Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 89Andre’s POV:The office buzzed like a hive of wasps, filled with whispers, stolen glances, and gasps that didn’t quite reach the surface. I could hear them murmuring her name—Vanessa. Every corner I turned, I caught someone looking at her with heavy eyes, and I couldn’t care less. Let them talk. Let them stare. It was all the could do. She belonged to me.I watched her from behind the glass wall of my office, her head bent low, her fingers nervously tapping her keyboard. She looked too fragile to handle their poison, but I knew better. Vanessa had strength in her, a quiet, burning kind that people often underestimate. Still, the vultures around her didn’t deserve her.I sent her a bouquet of rose flowers through Stanley—red, white, and yellow, with a note tucked inside which read, . I wanted everyone to know she wasn’t just any girl. She was mine.I watched her face on the monitor as she opened the card. The flush that painted her cheeks, the tiny smile that tugged at her l
Chapter 90Andre's POV:Vanessa.She was trembling. Crying.She stood between me and the man I wanted to kill.I stepped back, breathing hard, fists soaked in blood. My heart pounded, but not from rage anymore—from the realization of what I almost did.I ran the bloody hand over my hair in frustration.Vanessa leaned beside Matt. His face was a mess; he was barely moving. She tried to help him, her hands shaking."Vanessa," I warned in a low tone.She had to get up from there. Matt is a loser; he doesn't deserve her kindness.She looked up at me furiously and snapped,"Do you want to kill him?!""Let's go," I growled. I pulled her up, dragging her with me while she struggled to separate herself from me, out to the corridor."Why did you fight with him?!" she yelled at me and shoved me away with all her might."He threw the first punch," I said. "I was just getting our order—you can ask the waitress.""And you think that justifies what you did? Sir, he was bleeding, and you barely have
Chapter 1*Jerk!*Vanessa's POV."Vanessa, take the tray to table no 9," ordered Madam Taylor, the restaurant owner. She was usually short-tempered, irritable, and would charge at anyone for the littlest mistakes, but today she seemed oddly cheerful. It was the first time I saw her prepare a meal all by herself for anyone, it was always done by Samuel, the chef. I heard from the other waitresses that the guests over there were related to her, and she wanted to leave them extremely satisfied after today.I wrapped my messy hair into a loose bun, straightened up my collar, and wiped my tired face with my hand. I barely had any sleep last night because I was on a night shift in my second part-time job and had to rush down here as soon as the clock struck 8 Am.I was about to pick up the tray when she stopped me, "No, no, no. Don't you know anything about hygiene? My son is a picky eater, and he would never taste food from a place where there's no proper hygiene. Wash your hands clean,
Chapter 2*Shit, I lost my job!*Vanessa's POV.It had been an hour since they left and I continued to face queries.I winced in pain as Madam Taylor dragged me by my ear into the kitchen. The hot coffee still stung my face, but the pain in my ear was even worse. I tried to pull away, but her grip was too strong."Madam Taylor, please, let go," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. "I didn't mean to insult your son, I thought he was just some jerk trying to prank me."She finally released my ear, but her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment. "You thought my own son was a jerk? How dare you? He is the most important person in my life, and you had the audacity to slap him!" I turned mute, and maybe I began to regret my decision for slapping him."What is wrong with you?! I told you my son was at the table and you purposely targeted him, now he would never want to visit me." She cried, hitting me again, not caring if her palm landed on my nose or eyes. I was unsure if I woul
Chapter 3*Settle Your Debt*Vanessa's POV:"That's ridiculous! I don't have that kind of money!""Well, then I guess you'll have to find a way to get it, won't you?" he smirked.I felt a surge of anger rise within me. This guy was impossible. Not only did he get me fired from my job, but now he was demanding an outrageous amount of money from me. I couldn't let him get away with this."I'm not paying you a dime," I said defiantly. "You can take your demands and shove them up your ass."He looked taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting such a response. But then his expression hardened and he grabbed my arm again, this time with even more force and I struggled to break free."You bitch, I said you're paying, and you will. I will make you.""I already to you I won't give you a dime, quite stressing, I lost my pay check because of you." I accused him."You're giving me the $50,000 and I want it settled from now till the next two months, everything."Andre POV:"$50,000!!! I can't
Chapter 4Andre POV:Who's getting married?!" My sister's excited voice broke through the quiet of the room, startling everyone. I hadn't heard her come in.She must have greeted our Father before now because She hurried to where our stepmother was sitting, and wrapped her in a hug. "Mother, you're back from shopping?" My sister asked, a smile on her face, and then turned to me and my father, "You guys finally found a match for Andre? That's great! What's her last name?" Was the first thing my sister was concerned with. She was like everyone else in my family who only cared about the status of the people we should be associated with."We fixed your marriage, Louisa." I taunted."You're lying, I heard Father talk about your marriage, and by the way, you're the one old enough to get married here, you're thirty, remember? And I'm just twenty-four, why will I get married before you?" She reasoned."I don't mind, Louisa," I turned to my father, "Dad, we should get Louisa married soon, do
Vanessa's POV:My days started pretty early with my brother, Victor, waking me from my sleep. "Vanessa, aren't you going to work today?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. I rubbed my eyes and tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. He was wearing an apron and I could perceive burnt food in the air. Did he cook? I asked myself and wondered why he went to the kitchen again as I remembered, he was an awful cook.Seeing his stern look, I realized that he asked a question earlier. "Work? I lost-" My tongue slipped, almost revealing my secret. Panic surged through me, and I quickly recovered, "I mean, I'm on off."Victor raised an eyebrow, giving me a suspicious look. "You lost what?""N-nothing," I stammered, my heart racing. "I mean, I didn't say lost. I said I'm on off." I corrected.He stared at me for a moment longer before letting out a sigh. "You're getting so many days off recently. Did you do something wrong?"I swallowed hard, my mind racing to come up with a plausible ex
Chapter 90Andre's POV:Vanessa.She was trembling. Crying.She stood between me and the man I wanted to kill.I stepped back, breathing hard, fists soaked in blood. My heart pounded, but not from rage anymore—from the realization of what I almost did.I ran the bloody hand over my hair in frustration.Vanessa leaned beside Matt. His face was a mess; he was barely moving. She tried to help him, her hands shaking."Vanessa," I warned in a low tone.She had to get up from there. Matt is a loser; he doesn't deserve her kindness.She looked up at me furiously and snapped,"Do you want to kill him?!""Let's go," I growled. I pulled her up, dragging her with me while she struggled to separate herself from me, out to the corridor."Why did you fight with him?!" she yelled at me and shoved me away with all her might."He threw the first punch," I said. "I was just getting our order—you can ask the waitress.""And you think that justifies what you did? Sir, he was bleeding, and you barely have
Chapter 89Andre’s POV:The office buzzed like a hive of wasps, filled with whispers, stolen glances, and gasps that didn’t quite reach the surface. I could hear them murmuring her name—Vanessa. Every corner I turned, I caught someone looking at her with heavy eyes, and I couldn’t care less. Let them talk. Let them stare. It was all the could do. She belonged to me.I watched her from behind the glass wall of my office, her head bent low, her fingers nervously tapping her keyboard. She looked too fragile to handle their poison, but I knew better. Vanessa had strength in her, a quiet, burning kind that people often underestimate. Still, the vultures around her didn’t deserve her.I sent her a bouquet of rose flowers through Stanley—red, white, and yellow, with a note tucked inside which read, . I wanted everyone to know she wasn’t just any girl. She was mine.I watched her face on the monitor as she opened the card. The flush that painted her cheeks, the tiny smile that tugged at her l
Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 87Vanessa POV:Claire squeezed my hand. “I’m just watching out for you, babe. I love you. Be careful, okay?”I nodded, feeling both touched and scared at the same time.Her eyes searched mine, not just scolding but truly concerned. "I've seen how much you've struggled to get where you are. I don't want anything—or anyone—taking that away from you."We sat there in silence for a while, and my mind kept spinning.Had I been stupid?Was I reading too much into what happened with Andre?He had made me feel like I was the only girl in the world... but what if that was just how he was? I’d seen him flattering others—he was pretty good at that.A part of me wanted to trust him. The other part... the louder part... was terrified. My mind was beginning to eat me up."You don't think..." I started, then hesitated. "You don't think he could feel the same way I do?"Claire's expression softened. "Maybe he does. I hope he does. But hope isn't a strategy to break you further, Vanessa. Espe
Chapter 88Vanessa's POV:I was having another one of those nerve-wracking moments when I opened my eyes. The morning sunlight filtered through my curtains, but all I felt was chaos churning in my chest. Today, I was going back to work.Back to that building again, when I didn’t know how ready I was to face the judgmental stares and slicing words.My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the honk outside. I darted to the window, pulling the curtain back just a little. And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Stepping out of his sleek black car in a grey suit, sunglasses perched like a crown—every inch the king he was. But instead of waiting, instead of texting or calling, he walked up to the front door.I barely had time to collect myself when the knock echoed.I went out in my nightdress and opened the door. He stood there, eyes lazily peering at me from head to toe.“Good morning, my Vanessa,” he said, voice low and intoxicating. Before I could even say anything, he leaned forward and pressed
Chapter 87Vanessa POV:Claire squeezed my hand. “I’m just watching out for you, babe. I love you. Be careful, okay?”I nodded, feeling both touched and scared at the same time.Her eyes searched mine, not just scolding but truly concerned. "I've seen how much you've struggled to get where you are. I don't want anything—or anyone—taking that away from you."We sat there in silence for a while, and my mind kept spinning.Had I been stupid?Was I reading too much into what happened with Andre?He had made me feel like I was the only girl in the world... but what if that was just how he was? I’d seen him flattering others—he was pretty good at that.A part of me wanted to trust him. The other part... the louder part... was terrified. My mind was beginning to eat me up."You don't think..." I started, then hesitated. "You don't think he could feel the same way I do?"Claire's expression softened. "Maybe he does. I hope he does. But hope isn't a strategy to break you further, Vanessa. Espe
Chapter 84Vanessa’s POV:“I want you to feel safe here. Like you belong. Because you do.”I leaned into his touch.When he kissed me again, it was slow—reverent.But then I pushed him away and darted out of the lavender room, heart hammering as I rushed toward the next.Behind me, his footsteps echoed—measured, calm. Too calm.He was hunting me.I spun around just as he filled the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, a smirk tugging at his lips.“Running again?” His voice was pure velvet. Dangerous.I swallowed, stepping back toward the bed. “Maybe. I just didn’t want to make it too easy for you.”He prowled forward, slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with his prey. His eyes darkened, a storm gathering in their depths.“You think you can outrun me in my own house?”I grinned, backing up until the bed pressed against the backs of my knees. “I can try.”He arched a brow, completely unhurried. “Go ahead then. I’ll even give you a head start.”My heart skipped wildly. "Yo
Chapter 83Vanessa’s POVI stood in front of the towering building, staring up at the glass spire that sliced into the clouds. My heart pounded, butterflies erupting wildly in my stomach. This was Mr. Garcia’s new place—a penthouse. Not the last one. A brand-new space.Fingers trembling, I clutched the straps of my bag and pressed the elevator button. Each passing floor made my pulse louder. By the time it dinged at the top, I was practically shaking. The doors slid open.And there he was.Mr. Garcia.Dressed in a navy sweater that hugged his frame and tailored black slacks, he looked like a storm—controlled, refined, quietly dangerous. His eyes met mine—warm, unreadable. His jaw tightened, like he, too, was fighting something inside him. A war maybe. One that mirrored mine.“Hey,” he said, voice low and deep.“Hi,” I breathed.He stepped aside to let me in. The moment I crossed the threshold, soft lighting caught the polished floors, and my breath caught. Glass walls wrapped the pent
Chapter 82Vanessa's POV:The room feels colder than I expected, the air sterile, sharp with that lingering smell of antiseptic. I could barely focus on the white walls as I sat there next to Andre, my hands trembling in my lap. I’m trying to keep it together—really, I am—but everything feels like it’s spinning too fast for me to keep up.My mother’s in the private ward, and I should be thinking about her—about her getting better since she's finally getting good treatment, but my mind is a jumbled mess of confusion, fear, and the stifling panic that has been slowly creeping in since the doctor’s call.I looked at Mr. Garcia beside me, his presence so much larger than mine. His silence is comforting. I lean into the side of the chair, trying not to show how much my curiosity was killing me.“Ms. Williams,” the doctor finally spoke, his voice calm, but somehow it feels like his words carry a weight too heavy to ignore. I focus on his face, trying to read the expression, possibly know if