"Princess" Angel had turned her gaze to meet her mother's, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. For the first time, she had addressed her as "princess," and a tender smile accompanied her tears as she listened intently to her mother's words."Remember, we must avenge your father's death. Those responsible must pay the price," her mother emphasized, and Angel nodded in agreement. Her mother's affectionate demeanor filled her heart with joy.She took Angel's hands, her voice laced with a hint of warning. "Only when I've exacted revenge on the Baristanas will my heart be free to love you fully."****** Evan's anger simmered as he pushed his chair back and stood up. Seeing Evelyn was better than seeing Angel.He glanced at his father and uncle, aware that his father's decision was final and unchangeable.Evan struggled to contain his emotions, refraining from saying or doing something he might regret."I've lost my appetite," he growled, turning to leave. But Angel quickly interven
Mark suddenly became aware of his proximity to Angel. It prompted him to take a step back. The room fell into silence. Mark cleared his throat in an attempt to dispel the awkwardness that had settled over him. It was better he left the room as the emotions tuning through his system were lingering. He turned away, his back to her."Finish your food before it gets cold." With that, he exited the room, leaving Angel's cheeks to flush with color.Mark paused, after closing the door, his thoughts consumed by the unexpected flutter in his chest that had occurred when he was near Angel. He couldn't help but marvel at how he had managed to form a coherent sentence to extricate himself from the situation. His hands, he noticed, were pressed against his chest, as if to still his racing heart. The realization of his own reaction left him stunned, feeling like a stranger to himself.It wasn't just Angel who had experienced a jolt of emotion; Mark's involuntary response had betrayed the spark he
Evelyn stumbled and as she regained her composure, she couldn't help but take a step backwards, overwhelmed by her brother's intense stare.Evan started to approached her, his eyes blazing with malice, determined to make her regret her return. He had vowed to torment her, to make her life a living hell, and he was hell-bent on keeping that promise. Desperately searching for help, Evelyn's eyes darted around the room, but she knew they were alone. She trembled as she watched Evan's menacing steps towards her, fully understanding the meaning behind his words.Her fear heightened when she felt her back press against the wall, trapped with nowhere to hide. She knew she would have to stand and endure whatever he had in store for her. "Please, forgive me. I never meant to..." Evan's smirk and triumphant gaze only added to her fear. He reveled in her trembling, knowing that he was achieving his goal of breaking her spirit. To him, this was payback for all the suffering he had endured.He k
Marlie had prepared to leave the house. Her unusual attire caught everyone's attention, including Evan's, who was sitting in pain. It was only then that they noticed her dressing, having been preoccupied with Evan's condition."Are you heading out somewhere?" Chad's concerned expression was evident as he asked. Marlie rarely ventured out, and Chad's surprise was palpable. The sudden shift in attention towards her prompted Marlie to explain herself."I need some fresh air," she said, a warm smile spreading across her face. It had been a decade since she left her job to care for Evan, and also to cope with the fruitless search for Evelyn. And her last outing was with Evan, but it ended in disaster.Now that Evelyn was back, there was no reason for Marlie to stay at home. "I want to take the girls out to get them a few things," she added. Chad's face lit up with a warm smile, and Mark wore a happy grin, but Evan's annoyed expression stood out. He felt left out, as Marlie was taking the
Mark's presence was the silence-inducing pill that Angel had taken. She sat quietly, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Marlie tried to ask her about the problem, but she couldn't speak as Mark quickly cut in, saying, "She might have eaten less to save energy for talking."Angel shot Mark a glare, but only he could see it. Marlie and Evelyn were still thinking about Evan's anger and harsh words directed at them.Angel wanted to cry and hide from everything, but she didn't want to raise suspicion. As they got out of the car, Angel received a text from her mother. She knew she needed to be alone for this.[I need to talk to you. Make sure you're alone.]Despite wanting to reply affirmatively to her mom, Angel was being watched by Mark, who was once again reminded that there was something she was hiding on her phone."Angel, are you coming?" Marlie asked, interrupting Angel's thoughts as she tried texting her reply."Uh, yes Mrs. Baristanas," Angel replied, as she quickly finished her tex
"Un... Uncle James?" Angel trembled as she gazed at the man before her, his sinister smile sending shivers down her spine. Her heart raced with fear as she looked at him."Did you miss me Angel?" He leered at her, making her even more nervous."What... what are you doing here?" Angel's shaky voice asked. But instead of answering, he moved closer towards her. "Don't come any closer!" Angel almost screamed the words, her fear taking over."Isn't it obvious, princess?" He whispered being close to her and grabbed Angel's right hand, pressing it her against the wall. With his smug grin he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Angel's trembling lips. "I already miss you!"His creepy voice confessed.His words were like a sudden earthquake, leaving Angel shaken to her core. Her legs began to shake and tears welled up in her eyes as she felt his hot breath on her face, that was like thorns pricking her. "Please, don't touch me." Her words were a plea for him to leave her, but he had her pinned
Mark remained speechless and unable to tear his gaze away from Angel. It was clear that the last comment was true. He was completely captivated by her."Sir, how is the dress?" one of the attendants interrupted, noticing Mark's stunned expression. The attendants now had their attention on Mark's infatuation with Angel. For her part, Angel was struggling to understand why he was looking at her like that. She couldn't help but feel a bit shy as she caught his gaze.Coughing in embarrassment, Mark tried to compose himself. The attendants couldn't help but giggle at the scene. "Well, I suppose it's not our place to stand here and spoil the moment. Let's leave him to admire his girlfriend," the attendants said, leaving the two alone. Mark continued to stare at Angel for a moment, not even realizing when he whispered, "You look beautiful." But Angel soon started to shift uncomfortably in the dress. It was then Mark realised something was wrong with her. He couldn't help but ask, "W
After their shopping excursion, they all reconvened at the car. Marlie couldn't help but notice that Angel had only a few items, but she refrained from questioning her. Instead, she signaled to Mark, silently conveying her curiosity about the situation. "She didn't get what she wanted. You know she's pretty picky. It's almost like she takes after you," he commented with a smile. Marlie shot him a disapproving look. "What are you trying to say?" she sneered, causing Mark's smile to immediately disappear. He knew that he had spoken out of turn and needed to fix his mistake. "I mean to say, you have expensive taste. You wouldn't choose something that doesn't match your personality," he clarified, diffusing the tension. Mark let out a heavy sigh and took his place behind the wheel, driving away. Angel seemed to be studying his face, as if searching for something. She observed him throughout the entire journey, determined to confirm her suspicions. However, her phone beeped, breaki