POV: MonteHe really thought Ericka had already accepted Bernard's proposal. He thought Bernard was just showing off, but he didn't realize his friend was genuinely serious about Ericka. That explained why Bernard wasn't entertaining advances from others. Love indeed works in mysterious ways. Perhaps if he and Ericka ever break up, they could end up together. Bernard is a good person, and Ericka is caring. If he didn't need the girl's help, he would have supported their relationship.It's really a complicated situation. His grandfather, being old, had Ericka in mind. If not Almira, whom they know, especially his grandfather, then who else could be his wife?The wife of his grandfather's assistant visited their house when he was just ten years old, while Montana was only nine. Back then, Ericka was seven, a chubby and lively child with a brown complexion. Her crooked teeth looked peculiar, and he didn't know where they came from. All he knew was that his grandfather was close to Ericka

POV: MonteHe's excited. Before leaving Ericka earlier, he told her he'd pick her up and formally introduce her to his grandfather as his girlfriend. Many thoughts are swirling in his mind:Did Monica successfully help Ericka prepare?What will be the outcome of Monica's efforts?This girl will be in trouble if she couldn't accomplish what he asked her to do. She charged him a hefty amount. What will she do with the money? She's not in need. He wondered to himself.Monica has been his friend since grade school, along with her cousin Bernard; they've been close friends. They all studied hard to be classmates.Their friendship is purely platonic. He never thought of having a romantic relationship with Monica; she's quite boyish.*flashback*High school. They have a JS prom. He's a bit distant because Monica and Bernard, who are neighbors, are going together. As he's about to leave the gate, they bump into Almira, all dressed up. She steps out of the backseat after the driver opens the d

Monte rushed up to the office to pick up Ericka. He had a diamond ring and a necklace in hand. He nervously entered the elevator, noticing only the cleaning staff inside.As he opened the door, he caught Monica and Ericka in an embrace, looking like a couple. They were surprised to see him.They quickly separated and laughed. Monte, with a furrowed brow, asked, "What's going on here?"Monica replied, "Nothing, we're just happy. Stand up, Ericka."Ericka followed Monica, slightly turning away from Monte. When she faced him, he was awestruck. Was this really Ericka, or an angel descended from heaven? A definition of beauty beyond any painter's skill.He gazed at her from head to toe, swallowing hard. He hadn't expected her to be this stunning, the woman he spent the whole day with at the office. He was speechless, his heart pounding."Is my appearance okay?" Ericka asked."Hhhmmmm.. ye...yes... I mean, yeah..." he stammered."So, was the amount you paid worth it?" Monica proudly inquire

POV: MonteHe teased his friends, who had also grown close to Ericka, making them believe that a genuine wedding was about to take place. It was true, but only on paper. He brought them to their house and assisted in the preparations.Ericka's hands were noticeably cold as he held them. She shared every detail about the two of them. This woman had a sharp memory, making it easy for her to recall everything.He guided her into their home, planning to surprise her as his grandfather, now able to walk, enjoyed his meal. Observing her happiness during the meal, he sensed the joy Ericka felt. After they finished eating, she excused herself to the restroom. Casually, he followed and engaged in a conversation."Anyway, we've discussed everything," he whispered."Yeah, I know," she replied.They kept their mouths close to each other's ears to avoid being overheard. To their surprise, someone spoke up."Hey, what are you two doing there?" Monica's voice interrupted. "There's a meeting, not a h

Point of View: MonteHe woke up to a sour smell in the room. The light from the lamp on his side table cast a dim glow. Deciding to investigate, he opened the lamp on Ericka's side.A woman wearing clothes reeking of vomit. Luckily, the vomit didn't reach the blanket, bedsheet, and pillow. He thought maybe she had a bad dream and sat up because the vomit was on her stomach and the hem of her clothes.He chose to turn on the light on the headboard. He's accustomed to women dressing up; Monica, Montana, and Almira are the ones fond of drinking and often end up vomiting. But they usually wear bras. He's used to seeing women in two-piece outfits, except with Almira, his girlfriend, he got surprised.He was about to lift and roll up the woman's clothes when a realization struck him. She might suspect me of something nefarious again, he thought. He took the girl's cellphone and recorded how he would dress her, using a timelapse to make it quicker to watch. As he rolled up her clothes, he he