Chole had taken the advice of the girl at the store and gotten a two-piece tweed; she had said that it was perfect for first dates and meetings, as it gave the wearer some kind of fair skin and made them look like a doll. She knew that no matter how smart she was, the reason this man was looking to marry someone from abroad was that he wanted a doll. Not someone who supposedly knew too much or spoke too much, but someone who would look good while being silent by his side. She already had the good looks; all she needed to do was be a doll."Reservation under Mr Lewis?" she said as she stood by the desk of the restaurant. She did not know who picked the place for meeting but the person had good taste. The girl looked up at her, pressed her lips together in recognition nodded before turning out of the cubicle she was in."Follow me," she said. Chole did not mind the treatment; she smiled and walked with the girl, trying to keep the smile on her face as she walked by. "He is not yet here
"My hair? I should dye my hair blonde?" Chole asked, standing still in the middle of the room."Yes, I like my women with blonde hair," he said, and she coughed. She did not know what she was doing, but she knew she had to push through. She did not even know this stranger's name, yet she was about to alter her looks for him. "We are getting married, so I am sure a little dye wouldn't hurt anyone," he said, getting comfortable like he had done earlier."Are you going to stay?" she asked as he took a magazine out of the stack. She was glad that luck had shone on her and made sure she was the only one in the salon at that time so no other person would see how pathetic she was now."Of course, we still have a date to attend," he replied, flipping through the magazine. He raised his head to the salon attendant who had gotten up to attend to them. She stood there, still shocked at the situation and with the way she looked at Chole, Chole knew that she would jump to help if she cried that sh
Elara swallowed the lump in her throat just because she could not take it anymore; it felt like someone had taken time out of their busy day to tie up her throat, and it felt itchy. She cleared her throat and straightened her back as she walked through the restaurant.She looked to one table in the corner; her boyfriend Micah's back was to her, and she took a deep breath, clutching tightly to the handle of her purse. As she approached the table, she wished that this was different.When she first caught on that he was cheating, she did not believe it one bit because there was no way that her boyfriend, who swore to love her even though he was too closed off to show it to her, was showing another girl with flowers and chocolates and dinner dates; she could believe that the same man she had been with all these years was cheating on her.But when her sister called to tell her that she was getting out and that everyone knew that he was getting married to Zara, she knew that she did not sta
"You are the heiress?" Elara asked, letting out a long laugh. She was angry to meet her boyfriend with a woman, but it amused her that this woman was pretending to be the woman she hid from Micah all these years. She did not want anyone going after her for her family money and influence but for who she was. "But I hear that no one knows what she looks like, so how can we be sure that you are the one?" Elara followed with continuous laughter. She was sure that her siblings would have a field day with this information if they got to hear it. Her father had been the expert at keeping his children away from the public and had only introduced her brother Ronan when he was twenty years old to the media because he said he had to learn the ropes of the business. Since Elara stayed hidden from the press, it was easier for her to live a life of freedom. "Are you saying that I am lying?" Zara asked, shifting on her feet uncomfortably. "Of course not; how can I call you an impersonator?" She
"Regret this? Regret marrying to the Quinn family?" Micah scoffed like she had just told a lie. "I don't think so," he said with a smirk on his face."Oh, boo, don't listen to her; she must be crazy," Zara chimed in."Crazy? You are calling me crazy? I am the crazy one here?" She said, looking around, hoping that the people around her would help her judge the matter."Both of you are shamelessly out here cheating on me, and you think I am the crazy one? In what world are you the sane ones?" She did not even know she had those kinds of words brewing on the insides of her."If you know he is cheating on you, as you said, why don't you let him be?" Zara asked, air-quoting the word cheating. "Moreover, if you were never in a relationship, why would it be cheating?""Did he say that?" Elara asked, quietly dropping the plate in her hand to the table and cleaning off the soup residue that had stuck to her hand on the napkin. "Did he tell you that we were not in a relationship?""Well, he did
Elara held her cheek as the words she had been saying were now lost in her throat; she could not believe that she had been slapped across the face by Micah's mistress. The two of them stood there, Zara's chest rising and falling in annoyance as she balled her hands into a fist by her side. "Imposter? Who are you calling an imposter?" She screamed at her. The entire restaurant was now fully focused on them. The couples who were there on dates would probably think that the show before it was more enticing than their date. "I guess you must really be an imposter," Elara replied. She had always been a confident girl, but meeting Micah had done something to her and made her believe that for her to be accepted, she needed to be sevirle and submissive to everyone, and everything around her meant that she had forgotten the training that her father had given her. "Do not call me that," Zara said through gritted teeth. "Why should I?" What else am I going to call you? You are here claiming
"I finally got rid of her, and I did not have to do much work," Micah said as they walked to his car. They had to leave the restaurant immediately because of the embarrassment that came with the scene that Elara had created for them. Immediately she stormed out as if she had won; he paid the check and left with Zara in his hand. "Since you have been able to ditch the b*tch, how about we go ahead and have the wedding as planned?" Zara suggested, poking his chest roughly. "Of course, we are going to have the wedding next week," he announced. "Now just remember, since my parents do not want me to be exposed to the public, they would not be attending the wedding, and they would not be sponsoring it either, so you have to do all of that by yourself, and also I cannot access my trust fund until I get married and have a baby," Zara said. "Oh my darling, what do you take me for? I definitely remember all that you said, and I am going to keep it to them all. As long as Mr. Quinn has agreed
Elara walked through the door to the house that she had shared with Micah for the past three years. Everywhere in there pushed out some kind of memory for her. She wanted to sit in the darkness of the house and cry out her eyes because when her family had told her that she was making a mistake by trusting a man like Micah, she had told him that they loved each other, and that was all that mattered. Now she understood very well that love was not all that mattered. She walked to the bedroom that they shared and took down her box; these were the same ones she left her father's mansion with, and now she was leaving with the same one. She had wanted the relationship to work out so badly so she could prove to her family that she was right. Now that the relationship was in shambles, she began to clearly see all of the warning signs. "I really am a fool for ignoring all of those signs for the longest time," she murmured to herself with a sad smile. She barely had anything to pack from the h
"My hair? I should dye my hair blonde?" Chole asked, standing still in the middle of the room."Yes, I like my women with blonde hair," he said, and she coughed. She did not know what she was doing, but she knew she had to push through. She did not even know this stranger's name, yet she was about to alter her looks for him. "We are getting married, so I am sure a little dye wouldn't hurt anyone," he said, getting comfortable like he had done earlier."Are you going to stay?" she asked as he took a magazine out of the stack. She was glad that luck had shone on her and made sure she was the only one in the salon at that time so no other person would see how pathetic she was now."Of course, we still have a date to attend," he replied, flipping through the magazine. He raised his head to the salon attendant who had gotten up to attend to them. She stood there, still shocked at the situation and with the way she looked at Chole, Chole knew that she would jump to help if she cried that sh
Chole had taken the advice of the girl at the store and gotten a two-piece tweed; she had said that it was perfect for first dates and meetings, as it gave the wearer some kind of fair skin and made them look like a doll. She knew that no matter how smart she was, the reason this man was looking to marry someone from abroad was that he wanted a doll. Not someone who supposedly knew too much or spoke too much, but someone who would look good while being silent by his side. She already had the good looks; all she needed to do was be a doll."Reservation under Mr Lewis?" she said as she stood by the desk of the restaurant. She did not know who picked the place for meeting but the person had good taste. The girl looked up at her, pressed her lips together in recognition nodded before turning out of the cubicle she was in."Follow me," she said. Chole did not mind the treatment; she smiled and walked with the girl, trying to keep the smile on her face as she walked by. "He is not yet here
"You caused this, so you have to do something about this." Chole had explained all that had happened to her father and he seemed calm. She thought he would throw a fit but he just stayed in his seat and declared that she had to take responsibility. He did not seem adamant that she must get together with Ronan again, which made her realise that he must have a plan."Something like what? What do you want me to do?" Chole looked at her father, and it was obvious that he was serious. "How do you want me to fix it? If you tell me, then I would do all in my power to make sure that it is done," she added.Alfie looked at her; he wondered where exactly he had gone wrong. When Ronan approached them and asked if he could marry her, he was elated because he knew what that meant for his name and company, so he did not expect that his daughter would throw away the opportunity so easily. He thought he was being a good father to her all this while but in reality he has spoilt her silly.Chole just b
She fumbled with the keys as she was unable to concentrate with Ronan breathing down her neck. He held her hand and helped her unlock the door. As soon as they were inside, she turned to him and pulled him down, capturing his lips with hers. He reciprocated immediately, kissing and exploring her mouth. She leapt, and he caught her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he supported her with his hands under her. He walked into the house, not leaving her mouth.They pulled apart, and she held his face. "Took you long enough," she murmured, and he was about to respond when she kissed him again. Her fingers trailed his face gently; she pulled away and looked into his darkened eyes. "You have to go all in," she whispered in a commanding tone. Before he could think of responding, she was already taking off his jacket.She jumped down and helped him till he was standing there with all the buttons of his shirt hanging loose. He pushed the strap of her dress until it hung low on her arm.
Ronan stopped in front of them both. He tried to stay more to the side of Noelle to make sure that Chole did not get the wrong idea. "Is everything okay here?" he asked."Chole here says that you are going to be leaving me for her," Noelle said without thinking twice about it."What? When did I...""Are you saying I'm lying and you did not say that?" Noelle cut her off before she could act all innocent. "Then shall I play the recording of our conversation from earlier?" Noelle had no recording, but she knew that Chole would want to be the saint in the eyes of Ronan, so she would cower in fear."You recorded our conversation?" she asked, biting her bottom lip in fear. The expression on her face was enough to implicate her. Ronan could sense the fear as well. "Well, seeing that I was trying to have a mature conversation with you, but all you cared about was being the pick-me girl, I guess I would have to leave." Chole knew that all she had said now made no sense, but she had to say some
Noelle stood up from where she had been sitting all evening. It was almost midnight, and she did not see the need to still be out that long. She knew it was going to be difficult for her to see Ronan tonight, and she had forced herself to come to terms with it. She could go to the mansion to see him first thing the next morning before she met with Celeste. Over time, she became more comfortable with Ronan and his family. The Quinn family accepted her, which made her a bit delusional that she was from a well-to-do family. As much as she tried to ignore the feeling in her heart, she still thought that he would leave her in a heartbeat if he found a better fit for himself.She stopped behind him and poked his shoulders lightly. He looked back at her and smiled. "A moment," he whispered before turning back to the crowd in front of him. He wrapped up with them quickly, and they all understood after seeing her stand there. Their relationship was no longer a secret to the public, and after R
A FEW WEEKS LATERAfter all the madness had died down and both Cora and Micah had been charged in court and sentenced by the law. Mixah was sentenced to ten years in prison for drugging and aiding in kidnapping. Even though everyone knew that he had nothing to do with it, they couldn't find proof that he was not a part of it, and he confessed, so he was charged accordingly. Cora, on the other hand, was sentenced to seven years for kidnapping.It was finally the day when Ronan would be introduced as the new chairman, Isla would be given a role in the company and Elara would be promoted to vice chairman. Elliot was a bit giddy about it. It felt surreal that so soon his children were all grown and he did not have to pick up after them again.The evening started slowly with soft music blasting the auditorium. Everyone high and powerful was present. Finally, after a while, Elliot got up to the stage; he knew that once he spoke, that would be all and then everyone would get to socialising an
"At least we finally found her. I am so happy about that," Noelle said as she brought a cup of water for Ronan, who was sitting in the living room. It had been a crazy week for all of them, and they had not really had time to be together. Ronan had made his way to the hospital, and after he made sure that Elara was fine, he came straight to see Noelle. "I am glad too," he said, taking the glass from her hand with his fingertips slightly brushing against the back of her hand. She jerked away as if she had been scalded with something burning hot. He shifted the glass from one hand to the other and held her hand before she could sit down. "What was that reaction?" he asked with his eyebrows going to the top of his head. "What reaction? Nothing," she murmured as she tried to control the swirling of butterflies that had taken over her stomach from the contact. She cleared her throat and tried to avoid his eyes, but he noticed that something was off. "Did I do something wrong? Are you m
Elara's eyes fluttered open as she began to adjust to reality. She had been so scared about being kidnapped, but she tried her best to act brave all through. She looked around the hospital room as far as her eyes could carry her, and they landed on her mother by her side. She thought that the nightmare would never end, but she was glad that it did. She saw her mom's body rise and fall gently, and she wanted to try not to wake her up. The kidnappers were not as bad as everyone thought, but then she could not trust them, seeing how badly they dragged her there. She had refused any meal they had given her and only relied on water because she was somehow convinced they could not poison the water. As she tried to take the covers off, her mother stirred and sat up, scanning the entire room. "Elara?" she murmured as she stood up and stood beside her bed. "You are awake," she said, hugging her daughter gently. Clara had been so worried that she had gone out three times in the night to ask w