****
Simon is on his way back from his company when he receives a call from his mother, Emily. Knowing exactly what she wants to say, and it is nothing but pestering him to get married, he ignores her call as he is already tired from the strenuous day he had at work.While on his way home, suddenly his driver stops with full force. "Are you okay?" Simon asks. "Sir, I think I just saw a woman laying in the middle of the road," the driver responds. "A woman!" He exclaims.Then he gets out of the car to check, and the driver accompanies him. They both approach the woman to see if she is still breathing. They touch her and discover that it is Gabriella, and she is still breathing but gasping at the same time."Please help me," Gabriella pleads while breathing heavily. Simon sees this and still does not want to help. He moves back towards his car but suddenly notices that Gabby is pointing towards the direction her mom is. "Please save my mother," she begs. But it is not his nature to help anyone who is not his family, and he remembers his planned revenge on the Maxwells and how much he searched for Gabriella to help him make his plans work.He thinks he would be a fool if he lets her slip away from him. So he decides to stay and help. He goes back, lifts her up with the help of his driver, and runs towards the car to open the door for Simon.They take her into the car and also carry her mother into the car. They all get in, and they drive to the nearest hospital they can find. While on their way to the hospital, Simon looks at Gabriella and sees how much pain and agony she is in. He feels even more pity for her."I really wonder who did this to her again," Simon murmured. Eventually, they arrived at the hospital and he helped both of them out of the car with the assistance of his driver. He then hurriedly carried her into the hospital, shouting, "Emergency, it's an emergency!" Simon and his driver continued to run quickly. Everyone stared as they ran, and then they saw the nurses attending to Gabriella and her mom."Nurses, it's an emergency!" Simon shouted. The nurses rushed towards them with a stretcher, placed Gabriella on it, and took her inside the ICU.They immediately summoned the doctor to treat her, and as soon as the doctor walked in, Simeon had never been so scared. Surprisingly, he was overwhelmed with fear and appeared greatly distressed.Two hours later, the doctor emerged from the ICU room. "Doctor, how is she doing now?" Simeon asked curiously. "She is better now. Do you happen to know what happened to her?" the doctor inquired. "No doctor, I don't know her at all," he lied."I just saw her lying helplessly in the middle of the road, on the brink of death, and she pleaded for help, so I did," Simeon explained to the doctor. "Alright, Mr...." the doctor hesitated. "I am Simon doctor, Mr. Simon Grey," he answered. "Grey of the Greys hotel? Is it that Grey, the most powerful man in the city?" the doctor asked. "Yes doctor, what is the report?" he responded. "Alright, Mr. Grey, could you please come with me to complete the necessary paperwork while she remains under our observation for three days to assess her recovery," he explained."Okay doctor, is she awake now and allowed visitors?" Simon asked. "Yes, she is. The operation was successful, but right now she needs extreme rest due to the impact on her head and the accompanying mental stress. It almost resulted in a brain tumor because she lost a lot of blood before arriving here. Fortunately, she was brought in at the right time. However, she is better now but cannot have visitors yet," the doctor explained. "You can check on her tomorrow." "What about the other woman? Is she stable as well?" Simon asked. "Hmmm," the doctor sighed. "We did everything we could to save her, but unfortunately, she didn't make it. I'm sorry," the doctor revealed. "Alright, doctor," Simon agreed.Later on, they both went to sort out the necessary documents for Gabriella's admission and her bills. Simon filled in Gabriella's admission documents as his wife since he had already lied about knowing her.He left the hospital and went home to rest because it had been a long day for him. However, while on his way, the whole event of saving Gabriella got lost in his thoughts and left him wondering what made him care so much to help her. These thoughts lingered in his head as they finally made it home.Simon went into his mansion and found the lights turned off, which made him angry. "Alexia! Alexia! Who turned off the lights?" he shouted. Alexia rushed towards Simon and explained, "It is your mother, sir. She came in this afternoon." "Mom is here, but she could have called me to let me know," he said, but then he immediately remembered the call he got from her earlier and sighed. "Thank you, Alexia. You can return to your duty," Simon ordered. Then Alexia left, while he went upstairs to look for his mother.Simon reached upstairs and found his mother resting in the guest room. "Mom! You did not tell me you were going to be here," he confronted his mother. "Oh! So do I have to tell you when I come over or when I decide to stay in my son's house? And where in the world did you put your phone?" Emily questioned. "Why do you look so messed up, Simon?" she asked, frowning at Simon."I have been busy at work, Ma," Simon protested. "And I also helped a poor woman lying helplessly on the road," he said. Emily looked shocked and surprised, wondering when her son started lending help to people other than their family.This made her happy, though she worried at the same time. "Really? Can you tell me when my son went, because I do not know this person standing next to me?" she teased."Mom, please stop with the melodrama already. It's not a big deal that I helped someone, so please stop making a fuss," replied Simon, excusing himself."No, young man, this conversation is not over. I need to know who that helpless woman is," Emily pressured while walking close to him."Mother! I don't even know her from Adam. I just helped a lady in need. I didn't want to help initially, but I did it anyway because she needed it and was on the verge of death," he lied."You just helped her," Emily teased. "Oh, okay! Then she must be special," she mocked."MOM! Jesus Christ," he exclaimed."Okay, fine. How was work today?" she questioned."It was tiresome and stressful as always," he answered while eating chips."I just need some sleep," he pleaded.He walked away from Emily and went into his bedroom to get some sleep and also to take a shower after a long draining day…****On the following morning, Simon woke up and got dressed for work, while Emily was in the kitchen assisting Alexia with a morning stretch before her yoga class began. "Good morning, mother," Simon greeted. "Good morning, my darling. Oh! I see you're already dressed for work," Emily teased and chuckled. "Yes, mother. But before I leave for work, I want to visit the woman I had admitted to the hospital," he explained."Oh, the unfortunate woman," she hypocritically laughed. "Alright then. Just make sure you're not late for work," Emily called out."Have you forgotten that it's my company, Mom?" he chuckled. "I'm the boss." They both laughed. "I love you, darling. Drive safely," Emily said. "I love you too, and make sure to have a good day," Simon replied. Simon walked towards his car and got in, with the driver already sitting in the driver's seat, and they drove off.On his way to the hospital, he kept hoping that Gabriella was already awake. A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital and Simon went to the new ward where Gabriella had been transferred since she was out of the ICU and no longer in danger. Eventually, he arrived and saw her still sleeping but looking much better. He sat down next to her, staring at her while waiting for the doctor, but not long after, she woke up.Gabriella woke up and was surprised to see Simon sitting right next to her. "How did he get here?" she murmured silently. While being engrossed in her thoughts, she thought of her mother."Please, where is my mother?" she pleaded. But Simon could not find the strength to tell her that her mother was dead. Fortunately for Simon, the doctor walked in and was surprised to see Simon already at the hospital. "Oh Mr. Grey, you came to check on our patient," the doctor teased. Simon smiled. "No, doctor, I was heading to work and just wanted to check on her to see if she was awake already.""Yeah, that is very thoughtful of you, Mr. Grey," the doctor praised him. While the doctor continued doing a check-up on Gabriella and ensuring she recovered quickly, she asked, "Doctor, please, how is my mother doing now? Is she fine? Please tell me." The doctor sighed. "We did all we could, but we could not save your mother. I am so sorry," he sympathized. "No, no, no," she yelled. "Mother!" she screamed. "Please tell me it's all a joke. I knew she was unconscious, but you could have saved her. No!" She cried profusely, causing a spike in her blood pressure and breathing, which made her faint. The doctor called in the rest of his team to treat her, and Simon was sent back out.After some time, the doctor came out of her ward and went directly to Simon. "Doctor, is she better now?" he inquired. "Yes, she is, but still unconscious. She will regain consciousness in a few hours, but you can return to work now. I assure you she is stable," the doctor assured him."Okay, Mr. Grey, I am going to head back to my office now," he nodded and smiled. "I will take my leave now."The doctor left Simon, who was still sitting in the waiting hall. However, his attention shifted to the room where Gabriella was, and he saw her attempting to stand up, but she couldn't due to the pain in her body. All she could remember was her mom and the scene from the accident. The doctor quickly entered her ward and Simon told her not to stress herself or her body, assuring her that everything had been taken care of. Gabriella sarcastically remarked, "You rich people always brag about everything." Simon responded, "I don't know what you mean by that, but not all rich people brag. I despise bragging." Gabriella murmured, "Hmmm." Simon then said, "I'll take my leave now since you seem better. I'll just come to check on you." He gave a fake smile, said goodbye, and quietly closed the door as he walked past. Gabriella looked disturbed but laid down and went back to thinking about what had transpired between her and Richard. She replayed the thugs' attack and her mother's death, as well as how Richard had broken his promises and hurt her with hurtful words. She was filled with rage and vengeance, wanting to seek revenge on Richard Maxwell and his entire family for causing her so much pain.****After leaving the city hospital several hours prior, Simon arrived at his workplace. His staff were shocked to see him arrive late, as he was known for his punctuality and disciplinarian behavior. However, as the boss, no one dared to question him. Simon approached Mary, his assistant secretary. "Please meet me in my office within the next thirty minutes," he ordered coldly. "Right away, sir," Mary responded.Simon then entered his office and immediately sat down to relax and alleviate his stress. While doing so, he began reminiscing about the stressful events that had occurred throughout the first half of his day. Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on his door. "Who is it?" he shouted. "It's Mary, sir," she answered. "Oh, Mary," he exclaimed. "Come in."Mary entered his office and stood in front of him, wearing a confused expression. "Sir, you requested my presence," she said patiently. "Yes, Mary. How are you doing today? Can you provide me with an analysis of what I mis
****Richard had a long day at work, which left him thoroughly exhausted and stressed out. He arrived home late and immediately went to his room to get some rest. A few minutes later, Rosella entered his room because she knew he had returned from work. A smile crept onto her face as she noticed how recklessly he was sleeping. "Honey, you should have at least taken a shower when you got back," she complained. Unfortunately, Richard was already fast asleep, so she removed his shoes, unbuttoned his shirt, and arranged him on the bed for a more comfortable sleep. When she finished, she gazed lovingly at him, smiled, and switched off the lights to help him sleep better. She then closed the door and retired to her own room to get some rest.The following morning, Richard woke up early as expected. But this time, he deliberately went to the dining table to have breakfast because he knew his mother would be furious with him if he skipped it, just like he had skipped dinner. "Oh, I see you'r
****As they all resumed their breakfast, Emily's storytelling skills took center stage. She described the extravagant decorations that would adorn the venue, envisioning a breathtaking ambiance that would leave everyone in awe. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she mentioned the top-notch caterers and delectable dishes that would tantalize the guests' taste buds.The talk of the town, she proclaimed, this event would be a celebration like no other. She shared plans for live music, dancing under the stars, and an engagement ring that would be the envy of all who laid eyes upon it. Emily's imagination knew no bounds, and her son and Gabriella indulged her, smiling and nodding, allowing her to revel in the joy of planning this remarkable occasion.As they listened, a sense of bittersweetness filled the room for Simon and Gabriella. While they couldn't help but be drawn into Emily's infectious excitement, they knew that their true emotions were far more complex. The revenge they sought
****After the grand Announcement party and engagement ceremony came to a close, the air was filled with an atmosphere of contentment and delight. Emily, with her heart brimming with happiness, expressed her pride and joy to the newly engaged couple."You both were simply magnificent," Emily praised, her eyes shimmering with maternal pride. "The way you handled everything with grace and poise, it warms my heart to see how much you love each other."Simon and Gabriella exchanged a knowing smile, their hearts still fluttering from the emotions of the evening. They were grateful for Emily's support and the love she had shown them throughout the celebration.As the night had grown late, Emily announced that it was time for everyone to get some rest. "A well-deserved rest is in order after such a memorable day," she declared with a smile."We shall gather again at breakfast to continue the festivities," Emily added, knowing that the celebration of love should not be confined to a single eve
*****One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the estate, Gabriella found herself standing by the window of their shared room, lost in thought. The room, once a sanctuary of their love, now felt like a chamber of secrets and hidden agendas.Simon approached her from behind, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his touch a mixture of comfort and understanding."Gabriella," he said softly, his voice carrying a trace of concern. "You seem lost in your thoughts."Gabriella turned to face him, her eyes weary from the weight of their plans. "Simon, do you ever wonder if we're doing the right thing?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.Simon's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they both felt the weight of their choices. "I won't deny that this path is fraught with uncertainty," he admitted. "But we're seeking justice for the pain they've caused you, for the lives they've shattered."Gabriella nodded sl
****As the tension in the room hung palpably, a collective breath seemed to be held. Gabriella and Simon shared a final look, a silent exchange that spoke volumes. Their eyes held the reflections of the challenges they had faced, the sacrifices they had made, and the love that had carried them through.With a steady exhale, Gabriella turned her attention back to the assembled group. "The Maxwells have thrived in the shadows for far too long," she continued, her voice resolute. "But shadows can only exist where there is darkness. Our mission is to shine a light so bright that it can expose even the deepest of secrets."The crowd nodded in agreement, a chorus of determination echoing through the room. Each person present had their own reasons for joining this fight, be it personal vendettas, a longing for justice, or a desire to see a world free from the grip of corruption. Their paths had converged, and now they stood as allies in a battle that transcended their individual stories.Sim
****The next morning's gentle light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue across the room. Gabriella stirred from her restless slumber, the weight of the previous night's turmoil still clinging to her like a delicate veil. As the tendrils of sleep gradually released their hold, she blinked away the remnants of dreams that seemed to mirror her unsettled thoughts.With a resigned sigh, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet brushing against the cool floor. Her gaze fell to the ornate clock on the bedside table, its hands ticking away the moments. Waiting for Simon had taken a toll on her energy, leaving her both drained and inexplicably anxious. It was as if the night's revelations had infused a newfound electricity into her veins.Just as she was about to stand up, a sudden movement caught her attention. Her eyes widened as her heart seemed to skip a beat. There, standing near the window, was Simon. The first rays of morning light cascaded over his fi
****The day had unfurled its tapestry of events, casting Gabriella into the rhythm of her own life. Sunlight filtered through her apartment window, casting a soft glow that seemed to dispel the shadows of her past. Her morning had been a whirlwind of preparations and contemplations, each step carrying her closer to the promise of a new chapter.Yet, amidst the serenity of her surroundings, a sudden intrusion shattered the tranquility. Her phone buzzed, its screen illuminating with an incoming call. An unlisted number flashed before her eyes, a stark contrast to the familiar names that populated her contact list. Her heart tightened with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as she hesitated before answering."Hello, Gabby," Richard's voice unfurled from the line, its familiarity tinged with an unsettling undertone that sent a shiver down her spine. Memories, some welcome and others tainted with a sense of foreboding, surged forth at the mere sound of his voice."W-wh-who is this?" H