn stopped her. ¡°Are you going to tell your parents about it?¡± Sandy sighed and shook her head. They need to heal first, then I¡¯ll tell them about the marriage and¡­.. the baby¡± Dn nodded. ¡°Are we leaving today?¡± Sandy knew he had work to attend to, do she nodded. She was his fianc¨¦e now anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll have my men take care of them¡± She nodded again and they both entered the room. ************ Valerie woke upte as again. She bolted out of the house, practically half dressed. Her hair looked messy. Her shoes were in her hand, she didn¡¯t even have the time to apply make up. She made her hair into something presentable and wore her shoes in the taxi. She ran to the office, a cup of coffee in her right hand, her bag on the left. She knocked on his door and received no response. She opened it and saw that the office was empty. She breathed a sigh of relief. She dropped the coffee on the table and was about to leave when she heard a faint sound. Like someone was knocking against something. She ignored it, ready to leave, when she heard something again. This time, it was a voice. Was there a thief in the office? But was that even possible. She searched for a weapon and found a pen on the table. She raised it a walked towards the door she hadn¡¯t seen the before. Maybe because it blended with the colour of the office. It was definitelying from behind that door. She raised her weapon even higher, as her hand touched the knob, ready to attack. She yanked the door open as her eyes searched the room for the intruder. Her eyes were as wide as saucers when she saw who it was. ¡°Pr¡­. President Smith?¡± She tried to mp her eyes shut, but it was already toote. She had already seen it and the view was tempting. What the hell! He was fucking half naked. A towel was hanging loosely on him, looking like it could fall off at anytime. His abs were in full disy. Damn. So hot. She soon recovered from her shock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry¡± she said bowing, as she closed the door. Jared stood rooted to where he was. He hadn¡¯t bothered to lock the door because he knew no one cared to enter. But this woman¡­. he sighed. But she looked cute anyway. He shook his head and wore his clothes. He had stayed up all night at the office because he had concurrent meetings and, above that, he hated to see Jane. He slept in the private lounge in his office to start work the next day, only for this to happen. ************ How¡­how was he at the office at this time? Yes, she woke upte, but still managed to arrive at the usual time, so howe? She distractedly stood before the clean, silentvatory, not exactly washing her hands as the water continued to run. She looked up and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her cheek herd two bright hues of flustered blood. She shook her head vigorously. ¡°No no no. This isn¡¯t right. Get your acts together, Valerie. You got this¡± she patted herself on the cheek. She left when the patches on her cheek had subsided. The moment she arrived, Kathy informed her that the telephone had been ringing nonstop and the boss wanted to see her ASAP. She knocked and entered his office. He was speaking to someone on the phone when she entered, so she stood still, waiting for him to finish. Memories of what she had seen earlier came rushing back. She mustered all her willpower to stop her face from getting hot all over again. ¡°She agreed?¡± Jared asked. ¡°When are you going to see the Old man? I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be there, but good luck¡± he made a sound of approval and dropped the phone on his table. Her heart hit her rib cage in fear as he looked up at her. Definitely, he wasn¡¯t going to dismiss her, right? His face was unsmiling. Not that he usually smiled, but this time, she read meaning into his serious expression. Chapter 19 Valerie found herself leaving thepany with him to a meeting. Will had travelled on Jared¡¯s order, and it was just the two of them. She was thankful that she wasn¡¯t fired. She would die if she was. The meeting ce was a private room in a restaurant. It was with the chairman of Hughes Winery, Clyde Hughes. Like most men who owned argepany, he was a pot-bellied man, with an average face. She wondered why she found the name familiar. She cursed at her forgetfulness and took note as the meeting proceeded. Thankfully, this man didn¡¯t stare at her like the Sawyer did. Jared¡¯s continued the meeting, but he was alert, in case the man¡¯s gaze strayed towards Valerie. She was his! The meeting ended quite early, and they left for the office. The ride back was silent. Though, Jared hadn¡¯t said anything, she was still careful not to do anything that could trigger him. Valerie left the office at closing hours and stopped at a mall to get some clothes. She looked through the racks for a good wear that was low-priced, but everything here was expensive. Her bank ount was going to scream bloody murder if she bought these clothes. She shook her head and was about to head out of the store, when she heard a voice she found quite familiar. ¡°Well, well, look who we have here¡± Valerie stared at them. There were three of them. She knew the first two, but the third girl only looked familiar. ¡®Please not now?¡¯ she said inwardly as she gave them a fake smile. ¡°Samantha. Selena. Long time no see¡± These two people almost made her life hell in college, but La managed to scare them away. Samantha scoffed.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°As if you care¡± she looked at her empty hands and sneered. ¡°Why? Too expensive, that you can¡¯t afford it. Oh, I heard you got fired, so, of course, you can¡¯t. Too bad¡± She mocked. Valerie rolled her eyes. Like they could afford it. She heard they were aspiring actress. Emphasis on aspiring. ¡°Well, our friend here can help you, right, Ava?¡± She said and giggled. Ava? Wasn¡¯t that Ivan¡¯s new girlfriend? She suddenly remembered why the name of the man they had a meeting with sounded familiar. He was the father of this chick, Ava Hughes. Valerie studied her. She had her hair dyed blonde, had a natural blue eyes and had a great figure which she doubted was natural. Even her nose looked like it had gone through rhinosty. Ava was staring at her too. ¡°Perhaps, are you Valerie?¡± Valerie raised a brow, surprised that Ava knew her. ¡°You know her?¡± Samantha snatched the words from her mouth. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s Ivan¡¯s ex¡± Her brows raised even further. Ivan told her? ¡°Really?¡± That was Selena. ¡°Thankfully, Ivan knew the right thing to do and broke up with her. She¡¯s bad luck¡± Valerie¡¯s hands balled into fists in anger at being reminded of her breakup with Ivan. In a short while, the said man arrived. Ivan kissed Ava on the lips, not noticing Valerie yet. The other two girls blushed. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Samantha suddenly piped up. ¡°Well, we were just wondering if you could help our friend her pay for whatever she wanted to buy. I think it¡¯s too expensive for her and cannot afford it¡± she said, with mock worry. He finally saw her, and she could see surprise on his face. ¡°Valerie? What are you doing here?¡± She found herself getting angry by the question. ¡°Do you, by any chance, own this ce. I have every right to be here. And for your information, I have more than enough to buy things here¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend. I can help you¡± Ivan said. Her nose red. At that moment, everything about him disgusted her. She felt like kicking him in the balls. She grabbed two random dresses from the rack, and proceeded to pay. ¡°$15, 000 ma¡¯am¡± the youngdy said. Valerie almost cried, but the pigs were watching. She brought out her card and paid. She collected her package, gave them a stink eye, and left. She entered a taxi and checked her bank ount bnce. She burst into tears, scaring the shit out of the driver. She wailed as passers-by nced in her direction. ¡°Madam, are you alright?¡± She replied with even louder howls. The man covered a ear with his free hand. He could not wait for this crazy woman to alight. The car stopped at her destination, and she got down after giving him the fare and walked home sadly. ************ Sandy sat in the car with Dn. She had dozens of shopping bags, containing clothes and jewelries, with her. He had insisted on taking her shopping, and informed her earlier that they were going to visit his grandfather the next day. ¡°So fast?¡± She had said, horrified. It was no ordinary family, for goodness¡¯ sake. ¡°It¡¯s okay. My parents are nice¡± he replied, but that didn¡¯t mollify her at all. She became even more nervous. She had thought she had enough time to prepare herself. She told the car to stop a few blocks away from her house. It was a luxury car and was going to attract attention from the neighbours. She definitely didn¡¯t want that. ¡°Thank you for this. Good night, Mr Smi¡­. Dn¡± He pressed his lips together and nodded tersely. She walked towards her house, unaware that a certain someone was following her. Dn finally backed off when she got to the door of her house. It took them a while to open the door. La finally did and she was ushered in. The first thing she noticed was Valerie, sitting on the floor, looking like the world was about to end. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Sandy asked, turning to La. She shrugged. ¡°Valerie here met some of our old college friends, did something crazy and ended up shooting herself in the foot. Hey! Where did you get all this?¡± La snatched a bag from Sandy and checked out the content. ¡°OMG! This dress is Elvis¡¯s limited edition¡± she gasped. ¡°Elvis?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a popr clothing brand. Woah! ¡± She raised another one. ¡°Where did you get the money to buy all this?¡± The clothes got Valerie¡¯s attention as she also began to look through it, wowing in amazement, at the exquisiteness of the dresses. Sandy didn¡¯t want to tell them about it yet. ¡°Er¡­.. an old friend bought it for me¡± La gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°An old friend, huh?¡± Sandy became a little nervous. She knew La. She would get to the root of it if she wanted to. Fortunately, Valerie distracted her. ¡°La! La! Look at this. This would look good on me, right?¡± Sandy heaved a small sigh. She picked two of the dresses. She picked one bag. ¡°I¡¯ll take this. You guys can take the others¡± She knew most of it will go to Valerie, considering La didn¡¯t like dresses. She only admired them but couldn¡¯t wear them because it, ording to her, made her ufortable. She walked to her room and locked the door. She checked out the dress. The design was simple, yet amazing, no doubt. It was a green trumpet, sleeveless dress,ced with flowers and diamonds of the same colour. She opened the jewelry box and brought out a diamond encrusted ne. She also brought out the earrings, which were like a smaller version of the ne. She wondered how much this would cost. Whatever amount it was, it would definitely be chicken feed to them. Again, the thought of meeting them chilled her to the bone. ************ They agreed to leave by sunset. La and Valerie were not home yet, so it was perfect. She only sent them a message saying she was going out and might returnte into the night. Dn knocked at the door at exactly 6:30 pm. She opened the door and their eyes met. ¡°You look¡­.. beautiful¡± hemented. ¡°Thank you¡± she said and looked around for any sigh of attention. ¡°Can we leave now?¡± He nodded and walked her to the car, opened the door and only went to seat after she was settled in the car. Halfway through the ride, she suddenly gasped. Chapter 20 Dn sat up straight. ¡°Any problem? Are you okay? Did you forget something?¡± He bombarded her with questions. ¡°I should have gotten gifts for your parents¡± He sighed and rested his back. He had thought she was hurt somewhere. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. They do not need anything¡± ¡°Yes, I know, but it is the right thing to do, meeting them for the first time¡± Dn gave in, and they took a paused at a store. She got a tie and a bracelet for his father and mother respectively. He didn¡¯t tell her there was his grandfather too. He doubted if his grandfather was going to appreciate. They arrived at the mansion. At the gate, there were two giant lion statues and heavily harmed men. They let them in when they realized who was seated at the back. The chauffeur parked the car and opened the door for Dn, who in turn did the same for Sandy. She mouthed a thank you. Her hands were bing mmy from nervous. Her insides were shaking. ¡°Wee, young master¡± Dn nodded as he handed the old butler his coat. He walked forward but stopped when he felt a hand, holding his shirt. He turned to look at her. Sandy shook her head. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t think I can do this¡± Powerful families were scary. Dn smiled inwardly, she looked cute. He took the hand that was rumpling his shirt, patted it, and covered it with his. ¡°It¡¯s okay. They won¡¯t bite¡± The butler raised a brow. In his fifty-five years of experience as a butler for the Smith family, he had never seen Dn act warm with any woman. Jared too. The only woman they cared about was their sister and they became even colder after her death. So, his care towards thisdy was a first. He held her hand as they walked towards the living room. Whatever they were discussing immediately stopped as soon as they saw the couple. His parents, grandfather, and Jane were the only ones there. ¡°Father, mother, grandfather, this is my girlfriend, Sandy¡± he announced. ¡°Hello Mr and Mrs Smith. Hello¡­.. grandfather¡± These were big shots. She suddenly felt like peeing. Mr Smith only nodded. Old Smith¡¯s face remained impassive, while Mrs Smith offered a kind smile. She patted the empty space on her left. Jane was seated on her right side. She knew Jane. A very popr and wealthy socialite, a role model for many girls. ¡°Come here, dear¡± Sandy turned to look at Dn, who nodded. She sat beside her cautiously. She remembered the gifts, reached for it and gave it to them. ¡°Oh dear. You got me such a nice bracelet. Thank you¡± She wore it on the spot, checking it out on her hand. Sandy, however, felt awkward. She had excluded the old man. Most of all, she was angry with Dn for not informing her earlier. Her cheeks became red in embarrassment. ¡°I am sorry, grandfather, I didn¡¯t know that¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay dear¡± Mrs Smith interrupted. ¡°He definitely wouldn¡¯t mind, right, dad?¡± She knew the old man. He might put the poor girl in a tight spot. Old Smith red at her, and she returned it with a smile. At this stage of her life, there was nothing he could do to her. Sandy nodded and sat down. They heard strong footstepsing towards them. ¡°Hey bro¡± Jared patted Dn¡¯s back. Sandy turned to see who it was. Her eyes widened in astonishment.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. How was that poss¡­. wait! Dn Smith¡­. Jared Smith, president of Smith Industries. Crap! How did she fail to connect the dots before now? So, she was going to be inws with Valerie¡¯s boss? Jared recognized her immediately and was surprised to see her, but he didn¡¯t let it show. ¡°Meet my girlfriend, Sandy Cornell¡± ¡°Nice to meet you¡± He said. ¡°Same here¡± ¡°Master, the table is ready¡± The butler announced. They all arose to have dinner. Mrs Smith held her hand to the dinner table and made sure to seat beside her. Jane¡¯s face was flushed with jealousy, though she tried not to let it show, but when Jared ditched the seat beside her to sit on the other side with Dn again, her mask almost fell off. Mrs Smith and Sandy exchanged small talks over dinner and slowly, she began to feel at ease but notpletely. The man at the head of the table scared her. Jane felt sour. The conversation between the two women annoyed her greatly. She red daggers at Sandy, who was oblivious. But someone saw her. Mr Smith shook his head and sighed inwardly. After dinner, before anyone could say Jack, Mrs Smith was already dragging Sandy away to her room in the mansion. The men went to y chess. Jane was left alone. She bit her lips so much that it drew blood. The servants knew better than to go near her. They steered clear. She stormed upstairs, angrily. The sound ofughtering from inside made her blood boil. Jared¡¯s mum had acted so distant when they had first met. Though, they were considered close now, they were not this close. She had hoped to cement her rtionship with Jared by clinging to his mother. He listened to her most of the time. Now thisdy came out of nowhere and won her over with a piece of cheap bracelet. She hated Sandy even more. She knocked softly. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me auntie. Can Ie in?¡± There was silence on the other hand for some time. Jane gritted her teeth. ¡°Come in¡± There was just a bit of a smile on their faces, and it looked fake, like she had interrupted something important. ¡°Er¡­. I was wondering if I could join you¡± She said. ¡°Of course, dear. Have a seat. I was just about to tell your sister-inw to help you with your engagement ns¡± ¡®Sister-inw? They were not even married yet¡¯ she thought, forgetting that she waspletely part of the family yet. ¡°Sure auntie¡± she stered a smile on her face. They talked more into the night but were interrupted when Dn knocked on the door. ¡°We are about to leave, mum¡± he said. ¡°Oh¡± she said, disappointed. ¡°Then you should bring her to the house often¡± she turned to Sandy. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t, just call me, okay honey?¡± ¡°Yes auntie¡± They were already at the entrance of the room when Mrs Smith stopped them again. ¡°One more thing. She reached into her bag and brought out what looked like a folder. She stuffed it into her hands. ¡°Open it when you get home¡± Sandy was curious. ¡°Thank you auntie¡± She nodded, and they proceeded to leave. They encountered the butler. ¡°Where is grandfather?¡± He had hoped to find him in the living room. ¡°Master had gone to bed. He says he doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed¡± the butler said respectfully. Dn raised a brow. He could feel his grandfather didn¡¯t like Sandy, but that wasn¡¯t going to stop him. ¡°We are leaving then¡± They walked towards their car when they heard someone¡¯s call. ¡°Dn¡± he turned in the direction of the voice. ¡°Dad¡± Mr Smith walked towards them. He was a reclusive man who only said little. He had even refused when his father wanted to pass the chairmanship of thepany to him. He reached into his pocket and brought out an envelope. ¡°This is for you¡± he said to Sandy, who collected it, confused why they were giving her gifts, meeting her for the first time. ¡°Thanks uncle¡± he nodded. ¡°Goodnight Dad¡± Mr Smith nodded again and walked into the house. While they drove towards her house, she could not contain her curiosity. She was dying to know what the stuff was. Reading her mind, Dn said, ¡°You can open it, if you want¡± ¡°Really¡± He nodded. She reached for the one she received from his mother. As she had guessed, it was a document. The more she read it, the more her heart rate elerated. ¡°Holy shit¡± Chapter 21 It was clearly stated on the paper that Mrs Smith was giving her a property, and not just any property, a whole ind! ¡°She gave me an ind¡± Dn shrugged. ¡°Just ept it¡± ¡°By any chance, do you know how much this costs?¡± Her curious instinct was piqued. ¡°Probably two million dors at least¡± he said nonchntly. ¡°Two¡­..¡± She stopped talking. She became a millionaire in just a few hours? Woah! They were really generous. She reached for the smaller envelope, hoping it would not be something so grand. She brought out a card. She gasped and quickly covered her mouth, the card fell on the floor. Dn chuckled at her overreaction. She didn¡¯t know she was such a talkative, and it was cute. ¡°I¡¯m dreaming right?¡± He shook his head, an indulgent smile on his lips. She reached for the card and stared at it again. ck card was boldly written on it. This was the first time she was seeing it. She had only heard of it. Of course, she knew the usefulness. It was practically limitless. ¡°This¡­ this is¡­ huge. Is this a norm?¡± Dn shrugged again. ¡°I guess so¡± ¡°We are here, sir¡± the chauffeur announced. Sandy looked around and indeed, they were before her house. She gasped and scurried off the car. She had lost track of time. Letting La and Valerie know what was going on presently was a bad idea. ¡°You should leave. Thanks for bringing me home¡± she said hurriedly, looking around for any sign of someone.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She imagined the girls staring at them through the window. ¡°Please leave now¡± she said desperately. ¡°Goodnight¡± She nodded in haste. She breathed out as she watched the car drive away. She hid the card and papers in her bag, and walked towards the entrance and knocked, and the door opened in seconds. ¡°Wee back¡± La said. She searched her eyes for any expression that could indicate they saw the car outside, but there was none. She secretly heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯re not asleep yet?¡± ¡°Yeah. Not feeling sleepy. Where were you anyway?¡± She closed the door. ¡°Went on an outing with a friend¡± Sandy said simply. La crossed her arms. ¡°Male or female?¡± She crossed her arms, looking like a nagging wife. ¡°Male¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been quite close with this friendtely. Anything I should know?¡± Sandy sighed. ¡°This is my private life, La. I don¡¯t need to share it with anyone¡± Sandy snapped. La raised a brow, dropping her hands. This was the first time Sandy snapped at her. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know it will make you mad. I was just worried¡± Sandy realized she had gone too far. ¡°I¡¯m sorry too. I didn¡¯t mean to speak that way. There has just been a lot on my mind recently¡± La nodded. ¡°I¡¯m off to my room¡± She watched as Sandy proceeded to her room. At the Old mansion. When Mr Smith and his wife left, the butler knocked on Old Smith¡¯s study. He had a file with him. He had been ordered to tell the family he was asleep and didn¡¯t want to be disturbed. ¡°Come in¡± A voice said from inside. He entered and met the old man seated at the table. ¡°What did you find?¡± He asked straightaway. Butler Gomez stretched out the file towards his boss. He had been working with old Smith since they were young, when his father was still the family¡¯s butler. He was old Smith¡¯s assistant back then and was still in the business. The old man looked through the content and his face scrunched up. ¡°Her mother owns a restaurant and her father is¡­. a gambler?!¡± He knew immediately he saw her that she wasn¡¯t from the upper ss. He wanted someone who could cement his grandson¡¯s career. Not this one with a messed up family. ¡°Where did Dn find this woman anyway?¡± The butler maintained his silence. ¡°Tell him I want to see him first thing tomorrow¡± ¡°Yes master¡± Somehow, he felt like, in his master¡¯s eyes, no woman would be good enough for his grandson. The onlydy he cared about was his granddaughter, and she was dead. ************ Dn stopped at the old mansion with the intention of leaving for the office thereafter. The butler greeted him. ¡°Master is in the study¡± Dn nodded and walked towards the study. His grandfather was standing at the window, his walking stick, next to him. ¡°Good morning, grandfather¡± ¡°Have a seat¡± ¡°I will remain standing¡± Old Smith¡¯s nose red. He hated it when someone disobeyed him, but he let it go¡­. for now. He threw the documents the butler bought for him towards Dn. He caught it and skimmed through it. He wasn¡¯t surprised. He knew his grandfather was going to do that. ¡°You cannot marry her¡± Dn ced the paper on the table. ¡°I will, grandfather¡± ¡°You will not¡± his veins were almost popping out from anger. Dn smiled. ¡°I will marry her¡± In anger, old Smith raised his walking stick, and it came down heavily on Dn¡¯s back. His jaw set, but his expression didn¡¯t change. This wasn¡¯t the first time. His grandfather was already breathing heavily. The butler ran in. He had heard themotion while passing by. ¡°Master, your blood pressure¡± he reached for some pills on the table and gave it to his master, who had taken a seat on the sofa. ¡°Thank you. Leave us alone¡± The butler nodded. He contemted telling Dn not to upset the old man, but on second thoughts, it was the old man who chose to upset himself. Dn was usually gentle and didn¡¯t stand up against his grandfather most of the time. The butler sighed, shaking his head as he left the vicinity. In the study, it was silent as Dn stared out the window. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± Old Smith scoffed. ¡°Like you care¡± ¡°This is my life. You won¡¯t make decisions for me. I have always listened to you, but I will never let you choose my spouse like you did with Jared¡± ¡°She¡¯s going to bring you down. She doesn¡¯t even have a good background, and she only wants your money. A gambling father? That is even worse. You can¡¯t marry her. It¡¯s either you listen to me, or¡­.. you know me Dn¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°Nothing must happen to Sandy¡± His grandfather smirked. ¡°Your choice¡± Dn could feel anger begin to burn inside him. ¡°She is with child. My child. Your great-grandchild¡± He looked up, surprised. He definitely wasn¡¯t expecting that. What followed was a scoff. ¡°And you believe that it¡¯s yours. That only assures me that she is a gold digger¡± ¡°I am a hundred percent sure, so she must not get hurt. If she does¡­ I don¡¯t want to turn against you grandfather¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Dn smiled. ¡°Whatever you want to think it is¡± he walked out of the house, leaving his grandfather fuming. At Smith Industries, It was lunchtime and Valerie walked into a caf¨¦ opposite thepany. ¡°One iced Americano, please¡± The attendant stretched out the cup to her. ¡°It¡¯s $5 ma¡¯am¡± She mouthed a thank you and reached for it, it was at that moment she realized she had forgotten her purse. Her eyes widened. How was she going to tell thedy that she forgot her purse? She mentally hit herself in the head. ¡®Valerie, you idiot¡¯ She sighed, determined to tell the youngdy. Just when she opened her mouth to speak, she saw someone stretch out a card to her. ¡°I¡¯ll make the payment¡± Valerie turned to the speaker and behind her stood an attractive hunk, with blue studs in both ears. She was lost in his beauty for a moment. ¡°Here it is sir¡± The youngdy¡¯s voice brought her back to the present. ¡°Thank you¡± his voice came out sleek. ¡°I¡¯m Ryan Taylor. Nice to meet you¡± he brought his hand forward for a handshake. She was still bewildered why aplete stranger would pay for her items, but then again, it happens. ¡°Valerie Gardner. Nice to meet you too. And thank you so much¡± she took his hand. None of them noticed a certain someone at the entrance of the caf¨¦, looking like the king of Hades. Chapter 22 Valerie was surprised when she saw Jared walking towards them. ¡°Boss? Is there anything you want me to get for you?¡± She asked, looking around for any sign of his bodyguard. There was none. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be out here alone, considering his status. Opponents and haters aside, he was everydy¡¯s dream. He was going to be beset by a horde of fans if he was recognized. ¡°I left a file on your table, I think you should go check it out¡± Valerie secretly wondered why he looked extra grumpy. She nodded all the same. His eyes followed her out. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr Smith¡± Jared¡¯s gaze turned to his new foe. He stared at him, waiting for him to introduce himself. ¡°I¡¯m Ryan. Barry Taylor¡¯s son¡± he reached out for a handshake. Jared didn¡¯t take it and kept a straight face. ¡°Oh¡± he said indifferently. ¡°You are the Taylor kid¡± He had seen him once in a meeting overseas. His father owned ABT group. Ryan¡¯s face had a hint of unhappiness at being called a kid. He was only a few years younger. ¡°I was on my way to see you. Dad sent me here for a meeting with you¡± Jared scoffed inwardly. ¡®By first hitting on my secretary?¡¯ He walked out without giving him a reply. Ryan followed. He was surprised when he saw Valerie in her cubicle. He had no idea she worked there. She was surprised to see him, too. ¡°OMG! He¡¯s hot¡± Kathy scuttled over, staring as Ryan entered the office with the boss. ¡°Isn¡¯t he?¡± She asked. Valerie nodded. ¡°Not as hot as Mr Smith¡± she said without thinking. She bit her tongue as she realized the blunder. Luckily, Kathy didn¡¯t think too much into it. ¡°I know, right? But boss is unattainable for people like us. Getting to see him is already a great gift. So, I will just hide my crush deep within and move on¡± she said, faking tears and fanning herself. Valerie shook her head and went back to work. The meeting only took about an hour. The door to his office opened and Ryan came out, his gaze immediately strayed to Valerie¡¯s cubicle. She was looking at him too. He smiled at her. ¡°Oh my God, he smiled at me! He smiled at me!¡± Kathy squealed silently that only Valerie could hear her. She bashfully tucked her hair behind her ear. Valerie smiled back. Jared looked like he had swallowed a bottle of vinegar as he witnessed the exchange between the both of them. He needed to stop Ryan froming to his office. He bit his tongue as he sat in his office, when he received a call from his friend. ¡°Hey buddy!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Woah! That¡¯s cold¡± Mike remarked.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you have nothing to say, I¡¯m hanging up¡± ¡°Hey! Hey! Chill, okay? I just arrived in the country and wanted to invite you and the guys out for a drink¡± Jared was about to refuse, but he thought better of it. He needed to unwind. ¡°Sure¡± ¡°Meeting at our favorite nightclub at 8¡± Without responding, Jared hung up. ¡°So rude¡± Mikeined on the other end. ¡°What did he say?¡± Pete asked. They were a total of three in the room. Mike, ke, and Pete. They were all Jared¡¯s friends. They were the first to know when Mike returned. Mike, a well known casanova in the upper ss social circle. His father was wealthy, and he was transferred to a branch of his father¡¯spany as punishment for his womanizing behavior. But that did nothing to change him. He was nning to get women at the bar for a fun night. ¡°He agreed, and it¡¯s¡­.. surprising¡± They all knew Jared hated clubbing unless he was in dire need of it, because of the women who stared at him whenever he was present. ¡°Mike, are you sure about this? Jared hates having women around him, no to talk of prostitutes¡± ke remarked. Mike shook his head. ¡°You should understand I¡¯m helping him. He needs this¡± he said, acting like a worried mother. ¡°So, rx and stop acting like a scaredy-cat¡± ************ Jared walked into the bar and went directly to the section where his buddies were. His face scrunched up, in disgust, as he saw Mike with ady. He was kissing ady and fondling her breasts with reckless abandon. ¡°Yo Jared. Long time no see¡± Mike said, stretching out his hand to pay Jared I¡¯m the back. ¡°I¡¯ll have your hands cut off¡± He threatened dryly. Mike slowly retrieved his hand. ¡°Cold bastard¡± he muttered. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just wondering why you werete¡± ¡°Why do I have to answer to you?¡± Jared took his seat. ¡°You¡¯re really in a bad mood¡± ¡°None of your business¡± Mike decided that was enough and chose not to speak again. He was going to get killed by Jared¡¯s poisonous tongue. They had not seen each other for a year, though theymunicated through phone calls, and this is what he got? He signalled to the manager, who, in turn, nodded connivingly. ¡°I have a surprise for you¡± Mike announced proudly, as ifnwaiting to bemended. Jared kept mum. The smile fell from his face and he pouted. A boxumdy, in a skimpy dress, walked up to Jared. The top of the dress only reached half of her breasts and ended just below her butt. ¡°Can I pour you a drink?¡± She said coyly, as she shook her breasts, biting her lips seductively. She was the top hostess in that bar, so she was quite confident in her seductive ability. Jared remained silent. She received a go-ahead from Mike. She happily bent down, slyly showcasing her endowment. Jared¡¯s face was partially hidden due to the fact that he was seated in a corner, and the dim light didn¡¯t help, so no one saw his murderous expression at that moment. She poured him a drink and raised it towards him, waiting for him to ept it. Jared reached out to take the drink, but when his hands touched it, he pped it away and it shattered. She screamed and before anyone could say Jack, her hand was on the table, held down by Jared. On top of it was a broken shard of ss, dangerously close, threatening to tear her skin. ¡°P¡­. please¡± she pleaded. Fear was written on every inch of her face. ¡°How about you pour me another one, huh?¡± She quickly shook her head. ¡°I think that is enough, Jared¡± Jared immediately turned to Mike. ¡°Is this your suprise?¡± He asked, dangerously. ¡°No, of course not¡± he immediately denied. His time of demise was not right yet. The poordy was crying, and immediately Jared released her, she skedaddled. He called the manager, who had seen everything and was on the verge of wetting his pants. ¡°I want her out of here¡± he instructed. ¡°Jared, you-¡± Jared¡¯s re stopped him. ¡°Yes. Yes. I will do that immediately¡± he was thankful that it didn¡¯t cost him his job. Mike sulked. The others were quiet because and didn¡¯t intervene because they all knew how scary he was when angry. Mike knew too, but he was tactless. ¡°I¡¯m out of here¡± Jared said, standing up. ¡°Wait! You just came a few minutes ago¡± Mike said. ¡°My mood was ruined, thanks to you¡± ¡°It was already ruined before you came, so why are you passing the me on me?¡± Mike murmured sullenly. When he saw Jared turn squarely to him, he put on a fake smile. ¡°You should leave now. You need a lot of rest¡± ¡°Want me to drive you home?¡± Pete asked for the first time. ¡°I¡¯m not a baby¡± he said before walking out. Jared drove home in his Roll Royce, list in deep thought. He knew he had fallen in love with Valerie, and there was a limit to how long he could hide it. He inputted his password and entered. The smell of pizza immediately wafted from inside. He gritted his teeth, knowing who it was. ¡°You¡¯re back¡± she said with a smile. She was in just a lingerie. That was how desperate she was. ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± She asked, like a dutiful wife. ¡°I got us something to eat. Have a seat¡± He didn¡¯t hit women, but at that moment, he felt like punching her in the face. He sighed deeply and walked towards his room. She quickly ran after him and blocked his way. ¡°Move aside¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you just touch me even once?!¡± She asked, walking towards him and ced her hands on his chest. ¡°Am I not attractive enough?! It will be our engagement in a few weeks¡± she reminded him. His face turned ugly. He had be extremely irritated with hertely. Jared pushed her away coldly, and sidestepped her towards his room. ¡°Is this because of her?¡± She shouted in anger, and his legs came to a halt. Chapter 23 It was Friday. Valerie was excited as she packed the stuff on the table, ready to get off work. She had just received a text message from Sandy, informing her that she would be arrivingte. She wondered why Sandy keptte nights recently. They only saw each other in the morning, as she would already be asleep when she returned. She was determined to ask her next time she saw her. Kathy had informed her that there was a gathering for thepany employees who were interested in having fun after a stressful week. It was to be held at a karaoke bar nearby. ording to Kathy, this was not the first time it was happening and she was a regr. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Kathy asked, as she applied a blood-red lipstick. ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Take this. Your face is too in¡± she extended the lipstick towards her. ¡°Huh, I prefer going without makeup¡± Kathy rolled her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to rub your beauty in my face¡± she stuffed the product into her hand and she had no choice but to use it. Hers wasn¡¯t as thick and smoky like Kathy¡¯s. Kathy hooked their arms and together, they left the building. ************ Jared was seated in the car, just about to head to the old mansion after being summoned by his grandfather, most likely because of Jane¡¯s tattling. Will was with him in the car. The line had just gotten disconnected when he saw Valerie and Kathy leaving thepany. ¡°Why are they holding each other like that?¡± He said enviously, wishing it was him holding her hand. Will shook his head. He was now jealous of ady. ¡°And why on earth is she wearing that?¡± his brows furrowed deeply as soon as he saw her lips. She definitely hadn¡¯t worn it when she arrived in the morning. Her friend had it on too. That would only mean one thing. They were going to a party. She looked seductive and would certainly attract the attention of the men there. His eyes narrowed dangerously, just thinking about it.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Follow them¡± he instructed. ¡°But boss, your grandfather said¡­¡± Jared sucked in a deep breath angrily. ¡°Just do it¡± he ordered. The car slowly followed the two unsuspectingdies as they drove towards the bar in a taxi. ¡°A KTV bar?¡± He said incredulously as he saw the inscription. ¡°Are we following them?¡± Will asked, secretly hoping he would say no. He had no idea that one day, he would be stalking women! ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little¡± A small sigh escaped Will¡¯s lips. ************ Valerie had never been to such a ce before, so everything felt new to her. But as the fun continued, she started to feel less out of ce. They were about twelve in the KTV lounge and were mostly young unmarried girls who had no husband and kids to return to. Soon, she got swept away by the mood and began to drink sses after sses of beer, screaming along with the other people. Soon, she began to feel a bit tipsy. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sing?¡± A skinnydy beside Valerie said. ¡°We have all sang, so why don¡¯t you? Also, you are the newest among us¡± The others nodded. Valerie shook her head. ¡°No¡± she shook her hands, ¡°I would rather not sing¡± ¡°Why not? Come on. I¡¯m sure your voice would be as beautiful as your appearance. ¡°Go for it¡± Kathy cheered on. ¡°Okay. Fine¡± She downed a full ss of beer, and walked towards the stage with wobbly legs. Everywhere was quite as they waited, looking forward to hearing her sing. Jared arrived at the door, just in time to hear her agree to sing. He dropped his hand that was about to touch the knob. He watched her through the transparent door. ¡°She¡¯s drunk¡± he muttered, as he stared at her flushed face. He also wanted to hear her sing. Valerie picked a song and held the microphone to her mouth, ready to sing. ¡°Whoa-oh, whoa-oh. Oh oh oh! Babyyyy!¡± The smile of anticipation was immediately wiped off everyone¡¯s faces as soon as they heard the harrowing voice. They covered their ears. They had never heard someone sing so awfully. She was practically screaming the song! ¡°It¡¯s just another love song! Racking my brain like crazy¡± She didn¡¯t care that she was mixing the song up, imagined Ivan¡¯s face, staring at her. ¡°Guess I¡¯m all torn up And be it fast or slow It doesn¡¯t let go¡± It wasn¡¯t so loud outside, as the room was soundproofed, but they could still hear her. ¡°Tsk tsk. Such a dreadful voice¡± Willmented, and it earned him a re from his boss. ¡°Or shake-¡± The microphone was wrestled out of her hand as they dragged her back to her seat. ¡°What?¡± She slurred. ¡°You asked me to sing so how¡­. how dare you¡± she continued drunkenly? She was forced to sit down. Suddenly, the door burst and all the attention was diverted towards it. Everybody¡¯s eyes were as wide as saucers when they saw him. What was he doing here? Everywhere was dead silent. Jared sat down regally, beside Valerie. ¡°Eh? It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the boss¡± she huped. ¡°What¡­¡± Another hup. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jared only stared at her red face. She was staring at him intensely. ¡°Woah!¡± She muttered. ¡°So handsome¡± Jared raised a brow. She raised her hands to touch his skin. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous. So smooth and wless¡± Audible gasps filled the room. Thisdy was really seeking death. Thest secretary didn¡¯t even get to touch Jared before she got fired. Valerie went on to trace his eyebrows. ¡°So shapely¡± she muttered, dreamily. ¡°Erm¡± One of them cleared his throat. ¡°May I ask why you are here, boss¡± ¡°Am I not supposed to be here?¡± He asked coldly. The guy quickly shook his head. ¡°No no. Of course not, I¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say next. Valerie was still busy admiring him. ¡°Valerie, how about I take you home?¡± Kathy asked. She didn¡¯t want her friend to lose her job. ¡°No¡± she pouted. ¡°I want you to take me home¡± she pointed at his chest. At that moment, Kathy felt like awakening her with a p. She tried to bring her to her side, but Valerie resisted, hugging Jared closely. Thee others gasped again in shock, as they silently prayed for their colleague. Jared froze when she embraced him. He body felt so soft and supple, that he felt like squeezing them. Especially a particr ce in her chest that rested on his side. ¡°Take me home, please¡± she pouted. ¡°Hm? Will you?¡± Jared smiled at her cuteness. Everyone saw that smile and mistook it for the calm before the storm. They pitied her even further. ¡°Of course. I will take you home¡± he replied. Everyone was rendered speechless. Even Will. How could he agree before the employees? That was going to open the floodgate of gossip, though they knew better than to let word get out. ¡°Did I hear wrong?¡± Thedy beside Valerie whispered to her friend. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t¡± she replied with a dumbstruck expression. Valerie smiled when she heard his reply and rested her weight on him, asleep. He carried her princess style. She was practically weightless. Everybody was shocked beyond measure, and it was as silent as the grave when Jared left. A scream snapped all of them out of it. ¡°What the hell just happened? Boss and his secretary? OMG!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. I¡¯m dreaming, right? Someone wake me up¡± Those were the words that filled the air. Meanwhile, Jared settled Valerie in the car. He demanded her address and Will got to work. He told the chauffeur their destination, and they immediately drove off. Her brows furrowed in her sleep and she squirmed ufortably. She searched with her hand for anything that could be used as support and came across Jared¡¯s arm. She leaned in it, sniffing his scent. The chauffeur was startled. His boss was even smiling! A re from Will had him focusing on the road. Will knocked on the door. Jared had Valerie in his arms. After two more knocks, the door was finally opened by Sandy. ¡°Mr Smith!¡± She eximed, surprised. ¡°What are you-¡± then she saw the person sleeping in his arms. ¡°Oh my! Is she drunk?¡± Will nodded. ¡°Pleasee in¡± They entered, but only Jared went to Valerie¡¯s room. Will waited. La opened her door in time to see a man enter Valerie¡¯s room. She pulled Sandy aside and inquired. ¡°Val¡¯s boss. She¡¯s drunk and he brought her home¡±. La was horrified and immediately tiptoed to her room, trying not to look suspicious. She paced back and forth in her room, wondering why a boss would bring his drunk employee home personally. We¡¯re those two an item? She really hoped not, because if that was true, then it was over. He would definitely find out. She bit a her lips as she walked towards the mirror, shifted her dress to the side, as a horrendous looking scar came into view. Chapter 24 ¡°Thanks for bringing her home¡± Sandy said gratefully, as Jaredid her on the bed. He nodded, straightened his back and was about to leave when he felt a soft and small hand grab his, and pulled him down. As a result, he fell directly on top of her. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± she mumbled, still asleep. Sandy discreetly pinched her. ¡°Ouch!¡± Valerie winced, pping her hands away. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now¡± he said, standing up, casting onest look at The Sleeping Beauty. He had felt so reluctant to stand up. Her body was so soft. Sandy nodded. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about this¡± he shook his head. She closed the door after them, cocked her head to the side, wondering why the almighty Jared Smith would bring his drunk employee home. Was he really¡­ but he had Jane. She didn¡¯t want to think much of it. Her friend¡¯s happiness was her happiness, but at the same time, she didn¡¯t want her to be a third party in someone else¡¯s rtionship. ************ The full effect of veisalgia was slowly kicking in as she managed to peep through the slender opening. This was here room. How did she get here? She was at the KTV parlour, right? She managed to sit up, cing a palm over her head. She walked downstairs, meeting only La in the kitchen. ¡°Good morning, drunken beauty¡± she mocked. ¡°My head hurts so much¡± ¡°That will teach you not to drink so much next time, but then again, this isn¡¯t a first¡± she chuckled. Valerie didn¡¯t find it funny. ¡°How did I get homest night?¡± She asked, as she drank a ss of water in three chugs. At the mention ofst night, La remembered the question she had been meaning to ask. She stopped what she was doing, and faced Valerie squarely, crossing her arms. ¡°What?¡± She wasn¡¯tfortable under La¡¯s watchful eyes. ¡°Your boss brought you homest night¡± she announced. It took a while for Valerie to process what La said. ¡°My boss? Are you kidding me? You are joking¡± She brought the ss of water close to her mouth. He didn¡¯t even know she was there, so how was that possible? ¡°I¡¯m serious, Valerie. Jared Smith brought you back home¡± she asserted. Valerie studied her. She really didn¡¯t look like she was joking. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re really not kidding?¡± La nodded. ¡°Oh my God! I¡¯m doomed. I¡¯m so doomed. How did he know I was there? He would definitely think of me as irresponsible. What do I do now?¡± She raked her hands through her hair. Should she call him to apologize? No, he would not want to be disturbed on a weekend? Should she wait till Monday then? Several thoughts were going on in her head. La watched her reaction intently. It wasn¡¯t that of someone who had the hots for her boss, but there was no crime in asking. ¡°Is there something between both of you? I mean, are you in love with him?¡± ¡± Of course not. Why would you think that?¡± ¡°Then is he in love with you?¡± ¡°No¡± she replied incredulously. ¡°Why all these questions?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it is weird for him to bring you home personally?¡± Valerie had no time to reply, and they heard the sound of heavy retching. ¡°Oh no!¡± La dashed off to Sandy¡¯s room, Valerie, hot on her heels. Sandy bent over the sink. Nothing came out, but the retching still continued. La patted her back, while Valerie looked on in worry. ¡°Are you alright now?¡± She asked, as Sandy rinsed her face. She shook her head. Herplexion had paled drastically. ¡°This isn¡¯t a good start¡± Her morning sickness was getting worse, and she felt so irritated. She couldsh out at any time. Also, her baby bump was beginning to show. It was just a little. Not obvious to outsiders yet. It was definitely going to cause a stir in the neighborhood when she goes around with a big belly without getting married. Especially the neighborhood aunties. They were always after scuttlebutt. She sat on the bed on the bed. ¡°Bastard. This is all his fault. I¡¯ll never forgive him for putting you through this. I wish I knew him, so I could kick him in the balls. Damn¡± La cussed in anger. It made it even difficult for Sandy to inform them that she received a marriage proposal from the ¡®bastard¡¯. ¡°Anything you want to eat?¡± Valerie asked. Sandy shook her head. She would throw everything up. That was a surety. She remembered something and scurried up to get dressed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± La inquired. ¡°I have to visit mum. She will be discharged today¡± she said without thinking. ¡°Discharged? What happened?¡± Only then did she remember that they knew nothing about it. ¡°Just a minor ident. Nothing serious¡± she shrugged, but La was having none of it. ¡°We promised not to keep secrets from each other, didn¡¯t we?¡± Sandy exhaled. Right, they made that promise on their college graduation. ¡°Fine. Loan sharks beat her up¡± she admitted.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What?!¡± They were shocked at the news. ¡°Is she alright now?¡± Sandy shrugged. ¡°I guess so¡± ¡°But, you can you go alone. I could go with you, you know¡± Valerie offered. Sandy chuckled. ¡°Deal with your hangover first¡± ¡°Then, I can go with you. I am not busy today. My artiste has a fever¡± La chipped in. ¡°It¡¯s alright guys. I will be fine¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure¡± ¡°Of course¡± She took the train and arrived at the hospital. Only her mum was up, her dad was asleep. Leah looked behind her daughter for any sign of someone, but was a little disappointed. ¡°Hi mum¡± her mum kissed both her cheeks. ¡°Handsome Mister didn¡¯te with you?¡± She finally asked what was on her mind. Sandy tried to remember who she was talking about. ¡°Oh, you mean Dy- my boss?¡± Her mum nodded. ¡°He a busy man, so he can¡¯te. Why do you ask?¡± she said simply. ¡°I wanted to thank him¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do that for you¡± They left the hospital and boarded a taxi to the house. It was just as they left it. The sight of it brought tears to her mum¡¯s eyes. Sandy got to work, clearing the mess, refusing her mum¡¯s offer to help. She soon got tired. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Her mum asked. ¡°You look so pale¡± Sandy didn¡¯t want to give anything away, so she smiled widely, ensuring her she was fine. About an hourter, she stood in the kitchen, doing the dishes, when she heard the sound of a car stopping. She ignored it at first, thinking of it as the neighbour¡¯s, but when she looked up through the window and saw an expensive car ¨C a Maybach. Her brows furrowed. It was definitely not a neighbour¡¯s car. Not many people owned this kind, and it even stopped before their house! At that moment, she heard a firm knock on the door. She took off her apron and went ahead to answer it. ¡°Butler Gomez?¡± She was shocked to see him. What was he doing here, and how did he know? ¡°Hello, Miss Cornell¡± she looked behind him and saw the car. Only the chauffeur was visible. She wasn¡¯t sure if there was someone in the back. ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°Mr Smith would like to see you¡± ¡°Mr Smith? You mean Dn?¡± The poor butler almost had a heart attack hearing her call him by his name. ¡°No Miss. Their grandfather¡± Sandy¡¯s heart rate elerated. Why did he want to see her? She was so scared of that man. ¡°Okay¡± she closed the door. Luckily, her mum was asleep. The butler led the way and watched as she entered the car. ¡°He¡­.. hello grandfather¡± she stammered. He had dark sses on and a panama hat. He looked so intimidating. He beckoned the butler in, and they drove to the nearest caf¨¦. Sandy wrapped her hands around the coffee cup, like she was warming herself around a campfire. She felt so cold inside. ¡°I know you are wondering why I called you¡± he paused. ¡°I know about your pregnancy¡± She looked up. ¡°I have a request for you. Leave Dn alone. You¡¯re not the right person for him. You will pull him down¡± Her brows creased so much at this point. ¡°And as for the baby, you will give it to us¡± he ordered. Splotches of red surfaced on Sandy¡¯s neck, signifying controlled anger but simmering hot under the thinyer of skin. ¡°Excuse me!¡± The mention of her baby had her freaking out. Every fear she had for him suddenly flew out of the window. She watched him stretch out his hand to the butler who gave him a small book and a pen. He tore a part and she realized what it was. A nk check! ¡°Name your price¡± Chapter 25 Dn had just finished a meeting with an overseas ambassador when Sebastian hurried into his office. ¡°Boss¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Well¡­. I¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know how to break the news to him. He had received a report from the person tasked with watching over her that Old Smith paid her a visit. ¡°Are you speaking or do you want to leave?¡± Dn was getting angry. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s your grandfather¡± he said. ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°He went to visit Miss Cornell at¡­.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Sebastian flinched. He stood up and made his way towards the door. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To where he is, of course. Give me the address¡± ¡°He already left¡± Dn froze. He gritted his teeth. He stormed out towards his private elevator. He entered his car. ¡°To the Old mansion¡± he ordered. ************ ¡°Young master, you need to calm down. Master is taking a nap¡± the old butler tried to keep up with his paced. He stood before his master¡¯s room, his arms spread wide. ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t disturb him¡± ¡°Out of my way!¡± he thundered. All the servants who saw him were surprised. He never lost his temper, but now, he was red in the face and all his veins were popping out. Even the butler winced. ¡°Don¡¯t force me¡± Dn warned. ¡°Let him in¡± a voice said from inside. The butler finally moved to the side. Dn yanked the door open, not bothering to close it. The butler helped him with that. Old Smith stood by the window, looking out. ¡°What did you do?¡± He asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His grandfather feigned ignorance. ¡°You know exactly what I mean. Why did you visit Sandy?¡± ¡°Is that a crime? Visiting my potential grandfather-inw¡± he said, sarcastically. Dn scoffed. ¡°We both know that you¡¯re up to something, grandfather. So tell me, why were you with her?¡± He demanded. Old Smith sighed. ¡°I told her to leave you alone in exchange for money¡± he came clean but didn¡¯t talk about him asking her to surrender the baby. Dn was going to find out anyway. ¡°What! How¡­how could you do that?¡± Dn gritted his teeth in utter annoyance. Old Smith shook is head. ¡°You are not even married yet, but you¡¯re getting distracted. She will shift your goal¡± ¡°Keep your advice to yourself, grandfather¡± he bit out and walked towards the door. ¡°Dn¡± Old Smith called. He stopped, but didn¡¯t turn to look at him. ¡°Love is the most useless thing in the world. It will destroy you¡± Dn turned the knob and stormed out. He dialed Sandy¡¯s twice number, but she was not picking. Of course, it was right for her to be angry. ¡°Should we go back to the office, boss?¡± Dn stared outside the window, his eyes narrowing. ¡°To Elgar city¡± he ordered. Sebastian¡¯s eyes widened. He was really going to see her at this time. They had a lot of work lined up in the office. He immediately started the engine when he saw his boss give him a stink eye.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ************ Sandy sat on her bed, looking very upset. She wiped away a tear that fell on her cheek. Before Old Smith, she felt so cheap and began to question if agreeing to marry his grandson was the right thing to do. He, without any doubt, wasn¡¯t in support of her being with his grandson. She was nowhere near close to their status, but he didn¡¯t have to humiliate her like that. Even she doubted she could take on the responsibilities of a firstdy. She shouldn¡¯t have agreed in the first ce. It would have been easy to refuse, but he already paid her father¡¯s hospital bill, and she doubted she would be able to pay back in the next ten years. She considered running away, but who were they? They would find her in no time, her parents would be implicated too. She wiped a second tear. She heard a knock and went to get it, but her mum, who had woken up and had no idea she had gone out, opened it before her. She wondered who it was when she saw her mum smile pleasantly. ¡°Pleasee in¡± her smile widened tteringly. ¡°Hello Mrs Cornell¡± Dn stepped in and locked eyes with Sandy. ¡°I asked of you from Sandy. She said you were busy. I wanted to thank-¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mrs Cornell. You don¡¯t have to thank me¡± ¡°Have a seat, please¡± she directed him to a love seat. ¡°What would you like me to offer you?¡± ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m fine¡± ¡°Really? Even a cup of water?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have that¡± ¡°What are you standing there for? Get him a cup of water¡± her mother scolded. Sandy almost rolled her eyes as she went to get it. Leah Cornell¡¯s eyes were trained on Dn the whole time, making him a little ufortable. Sandy aware of this, but was not ready to bail him out. He cleared his throat. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I would like to have a conversation with Sandy¡± he said finally. ¡°Alone¡± he added. She looked from Dn to Sandy, to Dn then to Sandy again. ¡°Oh, of course. Why not? I¡¯ll excuse you¡± She stood up and left, as silence descended in the living room. ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked, when she realized he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Actually, I came here for two things¡± She waited for him to continue. She sensed he already knew what happened. Why else will he be here out of the blue? ¡°I know what happened, and I came to apologize¡± ¡°What do you mean? Dn knew what she was trying to do. Make things difficult for him. ¡°I knew grandfather came to see you¡± ¡°Oh, right. He came to order me to leave you alone. I¡¯m not fit to marry you, so why don¡¯t we just call this thing off? Do you think the whole country will be happy when you announce me as your fianc¨¦e? A poor girl from a no-name family. You¡¯re going to be a joke¡± she tried to discourage him. ¡°I get to decide who I want as my spouse. Not the country, not my grandfather¡± ¡°I can¡¯t get married to a man without his family¡¯s consent¡± ¡°My parents have no problem with you¡± Sandy sighed. His mum was a wonderful woman and truly, she had no issue with her. ¡°Your grandfather is dangerous. He even wanted me to give up the baby-¡± ¡°He said that?¡± ¡°Yes. He did. I¡¯m scared that he will do something to my family if I don¡¯t do what he wants¡± ¡°He will do nothing¡± Dn asserted. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, you and your family are safe¡± Sandy didn¡¯t know what to say anymore. ¡°The other reason I came here was to inform you that¡­..¡± He paused. He didn¡¯t know what her reaction will be. Sandy waited patiently. ¡°I want us to get married next month¡± Sandyughed out loud. ¡°Amidst all this?¡± ¡°Yes. In the uing months, the pregnancy will begin to show and that will have tongues wagging¡± Instinctively, her hand went to her belly. ¡°What do you say?¡± ¡°I need to think about this¡± Her friends knew nothing about this yet, even her mum. She was still thinking of how to break the news to them. Thinking of their reaction alone was enough to make her stomach churn. ************ Valerie took in three deep, long breaths as she entered the elevator. Her heart, beating wildly that she feared the person next to her will hear. The machine dinged and she got out. She thought she was imagining it, but there were a bit more people on that floor today. They were all faces she had seen in the karaoke bar. They clustered around Kathy. She settled down, and watched Kathy dismiss them, with a conniving smile. ¡°Hey girl¡± said the bubbly Kathy. ¡°Good morning¡± ¡°Boss is in already¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Just kidding¡± Kathyughed. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal between you and him¡± she wiggled her brows. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Boss took you home personally from the KTV when you were drunk. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes. I thought I was dreaming, but others saw it too¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing, Kathy¡± ¡°Maybe he likes you¡± ¡°Kathy!¡± ¡°What? I was just stating a fact¡± ¡°That is not a fact. He doesn¡¯t like me¡± Valerie bit her lower lip. This was the third time someone talked about her boss liking her. Was that even possible? She looked up in time to see Jared and Will enter his office. Her heart thumped in fear. After a few minutes, Will came out and walked up to her. ¡°Boss would like to see you in his office¡± Chapter 26 After leaving his office, Valerie released a heavy sigh of relief. She had thought she was getting fired this time. He had only informed her that he had an event to attend in Mexico in the next two days, and she wasing with him. They were to spend three days there. Though she didn¡¯t know what kind of event, but guessed it was official. At a restaurant, Sandy met up with Dn to give him an answer. He sat before her, waiting for her to speak. Looking at her expression at that moment, one would think she was about to agree to sell herself to the devil. ¡°I¡­I have made my decision¡± she repeated for the third time since she arrived, but he waited patiently. ¡°Let¡¯s get married next month¡± she said and swallowed. ¡°Okay. The date?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. You can pick that¡± The month was about to end already. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll treat you well¡± he smiled reassuringly. Sandy knew she had to tell her friends and mum as soon as possible. She couldn¡¯t dy it anymore and decided to inform Valerie and La about it the next morning. ************ Valerie packed a few things she needed for the trip. She carried her bag downstairs. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Sandy asked. She was just on her way to Valerie¡¯s room to inform her about her wedding. ¡°Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell youst night. I¡¯m going on a trip with my boss today¡± ¡°How could you forget to tell us something like that?¡± La said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, guys. It escaped my mind¡± ¡°I wanted to tell you guys something¡± ¡°Then you have to be quick about it. The car will be here in-¡± A loud knock sounded. ¡°He¡¯s here. Maybe when I return¡± she kissed Sandy¡¯s cheek. ¡°When are youing back?¡± ¡°Probably, the day after tomorrow, but I will be in touch. And take very good care of my nephew¡­ or niece¡± She opened the door, and exchanged pleasantries with Will. She met Jared in the car. ¡°Good morning boss¡± He nodded. Only when Valerie saw the luxurious interior did she realize that this was a private jet. She had never been on one before. She did little to hide her awe. Everything about it smelt money. She wowed and touched everything touchable. It was only when she realized Jared was staring at her that she stopped. She tucked her hair behind her hair in embarrassment. Will had returned to the office, and it was only both of them. They arrived earlier than she expected. ¡°Wow! So, this is Mexico¡± she muttered, looking around. ¡°Mr Smith¡±, a man in his fifties, came out of the car, and walked up to them and bowed his head. ¡°Jeffrey¡± ¡°Pleasee in¡± he opened the car door. As usual, Valerie sat in the front seat, much to Jared¡¯s annoyance. ¡°To the hotel¡± he instructed. Jeffrey looked at the rearview mirror in surprise. Usually, when his boss visits Mexico, he goes straight to his residence there. Jeffrey wondered why it was different now. Jared gave him a look, and he drove them to a seven-star hotel in the city. Jeffrey handled everything while he sat in the reception, ignoring thedies who stole nces and smiled at him. Valerie stepped into the room and almost screamed in excitement when she saw the interior. It looked even better than a presidential suite. She ran into the pure white bathroom and breathed in the scent. It had upscale features like a soaking tub, high-end lush towels and bathrobes. She fell in the bed. It was so soft that she could sleep on it for two months straight. The doorbell rang, and she went to get it barefooted. It was a male concierge. ¡°Hello ma¡¯am. Mr Smith wants you to have breakfast with him¡± At the mention of food, her stomach grumbled loudly. ¡°Sure¡± she smiled, embarrassed. She followed the youngdy, and met herself on the rooftop. It was still morning and everywhere was bright, but the handsome man seated at the table captured her attention. ¡°Have a seat¡± he said. She sat and stared at the assorted dishes before her. Her stomach rumbled loudly again. She gently hit it in annoyance. Jared chuckled, putting enough food in her te. She was too light. ¡°Eat¡± he instructed. She dug in, eating to her satisfaction. Jared watched her. The event here was tomorrow, but he decided toe a day before in other to be with her alone, and make herfortable around him. ¡°When are we going to the meeting?¡± She asked, wiping her mouth. ¡°Tomorrow night¡± Tomorrow night? That meant that she still had more than twenty-four hours to enjoy the view. Too bad, she could not enjoy it too much because this was not a personal trip. ¡°Do you like it here?¡± He asked, trying to sound casual. ¡°I love it!¡± She eximed loudly and immediately regretted it. ¡± I like it¡± she said normally, putting a piece of steak in her mouth. He had decided against the idea of going to his residence in Mexico because he knew she was going to be ufortable, and of course, he wasn¡¯t going to tell her he owned this ce. ¡°You¡¯re an only child?¡± He asked, not knowing what else to ask. He hated the silence, but when Valerie stopped eating, and her face clouded over, he immediately wished he hadn¡¯t asked. He knew her parents were no more and just wanted to start a conversation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to make you unhappy¡± Valerie sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I have no idea who they are. Whether they are dead or alive. I wish it was thetter, so I could ask them¡­.¡± She choked, as her eyes glistened with tears. ¡± Why they abandoned me¡± Into her line of vision came a blurred hand, holding a pure white handkerchief. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bring back sad memories¡± he said, watching as she touched the inner corners gingerly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. How silly of me. I shouldn¡¯t be doing this before you¡± Jared continued to stare at her, unsmiling. ************ It was the mostfortable sleep she had in months. She parted the curtains and smiled. ¡°Good morning, Mexico¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The doorbell rang. A breakfast was wheeled in, and she secretly prayed this trip won¡¯t make her a glutton. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Mr Smith said you could have as much fun as you like here¡± She felt like swimming, but she had no bikini. ¡°We have everything¡± thedy replied when she asked for it. She watched as the wardrobe was opened. Surprisingly, it was stacked with different wears. Pajamas down to lingerie. After eating, Valerie was on her way to the pool in a two-piece swimsuit, with her breasts threatening to pop out. It wasn¡¯t her size. Hers was D cup. She had spent almost five minutes trying to tie the ends of the strapless bra, but the attendant assured her that it was just her. No one else was allowed in. She sunbathed for a while before jumping in the water. She swam back with eyes closed, enjoying the feeling, until her back hit something hard. Her brows furrowed as she turned back. It was supposed to be only her here. Lo and behold, she locked eyes with her boss. Water was dripping from his muscr body. The view was stunning that she forgot herself for a moment. Her gaze went to his face and realized he wasn¡¯t looking at the anymore. She followed the direction of his gaze to her chest. Her eyes widened. Her boobs! ¡°Aaaaarrrrgh!¡± She screamed, rushing out of the pool to get her towel. Why the hell was he here? Unfortunately, just as her feet touched the ground, she slipped and fell back into the pool. Due to Jared¡¯s quick reflexes, he caught her, but at that moment, it happened¡­. The bra tore and fell into the pool. Time came to a standstill for her. She secretly prayed for the ground to open and swallow her up. In slow motion, she turned to her boss. He was still holding her and staring at her without shame. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± She squeaked, disengaging herself and went underwater. But she couldn¡¯t stay there for long. She poked her head out. Jared came back to the present. Had¡­had he just seen that? ¡°I¡¯ll get the towel¡± he stretched out the material to her. She wrapped it around her body and came out, the towel soaking wet. She didn¡¯t dare to look him in the eyes as she ran to her room. Chapter 27 ¡°Damn it! Damn it!¡± She cried, continuously hitting, biting, and squeezing the poor pillow. ¡°I should have stayed here. I shouldn¡¯t have gone to swim. I shouldn¡¯t¡­ Oh, God!¡± she med herself. ¡°Or perhaps, he didn¡¯t see it¡± she raised her furiously red face, hopefully. ¡°Definitely, he saw it. He was even staring¡± she replied herself, as her face descended into the pillow. She undoubtedly didn¡¯t have the face to see him at this moment. She bawled her eyes out, till sleep crept in. ************ Valerie stared at the dressid out on the bed. This was supposed to be a business trip, and she was his secretary. She was meant to dress as one, but this didn¡¯t look professional at all. This was, undeniably a dress meant for parties. Her boss had it delivered when she woke up, with the instruction that she had to wear it. Her original clothes for the trip were still in the suitcase. She checked the time ¨C 5:30. They were to leave by 6:30. She picked the paper bag with which it was delivered, and brought out a medium-sized box and a smaller one. She opened thetter, and found¡­. jewelries? A ne and earrings of the same design. She had never worn such before. It was definitely going to look odd. There was even a pair of ck heels in the other. She took a shower and wore the dress. The jewelries glittered. This alone was enough to amass attention. Immediately the clock hit 6:30, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Mr Smith wants you to meet him in the car¡± thedy who delivers Jared messages said. ¡°I get it. Thanks¡± Her heart was beating wildly at the thought of seeing him again. All head turned in the lobby as she came out of the elevator, but she kept walking till she reached the entrance. She immediately saw the car, as it stopped before her. ¡°Get in¡± She opened the front door. ¡°Beside me¡± he instructed, with a hard voice. ¡°What!¡± She looked lost for a second. He patted the space beside him. She did as she was told, shifting to the far end, her body touching the door. The event inevitably yed in her mind, as her face became red again. Jared knew what she was thinking. ¡°You look pretty¡± ¡°Thank you. And you look stunning¡± The words were out before she could stop it. He threw his head back, and gave a full-throatedugh. ************ It was a party for the upper ss. The people present were dignitaries she had only seen on TV. From politicians, to celebrities and heiresses. They were stopped at the entrance. ¡°Your invitation¡± the man clearly didn¡¯t know Jared. ¡°There you are¡± A short man appeared. ¡°Why did you stop them?¡± ¡°They do not have an invitation sir¡± ¡°Idiot¡± he hit the other guy in the head. ¡°Don¡¯t you know him? He¡¯s president Smith. President Smith, you dimwit!¡± He turned to Jared, smiling tteringly, his previous expression gone. ¡°Please, doe in¡± They left the harbor, into the cruise ship. Everywhere was aze with light. Her mouth hung open at the grandeur. ¡°You might want to close that¡± he whispered in her ear. They were still at the bottom of the cruise ship. She was still looking around when a middle-aged woman in a suit approached. ¡°Sir, the executives are waiting¡± she announced. ¡°Tell them to start. I¡¯m not joining them¡± He detested the hungry looks men were giving her. He wasn¡¯t going to leave her alone. The woman looked ufortable. She didn¡¯t want to go back to give such a report. ¡°Boss, I think you should leave. I don¡¯t think the party has started yet¡± she misunderstood the reason for his refusal. Jared thought about it for a second. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere. I will be back soon¡± She wondered why he sounded like a worried husband, instead of a boss. She smiled and nodded. He eventually left, but not before secretly assigning someone to watch over her. She took a ss of cocktail and couldn¡¯t resist walking around, despite Jared¡¯s warning. The ce was just too amazing to be true. ¡®I will be back before he returns¡¯ she thought. She was aware of the hungry stares she was getting, but ignored them. The ck dress hugged her curves tightly. There was a long slit that ended mid-thigh. Her chest was fully covered, and she was thankful for that, considering how busty she was. It was definitely going to pop out if the dress was low-cut. Her jet ck hair was let down, waving along with the sea breeze. She leaned against the railing, looking up at the star-studded sky. She took a sip and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the pleasant sea breeze in her skin. ¡°What the fucking hell are you doing here?¡± She opened her eyes and met three pairs of angry faces, about to spit fire. Samantha looked like she could kill her. ¡°Oh, we meet again¡± she said vaguely, sparing only a cursory nce. This unnerved them even more. She wasn¡¯t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her angry. Selena snorted in derision. ¡± Let me guess, you opened your legs for an old man just toe here. How disgusting¡± They tried all they could to make her mad. Valerieughed lightly. ¡°Whatever sails your boat¡± she said, but could not resist adding, ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯re talking about yourself?¡± ¡°You-¡± Her face turned red from anger. It was amon thing among unknown and uing actress, to sleep with producers and investors, just to get a role in their movie. Only those with strong integrity wouldn¡¯t, and these two were, beyond doubt, not among them. They had disgusting morals. ¡°What? Hit you where it hurts?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fucking kill you¡± Samantha was about to charge at her. ¡°Stop it¡± Ava spoke. ¡°She insulted us¡± Selena whined. ¡°Shut up and don¡¯t do anything¡± Valerie pondered why Ava stopped her friends from hurting her. Maybe she wasn¡¯t so bad. Unfortunately, Valerie was wrong as she realized the reason. Ivan was walking towards them. Strangely, there was no thump-thump in her heart when she saw him. Ava hugged him tightly, giving her a side-eyes as if to dere dominance. Valerie scoffed out loud. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Valerie¡¯s eyes were glued to the blue sea. That was the same question he asked her when they met at the supermarket. She was not ready to start exining. ¡°None of your business¡± she said cuttingly. Ivan looked around, noticing the lewd stares she was receiving. Oddly, it angered him, and why was she wearing revealing clothes anyway. ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t be here¡± Valerie almost snapped, but she kept her cool in the end. Ava noticed Ivan¡¯s unwavering gaze on Valerie. She bit her lip. Wench! She turned to Ivan. ¡°What do you mean? Of course, she can be here. It¡¯s a free world¡± Still his eyes remained on Valerie. ¡°Right. It¡¯s a free world¡± ¡°Nice jewelry¡± Avamented. Naturally, their attention was drawn to it. Ava had seen that jewelry before and knew how much it costs. ¡°May I know how much you got it?¡± Valerie touched it. ¡°No, you may not¡± she rolled her eyes and walked away. Valerie thought of going back to where she was instructed to stay, but the rebellious devil in her thought otherwise. She began to tour the ship. ************ Samantha was extremely surprised when she got pulled into a room by starlight entertainment CEO, Derrick Lawson, an ugly man in his sixties. ¡°Mr Lawson¡± she smiled bashfully. He was also one of the top investors for a movie she was interested in. He made sure to lock the doors. She knew what the likes of them wanted. Without waiting, she began to take off her clothes. Derrick sat on the couch, watching her strip. This wasn¡¯t the reason he brought her here, but since she was here, he might as well fuck her. She was just averagely pretty. Her body was just manageable. Someone¡¯s perfect body appeared in his mind. ¡°Come here, bitch¡± She walked towards him, waiting for his next move. His hand went to her cunt. Heughed. ¡°You¡¯re wet already¡± One finger went inside. ¡°Ohhhh¡­ yes Mr Law¡­.. oh!¡± another finger, then another, as he began to thrust in and out of her. She was moaning nonstop. She made a sound of displeasure when he pulled out, and began to touch herself. ¡°On your knees¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Derrick began to undo his belt. He wiped her butt. ¡°Ow!¡± She winced. How could she forget? He was notorious for his bad temper. ¡°On your knees, slut¡± She went down and unzipped his pants. His dick popped out, hard and ready. She wrapped her mouth around it, gagging as it went deep inside her mouth. ¡°Shit!¡± He grabbed a fistful of her hair, using it as control, as her hands yed with the balls. ¡°Mmmh¡± Then suddenly, hot cum shut into her mouth, the remnant, sttering across her face. Derrick smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Put on your clothes¡± She quickly did, in other not to get wiped again, though she was disgruntled he didn¡¯t screw her.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Will you get me the role?¡± ¡°Of course, but you have to do something. You were speaking to ady earlier¡± she tried to remember. ¡°She was in ck¡± ¡°Valerie?¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s her name. I want you to get her on my bed¡± ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author¡¯s note: Howdy Moonshiners, thanks for reading my book. Please let me know what you think in thement section. Moon_shine loves you! *Kisses* Chapter 28 ¡°What! But you just-¡± Why would he want her? Was she not enough? She felt so jealous. ¡°Do you want the role or not? I¡¯ll give you the female lead role¡± he promised. Her eyes widened, ¡°I will do it!¡± She began to think of ways to get Valerie. They were at odds, so she definitely couldn¡¯t do it. She had to find someone. But she knew no one here. However, luck was on her side as she saw a waitress. She exined what she wanted her to do. As expected, the girl refused. ¡°Then I will have to report to your boss that I saw you making out with someone while on duty. I have evidence on my phone¡± The girl paled in fear. Samantha made to leave. Earlier, she had stumbled on a steamy scene and had seen the girl¡¯s face clearly. The evidence part was a total lie, but it worked. ¡°Please wait. I¡­. What should I do?¡± Samantha smiled triumphantly. Valerie brought the ss close to her mouth, as she took a sip. The girl walked up to her. ¡°Hello ma¡¯am¡± ¡°Hello. How may I help you?¡± She was in a waitress uniform, but she wasn¡¯t carrying a tray, so she wasn¡¯t here to fill her ss. ¡°The man you came with wants to see you in room 505¡± ¡°Boss?¡± She nodded vigorously, the guilt was eating her up. She didn¡¯t know what thedy was up to, but it definitely wasn¡¯t good. ¡°Alright. Thanks¡± she walked away. Valerie drank thest of her ss and walked to the elevator. After searching for a whole five minutes, she finally found the cabin. She knocked twice. No answer. She turned the knob, and it opened. She walked into an unwontedly dark room. It also had a very disgusting smell. ¡°Boss?¡± She didn¡¯t know why, but she had a bad feeling. A very bad one. She had no idea the door had been locked by the one waiting for her. She heard the door click, and before she could turn to see what happened, a big body wrapped itself around her. ¡°Aaaaarrrrgh!¡± She screamed, trying to break free. ¡°Who are you? Let go of me¡± she struggled and managed to free herself for a second. He made to grab her again, but she kicked him in the groin. She ran to the door, trying to open it. It was locked. ¡°It¡¯s locked¡± he said, still holding his almost damaged member. ¡°I won¡¯t hold this against you, so be a good girl ande to daddy¡± Valerie shook her head in fear. She was smallpared to this fat man. ¡°Stop ying hard to get. We both know you want this. Don¡¯t worry. I will take care of you. I¡¯ll get you as many roles as you want¡± He had mistaken her for an actress. He didn¡¯t know her before, so he guessed she was a no-name actress. Who wouldn¡¯t? She had the killer figure that even most A-list celebrities do not have. She began to hit the door with her little fist. ¡°Hey! Is anyone out there? Somebody help!¡± She continued screaming and suddenly, her legs left the floor as she felt herself being thrown on the bed. But she wasn¡¯t ready to back down. She managed to push him away and reached for a porcin cup on the bedside table. ¡°Stand back!¡± She tried to hold the article steadily. Her hands were shaking badly. What scared her more was that he continued to walk forward. ¡°I said back off, or I will hit you with this¡± he smiled. ¡°Surely you wouldn¡¯t, baby¡± He advanced further. With much difficulty, Valerie threw it into the air like a missile, and itnded directly against his temple. The delicate china smashed into pieces. Blood spurted from the sh, dripping down on his white shirt, as she watched in horror. ¡°Bitch¡± His nose red, and he rushed towards her and threw her on the bed. Without waiting any further, he tore her clothes. ************ Jared had just left the meeting. There were CEOs who dyed him, trying to curry favor, but he excused himself and they dared not follow him. His face darkened when he saw the spot he left her empty. He called the young man he assigned to watch over her. He hurried over.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°You called for me sir¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± He immediately knew who ¡®she¡¯ was. But he was perplexed. ¡°Isn¡¯t she with you?¡± Jared¡¯s face became even more gloomy. Something was not right. He grabbed hispels, forcing him on tiptoe. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His expression petrified the young man. He couldn¡¯t afford to offend this man. ¡°Somebody came to inform her that¡­ that you wanted to see her. I thought it was really you, so I didn¡¯t bother anymore¡± he was about to pee in his pants. ¡°Who and where?¡¯ he grabbed thepels tighter. ¡°A¡­a waitress and¡­and room 505¡± he struggled to say as he was short of breath. Jared was choking him. He pushed him aside, and rushed to the elevator. He found the cabin in no time. The door gave way with just a kick, and he burst in like a ferocious beast. The scene he beheld made him want to kill someone. His gaze burnt with extreme rage. This was the second fucking time. The bastard was on top of her, about to kiss her. She was covered in his blood. He shoved Derrick, and pummeled him with blows and punches. Each one, stronger and harder than thest. Themotion was starting to attract attention, and the organizers were immediately informed. He stopped and covered her with his coat and body. ¡°Get him out of here¡± his voice held a dangerousness that shook everyone. ¡°Yes¡­. yes sir¡± the man was whisked away amidst loud cries of pain. ¡°Everybody, out!¡± The space was cleared up and everywhere was silent again. ¡°Take me out of this room, please¡± she sounded shaken. He carried her princess style to his suite, on the top deck. He settled her on the sofa. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± She shook her head, not willing to speak. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± she whispered, almost soundlessly. Her vision was blurred with tears as she recollected what happened. He was just this close to raping her. The pungent stench of his blood filled her with disgust as her insides churned. Jared exhaled, smiling indulgently. ¡°You are such a trouble ma. It¡¯s okay, kitten¡± she stopped crying for a second when she heard him. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± ¡°Kitten. Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that¡­.. never mind¡± Somehow, being called kitten felt so familiar to her, like she had been called that in the past. A fragment of what looked like a memory shed past her eyes. She tried to remember it, but nothing was forting. Only pain. The more she tried to think deep, the more her head felt heavy. She painfully held her head, attempting to minimize the splitting headache she felt. ¡°Argh¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jared held her worriedly. ¡°It¡­. hurts¡± she said before passing out. ¡°Kitten! Valerie!¡± He shook her limp body. He carried her andid her t on the soft bed. For the first time in years, something shook his cold heart. He thought of calling ke, his friend and doctor, but he definitely couldn¡¯t get to Mexico in minutes. He snatched up the telephone. ¡°I want a doctor in my suite ASAP!¡± He mmed it back down and held her hand. He was so nervous. He had no idea what triggered here. Kitten? Didn¡¯t she like the name? The doorbell rang. ¡°Are you the doctor?¡± He questioned the middle-aged man curtly. He nodded. He made way and the man came in. ¡°She suddenly fainted. Find out what is going on¡± He checked her, obviously agitated by the way Jared watched his every move with a hard gaze. ¡°She¡¯s just unconscious. You don¡¯t have to worry. She will wake up soon. She just fainted from a strain in her brain¡± His brows crease. ¡°No prescription?¡± ¡°No sir¡± Jared¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°You may leave¡± he bowed his head and left. He dialed Will¡¯s number. He picked up promptly. ¡°Boss¡± ¡°I want Starlight Entertainment gone¡± he said. ¡°Okay boss¡± he didn¡¯t dare ask why. Jared ended the call. Luckily, there was nothing wrong. Thest time he felt so nervous was when he received the news of Cheryl¡¯s death. Chapter 29 Though they were together in the cabin, Ava knew his mind was far away. Her head was rested on his arms, as she drew circles on his chest. His eyes were closed, but he wasn¡¯t asleep, probably thinking about Valerie. Was he really regretting? He had only agreed to date her after he got a job in her father¡¯spany. She bit her tongue. ¡°Babe?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± He replied absentmindedly. ¡°The ne Valerie wore, I like it. Could you get it for me?¡± His eyes opened at the mention of Valerie. Ivan thought for a while before replying. ¡°Sure¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s quite expensive. About a hundred thousand dors¡± she added, watching carefully for his reaction. Sure enough, his eyes widened as he assumed a sitting position. His face turned ugly. ¡°But, I believe if Valerie can afford it, you can too. She said, feeding fire sticks to his already wild imagination, and secretly smiled as his face clouded overpletely. ************ Shrill cries and scream, as she struggled, haunted her. ¡°No. Please no. No!¡± She screamed to life. She sat up covered in sweat despite being in a cool room, looking around. The curtains were drawn, so she could not guess what time it was. Where was she? She made to stand, but the door knob turned and opened. She was immediately filled with fear. She picked a vase, raising it, waiting for the intruder. ¡°It¡¯s me¡± Jared quickly announced, before she released the item in the air. ¡°Boss?¡± she returned the ceramic to it¡¯s original ce. He had, in his hands, a tray of food. The image didn¡¯t look right at all. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± ¡°A little better¡± though she knew she was going to be quite defensive in theing days. ¡°You should eat something¡± he ced the tray on the table. It felt weird for him to hold a tray in his hand. And he was serving her. She doubted he had ever done that for anyone. Her mind went back to what her friends said. She shook her head. Certainly, that was impossible. Then she noticed something else. The bloodied dress was gone. The stench of blood was gone too, reced my the pleasant smell of a bathing soap. ¡°Did you, perhaps, change my clothes?¡± Jared paused. Her heart thumped, desperately wishing he would say no. ¡°Yes¡± her heart sank to the pit of her stomach as her eyes widened. ¡°You bathed me too?¡± She asked incredulously, he nodded again. Valerie looked like she was on the verge of explosion. ¡°I swear, I closed my eyes¡± She squeezed her eyes shut, constantly reminding herself that this was her boss, she should notsh out. Why did he do it himself when he couldfortably call a female worker to do it? He was a VIP, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°Eat¡± she opened her eyes as the sweet aroma of the rich Mexican dishes wafted her nose. ¡°Boss, you should not be doing this. I¡¯m your employee, remember? I am supposed to serve you, not the other way round. When people see this, they would definitely misunderstand, and we-¡± ¡°I like you!¡± He blurted out. Therge room went dead silent. Jared hated himself for losing his cool. He never imagined he would confess to her this way. ¡°Wh¡­ what!¡± She was still dazed. So, her friends were right. He really liked her. Oh, God!! How could this be true. He was spoken for! She felt like an idiot for not knowing all this while. ¡°It started when I met you at the mall. Do you remember?¡± Of course, she remembered. ¡°But you have a fianc¨¦e¡± she pointed out. ¡°I don¡¯t love her¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact that you will marry her¡± ¡°Then, if I break off my engagement, will you-¡± ¡°No¡± she replied without thinking twice. He was really going to break off his engagement? Jared¡¯s lips set into a thin line. He wasn¡¯t going to push her, at least for now. ¡°I have a meeting now. Eat your food and don¡¯t go out¡± ¡°What!¡± She was actually going to be confined in here, and not explore the ship? ¡°If you insist on going out, I will have someone follow you¡± Valerie bit her lips. She took a hard bite of an enchda, ring at the closed door. The room was a huge one and had an amazing seascape. It was probably thergest on the ship. There was a king-sized bed, covered by a white duvet. Themp next to the bed gave the room a soft golden glow. She pulled the curtains aside. Everywhere was bright. It was morning already. She listened to the melodious sound of the sea waves. But these weren¡¯t enough. She changed her dress and exited the room. Tried to his words, not long after, she felt someone following her. He tried to be discreet about it, but she knew. She suddenly stopped and walked towards him. He wore a ck suit, and had an earpiece on. One could tell that behind that fabric was a lot of muscles. He looked like the typical trained bodyguard. ¡°Can you, please, stop following me?¡± She sneered gratingly. He was found out already, there was no use hiding anymore. ¡°It¡¯s the boss¡¯smand. He ordered me to protect you¡± she scoffed. ¡°More like spy on me¡± she knew he would not listen to her anyway, so she stomped off. She walked towards the restaurant, the bodyguard following closely.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She watched, yearningly, as people crowded the pool. ¡°Valerie?¡± She rolled her eyes at the sound of the voice. ¡°What now?¡± He was angered at how irritated she looked. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± He had no idea what had happened. The mention of it had her balling her hand into a fist. ¡°I had the best sleep ever¡± she gave a tight smile, and continued to watch the pool. He licked his lips. ¡°Did you find another job?¡± ¡°How is that any of your business? We already broke up, so you are in no position to ask me questions¡± ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t do disgusting things for money, right?¡± Valerie¡¯s brows creased. She turned to face him, crossing her arms. ¡°And where on earth is thating from?¡± He chuckled. ¡°There no need getting worked up over-¡± ¡°Oh, am I?¡± She heaved. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be here trading words with you¡± she turned to go. He hadpletely ruined her mood, which wasn¡¯t the best in the first ce. ¡°Wait¡± he held her hand. Ava walked right into the scene. The bodyguard sprung into action and yanked his hand off, going to stand before her. He was way taller than Ivan. ¡°What should I do with him, ma¡¯am¡± ¡°Leave him. Let¡¯s go¡± Ivan let out a harsh bark ofughter. ¡°So, you now have a bodyguard? You are doing this just to spite me, right?¡± Valerie ignored him, walking away as he ranted on. ************ Jane was hopping mad as she sat alone in the vast living room. It was one of her parents¡¯ numerous properties. The servants were nowhere in sight. They had all scurried away from the line of fire. Their young mistress¡¯s wrath was not to be taken lightly. Her hand shook with fury, and she gripped the phone tightly, staring at the pictures with so much hate, as her eyes reddened. ¡°Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!¡± She picked the ss she was previously drinking from, and threw it at the wall. It shattered into pieces. She overturned a nearby table. Her anger at that moment, knew no bounds, as she breathed heavily. She knew about the event in Mexico. She had ordered the best dress, thinking that Jared was going to take her with him. She was so mad when she received the news that he left without her, however, her friend who attended the event sent her a picture the night before, but she had gone to sleep. She received a call from her this morning, telling her to check her message. She opened the message, and what she saw stung her eyes. It was the picture of Jared and his secretary, in proximity. Anyone who didn¡¯t know would think they were an item. She picked her keys and dashed out of the house. She reached Xavier¡¯s apartment in no time, and she aggressively punched in the floor number. She rang the doorbell impatiently. She barged in as soon as the door opened. ¡°I want you to kill her. I want her dead by tomorrow¡± she grabbed his cor, a crazed look in her eyes. ¡°This is your new mission. She must die!¡± Chapter 30 He slowly disengaged her hand from his cor, before she choked him to death. He could not evenprehend what she was saying. Who did she want dead? ¡°Take it easy¡± he said, holding her hand, and led her to the sofa. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Jared¡¯s secretary. She¡¯s a bitch, and wants to take away my man. You must kill her¡± ¡°Calm down. It might not be what you think¡± Her expression turned unpleasant. She whipped out her phone, showing him the picture. ¡°What does this say?¡± He stared at the picture, his brows furrowing. ¡°Nothing. There¡¯s nothing wrong with it, Jane. You are just being paranoid¡± They were neither holding hands, nor kissing. ¡°Are you doing it or not?¡± Silence. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you are thinking twice about this. Xavier, you have to kill her, only then can I be satisfied¡± Xavier stared into her desperate eyes. ¡°Alright¡± she finally smiled. ************ ¡°We are leaving¡± he said as soon as he entered the suite. The bodyguard had informed him of what happened. Why didn¡¯t he know that the mongrel was aboard? ¡°What about your meetings?¡± ¡°Forget about it. We are not staying¡± ¡°But boss-¡± ¡°No buts. And it¡¯s Jared for you when we are not at work¡± She blinked. Call him Jared? Could she even do that? They disembarked from the ship and soon, they were on the flight back. There was no one in their apartment when she returned, so she retired to her bedroom. ************ Jared entered his penthouse, the lights were on, and he knew exactly what that meant. What was she doing here? Definitely, she didn¡¯t know he wasing back today, so does that mean she sleeps here?¡± ¡°You are back?¡± She sounded surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Well, I missed you and since this house has the feel of you, I came to stay¡± Jared scoffed out loud. ¡°I thought you were going to take me with you, why did you go alone?¡± She wouldn¡¯t let him know that she knew he took his secretary along. He was going to get suspicious of her when he receives news of her death. Her expression was vicious, but she quickly hid it. She continued when he didn¡¯t reply her. ¡°I was going to pick my clothes for our engagement, would you minding with me?¡± Right. Their engagement. He already forgot about that, and he hated being reminded of it. ¡°No¡± he simply said, heading into his room. Jane gritted her teeth. ¡®Just you wait, I¡¯ll get rid of your little mistress soon¡¯ she thought maliciously. It was around 9pm when La and Sandy arrived. Valerie had woken upte and was making dinner when the doorbell rang. La had arrived first, then Sandy. Sandy didn¡¯t wait anymore and took the bull by the horns. It was either now or never. They all sat in the living room. ¡°I have something crucial to tell you, and I really appreciate it if you don¡¯t freak out¡± ¡°Whoa! You look¡­. serious¡± Valerie said, shifting in her seat. ¡°Is it bad news?¡± La chipped in. Sandy licked her lips. ¡°Well, not really. You see¡­ I¡­¡± She took in a deep breath. ¡°Is it that hard to say? Then let me help you out. Did you hit someone?¡± ¡°No¡± ¡°Then did you fall in love, and you are too embarrassed to tell us?¡± ¡°No¡± Valerie¡¯s lip thinned, thinking of another possibility. Her eyes suddenly became wide, like she just realized something. Sandy sat up straight, nervous that she would get it right. ¡°Did you¡­ kill someone?¡± ¡°No!¡± Why would she even ask that? ¡°Then what the hell is it?¡± She threw her hands up. ¡°I am getting married¡± The room went deathly silent. Their expression at that moment would have beenughable if the situation hadn¡¯t been so serious. Valerie brought out her hand to Sandy¡¯s forehead, then hers. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever¡± ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t pregnancy affecting you? You probably need a good rest¡± La advised. ¡°Nothing is wrong with me. I¡¯m really getting married¡± ¡°How can you get married when you do not even have a boyfriend? Am I the only one who isn¡¯t getting the hang of this?¡± She turned to La, who shook her head. ¡°Guys, it¡¯s a long story¡± ¡°You mean you are really serious¡± Sandy nodded. ¡°So, who¡¯s this guy? Do we know him?¡± Sandy searched his picture on her phone and stretched it out to them. She wasn¡¯t sure if they¡¯ll be able to recognize him. She studied their expressions intently. La looked like she had seen a ghost. ¡°I think you gave us the wrong picture. This man is a famous politician¡± Valerie pointed out. Sandy nodded. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s him¡± ¡°What!¡± ¡°What¡­. how did meet him?¡± ¡°When I went to visit mum and dad¡± ¡°Wait¡­is he the one who¡­..¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but Sandy understood what she wanted to say. ¡°Yes. It was him¡± ¡°Holy crap. Did he propose to you?¡± She nodded. ¡°And you epted?¡± She answered in the affirmative. ¡°He is my boss¡¯s brother. That will make you his sister-inw. Woah! This is crazy. Does he know?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes¡± ¡°No!¡± La said abruptly. She had just recovered from the shock. Her friend was going to marry Dn Smith. Impossible! ¡°You can¡¯t marry him¡± ¡°I understand your fears. I¡¯m scared too, but I want to do this for my baby. I don¡¯t want him born a bastard¡± ¡°Marrying someone like himes with a lot of problems¡± ¡°I know, and I¡¯m ready to take it on¡± La shook her head stubbornly. ¡°Are you sure about this¡± Asked Valerie. ¡°I¡¯m sure¡± Sandy replied with a sigh. ¡°If that is what you want, I support you¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. You just can¡¯t¡± It brought their attention back to La. She stood up and walked away, ignoring their voices, calling out to her. She refused toe down for breakfast the next morning. Her door was locked. ¡°La, open this door. Aren¡¯t you overreacting?¡± Valerie banged on the door, while Sandy watched, worry etched in every inch of her face. ¡°Come out now, or I¡¯ll break it down¡± she almost scoffed at herself after thest statement. Her? Break the door down? ¡°Go away¡± she finally. ¡°Look, we can talk this out¡± ¡°I said leave¡± Valerie sucked in a deep breath angrily. ¡°What do we do?¡± Sandy asked. Valerie shrugged indifferently. ¡°She wants us to leave, and that is precisely what we are going to do¡± Valerie said, walking away, dragging Sandy with her. ¡°But¡­ But she hasn¡¯t eaten anything¡± ¡°She¡¯s an adult and can take absolute care of herself. It continued till evening, but she finally came out in the end, ignoring the girls. She was about to return to her room, only to be halted by Valerie. ¡°Out of my way¡± she said coldly. At that moment, the look on her face felt awfully familiar, like she had seen someone with the exact look. ¡°Why are you getting mad for no reason? Can¡¯t you just support her decision?¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Or is there something else to this? Something you are hiding, and don¡¯t want us to know¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Her response was a bit too loud. ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°I¡­I am just worried. The Smith family is a very formidable one, with lots of conspiracy and internal strife. Will you be able to handle it?¡± She directed the question to Sandy, feeling she was too innocent. Sandy remained silent for a while. ¡°Yes¡± she replied resolutely. La bit her lips. ¡°Okay then. I support you¡± she choked out. Sandy breathed a sigh of relief, pulling her into a hug. ¡°Thank you¡± La forced a smile. ¡°So, when is the wedding?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°Next month. I don¡¯t know the date yet¡± ¡°Let us know when it¡¯s set, so we can pick your gowns together¡± Valerie replied, unaware of La who was gritting her teeth. Chapter 31 Facing Jared after his confession became a difficult task. She buried her face in her work, avoiding eye contact as much as possible. ¡°You don¡¯t have to avoid me¡± he said when she was called into his office. ¡°I¡¯m not-¡± she stopped short of denying. He rested his back, his eyes on her, making her more self-conscious. She had juste out of a failed rtionship, and didn¡¯t want to dive into another one, especially with someone who had a fianc¨¦e and the whole country knew it. She would be tagged a mistress. Her poor heart couldn¡¯t take it. ¡°I like you, but I won¡¯t force you¡± he knew within himself that it was a lie. He had only said that to make her feel better. She nodded, relieved. ************ La sat in her power room alone. There was no one in the house. Just her. Her gaze was directed towards the ceiling, as she rocked back and forth. Her mind went back to her conversation with Sandy, and she sighed heavily. Two of her friends were involved with the men of the Smith family. One, a personal secretary, the other, a fianc¨¦e. She ruffled her hair angrily. How could this be? Was her luck that bad? Her fear turned into anger. ¡°Those damned men¡± she said and soon, her fingers began flying on the keyboard with only one mission in mind. Hack into Smith Industries¡¯ system. ************ It was all higgledy-piggledy in the IT department of Smith Industries. The technicians were sweating bullets. They had been alerted that their system was about to get hacked. They immediately swung into action. It has happened a couple of times, and it was a piece of cake, so they were confident they could take this one on this time. But they were so wrong. They had been battling for the past two hours, and the hacker was slowly breaching their wall of defense. Will dashed into Jared¡¯s office. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re being hacked!¡± ¡°Tell the blue team to handle it¡± he replied dismissively. ¡°They have been at it for the past two hours. They said this one is too powerful¡± Jared¡¯s brows creased. He promptly stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± Valerie wondered what was wrong. ¡°Did something happen?¡± She said to herself, but loud enough for the one next to her to hear. Living up to her name as the Smith Industries¡¯ gossip queen, Kathy said, ¡°I heard thepany¡¯s system is being hacked¡± ¡°Hacked?¡± ¡°Yes. I also heard the person is very powerful. Too powerful for the security team. But our formidable CEO is off to the rescue¡± she said proudly. Valerie was surprised. ¡°He does these things? That is amazing¡± Kathyughed. ¡°Tell me what I don¡¯t know¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The blue team heaved a heavy sigh of relief, like they had seen their savior, when Jared walked through the door. The person in charge of it quickly stood up, giving way for him to take over. On the there side, La was covered in sweat, she smiled, and she slowly began to break into their defense. However, it was cut shut when she got locked out. She was confused for a second before she realized what happened. Their boss had taken over. ¡°Bunch of magnificent chowderheads!¡± She cursed and increased her speed. The further she went, the fiercer it became. Five minutester, her system went dead. She cursed multiple times, as she hit her fist against the table. ¡°Ouch!¡± She patted the affected area. Her eyes on the deadputer. She still could not defeat him. The team almost screamed out loud when the battle ended. If the hacker has seeded, they were going to lose their jobs. The happiness was short-lived when they realized their boss was staring, more like, ring at them. He pocketed his hands. ¡°Give me a reason I shouldn¡¯t fire you at this moment¡± he said coldly. The room went silent. ¡°You are so ipetent that you could not defeat an amateur¡± Amateur? Even the boss, who never spent up to two minutes when dealing with hackers, spent a whole five minutes. But they didn¡¯t dare say that out loud. He walked out, something constantly ringing in his mind. The hacker¡¯s technique felt awfully familiar, and just didn¡¯t know who. ************ ¡°I¡¯m getting married to Sandy in the next two weeks¡± Dn announced during dinner at the Old mansion. He had informed Sandy and though she felt it was a little rushed, she still agreed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too fast?¡± His mother asked. ¡°We have to. She¡¯s pregnant, so we have to rush things¡± Only three people at the table were surprised. Old Smith and Jared knew about it. ¡°Pregnant? Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± ¡°It escaped my mind¡± Old Smith¡¯s brows creased deeply. ¡°Two weeks? That would be your brother¡¯s engagement-¡± ¡°It can be postponed¡± Jared interrupted. ¡°Dn¡¯s wedding is very important. The earlier it happens, the better¡± Old Smith fell silent before nodding. He had given up trying to convince Dn. Since he had disregarded his advice, he was going to leave him be. Jane was extremely dissatisfied. Now she had to wait for Dn to get married before she could have her engagement. Her wedding date wasn¡¯t even decided yet. ************ Sandy was absolutely relieved after speaking to her mother about the baby and her wedding. Luckily, she didn¡¯t ask about Dn¡¯s family. If she knew who they were, her mum would definitely refuse. Her phone rang, bringing her back to the present. It was a call from Dn informing her he would pick her up, without telling her why. She tried asking when she entered his car, but he kept mum. She was on pins and needles, unable to take the suspense. Her thought even went wild. Was he going to kidnap her? She didn¡¯t trust him yet. After an hour, the Roll Royce finally stopped. She looked around. This was a fashion store. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± She asked. ¡°Follow me¡± was all he said. They went into thevish store. Everywhere was practically bathed in gold. ¡°Wee sir. The boss is waiting for you in his office¡± ady in uniform said. He nodded and proceeded, holding Sandy¡¯s hand. They got to a door and Dn entered without knocking. Behind a massive desk was anky man in a t-shirt and jeans. ¡°Mr Smith¡± They shook hands. ¡°Please have a seat. I¡¯m guessing this is Mrs Smith¡± Dn nodded. Mrs Smith? They were not married yet! She epted his outstretched hands. ¡°I¡¯m Elvis Falcon. I¡¯ll be designing your wedding dress, ma¡¯am¡± ¡°Elvis? The celebrity designer?¡± She was astounded. She had searched him up on the inte, having no idea she would see him in the flesh. He was even going to design her wedding dress. ¡°Thank you¡± she said. He only replied with a smile. The wedding day came by in a sh. The hall was filled with politicians from all levels, celebrities, CEOs, and the press. Jared and his friends as the groom¡¯s men, while Sandy had only Valerie with her. La could note with the excuse that she had to travel outside the country for filming. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s still not happy with this?¡± Sitting before the mirror, she asked sullenly. Valerie sighed. ¡°It¡¯s your day. You should not be sad¡± That was all Valerie could say. She had no idea what was wrong with La. They left for the hall, where they made vows and exchanged rings. Valerie and Jared, stealing nces at each other. Jane was taken aback when she saw Valerie. What was she doing here? She was even more surprised when she saw her behind the bride. They were friends? She seethed. She didn¡¯t understand why Xavier was putting off killing this woman. ¡°You look pretty¡± Dn whispered in Sandy¡¯s ear. ¡°Thanks¡± It felt so surreal. She was now Mrs Smith. The first daughter-inw of the most powerful family. She didn¡¯t know whether to be happy or sad. Two months ago, she had no idea her life would change this much. Because of her pregnancy, she became tired, and they had to leave early. Their wedding made the headlines the next day. La sat under a tree at the filming location, staring at the pictures of the couple on her tablet. So, they are married now, huh? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pleasement and let me know your thoughts. Moon_shine loves y¡¯all. Chapter 32 She slowly opened her eyes, quickly shutting it again when the morning sun entered her eyes. Sandy turned to the other side, almost hitting her face against Dn¡¯s. Thankfully, he was asleep. She wanted to turn back, but somethingpelled her not to. Wow! Why didn¡¯t she realize he was this handsome? From his hair, to his forehead, to his eyes, nose, and lips. She inadvertently gulped. ¡°Good morning¡± his deep voice startled her. He had caught her staring at him. She cleared her throat in embarrassment. ¡°Good¡­. morning¡± she replied, getting out of bed, to the bathroom. He wasn¡¯t there when she came out. That was a relief. She could not let him see her in just a bathrobe. She went to the adjoining room to change her clothes, he coulde in anytime. He was seated at the breakfast table when she arrived. He beckoned her over. ¡°How do you feel?¡± She shrugged. Thankfully, the retching was over. Morning sickness too. Just that she had begun to feel heavy. But she wasn¡¯t going to tell him all that. ¡°I feel better¡± she said, taking a bite. ************ In the certain part of Mexico was a private ind. On it was a castle. The interiors wasvish and smelt money. In a drawing room, a young hunk. Beautiful was the right word for him. He was prettier than most women and was often mistaken as one since he was a kid. The mostpelling were his eyes. He had rare, unique purple eyes. It was mesmerizing. He had a brush in one hand and a palette on the other, constantly stroking it against the canvas board. His shoulder-length hair was dyed white, and he had on purple studs. He gave the drawing thest stroke and leaned back to check his handwork. It was perfect, just as always. It was a painting of a ck hawk, ready to fly. There was a knock. ¡°Come in¡± Surprisingly, his voice so manly, inplete contrast with his face. A man in ck came in, going on his knees. He only spared him a nce. ¡°What is it?¡± His eyes still on the painting. ¡°We have news¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go to my study room¡± He stood by the window, a cigarette between his lips. ¡°What is the news?¡± He questioned, taking a drag. ¡°Dn Smith got married¡± He scoffed. ¡°I never would have thought he was capable of love¡± He smiled in the process of puffing out smoke. ¡°Who is she? Is she an heiress?¡± ¡°No master. I heard shees from a poor background. Her mother runs a small restaurant, while her father is a gambler¡± He stopped, looking genuinely surprised. ¡°The old man actually allowed him to marry a woman from a fucked up family. Woah! It Seems he¡¯s turning into a softie¡± heughed long and hard¡± ¡°She is also pregnant¡± ¡°That family¡­¡­¡± he took another drag of his cigarette, shook his head, and puffed outrge clouds of smoke. ¡°There is something else¡± ¡°Out with it!¡± he snapped, getting irritated. ¡°The second son is seeing someone else¡± He drew his brows together and went to sit ¡°Jared? Doesn¡¯t he have a fianc¨¦e? He¡¯s cheating?¡± ¡°The woman is his secretary. He likes her¡± He leaned back. ¡°Get me pictures. I want to see the woman who caught his eyes¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The man reached into his clothes and brought out a stack of pictures and gave it to his master. He dumped the cigarette butts into the ashtray and epted it. His face was expressionless as he looked through the pictures. He paused at a particr one where she was in a skimpy red gown. He scoffed. ¡°She is pretty. He has good tastes¡± He mmed them on the table, sighing dramatically. ¡°Look like they are picking up their shattered life. That isn¡¯t good. It will be their daughter¡¯s death anniversary in a few days. I am thinking of sending them a little¡­. gift¡± he smiled, an evil glint in his eyes. ************ Sandy tried calling La for the umpteenth time, but it wasn¡¯t going through. She sighed exasperated. She had no idea why her marriage upset La so much. She hadn¡¯t called her for days now. Valerie had waved it off when she spoke to her about it. She sluggishly got out of bed, heading to the door but paused when she sighted herself in the mirror. Her face squeezed in disgust. ¡°Not even four months yet, and I am already this ugly¡± she whined. She descended the stairs, perplexed when she saw everyone in ck. Even the maids. What was going on? She beckoned one over. The only person she had be close to. ¡°Mary Ann¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am¡± She gestured her over. ¡°What is going on? Why is everyone wearing ck?¡± ¡°Actually, today is young mistress¡¯s memorial¡± ¡°You have a young mistress?¡± ¡°Yes. Master¡¯s sister. She died a few years ago. She was such a sweet soul¡± Mary Ann said dreamily. Sandy had no idea Dn had a sister. She thought there were only two of them. ¡°She died in a car ident. The car brake failed and blew up¡± she threw her hand up dramatically. Goosebumps rose on Sandy¡¯s skin, just thinking about it. ¡°Alright. Thank you¡± she was about to go back to her room when Dn called her. ¡°Sandy¡± he tookrge steps towards. He was in a ck outfit too. He looked like her was going out. ¡°Are you okay? You look pale. Do you have a fever? Should I call the doctor?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you had a sister?¡± He was surprised at the question. ¡°Well, she¡¯s dead anyway. So, I there was no need for you to know. Are you angry?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Where are you going?¡± He hesitated before replying. ¡°To the cemetery¡± ¡°Can Ie with you? ¡°No¡± he answered firmly. ¡°I want to meet her, please¡± she gave him the puppy eyes. He looked away. ¡°You should stay home and rest¡± She shook her head vehemently. ¡°Please, please, please¡± she went on and on, till he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He gave in under pressure. She left the house with him. It was a private cemetery meant for only the members of the Smith family. They all met at the gate. Mrs Smith held a bouquet of flowers, her eyes were swollen, like she had cried. Mr Smith stood beside his wife, constantly patting her. Jared had his hand in his pocket. His gaze behind the ck sunsses was cold. ¡°Oh, my darling. You came¡± Mrs Smith got out of her husband¡¯s embrace and came to her, holding her hand, before pulling her into a hug. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have¡± ¡°No, Mrs Smith. I should. I wanted to see my sister-inw¡± ¡°Silly. You should call me mum now¡± she waited. ¡°Okay, mum. I will¡± she replied shyly. ¡°Good girl. How is my little grandchild doing?¡± ¡°Kicking me at every little opportunity¡± she joked. Theyughed. Even Dn could not hold back a smile. It has never happened before. This day had always been a day of sadness, but she brought light into it. He stared at her smiley face, an undescribable feeling in his chest. ¡°Let us go in¡± Jared said. Mrs Smith dropped the flowers, mouthing somethings no one heard, and trying so hard not to cry. Sandy stared at the word engraved on the marble headstone. YOUR MEMORIES LIVE ON. CHERYL SMITH. That was her name? It was pretty. She was dying to see what she looked like. She was still thinking about that when she saw something. She let out an earsplitting scream. Chapter 33 The bodyguards initially guarding the gate all ran in, their guns raised as they circled them. Sandy shaking like a leaf, her eyes dting. Dn pulled her into his arms, mouthing some encouraging words, while the men tried to find out what was wrong. They were waiting for her to cool down, so they could ask questions, but that wasn¡¯t happening soon. ¡°Speak to us, honey. What did you see?¡± Their mother cajoled. Sandy raised a shaky finger towards the headstone. Then Mrs Smith saw it. Her face turned pale as she screamed too. Jared step out to check. He circled the grave and finally found it. Lying behind the ck, marble headstone was a single stem ck rose, and beside it was the item that scared the women. A doll. A bloodied female doll. Its dress was torn into shreds, blood stained the mouth, a knife was lodged in its chest and most of all, something was written on it forehead in red-DEATH. ¡°Take the Madams out of here¡± Jared instructed. The women were guided out to the car. Now it was only Jared, Dn and their father. ¡°Who could have done this?¡± Mr Smith muttered. This was a private space, with tight security. An ordinary person could not prate without getting caught. This was no prank. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± ¡°No¡± Jared was quick to respond. ¡°Let¡¯s not involve them in this¡± ¡°We can. We just have to instruct them to keep it confidential. I have someone who can do that¡± He dialed a number. He was quite close with the police chief, and he could help with that. A few minutester, the items were locked in an evidence bag, on the way to the forensic unit. ¡°We will give you the results in the next 6 hours¡± the police chief said. Dn nodded. ¡°Thank you¡± they shook hands. He went to the car to check on Sandy, while Jared went to check on his mother. Sandy was staring into space, her eyes unfocused. ¡°Sandy¡± No answer. He did again, but still no answer. She was muttering jargon. Was she that shaken? He held her hands in his, and that was when she turned to look at his face. Her eyes were red. It broke Dn¡¯s heart. ¡°Let¡¯s go home¡± he said. She nodded. She went to bed without showering, but did not sleep immediately. The scary urrence continued to sh before her eyes. In their group, La was the only strong one. She was a scaredy-cat, but not this much. It must have been the pregnancy and the initial fear and insecurity of marrying a man of high status. She had just gotten married and this was happening? Death? Oh, God! Dn stayed with her and lulled her to sleep before leaving. He received a call from Jared. ¡°Any information?¡± ¡°I just finished speaking to the Police chief, and he said there were no fingerprints on the dolls and rose¡± Dn squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°Okay¡± ¡°How is Sandy?¡± ¡°She just fell asleep. And how is mum?¡± ¡°Crying non-stop¡± Dn sighed. The election was fast approaching, was this a stunt from opposition? No. Everything about it smelt personal. Who was it then? ************ Valerie hasn¡¯t seen La for days now. It was just her in the house. La has been using the excuse of being busy on the filming set. She came home once, barely spoke to her, and left the next morning before she woke up. She left the house a little sad. Was La going to disregard their rtionship? She was so lost in thought that she didn¡¯t see the motorcycle zooming towards her. He was already a few inches close when she realized, she shut her eyes, readying herself for the pain, but it never came. She opened an eye, then the other. The motorcycle was gone. She looked around and paused when she felt someone¡¯s hand on her. She was in someone¡¯s embrace. She turned back to look and was immediately stunned speechless. Staring at her were most beautiful purple eyes she had ever seen. How could someone be so pretty? ¡°OMG!¡± She said, dreamily. She quickly wrung herself out of his grip. It was weird being in this position with a fellow woman. ¡°Thanks so much for helping me, ma¡¯am¡± she bowed a little. He burst intoughter, showing his sparkling white teeth. Her eyes widened when she heard his voice. ¡°You¡­. You are a man?¡± Hisughter died down. ¡°Obviously¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It isn¡¯t!¡± She argued. How could a man look so much like ady? ¡°I¡¯m Damon¡± he stretched out his hand. The way he said it made it sound like ¡®demon¡¯. She epted the handshake. ¡°Valerie¡± ¡°Valerie¡± he nodded I¡¯m approval. ¡°Nice name. Suits your pretty face¡± Her face turned hot. He smirked when she was not looking. Of course, no woman can resist his charm. Even Jared¡¯s woman couldn¡¯t bear his charm. ¡°Thanks for helping me¡± she said and left. Damon was a bit surprised. He thought she was going to ask for his number and flirt with him like most women. But, she left just like that? He chuckled. She was definitely different. He was going to get her. The thought alone excited him, as he stared at her retreating back. ************ Three hours had passed since she arrived, and Jared wasn¡¯t at the office. He was the boss and could arrive whenever he wanted, but he had never been thiste. She found herself getting worried for no reason. Did something happen to him on the way? But that was impossible. He had bodyguards. She sighed for the tenth time. Kathy rolled her eyes. ¡°Can you please stop sighing? You are distracting me¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± Valerie dropped her head. She thought of speaking to Kathy about it, but immediately shrugged it off. She was going toe to the conclusion that she liked the boss, and the wholepany was going to hear about it. She could not let that happen. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Huh? No. Not at all¡± she said and tried to concentrate, convincing herself he was fine. She heaved a sigh of relief when he entered his office, and scolded herself for getting worried for nothing. She got called into his for his schedule and she noticed something. His eyes were a bit sunken and there were dark circles that were not so obvious, under his eyes, like he didn¡¯t get a good sleep for many days. There were weary lines on his face too. She found herself getting concerned again. Her brows s scrunched together, contemting whether to ask him or not. She cleared her throat. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked, sounding casual. He slowly looked up, a smile creeping in. She looked away. Now she regretted asking. ¡°You are worried about me?¡± ¡°I¡­ You know, I was just¡­..¡± She couldn¡¯t get the right words out. ¡°You are worried about me¡± he wasn¡¯t asking. She pursed her lips. ¡°If that is all sir, I will take my leave¡± she practically ran out of the office, hearing his low chuckle behind her. She made sure to avoid meeting his eyes for the rest of the day. She was still worried. He didn¡¯t look fine at all. She sat in a restaurant after work. There were few people there. She was in no mood to cook. It was just her in the house anyway. She distractedly brought the food close to her mouth, thinking deeply. ¡°A penny for your thoughts¡± a voice said. She looked up, her brows furrowed in surprise when her eyes met that familiar purple eyes. Chapter 34 ¡°A penny for your thoughts¡± He repeated. She stared at him suspiciously. Meeting with aplete stranger for the second time today. That was not a coincidence, was it? He dragged the chair back. It made a screeching sound on impact. He saw her suspecting expression and quickly made to exin. ¡°I was just passing by and happened to see you here, so I decided to check¡± he lied. He had spent most of the time at thepany, waiting for her toe back out. He had followed her when she did. She nodded. ¡°You look worried. Want to talk about it?¡± ¡°We are not close enough¡± she snapped. She bit the insides of her cheek. She desperately wanted to speak to someone. Sandy was newly married, and La¡­. well was nowhere to be found. The matter was eating her up. She cleared her throat. ¡°How¡­.. How do you know if you are starting to like someone?¡± Damon frowned. ¡°You like someone?¡± ¡°Just answer the damn question¡­ You know what, never mind. I¡¯m out of here ¡± she grabbed her purse, standing up to leave. ¡°Wait. Let me take you. My car is outside¡± she was going to deny, but a free ride would not hurt. She nodded and together they left the ce. Outside, Jared sat in his car. He sat up, smiling when he saw here out, but the smile was soon wiped off when he saw someone behind her. She went in alone, but came out with a man! He gripped the wheels tightly and his veins began to pop out. He watched as the guy opened the car door for her. His anger heightened when he saw her smile at him. She just smiled at him! He felt like killing someone. He, also like Damon, had followed her discreetly after she left thepany. He started the car immediately theirs moved. Damon dropped her before her house. ¡°Thanks for bringing me home¡± He nodded. ¡°I hope to see you again¡± she made no reply to that. His eyes stayed on her till she closed the door behind her before it went to the mirror. He could see the car behind him, and the driver was seething. The asshole actually followed them. Was he actually serious about his secretary? He chuckled. Alright then. Let the game begin. He drove off smiling happily. She arrived at her office to Kathy smiling weirdly. ¡°What?¡± Kathy wiggled her brows. ¡°Can you please say something and stop doing that?¡± Then Kathy pointed at something she hadn¡¯t seen. ¡°This-¡± on her table sat a beautiful bouquet of red roses. ¡°It arrived this morning¡± Kathy said, looking visibly hungry for gossip. ¡°Someone¡¯s got a lover, huh?¡± She winked. The name of the sender was not written there. She wondered who would have sent her flowers. Or was it sent to the wrong address. She was still thinking about it when a call came in. She frowned. She didn¡¯t know this number. ¡°Did you like my present?¡± ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t recognize me by my voice? I¡¯m so hurt¡± he whined. ¡°It¡¯s Damon¡± she walked to a secluded space, away from Kathy¡¯s probing eyes. ¡°Why did you send flowers?¡± ¡°I woke up this beautiful morning and thought of a certain pretty person. It prompted me to send you something beautiful. Don¡¯t you like it?¡± She did. It was beautiful. But why did she feel he was flirting with her? ¡°I like it, but please stop sending me flowers¡± without letting him say something else, she ended the call and went back to the office. ¡°So?¡± Valerie sighed. ¡°Nothing gets past you, does it? They are from a friend. Not what you think¡± ¡°A male friend¡± ¡°Well, yes. Not really a friend, but he is still a fr¡­ Can you please stop quizzing me?¡± She was about to get dizzy from trying to exin. Kathy gave her a suggestive smile, but she ignored it. She picked up the flowers. She didn¡¯t like Damon sending her flowers, but it will be such a pity to throw these pretty things away. Jared arrived just in time to see her take a sniff of the flowers. His gaze darkened. Roses? So she had an admirer now? And she even liked his presents. His mind went back to the scene he encountered at the restaurant, and his blood boiled anew. He needed to speed things up. He could not let someone else take what was his. ************ Jane bit on her finger as she paced back and forth in Xavier¡¯s apartment. She had tried calling him severally, but he wasn¡¯t picking up and came to his house. He wasn¡¯t there too. Did something go wrong? Impossible. He was a professional hit man. She heard a click on the door and heaved and a sigh of relief.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xavier asked, surprised to see her in his apartment. ¡°I was waiting for your news and when I heard nothing, I came. I¡¯m d you are back. Now let¡¯s celebrate¡± ¡°Celebrate what?¡± He asked as she opened the refrigerator and brought out a bottle of wine and two wine sses. ¡°Her death. My archenemy is gone!¡± Sheughed, pouring the content. Xavier pursed his lips. ¡°Actually¡­.. she¡¯s not dead¡± She paused, mmed the ss down and slowly walked towards him. ¡°What do you mean she¡¯s not dead?¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t work out¡± he shrugged. Her face became red with anger. ¡°Did you miss the target or what?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t use a gun¡± Her forehead creased in confusion. ¡°If you didn¡¯t use a gun, then what did you use?¡± ¡°I tried to run her over¡± Jane raised a brow. ¡°With a car?¡± ¡°No. My motorcycle¡± He had barely finished when a hard pnded on his cheek. His eyes burned with fury. ¡°A motorcycle!¡± She said incredulously. ¡°You tried to kill someone with a motorcycle? How much more stupid can you get?¡± Xavier clenched his teeth angrily. His breathing came outbored. He pushed her against the wall, his hands on her neck, but he didn¡¯t choke her. ¡°Now listen very well. The fact that I do things for you does not make me your servant. If you think you can treat me the same way you treat others, then you are so wrong¡± It was a battle of res as they red daggers at each other. He finally released her. She shot him onest lethal re before storming out, cursing. ************ Valerie was seated in the car with Jared, his eyes glued to his tablet. She felt extremely ufortable being so close to him, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice. ording to him, they were on their way to a business meeting, one she didn¡¯t know about. They arrived at the five-star restaurant, and were led in. Oddly, there was no one there. It was so silent that even a pin dropping will make a noise. She looked around. Why were the people they wanted to meet not here yet? Jared wasn¡¯t someone who would ept such, but presently, he didn¡¯t look mad. A waiter walked up to them asking for their orders. She was going to exin that they were here for a meeting but was interrupted by Jared, who gestured at the menu before her. ¡°Order whatever you want¡± ¡°But this -¡± ¡°Just do it, it¡¯s an order¡± she bit her lips, nodding. She turned to the waiter. ¡°Can youe backter. I would have made my decision by then¡± ¡°Alright¡± he left. Shakily, under Jared¡¯s stare, she picked up the menu, putting it before her face, so it covered it. Her eyes weren¡¯t on what was written there, instead she was sneakily ncing at the man before her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± His voice came suddenly and startled the hell out of her. ¡°Huh? Looking for what to order, of course. It¡¯s really hard to make a choice. The food here is amazing ¡± she said, nodding. ¡°It is upside down¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You are holding the menu upside down¡± Chapter 35 Valerie almost hit herself in the head for being such a fool. She cleared her throat in embarrassment as she awkwardly turned it right. She picked a random dish, but he took his time before picking his. Everything she ate tasted like wax. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t have been like that if she had been alone andfortable. Jared sensed her difort. ¡°Do you feel ufortable around me?¡± ¡°Of course¡­ not. Why would I? But, you said we were here for a meeting, why are the people we are meeting not here yet?¡± She asked tentatively. He dabbed his mouth, focusing on her. ¡°Actually, we are not here to meet anyone¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°Then why are we here?¡± ¡°I brought you to this ce because¡­.. because I want us to be alone¡­ just the both of us. You see, i-¡± ¡°This food is really wonderful, but I¡¯m full now, so¡­.. can we leave?¡± Jared stared at her for a considerable amount of time before nodding. Looks like she was still not used to him. She nodded a thanks when he opened the car door for her. He was her boss and she did not feelfortable in the least with him doing things for her, but she said nothing. None of them noticed someone in another car not too far away, taking pictures of them till they drove off. Damon took off his sunsses, his tongue poking his cheek, and a lopsided smile on his lips. Jared¡­ was he being serious? A taken man taking a single woman on a date, and not just anyone, his secretary? With that smile still on his lips, he picked up his phone and sent those pictures to someone. ¡°Let¡¯s see how this ys out¡± heughed madly. **************** Jared dropped her before her house and she awkwardly said her goodbye. He felt so mad because she didn¡¯t look this ufortable with that man. He nodded curtly before driving away. Valerie sighed and walked towards the door. She was stunned when she realized the door was unlocked. She was sure she locked it before going to work. Her first thought was, ¡°Did someone break in?¡± Luckily, she had a bottle of pepper spray in her purse. She quickly brought it out, raising it as she slowly opened the door. Immediately, she entered, she smelt something pleasanting from the kitchen. The intruder was even cooking? She tiptoed towards the kitchen, making sure her feet made not even the slightest sound.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She was ready to release the content, but the person in the kitchen turned. ¡°You are here¡± La said, smiling. Valerie returned the spray into her purse. ¡°Oh, I thought you forgot you had a house¡± La stopped what she was doing. ¡°I know you are mad at me, but -¡± Valerieughed. ¡°Mad? Why should I be mad at you? You have made it clear you would rather not be part of us anymore. I respect your decision, so I¡¯m not mad¡± ¡°I realized my mistake now, and I¡¯m deeply sorry. It won¡¯t happen again, I promise. Here! Look what I made¡± The appetizing smell of roasted chicken assailed her nostrils. She salivated and almost gave in. She shook her head in conviction. She wasn¡¯t going to eat her food. ¡°Thanks, but no. I am not hungry¡± she headed to her room, leaving La hurt. The next morning, Valerie got dressed, ready to leave, but was stopped by La again. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°I made these¡± she shed several pieces of whoopie pies. ¡°Whoop-¡± She looked away and swallowed. To be honest, she was hungry. She didn¡¯t eatst night, and what she ate at the restaurant wasn¡¯t considered food. La stared expectantly and hopefully. Valerie suddenly looked away, scoffing. ¡°What is this? A bribe?¡± ¡°Well¡­I thought they were your favorite, so I made them for you. I see you don¡¯t want them. I¡¯m just going to throw -¡± the remaining words were cut short when it was snatched away from her. ¡°I¡­. I just don¡¯t want it to go to waste. Don¡¯t you dare think you can make me forgive you with this¡± With that she walked out and La¡¯s lips broke into a smile. ************ Jane threw the phone she newly bought on the wall out of fury. It was that bitch again. Why? Why was she bent on taking her man? She needed to do something. Without further ado, she left the house. ¡°Where to, Madam?¡± ¡°The old mansion¡± she replied distractedly, looking outside the window. ¡°Where¡¯s grandfather?¡± She asked the butler as soon as she entered. ¡°He is in his study¡± She went there and knocked twice. ¡°Come in¡± He was standing, staring outside. ¡°Hello Grandfather¡± he only spared her a nce and grunted in response before looking away. She silently took a deep breath. Though he wasn¡¯t harsh to her, she was still a bit scared of him. She had no idea what his reaction will be when he finds out the reason for her visit. ¡°Are you just going to stand there?¡± Came his rough voice. She cleared her throat. ¡°Grandfather, I came to see you for something important¡± he kept mum, but she took it as a go-ahead. ¡°I want my engagement to happen¡­ next week¡± He slowly turned to her, and she mustered all her courage to look him in the eye. ¡°Any particr reason why you want to rush this?¡± ¡°No reason. I¡­.. I just can¡¯t wait¡± he spent a few seconds staring at her like he could see right through her. After what seemed like forever, he finally turned to look outside again. ¡°I will call Jared and talk to him about it¡± ¡°Really?¡± She didn¡¯t think he would agree that easily. She received no response, but she was okay with it. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take my leave¡± he nodded subtly. He picked up his phone and dialed Jared¡¯s number. ¡°Come home for dinner¡± he hung up before Jared could speak, leaving no room for discussion. Jared nose red on the other end. He hung up before he had the chance to talk. What if he had ns? He stood up and left the office. He met Valerie on the way. Immediately she realized he wasing towards her, she ran into a corner. Jared sighed exasperatedly. Why was no one giving him a chance to talk? He chose to pretend not to see her and walked away. Valerie breathed a sigh of relief after he left. She had no idea why she was hiding. She couldn¡¯t hide from him, especially when she was his secretary. She brought out her phone when she received a message. The number wasn¡¯t saved, but she could guess who it was. ¡°Do you have ns tonight?¡± She texted back. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± She was about to return the phone when it lit up again. ¡°I was hoping we could go out for a drink tonight¡± Valerie narrowed her eyes. It wasn¡¯t such a bad idea. She wasn¡¯t really ready to face La yet. ¡°Okay¡± ************ Sandy sat alone in the huge living room, bored out of her mind. The election was very near and Dn has been quite busy recently. She was not able to go out without bodyguards trailing after her. He stopped her from going out after the incident at the grave, but she refused. When he realized she wasn¡¯t going to listen to him, he increased the security by a dozen. It was suffocating. ording to Dn, danger was lurking in every corner, and they needed to be careful. She sighed. She already signed up for this, so why was sheining? ¡°Sandy?¡± A sweet voice brought her back. ¡°Mother¡± she stood up, but Mrs Smith quickly sat her back down. ¡°You are bored, aren¡¯t you?¡± She held her hand, cing the other one over it. Sandy nodded. ¡°Things are not looking good recently. We have to be extremely careful, so please, put up with it for some time, hm?¡± She patted her hands. Sandy forced a tight smile and nodded. ¡°I guessed you would be bored, so I brought this¡± she raised an old photo album. ¡°This contains the picture of my children when they were still little¡± she opened it and dived into exining. ¡°This is Dn?¡± She asked, pointing at the picture of a small boy in a panama hat. He had rosy cheeks and was quite chubby. ¡°Yes. This was on his fifth birthday¡± ¡°Oh my! He¡¯s so cute¡± she gushed. ¡°All my kids are cute. It¡¯s in the gene¡± Sandy nodded in agreement. Dn and Jared were handsome men. She hadn¡¯t seen their sister before. Mrs Smith pointed at the picture of a short girl standing between her two brothers. ¡°This is Cheryl. Myst child¡± The smile on Sandy¡¯s face immediately vanished. That face¡­ it looked extremely familiar. Chapter 36 ¡°Are you okay?¡± Dn asked on their way to the old mansion. ¡°You look distracted¡± It was true. Her mind was filled with the picture of the little girl she had seen earlier. She looked awfully familiar. But how could a dead person be familiar to her? ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m not just used to all these yet¡± About four cars were following them. ¡°We need to do this¡± She received a text message from Valerie.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°La has returned¡± Sandy heaved a sigh of relief. She thought La was going to disassociate herself from them forever. ¡°Okay¡± ************ ¡°You will have your engagement next week¡± Old Smith said. Jared immediately stopped chewing. ¡°What! Grandfather, we should not rush this¡± Old Smith mmed his hands on the table. Jane and Sandy flinched, while the others remained unmoved. ¡°How long do you want to drag this? Your brother has gotten married, so what is stopping you. You are having your engagement next week and that is final¡± Jared gritted his teeth but said nothing. Jane looked away, hiding a smile. The next day was a Saturday. La woke Valerie up. ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked angrily, still semiconscious. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping¡± ¡°Shopping? No. You go yourself. I¡¯m not interested¡± she waved her hand, ready to go back to sleep, but La yanked the nket off. It got Valerie furious. ¡°Get out before I get mad!¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be nice if it¡¯s just you in the house. Let¡¯s go outside for some fresh air¡± ¡°No thanks. Out!¡± La wasn¡¯t someone to back down easily. She carried her on her shoulder. It was easy because Valerie had a small body. She dumped her in the bathroom and locked the door from outside. She hit her fist against the door several times. ¡°La, open this door!¡± La whistled in response. ¡°I hate you!¡± She screamed at the door. ¡°Thank you for thepliment¡± she went to her wardrobe and started to pick clothes. La quickly opened the door when she was sure Valerie was done. She red daggers which she hoped were going to tear her into shreds at that moment. ¡°Come on. Please do this for me¡± La whined. Valerie refused to talk to her all through the ride till they got to the mall. Valerie became confused when La selected numerous clothes and held them up against her torso. ¡°Who are these dresses for?¡± ¡°You, of course¡± La replied, searching through the clothes. ¡°Me? Why?¡± The dresses she had picked were many, and they were all expensive. ¡°Because I want to make it up to you¡± Valerie scoffed, though deep down, she was touched. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m materialistic?¡± She asked, crossing her arms. ¡°No. That was not what I meant¡± ¡°These dresses are expensive. Where will you get the money?¡± La paused for a while, before turning to her with a smile. ¡°I just received my paycheck so don¡¯t worry¡± Valerie rolled her eyes. ¡°I never said I was¡± They were distracted by the nking sound of heels against the marble floor. Valerie looked back and furrowed her brows when she realized who it was. Jane sat haughtily, crossing her legs. ¡°Wee Miss Anderson¡± one of the shop workers smiled tteringly, handing her a magazine. ¡°Do you know her?¡± La whispered. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s my boss¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡± ¡°Fianc¨¦e? Shouldn¡¯t the Smith family¡¯s future daughter-inw be elegant? This one looks ill-bred and proud¡± she tutted. ¡°Let¡¯s finish quickly and get out of here?¡± ¡°Why? We aren¡¯t disturbing, are we?¡± ¡°Just do as I say¡± she said in a low voice to the confused La. Jane looked up and recognized Valerie immediately. She smirked and beckoned the assistant next to her over, whispering into her ear. Valerie knew that she was up to no good and couldn¡¯t wait to leave. The assistant walked towards them. ¡°Madam, we are truly sorry, but the customer over there wants to have this dress¡± she pointed at one of the dresses La was holding. She could see Valerie liked this one. ¡°Why should I?¡± La countered. ¡°La, just give it to them. Let¡¯s not make a scene¡± ¡°A scene? You like this dress, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, but-¡± ¡°So, why should I give it to her? I picked it first¡± ¡°Madam, she¡¯s a VIP. You don¡¯t want to get on her bad side¡± ¡°VIP?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°She could be a VVIP for all I care. I¡¯m not giving it so scram!¡± Valerie ced her hand on her forehead. She felt a headacheing. Why did she forget La was as stubborn as a mule? She wasn¡¯t the type to give up without a fight. ¡°What is going on?¡± Jane said, walking towards them. ¡°She refused to give you the dress¡± ¡°Yes. Because it¡¯s mine¡± La said. Janeughed before turning to the assistant. ¡°Has she paid for it?¡± ¡°No madam¡± She turned back to them with a smile. ¡°See? It isn¡¯t yours¡± her eyes strayed to Valerie who kept silent and was looking at the floor. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is your friend. Oh! Aren¡¯t you Jared¡¯s secretary?¡± She feigned surprise. Valerie gave a stiff smile, nodding. ¡°Right. I can¡¯t be mistaken. I suggest you speak to your friend to hand it over. She said thest words with gritted teeth. ¡± Or do you want to find out what will happen if your boss finds out about it¡± Valerie¡¯s heartbeat skipped. La raised a brow. ¡°Jared Smith won¡¯t fire her. If he does, then he is as stupid as you are¡± Everyone in the room gasped. Did she just speak of the all-powerful Jared Smith that way? La didn¡¯t look like she saw anything wrong with what she said. ¡°Did you just call me stupid?¡± La raised her chin challengingly. Jane took several deep breaths to calm herself down. She didn¡¯t want to make a scene and tarnish her image. She said to Valerie. ¡°Make your choice. I¡¯m not that patient¡± Valerie turned to La, but she quickly interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t even try. I¡¯m not giving this to anybody¡± she insisted. Valerie pleaded with her eyes. She looked like she was going to cry. La¡¯s heart softened immediately. ¡°Alright. You do want us to have this, right? Okay then, but I am not going to give it to you!¡± She threw the dress on the floor, and to everyone¡¯s horror, she began to step on it. ¡°La! What are you doing?¡± After she was done, while breathing heavily, she picked up the dress, raising it. ¡°I¡¯m sure the ssy and elegant socialite wouldn¡¯t want to buy something so dirty, would she?¡± The room was dead silent. Jane¡¯s anger was visible. Her made ¨C up face had turned red in a matter of seconds, and she was breathing heavily from anger. Laughed. ¡°Well, I guess she won¡¯t be buying it anymore. So, if you will excuse us¡± she grabbed Valerie, and together they went to pay for the items, leaving Jane mad. ¡°You want me to lose my job?¡± Valerie asked in a low voice as soon as they entered the taxi. She didn¡¯t have the strength to scream at her. It was like all her energy had been sucked out. ¡°At least we saved your dear dress from getting into the wrong hands. And don¡¯t worry. He isn¡¯t that narrow-minded¡± ¡°You sound so sure¡± ¡°He is a powerful figure and from the way he looks, he isn¡¯t¡± ¡°You can tell a whether a person is narrow-minded just from the way he looks?¡± ¡°Yes¡± La said quickly. Valerie shook her head incredulously and rested her back. She almost jumped out of the car when she heard a scream. ¡°Aaaaaaahhhhhh!¡± La screamed, frightening the shit out of the driver. Chapter 37 ¡°Here. Have some water¡± La grabbed it with shaky hands and downed it. She had suddenly screamed earlier when she saw a truck, pointing at it continuously, but it was on the other side of the road. Nowhere near them. Valerie didn¡¯t know what to feel or was feeling at that moment. The La she pictured in her mind was a stubborn and rebellious, defiant and decision woman. She had never seen her this way. Scared. Completely terrified. ¡°Are you okay? Should I get you more?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine¡± Valerie put the cup away. ¡°Now can you tell me what is going on with you?¡± ¡°Going on with me? There is nothing going on with me Valerie, I just had¡­.. nevermind¡± ¡°You will not tell me the truth? You know you can trust me. Always¡± ¡°Well¡­.. you see¡­.. I tend to have this fear ofrge vehicles. Whenever I see them, I feel like they might run into me anytime. I know it is a crazy ph¡­ phobia, b¡­but, that is how I feel¡± she took deep breaths to calm her nerves. Valerie asked no further questions and simply embraced her. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± she lightly patted her back. ************ Valerie stepped outside after another stressful day at work. She took a deep breath and was ready to walk on when she was stopped by someone. Ady. ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°Are you Miss Gardner?¡± ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°My madam will like to see you?¡± ¡°Your madam? Who is that?¡± ¡°See for yourself ¡± she pointed at the caf¨¦ which they were facing. She entered and found herself face-to-face with Jane. ¡°Why do you want to see me, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°Have a seat. I will not beat around the bush¡± she reached for her purse and brought out an invitation card. She slid it to her. ¡°It is an invitation card¡± she smiled. ¡°To my and Jared¡¯s wedding¡­.. no, engagement. But I assure you the wedding wille soon¡± Valerie furrowed her brows. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± She even came personally. Was it to gloat? Of course not. Why would she? She did not know that Jared was hitting on her¡­.. wait, did she? Valerie searched her eyes, and everything in her expression screamed mockery. She forced a smile. ¡°Thank you for the kind gesture¡± Jane smirked. ¡°I will take my leave now¡± she left the caf¨¦. Valerie stared at the card. The ceremony was happening on Thursday, just three days from now. She ced her hands on her chest. ¡°Valerie. What are you doing? What is wrong with you? Why am I feeling this way?¡± The more she stared at the item in her hand, the more heartache she felt. She went home feeling extremely down. ¡°You are not going to eat anything? I can make whoopie pies if you want¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. Goodnight¡± La quickly went to block her way. ¡°What is wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°Of course there is something, so out with it¡± ¡°I do not want to talk about it!¡± She suddenly screamed. The house became silent. There was no sound except Valerie¡¯s loud and constant breathing. ¡°Oh. If you are this pissed off, then it must be something serious. Just say it¡± ¡°Move aside La¡± ¡°I do not want to. Come on Valerie. Talk to me¡± Valerie slowly massaged her temple before going back to the living room, being followed closely by La. ¡°The thing is¡­¡± ¡°Wait. Did your boss really fire you?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I knew it. So what happened?¡± ¡°I met with Jane today¡± ¡°Jane? Who is that?¡± ¡°My boss¡¯s¡­ fianc¨¦e¡± ¡°What! What did she say? Did she do something to you? Did she hurt you? Did she-¡± ¡°Calm down and hear me out¡± La nodded. ¡°She gave me an invitation card ¡± she brought it out and gave it to her. ¡°She wants you toe to the ceremony?¡± Valerie nodded. ¡°What for? It is not like you are close¡± Valerie, of course, wasn¡¯t going to tell her the reason. ¡°If you do not want to go, it is your choice. You can choose not to, so why are you in such a mood?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­ I¡­I just -¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± La said, standing up. Her hand balled into a fist with only the index finger raised. ¡°Are you like this because you cannot stand him getting engaged? Because you like him?¡± ¡°Li¡­ like him? La, what are you saying? I do not like my boss. Please don¡¯t misunderstand¡± she looked away. Your mouth says one thing but your actions and expression say otherwise¡± ¡°I¡¯m off to my room. Goodnight¡± she sidestepped La and went to her room. She only let out the breath she did not know she was holding when she reached the safety of her room. La copsed on the chair. She only hope her theory was very wrong. One was already married to a Smith. She couldn¡¯t let the other one¡­. If she did, she was sure that it was game over for her. They were going to find her. The preparation for Jane¡¯s engagement was underway. One who was clueless would think it was a wedding. The bride-to-be was radiant with smiles while the groom-to-be was working his ass off, burying himself in it to prevent himself from thinking about the ceremony which was to happen in two days. ¡°Boss, you should go home¡± ¡°You go. I am not done yet¡± ¡°Are you going to pull an all-nighter¡­ again? You shouldn¡¯t punish yourself like this. If you are not interested in this marriage, then call it off. It¡¯s not toote. This will lead you nowhere¡± ¡°Go home, Will. It is an order as your boss¡± Will nodded ¡°Alright then. Goodnight¡± His phone rang, and he picked up after thirty seconds of deliberation. ¡°What now, Grandfather?¡± ¡°Little bastard! That is no way to speak to your grandfather. Anyway, you shoulde home tonight. Special guests are joining us. And don¡¯t you dare give excuses, or I will hit you in the balls with my stick!¡± Jared ended the call and went to stand before the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the lights that illuminated the city. ¡°Wee, young master¡± the butler took his clothes and he headed straight to the living room. ¡°There you are. What took you so long?¡± His grandfather said. Sandy was present, but Dn wasn¡¯t. Jane came to him with a smile and attempted to hold his hand, but he quickly avoided it. Jane forced an awkward smile and looked around, making sure no one saw. ¡°Jared, meet my parents. Peter and Zoey Anderson. Mum, Dad. This is my fianc¨¦, Jared Smith¡± ¡°Hello son. Nice to meet you¡± Jared respectfully epted the handshake. Doing the same to Mrs Anderson. ¡°How fortunate. My daughter found herself a very handsome man¡± Mrs Smithughed. The couple looked decent and gentle in every way. A total opposite of their two-faced daughter. ¡°Since everyone is here now, let¡¯s go to the dining table¡± Mrs Smith said and helped a very pregnant Sandy up. ¡°Oh, right!¡± Old Smith suddenly turned to Sandy. ¡°Where is your husband? I told him he must be here¡± ¡°He nned to, but something happened at thest minute, and he had to attend to it¡± Mrs Smith sighed. ¡°That boy. He should not have left you alone in this condition¡± ¡°I understand him, Mother. It¡¯s the nature of his work¡± ¡°Poor child. Let¡¯s sit¡± They had barely started eating when the butler rushed in. He wasn¡¯t the type to be flustered by things, but now he was. ¡°What is it, Gomez?¡± ¡°Master, it is young master Dn¡± ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°He had an ident!¡± Chapter 38 ¡°What! How¡­.. how did it happen? Where is he now?¡± Mrs Smith asked in panic. ¡°He is at the hospital at the moment, but I don¡¯t know the details¡± Sandy sat, her face glued to nowhere in particr. She felt her blood drain. Was he going to die? She was going to be a widow at a young age? She was going to have the child without a father? Several wild thoughts ran in her mind in a matter of seconds. She could only sit down, looking dumbstruck. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Jane, stay with Sandy¡± Mrs Smith said. Jane was dissatisfied, but she dared not show it and could only ept with a smile. ¡°No¡± Sandy quickly came to her senses. ¡°I want to go with you, please¡± she pleaded. ¡°You can¡¯t in this state¡± Jared replied.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Will he be fine?¡± He nodded before leaving. Jane¡¯s parents also left, including Old Smith, leaving only Jane and Sandy. She tried hard to suppress her tears but failed. She burst out crying, covering her mouth to muffle the sound. Jane was starting to get irritated and was about tosh out when Sandy¡¯s phone rang. It was Valerie calling. She quickly wiped her tears. ¡°Sandy! How long has it been? I should have called, but I¡¯m really busy recently. How is he? Is he treating you well?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. He is¡± she tried to sound cheerful, but Valerie immediately sensed something amiss. She sounded like her nose was blocked. It was because she had been crying for a long time. ¡°Do you have a cold?¡± ¡°No¡± ¡°Then¡­. were you crying?¡± Sandy paused. ¡°Really! You were crying? What happened? Did he hurt you?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. Dn just had an ident¡± ¡°Oh my goodness! How is he now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± she burst into tears again and Jane had a disgusted look on her face. ¡°I really do not know. This state of oblivion is killing me, Valerie¡± she said between sobs. ¡°Where are you? We areing over¡± Sandy heard the rustling of keys. ¡°No. Don¡¯te. I¡¯m at his grandfather¡¯s house and I have someone here with me. You don¡¯t have to¡± There was a possibility they were not going to be let in, especially not after what happened. And if they were, they were going to be subjected to a thorough search, which was humiliating. It was better if they didn¡¯te. ¡°Are you sure you will be fine alone?¡± ¡°I told you I have someone here with me?¡± ¡°Who? Your mother-inw?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s¡­. Mr Smith¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡± she said, turning her head to Jane who was busy with her phone. There was silence on the other end. Valerie decided it was better not toe. ¡°Oh. I see. Okay then. But if you need us, La is here and wille anytime¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you¡± Jane said, ¡°You should not go around telling people what happened to him. He is not just your husband. He is a politician. A public figure¡± ¡°They are my best friends, so there is no problem¡± Jane smiled forcefully. ¡°What happened?¡± La asked when Valerie got off the phone. ¡°Dn Smith had an ident?¡± ¡°What! How serious was it?¡± ¡°She does not know?¡± ¡°Then is she okay?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t sound so. I wish I could be with her, but¡­ Jane is there¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She said at his Grandfather¡¯s house¡± ¡°The old mansion¡± she murmured. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Oh! Nothing. I¡¯m sure she will be fine, so don¡¯t worry¡± When Sandy could not take it anymore, she called her mother-inw, but Jared picked up instead. ¡°How is he now?¡± ¡°Luckily, his condition is not so bad. He had a mild concussion, but he will be fine¡± Sandy breathed a loud sigh of relief as the line went dead. Jared turned to Sebastian. ¡°I want you to lock out any information that might arise. Make sure he is safely guarded. Do not let anyone in without my permission. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± He had not gone with the Dn that day because he insisted on leaving alone. So he had no idea what happened and what caused the ident. ¡°If something happens, you will bear the responsibility¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± Jared went in. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°I can take it¡± he said hoarsely. His head was bandaged. ¡°How is Sandy?¡± ¡°She is worried sick. You should get well soon¡± he sat beside the bed. ¡°As far as I know, you are not a reckless driver, so how did it happen?¡± ¡°I was driving, and I suddenly lost control of the wheels until I hit a building. That¡¯s it ¡± ¡°Brake failure¡­.¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Did you check¡­. was there anything wrong with your car?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m sure of it¡± ¡°Then is it the same person from five years ago?¡± ¡°It is very likely¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way¡± He met Sebastian outside.¡±Did you check the CCTV footage? ¡°We did, but it seems to me like a part of it was deleted¡± ¡°Are you saying someone tampered with the footage?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± ¡°Alright. Make sure to have them keep watch twenty-four seven¡± He opened hisptop immediately he got into his penthouse and began to tap on the keypads until what he wanted appeared. He watched a hooded man walk towards his brother¡¯s car. He looked left and right before getting under the car. He came out about forty-five secondster and looked around again, then straight at the camera. Jared quickly paused it and zoomed in on his face. Unfortunately, he had a full mask on. Even his eyes were invisible. Jared¡¯s jaw ticked, and he hit his fist against the table in utter frustration. ************ ¡°How did it go?¡± Damon asked his minion. ¡°I sneakily followed them to the hospital and heard he only had a mild concussion. ¡°Mild concussion, huh?¡± A small smile yed on his lips as he fiddled with the ring on his index finger. ¡°Mild concussion¡­ can you tell me how he had a mild concussion after that ident?¡± He stood up slowly. ¡°That meant you did not do a good job¡± the man was sweating already. ¡°Did you?¡± No response. ¡°Answer me!¡± Before the man could speak, a gun was pointed at him. ¡°Please boss. S¡­. spare me. I will make it right¡± he knew just how merciless his boss was. Bang! The man screamed as the pain shot through his whole body. He went on his knees immediately. Blood was gushing from his legs. ¡°Lay low for now. Now, get out¡± the man limped out. Damon sat back elegantly on his seat. After thinking for a while, he finally dialed a number. ¡°Can we meet tonight? Just the two of us?¡± In an hour, Valerie came out of the house and entered Damon¡¯s car. ¡°Why did you call me out at such an ungodly hour?¡± ¡°But you answered¡± she turned away from him, looking at houses as they zoomed by. ¡°Is something troubling you?¡± ¡°Not really, but¡­ yes¡± He raised a brow. ¡°Which of them should I believe?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried about my friend, she- why am I even telling you this?¡± They arrived at a bar and sat on the stools opposite the bartender. ¡°You evaded my questions earlier¡± Valerie gulped down a ss of beer. Her tongue stole out to wipe off the foam, on the top of her lips. Damon felt something and quickly looked away, downing his own ss. ¡°I asked why you called me out¡± He shrugged. ¡°I just want to have somepany. It has been a long time I did this with someone¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have friends?¡± He chuckled lightly. ¡°Friends? I don¡¯t¡± ¡°Then what about siblings?¡± The bar was quite loud, and the lights were not very bright, but she saw his expression change. She just couldn¡¯t fathom what it was. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t want to talk about it ¡± she filled her ss. ¡°I don¡¯t have one. A family¡± he said and ordered a stronger drink. He frozepletely when he felt something soft touch his head. He slowly turned and realized Valerie¡¯s hand was patting his head. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°It is the same with me too. The pain of not having a parent. I understand it too, so do not worry. We are in the same boat¡± she patted it a bit more before withdrawing. For some odd reason, he wished she never did. He was surprised at his own thoughts. He hated it when someone touched his head. ¡°Valerie¡± the voice had a hint of surprise in them. Valerie turned to the caller. Ivan was standing just two feet away, with a look of astonishment on his face. Chapter 39 ¡°Who is he?¡± Ivan asked. Valerie rolled her eyes. He was acting like a jealous boyfriend right now. ¡°What I do or who I meet is none of your business¡± ¡°You think this is right? I understand you are doing this to spite me, but throwing yourself from one man to another is¡­.. it¡¯s disgusting¡± Pak! His hand went to his cheek. ¡°Yes. I will do it her again if you spout nonsense. Who the hell do you think you are? Disgusting? You should not even be in the position to say that. You are the fucking disgusting one. Bastard ¡± She sat back down, bringing the ss to her mouth. Ivan seethed silently. He was being disgraced by her before another man. His ego was immediately hurt. He grabbed her wrist, causing the liquid to spill on her dress. ¡°What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?!¡± She screeched, mortified. Her dress was stained. ¡°Come with me¡± he began to drag her out, but his exit was suddenly blocked by someone. ¡°Let her go¡± Damon said nkly. Ivan scoffed. ¡°And if I do not? You are going to hit me?¡± Heughed. ¡°With that feeble hand of yours?¡± ¡°Damon, please stay out of this¡± she also feared he was going to be beaten to a pulp. He looked so frail. His skin was so translucent that you could clearly see the veins. She was sure that just one small hit was enough to tear his skin. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± He asked, a teasing smile on his lips. She gave no reply. He turned to Ivan. ¡°This will be thest time. Let her go¡± Ivan hated being challenged and couldn¡¯t take it. He swung a punch at him, but he dodged it and threw a hard punch. Ivan fell. His hand went to the side of his lips and was shocked to see blood. His teeth began to hurt. He looked up at Damon incredulously. How could someone with such a frail body hit someone heavily like that? He would not ept defeat and be deemed a loser. He stood up again. Damon brought Valerie close to him. ¡°Stand behind me, Val¡± She raised a brow. Val? She was distracted by the sound of punches. Both of them had begun to fight head-on, destroying table and chairs. The music had stopped and people were watching. Some who had their phones were making a video. Damon had the upper hand. He sat atop Ivan and rained punches on him. She could not take it anymore. Ivan¡¯s face was practically unrecognizable. It wasn¡¯t that she felt sorry for Ivan, but there were many people here, and she didn¡¯t want to be embroiled in a scandal with him. She held his arm. ¡°That¡¯s enough¡± he stopped and stood up. He turned to leave, but before that, he pressed his leg in between Ivan¡¯s, almost squashing his penis as he let out grunts of pain. Together, they went outside to the car. She held up his hand. Just as she expected, it was bruised and was going to look really bad in the next few days if not treated. ¡°Do you feel sorry for me?¡± She rolled her eyes and pushed his hand. ¡°Ouch! I got hurt because of you, and you are doing this to me¡± he whined. ¡°I never asked you to step in¡± ¡°I could not stand him doing that to you, Val¡± he stared into her eyes. She cleared her throat. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It is getting veryte¡± ¡°Good night¡± he nodded, watching as she entered the house. He could see someone open the door, but only saw her face vaguely. But he felt it looked familiar. He waved it off. He was content and happy his charm was working. Jared Smith, just you wait. He called someone. ¡°Has anyone left the bar?¡± ¡°No sir¡± ¡°Good. Make sure all the video is deleted. No one must leave without deleting the video¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± a creepy smile formed on his lips. ¡°Where did you go? You told me you were only going to get something outside. You had me worried sick¡± La said. ¡°I¡¯m here now¡± ¡°But, who was that?¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°The one that brought you home. Don¡¯t deny it. Though I didn¡¯t see the one who was inside, that car is quite expensive and that shows he is not an ordinary person¡± ¡°A friend¡± ¡°You mean your boss?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t my boss. It¡¯s someone else¡± ¡°Really? Then do you like him¡± She was okay with whoever Valerie liked except Jared Smith. Valerie may have denied it, but she knew that she had feelings for her boss even though she herself may not be aware of this yet. ¡°No. Before I forget, I am attending my boss¡¯s engagement¡±Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you sure? Will you be okay?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s a billionaire¡¯s party, so the food will certainly be good, and I¡¯ll also get to see Sandy. Will youe with me?¡± La hurriedly shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine here. Send my greetings to Sandy. And if bitch Jane tries anything funny, just tell me, and I¡¯ll show her the stuff I¡¯m made off. I¡¯m always your knight in shining armor, you know that, right?¡± Valerie smiled. ¡°Of course¡± ¡°Good night¡± She nodded. ¡°Good night, knight¡± They both smiled. ************ Everything was finally set. The engagement was finally happening. Jane almost cursed at Dn when she heard her engagement was going to be postponed due to his injury. But fortunately, it was only postponed by a day. She smiled as several makeup artists worked on her face. One of the servants ran in. ¡°Madam, the ceremony is about to start¡± her smile became even wider. ¡°Okay. I will be out soon¡± ¡°But¡­ but¡­..¡± she stammered. ¡°What is it?¡± Jane asked harshly. ¡°Mr Smith has not arrived yet¡± ¡°What! What do you mean he hasn¡¯t arrived? He should have been here about an hour ago¡± she bit her fingers in agitation. ¡°Did anyone try calling him?¡± ¡°Yes, but he isn¡¯t picking up¡± The door was opened and one of the workers came in. ¡°The ceremony has started¡± Jane became even more anxious. Where the hell was he? ¡°My phone! Where is my phone?¡± She shouted. The servant quickly provided it. She tried Jared¡¯s number countless times, but it only directed her to voice mail. She screamed, overturning the table and breaking everything in sight. The room became a mess in less than thirty seconds. She wasn¡¯t the only agitated one. The other members of the family were too. Sandy, her parents, Jared¡¯s parents and grandparents were gathered at the back of the hall. Old Smith was obviously furious. ¡°Did something happen to him on the way?¡± Jane¡¯s mother asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡± ¡°Mum! Dad!¡± Jane ran towards them. Her eyes, clouded with tears. The sight inevitably made them upset. ¡°It¡¯s okay dear. He will be here soon¡± ¡°Has anyone tried calling him?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Dn replied. I called him severally, but he refused to pick up. Jane copsed on the floor. There were many people here. Was she really going to be humiliated this way? ************ ¡°Boss¡± Will called his boss for the umpteenth time, but he received no response. Will squeezed his eyes shut. Today was his engagement for goodness¡¯ sake. ¡°Boss, Miss Anderson will be very devastated if you do note¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. She could die for all I care¡± he didn¡¯t stop working. Will sighed. ¡°If you were going to be absent, why did you ept it in the first ce?¡± He received no response. The phone rang again and Dn¡¯s name was disyed on the screen, but Jared acted like he didn¡¯t see it. The ring ended and silence descended on the room. Not long after, the phone rang again. Will craned his neck to see who the caller was. He could swear on everything he had that it was one of the family members, but he proven wrong. It was Valerie. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Miss Gardner calling¡± Jared immediately stopped and grabbed the phone. ¡°Hello¡± ¡°You shoulde to the ceremony now. Everyone is waiting¡± Chapter 40 Twenty-five minutes ago. Valerie arrived at the venue. She looked around the hall looking for Sandy, but she could not find her. ¡°Excuse me¡± she beckoned a waiter over. ¡± Do you know Sandy Cornell?¡± He shook his head. ¡°She a bit petite and very pretty and has a very small nose and¡­¡± She tried very hard to exin. ¡°Oh! And she is pregnant¡± The waiter tried to search his memory. ¡°She is also Mr Dn Smith¡¯s wife. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. I cannot take you to them. I can only tell you where they are ¡± Valerie managed to find where the waiter described. She found Sandy and was about to call out her name but stopped. There were many people there and the atmosphere looked tense. They were surrounded by scary bodyguards. But what made her suspicious was Jane. She looked as if she had lost ten years of life. ¡°Psst¡± she tried to call her. ¡°Sandy¡± she whispered. No reaction. Her subsequent attempts proved abortive. Just as she was about to turn around, Sandy happened to look up and caught a glimpse of her. She was going to shout her name when Valerie quickly stopped her by cing her index finger on her lips. She beckoned her over with her hands. Sandy excused herself. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Dn wasn¡¯t willing to let her out of his sight. ¡°I just want to use the restroom¡± ¡°I will go with you¡± ¡°No¡± He knew how mad she could get if he did something she disliked. ¡°Then take a bodyguard with you¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said? I want to go to the restroom. You want me to take bodyguards with me? Men!¡± He called someone over. Specifically, a handsome woman. If it had not been for her feminine face, she would have had no idea she was a woman. She even had muscles! ¡°She wille with you¡± Sandy¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Fine¡± she said and turned to leave. She finally met with Valerie.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I need to see my friend before going to the restroom¡± she said to the bodyguard who nodded. ¡°Hey! I missed you¡± ¡°Me too¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see you inside the hall do I came to look for you. Why are you out here? You were with your¡­.. uh¡­. family-inw, so I couldn¡¯t go in. I¡¯m sure I cannot even get past the guards. Is everything okay?¡± ¡°Not really¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jared¡± ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t here yet¡± ¡°What! But the ceremony has started already¡± ¡°Yes. We are trying to find a solution. He is not even picking our calls. This may be a stain on the Smith family¡¯s reputation. We have no idea where he is¡± Silence descended over them. Sandy suddenly thought of something. ¡°Valerie¡± ¡°Hm¡± ¡°I know this might sound crazy, but¡­.. why don¡¯t you call him?¡± ¡°Me? He isn¡¯t even picking his brother¡¯s call. Why would he pick mine?¡± ¡°We cannot know if you don¡¯t try¡± ¡°That¡¯s absurd. I don¡¯t have his number¡± ¡°I do¡± She gave her Jared¡¯s contact and she dialed it. He picked up on the third ring. Sandy could not hide her shock. ¡°Hello¡± Valerie felt her heartbeat quicken when she heard his captivating voice. ¡°You shoulde to the ceremony now. Everyone is waiting¡± There was silence on the other end for sometime. ¡°Do you want me toe?¡± She was speechless. She was even more stunned when she realized a part of her didn¡¯t want him to. ¡°It¡¯s your engagement party, sir. You should be here. It¡¯s only right¡± ¡°Okay¡± the line was disconnected. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°He¡¯sing¡± ¡°What the¡­.. You convinced him with just a phone call? Does he-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll like to return to the hall now. You can join me when you are done¡± She retraced her steps back to the hall. A servant ran to where the family were gathered. ¡°Mr Smith has arrived¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± Sandy muttered under her breath. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°He went into the hall¡± Valerie was glued to her seat, her eyes never leaving the couple that went around greeting the guests. ¡°Aren¡¯t they so cute together? They are the perfect example of a match made in heaven¡± somedies behind her whispered. ¡°Of course. I can¡¯t even imagine how their children will be. Very beautiful and handsome. She is so lucky. How I wish I could find someone has perfect as him¡± she sighed wistfully. Their conversation made Valerie¡¯s stomach churn. She didn¡¯t know what she was feeling at that moment. Was it pain? Anger? Jealousy? Maybe the threebined. When it was time to eat, Valerie stacked her te with food and shoved it into her mouth as she struggled to fight back tears. ¡°Why am I even crying?¡± She sniffed, taking another mouthful. ¡°Yo man! Congrattions¡± Mike pped his back with a smile and only received a deathly re. Pete and ke were also there. Jared turned back to his object of interest. Valerie. ¡°Man, I noticed you have been staring in that direction for quite some time. What are you looking at?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business¡± Valerie turned and caught him staring at her. She swallowed and quickly went back to eating. ke watched all these with narrowed eyes. Valerie¡¯s heart didn¡¯t stop beating fast. Why was he staring at her? Openly at that? ¡°Hi Valerie¡± Jane approached her with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I had to inform you the party was postponed at thest minute¡± Valerie nodded. ¡°But how did you get my number?¡± Janeughed. ¡°Did you forget? The man I¡¯m marrying is your boss. Oh right, is the food here to your liking?¡± Valerie knew better than to assume Jane was being nice. She was rubbing her engagement in her face. That only meant one thing. She knew that Jared liked her. ¡°Just look at my ring. Isn¡¯t it amazing? I¡¯m sure it will be very expensive. About five times your sry. I cannot believe Jared would spend so much just to give me this¡± What Jane didn¡¯t know was, Jared had transferred all the duties to Will. Will had bought the ring and Jared had even refused to look at it. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now, so you can enjoy your food. You don¡¯t get to eat that everytime¡± Her work here was done, so she turned to leave. Valerie clenched the fork in her hand and for the first time in her life, she felt like killing someone, and that person was Jane. But she could not. She didn¡¯t have the heart to. Instead, she began to stab her food, imagining Jane¡¯s face in it. ¡°Woah! Someone is being violent¡± Valerie turned to the speaker and saw a man she didn¡¯t recognize. He took a seat beside her. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°I guess you don¡¯t remember me. I¡¯m Ryan. Ryan Taylor. We met at the caf¨¦ opposite Smith corporation¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m so sorry. I tend to forget people I don¡¯t see often¡± ¡°Them I shoulde see you often?¡± ¡°No that wasn¡¯t -¡± she wasn¡¯t in the mood to exin everything. ¡°Have it your way¡± ¡°You look upset. Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure? You don¡¯t look so¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m fine. Even if I¡¯m not, it is not your ce to know!¡± She snapped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I upset you more¡± Valerie sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I snapped at you. Excuse me¡± she snatched a ss of champagne from a passing waiter who frowned at her rudeness, but she cared less. She met Sandy on the way. ¡°I was just going toe to you. Come¡± she brought her to a secluded area. Sandy turned to the female bodyguard who had been following her around and said with gritted teeth. ¡°Can you please give us five minutes of privacy?¡± ¡°I am sorry, Madam, but I¡¯m under strict orders not to let you out of my sight¡± Sandy seethed. ¡°Fine. But, can you move back a little? That is the least you can do for me¡± She wasn¡¯t going to budge anyway. She moved six feet back. ¡°You have changed¡± Valeriemented. ¡°Really? Well, I have to. Now, here¡¯s why I called you here. What is the deal between you and Jared?¡± ¡°Deal? What deal?¡± ¡°Does Jared like you?¡± Valerie kept quiet. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But it looks like it¡± There was silence for a while. ¡°Then¡­.. do you like him?¡± Chapter 41 The party hadn¡¯t ended, but Jared was already on his way out. Jane found out and ran after him. However, she could hardly keep up in her bulky dress. ¡°Jared, wait! The party hasn¡¯t ended yet. Where are you going?¡± He did not stop. She took off her heels and managed to reach him. She held his hand. He yanked it off and as a result, she fell. He didn¡¯t look back or sympathize. Undeterred, she stood up again and stood before him with her arms spread wide. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± ¡°You got what you wanted, right? Then leave me alone¡± He sidestepped her, got into his car and left. She lied to the family that he had urgent business to attend to, and it definitely didn¡¯t sit well with them. Especially her parents. That night, Jared was called to the old mansion, where everyone was waiting except Jane and her parents. He strode in and sat with no care in the world. ¡°Did I say you could sit? ¡°I¡¯m already seated¡± ¡°What is wrong with you? Why are you suddenly like this?¡± His mother said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean¡± ¡°You camete to the party and left before it ended. You made all of us look like fools while exining to people why you were absent. Do you know how bad Jane¡¯s parents felt?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sorry. I wouldn¡¯t leave my work for something as trivial as an engagement¡± ¡°Tri¡­.. trivial? What¡­.¡± She tried to stand up. He needed a good beating, but Dn held her down, telling her not to. ¡°That¡¯s enough¡± he said to Jared. He could sense he was in a bad mood and was only passing aggression. ¡°You should not say something like that?¡± ¡°I guess you have all gotten your answers. I would like to take my leave now¡± He stood up and turned to leave. Old Smith, who had kept silent for sometime also stood up, raised his stick and a bang was heard as the item hit his back. Sandy gasped. Did he just hit his grandson? Mrs Smith¡¯s brows also furrowed. What he did wasn¡¯t good, but she would rather not have him getting hit like that. He gave his grandfather a nk stare like he didn¡¯t feel anything. ¡°Are you happy now?¡± He left without another word. He drove without any clear destination in mind. He called Mike, and it was a bit loud on the other side. He could already guess where he was. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you there¡± Breaking traffic rules, he drove madly to the nightclub. ¡°Hey buddy. I was surprised when you called me at thest minute, but wait, isn¡¯t today your engagement?¡± Mike wasn¡¯t the only one there. ke and Pete were present too.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Without saying anything, he downed a ss of strong liquor. ¡°Woah man! Take it easy. I can help you, you know. How about I get you some women?¡± Mike wiggled his brows teasingly. ¡°Do so¡± They were all stunned silent. Mike had only said that to poke fun at him. He didn¡¯t actually think he would agree. Or was he kidding? ¡°Wait, what!¡± ¡°You heard me. One is enough¡± They all looked at each other. He was willing to fuck another woman on the night of his engagement. Mike was conversant with this, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to arrange a woman for Jared. The woman tried to seduce him, but he didn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°I¡¯ll see you guyster¡± he turned to the woman. ¡°Follow me¡± his friends watched him leave, their jaws on the ground. ¡°What just happened?¡± Pete asked. ¡°I wish I knew¡± Mike replied. ************ Immediately they got to the hotel, thedy brought him close and tried to kiss him. He pushed her down on the bed, spreading her legs. He wore protection before thrusting into her. The woman began to moan loudly. He growled as he imagined Valerie¡¯s face. He began to thrust even harder. ¡°Yes. Fuck me harder!¡± She screamed. She came, but he didn¡¯t stop. When he finally reached climax, he disposed the condom and fell asleep mumbling Valerie¡¯s name. The next morning, a hard knock on the door woke him up. The woman was still in bed. He jerked her awake. ¡°Hello handsome¡± she traced her hands down his hard chest. He pped it off and reached into the bedside drawer, bringing out a wad of cash. He ced it on the bed. ¡°Take this and get out¡± The woman smiled at the sight of money. She got dressed and left. Jared¡¯s raked his hand through his hair. He had sex with that woman, so he could feel better, but the emptiness was still there. ¡°Boss¡± Will came in. He was so perplexed. He had just seen a woman sashay out of his room. ¡°What? You wish to speak?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. I brought your work clothes¡± ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± ¡°Lucky guess¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying¡± Jared said tly. ¡°Okay. You got me. Mike told me¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. What else did he say?¡± ¡°Hm? Was he supposed to say something else?¡± In response, Jared snatched the clothes from him and sent him out. This hotel also belonged to him. There was a penthouse at the top that was exclusively his. They both headed for the car and Will attempted to get into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°What do you think you are doing?¡± ¡°I want to drive¡­ you¡± Poor Will looked lost. Was he not doing something right? ¡°Get out¡± Will did as he was told and watched as Jared got in and started the car. ¡°Find your way back to thepany¡± With that, he drove off. Will looked like an abandoned puppy. **************** It was break time and Valerie stood up ready to get something to eat when a call came in. She had no idea who it was. ¡°Am I speaking with Valerie Gardner?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me. Who are you?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet at the coffee shop opposite your workce¡± Before she could think of asking questions, whoever it was, hung up. She was going there anyway. She looked around immediately she entered. She didn¡¯t see any familiar person. ¡°Miss Gardner¡± ¡°Oh!¡± She jerked back, startled. ¡°I guess I scared you¡± ¡°Of course you did¡± she patted her chest. ¡°Who are you, by the way?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sit first¡± They did. ¡°My name is ke, Jared¡¯s friend¡± She tilted her head. Why was Jared¡¯s friend looking for her? ¡°I know you must be wondering why I¡¯m here. I will just go straight to the point. I want you to stay away from Jared¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m his secretary, how do you expect me to do that?¡± ¡°I mean personally and¡­. romantically. I saw you stealing nces at each other at the party. As you have already guessed, Jared and Jane don¡¯t really get along, but it became even rocky since you came into the picture. So please -¡± ¡°What are you doing here, ke?¡± Valerie turned to see Jared standing behind her, a hard look on his face. When did he get here? ¡°Jared¡± ke said with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. ¡°I asked you a question. Why are you here¡­.. with my secretary?¡± The air around them suddenly became chilly. ¡°I¡­..¡± ¡°We happened to meet here, and he was telling me some interesting things about you. That¡¯s all¡± Valerie came to the rescue, refusing to look at the surprised ke. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to work now¡± she left without looking back. Chapter 42 Valerie gawked. She was seated on the love seat in the living room staring at the dressed her in wonder. La stood opposite her proudly with both her hands on her hips. ¡°How¡­.¡± She didn¡¯t know what to say. These dresses were high quality. ¡°Are these really for me?¡± ¡°Of course. Who else would it be for? Sandy probably has hundreds of dresses even better than these in her wardrobe already¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I would have thought you were some rich heiress. Where did you get the money? And don¡¯t give me the bullshit about paycheck. I¡¯m not buying it. These things cost maybe fifteen times your sry¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you this, but I¡¯ve been saving up for quite some time and here is the result¡± ¡°You bought me dresses with the money you have been saving up? Did you forget you bought me some not too long ago?¡± ¡°Is it too much? You deserve it. It¡¯s your birthday in about two months. Just take it as a gift¡± Valerie squinted her eyes. ¡°Stop looking at me like that. I¡¯m off to my room¡± ¡°La¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Thank you¡± She only smiled in response. The next day, it was time to leave work, but she didn¡¯t. She hardly saw Jared. He didn¡¯t call her into his office, and he hadn¡¯t gone out for meetings either. He stayed in and buried himself in paperwork. She had met him at the office today and guessed he didn¡¯t go home. His appearance wasn¡¯t really good also. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Kathy asked. ¡°Uhm¡­ I have some things to finish up. I will leave when I¡¯m done¡± It was an excuse, but it was true. She thought maybe by the time she was done, Jared would have left by then. But she was wrong. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, checking the time. 11:05 pm. She looked towards his door. He still didn¡¯te out. She packed her stuff, went to his door and knocked twice. She entered when she received a go-ahead. ¡°I told you to go home, Will¡± When he received no response, he looked up. ¡°Valerie. Why are you still doing here?¡± ¡°I was waiting for you¡± she blurted out without thinking. She bit her tongue in embarrassment. ¡°You were waiting for me?¡± There was no denying it now. ¡°Yes. And I also had some extra work to do¡± he looked so tired. ¡°You should leave now¡± ¡°Are you not going home?¡¯ ¡°By any chance, are you worried about me?¡± ¡°Do you want to go somewhere?¡± ¡°Somewhere? Where is that?¡± In a forty-five minutes, Jared found himself before an ice cream truck. He looked around the neighborhood. It was not tidy. ¡°Is this¡­. the ce you were talking about?¡± ¡°Mhm¡± ¡°Two cones of ice cream please¡± They both headed to a nearby bench. She gave him a cone. ¡°I don¡¯t like sweets¡± ¡°Oh¡± her shoulders drooped in disappointed. Jared felt bad. ¡°But it wouldn¡¯t hurt to do it once in a while¡± He grimaced when the cold cream entered his mouth, but he quickly smiled. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ good¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like it¡± she said. ¡°You got me¡± They chuckled. ¡°What do you do when you¡¯re not busy? She questioned. ¡°I am hardly not busy, but when I am, I read books¡± ¡°You love reading?¡± He nodded. ¡°Wow! I do too. What type do you like reading? Romance? Mystery?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t read those¡± ¡°So what do you read? Fantasy? Thriller? Horror-¡± ¡°History. I read history¡± he interrupted. ¡°His¡­. history? You read history novels? Where is the fun in that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do it for fun. It is to gain knowledge¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re already so powerful and intelligent. I heard you graduated from the best university in the country. Is that true?¡± ¡°It is¡± ¡°Woah! I wish I had half of your brain¡± ¡°It won¡¯t fit into that little head of yours. So make do with what you have¡± he patted her head. ¡°That is an insult¡± ¡°Oh, is it?¡± She scoffed and pouted. ¡°How about we go get some street food. I¡¯m hungry¡± ¡°Street food? It is not hygienic¡± She shook her head in agreement. ¡°I know a very good ce. I¡¯ve been doing this for a long time so do not worry¡± she grabbed his hand and dragged him up. They got to a tent and Valerie settled him down while she went to get their food. She came back with two pieces of tacos. She dug in immediately. Closing her eyes, she moaned at the deliciousness. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡± She asked when she saw him looking at the food with what looked like disgust. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Come on. This ce might not look like the pce you live in, but it¡¯s still fair. Please, just a bite¡± she batted her eyes severally and Jaredpletely fell for it. He took a careful bite. Surprisingly, he loved it. Valerie smiled as she continued with hers. However, when she looked up again, she realized he had stopped eating and was staring at her. ¡°Do you not like it anymore?¡± ¡°I realized there is something more delicious than this taco here¡± ¡°Really? I can order it if you want¡± He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s right before me¡± ¡°Before you? Where?¡± She looked at the table. There was nothing there except the tacos. ¡°You¡± She was dazed into silence. He stood up and leaned closer. Her face became as red as a tomato. His thumb wiped the side of her lips. ¡°There was something there¡± then his thumb went into his mouth. She became so red that she almost bled from her nose. ¡°Why did you do that? It is dirty¡± ¡°Nothing about you is dirty¡± he said huskily. It sent jolts into her body. She cleared her throat so hard that it almost bruised. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± he nodded obediently. They walked in silence towards where the car was parked. His hand shifted to hers and held it. She raised a brow and looked at him. He looked very serious like he didn¡¯t just do something silly. She wanted to resist, but could not bring herself to. Her small hand in his big ones felt soforting. He secretly smiled when she did not resist. Baby steps were still steps. ¡°Thanks for bringing me home¡± ¡°Thank you too¡± the smiled at each for a while before she hesitantly got off. The smile never left her face, even when she entered. La studied her friend who was grinning foolishly, and she was even blushing. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Valerie quickly came back to her senses. ¡°Of course. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°You are blushing¡± La deadpanned. ¡°Am I? Oh, it must be the weather. It¡¯s a bit hot outside¡± ¡°By the way, why were youte? You should have arrived a few hours ago. I was worried¡± ¡°I workedte. I¡¯m sorry. I should have called or texted. I¡¯m going to bed now¡± she yawned her goodnight. The next morning, Valerie woke up to the sound of her phone ringing nonstop. She stretched and yawned. It was Sandy. She picked up the call and immediately La burst in with anger burning in her eyes. She was confused. ¡°Hello¡± ¡°Valerie, what is wrong with you?¡± Sandy yelled at her over the phone. Chapter 43 ¡°What? Did I do something wrong? Why do you look and sound like you could kill me at any time? She yawned again. ¡°Did you not see it?¡± ¡°See what? Just go straight to the point¡± ¡°You are all over social media¡± ¡°Oh, really? Why would ¨C wait, what!¡± She thought for a while and screamed. ¡°WHAT! This is a misunderstanding. A very big misunderstanding. Why would I be on social media? I¡­ I¡¯ll call you back¡± she struggled to press the right things. ¡°Let me save you the trouble¡± La threw her phone at Valerie. ¡°The top three trending searches are about you¡­. and your boss¡± With her hands beating fast, and her hands shaking she scrolled through. THE PRESIDENT OF SMITH INDUSTRIES IS BEING PLAYED BY A DANGEROUS VIXEN. JARED SMITH HAS A MISTRESS. THE PRESIDENT OF SMITH INDUSTRIES IS CHEATING ON HIS FIANC¨¦E. Such headlines went on and on. Valerie stared at the picture attached to it. It was a picture of them holding hands. They were staring at each other, smiling and looking like a couple in love. Jared¡¯s face was very visible, but only a side of hers was, so basically so one would know who she was if she stepped out. Only those who knew her before would recognize the person in this picture as her. She clicked on one to check thements. She was terrified. They were all cursing her. They had even started a trend! #boycottthemistress. She scrolled through thements. ¡°I wish I could meet that bitch and plunge a thousand knives into her to teach her a lesson! #boycottthemistress. ¡°Oh! Poor Jane. She must be crying right now, all because of that witch! #boycottthemistress. ¡°Ugh! I feel like puking right now. Someone is just so disgusting! #boycottthemistress. ¡°If shamelessness was a person! #boycottthemistress. She copsed on the bed,pletely dazed. ¡°What was in your brain going out with him like this at night, alone. He is a public figure. Paparazzi are looking to find even a speck of dirt on him. See what has happened now, and you have also been dragged into this. Congrattions¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. As if millions of people cursing her wasn¡¯t enough, her friends were not supporting her. Valerie felt even worse, and her eyes clouded with tears. La saw how hurt she was and sighed, fixing her expression to a less angry one. She held her hand. ¡°Listen to me, I know you like him, but -¡± ¡°I do not like him!¡± It sounded more like she was convincing herself. ¡°Yes, you do, so don¡¯t interrupt me again. Jared Smith is your boss. A public figure. Do you know how many million of girls all over the world have a crush on him? Also, there is a high possibility that he will be the head of the Smith family in the future. Take what happened to Dn Smith, for instance, you think that was an ident? No. It was nned. When ites to wealthy families like that, there¡¯s no such thing as ident. It is bound to happen in a powerful family like that. Can you handle that?¡± Valerie had begun to cry, but La didn¡¯t stop. ¡°And even if you agree to date him, you think his family will ept you? Trust me when I tell you that the only reason Sandy was epted into that family was because she was pregnant with a child of that family. But you don¡¯t have any advantage. Loving him-¡± ¡°Stop¡± ¡°Loving Jared Smith will only hurt you¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough¡± ¡°Do you think he truly loves you? If he does, why didn¡¯t he get rid of his fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Stop it, La¡± ¡°You need to get rid of the feelings you -¡± ¡°I SAID STOP!¡± She screamed so much that her voice broke. Her face was extremely red. ¡°Go away. Leave me alone¡± La felt guilty that she had pushed her too hard but she wanted to make her see reasons. ¡°Call me if you need me¡± As soon as the door closed, Valerie buried her face in the pillow to muffle the sound of her sobs. She went to the living room ready for work, looking like a zombie. La shook her head and helped her with make-up. She had seen some make up artists do it before filming, so she was quite good at it. She was called into his office immediately she arrived. ¡°You called for me, sir¡± Jared narrowed his eyes. He thought he detected a hint of coldness in her voice. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± They were just fine yesterday. He also noticed she was avoiding making eye contact with him. ¡°Yes. May I know why you called for me, sir?¡± He kept silent for a while before speaking, asking what his schedule for the day was. ¡°If that is all, I¡¯ll take my leave¡± she turned to leave, fearing that she might burst out crying if she continued hearing his voice. He hadn¡¯t realized what was going on yet. It left him extremely confused. What changed? There was a knock and Will came in. ¡°You need to sign this sir¡± he did immediately and stretched the file to him. Then he realized Will was staring at somewhere else with a bizarre look on his face. ¡°Hey! Take it¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Will quickly epted it and turned to leave, only to run back to Jared. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Boss, don¡¯t you really know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± His boss really did not like surfing the inte, but he should have realized something was wrong when the workers were whispering at each other. ¡°You should check the inte yourself¡± He picked up his tablet and the more he saw, the more veins popped out. He mmed it down and Will flinched. ¡°So this is it. This is why she has been giving me the cold shoulder¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth it¡± Will murmured. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°I want all articles like these brought down. I don¡¯t want to see even one of it resurface. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± Will came back minutester. ¡°Boss someone is here to see you¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see anyone¡± ¡°Boss, it is your brother¡¯s wife¡± Outside the office, Valerie was unable to speak when she saw Sandy. What was she doing here? She could not as her anything or show that she was acquainted with a big shot¡¯s wife. Sandy smiled at her and entered Jared¡¯s office. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jared asked. ¡°Can I sit?¡± ¡°Of course. Please do. Is there something you would like to have?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mr Smith¡± ¡°Please call me Jared¡± ¡°Can I speak to you informally, too?¡± He nodded. ¡°Okay, Jared. I¡¯ll go straight to the purpose of my visit. I¡¯m sure you have seen the article about you. Everyone has seen it. And it is indisputably you and my friend in the picture. I want to know what you think of her. A lover? A ything? A-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think of her like that¡± ¡°So is it a lover then?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. He kept silent. The only sound in the room was the sound of his index finger hitting the table. ¡°I want you to know something. My friends are my second family. I will never forgive anyone who hurts them, even if that person is you. All the family members know already, and it only a matter of time before grandfather calls you to the old mansion. I don¡¯t want to bring Valerie into this. You know how ruthless grandfather is¡± She took her purse and stood up. ¡°Please know where she stands in your heart¡± she turned to leave. Her hand was already on the door knob when Jared spoke behind her. ¡°Do you love my brother?¡± Chapter 44 Valerie received a text message from Sandy. ¡°Come downstairs¡± she was worried. What if she was caught. It was against the rules to leave during work hours. Another one came in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You have your boss¡¯s approval¡± They met inside the car. Sandy hurriedly held her hand, a look of worry on her face. ¡°How do you feel? Isn¡¯t this too hard on you?¡± Valerie shook her head. ¡°It is no big deal. Most people didn¡¯t recognize me because my face was a little hidden. Only people who know me will realize it was me, and they are a few. The opposite would have been a disaster¡± she chuckled to reduce the tension, but Sandy didn¡¯t find anything funny in it. ¡°Come on. I am fine. You don¡¯t have to put on such a face. And it is also not good for my little nephew. Sandy scoffed. ¡°Who said it¡¯s a nephew? What if it was a niece?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know yet¡± ¡°Have you done an ultrasound?¡± She shook her head. ¡°We wanted it toe as a surprise. I don¡¯t think Dn cares if it¡¯s a boy or a girl¡± ¡°Is he treating you well?¡± ¡°He is. Just that he had be very forceful after that incident happened. He insists on letting bodyguards follow me and I hate it¡± ¡°That is normal. He is just looking out for you¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Looking out my foot. Now back to you. All the articles about you two are gone. Jared probably did this, but it isn¡¯t the solution. Can you tell me what really happened yesterday? You were even holding hands¡± ¡°Well, he pulled an all-nighter and he looked very tired. I became worried, so I offered to help him a little¡± ¡°You were worried? Why? Do you perhaps love him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡± ¡°Then if you really don¡¯t, do not give others that idea. Jane, his fianc¨¦e, is not what she portrays in public. She looks like a dangerous person who would go to the extreme to get what she wants. I don¡¯t want you to get hurt¡± ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll keep my distance¡± ¡°I need to go now. That man has imposed a curfew on me, can you imagine that?¡± ¡°He is just worried about you. See youter¡± ¡°Hm¡± Inside the elevator, Valerie found it weird that Kathy didn¡¯t say or ask anything. She must have seen it, right? So, why wasn¡¯t she saying anything? Was she mad? She sat, and her eyes strayed to Kathy, who was staring at herptop. ¡°Uh¡­. Kathy¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Did you see the news article about¡­.. the boss?¡± ¡°Yeah. I saw it this morning¡± she replied simply. Valerie thinned her lips and was about to get back to work when Kathy spoke. ¡°The woman in the picture¡­¡­¡± Valerie held her breath. ¡°¡­ it was you, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why were you alone with him and¡­.. nevermind. Not like it is any of my business¡± she turned away from her. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I just wanted to help him. They had the wrong idea¡± ¡°Wrong idea? You guys looked so intimate. You were holding hands¡± ¡°That¡­ Fine. We held hands but it¡­ it was strictly tonic. Please trust me, hm?¡± Kathy sighed. ¡°Why are you getting so worked up?¡± ¡°I hate mistresses. That word disgusts me¡± she answered, a weird fire of anger burning in her eyes. ************ Exactly as he had expected, his grandfather summoned him. He entered the living room and met no one in the living room. She was about to ask his grandfather¡¯s whereabouts when he felt a hit on his back. It was not painful, so it wasn¡¯t his grandfather. He turned angrily and realized it was his mum. His expression softened a bit. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°What is wrong with you? Where is your head these days?¡± He pointed at it. ¡°Right here¡± she hit him again repeatedly with her little fist, but he barely flinched. By the time she was done, she was huffing and puffing. ¡°Are you done? Now tell me where grandfather is¡± ¡°He is in the west wing garden. He has a guest¡± ¡°Guest? That lonely old man barely has guests?¡± ¡°Watch what you say. It is a very special guest ording to the butler. I¡¯m also curious who it is¡± They met Mr Smith on the way. ¡°Dad¡± he nodded. Together, they went to the garden. Everyone stopped in their track when they heard someoneugh. That was definitely old Smith. It had been a long time since they heard himugh like that. Dn and Sandy arrived behind them. They had heard it too. Old Smith turned back and saw them. ¡°Oh! There you are¡± his face was full of smiles. This wasn¡¯t what Jared expected. He had envisioned the old man hitting him with his stick and and giving him a thirty minutes-long tongueshing. There was a youngdy seated opposite him. She has a straight nose and a flushed face. She has a long, blonde, wavy hair with simple piece of earrings and blue-gray eyes. Overall, she looked poised like someone who came from an aristocratic family. Her eyes lingered on Jared. ¡°Dad, who is this?¡± Mrs Smith asked. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the dinner table. I¡¯ll introduce her¡± he turned to her. ¡°let¡¯s go¡± she nodded, stood up and locked arms with him. Eyebrows were raised. ¡°Let me help you¡± Old Smithughed. ¡°Good child¡± They all settled at the table and were about to start eating when Jane rushed in. ¡°Was Ite? I¡¯m so sorry¡± ¡°Have your seat¡± Mrs Smith said. She was so mad when she saw the news earlier about him and ady, but smiled when she saw an opportunity. The seat beside him was empty. If he hade after her, he would have avoided seating beside her. Maybeingte wasn¡¯t so bad after all. She suddenly noticed a new person among them, but she was in no ce to speak. She was not officially part of the family yet. ¡°Dad, you said you were going to introduce her¡± ¡°Yes, I did. Everyone, meet Amelia Wagner. Amelia, meet my family. This is my son and my daughter-inw. That is my granddaughter-inw and over there¡± he pointed at Jane ¡°¡­ is my granddaughter-inw to-be. You see those two rascals seated there, they are my grandsons¡± ¡°Oh my! You have such handsome grandsons. Any woman would kill to have them¡± ¡°I know right? They have my genes¡± Old Smith boasted. Jane rolled her eyes. Was she secretly flirting? Who was this nobody, anyway? Amelia Wagner. She had never heard that name in the upper circle. ¡°I forgot to tell you, she is a princess¡± Amelia held his hand looking a little embarrassed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say that¡± ¡°Why would I not? That is what you are¡± Jane almost choked on her food. ¡°A princess? You mean¡­.. a real one¡±? ¡°Of course. Were you expecting a fake?¡± Old Smith reprimanded her. He quickly shut her mouth. ¡°She is the daughter of the king of Syldavia¡± Ameliaughed awkwardly. ¡°Please befortable around me¡± her eyes strayed to Sandy who ate silently. She stared at her stomach. ¡°You are lucky grandfather. You are already expecting a great-grandchild, while dad is still struggling to have a son-inw and maybe a grandchild?¡± Sandy looked up and realized Amelia was staring at her protruded belly. It felt so ufortable. Old Smithughed. ¡°You should find someone soon. You are not getting any younger. I can find someone if you want¡± She turned to Old Smith. ¡°No. I will take care of myself¡± She shifted her gaze to Sandy¡¯s stomach again, staring long and hard. Chapter 45 In the car, Sandy looked disturbed. She turned to Dn. He was focused on his tablet. She sighed angrily. Did he even realize something was wrong? ¡°You are sighing for the fifth time now. What is wrong?¡± She said without looking up. ¡°That woman¡­ Is she not weird?¡± ¡°Weird? Is she?¡± Sandy squeezed her eyes shut. Was this man bent on angering her? ¡°Yes, she is. She kept staring at my stomach, and it made me uneasy¡± Dn paused and looked up. ¡°I know¡± ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°Yes. That was why I requested we leave early¡± ¡°Are we not going to do anything about this?¡± ¡°I will look into her. Nothing will happen. Do not worry¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°She stared at you for sometime and she even called you handsome¡± she looked out the window. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°In your dreams¡± He chuckled. ¡°Like I said earlier, don¡¯t worry. I am all yours¡± he held her small hands. He said to Sebastian who was driving. ¡°I want every information on Amelia Wagner. Even to the smallest detail¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± At the old mansion, Jared stood alone at the entrance when someone came up behind him. ¡°Hi¡± Amelia smiled. He only nodded. ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°Actually we have met before¡­ at a meeting in France. You looked very busy, so I could not approach you¡± Jared didn¡¯t have my desire to speak to her, but he wanted to satisfy his curiosity. ¡°How long are you going to stay here. ¡°It¡¯s indefinite¡± ¡°While you are here, where will you stay?¡± She smiled bashfully. ¡°I initially wanted to get a hotel, but grandfather insisted I stay here, so I will be here¡± He wanted to ask why she came in the first ce, but refrained. ¡°Jared!¡± Jane sprinted out of nowhere and stood beside Jared. She raised her chin at Amelia as if marking her territory. ¡°Why don¡¯t we leave now?¡± I already bid uncle and aunt goodbye. She had taken a risk. She secretly prayed he wouldn¡¯t tell her off. He didn¡¯t speak and only walked away. She raised her chin even more challenging while Amelia only smiled. It irked her more. ¡°See youter, Jared¡± she said after him, but he didn¡¯t stop. Jane snorted and walked away. The next morning, luckily, Valerie had a day off. She was descending the stairs when the doorbell rang. ¡°Were you expecting someone?¡± She asked. ¡°No. I was about to ask the same¡± She went to the door and was beyond surprised to see Sandy. ¡°Sandy! How were you able toe here? Did he finally let you out of the house alone?¡± She shook her head and pointed behind her. There were about eight bodyguards behind her, fully armed. Valerie¡¯s mouth rounded into an ¡®O¡¯. ¡°Come in¡± As she did, the men were about to follow her. ¡°What are you doing? You want to follow me inside? Are you perverts?¡± She asked angrily. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we have received strict orders not to-¡± ¡°Strict orders! Strict orders! Strict orders!¡± She screamed at all of them. La and Valerie flinched. She was frustrated already. ¡°I¡¯m your madam, right? I order you to stay outside, unless you want to lose your job¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, we are really going to lose our heads if anything happens to you. Please just let one of use in¡± she pped her hands against her forehead and went in, one of the men behind her. ¡°Woah! You are acting like a real madam now¡± ¡°La, I¡¯m d you are back¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I should have called you back then. Let¡¯s just say back then, I was mad because¡­ you had to leave just like that¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± she sighed. ¡°This life is so exhausting¡± she rested her back. ¡°Uh¡­.. guys, there is something I need your help with. Especially you La¡± The bodyguard was about ten feet away from them. She beckoned them closer. ¡°There is thisdy who came to the old mansion yesterday¡± ¡°Old mansion? Where is that?¡± Valerie asked. ¡°It¡¯s Dn¡¯s grandfather¡¯s house. He brought a woman yesterday and there was something weird about her. She kept staring at my stomach. It was so suspicious. Dn said he was going to look into it, but he might not tell me what the results was¡± ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± ¡°ording to grandfather, her name is Amelia Wagner, and she is the Princess of Syldavia¡± ¡°A princess?¡± ¡°Do you know where she will stay? ¡°I have no idea, but my guts says the old mansion. Grandfather seems to like her a lot¡± ¡°Being in the middle of a wolf and a suspected wolf¡± La shook her head. ¡°Poor you. What do you want to know?¡± ¡°The kind of person she really is¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to my power room¡± Sandy red at the bodyguard. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare think of following me¡± They all went to the room. Valerie and Sandy sat while La worked. They were not going to understand a thing anyway. ¡°Guys,e over. It says here that she is the only child of King Larry of Syldavia and she is also kind¡± Valerie scoffed. ¡°I know not to judge people by what they seem outside or what people portray them as. I never knew Jane was so ugly inside until I married Dn¡± ¡°She does charity, donating gifts and money to orphanages every Christmas¡± ¡°It could all be a facade¡± Valeriemented. ¡°I¡¯ll try to study her¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± La suddenly said. ¡°It is dangerous. We don¡¯t know the kind of person she is. Let Dn do it since he is looking into it while you focus on taking care of your baby¡± Sandy nodded. ¡°You are right. I guess I¡¯ll do that¡± **************** A man limped into Damon¡¯s drawing room. ¡°Did you do what I asked you to do?¡± ¡°Yes boss. There was nothing special about her movement except leaving for work and going back home, but she didn¡¯t go to work today. She was indoor all day¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Damon furrowed his brows. Was she sick? He whipped out his phone and dialed Valerie¡¯s number. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the tone? Ami I interrupting something important?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ no. you are not. Why are you calling?¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± There was a pause. On the other end, Sandy and La were staring at her with so much interest. ¡°Of course. Why would I not be?¡± ¡°I¡­ nevermind¡± he could not let her know he had someone tail her. She was going to get mad. ¡°Do you want to go out for a drink?¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I guess you are busy. What about tonight?¡± ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll hang up now¡± she ended the call and the phone was immediately snatched from her. ¡°Damon, huh?¡± La smiled. ¡°Who is he?¡± She winked. ¡°He is¡­. just a friend¡± ¡°Hmmm. Are you sure?¡± Sandy winked at her too. ¡°Come on, guys. He is really just a friend¡± Still, they didn¡¯t look like they believed her. ¡°Okay. If you say so¡± Sandy said with a smile. Damon stood up ready to leave the room, but was a little surprised to see his minion still in the room. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± ¡°There is something I must tell you¡± ¡°You know how much I hate being kept in the dark so speak!¡± ¡°The old mansion has a new arrival¡± Damon narrowed his eyes. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It is princess Amelia¡± ¡°What! What the fuck is she doing there?¡± Chapter 46 In the darkness of the night, a woman with bluish gray eyes slept on the bed, she fiddled with the locket on her neck. After a long thought, she stood up and left the room. She went to the living room, stopping before the photograph of the whole family hanged on the wall. Old Smith, looking as rigid as ever. Mrs Smith smiling and cheerful, while her husband had a look which mirrored his two sons¡¯. A serious expression. Amelia¡¯s eyes went to the side. Sitting beside her not was Cheryl. She had a bored look on her face, like she could not wait to get out of there. ¡°Princess¡± she jerked her head back only to see the butler. She sighed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I just came down to get water¡± she drank a ss of water and went back to her room under his watchful eyes. **************** ¡°Do you have another n, boss?¡± Damon¡¯s minion asked. He was sitting, facing the window and looking at the clear sky. His fingers were entwined and the index fingers tapping each other. ¡°Have you been following Amelia recently?¡± ¡°Yes, but it isn¡¯t easy. She is always with bodyguards¡± Damon smiled. ¡°Stop following Valerie and focus on that woman. I want to know what she is up to. And about Dn¡­.. what is the possibility he will win the election?¡± ¡°The possibility is very high. Considering how people speak highly of him, and how popr he is, especially¡­. among women¡± ¡°When he is elected into office, we will strike. I¡¯ll see how he will be able to handle it when he loses his wife and child¡± ¡°Boss, since you are targeting the women connected with the family, will Miss Gardner also be included¡± Damon stopped tapping and turned sharply, directing his sharp gaze to the man who refused to meet his eyes. ¡°Do you want a bullet in your other leg? I¡¯m sure one isn¡¯t enough for you¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, boss¡± ¡°Get out¡± ************ The election hade and gone, it was finally time to announce who the next president was. Only Sandy was in therge living room. Dn wasn¡¯t back yet. She was as nervous as hell and even though it wasn¡¯t healthy for her, she could not help it. The servants were sneakily watching too After the presenter said somethings she paid no attention to, she finally heard it. ¡°¡­ the winner of the just concluded presidential election is Mr Dn Smith. The inauguration¡­¡± Sandy felt her heart do a little somersault. The winner was Dn? She was going to be the country¡¯s firstdy? Her breath became ragged. ¡°Madam, are you alright? Call 911! Quick!¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to do that. You can all go to your rooms. I want to be alone¡± she looked lost and Dn returned and met her in the same position. ¡°I thought you would have gone to sleep. Where are the servants¡± ¡°I told them to go to their rooms¡± ¡°Did you see the news?¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m going to be the next president -¡± he stopped short when he noticed her nk look. ¡°Is something wrong? Aren¡¯t you happy about this?¡± She tried to speak, but the words just wouldn¡¯te out. Dn was horrified to see her eyes glisten with tears, and soon she burst out crying without knowing the reason. Was it because she was scared of bing a firstdy? Was it anger? She could not tell, but one thing she was sure of was that she had be hypersensitive. Why else would she be crying when she should be gathering her courage and willing herself to be strong? Dn pulled her into his arms. ¡°I¡­. I am just scared¡± she said when she found her voice. ¡°What if something happens to us and our baby? Now that you are president, I¡¯m sure you have more enemies. They mighte after you and maybe the baby¡± Dn held her shoulders. ¡°I understand where this fear ising from, but I will protect you. I will make sure nothing happens to you or our baby. Please trust me¡± She nodded. Dn watched hery on the bed. ¡°I still have some work to do. I will be back soon¡± She nodded with her eyes closed and opened them when she heard the door close. She had no desire to sleep because a certain someone had begun to kick in her stomach. It hurt a bit, but it was still a pleasurable feeling. She rubbed it gently and sighed. This is going to be a very long night.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. **************** Things had been quite ordinary between Valerie and Jared, or so she thought? She has no idea how many times he imagined pushing her against a wall and having her right there. She was so close, yet so far. His hunger for her had heightened recently that even the best hostess could quench it. Valerie walked into his office with a file in her hand. ¡°Boss, the-¡± she paused when she found no one in his seat. ¡°Boss¡± no reply. She hadn¡¯t seen hime out of his office, so where was he? She heard a door click open and he appeared from his private lounge. ¡°You were looking for me?¡± ¡°Yes sir. The HR department wants you to review this?¡± He nodded. ¡°Leave it on my table¡± she did and turned to leave. ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± She froze and slowly turned back. ¡°Is there anything you need from me, sir?¡± Slowly walked towards her. ¡°Yes, there is¡± Ask he took steps forward, she took steps back till her back hit the wall. His face was so close to hers. ¡°Go on a date with me¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡± she stood her ground, still sandwiched between his hard body and the wall. ¡°You will¡± he replied, his eyes boring into hers. He wanted every inch of her, and he was going to get it. ¡°This isn¡¯t right. There is a no dating rule in thepany, remember?¡± She tried to discourage him. He smirked at her antics. ¡°I am the boss. I make the rules and can break it whenever I want, Kitten¡± And for the second time, loud bells began to ring in her head as the voice of someone calling her kitten reverberated. Again she tried to remember, but her vision slowly became hazy. Chapter 47 She opened her eyes a little. Unable to ignore the splitting headache, she winced. Everything she saw was blurry, and could not make out where this was. ¡°Valerie. Are you awake?¡± She heard a male voice beside her. She turned her head and met Jared¡¯s eyes filled with worry. Her vision had cleared a little. Jared helped her up. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°You suddenly fainted a while ago¡± ¡°How long has it been?¡± ¡°About two hours ago¡± ¡°Two hours!¡± She screamed in horror. Were people not going to get suspicious? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I told everyone not to enter my office¡± She almost cried. That was even worse. What would they imagine they were doing in his office? ¡°I need to leave¡± she stood up and staggered back a little, but Jared quickly held her. She squeezed her eyes shut to bnce herself and took his hand off her before walking out. Kathy only spared her a nce before going back to work. **************** Dn sat in the president¡¯s office he had recently moved into and was workingte. He felt bad leaving Sandy alone, but he had no choice. A frantic knock on the door made his stop. Sebastian barged in when he got no response. ¡°Boss¡­. No, Mr President, we have a problem. I received information from Madam¡¯s bodyguards that she is missing¡± Dn hit his fist against the table, his eyes zing with fury. ¡°What did you just say? Sandy is missing?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± ¡°Gather the team. I want her found in an hour¡± he barked out orders and stormed out. The bodyguards were lined up with their heads down. ¡°Are you saying she was not in the house?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± ¡°Where did she go?¡± ¡°She told us she was going to visit her friends. When we tried to stop her, she threatened she was going to fire us. She stopped at the mall and needed to use the restroom. We began to have suspicions when she spent almost thirty minutes there, so we barged in, and she was gone¡± Dn tried her number, but it was turned off. He could not even track her location because it was switched off. He felt like he was losing it. ¡°Did you call her friends?¡± ¡°No, we didn¡¯t¡± He called Jared immediately and told him of the situation and asked him to call Valerie. ¡°Do you think she was kidnapped?¡± Dn sighed. ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call her now¡± ¡°Boss?¡± She called in surprise when she heard the voice on the other end. ¡°Is Sandy there?¡± ¡°Sandy? No, she isn¡¯t? I wonder what is taking her long, though? She told us- wait, is she alright?¡± ¡°Yes, she is. She just forgot something at the house, and we were hoping she woulde back to get it. It¡¯s okay. Goodnight¡± he hung up without waiting for a reply and called Dn back. ¡°Send her a message and tell her Sandy has returned and will not be visiting them. We cannot have them getting suspicious¡± ¡°Okay¡± **************** Sandy woke up slowly. Her hands were free, and her mouth was not gagged. She sat up and was a little confused at first. Thest thing she remembered was entering the restroom and¡­.. suddenly she perceived some kind of offensive scent and cked out. She heard her phone fall. Her phone! Where was it? She searched frantically for it, but it was nowhere to be found. Why the hell was she in a car? There was no one driving it? The windows were tightly shut. She stood up and moved close to the driver seat. There was no key nor a button to start the car, like it was broken. She tried all the doors, but it refused to open. She looked forward, then she saw something. Far away, she saw what looked like¡­¡­ a cliff?! She gasped and fell back. She held her chest, breathing heavily. Somewhere else, Damon sat before hisptop and watched everything with an amused or sadistic smile on his lips. ¡°Start the car¡± he ordered the man beside him. Out of nowhere, she heard the car start and began to move forward by itself at high speed. ¡°Aaaaaaahhhhhh!¡± She screamed as she watched her life sh before her eyes. She screamed some more and fainted. ¡°Stop¡± he ordered. ¡°Boss, I thought you wanted to end both of them. Why did you change your mind?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t change my mind. It is what I wanted to do from the onset. This is like the tip of the iceberg. This will keep the on edge and make the scared and insecure. That is precisely what I want?¡± ¡°What should we do with her now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just keep her there. Keep your eyes on the car¡± he walked away, whistling. A family dinner was called that night. ¡°Why is your wife not here?¡± Old Smith asked. ¡°That¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t know what to tell them. He also did not want to let them know. ¡°She went to visit her parents¡± Jared replied. ¡°Why are you answering for him?¡± Old Smith said, an unpleasant look on his face. After dinner, they both stood outside. ¡°What do you want to do now?¡± ¡°I n to start looking for her full on tomorrow¡± ¡°You have to do it discreetly. You know grandfather has eyes and ears everywhere. Be careful¡± The butler appeared. ¡°Master would like to see you both¡± They met everyone in the living room as if they were waiting for them. ¡°When were you going to tell me?¡± They looked at each other. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why did you not tell me your wife was missing?¡± ¡°What! Sandy is missing?¡± Mrs Smith shouted. ¡°Is that true?¡± They knew Old Smith had heard their conversation through the butler, so there was no hiding it now. ¡°Yes. It happened a few hours ago. But I will find her, so don¡¯t worry¡± ¡°You will find her? By staying idle and having dinner here when you should be racking your brain thinking of how to get her back?¡± His mother screamed at him and looked genuinely upset. ¡°Was it kidnap?¡± ¡°We do not know yet, but no one called to ask for ransom¡± Mrs Smith started hitting him. ¡°It is all your fault. All you did was work. You left her alone despite being pregnant¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He froze. That¡¯s right. She was pregnant and was fragile and extremely sensitive. She was not safe. ¡°I¡¯m leaving¡± he stood up. ¡°Is there any way you need my help?¡± Amelia spoke for the first time since dinner. ¡°No thanks¡± He stormed out, ming and cursing himself. Sandy woke up for the second time. The surroundings were clear. It was morning. Her throat was parched and her lips, dry. She felt a light kick in her stomach. She slowly rubbed it soothingly. There was so much heat in there. The only reason she hadn¡¯t choked was that there were some holes in the door in which air was passing through but it wasn¡¯t enough. She was finding it really hard to breathe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mummy will get us out of here¡± she tried opening the doors again, but it was still locked. She slumped back on the seat. She stood up again to look at where she was, though something told her not to. She craned her neck and realized she was so close to falling over. She could see a part of the water beneath. She fell back as her eyes started to close by itself. Was this how she was going to die? Where was Dn? Why hasn¡¯t he found her? Or was he even looking for her? Did he abandon her? If she died, he was wealthy and could easily find someone else. Women will throw themselves at him. Her mind went back to what Jared asked her. ¡°Do you love my brother?¡± She hadn¡¯t given a definite answer back then. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± she whispered to herself. Just before her eyes closedpletely, she saw someone outside the window at the driver¡¯s side, wearing ck. ¡°Dn?¡± She murmured. Damon¡¯s minion narrowed his eyes when he saw someone trying to get in the car. He pressed a button on the table. ¡°Boss, there is an intruder¡± Chapter 48 After fiddling with the lock for sometime, the door finally opened. At the sight of hope, Sandy managed to hold unto her consciousness. ¡°Help me¡± she didn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face which was covered and every other part of her body concealed. She searched the car and found Sandy¡¯s phone. Slowly and carefully, Sandy was brought out of the car. ¡°Who are you and why are you helping me?¡± Whoever it was, refused to speak and Sandy gave up. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they were surrounded by armed men. Her heart hit the pit of her stomach. ¡°When you see an avenue, run. As fast as you can¡± It was a female voice. She stuffed the phone into her hand. ¡°I-¡± Without waiting for her to speak, she began to fight them. They had guns, but they were not using it. ¡°RUN!¡± She heard someone screaming at her and came back to her senses. She did as she was told and began to flee. She had only gone five steps when she heard a gunshot. She looked back and realized her savior was the one who got hurt in the arm. ¡°GO!¡± She screamed at Sandy while holding her injured arm. Sandy made a tough decision and ran, but it was only for a short while. She began to pant and rested her back against a nearby wall. She remembered she had given her the phone, and before she could even think of calling someone, he heard loud ringing sounds in her head and fainted. **************** Valerie stood up and walked towards Jared¡¯s office. She felt her heart beat quicken. She had refused to meet his face since what happened at is office. She took three deep breaths and was ready to knock but halted. She thought she heard Sandy¡¯s name. She ced her ear against the door. She could not ear what they were saying because the room was soundproofed, but she could make out ¡®Sandy¡¯ and ¡®kidnap¡¯. Her eyes widened and she burst in. ¡°What were you talking about?¡± It was Jared and Will in the office. No one spoke. ¡°Answer me!¡± She was breathing heavily and could not stop her hands from shaking. Jared motioned for Will to leave. ¡°Look Valerie, you should calm down¡± ¡°Is it true?¡± He sighed, getting up from his seat. ¡°Yes. It is true. Sandy was kidnapped¡± She almost fell back. ¡°How¡­.. wh¡­.¡± Jared helped her to the sofa.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°Last night¡± ¡°Last night? Why did you not tell me? You called- wait, was that why you called mest night?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Oh, God! What do we do now? Have you found out where she is? Do you know who abducted her? Do you have ns to rescue her? I mean, your brother is the president, there should be a way, right? You can -¡± ¡°Take it easy. We-¡± ¡°She is pregnant, for goodness¡¯ sake! Do not tell me to calm down!¡± She didn¡¯t mind she was basically screaming in her boss¡¯s face. ¡°And you don¡¯t seem to mind it. You don¡¯t seem to care. Is it because you think so little of her?¡± ¡°Valerie, what are you talking about? I-¡± ¡°Is it because she is not from your social ss? Because she is a nobody who just happened to marry your almighty brother because she identally got pregnant for him? Is that it?¡± She hadpletely lost it. ¡°Valerie, that¡¯s enough¡± his voice became hard. ¡°Why? Because I¡¯m saying the truth? And you know what, this is all your family¡¯s fault. If she hadn¡¯t married your brother, she wouldn¡¯t have be targets to many people who hate your family. But it has urred, and you act like nothing happened? Like it is none of your business? If anything happens to my friend, I will never forgive all of you!¡± She mmed the door behind her. ************ They had visited everywhere they thought she would have been. The ces she liked visiting, but nothing came up. ¡°Mr president, you have a call from the search team¡± ¡°Did you find anything?¡± ¡°Yes sir. We were able to spot her somewhere at Mount Crome¡± ¡°Send people there. I¡¯m on my way¡± Afterbing the area for a while, they were finally able to find her. ¡°Sandy! Sandy! Are you okay?¡± She was still warm, and her heart was still beating. He heaved a sigh of relief and made to carry her. He paused when she let out a squeak. ¡°What is it? Do you have something to tell me¡± She forcefully raised her hand towards a direction. ¡°O¡­.. ver ¡­ there¡± ¡°What is there?¡± He received no response. ¡°Split yourselves into three. One will find out what is going on over there. The other willb the area. Arrest any suspicious person you see. Do you understand?¡± He barked. ¡°Yes sir ¡± ¡°And the third will follow me¡± he swiftly picked her up from the floor and walked away. ¡°Sebastian, tell Jared to get the doctor to my ce before I arrive¡± He immediately went off to do as he was told. ke examined Sandy under the watchful eyes of the whole family. ¡°I think she should be taken to a hospital for a proper check. She is pregnant and we don¡¯t want anyplications. There should be no problem but to be on the safer side, you need to do that¡± ¡°Goodness. Poor child. She must have been so frightened. Should we do that now?¡± Mrs Smith said sympathetically. ¡°No. Of course not. That can be done when she wakes up. I will take my leave now¡± Dn¡¯s eyes were fixed on the frail woman on the bed. He didn¡¯t look away, neither did he speak. ¡°Thank you, ke¡± Mrs Smith said with a smile. ¡°I will see you out¡± Jared said. It was time for Jared to return to the house. ¡°Thank you foring on such short notice¡± ¡°It¡¯s perfectly fine¡± ¡°See youter then¡± He turned to leave. ¡°Wait. There is something I need to¡­. ask you¡± ¡°And that is?¡± ke hesitated for a while. ¡°It is about your secretary¡± Jared turned to him fully, his hands in his pocket. ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°Is there something between you two?¡± ¡°Oh? Why would you think that?¡± ¡°I saw how you were exchanging nces at your engagement¡± Jared gave a sarcastic smile. ¡°You know, I¡¯m beginning to think your appearance at that caf¨¦ wasn¡¯t a coincidence after all¡± ¡°Look Jared, I am your friend and¡­¡± he sighed. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like Jane, but cheating on her? Won¡¯t that be a little too much? I suggest you kill whatever feelings you have for her now. It is for your own good¡±. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Jared¡­¡± ¡°Leave¡± his voice was cold. ¡°Listen, I¡­..¡± ¡°Now¡± ke nodded, turned around and left without looking back. Jared went inside and met everyone in the living room, looking gloomy. ¡°Mum, Dad, Grandfather, you should leave¡± ¡°Is it the same person?¡± Mr Smith spoke up. Mrs Smith gasped. ¡°Oh my God! That can¡¯t be¡± She looked extremely scared. ¡°Enough with the silly thoughts. It is probably some petty kidnappers who want to rip off wealthy families¡± ¡°Did you forget? The incident at Cheryl¡¯s grave. Did that look petty to you? In a matter of months, we have encountered not one, not two, but three mishaps. Does that still look like petty? If we are not careful, something hurtful will happen to each and every one of us in this family. Are we really not going to do anything?¡± Mrs Smith spoke with tears in her eyes. ¡°You almost died! Sandy almost died! Che¡­. Cheryl¡­¡± she choked. ¡°My Cheryl died and that was no ident! Whoever it was wanted to do the same to your sister-inw¡± She burst into sobs. His eyes went to his grandfather who was silent. ¡°Like I said, it is not who or what you are thinking. Sebastian¡± He called the man standing in the corner. ¡°Get the best of the elite bodyguards to escort them home¡± he nodded at them and went to the room where Sandy was, knowing very well that was where his brother was. He never left her side for a second and did not say a single word. Jared knew he was ming himself deep within. He knocked and entered. ¡°How are you doing?¡± He received no response. ¡°You know this isn¡¯t your fault, right? You just got appointed into office and your workload is naturally heavy. There is absolutely no need to me yourself¡± ¡°I should have protected her more. I should have spent some time with her at least. Mother was right. All I did was work. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if I had been more attentive¡± Jared gave up trying to convince him. ¡°Did you find anything? The culprit, perhaps¡± ¡°My men searching the area are not back yet¡± As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and Sebastian came in. ¡°The men have brought word, Mr president¡± ¡°I go out and find out. Just stay here¡± Jared stood up and left the room. He met the men outside. ¡°Mr Smith¡± one called in greeting. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°We found no one on the mountain. There was only a car that was hanging dangerously by the cliff and somewhere, we saw blood on the ground¡­.. and a bullet¡± Chapter 49 Valerie ryed everything to La when she arrived home. ¡°So she is still missing?¡± ¡°I have no idea¡± ¡°You should ask¡± ¡°Ask who?¡± ¡°Do you have Dn¡¯s number?¡± ¡°No¡± ¡°Let me give it to you¡± La brought out her phone. ¡°How do you have it?¡± La froze. ¡°I¡¯m a hacker. Such things are child¡¯s y¡± Valerie nodded and proceeded to call him. He picked almost immediately. ¡°Dn Smith speaking¡± ¡°Uhm ¡­. this is Valerie, Sandy¡¯s friend. I found out that she was missing. Has she been found yet?¡± ¡°Yes. You don¡¯t have to worry. She is fine¡± Valerie heaved a sigh. ¡°That is a relief. Can we visit her?¡± Dn¡¯s eyes went to the woman who was on the bed. ¡± She is resting at the moment¡± ¡°Oh. Okay. I will call herter then¡± she hung up. ¡°They found her?¡± ¡°Yes¡± she rested her back, but it popped open again and widened in horror as she gasped, her palms on her mouth. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°What have I done?¡± She ruffled her hair. ¡°My boss¡­.. I said so much to him today. I even almost cursed at him¡± ¡°Why would you do that?¡± ¡°You know, I¡­.. I was so overwhelmed when I found out that Sandy was missing, and I said whatever came to mind at that moment. I even insulted his family. Do you think he will fire me¡± ¡°You have done so many things in the past that should earn you a dismissal, but you are still there. I don¡¯t think now should be any different¡± ¡°No. This is different. There is no way he would not be mad at me. Should I not go to work tomorrow? That will save me the embarrassment, right?¡± La only shook her head and left Valerie, who kept mumbling to herself. The next morning, La burst into Valerie¡¯s room. She was still curled under the nket. ¡°What are you doing? You are going to bete¡± she yanked the nket off.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Valerie whined. ¡°I¡¯m not going to work¡± ¡°Of course you are. You will get your ass off the bed, get dressed and head to work. Now get up¡± La dragged her up and pushed her into the bathroom. ******************** ¡°The CEO is inside. He wants you to see him as soon as you arrive¡± Kathy informed her when she arrived. At that time, she was nearly sure she was going to get fired in a matter of minutes. She went to his door, calming her heart down as she breathed in and out. She finally summoned enough courage to knock and entered. ¡°You arete¡± he remarked without looking up. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry sir for everything. I had lost my mind yesterday and said what I shouldn¡¯t have. Please forgive me and don¡¯t fire me¡± he gave no reply at first. ¡°A business partner is holding a ball this week. We are going together, so prepare your mind¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± She muttered, but he heard. ¡°Were you expecting something else?¡± He wasn¡¯t going to fire her? ¡°No¡­ I¡­ I will take my leave¡± She ran out before he changed his mind. **************** Sandy was finally able to get on her feet after the doctor cleared her. The security around her had be tighter, and it made her even grumpier. Her due date was drawing close, and Dn did something she never expected. He converted one of the big rooms into a ward. All the facilities needed were there. He said that was where she was going to have her baby. She didn¡¯t bother to argue with him. She walked down the stairs and paused when she heard a chuckle and Dn¡¯s voice. There was someone with him. Ady, and whatever he said must have been funny and made herugh. She was even twirling her hair as she did that. It was amon thingdies do whenever they wanted to get a man¡¯s attention and was in a rather skimpy dress. She reached the root of the stairs. Thedy¡¯s back was facing her, but Dn saw her. ¡°Sandy, there you are¡± he beckoned her over, but she didn¡¯t move an inch. Thedy turned, and it turned out to be Amelia. ¡°Hi, Sandy¡± She was not the rude type, but at present, she was mad though she had no idea why. She went to get a ss of water and went back upstairs without a word, leaving the two people stupefied. ¡°Please excuse me¡± ¡°I was just about to take my leave. See you another time¡± She heard her say. See you another time? She was nning to see him again? The nerve of this shameless woman. She heard from footsteps behind her and briskly entered the room. It opened again seconds after. ¡°Sandy, what was that?¡± ¡°What was what? I don¡¯t know what you mean¡± she said seated before the vanity. ¡°Why did you act like that to our guest?¡± ¡°Your guest¡± she corrected. ¡°And how did I act?¡± ¡°You were rude to her¡± Sheughed in anger. ¡°Rude? Did you just call me rude?¡± She was shouting. Dn quickly tried to calm her down. Getting her worked up wasn¡¯t going to solve the problem. ¡°I should not have said that -¡± ¡°That woman is suspicious, and I told you that, but what did you do? You brought her into the house, treating a potential danger as your guest¡± ¡°I did a thorough check on her and there was nothing suspicious. You don¡¯t have to -¡± ¡°People like her know how to cover their tracks well¡± She made the bed, ignoring himpletely. ¡°What are you still doing here? You should return to your guest?¡± ¡°She already left¡± She knew that. ¡°Good for you¡± She went under the cover, her back turned to him. ¡°I have some work to do in the study. Goodnight¡± ¡°That is all you do anyway¡± She mumbled, but he acted as if he didn¡¯t hear her. **************** In arge ballroom, Valerie stood beside Jared, a wine ss in her hand. She was wearing a gown cut off the shoulder with a low d¨¦colletage, exposed arms and long bouffant styled skirt. Several men in suits, both old and young, wereing to him, but they all left in embarrassment when he declined to speak with them. All his friends were there too. She refused to meet ke¡¯s eye. A middle-aged man in a gray suit approached them. ¡°Hello, president Smith, is this your fianc¨¦e? Oh, my! She is so beautiful. Both of you are a perfect match¡± For the first time since themencement of the ball, he smiled. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Oh I¡­..¡± ¡°Please do not waste my time¡± ¡°I was hoping to seal a deal with your¡­¡± ¡°It is done. Expect a call tomorrow¡± The man was left dumbfounded, as well as everyone who had expected him to be treated the same way. Valerie was too. He turned to her with a smile and smoothened her hair under so many people¡¯s watchful eyes. ¡°There is a rooftop here, let¡¯s go¡± she nodded. He offered his arm and she tentatively took it. The wind there was strong. She shivered from the cold. He took off his coat and covered her with it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for bringing you out here. It was getting a bit annoying in there¡± he said. She was extremely surprised. Jared Smith? Sorry? Wow. ¡°You know, I was once kidnapped as a child¡± he said, looking up at the dark sky. She did little to hide her shock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to go through that¡± He smiled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t so bad. I had apanion¡± ¡°Apanion?¡± He nodded. ¡°There was a girl who was abducted alongside me. She looked so innocent and cute¡± ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. My family sent a rescue team. I insisted she should be rescued too, but when we got to her cell, she was gone¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing she is your first love¡± she said, a hint of jealousy in her voice. ¡°You could say that, but you are my present¡± They stared at each other. Time seemed to havee to a stand still. His hand went to her neck, and before she could make sense of what was happening, he captured her lips in a heated kiss. Chapter 50 She quickly responded to the kiss. He pulled away a little, resting his forehead against her. She was panting. ¡°My God, Valerie. What have you done to me?¡± His husky voice sent jolts of electricity into her body and she felt somethinge out from her body. Something wet. Her nipples also hardened. It must be the cold weather, she assured herself, staring at the floor. ¡°You have no idea what you do to me. How much I wanted you ever since I met you? How much I suffered to keep myself sane whenever I am with you, fearing the day the unimaginable happens and myst thread of sanity finally snaps. You were so close, yet so far. It was killing me. I love you, Valerie¡± She looked up. ¡°You¡­.. love me?¡± He responded with another kiss, but more intense. Her brain warned her, but her body responded otherwise. He traced her upper lip with his tongue and bit her lower lip. She clutched the coat for dear life. The more he kissed her, the more greedy she became. She yanked the coat off and wrapped her hands around his neck, her energy matching his. Things became hot between them. He ced feathery kisses on her forehead, temple, and sucked the sensitive spot on her neck. She gasped. He kissed the top of her breast as they both walked backward till her back hit the wall. He held both of her hands and raised them to the wall and smooched her senseless. ¡°Do you want to go home with me?¡± His voice, a husky whisper in her ear. It turned her on more that she feared she was losing her mind. She was too destabilized to think and nodded. Jared smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± ¡°Wait. Won¡¯t the people in the ballroom suspect something if they see using back alone, and I¡¯m a mess¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There is another way¡± He held her hand, and they went down the stairs, but the turned right at a point and entered a small passage which led directly into the street. ¡°We will have to walk a bit to get to the car?¡± ¡°How do you know this ce?¡± ¡°I used toe here as a kid. This house belongs to Mike¡¯s family. He¡¯s my friend. I happened to stumble upon the passage when we were ying¡± She nodded. Jared drove towards his penthouse. One nobody knew about. He had refrained from going there so his grandfather would not find out. Valerie wound down the window and let the breeze blow at her face. The sight was beautiful. They finally arrived. ¡°Wow! You own this ce¡± ¡°Obviously¡± he said while taking off his tie. ¡°Can I not own it?¡± ¡°This is magnificent¡± Her mouth was wide open. ¡°This is pure gold. Oh, my God¡± she had no idea there was someone behind her. ¡°Why drool over these when something more mouthwatering is behind you?¡± She turned, and her head hit his hard chest. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°Are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡­.¡± she looked up and saw the most perfect abs she had ever seen. She swallowed. ¡°Like what you see, huh?¡± Her face turned red immediately. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be shy¡± he picked her up effortless and captured her mouth again. ¡°Goodness, you are so weightless. I should feed you more¡± ¡°Where is this ce?¡± She asked when he put her down. She lookef around therge room. ¡°Why do keep asking silly questions? This room belongs to me, of course¡± he walked towards the mini bar and brought out a bottle of wine with two sses.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You want to get me drunk?¡± He only smirked. ¡°Be honest, why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say I want you to see the beautiful aesthetics of my house¡± She dropped her ss and walked towards him. ¡°You know that is no true, right¡± she was right in front of him, her luscious breasts screaming to be free and be grabbed. His breathing became ragged. It became even worse when her hand went to his exposed chest, caressing his nipple. Something beneath him became harder. ¡°You must be drunk, let¡¯s get you home¡± ¡°If you were going to send me home quickly, why did you bring me here in the first ce. You must have had a reason¡± she bit her lips. He swallowed. ¡°Do not provoke me, Valerie. I¡¯m trying so hard to hold back¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡± He stared at her like he had just heard wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back then¡± That was all he needed to throw her on the bed and climb after her. ¡°You asked for this¡± he said with a strained voice. He could barely handle the pain anymore. His member was rock hard. He tore her dress in one fell swoop. The dress was padded, so she had no bra on. His mouth covered the pink nipples, his hands squeezing the other. She bit her lower lip to suppress the moan that was bubbling up in her throat. ¡°B¡­. boss¡± ¡°I will punish you if you call me that again. I want you to call my name. Call it!¡± ¡°Jared¡± ¡°Louder!¡± ¡°Jared¡± ¡°Good girl¡± He smooched her a little before spreading her legs. He took off her panties, staring at her entrance with a teasing smirk on his face. She looked away in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful down here¡± he touched it, smearing his hand with a clear liquid. The hand went directly into his mouth while locking eyes with her. Her face was so red. ¡°Did you really just lick that. It¡¯s dirty¡± heughed at her. She was really naive. He sighed, and his expression turned serious. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you sure about this? Because the moment it is in, you are officially mine¡± She bit her lips again, torturing the man above her before nodding. He got up and undid his belt. He pulled down his pants and briefs. Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and she recoiled, pointing at his member in fear. ¡°What is it?¡± He smirked. ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s so huge. It can¡¯t fit¡± ¡°Trust me baby. My cock was made for that pussy of yours¡± He got hold of her legs and dragged her close. ¡°Just rx¡± She took several deep breaths and nodded. She was wet already and prating would not be a problem. Her eyes squeezed shut. He entered her slowly and was ready to go in fully when he met a gossamer-like barrier. He was confused at first until reality dawned on him. His eyes went to the tense woman on the bed. Her eyes were still shut. She slowly opened them when she felt no movement. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± She became even more befuddled when he said nothing. ¡°Jared, talk to me¡± ¡°You are a virgin?¡± She paused for a while. ¡°Yes¡± she said timidly. ¡°Fuck¡± he tried to pull out. ¡°Wait, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be the one to take away your innocence¡± ¡°Why? But you just said you loved me¡± ¡°That remains, but¡­.¡± ¡°I want you to be the one to do this¡± There was utmost silence between them. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Yes, I am¡± ¡°This might hurt a little¡± she nodded. In one strong thrust, he entered her. Tears spilled out of her eyes immediately, and she gritted her teeth to prevent herself from groaning. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± he kissed her tears away, waiting for her. The pain slowly subsided. ¡°Is it fine now¡± she gave a nod of affirmation. He started slow, but as time passed, his thrust became powerful and he became insatiable. The more she begged for mercy, the more he became hungry. He had her several times till dawn. Chapter 51 The sun was already up when she opened her eyes. She squinted and jerked up when she realized it was afternoon. ¡°Holy crap. I¡¯mte for work¡± There was no one beside her, and she was stark naked. She felt so sore and found it extremely hard to move. He was such a beast, she had no idea his cock was going to fit into her. She stood up, only for Jared toe out of the bathroom in just a towel. She quickly went under the nket. ¡°Whatever it is you are hiding, I already saw everything yesterday¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± ¡°You looked tired and was sleeping so soundly that I couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake you up¡± ¡°And whose fault was that? Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°I had someone get you a new dress¡± he passed her a shopping bag. ¡°Turn around¡± he nodded and did as he was told. She covered herself with the heavy nket and entered the bathroom holding the bag. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± She asked the moment she entered the car. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the day off¡± She nodded. Her eyes strayed to the front seat where Will sat. Their eyes met in the mirror before he quickly looked away. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± ¡°I forgot to ask, where is my phone?¡± He dipped his hand in his pocket and handed it to her. She switched it on, and it was immediately flooded with messages and missed calls. They were all from La. She must have been worried. She sent her a message and received a reply almost immediately. ¡°Consider yourself dead¡± She smiled and turned off her phone. She suddenly remembered something. ¡°Wait! Stop the car!¡± Jared nodded at Will, who stopped. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I need to get something. I¡¯ll be back soon¡± She left the car. Jared narrowed his eyes when he saw her enter a pharmacy. She returned with a small bag. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°They are contraceptive pills. It¡¯s best to be on the safer side¡± He said nothing all through the ride. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± She asked when she sensed his foul mood. ¡°No. We are here already¡± She alighted. ¡°See you tomorrow¡± He nodded, and she watched them drive off. She knocked and turned the knob. It opened. She found the house empty. Was La not home? Why was the door not locked? She was about to call her name when she felt something swoosh past her face before hitting the floor. She looked up and saw La in the middle of the stairs with her hands crossed. ¡°Were you really going to hit me with that pillow?¡± ¡°You are lucky I didn¡¯t find something else in sight? Where have you been?¡± ¡°You only told me you were going somewhere with your boss, you¡­.. wait, were you with him all along? Alone!¡± ¡°I¡­ we had a meeting after the ball and I forgot to tell you¡± ¡°Why weren¡¯t you picking your calls then?¡± ¡°Well, we were instructed not to do so as it was a very important meeting?¡± La eyed her suspiciously. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°This should not happen again. You should at least send a message. My hair might start turning gray at this point¡± The next day, they kept stealing nces at each other during the meeting with the shareholders. She received a text from him.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°See me after work¡± she shook her head. She was going to do that when she knew what was on his mind. So immediately work hours were over, she bolted. She had only walked a few feet when she was suddenly whisked into a car. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Two huge men were sitting beside her and one was on the wheels. They acted like she didn¡¯t exist at all. They arrived at a restaurant and towards a private room. Jane sat elegantly at the table. Valerie was forced to her knees. ¡°So it¡¯s you¡± ¡°Yes. Are you surprised? For someone who goes around, flirting with other people¡¯s men, you should expect such¡± ¡°Still, you have no right to bring me here. This is kidnap¡± The moment she finished speaking, Jane¡¯s hand made contact with her face, making a clear mark. ¡°That is the prize you get for coveting what is mine. This is just a warning, though. I will not say much. Know. Your. ce. Take her out¡± She returned home looking lost and met La in the living room. It was toote to hide. ¡°What is that on your face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± she turned away. La stood up and walked up to her. ¡°Did someone hit you?¡± ¡°No. I hit my face against something¡± ¡°This is a clear handprint on your face. Who did this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Jane¡± ¡°Jane? Your boss¡¯s fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°I will fucking kill her¡± she went towards the door, but Valerie quickly held her back. ¡°No! Please. Let¡¯s not escte this¡± ¡°Just look at your face. It is swelling¡± ¡°Ice pack will do. Just don¡¯t make a mess out of this. Also, I don¡¯t want my boss to know¡± ¡°Why? He should. He should know what kind of monster he is getting married to¡± ¡®Jane, just you wait¡¯ she said in her mind. Valerie sessfully covered the mark with the help of make ¨C up. On her way to work, she stopped at a cosmetic store to get a new lipstick and was on her way out when she saw a beautiful, elegant woman standing beside a car. She was probably in her Middle Ages. Valerie noticed a man not too far from her in a thick ck jacket and a cap. In one swift movement, the woman¡¯s purse was hijacked. The woman was dumbfounded and could not react immediately, but Valerie was fast. She took off her heels and ran after the man. She had dropped out of the sports club during high school and her performance had be rusty, but she kept running. ¡°Hey! Stop!¡± She was getting tired, but heaven was on her side, the man had reached a dead end. ¡°See you can¡¯t escape. Hand the purse over¡± The man tried to y smart and run away, but she dragged him down, taking the item forcefully from me. ¡°Now all I have to do is to call the police and get your ass in the cell¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t call the police. My daughter is sick, and she needed money for surgery. I have no job. Please don¡¯t report me¡± he pleased. The woman had arrived behind them. Valerie snorted. ¡°I know people like you. Trying to gain sympathy with such a stupid story¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying. There is a picture of her in my pocket¡± She dipped her hand in his pocket and brought out a photograph. It was a picture of him and a little girl in a hospital gown. ¡°Still this is wrong. I¡¯ll let you go¡± Valerie turned and handed the purse to the woman. ¡°Thank you¡± she nodded and walked away. The woman turned to the shivering man on the floor, opened her purse and gave him some money. Take care of your child with that and stop stealing¡± Without waiting, she ran after Valerie. ¡°I should thank you properly¡± she extended some money to her. ¡°No, ma¡¯am. I can¡¯t take this. I did this because I wanted to¡± ¡°Okay then. What is your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Valerie¡± ¡°Valerie?¡± ¡°Yes. Valerie Gardner¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m Zoey. Zoey Anderson. Nice to meet you¡± ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you, too. I¡¯mte for work. I need to leave¡± ¡°I can drive you¡± ¡°No that is not necessary. My workce very near. Have a pleasant day¡± she turned around and left. Chapter 52 ¡°Why are youte? The boss was asking of you. There is a meeting going on in the conferqence room, and what¡¯s with the rough hair?¡± Kathy asked the second Valerie arrived. ¡°Ugh! Don¡¯t get me started¡± she picked herptop and turned to leave. ¡°Wait, you are going to meet thepany¡¯s executive looking like that?¡± ¡°Then can you help me smoothen it out a little?¡± ¡°Sure. Get over here¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was inevitably shifted to her when she got in. She bowed a little and moved towards Jared at the head of the table. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte¡± Maybe she should have epted the woman¡¯s offer for a ride. She looked up only to lock eyes with someone. The same woman. She shed Valerie a smile. What was she doing here? ¡°I never thought I would meet you here?¡± Mrs Anderson said after the meeting. ¡°Neither did I¡± ¡°Do you know each other?¡± ¡°We just happened to meet some hours ago. I have to leave now. See youter, Jared¡± he nodded and watched as she walked away, an indescribable look on his face. ¡°Do you know who that woman is? Does she work here?¡± She asked Kathy. ¡°She is one of the shareholders, not thergest, but she has quite the shares, and she is also the boss¡¯s future mother-inw¡± ¡°You mean she¡­¡± ¡°Correct. She is his fianc¨¦e¡¯s mother¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Jane¡¯s mother was so calm, collected elegant, and she looked kind, inplete contrast to Jane¡¯s vile nature. She received a call from Jared asking her to see her in his office. She knocked twice and entered. There was no one at the table and was about to call out to him when she felt herself wrapped in a warm embrace. ¡°Boss? What are you doing?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± He turned her around and they locked lips. She pushed him away, ignoring her own desires. ¡°We should not be doing this¡­¡­ here¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°This is an office, not a bedroom¡± ¡°Every single office here belongs to me. I can do whatever I want in it¡± ¡°Still, I¡­¡± He pulled her close. ¡°Come here silly. Why are you holding back? I can feel your body screaming for me¡± He rubbed himself against her. Her breathing became ragged and she found herself moaning. He carried her and settled her on his table. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It will be quick¡± Whatever she wanted to say was drowned by his kiss. Her eyes rolled upwards when she felt it enter her. ¡°Ahhh! Oh, my God, Jared¡± ¡°Good girl. This is your punishment foringte to work. Do you like it?¡± She nodded. ¡°I want your answer¡± she was so lost in pleasure that she could barely hear him. He pulled out and rubbed the tip of his cock against her entrance. She almost screamed. ¡°I love it!¡± She said panting. ¡°I love -ah! I¡¯m¡­.. I¡¯ming, Jared¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it together¡± She climaxed the same time he offloaded his seed in her. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She nodded. But was she? She looked tired, especially after that rigorous exercise. ¡°I need to leave before people start to get suspicious¡± she was caged between him and the table. He did not move an inch. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to¡± ¡°Come on¡± she sidestepped him and left after pacifying him with a peck. ¡°What is that pill for?¡± Kathy asked after Valerie swallowed it. ¡°Oh, these are¡­ uhm, migraine pills. I¡¯ve been having nasty migraines for a while now¡± She felt bad lying to the only friend she had in thepany. **************** The sun was setting and Valerie was about to get a taxi when she was stopped by Mrs Anderson. ¡°Let¡¯s go over there¡± she pointed at the caf¨¦. Valerie wrapped her hands around the cup to warm herself up. Mrs Anderson stretched out a card to her. ¡°I will be hosting a ball this weekend¡± ¡°And you are inviting me?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Thanks, but I have to decline¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡­..¡± she tried to find an excuse. ¡°I don¡¯t have a gown¡± ¡°Okay¡± Valerie was surprised that she agreed so easily. She had thought she was going to persuade her. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You won¡¯t decline my offer for a ride this time, will you?¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡­¡± She grabbed Valerie¡¯s hand and dragged her out. She gave her address to the chauffeur. ¡°This is the way to my house¡± she said when she noticed they were on the right route. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t kidnap you¡± They ended up at a boutique. She was already in when she realized what they came for. ¡°Get thisdy the best ball gown you have¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t ept this¡± ¡°Of course you will dear¡± ¡°Miss, pleasee with me¡± The attendant said. After an hour of trying different gowns which came with matching jewelries and heels, she waspletely exhausted. ¡°Now, there is no reason for you to not attend¡± ¡°I guess so¡± she said begrudgingly. Attending the ball meant she had toe face-to-face with Jane. ¡°Thank you. You didn¡¯t have to¡± ¡°But I did. Now let¡¯s get you home¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me a ride¡± she said, standing by the window. She nodded. ¡°Make sure to be there¡± ¡°I will¡± She waved at her and motioned her inside before instructing the chauffeur to drive. ¡°Who was that? That car looked expensive? Was that your boss? And what are these bags for? They look heavy¡± La asked when she entered. She had seen them through the window. ¡°That was a stranger I met a few days ago. She invited me to a ball and bought all these for me¡± ¡°A stranger bought all this for you? Out of the blue?¡± ¡°Well, I happened to help her once¡± she decided not to tell La about her being Jane¡¯s mother. She already despised Jane as it is, she was probably not going to think well of her. ¡°Will you attend?¡± ¡°I have no choice. I¡¯m going to bed¡± Saturday came earlier than she wanted. ¡°Are you set?¡± ¡°I guess so¡± ¡°You sound reluctant. You don¡¯t have to force yourself if you don¡¯t want to. And if you must go, I cane with you¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s no need for that¡± ¡°You barely know anyone there¡± ¡°If my guess is right, my boss should be present¡± ¡°I think there is no need for me to be there. I¡¯ll be downstairs¡± Valerie stared at herself in the mirror, a gloomy look on her face. Just the thought of meeting Jane made her nauseous. ¡°Wow! You look like Cindere¡± La eximed. ¡°Absolutely Gorgeous¡± ¡°Thank you¡± There was a knock. ¡°Were you expecting something?¡± ¡°No. I was about to ask the same. Were you?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check¡± She opened the door and saw an unfamiliar man. ¡°Who are you?¡± La inquired. ¡°I¡¯m Mrs Anderson¡¯s chauffeur. I was sent here to pick up Miss Gardner¡± ¡°Val, look like he¡¯s here for you¡± ¡°Me?¡± She walked towards the door. ¡°Hi, Miss Gardner¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you that chauffeur?¡± ¡°Yes. Madam asked me to pick you up¡± ¡°I see. La, see youter¡± ¡°Have a fun night¡± Her hand became mmy and cold as the car kept moving. The chilly weather did nothing to help. ¡°Excuse me, are we not there yet?¡± ¡°Almost, Miss¡± Only a minuteter, she saw lights ahead. They had arrived. He got out and opened the door. She mouthed a thank you and entered the bustling ballroom after showing the invitation card as evidence she was really invited. She epted a ss of wine from a waiter and downed it, maybe it will calm her nerves, but it didn¡¯t. She was a nervous wreck. She looked around and saw Jared in the midst of some other men. He must have felt someone¡¯s eyes on him, for he turned in her direction. Her gaze lingered on him for a while before she looked away. Soon, she felt a presence behind her. She turned around and almost hit her head against his chest. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°How could you sneak up behind me like that?¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± He repeated. ¡°As far as I know, no one can get in here without an invitation?¡± ¡°Are you saying being here does not suit me? That someone of my caliber being here is an insult to you¡± ¡°No, that is not what I meant-¡± ¡°Then what do you mean? Their conversation was cut short when they heard Jane¡¯s voice behind them. ¡°Jared?¡± Jared¡¯s back was turned to her and his body was covering hers, so she didn¡¯t see her, but when he turned, she could barely hide her astonishment. What are you doing here?¡± She turned to Jared. ¡°Did you invite her?¡± ¡°Oh, darling, there you are¡± Mrs Anderson appeared out of nowhere and hugged her tightly, giving her a kiss on both cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m d you made it¡± ¡°Mum, did you invite her?¡± ¡°Yes, do you know her?¡± ¡°Of course, she¡­..¡± At this moment, Valerie was shaking all over. What if Jane told her mother and caused a scene here? Chapter 53 ¡°She works for Jared¡± ¡°I know that. We met by chance and she is such a good girl. Come. Follow me¡± she forced a smile, ignoring Jane¡¯s cutting gaze. Mrs Smith took her around introducing her to people, which made her feel embarrassed. Some even mistook her as her daughter. ¡°You came. I thought you would not be able to make it¡± Mrs Anderson walked towards the new arrival, still holding Valerie¡¯s hand. ¡°We would never miss your party¡± the only woman in the group said. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°Oh, this is a youngdy I met recently. She is so well-behaved and nice. Her name is Valerie Gardner. Valerie, I¡¯m not sure if you have seen them before, but this is Mr Smith and his wife and that is the head of the family¡± She pointed at old Smith who found a seating an isted corner. ¡°You mean boss¡¯s family?¡± She whispered, a hint of nervousness in her voice. Mrs Anderson nodded. ¡°Holy ¨C I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± she hated herself for stuttering. ¡°I¡¯m Valerie Gardner, your son¡¯s secretary¡± ¡°She must have a good character for you to cherish her so much. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, youngdy¡± She managed a stifled smile. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I feel a bit nauseous, can I go out for some air?¡± ¡°Sure. Of course, dear¡± She went into the garden, breathing heavily. It was really choking in there. She could not make sense of the woman¡¯s interest in her. ¡°What are you doing out here?¡±she jumped at the voice. ¡°It¡¯s me¡± Jared said. ¡°I just needed some fresh air. I also owe you no exnation¡± ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± ¡°Mad?¡± She chuckled. ¡°Why would I be? I guess looking down on me is not enough for me to get mad¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­.¡± ¡°You are sorry. It¡¯s obvious you think so little of me¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. I was just surprised to see you there. I never knew you and her were so close¡± She swallowed and looked away as tears rolled down her cheeks. Why was she crying? She has no idea. ¡°Look, I¡­. wait, are you crying? What happened? Was it because of what I did? I¡¯m sorry. I can say that a million times if you want. She felt even more upset that he cared so much. Maybe she would have felt better if he had just gotten angry and ordered her to stop. ¡°Please, stop crying¡± he had no idea how to pacify ady in tears. ¡°I want to go back to the party¡± ¡°Are you certain? You don¡¯t look ready. You can stay here a bit more while you get it together. If you want me to leave -¡± ¡°Stay¡± The words were out before she could stop it . ¡°Don¡¯t go¡± ¡°Hm. I will not leave¡± There was silence except for the sound of the wind blowing. ¡°How did you and Mrs Anderson meet anyway?¡± She narrated everything to him. ¡°That exins why you werete. She even went as far as to get you dresses¡± ¡°Yeah¡± ¡°She seems to like you a lot. Introducing you to everyone who approached her¡± ¡°It made me feel ufortable¡± He didn¡¯t know what else to say to her. ¡°Kiss me¡± she said out of the blue. ¡°What!¡± He thought he heard wrong. ¡°Kiss me¡± she repeated. ¡°Are you drunk?¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m saying¡± ¡°You know, when I start, it is hard for me to stop¡± She wrapped her hands around his neck, brought him close, and their lips locked. She grabbed him like her life depended on it. The gown she wore was not heavy and was made with light material, so it was easy to raise. He made it a pile at her waist, shifted her panties and inserted his right index finger. ¡°Ah!¡± She gasped. Her grip on him became even tighter when he employed a second and third finger. She felt her head spinning and ringing loudly, and she felt herself reaching climax. ************ Jane walked around therge room looking for Jared. She had only visited the restroom a few minutes ago, and he was nowhere to be found now. To make matters worse, that secretary of his was not in sight too. She was about to go out to look for him when he came in looking normal. Her expression, however, turned horrible when she saw Valerie follow him in. Her hair looked a little tousled. She gripped her fist in anger and marched towards him. ¡°Where are youing from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t owe you any exnation¡± ¡°You have the audacity to fuck her at my family¡¯s party?¡± ¡°Watch what you say¡± he sidestepped her and walked away. Initially, Valerie was scared of returning to the room where she knew no one, but her happiness knew no bounds when she saw Sandy. ¡°I had no idea you woulde. Did he finally let you out alone¡± She scoffed. ¡°I wish. He only agreed after a lot of whining from me and on the condition that he woulde with me. What about you? Did youe with Jared?¡± ¡°No. I came alone. Mrs Anderson gave me an invitation¡± ¡°Jane¡¯s mother? How do you know her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a long story, but I¡¯m not in the mood to narrate. I just know her¡± ¡°I see¡± ¡°How is my little nephew doing?¡± ¡°Good, I guess. My due date is in a few months. I¡¯m getting so scared. I heard childbirth is painful¡± Valerie did not know what to say. She had never had one, so there was no way she could ay her fears. ¡°Hey, am I mistaken or Jane is looking in our direction¡± ¡°Yeah. She is¡± ¡°I think she is looking at you, like she could kill you any minute. Did you do something to her?¡± ¡°Me? What could a nobody like me possibly do to an heiress?¡± Somehow, seeing Jane so angry gave her joy. *************** Damon sat in his drawing room as usual, his brush in his hand and a small smile on his face. He drew something else this time. Something different. A woman. His minion knocked. ¡°Come in¡± ¡°How is it going with Dn?¡± He asked casually, adding some final strokes. ¡°ording to our spy in the house, things are quite stale between them recently¡± ¡°Oh. Why is that?¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It happened after the appearance of ady. She got jealous¡± Damon smirked. ¡°Actually, thedy the spy was talking about is¡­.. is¡­.¡± ¡°Do you want a bullet lodged in your other leg?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Thedy turned out to be the princess¡± He threw the palette against the wall, smearing it. His eyes zed with mad fury. ¡°What does she think she is doing? Approaching my enemies? Does she think she could gain the upper hand by doing that?¡± He sighed and went out, his man following closely behind him. ¡°Do you know what Valerie has been doing recently?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. You asked me not to follow her¡± He red before entering his bedroom and shut the door. After a shower, he thought of calling her, but he wasn¡¯t sure. They had not talked in a long time. ¡°Wait, am I getting nervous right now?¡± It was midnight, and she would probably be asleep, so he ended up sending a text. Chapter 54 The dance floor was opened by Jane¡¯s parents, then Jane and Jared, before others joined in. ¡°Will you keep doing this after our wedding?¡± ¡°We are not married yet?¡± Came his simple answer. She seethed and gritted her teeth. Valerie was alone. She could not get close to Sandy due to her husband hovering over her. There were lots of bodyguards too. Sandy looked like she had just eaten poop and refused to look at him, but he tended to her every wished. For instance, when her handkerchief fell, he was quick to pick it. Sandy snatched it from him, but he didn¡¯t look mad at all. The president seemed to care about her a lot. She sighed wistfully. ¡°May I sit?¡± She heard a male voice. She nodded absent-mindedly. Her eyes went to the couple on the dance floor. Just like it was said, they looked like a perfect match. Their steps were perfect. Everything about them was absolutely perfect. They both came from wealthy homes, and she was just ¡­ just¡­.. She sighed again. ¡°You look troubled. Are you okay? ¡°I¡¯m fine¡± she stared at the young man opposite her. She felt he looked familiar, but she could not remember. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t remember me¡± She was even more befuddled. Did she know him? He looked younger than she was. ¡°You really don¡¯t remember?¡± She nodded. From the look on her face, she could tell he wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Then I will have to reintroduce myself. I¡¯m Ryan Taylor. We met at the caf¨¦ opposite yourpany¡± ¡°Oh! I remember now. I tend to forget people I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°See often? I knew you were going to say that. You said the same thing to me when west met¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You are not dancing. Well, I guess you have no one to do that with. Then, may I?¡± He stretched out his hand to her like a gentleman. She was about to refuse, but her eyes met Jared¡¯s. He looked furious. Like he was silently warning her not to take that hand. Due to the look on his face, she became angry too. Why was he mad? He was dancing with someone, didn¡¯t she also have the liberty to? She raised her chin and smiled flirtingly at him. ¡°The pleasure is all mine¡± She was half happy and half scared. Happy that she made him angry and scared that he was going to do something silly right there and then. His eyes followed their every move, like a predator who was waiting for the right time to pounce on his prey and tear it into pieces. It sent shivers down her spine, but she didn¡¯t let it show. In fact, she didn¡¯t know how to dance. She began to regret agreeing in the first ce. She kept doing it the wrong way and disrupting the dance. The worst of all was the she stepped on him several times. She was red with embarrassment. She was no Cindere. Cindere was perfect, she was not. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have told you¡± ¡°No. There is no problem. I¡¯ll teach you¡± ¡°Here? Right now?¡± ¡°Of course. It is not difficult. Here, wrap your hands around my neck¡± Their conversation looked intimate to a certain someone, not too far from them. He was furious beyond measure that he could kill someone right there. Her hands were around his neck and her head was almost touching his chest. His hand settled on her waist. How dare he? Jared waspletely losing it. ¡°Ouch! Jared, you are hurting me?¡± He released Jane¡¯s hand, which he was clenching tightly. After the dance, they were allowed to change partners. Ryan danced with Jane, while Jared, with Valerie. ¡°You epted the dance even after I told you not to?¡± ¡°You did not tell me anything. Even if you did, you were too far away. I did not hear you¡± He was silent for a while. ¡°You seem hellbent on irritating me. Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about¡± An ominous smirk appeared on his lips. She had a bad feeling. ¡°That boy. He touched you, didn¡¯t he?¡± The bad feeling heightened. ¡°I doubt you know who he is. His father owns argepany, not as big as mine. We could be considered business partners. In business, we don¡¯t cross the boundaries because it is dangerous, but his son just did. What do you think I should do?¡± They had stopped dancingpletely, but he was still holding her. Behind that smirk, she could feel rage. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Well, I know what I should do. As a punishment for crossing the boundaries andying a hand on what is mine, I bring down theirpany and destroy them till they have nothing left. Then he will have no time to look at you!¡± She gasped. ¡°You will do no such thing!¡± ¡°Then do you want to see for yourself?¡± Her eyes glistened over as her breath quickened. She shook her head multiple times and tried to break free from his grip, but he was letting go. She hit his chest several times, but it was like she was hitting a brick. Her hands were hurting. ¡°Let go of me¡± ¡°You will go nowhere unless I¡¯m willing¡± ¡°You do not own me. I¡¯m not a property that you can im ownership over, get that into your fucking head!¡± she screamed so much that her voice broke. Jared froze. Thankfully, because of the loud music, many people had no idea what happened, but those who were close did and that included Jane and Ryan. Mrs Anderson heard it too and approached them. She was surprised when saw tears in her eyes.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°What happened? What did you do to her?¡± Jared stood rigid. Valerie cursing at him and her tears must have brought him back to his senses. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I need to leave¡± She said to her and without waiting, she ran out and almost hit someone on the way. ¡°Valerie? Are you alright?¡± She recognized the voice. It was Ivan¡¯s. She ignored it, and he was about to run after her, but Ava stopped him with a re. The moment she reached the entrance, it started to rain. She took off her heels and began to run. Back in the ballroom, Jared realized what was going on and dashed out like a mad man. No matter how much he looked around, he still could not find her. He screamed in frustration. Valerie arrived home in the car. She turned to the man beside her. ¡°Thank you for bringing me home. I had no idea we were going to meet. What a coincidence¡± Damon nodded. He knew within himself that it was nothing like that. He had gotten to know about her attendance at the ball and was on a stakeout. He had seen her when she entered. He was about to leave when he saw her run out. He then discreetly followed her and appeared beside her to make it seem like a coincidence. He was sure the ball wasn¡¯t over and wanted to ask why she left early, and in a rush. ¡°I¡¯ll go in now¡± He nodded again and watched her enter before driving away. Chapter 55 ¡°Hey, you returned earlier. Did something happen again?¡± La asked as soon as she saw her standing outside the door, drenched. ¡°Can Ie in first?¡± ¡°Oh, right¡± she retreated and opened the door wider. ¡°Are you okay? Wait, are you crying?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not¡± ¡°I can see the tears. What is wrong?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. The worried look on La¡¯s face pushed her emotions to the surface, and she burst out in tears. ¡°So, something did happen¡± she led her to the chair. ¡°Is this about Jane again¡± she received no response and assumed it was true. That wench. ¡°Stop crying, you are going to be fine¡± Valerie shook her head vehemently. ¡°No. I will not be fine. I have done something so ¡­.. so¡­¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°So unimaginable. It happened so suddenly, and I could not turn it back¡± ¡°What is it that you could not turn back. I am still in the dark here. What did you do?¡± ¡°I am ¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t tell you now¡± she stood up and went into her room, locking the door behind her. ¡°Change that dress if you would rather not catch a cold¡± La said at the closed door. Valerie copsed behind the door, her hands in her hair as she stared at the window in despair. Her wet dress meant nothing to her than what she had just realized. She had fallen in love with her boss. Even the thought of it made her squeeze her eyes shut. He was taken and was going to be a married man soon. Should she just resign? Maybe those feelings will disappear when she stops seeing him. But she had worked so hard for this job. It would be a waste to leg go just like that. **************** It wasn¡¯t any better for Jared. He had left the party early and could not get a wink of sleep. On Monday, he arrived early, telling Kathy to direct Valerie to his office once she arrives. Valerie, on the other hand, came down with a cold and migraine. She sneezed now and then and her nose was clogged. ¡°You called for me sir¡± He searched her eyes. They were a little puffy. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. You have a meeting with the executives in two hours¡± The next few days were a torture for the two of them. She knew she could not avoid him, so she avoided any personal conversation he might want to bring up. Her birthday was in a few weeks, but she wasn¡¯t looking forward to it as always. She had always hated herself for growing up in an orphanage. Why was she abandoned? Was she not good enough? Was it because she was a girl? Every year on her birthday, it reminded her of how much of a castaway she was. She wouldn¡¯t have known her birthday or her name if the one who dropped her at the orphanage had not informed the director. She felt a tap. ¡°Your mind has gone on a long journey. What are you thinking so hard about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I have to leave now. See you tomorrow¡± When she got home, La weed her with a ttering smile, took her bag and led her to the table. ¡°Wow! You made dinner. They are my favorite¡± ¡°Of course. That is why I made them¡± ¡°But, what¡¯s with that smile. It¡¯s making my skin crawl¡± ¡°Well, you see, there is something I need to tell you¡± ¡°I knew it. You were being nice for a reason¡± ¡°I need to leave for a while¡± ¡°Leave for a while? What does that mean?¡± ¡°My actress justnded a major role and filming will start in two days, so I have to go¡± ¡°For how long?¡± ¡°Three months, at least¡± ¡°What! Three months? And at least? You are going to leave me here all alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but this is very important¡± Valerie pouted. ¡°So you won¡¯t be here on my birthday?¡± Even though she wasn¡¯t really ecstatic about her birthday, she wished to at least be with someone she cared about, but that hope was dashed. ¡°I won¡¯t, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give you your gift when I return¡± She nodded. ¡°Sandy¡¯s due date is in less two months. It is a shame you won¡¯t be there¡± ¡°She has you, so I have nothing to worry about. I¡¯ll see my little niece, or maybe nephew when I return¡± La left while she was at work, so she returned to an empty house. She felt extremely alone. ************ Amelia was in the car when she received a message from a number she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°There is a restaurant ahead of you. Let¡¯s meet there¡± She could already tell who it was. She smirked. Meeting him was inevitable anyway. ¡°Stop over there¡± She walked into the restaurant and looked around. She saw him at a far corner ring at her. She walked towards him with a big smile. ¡°There you are. How long has it been? Two years? Four years?¡± ¡°Enough with the unsolicited pleasantries¡± ¡°Ouch. That¡¯s mean considering our past record¡± Damon leaned forward, a furious glint in his eyes. ¡°Stay away from the Smiths¡± ¡°Why should I? The current head of the family is a very good friend of my father, so why should I listen to you?¡± ¡°Just do as I tell you?¡± She tilted her head with a smile. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then you leave me no choice¡± ¡°You will kill me? Is that it?¡± She burst intoughter. ¡°You can be more of a clown sometimes¡± Her smile vanished as she leaned forward, and their faces were only inches apart. ¡°You cannot kill me, Damon. You know why? Because I will kill you first¡± she leaned back, the smiled came back to her face. ¡°We can ce our orders now. Oh! I should be somewhere important, I will not be able to eat with you. I¡¯m sorry our conversation had to end abruptly like this. But you can order anything you want, I¡¯ll pay for it. I¡¯m a princess after all¡± He watched her back with rage. His phone lit up. It was a message from Valerie. ¡°Let¡¯s meet up tonight, at the usual bar¡± A bright smile immediately appeared on his face, though he had no idea why. Outside, Amelia watched him intently as he came out. The expression he had wasn¡¯t one she had expected. She had expected him to storm out and drive away in fury, but his face was calm. There was even a hint of smile in it. She narrowed her eyes and called someone. ¡°Follow Damon and report his every move to me. Don¡¯t let him find out. If he does, consider yourself dead¡± Chapter 56 ¡°Now this is a pleasant surprise¡± Damon took a seat beside Valerie. ¡°What is?¡± She asked dully. ¡°You never call me out on your initiative. I do that all the time¡± ¡°Oh, really¡± she took a sip of the beer. ¡°I¡¯m sure there is a reason. Can I hear it?¡± She sighed helplessly. ¡°You are right. I¡¯m frustrated and confused right now. You know I once asked you how to know if you are starting to like someone ¡± Damon paused. ¡°And?¡± ¡°I realized I have really fallen in love. It would have been better if he was single but he has someone he is about to marry. It scares me that I fell in love with a taken man¡± ¡°Who is this man?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know him¡± Even an idiot would know she wasn¡¯t willing to say who it was. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± ¡°Forget him. He is already engaged and you have no future together, so it is pointless. Distance yourself from him¡± She blinked twice to stop the tears. ¡°Maybe you are right. Time will surely make me forget him, but¡­..¡± ¡°But?¡± She was in a tight spot. There was no way she would be able to stay away from him unless she resigned and she wasn¡¯t willing to. ¡°Is there a reason you don¡¯t want to do what I suggested?¡± Damon pressed further. She bit her lips and forced a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s drink and forget our sorrows¡± Damon chuckled. ¡°Your sorrows, you mean?¡± One hourter, she was dead drunk and was screaming how men were idiots. Damon in embarrassment paid for the drinks and carried her out. ¡°Let go of me. I can walk¡± ¡°Stop talking¡± ¡°Let. Me. Go¡± She hit him as she said this. He sighed and put her down. She pointed at him as she staggered.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, right? Watch carefully. I¡¯m going to walk in straight to your car and ¨C wait, did you bring your car? ¡°Yes. It is over there¡± he pointed at the other side. ¡°Okay. Watch me¡± She hupped as her eyes rolled. She had not walked three steps when her legs hit the other and she fell. Damon shook his head and picked her up ignoring her protest. ¡°Oh, you are quite fast¡± she said as she opened her eyes and realized they had reached the house. She scrambled to get the door opened. Damon got out and did the job and she almost fell out but he caught her in time throwing her over his shoulder. He knocked. ¡°There is no one in the house¡± ¡°Where is your key?¡± ¡°Key? Hmmmmmm, I think it¡¯s¡­.¡± she huped again. ¡°In my purse¡± He found it, opened the door and walked into a dark house. He found the switch and turned it on. By the time herid her on the bed, she was fast asleep. ¡°Good night¡± he muttered. ¡°Jared?¡± She called softly but it was a bit loud in the quiet atmosphere. Was she awake? He turned to her. Her eyes were still closed? Then was she dreaming? His eyes went to her lips. It was so pink that he felt like kissing it. Then like moth to me, he began to walk towards her till his face was a few inches away from hers. Her soft breaths fanned his face and didn¡¯t help matters. His lips was about to touch hers when he stopped. He had his principles. He would not take advantage of a woman like this. He repeated the good night and walked out before he lostplete control of his sanity. **************** She woke up the next morning wondering how she ended up on her bed. It must have been Damon. Her head hurt like shit. She groaned and dragged herself off the bed to get ready for work, the thought of seeing Jared again weighing heavily on her. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± He asked suddenly. ¡°No¡± she replied simply and turned to leave. He quickly got out of his seat and stood at the door, preventing her exit. ¡°Please stay out of my way sir¡± ¡°Something is definitely wrong. Is this because of what I said at the party? I was just -¡± ¡°You meant it, Jared¡± He paused before nodding. ¡°You are right. I meant it but that was only because I was mad¡± ¡°Why would you be? You want me to be caged to you? Hell no!¡± She tried to push him aside but he didn¡¯t budge an inch. ¡°Out of my way¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It won¡¯t happen again¡± ¡°Of course it won¡¯t because there will be no next time for you to try that shit with me¡± she tried to push him again but nothing happened. She had no choice but to make use of herst resort. She raised her knee and kicked him in the groin. It worked. He bent over gripping his dick in pain. She pushed him aside and ran out. After the incident, he stopped trying to talk about them. Her birthday was finally here but she woke up grouchy. No one was around to wish her a happy birthday except Sandy who sent her a limited edition wristwatch and her favorite chocte which cheered her up a little. No one knew about her birthday so it went quite ordinary. Strangely enough, Jared never once called her into his office. She didn¡¯t see him until when she got off work. He was about to get into his car. She greeted him and he responded with a nod before driving away. She thought she would be relieved he wasn¡¯t talking about them anymore but reverse was the case. She felt a bit pained at his indifference. ¡°It¡¯s for the best¡± she assured herself. She met a bouquet of flowers at her doorstep from Damon. She didn¡¯t remember telling him her birthday. Her phone rang immediately she entered. ¡°Did you like my gift?¡± ¡°Yes. How did you know it¡¯s my birthday?¡± ¡°You told me once?¡± ¡°I did?¡± ¡°Yes. Once, when you were drunk¡± She nodded. That was possible. ¡°Thank you for the gift¡± The doorbell rang and she had to end the call. She opened the door and oddly, there was no one outside. She tilted her head to the side in confusion. She definitely heard the ring. After looking around some more, she went back in. She had only taken a few steps when the doorbell rang again. This time, he heartbeat sped up. ¡°Who is it?¡± . There was no response. She picked up a tennis racket holding it shakily with her two hands as walked towards the door. She raised it even higher when the door opened but there was no one outside. She looked around and found no one. The street was silent. She was about to turn to leave when she heard a loud bang. Chapter 57 Her heart hit the pit of her stomach. She looked around for the source of the sound. Her fear turned into confusion when she saw hundreds of lighted drones in the sky. The confusion, however, morphed into surprise when she saw what the drones formed. ¡°Happy birthday?¡± She muttered. What was going on? Was this for her? Then she heard a voice behind her. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She was startled. ¡°Boss? When did you get here?¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He was in a casual T-shirt and pants but he still looked extraordinarily hot. He dipped his hands in his pockets. ¡°Just now¡± She didn¡¯t hear his footsteps. Maybe because she was so upied with staring at the wonderful disy. ¡°Were you behind this?¡± He nodded. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°But why¡­¡­¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± He further pressed. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful, but-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for me. As long as you like it¡± he grabbed her hand before she could say more. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see¡± he said mysteriously. Common sense warned her not to go with him. He was a taken man, but her heart was ready and d to go with all of him. She was torn between the two. In the end, she chose thetter and got into the car. She found herself looking forward to the surprise, though she didn¡¯t want to. They arrived at one of the manypanies Smith industries had. He circled the car and opened the door. He raised a brow when she remained seated. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing out?¡± ¡°What are we doing here?¡± ¡°You will know soon enough¡± She reluctantly came out. There were definitely still people in there, but she was in her work clothes, soing with him should not be too suspicious. She kept her head down when she entered, making sure to walk a few steps behind him, just as a secretary should. Jared smirked when he realized what she was doing. The elevator opened to a rooftop helipad. On it was a gigantic red helicopter. ¡°Woah¡± she found herself eximing. She covered her mouth with her palm, awestricken. ¡°You own this?¡± She realized it was a silly question to ask, as ¡®Smith¡¯ was clearly written in bold letters on it. There was no one in sight. Just the two of them. He walked to the aircraft and opened the door, waiting for her to get in before hopping in the other side. ¡°Wait, you are flying this?¡± He fastened her seatbelt. ¡°Can you really?¡± ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know if I should be¡± ¡°I can teach you if you want¡± ¡°I will rather no lead us to our deaths¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy¡± ¡°No. Just go ahead¡± She put on the headphones and he did his too. ¡°Where are we heading?¡± ¡°You ask too many questions. Chris Meyer, ready to depart¡± Then a voice said, ¡°Roger that, Chris Meyer. Your flight ns to New Jersey is cleared¡± ¡°New Jersey? We are going to New Jersey? Tonight?¡± ¡°Hm¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± She had always wanted to visit there but could not. She had wanted her visit to be special, not spontaneously. ¡°It was meant to be a surprise¡± She sighed and looked outside as the helicopter left the ground till they were in the air. She looked down at the numerous lit up buildings. They all looked so beautiful. Jared nced at her amazed face and shook his head. Little things easily amused her. ¡°So beautiful¡± she muttered. Jared stared at her, a small smile on his face. ¡°Right. Very beautiful¡± They finally halted on his penthouse rooftop. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you own this ce too¡± ¡°I own houses all around the world. This is the least of them¡± Least? This was nowhere near least. It was magnificent. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± She turned to see him standing at the mini bar, a bottle of wine in his hand. She nodded, mouthing a thank you as she received her ss. ¡°Um, so why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°To celebrate your birthday, of course¡± She blinked, at loss of what to say. He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. ¡°Come with me¡± They stopped before a door. ¡°Here we are¡± ¡°What is in there?¡± ¡°Close your eyes¡± The moment she did, she felt his firm hand on her waist. ¡°Don¡¯t open them¡± he said quickly when he noticed she was going to. She tightened her fist, enduring the effect he had on her. Her body suddenly cooled as they entered the room. ¡°You can open them now¡± She did and was almost blinded by the bright light in the room. She squinted, looking around. The room was filled with roses and the smell of roses. Balloons were littered everywhere and there was a giant cake at the center of the room. She could not stop gasping. ¡°You did all this for me?¡± He rubbed his temple, looking embarrassed. ¡°Well, I hired people to do them, but technically, yes. Do you like it?¡± ¡°I do. I love this, and that cake, it is so big¡± ¡°Here is your gift from me¡± He was holding a big white box, but it didn¡¯t look heavy. There was another rtively small box on it. ¡°Can I open it now?¡± ¡°You can¡± He took a deep breath as she opened the box. She furrowed her brows when she saw what was in it. She brought it out, taking a good look at it. It was a white stuffed animal. A rabbit. Her expression made his heart race. Didn¡¯t she like it? ¡°Is something wrong? Don¡¯t you like it? If you don¡¯t, I can get you something different-¡± ¡°No. Not that. I love it¡± ¡°You do? Really?¡± ¡°Yes. I do. It¡¯s so pretty. I¡¯ve always wanted this¡± she wished to have a plush animal for a long time. Maybe because she never had one when she was a kid. La and Sandy had called it childish. She thought it was childish too, but she still wanted it anyway. She had tried buying it at a store, but it was too expensive. She had wondered how a plush toy could be so expensive, but here she was, what she had wished to was right in her arms. ¡°But why did you think of buying this?¡± Jared quickly thought of an excuse. ¡°Lucky guess. I figured some girls liked stuff like this, so I bought it¡± She nodded. That made sense. She picked up the second gift box. Perhaps she was imagining things, but she felt the box move a little. Chapter 58 She shook it a little, and she felt it move in her hand a little. She nced at him in confusion. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Check it out¡± She slowly opened the box and could hardly believe what she saw. In it was a little cute white puppy. ¡°Wha-¡± she held the little thing in her hand and she inspected it. This wasn¡¯t a stuffed animal. It¡¯s deep ck eyes was staring at her. The little thing blinked. It was real. ¡°It¡¯s real¡± He nodded in affirmation. ¡°Is this really for me?¡± ¡°It is your birthday gift?¡± She swallowed a lump that formed in her throat and was on the verge of tears. She felt so touched. ¡°How did you think of getting me this too?¡± She thought it impossible for him to guess the three things she wanted so badly on her birthday. ¡°Another lucky guess¡± he said, looking away. He looked so suspicious. She narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Fine. I identally saw it¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Saw what?¡± ¡°Your wishlist¡± She gasped. ¡°You¡­¡­ you read my journal¡± ¡°Like I said, it was idental. I didn¡¯t mean to. It was opened so I just took a peek¡± ¡°What other things did you see?¡± ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°Really?¡± She searched his eyes to see whether he was lying or not. ¡°Really. Is there something I should not see in it?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± She eximed. The room went silent. Both of them were surprised at her outburst. ¡°I mean, a journal is for personal use. My heartfelt thoughts are in it, so it is definitely not for someone else to see¡± she said. There were three things on her birthday wishlist. First, travel to New Jersey. Second, get a stuffed animal and third, get a puppy. She should have found it weird when she got everything she wished for. He nodded. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m sorry¡± There was an awkward silence for a while. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give it a name?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­is it a girl or a boy?¡± ¡°A girl¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯ll give it¡­¡± she thought for a while. ¡°Sadie! Yes. Sadie. Hello, Sadie¡± she tickled the little animal. It whined a little. ¡°Isn¡¯t she cute?¡± She spared Jared a nce. Her smile was infectious. She had not been this happy in ages, and he was relieved. It looks like she wasn¡¯t mad at him anymore. **************** She sat on the bar stool, ignoring thescivious stares she received from men. They openly ogled, but none of them was bold enough to approach her. She was in a bright short red dress. Herps were on disy. One of them gathered his courage and sat beside her. ¡°Hello princess¡± he has a flirtatious smile on his lips. She pretended not to hear him and got busy with her phone. The man was embarrassed and cleared his throat. ¡°Can¡¯t you hear me?¡± Amelia rolled her eyes. ¡°Get lost¡± she saidzily. It left a big bruise on his ego. He smirked. ¡°I see you are ying hard to get. How about I take you home tonight. I¡¯ll pay any amount you want¡± She wanted to hit him right there and then but changed her mind. ¡°Any amount?¡± A smile appeared on his lips, thinking she was about to agree. She was an easy woman, after all. She requested a pen and paper from the bartender, rand wrote the amount she wanted. The smile vanished from his face the moment she saw the amount. There were uncountable zero. It was more than a trillion. He doubted he would be able to make this money in his lifetime. He rumpled the paper and it away with anger. She smiled crookedly, ¡°You can¡¯t pay it? Then FUCK. OFF¡± He looked like he wanted to rip her into pieces. He grabbed her phone and threw it on the floor. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know the likes of you? A cheap woman who is only after money, even at the cost of selling her body. You are just-¡± A punchnded on his cheek and a tooth fell out. She grabbed him in the cor and raised him. She wasn¡¯t going to do this before, but he had gone too far. Her aura had changed into a murderous one. ¡°You were saying?¡± People had turned their attention to them. No one dared to approach her, The man was on the verge of wetting his pants. ¡°M¡­ miss, please forgive me. It won¡¯t happen again¡± ¡°It definitely will not. But forgive you? Nah. Especially when you went that far. So tell me, how should I punish you, huh?¡± His whole body shook. She smiled when she realized the best method. ¡°You know, I just thought of something. You were talking about spending the night with me. Since that isn¡¯t possible anymore, how about I get rid of it. I mean your dick¡± His eyes widened. ¡°No¡­ no, please don¡¯t¡± She raised her knee and kicked him twice in the groin. He almost lost consciousness. ¡°Now SCRAM!¡± He held his penis and ran out with wobbly legs. She went back to her seat and wiped her hand before throwing the handkerchief into the trash. The bartender was visibly scared, so she offered him a friendly smile. A young man came in a few minutester and sat beside her. ¡°Your highness¡± ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°He has been seeing a woman recently¡± ¡°A woman?¡± ¡°They seem quite close¡± As far as she knew Damon, he would never be close to anybody. Could he and that woman be in cohorts? ¡°Who is the woman?¡± He handed her Valerie¡¯s picture. ¡°This is her?¡± She was pretty, but she doubted Damon would ever be carried away by a girl¡¯s beauty. ¡°Yes, your highness. I also found out something interesting. Thedy in the picture is the secretary of the CEO of Smith Industries¡± ¡°She is Jared¡¯s secretary?¡± Were Damon and this woman really working together? **************** Valerie didn¡¯t feel so bored anymore because she had her newpanion. Jared was nice enough to give her a day off, so she was home all day. She smoothened the puppy¡¯s fur. ¡°I want to go grocery shopping. Want toe with me?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. It whined in response. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes¡± She picked it up, and they went out together. She was done shopping and was about toe out when she bumped into someone. The other person was holding a coffee, so everything spilled on her. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry¡± Valerie quickly apologized. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Amelia replied with a smile. Valerie felt so guilty. She brought out her handkerchief and tried to wipe her dress, but Amelia insisted on doing it herself. ¡°I¡¯ll wash this and return it to you¡± ¡°That is not necessary¡± ¡°I insist¡± She gave Valerie her phone. ¡°Input your number, so I can call you when I get it done. What a cute puppy you have there, by the way¡± Valerie smiled, blushing a little. ¡°It¡¯s a special gift given to me by a special person¡± Chapter 59 Amelia looked outside the window in the car, fiddling with the locket on her neck. Could the special person she was talking about be Damon? No. That was impossible. There was no way Damon¡¯s would gift someone. He had no feelings. But that smile, could it be what she was thinking? She turned to her secretary, who was driving. ¡°I want you to run a background check on that woman. I want every bit of information about her, even to the smallest detail¡± ¡°Yes, your highness¡± **************** The next day after work, Jared insisted on taking her home. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine on my own¡± ¡°I never said you wouldn¡¯t. There is nothing wrong in me taking you home. Also, I miss Sadie¡± That was just an excuse. ¡°Are you going to get in while I¡¯m being nice, or you want me to carry you in¡± She quickly shook her head. They already garnered enough attention as it is. ¡°I¡¯ll get in¡± Jared hid a smile and started the car. It was a bit dark when they finally reached the house. Immediately it heard the door open, the dog ran out wagging it¡¯s little tail and hopping at Valerie. She carried it, caressing its fur, not noticing that someone¡¯s face had turned sour. Her attention was diverted to something else. He shot the puppy a stink eye and cleared his throat. ¡°Can I hold it?¡± She nodded and handed Sadie to him and went upstairs to get changed. In fact, he wasn¡¯t a fan of puppies. He hated them, but he had to get it for her. However, holding the little animal in his arms wasn¡¯t so bad. It was well-behaved and stared at him without blinking. ¡°You already saw Sadie. You can leave now¡± she said, descending the stairs. He scoffed. ¡°Are you in such a hurry to send me away¡± he looked around. ¡°I thought you had friends who lived with you¡± ¡°We are three. Sandy is excluded now, and La, well, she is on a business trip, so for now, it¡¯s just me¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I have never seen your friend¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°You might have seen her once but didn¡¯t know it was her. She was at the hospital when I was hospitalized, remember?¡± ¡°Yes, but I didn¡¯t see her face¡± ¡°Uhm, I saved the picture of the three of us as my screen background. Let me get my phone¡± He nodded as she went to her room. He was about to get seated when he received a call from his mother. ¡°Where are you? Will said you left the office for a while now, and you are not at your house either. You need toe to the old mansion now. Your grandfather copsed¡± she said and hung up. He got out of his seat and hurried out. Valerie came downstairs to an empty living room. She looked around in confusion. He was there just now. She received a message from him saying he had something urgent to take care of. He met the whole family outside the old man¡¯s room except Sandy. Amelia and Jane were there too. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know yet¡± his mum replied. ¡°Should he not be taken to the hospital?¡± ¡°You know how much he hates hospitals. He insisted on being treated at home before copsing¡± ¡°But this is his health we are talking about here¡± His grandfather might have been unlovable, but he was still his grandfather and was still soft at heart. The door opened, and the family doctor came out. ¡°How is he?¡± Mrs Smith asked. ¡°He is stable now, but he is still in a precarious state¡± ¡°Why did he copse in the first ce?¡± ¡°It was due to heart failure. It is not so surprising considering his old age, so he has to be treated with care. The old man looks like he has a lot on his mind and I suggest you only do things that make him happy from now on. I already ced him on medications¡± ¡°Thank you Doctor. Can we see him now?¡± ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t make a sound. He is presently asleep¡± Jared returned after seeing the doctor out. He entered the room lightly. The family was already in the room. His eyes were closed and was currently put on a drip. He looked like any regr grandfather at the moment and not the lion he was. He was also pitiful. Mrs Smith was on the verge of tears and Jared was quick to usher all of them out before the old man awoke. ¡°Oh! right, where were you? You weren¡¯t at home¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a kid. I have every right to go wherever I want to¡± She shot him a look that she hoped would wither him right there, but he only looked away, unbothered. She turned to Dn. ¡°And you! Why did youe here? Who informed you?¡± ¡°The butler did. I was only worried¡± She gave him a stupefied looked. ¡°Worried enough to leave your heavily pregnant wife at home, you nitwit¡± she balled her fist and hit him. It made no effect, but he had to pretend it was painful. That was the only way she would be satisfied. ¡°She gave me permission to leave¡± That riled her up even more, and she hit him further as she spoke ¡°And you think she meant it. How did you end up bing president with that brain of yours! Your father did not even leave me for a second when I was pregnant with all of you. He rolled his eyes. ¡°Well, that¡¯s because he had no job¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Mr Smith patted her back, telling her to take it easy. She took in three deep breaths. ¡°Now, Dn, leave my sight and go back to your wife¡± ¡°Yes mum¡± ¡°And apologize to her properly¡± He nodded and walked out. ¡°As for you¡± she squinted at Jared as she pointed her index finger at him. ¡°I suggest you behave yourself¡± ¡°Dad, I suggest you take care of your wife and her anger issues¡± ¡°What! Ang¡­. anger issues? That silly boy¡± she picked up a pillow and threw it his way, but he was already out by that time. Jane bit her lip. Jared had ignored herpletely. Chapter 60 He was workingte and Valerie had to stay too. Jared came out of the office and met her seat empty. He wondered where she had gone to. Her bag was still on the table. He was about to turn to leave when he saw her phone on the table. ¡°So careless¡± he muttered. She was supposed to take her phone everywhere. What if he needed to call her? His thumb touched the screen, and it came to life. It was a picture of her smiling with her two friends. Her smile was so bright. He caressed her face through the screen, ready to drop the phone when someone caught his eyes. Beside Valerie stood Sandy, and beside Sandy was¡­¡­. He could not believe his eyes. Was he seeing right? Was he hallucinating? Valerie returned and met Jared at her desk. His expression looked off. ¡°Boss, is something wrong? Are you okay?¡± He turned the screen to her and pointed at it. ¡°Who is this person?¡± ¡°Oh! That is La. My other friend¡± ¡°La? Is that her name?¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You should leave now. I¡¯m done with work also¡± Without saying anything else, he turned to enter his office. ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± Jared returned to his office, looking lost. After making sure Valerie had left, he summoned Will into his office. ¡°Find out everything about Valerie¡¯s friend. La Harris. Now¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± he immediately got to work. His heart almost jumped out of his chest at her shocking resemnce to the dead Cheryl. His eyes narrowed as he began to dig more. He returned to his office. ¡°I forwarded her personal information to you¡± He sat straight and opened hisptop. His eyes scanned through it. ¡°Her name is La Harris. Her parents are both dead. She works as a manager to an actress. The schools she attended are all there. She isn¡¯t in town at this moment¡± ¡°I know¡± ¡°Also¡± he hesitated for a bit. ¡°She is 24 years old¡± ¡°Cheryl is also 24 years this year¡± he murmured.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you suspecting it¡¯s her? She was clearly buried five years ago. We all saw that¡± He rested his back with eyes narrowed. ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure¡± Will balled his hands into a fist as he tried to make sense of it. It could be a lookalike. They had entirely different backgrounds and there was no way it was her. ¡°Let¡¯s try to find out¡± he said with a sigh, standing up. ¡°How do we do that?¡± ¡°We are heading to Dn¡¯s ce¡± Will looked confused at first before realizing what he was going there to do. He met one of the servants and was directed to his brother¡¯s study. He was about to go there when he heard footstepsing from the stairs. It was Dn and Sandy. He was helping a very pregnant Sandy down the stairs. ¡°Jared?¡± He was surprised to see him. ¡°You didn¡¯t say you wereing¡± ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t think I was going toe, but it¡¯s important. I need to talk to Sandy¡± She pointed at herself. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes¡± She could sense a bit of urgency in his voice. She settled on a sofa. ¡°What is it about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about your friend, La. How long have you been friends?¡± ¡°A little more than four years now. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°What about her parents? Have you seen them?¡± ¡°No. Her parents are dead. What is going on? You are starting to scare me? Is she okay?¡± The agitation on her face was obvious, and Dn was quick to step in. ¡°That¡¯s enough. What is all this about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. Don¡¯t worry. Your friend is safe and sound. I was just curious¡± Sandy heaved a sigh of relief. Dn stared at Jared intently. ¡°Sandy, I¡¯ll be back soon. Jared, let¡¯s talk in my office¡± Dn stopped walking as soon as the door of his office was shut. ¡°It¡¯s just us here. Can you now tell me what is going on?¡± Jared walked to the sofa and sat on it. He brought out his tablet and handed it to him. Dn¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Cheryl?¡± ¡°That¡¯s La. Your wife¡¯s friend¡± ¡°They look so much alike¡± ¡°Or they are the same¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡± ¡°Cheryl is undoubtedly dead¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you find it weird that out of Sandy¡¯s friend, we never once saw her. Like she was avoiding us or something¡± Dn was silent. That was true. Sandy had two best friends and he only knew one. Never has he seen the other. He shook his head. ¡°The profile here is wholly different¡± he took a seat at his table. ¡°Sandy seems to know nothing¡± ¡°But if she were alive, she would have let us know and returned¡± Jared smirked. ¡°Return? Don¡¯t you know the kind of person she is? What Cheryl wanted most was to get the hell out of this family¡± Dn sighed, pinching the space between his brows. Of course, he knew. She was treated like a princess, but Cheryl wanted freedom. Something the Smith family could not give to her ¡°Who else knows about this?¡± ¡°No one, except Will¡± ¡°Make sure mum, or dad or anybody else doesn¡¯t find out about it. Let¡¯s be sure first. We don¡¯t want to alert the culprit. How should we deal with this?¡± ¡°I only came to let you know. I¡¯ll take care of everything. Just focusing on taking care of Sandy¡± ¡°It would be nice if she is truly alive¡± ************ ¡°What did you and Jared talk about?¡± Sandy asked after he left. ¡°Just business stuff. Nothing to be concerned about¡± She was not concerned. She had called La to make sure she was fine. ¡°I have something for you¡± He went into the room and returned minutester with a small box. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Open it¡± She did and saw a beautiful, exquisite ne. ¡°This is for me?¡± He nodded. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°I love it¡± He helped her put on the ne. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful. Thank you¡± ¡°But promise me one thing. You will never take it off. Ever. It must be on you every single time¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just consider it a lucky charm. It will also keep you safe¡± She rolled her eyes, ¡°What lucky charm? It¡¯s just a ne¡± ¡°Promise me¡± he didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Fine. I promise¡± she yawned. ¡°I feel so sleepy¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get you to bed¡± He swooped her up in a princess carry. ¡°What are you doing? Put me down¡± the servants were still in the house. Her face was burning up. ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heavy¡± Heughed. ¡°Not at all¡± Her eyes were dim by the time they were at the door. He ced her gently on the bed and was about to turn back when she grabbed his hand and pull him. He held himself steady in time, so he won¡¯t fall on her belly. Her eyes were closed. ¡°Stay with me¡± she murmured. Chapter 61 It was her day off. She had the whole day to spend with her pup. She patted its head. ¡°Should we go out for a walk? Hm? Should we?¡± She was distracted when the doorbell rang. She raised a brow, not expecting any guest. Or was it Jared? For some unknown reason, the thought thrilled her. She took a deep breath before opening the door, but it wasn¡¯t who she hoped for. ¡°Mrs Anderson¡± What was she doing here? How did she know her house? ¡°I know you must be wondering why I am here, but can you at least let me in first?¡± Valerie moved aside and she walked in. ¡°You have a nice ce¡± she looked around the house. ¡°You live alone?¡± ¡°No. My friend too. Why are you here?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look that excited to see me¡± ¡°Why should I? I barely know you¡± Mrs Anderson smiled. ¡°Of course¡± She walked towards the table and dropped the bag she was carrying. ¡°I have not seen you since you left my party some time ago. I wanted to apologize since you left unhappily. I may not know Jared that much, but he looks like he could be a real piece of work sometimes¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to. It¡¯s not your fault¡± She opened the bag and brought out food containers, opening them one after the other under Valerie¡¯s astonished gaze. ¡°Who are all these for?¡± ¡°You, of course¡± ¡°For me? Why would you bring me all these?¡± ¡°First, I figured that you won¡¯t have enough time to cook considering your work, so I cooked these. Second, I have not thanked you for retrieving my purse and an apology for what happened at the ball¡± ¡°I already said it isn¡¯t your fault and as for the purse, there¡¯s no need to go this far just to thank me¡± ¡°Okay. Just scratch that. The first reason then¡± ¡°I can¡¯t and will not ept this¡± ¡°Come on. You look so thin and frail. Trust me, some home cooked meal will do you good¡± She walked towards the refrigerator and opened it. She shot Valerie a knowing look when she saw what was in it. Eggs, vegetables, and water. She began to arrange the food containers in the refrigerator. ¡°You are doing this without my permission¡± ¡°Trust me, you¡¯ll enjoy it¡± There was one container left. She opened it, dipped the spoon in it and brought it close to her mouth, silently telling her to open up. The aroma filled her nostrils and her mouth opened on their own. ¡°How is it?¡± Valerie was speechless. It tasted wonderful. Her eyes suddenly watered, yet she didn¡¯t know why. Mrs Anderson noticed. ¡°Are you crying? Does it taste bad?¡± She sniffed. ¡°No. It¡¯s delicious. I don¡¯t understand why I¡¯m crying¡± ¡°There there. It¡¯s alright¡± she handed her a handkerchief and helped her to the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m usually not like this. I don¡¯t know what came over me¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry. I will -¡± She was interrupted by a phone call. ¡°Alright¡­.. I¡¯ll be there soon¡± she hung up. ¡°I have to go. Will you be fine alone? I can stay if you want¡± ¡°No. Please, you can leave¡± Mrs Anderson stretched out her hand. ¡°Your phone¡± ¡°My phone? What for?¡± Mrs Anderson looked around and saw it on a table nearby. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that is it¡± She said, picking it up. She typed something on it and gave it back to her. ¡°My number is there if you need to call me¡± ¡°Why did you do that? Why would I need to call you¡± ¡°Goodbye, youngdy¡­.. oh, and there¡¯s no need to walk me out¡± She smiled and walked out. **************** Sandy sat on the sofa when she received an unexpected guest. ¡°Mum. You didn¡¯t tell me you wereing?¡± She tried to stand up but was stopped by Mrs Smith. ¡°There¡¯s no need to. I was in the neighborhood, so I decided to stop by to see you. Where is Dn? Is he not home? He left you all alone when he knows your due date is in a few weeks?¡± Sandy smiled awkwardly. ¡°He still has to do his job as the president. Also, he is trying his best to make me happy¡± Mrs Smith sighed. ¡°That boy¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we move out to the garden?¡± She helped her up and they went out together. ¡°Mum, I was wondering if you could show me Dn¡¯s childhood pictures again¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t have them here. But I¡¯ll make sure to show you next time. What about yours? I have never seen them¡± ¡°My mum has them, but I have some on my phone¡± she stretched the phone towards her. ¡°Wow! Is this you? You look so cute and chubby¡± ¡°That was on my one-year birthday. My dad on the left and my mum on the right¡± Mrs Smith continued scrolling and suddenly paused. ¡°Who is this? She looks familiar¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s my friend, Valerie. You must have seen her before¡± ¡°That must be why she looked familiar¡± The next few pictures were that of Valerie. She was about to return the phone when she unintentionally scrolled left and she froze. Her heart leapt. ¡°Who is this girl?¡± Sandy peeked. ¡°That is my other friend, La. I don¡¯t think you know her, as she doesn¡¯t show her face often. She is pretty, isn¡¯t she? Just that she acts like a tomboy. She would have looked even more beautiful if she wore dresses, but no. She hates them¡± Mrs Smith¡¯s hands shook, but she tried to steady it. ¡°For how long have you known each other?¡± ¡°Probably five years¡± ¡°Five¡­.¡± her throat tightened. ¡°Mum, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Can I take this picture of her?¡± Sandy sat up. ¡°Why? Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No. I just think she is pretty. You know I love pretty things¡± she took a picture of La and returned the phone. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m afraid I have to leave early¡± Sandy was going to suspect there was something wrong if she stayed longer. She entered the car breathing heavily. It was impossible. Cheryl died years ago. So how¡­¡­. ¡°To the president¡¯s office¡± She dialed a number. ¡°Hello¡± Jared¡¯s hard voice could be heard on the other end. ¡°Go to your brother¡¯s office. I¡¯m on my way there¡± ¡°I¡¯m really busy at the-¡± ¡°I must not get there before you¡± she warned sternly before hanging up. A few minutester, she burst into Dn¡¯s office. Dn sat at the table while Jared sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. Dn stood up as soon as she entered. ¡°Mum, is everything alright? Jared said it sounded urgent¡± ¡°It is urgent. I think Cheryl is alive¡± The two men shared a look. ¡°Mum, what are you talking about out of the blue?¡± She showed them a picture of La. ¡°Look at this. This is Sandy¡¯s friend. Doesn¡¯t she look so much like my Cheryl?¡± She stared at their expressionless faces and suddenly came to a realization. ¡°Wait, did you two know about this?¡± Chapter 62 ¡°Mum, please have a seat¡± Dn tried to help her to the sofa, but she yanked his hand off. ¡°Answer my question this instance¡± This was the first time they had seen her this mad. Dn turned to Jared who only shrugged indifferently. ¡°Mum, she is not Cheryl¡± ¡°So you knew. And you didn¡¯t think it was right to tell me?¡± ¡°Yes. Because we knew this was going to happen. You were going to get worked up for no reason¡± ¡°Worked up? For no reason? I found my daughter who supposedly died five years ago and you-¡± ¡°She is not your daughter, mum. At least not yet. We haven¡¯t investigated anything¡± ¡°Then start now¡± ¡°The girl in question is not in the country¡± ¡°Now that is an excuse. A flimsy excuse. That should not be a barrier. You can get her here whenever you want¡± ¡°Mum, that¡¯s -¡± ¡°No more excuses. I want to know everything about that girl by tomorrow. Does your dad know about this?¡± She looked like she was ready to fight the moment they said yes. ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t¡± Dn replied. She looked a bit scary at the moment. ¡°Good¡± ¡°Mum, can you do us a favor? Can you not tell anyone?¡± ¡°I wont. Then see you boyster¡± She red at them before storming out. ¡°Hey, why didn¡¯t you help me out?¡± Dn sank into his seat. ¡°She would have gotten mad at whatever I said, so you handling her was the best. Let¡¯s just hope she doesn¡¯t spread this¡± ¡°She already said she won¡¯t¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t promise you¡± Jared said with a smirk. Dn shut his eyes, rubbing his temple. ¡°How did she get that picture anyway?¡± ¡°Who else? Your wife, of course. She doesn¡¯t know about all of this, so she¡¯ll dly spill everything¡± Jared was just about to leave his brother¡¯s office when their phones dinged. It was a message from their father asking them toe to the old mansion for dinner. Dn threw his head back. Had she told everyone? Was that the reason for the sudden message? ¡°What do we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see¡± That night at dinner, Dn¡¯s eyes were on everyone at the table. At the head of the table was Old Smith, looking so frail and¡­¡­ different. Dn¡¯s scrutinizing gazended on Old Smith, and he caught it. He mmed his fork down, his face hard. ¡°Why do you keep staring at me? Do you pity me? Huh?¡± He screamed at him. Mrs Smith quickly tried to cool him down by patting him. The doctor already warned that they should only do things that would make him happy, but he shook her off. He hated being treated like a child. He red at all of them before leaving the table. The loud bang of his bedroom door resounded. His outburst confirmed that he didn¡¯t know anything about La yet. He heaved a sigh of relief.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. He took hold of his mother after dinner and brought her to a silent ce. ¡°What is it?¡± She questioned angrily. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell anyone, did you?¡± Her expression immediately changed from angry to awkward. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t¡± Dn shook his head. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t tell everyone, but I told your father¡± ¡°You did what?¡± He squeezed his eyes shut. ¡°He¡¯s your father. He should know, right?¡± A maid approached them. ¡°Mr president, Mr Smith would like to see you¡± He gave his mum a helpless look, and she only shrugged. He met his father in the living room. ¡°You called for me¡± ¡°Have a seat. Your mum told me you found Cheryl. Is that true?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not¡­.. for now. We don¡¯t know if it¡¯s her¡± ¡°Can I see her?¡± One could see hope in his eyes, and it made Dn guilty. ¡°She is not in the country presently¡± ¡°Her picture?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have it. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this. I promise¡± Mr Smith sighed and nodded. ¡°Does your brother know about this?¡± ¡°He does. Also tell mum not to tell anyone about this. We don¡¯t want this getting to grandfather¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try to, but you know how much of a parrot she is¡± **************** Sandy had just finished chatting with her mother-inw and was heading outside when she halted at the sight of two people ahead. Dn and Amelia had their backs facing her. Just the sight of the both of them drove her mad. She sighed and waited till her red face was back to normal before making a move to call out to him. But he saw her first and Amelia excuse herself, offering Sandy a smile, but she interpreted it as a smug grin. He held her hand warmly. ¡°Are you done talking to mum?¡± ¡°Obviously¡± She spoke hardly, taking back her hand and walked ahead. Dn caught up with her. ¡°Is something wrong? Are you alright? Your face looks red. Are you sick? Should I call a doctor?¡± His questions made her blood boil, and she just wanted to explode. ¡°Dn!¡± She screamed at him so much that the servants nearby flinched. Dn did not, but he raised a brow in surprise. She never shouted at him before. ¡°Hey, take it easy. It¡¯s not good for the baby¡± Sandy scoffed. The baby? That was all he cared about? ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me. Just don¡¯t¡± She walked ahead and got into the car. He entered through the other side, and she turned her head towards the window. He did not dare to say anything because she really looked like she would flip. He suddenly got a call from his mother-inw. He nced at Sandy. She wasn¡¯t looking at him at all. ¡°Dn¡­.. oh sorry, Mr president?¡± ¡°Yes. Just call me Dn¡± ¡°This is Sandy¡¯s mother¡± ¡°I know. Is there any problem?¡± She lowered her voice a little. ¡°Is Sandy there with you?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want her to know I called, and I should not say this during a phone call. Can we meet tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure. You cane over. I¡¯ll send a car toe get you¡± Sandy scoffed. ¡°You want me toe to your ce?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry. There will be no problems¡± ¡°Okay¡± He hung up and nced at Sandy. She was still staring at the window like she could see something fascinating in it. But from the back, she looked insanely jealous. Sandy ignored him all true the ride and even when they were in the bedroom, she turned her back to him. The next morning, she made no reply to his greetings. He didn¡¯t head to work that day, and patiently waiting for his mother-inw. He secretly wondered what could have happened to have made her want to keep Sandy in the dark. He cleared his throat. ¡°Do you have any ns for today?¡± ¡°Stay in the house like I always do. As if you would let me go out and have fun¡± ¡°I¡¯d let you¡± She paused, staring at him for a moment before going back to her food. ¡°What meaning does going out have when I am always being choked by ridiculous numbers of bodyguards¡± ¡°No bodyguards today¡± That was a lie. He was only going to let them watch her in the shadows. She halted, squinting her eyes at him. ¡°You¡¯re serious¡± He nodded. ¡°Great!¡± She flew out of the chair and hurriedly went upstairs, Dn following closely behind. She opened her closet, checking out clothes to wear. She turned to Dn standing at the entrance. ¡°You are noting with me, are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡± ¡°And no drivers¡± ¡°No that is not -¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m not leaving¡± she went to sit on the bed, crossing her arms and pouting. Dn massaged his temple. ¡°Can you drive?¡± ¡°Of course¡± ¡°Okay then¡± ¡°Really! Thank you! I love -¡± She quickly came back to her senses. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said thank you¡± ¡°No. After that¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember saying anything else. Leave¡± she pushed him out, shutting the door in his face. She breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. Sandy¡¯s mother was let in immediately she arrived, having received prior order from their boss not to stop her. She was directed to his study. He stood up the moment she entered and could not help but notice how lean she had be. ¡°Mum, please have your seat¡± ¡°Where is Sandy?¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t home¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go straight to the point because I need to leave before she gets back and sees me like this. You see, the thing is, Sandy¡¯s father passed away. Dn was beyond shocked. ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°Two days ago¡± ¡°You could have called me to tell me¡± ¡°I was so confused when it happened, and I didn¡¯t know what to do. Don¡¯t tell Sandy about it yet. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe in her condition. She would be so devastated to hear about her father¡¯s death. Promise me you won¡¯t tell her¡± ¡°I won¡¯t¡± CRASH! The sound of ss hitting the floor had them looking in the direction of the door. Sandy stood there, lookingpletely pale, her hands shaking. Chapter 63 THIRTY MINUTES AGO Sandy drove on the highway, whistling in happiness as she took in a deep breath of fresh air. It was good to be alone. Maybe notpletely alone. She rubbed her big belly. ¡°Do you feel that too?¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Her reply was a gentle kick. She smiled. Her n was to go to Valerie¡¯s ce, but it was a weekday so she would not be around. That was a problem because she still had her key with her. So she changed her n a little and drove to a supermarket to get some groceries before heading to Valerie¡¯s. On her way there, she suddenly wondered why Dn let her out alone. She had too happy to think about it. Was he trying to make it up to her, seeing how upset she was yesterday? She doubted it. He always lectured her on how her safety was the priority. She felt like he was preventing her from seeing. Then she remembered the call. Yes! The call! Someone had called himst night, and he was telling someone toe over. He¡¯ll send a car toe get the person. She gripped the wheel tightly. ¡°Impossible¡± she shook her head, trying to get bad thought. There was no way he would have a mistress. But, men are still men. He was desperate to get her out of the house so he could have time for his mistress that he even agreed to her no-driver and no-bodyguard condition. He didn¡¯t even go to work! Her grip on the wheel tightened even more, and she made a U-turn and went back to the house. She barged into the living room and met no one there. She furrowed her brows before looking upstairs towards the room. Usually in movies, a cheating husband is usually caught on the matrimonial bed. Her hand shook, and she thought maybe this was a bad idea. Dn could not do that. Her legs worked on their own and stopped at the door of the room. She turned the knob, yanking it open. The room was empty. She sighed in utter relief. She turned back and saw one of the servants carrying a tray containing two wine sses and a bottle. ¡°Hey there! Where are you taking this to?¡± ¡°To Mr president¡¯s study, Madam. For him and his guest¡± ¡°He has a guest?¡± ¡°Yes madam¡± Sandy furrowed her brows. ¡°Give me that. I¡¯ll take it to him¡± She dismissed the girl and walked towards his study. She stopped before the door, cing her ear on it. ¡°I was so confused when it happened that I didn¡¯t know what to do¡± That was her mother¡¯s voice. She smiled in happiness and was about to go in but paused. What was she doing here? Why didn¡¯t she tell her she wasing? And what had happened? Her mother continued. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Sandy about it. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe in her condition¡± Sandy was getting scared. Was it so serious? She could not wait any longer and opened the door slowly. They were so engrossed in their conversation that none of them saw her. ¡°She would be so devastated to hear about her father¡¯s death. Promise me you won¡¯t tell her¡± Dn nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t¡± Sandy felt her heart squeezed. Her dad was¡­¡­.. was dead? The tray in her hand fell, and the two people in the room turned to her. She clutched her chest as Dn ran to her. ¡°Sandy! Are you okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Just don¡¯t¡± She turned around and ran out. But no matter how much she ran, she was still no match for his long legs. ¡°Look I know you are hurt and in shock, but-¡± ¡°Stop following me! Please. Just leave me alone¡± She got into the car and drove off. His mother-inw was still in the house, and he could not keep her waiting. Nothing was going to happen to Sandy. He had people watch her to make sure she¡¯s safe. Sandy¡¯s mother was already in the living room when he returned. She looked behind him worriedly. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She left¡± ¡°What do you mean she left?¡± ¡°She probably doesn¡¯t want to see me now. But I¡¯ll bring her back, don¡¯t worry¡± **************** Valerie returned exhausted and weak. She sluggishly unlocked the door and trudged in. Her eyes were almost closed by the time she staggered into her room. She threw her bag and fell on the bed, moaning in delight. In her subconsciousness, she swung her arm to the other side of the bed. Her hand hit something, and she furrowed her brow and turned in her drowsy state, only to see a heap under the nket. Wasn¡¯t that¡­.. a person? She suddenly screamed. ¡°Aaaahhhhh!¡± She flew out of bed, picking an umbre and raising it. ¡°Who are you and what are you doing in my house?¡± ¡°Ugh! It¡¯s me, Sandy¡± ¡°Sandy?¡± Sandy sat up and Valerie slowly dropped the item in her hand while trying to steady her heartbeat. ¡°You scared me. How did you get in?¡± ¡°I still have my key¡± ¡°Right¡± Valerie raised a brow at Sandy. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mrs Smith, Why are you here? Does Mr president know you are here?¡± ¡°Oh, please. I don¡¯t care if he knows or not¡± ¡°Did you two fight?¡± Sandy shook her head. ¡°Technically, I¡¯m the one fighting him. You see, my dad passed away¡± ¡°What! Uncle is dead? When?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t want to talk about it¡± ¡°What does this have to do with Dn?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me. He promised my mum he wouldn¡¯t. I¡¯m his daughter, I have a right to know¡± ¡°You are right, but they¡¯re just worried¡± ¡°I¡¯m not some fragile doll that could break anytime. I feel less connected to him because he never really cared and dragged the family into his mess, but he is still my father. I should know if something happens to him¡± ¡°Okay. You are getting worked up. You should get some rest¡± ¡°I lost sleep. Let¡¯s go downstairs. I made you dinner¡± ¡°A. That¡¯s so sweet.¡± They sat at the table as Sadie rushed at Valerie, rubbing itself against her legs. ¡°Who is this cute little thing?¡± ¡°Meet Sadie. My new pet¡± ¡°I see you got a puppy finally¡± ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Since afternoon¡± ¡°And he didn¡¯te look for you? He probably knows you¡¯re here. He cares too much to not look for you after so long¡± Sandy suddenly went quiet. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Do you think my reason his baseless?¡± ¡°Of course not. You have every right to be mad¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been mad at him a lot of times recently. Especially when I see him with that foxy princess¡± Valerie chuckled. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The family¡¯s acquaintance, who is apparently a princess and goes by the name, Amelia. She is always around Dn, always wanting to strike a conversation with him, and I- What? Why are you staring at me?¡± ¡°You are jealous¡± ¡°I definitely am not¡± ¡°Uh-uh. I don¡¯t believe that. You like him¡± ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Well, that the only thing that exins why you are jealous¡± ¡°I¡¯m not jealous. I just¡­ just¡± she groaned in frustration when she could not find an excuse or reason. ¡°See that?¡± The doorbell rang. They shared a look. ¡°Maybe he hase to look for you after all¡± Valerie squealed. Sandy had a look of indifference, but Valerie knew deep down that she hoped it was true. However, the smile disappeared from her eyes when she opened the door. It wasn¡¯t Dn. Chapter 64 She was speechless when she saw who was before her. ¡°Boss¡± she called out, not believing he was actually here. ¡°What did I say about calling me by my name?¡± Her throat tightened. Sandy was in the house, for goodness¡¯ sake. ¡°Um¡­ why are you here?¡± ¡°Because I miss you¡± She almost screamed at him to stop. Sandy was at the back of the door now. Her arms were crossed and an amused smile on her lips. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m busy right now¡± He struggled his way in, only toe face-to-face with Sandy. ¡°Hello Jared¡± One could see the surprise on his face. Valerie rubbed her temple. She suddenly felt fatigued. ¡°Oh. You¡¯re here too¡± On hearing his voice, the little animal came running to him, wagging its tail and trying so much to climb his legs. Sandy raised a brow. A dog would only do this with someone it was familiar with. It was awkward as Valerie could not meet Sandy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Please have a seat¡± Sandy offered. ¡°Actually, I was just about to-¡± The doorbell rang again, cutting him off. Valerie was confused. Who was it this time? She barely had any visitors, so what happened today? She opened the door and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. The president was here. If he had arrived before his brother did, it would have been better, she would have been d that he hade to fetch his wife, but at that moment, she wasn¡¯t. Jared was here! How was he going to exin to his older brother? ¡°Hi, Valerie¡± She forced a smile. ¡°Good evening, Mr president¡± ¡°Come on. You don¡¯t have to be so formal. Just call me by my name. I believe Sandy is here, right?¡± She nodded weakly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let me in?¡± He asked when she stood rigid, holding the door knob tight. She reluctantly moved and let him in. Sandy¡¯s expression was nk when she saw him, though her heart was pounding. Her looked so hot in all ck, with a few of his buttons undone, that she felt like throwing herself at him. The two brothers were standing side by side and she could not help but admire their beauty. It was no wonder that they had fans all over the world. Mostly females. Now that she thought about it, it felt surreal that this man was her husband. ¡°Jared? Why are you here?¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± He returned the question. ¡°Obviously to take my wife back home. Answer the question¡± Valerie almost fainted from nervousness. ¡°Valerie and I had to go over some important documents. It¡¯s work stuff¡± Dn turned to Valerie, asking if it was true by raising his brows. She nodded her head in a hurried manner. Dn turned to Sandy, who was looking the other way. ¡°Sandy¡± No reply. He called again. Still no reply. ¡°Look I know you are upset, but this isn¡¯t the right thing to do. I was just protecting you¡± She rolled her eyes and snorted. Dn looked so pitiful at that moment, and Valerie felt so sorry. Sandy was ying hard to get. Dn¡¯s back was facing her, so she made faces at Sandy urging her to agree. It was ufortable to have the president in her house, despite being her friend¡¯s husband. Also, his brother was there too, so it was¡­¡­. weird and choking. Sandy understood it and sighed. ¡°Fine¡± Dn was surprised she agreed so easily. He had thought it was going to be a lot tougher. Sandy bid her friend farewell, giving her a warning look, while Dn shot a re towards Jared before helping Sandy out. Now, it was just the both of them, with Sadie who was now in Jared¡¯s arms. ¡°Why are you here? You are going to make them misunderstand at this rate¡± ¡°Like I said earlier, I came because I miss you, and who is going to misunderstand¡± ¡°Everyone¡± ¡°I take care of it¡± He began to walk closer to her. ¡°Don¡¯t. Stay away¡± She walked backwards till her back hit the wall. His captivating scent hit her and she almost lost her mind. His face inched towards hers. Her eyes closed but itself as she puckered her lips. Jared smiled in amusement. His mouth went to her ear. ¡°You want me. Don¡¯t deny it anymore¡± She opened her eyes and came back to her senses. She was so mad that tears gathered in her eyes. ¡°Bastard! You were teasing me¡± He smirked. ¡°Leave. Get out!¡± She was so hurt that he had to mess with her feelings like that. She headed to the door, but he held her back. His face had turned serious. ¡°When I said I loved you, I meant it. I really do. Believe me¡± ¡°Even if I believe you, even if it¡¯s true, I can¡¯t be a mistress. I can¡¯t be a third wheel¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it¡± Valerie shook her head. ¡°What about your family? You think they will be happy you left your rich, capable and popr fianc¨¦e for me? What will the world say? You think we both won¡¯t suffer bacsh if we start dating. Do you think your rtionship is just your affair? The world is watching and you will suffer if you choose me¡± ¡°Your¡¯re wrong. It¡¯s my life. My rtionship. I just need to ask you one question and I¡¯ll solve everything. I promise¡± ¡°Do you love me?¡± Valerie froze. Did she?Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. She wrung her hand free from his grip. ¡°Goodnight Jared¡± She turned her back to him, waiting her him leave as lumps formed in her throat. She fought back tears. ¡°Goodnight¡± Jared replied, patting Sadie on the head before leaving. After making sure the door was locked, she fell and let it all out. ************ ¡°Can we talk?¡± Dn had his hand in his pocket as he tried to convince his stubborn wife seated on the bed. ¡°Not interested¡± she found sudden interest in fondling the pillow. Dn sighed. ¡°I understand that you are mad, but this is your father we are talking about¡± ¡°The more reason I had the right to know he was dead¡± There was a pause. She figured there was no use dragging this with him and was about to say something, but he beat her to it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± She nodded. ¡°We need to hold the funeral quickly. It should be simple. He wasn¡¯t exactly a good man , so no big deal¡± He narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sad?¡± She looked up at him. ¡°Like I said, he wasn¡¯t a good man. He only made us wallow in debt. I was almost taken by those loan sharks because of him¡± ¡°Your reaction when you heard what we were saying kind of proved otherwise¡± She red at him. Great. He saw through her. No matter how bad her father was, he was still her father and she still had a sentimental fondness for him somewhere deep within her. After all, blood was thicker than water. ¡°Maybe you are right. I¡¯m going to bed. Goodnight¡± she pulled the nket up to her neck, burying her face in the pillow. ¡°The old man wants us to go over for dinner tomorrow night. Will you be able to?¡± She nodded her head. ¡°Okay. Goodnight¡± Chapter 65 ¡°Honey, I¡¯m so sorry about your dad. My condolences¡± Mrs Smith sighed sympathetically. ¡°Thank you mum¡± ¡°How is the funeral proceedings?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have it soon. He will be buried and that will be all¡± Mrs Smith nodded. ¡°Just be careful. Don¡¯t get too stressed. You know your due date is soon¡± Jared looked around the table, looking for the perfect avenue to make his announcement. Everyone, including Jane¡¯s parents, were present. Jane was sitting beside him, eating in silence. Jane could feel him moving farther away from her. He now treated her like she didn¡¯t exist. Before now, he would choose to sit anywhere except close to her, but now he sat beside her without anyint but treated her like air. It was all because of that witch! If she hadn¡¯t appeared, things would not have be this worse. She bit her lip at that thought. Jared envisioned that it would be a shock to everyone. He changed his mind and decided to tell the family after dinner, but first he wanted to inform his mother. He pulled her aside after dinner. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There is something I wish to announce, but I think it¡¯s only right that I tell you first¡± she stared at him suspiciously. ¡°I¡¯m breaking up my engagement with Jane¡± Her suspicious expression morphed into shock, then confusion, followed by anger. ¡°I disagree¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you get this. I am not asking for permission, I¡¯m only informing you beforehand¡± ¡°Why so suddenly?¡± ¡°Everybody knows I don¡¯t love her¡± ¡°Then you should have disagreed when your grandfather brought up the idea¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t care back then¡± ¡°Now you do? Why?¡± ¡°That is not necessary. What is important is that I want to end this as soon as possible¡± ¡°You are not going to do that. Your grandfather is in a dire condition now, you think this news won¡¯t make him mad and hospitalized again. Do you want him to die?¡± Jared mumbled. ¡°Well he is already old enough¡± She red at him and hit him. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make any move. Even if you are going to, it should not be now. Wait a little while, okay?¡± He nodded hesitantly. ¡°Any news¡± ¡°About what¡± ¡°About my daughter¡± He pinched the space between his brows. ¡°Will you stop calling her that?¡± ¡°Answer the question¡± ¡°No¡± ¡°You are doing nothing on purpose, right¡± ¡°She¡¯sing back soon. We¡¯ll conduct a DNA test and tell you the result¡± ¡°Do you have to wait until shees back?¡± ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t get your hopes up¡± He met the Anderson couple on the way, with Jane by their side. Though subtle, they could feel the tension between the both of them, so in order not to make things awkward, they left quickly. In a split second, Jared saw something at the back of Mrs Anderson ear. It looked like a ck mole. He was a very observant person, and he felt like he had seen something like that before. ************ Jared raised a brow when he found Valerie¡¯s seat empty. Will came out of his office to see him staring at the empty space. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°Why is she not here yet?¡± ¡°Oh! Miss Gardner called in sick this morning¡± ¡°She¡¯s sick?¡± ¡°I think so. She didn¡¯t sound too well on the phone¡± In one swift motion, he turned back and began to walk towards the elevator. Will quickly ran after him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Clear my schedule for today¡± Jared entered the elevator and Will followed him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯ming with you¡± ¡°Get out¡± He still stood rigid, but soon, before he could make out what was going on, he felt himself being pushed out. ¡°Take care of the paperwork¡± He instructed before the elevator door closed. Will sighed. He was going to get in trouble at this rate. Jared rang the doorbell six times but received no response. He thought about calling her but first, he tried the knob and surprisingly, it opened. The house looked empty. Even Sadie was not in sight. ¡°Valerie¡± He figured she would be in her room so he walked towards it. He knocked a few times and entered. He only saw a lump under the nket and he knew immediately it was her. Beside the bed was Sadie, sitting obediently. One would think it was heartbroken that Valerie was sick¡­.. or maybe it really was. He sat beside the bed and drew the nket down a bit to reveal her face. Her eyes were closed, but he could tell she wasn¡¯t asleep. ¡°Jared?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure she was seeing right. Was she hallucinating now? ¡°Hm. I¡¯m here¡± He ced his palm on her forehead. She was burning up. ¡°You have a fever. Come on, let¡¯s get you to the hospital¡± He tried to help her up, but she resisted, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go¡± her voice always hoarse and her lips were parched. He knew he could carry her with one hand and take her straight to the hospital, but he didn¡¯t want to use force. ¡°Then should I call the doctor here¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone here except you¡± He doubted she said that in her right mind. She was going to be so embarrassed if he told her she said that after recuperating. He had no idea how to take care of a sick person, so he texted ke. Instead of receiving a response, he got a call from ke. ¡°Are you sick? Should Ie over?¡± He asked as soon as Jared epted the call. ¡°It¡¯s not me¡± ¡°Someone else then? But why would you want to take care of someone else? That is unlike you. Who is it? Your mum?¡± He paused for two seconds. ¡°¡­. or is it her?¡± ¡°Stop asking questions and give me answers¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send it to you¡± He did after a minute. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± She shook her head weakly as she gathered the nket and dragged it close to her. ording to what ke send, he instructed her to drink a lot of water. He went to get it and tried to help her up again, but scrunched up her face in anger, pushing his hand away with the little to no strength in her. This time, he didn¡¯t budge and firmly, but gently helped her up and gave her the ss, but she refused to drink. ¡°I¡¯ll make you stand if you don¡¯t drink it¡± he threatened. She scoffed. ¡°I hate you¡± She gulped down the liquid, making a face. ¡°I¡¯ll get you another one, so stay the way you are¡± He came back soon, and she was obedient this time and drank it without anyint. ¡°Good girl¡± He dabbed her forehead with an ice pack and beg he knew it, she fell asleep. He made sure her temperature had refused before he left the room. **************** She opened her eyes slowly and sat up. She felt better, though not entirely. She saw a suit on a side of the bed. How did it get there? She didn¡¯t remember having something like this, then she heard a sound, like that of steel hitting steel. It definitely came from downstairs. Then she heard it again. Did someone break in? Her eyes squeezed shut when she remembered she forgot to lock the door. She slowly opened the door, making sure it didn¡¯t make a sound. She tiptoed down the stairs, looking around. The sound became louder the closer she got. A pleasant smell suddenly hit her. It made her salivate and her stomach rumbled. She traced the sound to the kitchen. She could only see his back, but she knew who it was. ¡°Boss¡± It was that of surprise. He turned to her, feeling a bit disappointed. ¡°Boss, not Jared?¡± For some reason, her heart beat became faster. He was in a white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up and a few buttons of his shirt open. He looked extremely sexy that she felt like throwing herself at him. Sadie sat diligently on one of the tables, watching intently. ¡°Like what you see?¡± She came to her senses and realized he was staring at her, with a teasing smile hanging on the side of his lips. She cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the embarrassment, but two patches of red had formed on her cheeks. ¡°Why are you here?¡± He walked towards her. ¡°Will told me you called in sick. I was worried, so I came looking for you. You really were in a bad condition, but you didn¡¯t even go to a hospital¡± He stopped in front of her, cing his hand on her forehead. She froze from the touch. ¡°Do you feel better?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­. of course. I do. How long were you here?¡± She changed the topic as she went to sit at the table. ¡°Since morning¡± ¡°Then you have been taking care of me since morning?¡± He nodded. ¡°You are cooking? Can you cook?¡± He shed a proud smile. ¡°It¡¯s almost done. Get ready to taste my magic, Mdy¡± He assumed a bowing stance which made Valerieugh out loud. ¡°I look forward to it¡± The words rolled off her tongue before she could even think. ¡°Of course, Mdy¡± A few minutester, the doorbell rang. She furrowed her brows and thought hard. Who could it be? She wasn¡¯t expecting anyone. Her eyes strayed to the sexy chef. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get that? Should I do it?¡± She hurriedly stood up and stopped him. ¡°I¡¯ll get it¡± She opened the door, and she almost lost her bnce when her eyes met the visitor¡¯s. ¡°Mrs Anderson?¡± she called almost breathlessly. Chapter 66 She shut the door and ran to the kitchen. ¡°Hide! Now!¡± Jared was speechless. ¡°What is going on? Who is at the door?¡± ¡°Mrs Anderson. Jane¡¯s mother¡± ¡°What! Why is she here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Just go upstairs for now. Don¡¯te down until I give you a signal¡± she basically pushed him up the stairs. She opened the door for a very shocked Mrs Anderson, breathing heavily. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Then why did you suddenly-¡± ¡°Oh! The ce was a little messy, so I had to tidy up a bit. You cane in¡± She peeked at the stairs to see if he was in sight. ¡°You don¡¯t look so well. Your skin looks pale, and your forehead is sweating. Do you need to see a doctor?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll recover soon¡± ¡°So you are not feeling well after all. Were you cooking?¡± She was staring at the table-top. ¡°Yes. What is that in your hands?¡± cing the two bags in her on the kitchen table, she smiled. ¡°Food, of course. I figured you would have run out of food since it¡¯s been a while since I brought thest one¡± she patted Sadie on the head. Valerie let out a faint ¡°Oh¡± Mrs Anderson paused. ¡°You¡¯re notining today¡± Valerie forced an awkward smile. She knew that arguing with her would only make her stay longer, and that wasn¡¯t what she wanted. She didn¡¯t want her to find out Jared was here, so the woman had to leave as soon as possible. ¡°Well, I figuredining won¡¯t make you give up anyway¡± Mrs Anderson lip parted, as she smiled widely. ¡°Good that you know that¡± She started to unpack the food containers from the bag. ¡°You can give me a call when all these run out. You have my number, right?¡± Valerie did not respond and focused on watching Mrs Anderson. She felt this tickly feeling in her chest. Who was this woman really, and why was she doing this? ¡°What now? Why are you staring at me?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know I have asked you this before, but now I want you to bepletely honest with me¡± She paused, as if to receive a go ahead. The woman stopped what she was doing, crossing her arms over the other. ¡°Why are you doing this? This has gone beyond an appreciation gift?¡± Mrs Anderson had a small smile on her lips. ¡°You want me to bepletely honest?¡± Valerie nodded. ¡°Okay. The reason is¡­¡­.. no reason¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a reason. I just want to do this. Actually, I liked you from the moment I saw you walk into that store back then. For some inexplicable reasons, I was drawn to you. I liked you even more after you ran after that man even though you were on your way to work¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± She asked, astonished. ¡°Yeah. Were you expecting something else?¡± Valerie chuckled. ¡°So, that is all? What if I was a bad person?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t look like one¡± Valerie let out a bark ofughter. ¡°Bad people do don¡¯t exactly write on their forehead that ¡®hey, I¡¯m bad¡¯ ¡°Well, I can tell who is bad and good and you, Valerie, definitely isn¡¯t. My instinct is always on point, you know¡± She opened the refrigerator and began to arrange the containers. She pushed one towards Valerie. ¡°I doubt you have eaten. Have this¡± Valerie never felt this way before. That sure feeling that you could tell someone everything, and they would be willing to listen and not get mad. For a moment, she had the urge to confess everything. She quickly shook her head. What was she thinking? Which mother won¡¯t get mad when she finds her future son-inw in an unmarrieddy¡¯s house. ¡°Any problem? You look lost in thought¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you finish the cooking¡± ¡°No!¡± She opposed loudly. That meant she was going to stay longer, and she felt ufortable having Jared in the house while his fianc¨¦e¡¯s mother was here too. ¡°I mean, I can finish that. It will be done in no time, so you don¡¯t have to bother¡± ¡°Are you sure? You already look stressed as it is¡± ¡°Of course. I started it, so I can certainly finish it¡± Mrs Anderson paused for a while. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll take my leave. Call me next time you don¡¯t feel well. I¡¯m here for you anytime¡± Valerie nodded with a small smile, following her out. Mrs Anderson got into the car, waved at her and instructed the chauffeur to drive off. Jared was staring inside the refrigerator by the time she returned. ¡°Did she bring all this?¡± She answered in the affirmative. ¡°I knew you were acquainted, but I didn¡¯t know you were this close. She brought this much food for you? I guess she likes you so much¡± ¡°I guess so too¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°I feel guilty. Perhaps If she wasn¡¯t nice to me, maybe I wouldn¡¯t feel so much guilt. I feel like I¡¯m repaying her good with evil¡± ¡°Hey, look at me¡± he raised her chin with his index finger. ¡°If you need to me someone, then it should be me. It¡¯s not your fault. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty¡± he sighed and buried his hands in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m breaking off my engagement with Jane¡± She did little to hide the shock on her face. ¡°You what? This is because of me, yes?¡± ¡°Partially, yes. But I can¡¯t stand her anymore¡± That didn¡¯t console her at all. It only multiplied her guilt. ¡°But, I can¡¯t do that now. Grandfather is sick at the moment so I can¡¯t break the news to him yet. So I want to wait for sometime, until he is a bit more stable¡± She stood up, making her way to the living room. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me all this. I feel better now. You don¡¯t have to worry¡± He smiled, but it was heavy with disappointment. ¡°Are you telling me to leave¡± she didn¡¯t reply and only looked away. ¡°Is that what you want?¡± He asked, taking slow steps towards her. Her back was turned to him, but she could feel the heat emanating from his body. He was a few steps behind her. She swallowed. ¡°Yes¡± He closed the distance between them with just two steps. Her back was touching his rock-hard chest. She wanted to move, but he gripped her shoulders. He brought his mouth close to her ear. His hot breaths, arousing something in her. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t n toply with that¡± he said into her ear in a low, husky voice. She squeezed her eyes shut, ¡°No. Please. You have to leave¡± He smirked. ¡°Why? Is there something you are afraid of?¡± his hand slid down to her waist, drawing her closer to him. She sucked in a deep breath. She had lost her willpower, knowing she could never fight against him and win. She was more scared of herself than him. Scared that she was going to lose control. ¡°Don¡¯t! Jared. Don¡¯t¡± ¡°Are you scared? Huh?¡± He whispered. She could feel something poking back. Her body moved on its own, and she started to rub herself against him. Her brain and body were in contrast. He smirked and let go of her, but at that point, she wasn¡¯t ready to let him go. Standing on tiptoes, she smashed her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her face was hungry with need. His initial surprise turned into a smirk. He pulled away, look into her eyes. ¡°Do you want this?¡± She nodded. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± She looked like she was going to rip his shirt off him with immediate effect. The smirk on his face vanished. In one swift motion, he carried her. ¡°You asked for this¡± Chapter 67 With her arms still around his neck, and her eyes closed, he ced her on the small table in her room and, knocking all the items on it down. None of them cared, as they were lost in passion. Valerie was wearing a loose gown, so it was easy to take off. He dragged the gown down from her shoulder and it gathered at her hips. She raised her butt, so the dress could slip down her legs to the floor. He pulled away from the kiss and took a step back, staring at her body. She still had her bra and panties on. Her face turnedpletely red as his big hands went to her back and unhooked her bra. With the intention to tease her, he slowly took it off. Her eyes were closed in utter shame. She could feel air hit her breast and she knew he had finally taken it off. She felt even more vulnerable. ¡°Open your eyes¡± She hesitantly did. He was staring at her body hungrily. ¡°You should take off yours too¡± she felt embarrassed that she was the only one naked. ¡°As you wish¡± In a few seconds, he waspletely naked. Not a single clothing on him. Her eyes instinctively went down there, and she cursed before she even realized it. His member was standing strong, and the veins were visible. The sight of it made her scared. It wasn¡¯t the first time she had seen it, but she didn¡¯t think she was going to get used to it. She still wondered how this huge thing was able to enter her. He dived in for another kiss. He trailed further to her neck and her shoulder des. She shivered as she held on to the edge of the table tightly. She felt his hot breaths on her breast, but his mouth hasn¡¯t touched it. She was nervous, yet expectant. His hand cupped both, caressing it. She let out a soft moan, arching towards him to give him more ess. Despite how big his hands were, it could not contain her breast. He rolled her nipple until it turned red and lowered himself on her nipple, flicking it with his tongue and hand interchangeably. She felt a little pain, but what she felt mostly was pleasure. He took arge portion of the are in his mouth and sucked. She threw her head back and cried out with pleasure. She held the table even tighter. She felt a wet liquid slid down her thighs. Her panties were a mess. Hetched unto the second one as his hand grabbed her soft butt, pulling her closer to his. His member rubbed her wet entrance that was still covered by a thin material. He freed her breast and helped her take off thest piece of clothing on her. Her panties. Still in her sitting position, he held his cock and guided it towards her clit, rubbing the entrance with the tip. ¡°Oh god!¡± He teased her further. He knew she wanted him inside her, but he wasn¡¯t going to give in easily. She cursed as her eyes rolled up. She felt her head was about to explode from the pleasure. Finally, he began to slid in slowly. She became tense. Even though she was no more a virgin, she was still tight down there and him going in will be a bit hard. He felt it too. She had tightened herself around him and he neither go in nor out¡± ¡°Val, I want to you to breathe¡­¡­. slowly¡± she did, and her body began to rx. Immediately, he slid inpletely. ¡°Ah!¡± Tears spilled out of her eyes. It was painful. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± heforted, staying in the same position until she had rxed¡­ again. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She nodded. His thrusts were slow and steady at first, then he picked up the pace and began to thrust in wildly, leaving no room for Valerie to breathe. He made sure he went all in till his balls were hitting her wetness. He rubbed it against her. She felt like she was going to lose her mind. For the second time, she came, but he didn¡¯t show signs of stopping. She had already climaxed twice, but he didn¡¯t look like he was going to anytime soon. He carried her off the table and supported her with his hand on her butt. He thrust into her in that position. He put her down and made her bend facing the table. Her breast bobbed roughly as he entered from behind. He reaches for her breast and squeezed it. ¡°Ah! Jared¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. He turned her over and lowered himself to her swelling bud while squeezing it. Heid her down on the bed and slowly pulled out, his cock dripping. She moaned, unhappy that he did. He went on his knees and took in the scent of her entrance with his eyes closed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She asked in horror and embarrassment. He licked her core over and over again. She cried out soft as she gripped the nket. He started sucking her. ¡°Ah, yes!¡± Her body shook as another orgasm exploded, and she came directly into his mouth. She breathed heavily. Jared felt the little guy bing hard again. Not that it has gone soft before, but it was worse now. She sat up and beckoned him closer. She instructed him to sit up on the bed. ¡°I¡¯m in control now¡± she said, sitting on his waist and avoiding his manhood. He smirked and ced his hands behind his head, waiting for what she wanted to do. He fisted her left breast, guiding the nipple towards his mouth. ¡°Suck¡± she ordered. The sight of it aroused him even more. Her breast had be red and sensitive, and even a small touch had an effect on her. She means loudly when his lips touched it. He kissed every inch of it before taking it in his mouth. She began to rub her butt against him. She arched against him, guiding more of it into his mouth. He bit the nipple gently. She pulled back and bent down, facing his cock. He raised a brow and watched intently as she kissed the tip, rolling her tongue around it. He was surprised. He didn¡¯t think she was going to do that. She gave it a few strokes. His dick pulsated when her other hand massage his balls while maintaining eye contact with him. Her tongue darted out to flick across the tip, licking away the precum. He groaned as she went deeper. She bobbed her head up and down, taking him deeper with each stroke. He shut his eyes as his hand gripped her hair, guiding her deeper. She massaged his balls harder. He felt close to climax, but he didn¡¯t want to explode in her mouth. He pinned her to the bed and shoved his cock into her, pounding her intensely. It was only a matter of time before he exploded inside her, filling her with his seed. He sighed in satisfied as he shot his hot load into her. She could feel in shooting into her in waves that she thought he would never stop. Her clit clenched his cock and could not get enough of him. She was exhausted, and she thought that was the end. But she had already forgotten the kind of person he was. Once aroused, he would be an insatiable beast. He would never get enough. ¡°No! Wait!¡± She protested weakly, but he didn¡¯t listen. He stood at the foot of the bed and dragged her two legs towards him, hanging them at his shoulders as he entered her once again. She gave up trying to protest. He wasn¡¯t going to listen anyway. He ploughed her for several hours, and she lost count of how many times he did it. Chapter 68 Her eyelids and body felt so heavy. She didn¡¯t want to get up. The bed felt so soft andfortable. Wait¡­. her bed wasn¡¯t this soft. She peeled her eyes open, staring at the ceiling. She bolted into a sitting position and squealed in pain when she felt pain down there. She felt extremely sore. This was not her bed! This wasn¡¯t her room! Where was she? She squinted at the sunlight that poured in through a space between the curtains. She looked around, trying to see if she could recall anything. Thest thing she remembered was having sex with Jared in her room, so howe she was here. She also noticed that she wasn¡¯t messy. Someone must have cleaned her up. She was wearing a crisp white shirt that was bigger than her. It seemed like she was in a luxurious hotel room. She was sitting on a king-size bed decorated with a brown wallpaper. The room was a mix of brown and cream colour. She tried to move, but it was nearly impossible. There was only one word for that man. A beast. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t fully recovered from her sickness, so that didn¡¯t help. There were several love bites on her body. Her neck, chest, tummy, shoulder and there were some on her thighs too. Then suddenly, she realized something. Why was outside so bright? It was morning! She looked around for her phone to check the time, but it was nowhere to be found. Her eyes went to the wall clock. 12:59 pm. Afternoon! She was superte for work. She only asked for a day off. ¡°Shit!¡± She struggled to get down from the bed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She heard a deep baritone voice. She looked up to see Jared staring down at her. When did he enter? She didn¡¯t know. ¡°Where is this ce?¡± ¡°This is my house. Now answer the question¡± ¡°I¡¯mte for work and this is all your fault¡± ¡°My fault? How?¡± A smile hanging by the side of his lips. She red at him. ¡°Nevermind. Why did you bring me here?¡± ¡°I had some work to do, but at the same time, I could not leave you alone. This was the best option I could think of¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a baby or something¡± she mumbled. She thought of something. She was at his house, so her clothes were not here. Does that mean she had to go to her house first? And what was she to do about the hickeys? He could see the worry in her eyes. ¡°Did you forget your boss is standing right in front of your boss is standing right in front of you? You don¡¯t have to worry¡± ¡°What do you think the other workers will think of me? They will probably think I¡¯m azy bum who slept my way up¡± ¡°You seem to care so much about what others think of you¡± ¡°Of course. Did you bring any of my things?¡± ¡°No¡± he replied simply. She needed to leave, but how could she leave wearing a man¡¯s shirt? ¡°Wait! My pills. Did you bring my pills?¡± He knew what she was talking about. He saw it on the bedside table and contemted not taking it, but he knew she was going to be sad if she found out he didn¡¯t take it. ¡°I did¡± She heaved a sighed of relief. She requested for water and swallowed the pill. He ced his hand on her forehead. ¡°You have a temperature. I got this pill from my doctor¡± he showed her a bottle. He said it will be effective, but before that, you have to eat something¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To bring your food¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to eat it here¡± Her reason was simple. She simply wanted to see what his house looked like. ¡°Okay¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Help me up! I can barely move an inch without feeling pain¡± He chuckled and carried her effortless to the living room. His house was¡­¡­ huge and spacious. There was ss all around. One could stand there and stare at the whole city. The ce was dead silent. Each step made a loud noise. She covered her mouth. ¡°This is your house?¡± She whispered. He set her down on the chair. ¡°What a silly question to ask?¡± She had asked a simr question when he took her to his other penthouse. He saw that she was still waiting for his answer. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s mine¡± ¡°Unbelievable¡± she whispered again. She remembered she went to his ce once and it wasn¡¯t like this. Did he give the ce a makeover or was this another ce? She shrugged. He had money anyway. ¡°Will you stop whispering?¡± She nodded. ¡°I have a question though. Did I sleep all through yesterday till today?¡± ¡°Yes, but you woke up during midnight to ask for food¡± ¡°I ate?¡± He nodded. She must have beenpletely exhausted to not remember that. It was all thanks to him. He could feel her usation in her eyes. ¡°You know, this isn¡¯t entirely my fault?¡± ¡°Then whose fault is it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what you did yesterday?¡± She furrowed her brows. ¡°Why do you mean?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember what you said to me?¡± Memories of what happenedst night came back to her and she remembered. ¡®I¡¯m in control now¡­¡­¡­. Suck¡¯ Her face turned red immediately. She must have been crazy. How could she have said something like that? Jared smiled. ¡°I see you remember¡± ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t done that, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten more aroused, and I wouldn¡¯t have gone that far either¡± She knew that was a lie. Even if she hadn¡¯t done that, it would still have happened, but she didn¡¯t argue further. She felt something tickling her feet and she looked down to see Sadie staring up at her. She gasped. ¡°Sadie!¡± She turned to him. ¡°You brought her too¡± He carried the pup, cing it on herp. She smiled appreciatively. His actions warmed her heart. She knew within herself that she didn¡¯t regret what happenedst night. ¡°So, when am I going to leave here?¡± She asked shyly, caressing her pet. He didn¡¯t look at her. His eyes were on the food he was serving. ¡°Until I¡¯m sure you are okay enough to leave¡± **************** Amelia sat alone in the garden when she received a message from her informant. Pictures, to be precise. Jared was carrying ady in his arms. She recognized her immediately. That was his secretary. Few of the marks on her body were visible. Amelia narrowed her eyes. Was Jared cheating on his fianc¨¦e? But why? She received a call from him. ¡°When did you take this picture?¡± ¡°Last night, your highness. I was on the lookout at her house yesterday morning to see if Damon will visit, but Mr Smith came instead, and he didn¡¯t leave until night¡± It was obvious what both of them did. ¡°Did you follow them?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I lost them¡± She sucked in a deep breath. Of course, Jared wasn¡¯t a fool. ¡°Did he know you were following him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that¡± ¡°Okay. Tread carefully from now on¡± **************** ¡°I have a meeting, and it willst an hour. I¡¯ll be in the study, so do whatever you want. I¡¯ll be back soon¡± He patted her head and walked away. The shiny marble floor felt cold to her feet, but she loved it. She went to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, and looked down, only to turn away, scared. She didn¡¯t know what floor this was, but it sure was high. She noticed a sparkly white covered piano at a corner. She had not seen that before. Jared yed the piano? She walked towards it, opened it and pressed one of the keys. It made a loud noise, so she stopped. Jared said he was in a meeting, so she would rather not disturb him. Meanwhile, upstairs, before the start of the meeting, Jared gave Will a call. ¡°Yes boss¡± ¡°I want you to find someone¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who it is, but a car was following mest night. I want to find the driver¡± ¡°Okay boss¡± Will got to work, hacking the surveince camera and till he finally found the car. He copied the license te and made his research. All this took less than five minutes. He sent all the information he gathered to Jared. The man¡¯s name was Diego Fernandez. A Spanish man who recently entered the country. 37 years. Single. A private detective. Nothing about him seemed out of the ordinary. He received a call from Jared. ¡°Boss, I hacked the man¡¯s phone just now and checked his contact list and the people he recently contacted and one of the was Princess Amelia¡± His expression turned hard. ¡°I¡¯ll speak with youter¡± Chapter 69 ¡°Oh, you¡¯re done¡± she smiled when she saw him descending the stairs. He nodded, smiling back at her. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m alone. How could I have fun? Moreover, this house is so huge that I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll get lost. ¡°How about I take you around?¡± She perked up immediately. ¡°But before that, can you y that?¡± she pointed at the instrument. ¡°The piano¡± she nodded. ¡°You want me to y?¡± ¡°Yes. Can you?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m absolutely good at everything¡± she scoffed his narcissism and followed him. He sat down gracefully as she stood by the side. He patted the seat beside him, motioning for her to seat. ¡°What should I y?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about music¡± He nodded and started to y a ssical piece. He looked sexy while ying. His hands flew over the keys skillfully, and he locked eyes with her sometimes. After few minutes, he stopped. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Beautiful, I must say. What piece is that?¡± ¡°Moonlight sonata by Beethoven¡± ¡°It was great. When did you learn it?¡± ¡°Since I was a kid. Children born into families like mine were mandated to learn stuffs like this. But I took a liking to it, unlike others. I mean Dn and¡­¡­. Cheryl, my sister¡± he paused. ¡°You have a sister?¡± ¡°I had a sister. She is gone now¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. They both were not interested. Cheryl especially hated it that she would sneak out of the house during lesson¡± ¡°You miss her, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do. Sometimes, I wonder what kind of woman she would have grown up to be if she were alive¡± She should not have asked. ¡°I said I¡¯d give you a tour. Let¡¯s go¡± he helped her up and closed the piano. There was nothing special about the house interior. Masculine and elegantly simple with novish decorations and disy. No pictures were hanging around. However, the ce was actually bigger than she had ever imagined. At some point, her legs began to ache. He noticed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just stop here today¡± ¡°What room is that?¡± She asked, pointing at a room down the hallway¡± ¡°That? Do you want to see it?¡± She nodded. Her mouth was wide open when she saw the interior. ¡°Oh! My! God! You have a home cinema?¡± He nodded. ¡°Wow! The rich sure lives differently¡± ¡°Now that you have seen it, get some rest¡± he lifted her off the ground despite her protests. The doorbell rang loudly. ¡°He¡¯s here¡± She furrowed her brows. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Will¡± Will was carrying several shopping bags with him as he struggled to enter due to therge number of it. He suddenly received an order to shop for female wears and deliver it to his house. He didn¡¯t need to ask who it was for. Valerie looked away when she saw Will. She felt awkward and guilty. He nodded at her, and she did the same. He dropped it on the table. ¡°This is it. Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t pick all these myself. Thedy at the store did. I only came here to deliver¡± ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Your clothes¡± ¡°You brought my clothes¡± ¡°No. I asked him to buy new ones¡± She looked through the bags and realized they were all designers. There were underwears in it too. She now understood why he exined that he didn¡¯t pick them himself. She felt so embarrassed and guilty. He was practically second-inmand at thepany and everyone orded him the same respect they gave Jared. Will must hate her right now. ¡°Since I didn¡¯t bring those alone with me, I thought you would need new ones. You have been wearing my shirt, and even though it¡¯s sexy, I figured you would feel ufortable¡± Her face turned red. How could he say that in front of Will? ¡°I can¡¯t ept this¡± Even a year worth of sry would not suffice. He shrugged indifferently. ¡°I won¡¯t force you to ept this, but I¡¯m not taking it back. If you don¡¯t want it, burn it or do whatever you want with it¡± She definitely could not burn something so valuable. ¡°Can I take my leave now?¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Will had no expression on his face, so she could not tell what he was thinking. Did he hate her or not? She could not tell. He was still her superior at work, and she felt ashamed being seen by him like this. ¡°Don¡¯t leave yet. Follow me¡± he turned to her. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon¡± Will follow him to his office without sparing her a nce. Not that she expected him to. ¡°Have a seat. I want you to put a tail on the man and Amelia. It doesn¡¯t have to be you. You could get one of our people to do the job¡± ¡°Do you think she wants to harm you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Her presence itself is suspicious. I can¡¯t trust her¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do that¡­.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jared drawled when he noticed Will had something to say. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll be on my way¡± he headed for the door only to stop again, turning to face Jared. ¡°Out with it already!¡± He snapped at Will, who sat back down. ¡°Boss, I know you are not interested in Jane, but this isn¡¯t right¡± ¡°What isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Whatever it is you are doing with Valerie. This is basically cheating. You should at least break off your engagement first¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to¡± Will was visibly shocked. He definitely wasn¡¯t expecting him to say that. ¡°You¡¯ll end your engagement for her¡± Did he truly love her? ¡°But not now. I¡¯m nning to announce it once Grandfather gets better¡± ¡°So the wedding will not hold?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t. I think I¡¯ve answered your question. You are dismissed. I need some alone time with her¡± he said with a sly smile. **************** It was easy for him to find Amelia¡¯s number. She sighed knowingly when she received a call from him. What was she expecting? He was Jared Smith, of course he¡¯ll find out. ¡°Let¡¯s meet¡± he spoke harshly, immediately epted the call. He sent her the address. He chose a restaurant close to his house, choosing not to be far from her. He had instructed her not to open the door for anyone except him. ¡°What is it?¡± She feigned ignorance as she sat with the grace and poise befitting a royal. ¡°I should be asking you that. What do you want?¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t get what you mean?¡± ¡°Diego Fernandez. You hired him, didn¡¯t you. You had him follow me¡± He had found out already. There was no need to hide. ¡°Then I should ask you this. Are you cheating on your fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°That is none of your concern¡± ¡°Really. I¡¯m quite close to your grandfather. I wonder what his reaction will be once he finds out¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± She shrugged indifferently. ¡°Call it whatever you want¡± ¡°That man, I can just torture him and get the answer I want, right?¡± She red at him. ¡°You weren¡¯t the target. It was someone else¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Thedy who was with you. Valerie¡± ¡°Why?¡± She didn¡¯t know how to reply without dropping hints. She didn¡¯t want to tell him about Damon. He would definitely investigate and dig deep if she did. She could afford any slip up. ¡°I once saw her with a man I had a past with. That is all I can tell you. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hurt her¡± She stood up and left briskly. **************** They had just returned from her father¡¯s funeral. Just as she wanted, it was a simple on with just Dn¡¯s parents, Jane¡¯s parents, Jane, her mum, Jared, Dn, Valerie, and the priest, present. She slowly sat on the bed. She had only a few weeks left before delivery and the more the day drew close, the more nervous she became, but she didn¡¯t say that loud. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Dn asked when he noticed her lost in thought. She rolled her eyes. This was the sixth time he was asking her that. ¡°And for the umpteenth time, I am alright¡± There was a knock. Dn opened the door and saw a servant standing outside. ¡°I¡¯ve settled Mrs Cornell in her room as you ordered, Sir¡± ¡°Okay. You can leave¡± He had asked her to stay with them, since she was going to be alone if she left. Moreover, Sandy¡¯s due date was approaching. Her phone lit up. It was a video call from La. ¡°Hey pumpkin¡± La¡¯s face appeared on the screen. ¡°Hi, La¡± ¡°I heard what happened to Uncle. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t call until now. I¡¯ve been so busy that I barely had any free time. How are you holding up?¡± Sandy shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s gone and that¡¯s it. When are youing back? I miss you so much¡± Dn paid attention, waiting to hear her answer. ¡°Probably in a few weeks¡± ¡°Probably?¡± ¡°Is that La?¡± Dn suddenly asked. Sandy nodded. ¡°Can I speak with her?¡± She tilted her head. He wanted to speak with La? Well, that made sense. He had never met her before and he probably wanted to see her now. ¡°Is someone there with you?¡± La asked. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s Dn. He wants to speak with you¡± Chapter 70 There was a pause on the other end before the smiled and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have some work to do right away. I¡¯ll call you soon¡± she hung up immediately. He didn¡¯t exactly want to speak with her, he only wanted to check something. Just as he had expected, she declined speaking with him. ¡°I guess she¡¯s really busy¡± Sandy said thoughtfully. ¡°How did you guys meet?¡± He asked as nonchntly as he could. ¡°We all met at the freshman orientation in college. Somehow, we clicked right away¡± ¡°What is La like?¡± She smiled. ¡°She was so different from us. While Valerie and I wore dresses, she wore cowboy boots with leather pants and a t-shirt. She detests gowns¡± That sounded so much like Cheryl. Could she really be alive or was this simply a coincidence? ¡°You seem really interested in La¡± she raised a brow at him. ¡°Is there anything wrong with wanting to know more about my wife¡¯s friends?¡± She narrowed her eyes at him before letting it go. **************** Damon sat in front of an already finished painting of Valerie. At this point, the room was already filled with paintings of her. He stared at his phone for the umpteenth time. She hadn¡¯t called him for a while now, and he didn¡¯t want to look desperate, so he didn¡¯t call. He picked up his phone to call her. ¡°Boss¡± his minion appeared behind him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Jared met with the princess¡± ¡°What did they talk about?¡± ¡°I think she hired someone to follow Miss Gardner¡± That piqued his interest. ¡°Amelia did?¡± ¡°Yes boss¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Did Amelia tell Jared about him? He doubted it. If she had, it wouldn¡¯t be so silent like this. Their security would have be tighter. ¡°Moreover, I heard from the spy that Old Smith isn¡¯t feeling well¡± He looked genuinely surprised. So that old man could get sick. He smirked. ¡°Get out¡± He bowed and left. He realized he had been relenting. It has been a long time since he shook that family. **************** Valerie was ready to return to work. She got into the car with Jared, only to ask him to stop when they were almost at the building. ¡°I¡¯ll walk from here¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°What if some employees sees us? I hate being the centre of rumors¡± Without waiting, she got out of the car and began to walk. He shook his head and started the car, but he drove slowly to meet her pace. He parked his car and entered his exclusive elevator, while she entered the general one. She had already entered when she realized Will was in it too. Her face turned red and guilt set in¡­. again. ¡°Good morning sir¡± He nodded to her greeting, maintaining a poker face. It was so awkward, and she felt she had to say something. ¡°Um¡­. sir, about the other day, I-¡± She was cut short when the elevator opened and people swarm in. She could not say it with them in here, so she kept quiet. He had a meeting at the conference room. Seating at the edge of the table, one could see that he was not listening to the presentation thedy at the front was making. His eyes were on Valerie, who was seated at a corner. She felt so ufortable under his sharp gaze. She made eye signals to him, persuading him to look away and focus. But, he didn¡¯t listen and continued to stare. She bit her lips, mortified. What if someone saw them? But someone already did. Will watched the both of them as they flirted during the meeting. He shook his head and brought his mouth close to Jared¡¯s ear. ¡°Can you focus?¡± He turned and realized everyone was staring at him, waiting for his response. ¡°You call that an innovative idea. That was bullshit. Is this what I pay you for? Huh? Redo it and provide an ount by tomorrow. Let me get my money¡¯s worth or everyone in your department can kiss their job goodbye¡± Valerie was surprised. Was he actually listening? He stood up and walked away, with Will and Valerie walking closely behind him. She wanted to talk to Will again, but he was called into Jared¡¯s office. In the end, she didn¡¯t see him until she closed for the day. She entered into Jared office. He was working tirelessly. Loads of files on his table. Looks like he was going to pull an all-nighter. He barely even noticed she had entered. She watched him for some seconds. He looked so sexy while working. She shook her head. What was she thinking? This wasn¡¯t what she came here for. She cleared her throat and he finally looked up. ¡°I knocked, but you didn¡¯t respond. I¡¯m leaving now¡± She was going to his ce, and she didn¡¯t know how to get in. He nodded and got up. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go¡± She stared at the files on the table, then him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sort these out?¡± ¡°That can wait. Youe first¡± he tapped her nose and picked up his jacket, entwining her small hand in his as they both made their way out. There were still employees around, so he had to let go of her. They both entered the general elevator despite her refusal. ¡°I¡¯m leaving tonight¡± She broke the silence between them. ¡°Can you drive me to my house after picking up my stuff at your ce?¡± ¡°Tonight? No¡± ¡°I¡¯m already okay. There is no reason for me to stay with you anymore¡± He could not dispute that. She had stayed with him for a couple of days, and he could tell she was fine. ¡°Can it not be today? I¡¯ll let you go tomorrow. I promise¡± She nodded, and he grabbed her waist and dragged her close to his. She could feel something hard poking her. She tried to get out of his gripped, but it was impossible. The elevator dinged and opened to the lobby, where they came face-to-face with Will. He was standing before the elevator. She shut her eyes, acutely embarrassed. Why does he always find them inpromising situations? What irritated her most, Jared did not let go of her. ¡°I was just on my way to your office¡± ¡°I¡¯m done for the day. If you have anything to say, Facetime me¡± Without waiting for his response, he sidestepped him and walked away, releasing Valerie. She didn¡¯t talk to him during the ride. ¡°What is it?¡± No response. ¡°Can you please talk to me? Are you mad at me?¡± ¡°Of course, I am. I would really love it if you stopped groping me at work ¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s okay for me to grope you at home. Isn¡¯t that what you are saying?¡± Her face inevitably turned bright red before she cleared her throat, choosing not to respond to him as she turned to the window, watching as buildings zoomed by. She was exhausted and went to sleep early. She was too tired to care that she was on Jared¡¯s bed. He slept beside her, and she snuggled close to him in her sleepy state. A few momentster, she began to shiver in her sleep. He noticed immediately and tried to shake her awake, realizing her face was covered in sweat. Valerie wasn¡¯t sure if this was real or a dream. She could not really tell where she was. It looked like she was on a high mountain and far away, she could hear agonizing cries of children. Amid that, she could hear someone¡¯s voice. A boy. ¡®Kitten¡­. kitten¡¯ The voice sounded near. She turned back to see a boy¡¯s silhouette. His face was blurred. She squinted trying to see his face. Then, somehow, she lost footing and fell back. She didn¡¯t know how she was going tond. It seemed bottomless. Jared was terrified. No matter how many times he called her name and shook her, she didn¡¯t wake up. Chapter 71 She opened her eyes as she gasped back to life. She got into a sitting position, breathing heavily. Her dress was soaked with sweat. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± She turned to the direction of the voice and met Jared¡¯s worried eyes. ¡°I¡¯m good now¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡± her heart was still beating fast from fright. That fear of falling from a high ce was no joke. ¡°It was just a nightmare¡± she nodded, as if assuring herself. ¡°No. You need help¡± he looked around for his phone. Valerie tried to stop him. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay¡± He didn¡¯t listen. ¡°I SAID I AM FINE!¡± She screamed all of a sudden. They were both surprised at her outburst, then she burst into tears. Jared didn¡¯t get mad, instead he drew her close. He didn¡¯t know the kind of nightmare she had, but he knew one thing. She was shaken. She didn¡¯t sleep until a few hourster. She opened her eyes and realized everywhere was bright. The first thing that came to her mind was work. She was sote. She looked around. Jared was not on the bed. The other side was cold, like he got up a long time ago. Did he leave for work without her? She saw a note on the beside table. ¡®Breakfast is downstairs. Eat and take a rest. Don¡¯te to work¡¯. She shook her head and went into the bathroom. Just as he had said, her breakfast was on the table. She ate a few and left. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She was about to settle down when he came out of his office and saw her. He didn¡¯t want to draw attention, so he called her into his office. ¡°I told you to stay home and rest¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you that I am fine. I won¡¯t stay at the house because of a nightmare¡± ¡°Are you sure you are fine?¡± She nodded and began to walk away. She stopped at the door and turned to him, remembering the voice that called her ¡®kitten¡¯. ¡°Boss, there is something I need your help with¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Can¡­ can you please not call me kitten ever again?¡± He had noticed it was kind of a trigger for her, so he nodded. She mouthed a thank you and left. **************** Sandy sat with a huge bag of popcorn. She didn¡¯t know why, but she craved it recently. As usual, she was alone. Her mother had gone to the house to put some things in ce and will not return until tomorrow. Dn had gone to work. The only difference was that he came earlier than before everyday now that her due date was near. At the thought of the due date, her heart thumped in her chest in fear. She had watched several videos about childbirth, and the sound of women screaming scared her. She even thought of having the baby through surgery but then again, she preferred the normal delivery. She would rather not have a scar on her body. She felt pain cut through her stomach. ¡°Ouch!¡± It went as soon as it came, so she continued what she was doing, not until the pain became intense. She suddenly came to a realization. Was she inbour? But it wasn¡¯t time yet. She quickly picked up her phone to call Valerie. She knew she was supposed to call Dn first, but she wanted Valerie to be here with her when she delivered. ¡°Hey, how are you doing?¡± Valerie asked cheerfully. ¡°Look, I need you toe here right now. I¡­.¡± ¡°Sandy, are you okay?¡± ¡°No. I think¡­. I think the baby¡­¡­ ising¡± ¡°What! I¡¯lle over right now¡± She wanted to call Dn, but that unbearable pain shot through her again. She screamed and doubled over, clutching her belly. The servants heard the scream and ran upstairs. They screamed when she saw their madam. ¡°Call¡­ my husband¡± she managed to say. The servants quickly did. ¡°Sir, madam is inbour¡± Before she could even finish talking, he shot up from his chair and dashed out. ¡°Put the phone to her ear¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± ¡°Sandy, can you hear me?¡± ¡°Yes, I can¡± ¡°Now, I want you to calm down. Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll be there in three minutes, trust me, okay?¡± That three minutes sounded like three hours to her. ¡°Okay¡± He stayed with her on the phone till he arrived. Her moaning and whimpering was like an arrow hitting his chest. He felt guilty he was making her go through this pain. Valerie burst into Jared¡¯s office, where he was talking to Will. ¡°Boss, we need to leave¡± He could see anxiety on her face. ¡°To where¡± ¡°To your brother¡¯s house. Sandy is inbour!¡± ¡°What! Does Dn know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. We need to leave quickly¡± He gave Will some instructions before following her out. My the time they got there, the whole family had already assembled. Sandy were not in sight, but Dn was standing in front of the door. Jane was furious to see the both of theme in together. As for Amelia, she was surprised. Why was Valerie here? She was sure the family didn¡¯t know both of them were having an affair. She could tell the look on Valerie¡¯s face was that of worry. ¡°Is she okay in there? Should you not go in and give her some support?¡± Mrs Smith nagged Dn. ¡°The doctors told me to stay outside¡± ¡°What is going on?¡± They all turned to see Sandy¡¯s mother. Dn had called her immediately he got home.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Auntie¡± Valerie quickly went to hug her. ¡°Sandy will be fine¡± Amelia raised a brow. Auntie? ¡°But, it is not time yet, is it?¡± ¡°Yeah. She went intobour two weeks to the due date¡± Sandy¡¯s mother sighed in despair. Why wasn¡¯t she there when her daughter needed her the most? Old Smith sat alone, silent with his frosty demeanor, his eyes on the door of the delivery room. The delivery room door opened a little and a nurse¡¯s head popped out. ¡°Mr Smith, pleasee in. Who is Valerie?¡± Valerie raided her hand. ¡°I¡¯m here¡± ¡°Pleasee in¡± Her heart was broken when she saw the state her friend was in. The door opened again. A pale Sandy in a customized hospital gown was being held on both sides but Dn¡¯s Valerie. A nurse was beside them. Her forehead was sweaty, and she looked extremely worn out. Mrs Smith eyes watered, but she refused to cry. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Sandy¡¯s mother asked. She smiled a little. ¡°Mum, you are here¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m here, honey. I¡¯m here¡± ¡°The doctor suggested she took a walk¡± The nurse announced. Amelia tapped Jane, much to her annoyance, but this was a public ce, she could not show it. ¡°What is the rtionship between those two?¡± ¡°Which two?¡± She asked, a little irritated. ¡°Sandy and thatdy beside her¡± ¡°They are friends. Best friends¡± Sheid emphasis on ¡®best¡¯. Amelia was spooked. Thedy Jared¡¯s was cheating with was the president¡¯s wife, best friend? ¡°Shit! This is so fucked up¡± Chapter 72 Dn¡¯s expression was readable. One could clearly see the fear and anxiety in his eyes. It was the first time they had seen him this way. He had always acted strong, befitting his status as the first son of a powerful family. He was trying to get it together for Sandy¡¯s sake. ¡°Ah!¡± She suddenly cried out in pain, her eyes squeezed shut. Dn looked as if he were experiencing the same pain. The sun had set, but the baby was still not out yet. Dn was in the delivery room with his wife. She had toe out to walk through the hallway, so they all saw the amount of pain she was in. ¡°Howe the baby isn¡¯t out yet. Is it normal? Does it usually take this long?¡± Jared asked when one of the nurses came outside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry sir. We have everything under control¡± ¡°At least, you should tell us know what is going on in there!¡± Old Smith roared. The nurse flinched in fright, moving away from the scary old man. Mrs Smith quickly dismissed her. She wasn¡¯t sure if the old man was worried about Sandy or the baby, or maybe both. She had earlier told him to go back home to rest, but he was adamant. She didn¡¯t dare to mention his health, or he was going to explode. Inside the delivery room, Sandy was exhausted. She didn¡¯t know how long since she had been inbour. One of the nurses wiped the sweat on her forehead and neck. Dn¡¯s appearance wasn¡¯t any better. He looked disheveled. His tie was gone and few buttons of his shirt were opened. She panted and red at him. ¡°This is all your fault, you -ah!¡± She screamed. A sharp pain shot through her again and scattered all her thoughts. The duration between the contractions reduced. ¡°It¡¯s time sir¡± ¡°Time for what¡± ¡°It¡¯s time for her to deliver¡± The female doctor replied respectfully. The rest of the medical staff immediately went into action, surrounding the lower half of her body. ¡°Madam, the baby will be out soon. I want you to be calm. Breathe and push, okay?¡± She nodded weakly, but she wasn¡¯t sure she could do that. Anyone could see the fear in her eyes. She suddenly felt a warm,rge hand hold her cold, small ones. Dn smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m always here. I won¡¯t leave you. Never¡± She nodded and squeezed his hand. She could feel it. The pain was nowing in derf, powerful waves. ¡°Aaaahhh!¡± The pain was unimaginable. Tears spilled out of her as she struggled to breathe. She thought she had prepared herself beforehand, but the pain was nothing like she had ever experienced before. ¡°Madam, you can¡¯t close your eyes! You have to stay awake!¡± The doctor cautioned loudly. Sandy woke up from a momentary loss of consciousness. She didn¡¯t even realize she had passed out for a few seconds. ¡°Dn, you bastard!!!!¡± She cursed as she struggled to push. ¡°Yes. Yes, I know. It¡¯s all my fault¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± She threatened. ¡°Ye-, we¡¯ll talk about thatter¡± ¡°Fuck you. Aaaarrrghhh!¡± She felt like all the veins in her were going to pop from the strain. ¡°I can see the head!¡± The doctor announced excitedly. ¡°Just a little more¡± she breathed loudly, gathering all the strength she had left In her and pushed with a scream. ¡°Yes! The baby is out¡± Momentster, a baby¡¯s cry filled the room. ¡°Congrattions madam, you now have a bouncing baby boy¡± She ced the scrawny infant on Sandy¡¯s chest. She smiled despite the fatigue. ¡°It¡¯s a boy, Dn. You now have a son¡± He shook his head. ¡°We now have a son. Thank you so much¡± She smiled as her slowly closed. ¡°I love you¡± he mumbled, but he doubted she heard that. It was already almost midnight when the people outside heard the news. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I finally have a grandson. How is Sandy?¡± Mrs Smith asked. ¡°She fell asleep¡± Dn replied. She nodded it was expecting. She nced at her son and felt a little sorry for him. ¡°Should you not get some rest too?¡± He shook his head. She didn¡¯t bother to convince him. ¡°How about the baby?¡± ¡°The nurses are cleaning him up. You can¡¯t see him tonight¡± ¡°What do you mean? Is there any problem?¡± ¡°It was the doctor¡¯s instructions. You can all sleep here tonight and meet the baby tomorrow¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m leaving¡± Old Smith stood up, and wobbled a bit, but Mrs Smith stabilized him. ¡°You can just sleep here tonight. You look exhausted¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not!¡± He bellowed. Valerie flinched. The old man sure had a bad temper so she made sure to stay out of his sight. Mrs Smith wasn¡¯t ready to leave so she beckoned to her husband to take his father home. Jared approached her. ¡°Are you going home?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m staying here with Sandy. One more thing, I may not be able toe to work tomorrow. Is that okay?¡± He nodded. ¡°You are leaving?¡± ¡°Yes. I have somethings to finish up. I¡¯ll return tomorrow¡± She nodded. ¡°Goodnight¡± ¡°Goodnight¡± She stared at his back until he was out of sight and turned only to see ady staring straight at her. She felt thedy was familiar, she just couldn¡¯t remember where and when she saw her. Despite seeing her, thedy didn¡¯t look away but kept staring. It made Valerie really ufortable so she left the premises. In the end, only three people remained. Valerie, Mrs Smith and Sandy¡¯s mother. Morning came and after receiving a message from the butler that they all had to have breakfast beforeing up, they hurriedly finished their breakfast and headed to the delivery room which had been transformed into argefy bedroom overnight. They all saw Sandy in bed, cradling the tiny infant in her arms. ¡°Oh, honey. You look so pale. It must have been so tiring¡± Mrs Smith went to give her a gentle hug. Anyone at that moment would think she was her mother. ¡°My cute little grandson¡± she yed with his cheeks. ¡°He¡¯s so handsome¡± she gushed over him and finally let Sandy¡¯s mother take over. Valerie patiently waited at the back. She transferred the baby to the cot as the mothers continued to gush over him. ¡°Come here¡± Sandy opened her arms. ¡°Am I not going to hurt you?¡± She shook her head and Valerie finally embraced her cautiously.Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank you so much¡± ¡°We should tell La about it¡± Sandy nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll call her and-¡± she was distracted by the new arrivals. Jane, Old Smith, Jared, his father, and the weirddy. They were all here. Jared approached her immediately, despite her eye signals telling him to back off. His whole family was here. He didn¡¯t listen and came to stand before her. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± She forced a tight smile, making some space between them before his family misunderstood. Luckily, the men¡¯s attention were on the baby. She could feel Jane ring daggers at her. ¡°You should take a look at your nephew¡± she sidestepped him and moved far away from him. She left the room only to realize someone had followed her. ¡°I told you to-¡± She halted when she realized it wasn¡¯t him, but the weirddy. Amelia smiled. ¡°You thought I was him?¡± ¡°Why did you follow me?¡± Amelia silently walked towards her. ¡°We meet again¡± ¡°Have we met before?¡± ¡°Of course. I should return something that belongs to you¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!