Months later... As the days unfolded amidst the ancient branches of towering trees, a soft breeze caressed the leaves, weaving a delicate melody that echoed the whispers of times past. The relentless march of time had etched its mark upon the weathered gravestones, standing as solemn guardians adorned with the names of those who once thrived with vitality. Some graves bloomed with freshly placed flowers, while others surrendered to the embrace of moss and roots, each telling a tale that had reached their poignant conclusion. Erin tenderly laid a bouquet of pristine white roses before the gravestone of someone she once knew as Orion's wise and strong brother, Daryl. It marked the anniversary of his passing. Having become a part of the Arvesso family through her recent marriage to Orion, Erin joined them in visiting Daryl's resting place. As she fixed her gaze upon the inscription of his name and the date of his death, a pang of guilt coiled around her heart, unseen but deeply f
Erin tossed all her belongings into her room, breaking and smashing them. Exhausted, she quietly wept in a corner. Her body shook with profound disappointment upon discovering that the man she had loved for years had toyed with her emotions. He had only granted her a few months of solace before delivering the final blow of punishment. The accusations from people, pointing fingers at her for a sin she didn't commit, persisted. She had borne the weight of guilt since high school, which continued without relief. When would she ever find her justice? She sobbed as her lips trembled. "Erin!" Orion's voice echoed as he pounded on the penthouse door. She had already changed the security code, preventing him from entering. "Erin! Hear me out. Please… Erin!" His voice quivers audibly from the other end. But her emotions are weary. Her chest felt drained. It isn't easy to love someone who doesn't love you back. Erin raised the phone to call security and remove the man from ou
Erin steered her car towards the Yurich Group office. Since her father's passing, it felt as though she were on autopilot, routinely making her way to the office. Her father held the majority of shares, rendering the board powerless in the face of her presence, despite enduring unpleasant remarks from them on numerous occasions. "What does the model do in our office?" "I like seeing her ass, though," were just a couple of the unsavory comments she overheard. Her Uncle Roger now serves as the current chairman, having won the vote for the position vacated by Mr. Lawrence. Erin allowed this to transpire due to her lack of knowledge about the business. However, this didn't mean she would passively await his decisions. Refusing to be excluded from the office dynamics, she joined the advertising team as a staff member. Her father's assistant coached her, ensuring she navigated the corporate landscape adeptly. Her manager consistently targeted her. It's plausible that this d
Erin revisited the reasons prompting her to seek assistance from the Arvesso family. Last month, her advertising manager, Mrs. Robles, extended an invitation to meet with Mr. Yu, the manager of a television station. "Erin, I'm bringing you along for the meeting with Mr. Yu." "Sure, Ma'am!" Having spent a year with the advertising team, Erin retained her position as a staff member. She refrained from complaining, recognizing that the Arvesso family currently held authority in the company on her behalf. At the same time, she remained merely Mr. Lawrence's stepdaughter. Accompanied by her manager, Erin entered a private club. In a room, they found Mr. Yu with two other staff members. "Good evening, Mr. Yu! I am with Erin Villaverde. She's the one we were talking about," her manager said, subtly lifting one corner of her lip. "She will be coordinating our project with you for the ads of the new whitening lotion produced by the company." The man ran his thick tongue o
Seven years ago… "Boo!" Erin squealed in surprise as Jenna startled her. Her heart pounded, and she accidentally dropped her phone. She was in the women's restroom, changing into a red uniform for the cheerleaders. "Seriously! You scared me!" She lightly slapped Jenna on the shoulder and then shook her head. Jenna's dad was Erin's stepfather's cousin, making them second cousins. Jenna became Erin's close friend since they had known each other since age ten. Jenna picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor, furrowing her brow as she examined the messages on the screen. Erin engaged in a text conversation with Orion, having obtained his number from his brother Daryl. "Your eyes captivate me like no other, a mesmerizing beauty that lights up my world. Every visit to your home fills my heart with joy," Jenna read the latest message. "Who is this? Is he a pervert?" she commented, rolling her eyes. The woman continued scrolling through the messages. "Sorry if I only texted now
Erin shivered with profound disappointment. No! This shouldn't be happening. She endured more than her share over the past year, not just a year but seven years of punishment. Now, witnessing Orion's eyes devoid of emotion feels like a rejection of her dignity. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she gathered the clothes she had discarded. She shouldn't let herself break completely. Erin had misunderstood Orion. It seemed he was cutting off what little sanity she had left. "I shouldn't have done this." She went to the bathroom and let out all her tears there. Sadness surged through her chest. Perhaps she carried some responsibility for the death of Orion's brother, Daryl, but did he realize that Daryl had also deceived her? After getting dressed, she found Orion waiting outside the bathroom. The man was adept at concealing his feelings; she detected no anger, pity, or disdain in his eyes. Erin wondered about his motive for waiting. She surpassed Orion's presence. "I hope you
Nothing will change if Erin sheds tears. She must take action. Unemployed for a month, she needed to seize any opportunity, no matter how small. When her phone rang, she organized her list of expenses in the penthouse on the center table.Her friend Zacharia Lopez's name lit up the screen. "Hey, Zach!""I just arrived from Singapore. I went to your office to surprise you with gifts but was shocked to hear you're no longer there. Where are you? Who's the owner that got ousted from his own company?" Erin couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing her friend's voice. She needed someone to reassure her that everything would be okay—an ally. They first met during their modeling days, and their bond strengthened as she often encountered disturbing situations involving other female models. After what happened with Jenna, she found it hard to trust women. Zach was currently the only friend she relied on. "Erin..." concern resonated in Zach's voice. "They... They kicked me out. A lot has ha
Yurich Group. Merely a month ago, Erin was ousted by her manager and Uncle Roger from the office. However, today, she stood alongside Orion and Mr. Arvesso's assistant, Jorge, ready to make a bold return. Orion, pledging to assist her in securing the highest position within the Yurich company, had convinced her to take this audacious step—a decision aligned with her strategic move to marry him. "I'll inform you of my payment when the time comes. One thing is certain—I do not need money. The Yurich Company remains yours," she recalls Orion asserting. Jorge is there as a representative of the Arvesso Family, and Orion is acting as Erin's bodyguard. Orion explained his plan to Erin, assuring her that he wouldn't mess with how the Yurich Company ran. He believed getting involved in office matters was pointless because Erin would be in charge in the future. To ensure that Erin wouldn't be bothered by Jenna or Uncle Roger and to maintain Orion's constant presence, he decided to assu