Mr. Anderson turn his back on Marianne. "You..." "Yes, Father?" "You'll come too." "Alright." Marianne followed her father, Mr. Anderson, down the dimly lit corridor of their large Victorian estate. The air was heavy with tension, and the only sound that echoed through the hallway was the soft shuffle of their footsteps on the ornate carpet. As they reached the end of the corridor, Mr. Anderson paused and turned to face Marianne. "You're not good for my son, Marianne. How much?" her eyes widened when she heard that coming from him. "What do you mean, Mr. Anderson?" "How much do you need to stay away from him?" Marianne's gaze hardened, and she squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. "I can't believe you're asking me to walk away from someone I love. Money can't buy happiness, Mr. Anderson." Mr. Anderson's expression remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed a hint of desperation. "This is about the family legacy, Marianne. Our reputation, our standing in society—it's a
"You... You were the first person who cared for me like this." As he said that, Felix lost his consciousness and his head fell towards her shoulder. Marianne gasped, her heart pounding as she felt Felix's weight against her. Panic surged through her, but she quickly steadied herself, realizing that he had simply passed out from exhaustion. The dim light in the room cast a soft glow on their surroundings, revealing the weariness etched on Felix's face. "Felix? Felix?" she called his name, but he's not responding. She panicked and was about to call an ambulance, dialing it on her phone, when a hand stop her. A gentle hand covered Marianne's trembling one, preventing her from making the call. She looked up to see Nate, Felix's friend. Nate knelt down beside them, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. "Hold on, Marianne. He's been pushing himself too hard lately. Let me check on him first." Marianne nodded, her eyes locked onto Felix's pale face. Nate gently laid Felix d
"W-why are you doing this, Marianne?" he asked confused. She slowly turned to face him, "What? I am just making some breakfast for you. Why? Don't you like it?" she answered him with a question. "I mean... why are you trying everything first? By any chance... did Nate told you about-" She sighed and nodded her head, "Yes. He told me about your issues on the food. So, I am doing this for you. For you to try something nice, for you to have a nice and proper meal at once," she admitted. Felix stared at Marianne, a mix of surprise and gratitude in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to go to such lengths to understand and accommodate his concerns. It was a new experience for him, someone genuinely caring about his well-being. "Thank you," he said, the words carrying more weight than he intended. Marianne simply nodded, a reassuring smile on her face. "That's the least I can do for you, Felix." On the other hand, Charlotte was so mad about what had Felix did to her. "He can't do this
Marianne decided to come back to Felix's apartment. She took a deep breath and went inside the house. As she entered she then saw him on the sofa, reading some books. "I'm home!" she then walked towards the door of her room, but Felix stopped her. She could feel the loud throb of her chest as she turned to face him. "Yes?" Felix then stood and without hesitation, he gently grabbed her and hugged her. Her eyes widened in surprise as Felix's arms enveloped her in a warm embrace. For a moment, Marianne was taken aback by the unexpected gesture. She felt the tension in her shoulders begin to melt away, replaced by the comfort of his presence. "W-What are you doing?" she stammered. Felix pulled back, looking into her eyes with a mix of sincerity and determination. "I got worried about you. Where have you been? Don't you know I've been waiting for you since last night?" Marianne's eyes softened, and she felt a warmth spreading through her. The concern in Felix's eyes was genuine, a
As Marianne continued to grapple with her conflicted emotions, the days passed in a haze of awkwardness and tension. Each interaction with Felix was clouded by the memory of that stolen kiss, a kiss that seemed to have unraveled the carefully constructed walls she had built around her heart. "What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be thinking about him! I shouldn't be thinking about that kiss! What we have aren't real after all. You shouldn't be falling in love with a man like him, Marianne," Marianne scolded herself inside her room as she was looking at the mirror, fixing herself before she went out. Despite her internal struggles, Marianne couldn't escape the growing awareness that her feelings were slipping beyond the bounds of their contractual arrangement. The realization only intensified her frustration. She found herself torn between the rationality of their agreement and the undeniable emotions that had been stirred. As she went outside, Felix was there standing before her. "Ar
Amid the dimly lit ambiance of the bar, Ethel moved with practiced grace behind the counter, expertly mixing drinks for the lively crowd. The air was thick with the mingling scents of various spirits, laughter, and the distant beat of music. As the night unfolded, the bar became a sanctuary for those seeking a temporary escape from reality. In the midst of the energetic chatter and clinking glasses, the door swung open, and a figure stepped in from the cold night. The door chimed, announcing the entrance of a new customer. Ethel glanced up, momentarily diverting her attention from the cocktail shaker in her hands. Her eyes met those of a solitary man who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. She narrowed her eyes as she remembered that man, it was the man who bumped at her; the rude man. The man, oblivious to the recognition in Ethel's eyes, scanned the bar before making his way to an empty stool. He took a seat, his gaze fixed on the assortment of liquor bottles
As Ethel walked down the dimly lit streets, her mind was filled with a mixture of thoughts about the night at the bar. Nate's unexpected intervention had left an impression on her, and she found herself pondering the intriguing turn of events. The chilly night air wrapped around her, and the distant city lights created a gentle glow. Ethel's steps echoed against the pavement as she replayed the night's encounters in her mind. She couldn't deny that Nate's actions had sparked a curiosity in her, a curiosity that went beyond their initial encounter. "That was the first time someone stepped into just to save me from a situation like that," she uttered to herself as she had a though life after losing her parents. She's all alone now, and working for survival. The smile slowly fades from her lips when she remember that she shouldn't be focusing on other things, but work. The following day, Ethel found herself back at the familiar setting of the bar. The lively atmosphere, the clinking o
"Felix?" "Yes, Father?" "Next week, you will be having your formal announcement for getting married with you wife, and... there are reporters, make sure not to get into trouble," his father uttered. "I know, father." In the dimly lit study of the Anderson residence, Eric leaned back in his leather chair, a sly grin playing on his lips as he and Charlotte hatched their sinister plan. The room was filled with the scent of aged mahogany and the soft glow of antique lamps, casting an eerie ambiance over the scene. "So, Charlotte," Eric said, his voice low and conspiratorial, "we need to play this smart. We can't leave any room for mistakes. Once Marianne is out of the picture, Felix will come running back to me for support, and that business will be mine again." Charlotte, dressed impeccably in a sharp suit that mirrored Eric's ruthless demeanor, nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, Eric. We have to be strategic and discreet. We can't afford any slip-ups. What's our first move?" Eric