NARRATIVE "This is amazing Sis Cheng. I mean, I've never been to a fashion gala_actually I've never been to a gala before." Clara gushed right beside Lana and Cheng as they walked into the grand hall. The girls smiled as they took their seats at the round table amongst others in the grand hall. They didn't bother exchanging pleasantries with people because they weren't familiar with many there. They only came because of Adele and also, to socialize if necessary, to broaden their knowledge about the fashion industry and to get familiar with the identities of the most affluential people in New York City. The gala was just starting, several top designers and models in New York City already arrived, showing off their diverse, colorful and exquisite designs as they walked the red carpet and up the stairs. The paparazzi in their distinguished 'black-theme' wears, stood by either side of the red carpet, taking photos and filming the events with their cameras and phones. Whil
NARRATIVE Arsenio stared at Adele silently as he watched the diverse emotions reflecting on her face. At first she was smiling, then suddenly she looked nervous and now she looked really shocked to the extent she'd dropped her phone on the floor. What could it be? He swallowed nothing as he watched her for a while, trying to calm his thoughts before he'll say or do something that'll piss her off again. Especially since they are fast approaching the hotel at this moment. "Adele, is everything alright? Are you okay?" He asked, leaning closer to her. "Huh?" Adele looked up from her fallen phone and into Arsenio's searching eyes. Fearing his naturally compelling eyes would make her spill, she blinked severally, closed her parted lips and hurriedly retrieved her phone from the floor. "What is it? Are you okay? Did anyone threaten you? Why do you look so stunned?" "It's nothing, Arsenio. I'm fine." She briskly said as she immediately kept her phone in her purse bag. "Adele, you'r
ARSENIO'S POV I never understood how well I was crazy about Adele until this very moment. Watching her smile so radiantly as she walked up to her ex fiancé broke my heart to many miserable fragments. The moment she let go my arm and I trailed her eyes to his, I was suddenly reminded that she's never gonna fall for me. It's a painful fact but it's a reality_a reality I'm not willing to accept. She already got slightly distant with me after our fight few days ago. Ever since I know her, I've never seen her smile so genuinely, so beautifully like this. I feel jealous, angry and really horrible. How is it that she's entirely different from the broken, revenge tasty woman I vividly remember from few weeks ago? How is it that she's easily smiling and walking up to the same man who abandoned her at their supposed wedding six years ago? Did she already forgive him? Did she already find out the truth? What exactly has transformed Adele within such a short time? I sta
ADELE'S POV After a while of exchanging pleasantries and catching up with Emily about both necessary and unnecessary things, I was finally able to escape from the overly chatty woman with the excuse of wanting to use the restroom. Well, here am I walking down the hallway back to the main hall the gala was holding, a few minutes after. The girls were busy interacting with some persons the last time I checked. I could tell from their eyes they couldn't wait to hear what I'd talked about with Carlo. Speaking of Carlo, I couldn't wait to walk up to him now that I'm free from Emily's 'kidnap'. We have a lot to talk about really and I can't wait to meet him. I bit on my lower lip the moment I felt heat rushed to my cheeks at a random thought. That moment when he'd leaned down and whispered in my ear, I'd felt the butterflies_I didn't think was still existent, in my stomach. My nostrils had enjoyed the sweet savor emitting from his fragrance_my favorite rose and a hint of ging
ARSENIO'S POV I was walking towards the restroom in search of Adele the moment I found she'd excused herself from talking with Manager Henry's loud wife. Seeing her smile and talk with Carlo was really a heart shattering moment for me. When he'd leaned behind her ears and whispered something, I felt really sick within. And then, the moment Emily had come by and taken her away, Carlo had sent a knowing glare my direction. I just watched him silently from the side. Would I really let him take her away from me? I knew the answer to that question in my heart. It's really going to be a tough decision. Presently, I was walking down the hallway when I sighted her coming from the opposite direction, her eyes on her phone. Her eyebrows furrowed as a bewildered look reflected on her face. What's it this time? Another secret she may never spill? I could feel the intense battle of my emotions within me as my eyes took in her every move. Would she even accept my feelings? There's no p
ADELE'S POV Walking back into the hall, I tried my best to appear calm. I don't need any unusual report about me on the media. I already dabbed my face with some makeup in other to hide my puffy eyes. I looked around as I walked, flashing a small smile to several people in greeting. My eyes scanned the hall for Carlo. There's no sight of him, I couldn't see his subordinate either. Deciding I wasn't going to think about Arsenio's misbehavior, I approached my friends' table. Did Carlo already leave? Why did Arsenio stared behind my back before he'd suddenly kissed me? "Oh Adele, you're here. Guess who came by to look for you." Lana said with a toothy grin the moment she saw me. "Who was it?" I asked as I sat down on the empty chair beside her. "It was Carlo." Lu Cheng said and my eyes widened. "He apologized to us and said he was going to meet us again and talk in a more convenient environment. And..." "And?" I urged on impatiently. "He asked of you and we dir
NARRATIVE The girls let out a gasp the moment Adele explained what had happened to them. "OMG! I never thought he could do such a thing. My gosh, I'm highly disappointed." Lana shook her head in disapproval of what Arsenio had done. "Exactly! I thought he's a sweet guy. Too bad because I can't vouch for him again." Clara said poutingly while she stared softly at her sister. She could imagine how Adele's feeling presently. "Now it's no longer Carlo who's the bad guy like we thought, it's now Arsenio." Lu Cheng sighed, her head resting against the couch as she stared reflectively at the ornate ceiling in Adele's living room. Adele smiled sadly as she listened to them lament. She was staring regretfully at her phone, rereading Carlo's text for the umpteenth time since she discovered it. "You guys, don't blame him that much. It's my fault to not have noticed his obsession from the start." She said and the girls immediately disagreed. "No Adele, don't even think about
BRENDA'S POV I stared at Carlo's Doctor blankly. There's no way I heard him well. What does he mean by that? My little brother was in coma yet another time because of the same woman?! Carlo how could you do this to me? Do you know how much I suffered for the three years you were out and depending on life support?! "What...what did you mean just now?" I managed to say, though my voice came out shaky and rough. I swallowed the painful lump in my throat as I felt tears pooled up in my eyes. This shouldn't be happening again! I warned him. I warned him but he didn't listen. Did he really care about this girl more than he cared about me, his only sister? His only sibling? His only family? "Chairwoman," the doctor began calmly. "I think you should take things easy. With the right medication and of course, his will to overcome this stage, I'm sure he'd be up within months." "Months?" My fists clenched at either side of my dress. "You mean, my brother's likely to be in a com