Meanwhile, Ferdinand walked with a sour expression on his face. He didn't bother to hide his jealousy as he clapped his hands together."Well, isn't this just delightful?" he drawled. "The big boss has returned with his... big girlfriend. Wow..."He announced sarcastically.Bruno clenched his jaw but said nothing, his arm tightening protectively around Beauty's waist.Ferdinand, clearly enjoying the moment, smirked in his direction, waiting for a reaction.Beauty, sensing Bruno's restraint, placed a gentle hand on his chest."It's okay, babe," she whispered, her voice soothing.Bruno nodded, exhaling slowly, then forced a smile back at Ferdinand."Thanks for taking care of everyone while I'm gone, Mr. Ferdinand.""I don't work for you. I'm just doing my job as the manager," Ferdinand replied as politely as possible, ensuring Mrs. Lola wouldn't pick up on the tension.Bruno said nothing, but he knew Ferdinand was trolling.Ferdinand smirked at his reaction, then turned to the rest of t
"Jessie," Beauty groaned.She stopped at their room door and unlocked it. Jessie followed her in."Wow, who packed everything up?" She asked surprisingly ,seeing their stuff packed."Mrs. Lola had her maid do it and got it all ready for the celebrity couple. I'm jealous."Beauty smiled at her dramatic friend and shook her head."So... tell me already. It's just us in the room," Jessie said impatiently.Beauty nodded."First of all... look at these."She elegantly swept her hair back, exposing the jewelry on her ears."It's my first gift ever from a lover! There's a necklace too... bangles... I feel like a princess.""Oh my goodness!" Jessie snapped loudly, seeing it."I know, right? They look so beautiful. I'll always wear them. Though they're heavy,but they're perfect!"She reached for her bag, took out the small jewelry boxes Bruno had given her, and carefully opened them, revealing the stunning necklace and earrings.The pearls glimmered under the soft light."Whoa," Jessie breath
"I don't think we should keep being cat and rat. It doesn't benefit any of us," Beauty replied with a shrug.Jessie threw her hands up in frustration and plopped down on the bed dramatically."Beauty, you cannot be serious! This is Kathy we're talking about! Did she cast some kind of spell on you?"Beauty sighed and shook her head."Jessie, I know Kathy has been... difficult in the past. But people can change. And if she's sincere about her apology, I think it's worth giving her a chance.""Don't worry, Jessie, I don't care if you forgive me or not. I only asked Beauty for her forgiveness," Kathy said with a proud expression on her face.Jessie rolled her eyes."Kathy, please give her some time," Beauty said.Kathy smiled back."Believe me, Beauty. I don't care. Anyway... you two enjoy your bonding time. I'll leave you alone now."With that, she turned and left the room.Jessie jumped to her feet."Are you kidding me right now? This is Kathy! The same Kathy who caused your emotional b
Bruno answered the call."Hey.""Bruno!" Abigail's tone was sharp. "What's this I'm seeing everywhere? You're all over the internet, kissing some girl at a party. And now people are saying she's your girlfriend. Is this true?"Bruno leaned back, his head resting on the headboard."Yeah, it's true, I'm dating Beauty Hills, a beautiful fashion designer at the company. Congratulations, you finally found out," he said and winked at Beauty.She smiled back nervously.The tone in Abigail's voice didn't seem like she was excited, but disappointed. Bruno looked like it wasn't a big deal anyway. How can he be so relaxed?! There was a short silence before Abigail spoke again in disbelief. "Her? Bruno, are you serious? She's so-""Stop," he cut in."No, I won't," Abigail snapped. "You need to hear this. She's so... average. And Bruno, let's not pretend she's not overweight. You can do so much better than this. What will my friends say? I am disappointed!"Bruno's jaw clenched. He took a slow
Beauty stared out of the tinted window of Bruno's Lamborghini, watching the scenery blur past.She leaned back into the plush leather seat, her heart racing nervously.I hope my parents won't think he's just trying to show off with this luxury car, she thought, glancing at Bruno, who was focused on his driving.She sighed and decided to start a conversation."I still can't believe we stayed an extra day in Puerto Rico. It felt so strange leaving after the staff. It's like we broke some kind of rule."Bruno chuckled, glancing at her briefly before returning his gaze to the road."I warned you yesterday, didn't I? I told you we wouldn't leave any sooner with the game you were playing."Beauty smiled, the memory of their intimate moments on the beach flooding back."Well, I'm glad we did. I enjoyed our time together.""Me too. But I'm pretty nervous about the impression your parents will have of me."Beauty rolled her eyes playfully."Baby, trust me. My parents are simple people. They mi
------ Meanwhile, at the Hills' house, Mrs. Hills darted around the kitchen, her apron tied tight and her hair pulled back into a bun that was already coming loose. The savory aroma of roasted chicken mixed with herbs filled the air, but her mind was on everything else that needed to be perfect."Honey, have you checked the living room pillows?" she called over her shoulder, stirring the pot of gravy on the stove.In the next room, Mr. Hills was pacing with the vacuum cleaner in hand."I fluffed them twice, honey," he replied, his voice strained.Mrs. Hills turned off the stove and wiped her hands on her apron but stopped mid-step, catching her reflection in the microwave. She smoothed her graying hair and adjusted the collar of her blouse."What if I look too old-fashioned? He might think Beauty's parents are... boring."Mr. Hills poked his head into the kitchen."Honey, you're overthinking it. It's just dinner."She turned sharply, narrowing her eyes."Just dinner? Sweetheart, this
The front door opened, and Beauty's parents stood side by side, hand in hand.Mrs. Hills wore a soft smile, her apron slightly crooked from rushing, while Mr. Hills looked calm but curious.He noticed the car and concluded that Bruno was not an average person."Mom! Dad!"Beauty exclaimed happily, stepping forward to hug them both.Mrs. Hills smiled and wrapped her arms around her daughter."Oh, sweetheart, you're home! Look at you. You're glowing!""Welcome back home, honey," Mr. Hills added. Then he raised an eyebrow, glancing at Bruno, who was standing nervously behind Beauty."And who's the handsome young man?"Beauty stepped aside, her cheeks slightly pink."Mom, Dad, this is Bruno. My boyfriend."She giggled, leaning against Bruno's shoulder. He held her, smiling awkwardly."Boyfriend?" Mr. Hills repeated, giving them a teasing look.Beauty nodded.Her father was delighted to see her leaning on Bruno and noticed Bruno's protective hand holding her closely.Bruno extended his han
As Mr. and Mrs. Hills guided Beauty and Bruno to the dining table, Mrs. Hills beamed uncontrollably."I made this especially for you two. Please, take a seat," she said warmly.Once they were all seated, Mrs. Hills placed a hand delicately on the edge of the table, tilting her head as if piecing together a puzzle."Forgive me, dear," she began, her voice gentle but curious, "but you look so familiar. I feel like I've seen you before, but I can't quite place it."She addressed Bruno, who gave her a nervous smile. Beauty glanced from Bruno to her parents, thinking fast.Mr. Hills nodded, leaning forward slightly."Same here. Have we met before, son?"Bruno managed a polite smile, but before he could respond, Beauty cleared her throat, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush."Actually, Mom, Dad, you probably recognize him because...that must be because he brought me home with his car sometime ago, he's Bruno Hathaway. He's my boss's son."The room fell silent for a moment.Mrs. Hills' eye
Mr. and Mrs. Hills were cooking together in the kitchen, talking about their daughter, Beauty, and her boyfriend, Bruno. But their conversation was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.Mr. Hills stood up quickly and volunteered to get the door.The door rang again."Hold on!"He shouted and walked to the door. He thought it was Beauty or maybe her friend Jessie, who had come to check on her, just like Eric.But when Mr. Hills opened the door, he froze on the spot.Standing there was a young woman who looked exactly like his daughter, Beauty. She had the same pale skin, the same eyes, and the same long, shiny hair.She looked just like Beauty, except she was thinner. Where Beauty was soft, rounded in places with a natural, effortless beauty, this young lady was slimmer, her features sharper but still very identical.It was like looking at a mirror image of Beauty.She also seemed more into fashion and glamorous accessories and could pass for a supermodel, Mr. Hills thought.He blinked,
Beauty was seated between Bruno's mother and sister, Abigail, with a young boy, around eleven years old, seated across from her. He had a funny look on his face as he tried to get her attention.Next to him sat a stunning elderly woman who looked much younger than her age, her long white hair plaited into two thick strands that cascaded down her shoulders. Despite the visible age in her hair, her face suggested she was in her late fifties.But she's the oldest in the room; she must be older than that. Maybe Bruno's grandma, Beauty thought.She gulped hard, nervously.But the real discomfort came from the presence of her ex, Nathan. He was seated opposite her-the man who had engaged her and dumped her the same day. From the way he looked at her, it was clear he was enjoying the torment he was causing her.Why me?Why today?Why here?Beauty tried to catch her breath, but every time Nathan's wife's elder sister, who was the mother of the boy, glared at her and whispered something to him
Beauty stood in her room, her heart racing with excitement as she applied a light coat of lip gloss. She reached for the body spray, misting it over her shoulders and collarbone before slipping into her wine-colored lingerie. The silk fabric hugged her curves, accentuating her figure. She pulled a satin robe over it, the soft material brushing against her skin as she tied it loosely at her waist.Taking a deep breath, she moved toward the door, her footsteps light and quiet. But as she reached for the doorknob, pulled the door open only to see her mother in front of her door... about to knock.Her stomach dropped."Mo... Mom!" she gasped, her voice trembling.Mrs. Hills stood in the dimly lit hallway, her eyes puffy with sleep yet sharp with curiosity."What... are you doing here, you scared me!"Mrs. Hills crossed her arms, her gaze traveling from Beauty's flushed face to her barely tied robe."Where are you going? It's 1 a.m.""To... to the guest room. I was going to... check on Bru
Just then, Mr. Hills walked into the kitchen, looking bewildered."Son, what in the world... What happened."Eric, standing off to the side, tried to hide a grin, but the corners of his mouth were twitching."Well, this is... awkward.""Stay out of this," Mr. Hills told Eric with a coldness that surprised even Beauty."I'll be in the living room," Eric said awkwardly and walked away from the kitchen.As Beauty and Mr. Hills stood there, assessing the damage with their eyes. Bruno stood awkwardly, still holding the blackened tray with the burnt wings. He looked as if he might collapse from the embarrassment.But to his surprise, Mr. Hills, with a soft chuckle, clapped him on the back, making Bruno's heart jump slightly."Okay, so it's not a total disaster," he said, his voice light with a touch of humor, trying to ease the tension. "You've got some good ones left here."He grabbed a few of the less-burnt wings off the tray."These will do just fine. Don't worry about it, son. You trie
Bruno turned to her with a helpless expression on his face."I've got this. I just... need to decide what to make," he stuttered.Beauty bit her lip to keep from laughing."You don't have to do this, you know...""I've made up my mind. I will impress your dad with my skills."Beauty rolled her eyes."There are two Rolls Royces outside, Babe... They're already impressed. You're setting the bar too high. What would I do to impress your parents?"Bruno said nothing, focused on the food.Seeing his determination, Beauty sighed and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a pack of chicken wings and some basic seasonings."Here, start with these. Wings are a safe bet. I'll set everything out for you."Bruno nodded."Thanks," he muttered.Beauty laid the ingredients on the counter, tied a kitchen apron around him, and smiled proudly."How do I look?"Bruno asked posing."A chef's kiss," she said, demonstrating with a gesture then she took a picture of him.They both laughed."Here." Beauty h
Bruno scoffed, shaking his head."I don't like him. And I'm not gay."Beauty blinked."Is he gay?""Who knows?"Bruno shrugged. Beauty rolled her eyes."What does being gay have to do with this? You don't have to like him like that. I mean, get along with him as a normal person.Maybe even be friends."Bruno frowned."I don't want friends, Beauty. You know that. I'm not the type to...hang out with random people. I'm an introvert, remember?""I know, my love. But you need a friend. And Eric... you can't just glare at him the whole time. My parents are watching. Please, just try. Not as close friends, but... try to be friendly and get along with him."Bruno exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. He met her gaze and saw the pleading in her eyes. Finally, he relented with a grumble. "Fine. I'll try. But if flirts with you, jokeor not ..then I will..""He won't dare".Beauty assured him with a smile.Bruno rolled his tongue and nodded, then pulled her for a kiss."Come on, let's
OutsideAs soon as they were out of earshot, Bruno grabbed Eric roughly by the arm, pulling him a few steps away from the door. His jaw was set, and his eyes burned with barely contained anger."What's your deal, huh? What the hell are you doing here? Did you get paid to ruin my day with Beauty? Or is this just some pathetic attempt to get her attention? I warned you before ...she is mine...what games are you playing?"Eric raised his hands in surrender."Relax, man. I'm not here to steal your girl. I just wanted to welcome her. Thought it'd be a nice gesture."Bruno's eyes narrowed in irritation."A nice gesture? Showing up uninvited, with flowers, to my girlfriend's parents' house while I'm here? That's not a gesture,you are intentionally trying to get on my nerves,today is supposed to be an important day for us...you have no place here".Eric smirked, crossing his arms." Look, I didn't know you'd be here. I came for Beauty, not you. What's your problem? Feeling a little overprotec
Mrs. Hills glanced at the living room. Beauty's expression said it all."I'm sorry... but I don't think Beauty will want to...""Pardon me, Mrs. Hills, but I'm well aware of her relationship with Bruno Hathaway. We're just friends."Mrs. Hills' eyes widened in surprise."Oh, I see. Well, come on in, dear."Eric stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Beauty."Beauty! It's good to see you," he said, then glanced at Bruno.Seeing the jealous expression on Bruno's face, Eric smirked to himself.Beauty stared at him, dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open."Eric? What... why are you here?" she muttered."Who is this?" Mr. Hills asked, but before Beauty could reply, Eric interjected."Hey, is that the new Barcelona jersey?" Eric said, referring to the polo Mr. Hills wore.Mr. Hills perked up, his smile widening."Sure is. I'm a big fan of the team."Eric grinned and gestured to himself."Same here! Been following them since I was a kid."Mr. Hills chuckled, clearly im
As Mr. and Mrs. Hills guided Beauty and Bruno to the dining table, Mrs. Hills beamed uncontrollably."I made this especially for you two. Please, take a seat," she said warmly.Once they were all seated, Mrs. Hills placed a hand delicately on the edge of the table, tilting her head as if piecing together a puzzle."Forgive me, dear," she began, her voice gentle but curious, "but you look so familiar. I feel like I've seen you before, but I can't quite place it."She addressed Bruno, who gave her a nervous smile. Beauty glanced from Bruno to her parents, thinking fast.Mr. Hills nodded, leaning forward slightly."Same here. Have we met before, son?"Bruno managed a polite smile, but before he could respond, Beauty cleared her throat, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush."Actually, Mom, Dad, you probably recognize him because...that must be because he brought me home with his car sometime ago, he's Bruno Hathaway. He's my boss's son."The room fell silent for a moment.Mrs. Hills' eye