Chris’ POV
One month had passed since Nicole's accident. Investigators said that Nicole's body could not be found. They assumed that Nicole's body was burnt up in the accident, as well as the taxi driver's, since the car exploded, leaving only the skeleton of the car behind. Others say that wild animals ate the bodies in the area, as the rescue team arrived too late. All are assumptions, and no one knows what happened to them. But what is certain is that they are dead.
I don't understand how I feel right now. I don't want to think about what happened before and try to forget about it. And, now, I've been faced with something I can't avoid because what Adeline Martinez said the other day about the wedding happened—the marriage of the two Grant-Martinez families.
I don't know what to say because, at this moment I'm already at the altar to perform the marriage blessing. I have stood here before, but this time, I will be the groom of Adeline Martinez, who is none other than Nicole's step-sister. On this altar, I still vividly remember Nicole's face, which was initially very happy, then turned sad in just a few minutes. I can't forget that tearful face.
"Oh, Christian, I have never felt this happy before. We're getting married! We're going to be husband and wife soon!" Adeline exclaimed as she shook my arm.
I just furrowed my brow. I wasn't as happy as she said I was.
The wedding went smoothly, with no hitches like the previous wedding blessing. I could see Adeline smiling with satisfaction after we had made our vows in front of God, the priest, and the witnesses. However, what I'm feeling right now is completely indescribable. It's like I don't feel anything at this wedding.
My feelings are empty.
After the church, we went to the hotel hall for the reception. We received many congratulations from all the guests. I could see that my mom and the Martinez family looked thrilled with the wedding. All the guests were also happy. But it was different for me, who seemed to be in the middle of nothing. I didn't feel anything. Neither happy nor sad.
The day had turned into night. By this time, I was already in my room at home. Lying on the bed. My body felt exhausted after the boring event earlier. However, I was surprised by Adeline's sudden presence in my room.
"What are you doing?" I asked, horrified at the woman who is currently my wife. How could I not? She was wearing very sexy lingerie, trying to tease me.
I got up from my previously lying position, standing right next to the bed and staring at her with a cold gaze.
Adeline smiled sweetly at me. She gracefully moved her body as if she wanted to pounce on me alive.
"Tonight is our first night. So we should spend some time together," she said in an artificially spoiled voice. Of course, I knew, but I wasn't in the mood. I was so tired, whether it was my body or my mind.
Adeline was now right in front of me. Her hand grazes my chest, which is still wearing a shirt, stroking it gently with her delicate fingers. Her face had also come closer to my neck, and she sniffed it. I swallowed. She was teasing me with everything she did, but I didn't feel anything from her touch. I felt so uncomfortable that I pushed Adeline's body away from me so roughly that she fell onto the bed. She was shocked.
"Get away from me. You look like a slut."
"Why did you do that, Christian?!" Adeline yelled angrily at me. She was angry with what I was doing to her.
"I'm tired." Then, I avoided her by turning my back on her. I let out a long breath.
"This is our wedding night. You shouldn't be acting like this to me!" Adeline yelled behind me.
After saying that, Adeline was shouting incoherently, and it annoyed me even more. I turned my body back towards her. She's such an insane woman. "Will you shut up?!"
Adeline was still yelling, making my head hurt, and didn't care about my bluster.
"You can't ignore me, Christian! I'm your wife! You can't ignore me!" Adeline shouted again.
I stepped over to her, who was still sitting on the bed. I held her hand firmly so that I could see Adeline was surprised that what I did to her managed to silence her mouth. "I'm exhausted, and this wedding is a family wedding. So you don't act up in front of me. Understand?!" I said with emphasis.
Our gazes met, and I could see her eyes glaring as I stared intently at her. Adeline looks scared right now. And that was enough to make me feel better.
I threw her hand away very roughly, then stepped away from her. I walked out of the room, leaving Adeline alone there.
"Christian!"
Adeline yelled for me, but I continued walking towards the mini bar in the wing of the house. I needed something that would calm me down.
I'm at the bar table alone, with a drink that might calm my nerves. I couldn't bear to stay in the room with that woman who would only drive me crazy.
"How this day has upset me." I took another sip of the drink. Once satisfied, I chose to end my drinking. I'd better go to the guest room to rest. So I left the mini bar and staggered down the hallway to the guest room.
"Christian, what are you doing here?" It was my mother's voice, and I chose not to turn to her. At times like this, I was too lazy to bother with her. I don't know how she could be outside her room at this hour. I thought she was resting in her room after being exhausted from the event.
"You smell like alcohol. Didn't you sleep with Adeline in your room?" Mom asked again, and it really made me sick. We were standing close now, and she could smell the alcohol on my face.
"You're meddling too much with my business. Please get out of my way!" I said rudely to her.
Mom linked her eyebrows, glaring at me. "Christian, you must know this is best for you. Don't ever think about that damn woman again. Now she's dead and burning in hell."
I could hear the hateful tone in mom's voice towards Nicole, the fact that she was gone and mom still hated her so much. I let out a long breath. "Of course, I don't think about her anymore."
And, of course, I was lying because I had been thinking about her.
Nicole's POVI stared at the sky from my porch, feeling the breeze with my eyes closed. It had been eight years since the most horrific event of my life, but I was still alive.My life felt more peaceful, especially with the various good things that started coming my way after something else arrived at me and accompanied me all this time. All the hardships I had experienced before felt like a dream, but they never really went away in this life that I thought of as my second time around.I still vividly remember the terrifying incident I experienced, just like yesterday. I felt goosebumps, not believing how I could get out of those times of suffering, but here I am now. Still breathing and looking at the sky above my head.Suddenly, I could hear the voice of a boy whispering in my ear with his cute voice. "Mom, what are you thinking about?" I immediately held my chest as a reflex."Richard... you surprised mom." I turned my head, looking at the boy I gave birth to already standing next
Nicole's POVI was ready with my makeup and clothes. The reflection of my face in the mirror looked elegant, but I did not forget the stern impression that I also wanted to show myself that I was different from the old me.Back then, I was shy and lacked confidence, affecting my self-confidence. I didn't realize it then, but as time passed in this new life of mine, I changed it so as not to return to the unfortunate fate that I had felt before.After everything I've been through, the change in the way I carry myself now is nothing compared to the line of death I've crossed. I took a breath and let it out, then felt my hand grabbed by my son.My son smiled sweetly. He was also ready and looked handsome in his tailor-made suit. Richard seemed to be more impatient than I. "Come, let's go, Mother.""Yes, my son," I answered and led him into the living room.There, Edwin was already waiting and looking at us intently, making sure nothing was lacking in our appearance with just a glance of
Nicole's POVI held Richard's hand tightly, staring at the simple grave and my name on the tombstone. Key also accompanied us, silently staring at the supposedly empty grave with a cold gaze.I snorted softly, already expecting that they would easily carry out my funeral when my death was uncertain. Looking at the appearance of my grave, the people who took care of my death must have only given a simple order to the cemetery caretaker so that the resting place with my name was maintained.There were no decorations or wreaths, just the grass that naturally grew from the ground rather prominently to mark the existence of one's grave, in addition to the wooden headstone with my name."They must be very happy about my death," I said coldly, but I also felt a mixture of feelings that words could not express when looking at the grave in front of us.Richard sighed. "Mom's grave is too simple. The headstone is made of worn wood, not polished stone like other graves."I also noticed that diff
Nicole's POVWe finally arrived at our home in Mekana City, a place I had left long ago after my past life had been so threatened and unsafe. I left everything behind, but I didn't expect to end up back here in the house Edwin gave me.Richard looked excited next to me, staring at the house in front of us, looking so spacious and magnificent. The garden with the fountain between the entrance and the fence was well-maintained and lovely with its distinctive stone carvings.This place isn't as big as Edwin's house, which has a one-acre yard, but my son can still play freely in the yard just like there. Key explained to Richard and me that there was a small playground in the backyard with a sandbox, slides, and swings."Can I play after this, Mom?" Richard asked after hearing Key's explanation.I nodded, smiling at the look of joy on his face.I smiled as Richard ran in and jumped up and down when a maid greeted us. "Come on, come in, Mom!"There weren't many people around the house, jus
Chris's POV"Get out of my room!" I shooed away Adeline, who was trying to get closer and cling to me on the bed, not caring even though she staggered from my push and had to hold on to the dresser to keep from falling.Adeline was angry, giving me a look of annoyance at my treatment. "Why do you keep doing this to me, Chris? "We're married! Why do we sleep in separate rooms when we've been husband and wife for so long?""I'm not comfortable sleeping with someone else," I said, not looking at Adeline, who was still by the closet and staring at me sharply.That woman is very stubborn about the same issue, not giving up even though I've said this repeatedly. I couldn't understand what Adeline was thinking all this time that she kept insisting on sleeping with me even though I always refused."Oh my God, Chris. I'm your wife!" Adeline was getting desperate. "We've been married for eight years, but in all that time, you've only touched me with lip kisses, never more! And that just once. I
Chris' POVI had breakfast in the dining room, and so did Adeline. The woman sat beside me, eating her food noisily and occasionally glancing at my silence.I wanted to quickly finish my breakfast and return to my room, avoiding any interruptions the woman might have planned."Chris, do you want to be fed? It looks like you're having trouble cutting that steak." Adeline said, coming closer to me, who could easily cut the meat for one bite, unlike that woman's words.I ignored her, knowing she had already planned to bother me again. Usually, she would tease me in a petty way, but maybe she had a little thought to turn it into this.Still, I wanted to eat faster so I could get out of the dining room, but chewing the steak so that it was easier to swallow was a priority for me. I didn't want to digest food that wasn't appropriately consumed and then get sick. I finally tried to be patient.Adeline grabbed my hand that was still holding the dinner knife, pressing down on top of my hand ha
Chris's POVSomeone knocked on my office door before walking in. He seemed to walk hurriedly before approaching my desk and bowing. I didn't look at him but strained my ears to listen to the man's report."I'm sorry, sir. We were unable to reach an agreement with the Duncan family." Nathan said, catching the attention of me, who was working earlier.It's been a few days, and the deal we sent should have been approved soon, like our other business deals. Not only were they late, but they also gave a rejection that I did not expect at all."Proposal?" I asked, confirming the integrity of my secretary's report that I disliked."They've read the proposal and rejected it, sir."Nathan opened the tab and showed me the contents of the email, which was neatly written and structured. In one look, I could tell they were giving me an honest answer with an apparent reason. There was no gap in their rejection, which read subtle but firm."We tried to convince the Duncan Family again by discussing
Nicole's POV"Mommy!"I heard Richard's voice calling me and immediately hugged the boy tightly when he was in front of me.I loosened my hug and asked him. "Where have you been, Richard? I've been looking for you."I checked Richard's condition with my eyes. From head to toe to make sure my son was okay. How worried I was when he disappeared when I only averted my eyes for a moment.The boy held my face gently, looking at me with a stern look that was unlike the usual children. "Mom, don't worry. I was fine during the walk and returned to Mom's side."I looked at Richard's face, which didn't seem frightened but instead unremarkable after walking around alone. I did allow that boy to go wherever he wanted, but he left when Key wasn't with him.I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them again, controlling my feelings before saying something to my brave boy."Although you are able to act very mature, you are actually still a child, Richard. Please remember that for Mom's sake, ok