Crimson cleared his throat and spoke up, "I'm here to give you a ride. The escort who was supposed to drive you to Havenwood Street got a flat tire on the way. Clarisse asked me to pick you up because I will be passing by the hotel on my way to the Mayor's house.”“You shouldn't have bothered.”“Don't worry; I'm not,” he replied with a shrug."I can simply drive to the Mayor's house; I have a car," I argued."It's risky," he responded honestly. "Plus, you're not familiar with the location of the Mayor's house. You could easily get lost.”I paused, considering his point. "Okay, then do what you want. There's no use arguing since you're already here.""Shall we go?" he asked.I nodded, and together we walked to his car.“How long have you been waiting?”Crimson blushed in embarrassment. “Almost half an hour.""I apologize for making you wait," I told him.“No need to apologize. It's my fault for coming early,” he answered. His gaze surprisingly never left my face, as if he were under a
Clarisse Stevens' beautiful countenance lit up with excitement."Oh, that's so sweet of you, Elizabeth! I would love to hear you play."I remained still, like a statue, unable to move. I never expected to be playing the piano in front of a crowd of almost five hundred people.The Mayor smiled genuinely at me and said, "It was very thoughtful of you to offer such a gift to my daughter, Madam.”I felt pressure to play because everyone, especially the Mayor, was expecting me to. But I was worried that I would only end up embarrassing myself.Perhaps Celestine sensed the fear in my eyes and smiled, "Don't be shy, Elizabeth." Suddenly, she grabbed my arm roughly and led me to the piano, hiding her true, malicious intentions with a seemingly kind gesture.Was her intention to humiliate me and make me lose face in front of the most important people in Flintstone City?If that's her intention, then I'm not going to let her win.Taking a deep breath, I sat down, ignoring the evil glint in Cele
Crimson's laughter echoed in the study room. I hadn't expected him to laugh at the situation, which made me wonder if he had lost his mind. “Don't spit such ridiculous words,” he replied with a hardened expression. “I am not interested in you, Vera. You're like a sister to me."The woman he had just called Vera clung to him. “I can make you want me. I will change for you.”Tears fell freely from her eyes. "Please, just give me a chance. I love you…. I have loved you since we were children… ““Vera, I care for you deeply, but not in the way you want me to. It's not fair to either of us to force something that isn't there. Please don't hurt yourself anymore."Vera ran out of the room sobbing.I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding when the door to the study closed.Crimson had done the right thing by being honest and setting boundaries. Although it hurt the woman, it would help her to at least move on.“Stop hiding, Elizabeth. I know you're there.”Breathless, I emerged
The following day, my brother Louis remained silent about the previous night's incident at the Mayor's house. I had hoped he would express some anger or yell at me, but instead, his calm demeanor had a more profound impact than if he had raised his voice.The events from last night had made headlines everywhere. Celestine Ford got her karma. Her reputation had been tarnished overnight, and she was facing backlash from the public and media.Serves her right, I thought to myself.I returned to my office after breakfast and started working on my laptop. I made a mental note to talk to Louis later to clear the air and hopefully soften him a bit.Afternoon came, and I finally completed my work.I strolled down the hallway, my car keys jingling in my hand. Louis, heading toward the presidential suite, crossed paths with me. "Where are you off to?" he inquired."I'm heading to the orphanage,” I responded.Louis didn't inquire about my purpose for going to the orphanage. Instead, he kindly of
When I arrived at the suite, Sam was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious. Sapphire was there too. Although she was seated, the anxiety was evident on her face.“What’s the problem?” I blurted out.“Thank God you arrived! I just received the DNA results for Cleo and Celestine.”Sapphire handed me an envelope with the DNA results. My heart was pounding as I nervously tore open the envelope and unfolded the papers inside. I scanned through the results, my eyes widening in shock.According to the DNA results, Cleo is not Celestine's daughter.“Sapphire, is this real?” I stammered, looking at her wide eyes.“Yes. Cleo is not Celestine's daughter, Liz…”I felt like my world was spinning. I looked at Sam, who was as shocked by the news as everyone else in the room.“What are your plans now?” Sapphire asked.I took a deep breath before responding. “It means that Celestine had stolen somebody’s child.”Sam nodded in agreement, her jaw clenched as she stopped pacing and stood beside me."I j
My heart raced as I stumbled out of the coffee shop, my eyes scanning the parking space where I had parked my car. The conversation had been brief; it didn’t even last ten minutes, but Crimson's words had left a lasting impression on me.I refused to believe his words; after all, he was the man who had broken my heart, and I couldn't trust him again, even if I wanted to. “Elizabeth! Please wait for me!”I quickened my pace, determined to escape him.“Stop running, Elizabeth!” he said, grabbing me by the arm.My patience snapped. I glared at him with daggers in my eyes. If looks could maim, he would lie in a pool of blood on the pavement.“Now that we both know that Cleo isn't Celestine's daughter, this time I need you to take a DNA test.”The words surprised me. I felt my heart skip a beat. What did he mean by that?Before I could gather my thoughts, Crimson took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair away from my face. His touch sent a shiver down
If I hadn't been courageous enough to return to Flintstone City, I would have never found out that I have a daughter.How could I have not known I had given birth to a twin and that the other child was stolen? As I asked myself this, I resisted the urge to burst into hysterics, wondering what would have happened to Cleo in Celestine's hands if I hadn't discovered she was my child.“Calm down, Elizabeth,” he whispered.I turned to him, my vision blurring while staring at his handsome face. “How could I calm down after learning the truth, Crimson? I wasted four years of my life not knowing she existed!”“It wasn't your fault. You were deceived, just like me. It's all Celestine's doing! Instead of blaming yourself, think about what you have to do next!”He was harsh, but his words were true, snapping me out of my misery like a slap. Cleo was my daughter, and it was my duty to protect her now and make up for lost time. I couldn't change the past, but I could certainly shape the future.“P
The police station was a hive of activity when we arrived, and officers were moving around in a hurry. Crimson and I were directed to the office by a stern-looking officer, who instructed us to wait for Chief Dallas.I sat with my hands clenched in my lap. I was scared, but I was trying my best to maintain a calm demeanor.After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and Chief Dallas finally came in. He offered us a smile, but upon noticing the look on our faces, he occupied his seat and said, "Elizabeth… Crimson. I'm surprised to find you both here. What can I do for you?”“Celestine took Cleo without permission. She kidnapped my daughter,” Crimson explained.Chief Dallas nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “We will do everything we can to locate Cleo and ensure her safety. Do you have any idea where Celestine might have taken her?”“No,” replied Crimson. "We've checked her condominium and called her number, but she's not answering.”“Tell me what she's wear
Crimson gently wrapped his arms around my waist as I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. It had been an hour since we left Isabela's room, but her confession still lingered in my mind. Part of me wished I had never learned the truth, but another part of me was grateful for the closure it brought. "I wish I had been with my grandmother in her final moments so she could have shared the truth with me instead of my cousin. I wish I could have told her that I don't blame her; that despite her mistake, she remains the kindest person I know. I believe she wouldn't have done anything unless she was pushed to her limit.” I raised my head to look at him. Witnessing the frown on his forehead, I smoothed it away with my fingers until it vanished. "I have my own regrets too," I whispered, feeling a tightness in my throat from the flood of emotions. "I wish I had discovered the truth sooner, so I didn't chase after it blindly. And I wish I could have reunited Grandpa with the wom
It was supposed to be a happy day for my family to enjoy. Unfortunately, some things are beyond one's control. After we returned home from the picnic, Crimson received a call.I watched as his handsome face twisted with worry, the color draining from his features as he met my gaze.“Is everything alright? Who called you just now? What happened?” The words spilled from my lips one after another.I tried to restrain my thoughts so they wouldn't wander to terrifying conclusions, but they did anyway. It was hard not to think that something bad had happened while watching his reaction.“There's an emergency at home… Isabela was rushed to the hospital.” Worry rang painfully in his tone.Crimson cared deeply for his cousin, and the news of her being rushed to the hospital was a blow he had never expected.Fear and worry gripped me as well, knowing how important Isabela was to him.We immediately rushed back to the hotel and dropped Cleo in Sapphire's care since we couldn't bring her to the h
I stared at the ring on my finger, feeling overwhelmed with emotions. I had dreamed of this moment a thousand times before, but it was far more beautiful and magical than I could have ever imagined.“Do you like it? I could have given you a much more beautiful ring. However, I got too excited and bought this one instead because I was at a loss as to which design you would like.”“You're kidding, right? This ring is so gorgeous! Why wouldn’t I like it?”Crimson's face lit up at my words. At that moment, he looked so damn cute that I couldn't resist pinching his cheeks.“I’m glad you like it. I was a bit hesitant to give it at first because the design is simple and not as extravagant as some of the other rings out there.”“It’s perfect.”He pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapped around me protectively. “I love you so much, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I'll wait for you until you're ready to marry me.”I hugged him back, knowing that this moment would for
My eyes swept the room, but it seemed the one I was looking for wasn't present among them.Sighing, I turned to look at my brother, David. He was saying something, but I wasn't paying attention, so I missed most of his words.“Liz, are you with me?”Color rose to my cheeks. “I beg your pardon?”He cleared his throat. “I'm asking if you're looking for someone. You've been spaced out for a while now. Are you waiting for a secret admirer or something?” He teased me.I rolled my eyes heavenward. "Oh, stop it. I'm just enjoying the party.”When the dance ended, David walked to the side, leaving me alone in the middle of the room, confused.The orchestra stopped, and the room was engulfed in total silence.Suddenly, the man who had been occupying my thoughts emerged from the crowd. He walked with the elegance of a king and seemed to own the crowd as he passed by.My breath hitched in my throat. Am I imagining things? I asked myself, watching him close the distance between us.He stopped rig
I sat by Crimson's bedside in the hospital, holding his hand tightly as he lay unconscious after his operation. I knew he was strong, but the thought of losing him was too much to bear. My phone rang, breaking the silence of the room. It was Sapphire, my stepsister. “I need you to come to the police station. The officers want to talk to you to get your statement." "I'll be right there," I sighed. My eyes went to Crimson, and I fought back the tears. “I have to go,” I told him, pressing my lips to his forehead. When I arrived at the police station, Sapphire was sitting in a small room, surrounded by police officers. She looked pale, perhaps because she had lost too much blood. But she seemed okay, and that was all that mattered. Chief Dallas spotted me. He stood up and gestured for me to follow. In a separate room, he interrogated me about what happened in the warehouse. I provided him with a detailed account. The interrogation lasted an hour, and when it finally ended, I coul
Please leave. I wanted to say those words to him, but I couldn't speak.The door opened, and Crimson entered the room.“Let her go, Mark!”The man Crimson called Mark grabbed the gun from his hip holster and pointed it at me. “Give me your gun.”When Crimson didn’t even budge, Mark pressed the muzzle of the gun against my head. The cold, hard metal dug into my skin. I was terrified he would accidentally pull the trigger."I said give me your gun or her brains will splatter on the floor," he threatened.I gently shook my head, signaling Crimson never to let go of his gun. We both knew that once he relinquished his only weapon, it would be our end."I'm sorry, Liz. I need to do this to protect you," he told me. Slowly, he lowered the gun to the floor."Kick the gun away."Crimson ground his teeth together and did what Mark ordered. He kicked the gun, and it slid near Sapphire's still body.Indescribable fear seized me as I watched Mark raise the gun and point it toward Crimson's head.
When I returned to Queen's Courtyard, Samantha was already waiting in my office, seated on the plush couch. The moment I entered the room, she looked at me and asked, “How are your medical results? I hope everything's fine.” Feeling like my legs would collapse, I slumped onto the single couch opposite her and sighed. “I’m pregnant.” The words emerged from my lips.She blinked rapidly, slowly digesting my words. “Come again?”“You heard it right, Sam.”She finally stopped eating her buttered toast and set the half-finished treat down on the table."You've got to be kidding me.”I shook my head. “I wish I was, but it’s true. I just found out this afternoon from my medical results. I really am pregnant.”Her palms cradled her forehead as though she suddenly had a headache. “You're not in a relationship, Elizabeth. You don't even have a boyfriend, nor have you been dating anyone so how can you be pregnant?” “Does your brother know? Is Sapphire aware of your pregnancy?” she asked frantic
Opening my eyes, I tried to piece together what happened last night. The events of the night came rushing back to me in fragments, like a puzzle being assembled. The memory of his touch, his kisses, and his passion flooded back, sending a flush of heat to my cheeks.I turned my head to look at Crimson, still asleep beside me. His face was relaxed, peaceful in sleep.What have I done?I instinctively freed myself from his arms, feeling a twinge of soreness between my thighs from the night before as I got up from the bed.“Elizabeth?” Crimson sleepily opened his eyes and looked at me. I could see confusion clouding his gazeHe looked at my nakedness. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his cheeks turning tomato red, perhaps recalling what happened last night..“About last night—”“Please forget about it.” I cut him off before he could finish his words.Silence filled the room, the tension in the air swelling like a balloon.“I can't do that!” The harshness in his voice surprised me.
Finally, Samantha's wedding day arrived.It was held in a luxurious resort with a breathtaking view of the ocean. The sun was shining mildly, the sky was clear, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the air.There were a hundred guests in attendance, including the bride and groom’s close friends and family members.Samantha was glowing as she walked down the aisle, her white dress shimmering in the sunlight. Her groom was waiting for her at the altar, with a look of pure love in his eyes.I wasn't the type to easily feel envious. However, at that moment, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy while watching the beautiful ceremony unfold.The ceremony was intimate and heartfelt, with Samantha and her groom exchanging vows that brought tears to the eyes of the guests.After the wedding, the reception was a lavish affair, complete with delicious food, dancing, and toasts to the happy couple.I was having fun until I spotted Crimson in the crowd, accompanied by a stunning woman. They