Lerisa entered the living room where her parents were waiting and warmly greeted them, "Good afternoon, Mom and Dad.""Welcome back, Lerisa. Oh no! Your father and I completely forgot to buy the birthday gifts we were supposed to give to Anthony today. And what about you? Did you happen to buy anything on your way home? "Mrs. Antonia asked, she said softly, her voice filled with a tender longing. Lerisa responded, "No, Mom. I also forgot."Lerisa glanced at the living room wall clock and noticed that it was already 2 pm.Her father reassured her, "There's still time, Lerisa. Why not take a leisurely stroll with your sister to the charming shops nearby and find a thoughtful gift for the Gregson family? As you're aware, it's important for us to bring a gift to Anthony's birthday celebration, considering he is their only son.""Hmm, I see your point, Father. But what should I buy? They have a comfortable lifestyle, and last year we gifted Anthony a standing fan. I'm not sure what to buy f
As the sun began to set, Lerisa found herself in the comfort of her room, enveloped in a serene ambiance. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat as the melodious sound of her phone rang through the air. It was Anthony, reaching out to her in this tender moment. As the clock struck 5 pm, she admired her reflection in the mirror, satisfied with her carefully chosen outfit and subtle touch of makeup.Her heart fluttered as she saw the caller ID displaying Anthony's name, leaving her unsure whether to answer his call or not. She was filled with anxiety as she hadn't yet revealed to him the heartbreaking truth about Clara's betrayal.Inhaling deeply, Lerisa managed to pick up the call just in time to prevent it from ending. Anthony's voice, rich and full, greeted her with a warm "Hello, Lerisa.""Hello, Anthony." "I'm on my way now," Lerisa swiftly replied. Anthony questioned her, "Are you certain? Or are you not interested in coming to my birthday party tonight?"Anthony longed to catch a glim
Gazing at his charming reflection once more in the expansive wall mirror, Anthony at last made his way out of his upstairs bedroom. He traced the path of the top floor and descended to the event hall in the second wing of their grand estate."Welcome, the celebrant! As we eagerly anticipate this special moment, we are excited to join him in celebrating his birthday. Anthony Gregson!" The female host exclaimed with excitement as she observed Anthony gracefully making his way onto the front stage, captivating the entire event hall."Thank you, thank you all," Anthony said, his voice filled with gratitude, as the round of applause swelled around him. As he stepped onto the stage, he graciously accepted the microphone from the host, who was wearing a beautiful white gown.She was a young lady, despite being married, but she was the host of the show. She beamed affectionately at Anthony as he returned her smile, along with all the guests who had gathered in the event hall alongside him and
Ben strolled outside to the stage, accompanied by Lerisa. As Anthony and the rest of the event shows hadn't started.Stepping outside on stage with Ben, as the music continued playing a heartfelt melody, Lerisa could feel the gaze of the entire audience fixated on her. It was as if time stood still in the event hall, with all eyes captivated by her presence. As she stepped onto the stage, her heart raced with anticipation. Ben stood by her side, their hands intertwined, providing a comforting presence.She didn't want to gaze around at the table where her parents sat, their eyes filled with surprise. She was aware of her mother's heartfelt approval of Anthony and her desire for him to become her future spouse.As Ben held her waist tightly, Lerisa could feel her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. Despite Ben's height advantage over her, he possessed a similar stature to Anthony, exuding a sense of masculinity.Lerisa couldn't help but constantly compare Ben to Anthony. Perhaps it w
Lerisa hurriedly descended from the stage, not bothering to wait for Ben to join her. As the hall grew dim, illuminated only by a faint bulb, she accidentally bumped into a mysterious man whose face remained hidden from her. She murmured an apology to him, her gaze fixed downwards, whispering, "I'm sorry."In a rush to escape the event hall and avoid witnessing Anthony's proposal to Clara on stage, the strong man firmly took hold of her left wrist and swiftly turned her to face him. "Ah!" Lerisa let out a surprised breath as she bumped into the man's chest. Her gaze lifted to his face, as Anthony and Clara gracefully danced together on the stage, lost in their own world."Hi, Beautiful," Remy said. Lerisa was taken aback to discover that he was the same man she had spotted earlier in the day, sharing an intimate moment with Clara by the roadside."Hi," she was filled with astonishment, her mouth agape in disbelief. Ben swiftly moved towards them and gently guided Lerisa away from Remy'
Remy was taken aback by the sight of the lady's face. He had caught a glimpse of her earlier, dancing with Anthony, but hadn't had the chance to truly appreciate her beauty until now.After he exclaimed, "What the hell!" he garnered quite a bit of attention to himself, as Anthony had not yet popped the question to Clara.Clara was completely caught off guard when Remy suddenly appeared. Her heart raced as she watched Anthony drop down to one knee, realizing that he was about to make a grand proposal in front of everyone.Mr. and Mrs. Gregson exchanged disapproving glances, mirroring the disapproval on the faces of Lerisa's parents, who were seated in the VIP section. Their expressions soured as they witnessed Anthony's intention to propose to someone else.Everyone had high hopes that Anthony and Lerisa would unite in matrimony, strengthening the ties within their family. Contrary to expectations, Anthony surprised everyone by pulling out a red ring box from his trouser pocket. With a
Ben's expression turned sour when he witnessed Remy's interference in Anthony's proposal to Clara. Ben's anger boiled within him, as this was the moment he had eagerly anticipated and longed to witness.He gazed into the distance, locking eyes with Emma who stood nearby, her expression pained from witnessing him dancing with another woman. However, Ben averted his gaze from Emma, reiterating to her multiple times that his feelings did not extend to love, and their relationship should remain purely physical. 'Why couldn't she grasp the fact that his heart was meant for another?' Ben scowled as he promptly departed the event hall as well.Many of the employees who were invited by Anthony witnessed the events that unfolded earlier, leaving them curious about the status of the birthday celebration - whether it was still in progress or had already concluded. And it's about time they made their way back to their respective homes, don't you think?After exiting the event hall, Anthony grace
Martha approached Anthony with a wrapped gift in hand, joining the others who had already made their way to the front stage. After the rest of the guests had presented their gifts and bid their farewells, they departed from the event hall, each receiving a small token of appreciation from Sandra, who served as Anthony's mother's maid.Martha cautiously approached Anthony, who fixed his gaze on her and inquired, "Have you seen Lerisa? I haven't seen her since?""Umm, Lerisa has left for home," Martha nervously responded. Anthony's face twisted into a frown as he recalled the sight of Lerisa, her joyous dance with Ben on stage, and the moment he reentered the hall with Clara by his side.Curiosity piqued as Anthony also noticed the absence of Ben, wondering if they had departed the hall together. Lerisa's recent behavior towards him had been rather peculiar, leaving him curious about the reasons behind it."I'm uncertain about Lerisa's whereabouts at the moment, as she's not present. Ho