LOGINThe next day, Aldric and Seraphina came with several large gift boxes."Congratulations on making the top ten!" Seraphina exclaimed enthusiastically while placing the boxes on the table.I smiled seeing their enthusiasm. "Thank you. But this is still the early round. I might not win.""You'll definitely win," Aldric said confidently. "I've seen your design. It's very good."Seraphina opened one of the boxes and took out a professional drawing tablet. "This is for you. So it's easier to draw."I stared at that expensive tablet with wide eyes. "This is too expensive. I can't accept it.""It's a gift," Aldric said firmly. "And you need good tools to compete."I finally accepted the gift with mixed feelings. Happy but also a little guilty.We sat together in the living room while drinking tea. Seraphina suddenly asked in a careful tone."Reyna, have you ever entered this competition before?"I paused for a moment. "Yes. Three years ago.""And how was the result?" Aldric asked curiously."
# CHAPTER 14Several days passed after Arvan came looking for me at the villa. He didn't come again after Mrs. Lin kicked him out. Either he was genuinely afraid of being reported to the police or he was busy with Lara and her son.I didn't think about that. Only focused on the design I was making for the competition.Today, I was getting ready to go to Ashford Corporation to register for the interior design competition in person.Damian insisted on accompanying me even though I had told him I could go alone."Can't do that," he said while grabbing the car keys casually. "I already promised Aldric I would look after you. Besides, a few days ago a stranger bothered you. I can't let you go alone."I couldn't argue. Since yesterday's incident with Arvan, Mrs. Lin immediately reported everything to Aldric. And since then, there was always someone accompanying me everywhere.Aldric, who left for work this morning, even had time to look at me with an overly worried gaze, as if I were fragil
Reyna's POVIn the afternoon, I was alone at the villa.Aldric had gone to work since morning and hadn't returned. Damian had also gone somewhere since noon. He only said there was important business and he would return soon after finishing.I sat in the living room with a laptop on my lap, trying to finish the interior design for the competition. But my concentration kept breaking. My mind drifted to Kirana. To her birthday that we should have celebrated together.Mrs. Lin, the housekeeper Aldric assigned to look after me, was preparing tea in the kitchen. The sound of cups touching plates could be faintly heard from a distance.Suddenly the doorbell rang loudly.I lifted my head. Who was coming at this hour?I stood up and walked toward the door. Opened it without thinking twice.And froze.Arvan stood at the door with a cold face full of anger. His jaw was hardened. His eyes looked at me with that familiar sharp gaze.My heart stopped for a second.Why was he here? How did he know
Arvan's POV All night I called and messaged Reyna. Dozens of calls. Hundreds of messages. Not a single one was answered. I sat in my office chair with a dark expression. My phone lay on the desk, its screen displaying rows of unanswered messages. "Reyna, answer my call." "Where did you go?" "Where is Kirana?" "Answer me!" All messages showed a single check mark. Reyna probably hadn't turned on her phone. And that made me uneasy. The office door was knocked softly. My assistant, Daniel, entered with a cautious expression. "Well? Have you found Reyna and Kirana yet?" I asked impatiently. "Not yet, Sir," Daniel answered. "I've checked all the places Mrs. Reyna might go, but she and Miss Kirana aren't there. I've also checked hospitals in the city as you requested. But there's no admission record under their names." I clenched my fists tightly. The feeling of anxiety grew larger. Kirana was sick when I left her, and Reyna had no family or relatives. Where did she take Kirana?
Private Group Chat - "Ashford Brothers"Aldric uploaded a photo to the group chat. A photo of a breakfast plate with an omelet, toast, fresh salad, and orange juice neatly arranged on the table.Aldric (First Brother): [photo] Breakfast made by Reyna this morning.Replies came immediately.Damian (Cousin): Looks so good. I want her to cook for me too!Cassius (Second Brother): How is Reyna's condition now?Kieran (Twin Brother): Is she willing to come out of her room?Aldric stared at his phone screen while leaning back in his study chair. He sighed deeply before typing a reply.Aldric: Her condition is still very bad. Emotionally she's very unstable. Yesterday at the funeral, she almost fainted. Last night I heard her crying until dawn. She only managed to sleep around five in the morning.Aldric: Now is not the right time to meet too many people at once. She needs more time to recover.Silence for a moment in the group.Cassius: Understood. I'll wait until she's ready.Kieran: Same.
Reyna's POVThe clock showed almost four in the morning, but I couldn't sleep. My eyes were still open staring at the dark bedroom ceiling.Two days had passed since Kirana left. Two days that felt like two years. Every second was heavy and torturous.Today was Kirana's fifth birthday. A day that should have been filled with laughter, cake, candles, and hopes. But now there was only emptiness.My tears flowed again. Who knows how many times tonight. I was tired of crying, but the tears kept flowing without control.I looked at my phone displaying Kirana's broadly smiling face on the screen."Happy birthday, sweetheart," I whispered softly while touching the screen. "Forgive Mommy for not being able to celebrate it with you."My chest tightened. My sobs broke out again.Yesterday afternoon, Aldric arranged a simple funeral ceremony for Kirana. Only the two of us attended. No one else. No family from Arvan's side. No friends or acquaintances.Just me and Aldric. We stood in front of a s







