Lahat ng Kabanata ng MASKS AND ILLUSIONS : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Los Angeles is a city filled with opportunities, dreams, and illusions. For Olivia, it was the backdrop of her fashion empire.Olivia stood in her office, a glass encased room at the top floor of the skyscraper building. She was staring out into the city.A knock came in.“Sorry to bother you, ma'am. Mr. Page is here.” Ana, her secretary, said from the doorway.Olivia didn't turn away. “Send him in.”Theo stepped into her office. “Mr. Page, I trust your day is going well.” she said, walking towards her table, sitting down and adjusting her glasses to look at him properly. “Hmmm.” He nodded as a fake smile appeared on his face. “I have reviewed your proposal,” she kept staring at him as if waiting for a reply, but Theo didn't blink. “If you're investing in 70% of the company's shares, that makes us business partners.” “Think of it like, I'm buying 70% of your company and you have 30% because you're making a relevant contribution that would enhance the growth of the company. You can

Taylor Walker. The name echoed in Olivia's head. She hadn't heard her mother's name in over a decade. It was that part of her she was taking to the grave. The woman that abandoned her after her father's death went to adopt a son. Was she that bad that her mother had to leave her? She questioned herself. Theo was watching her now, confusion in his eyes. “Taylor Walker is your mum?” “I'm sorry I have to leave.” Olivia said as she hurriedly grabbed her things and ran out of the coffee shop before Theo could say another word. Olivia kept walking, faster and faster, until she was practically sprinting down the sidewalk. She had no idea of where she was going but she just wanted to leave. She reached a quiet corner and leaned her back against a brick wall, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath. Her entire life has been a lie. The woman she forced herself to believe, left her out of grief. That she lost her husband and just couldn't handle what was left of him and maybe she remin

Olivia turned over in bed for the third time, sleep wasn't happening. Theo was next to her, lying on his back, pretending to sleep.Her phone lit up on the nightstand again. Alex.She sighed and turned her face down.“What is he saying?” Theo asked, his voice low. She turned to face him. “I haven't opened it yet.” “Why not?” His voice barely whispers. Olivia blinked slowly, her throat tightened. “Because I don't want to talk to him or have anything to do with him.” Her voice cracked as she bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. She was trying her best to hold back her tears. But, the minute Theo reached out for her and pulled her into a hug, it became impossible. A small tear rolled down her cheek, then another. Theo used his thumb to clean her face and held her tighter.“It's okay.” He whispered.And for the first time that night, she believed it.––When she opened her eyes the next morning, the first thing she saw was Theo, still sleeping. His arm was wrapped around h

The morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, brushing Olivia's face. She turned away from it, pulling the covers above her head, trying to steal a few more minutes of quiet.Then it hit her.Taylor Walker.Theo had done a good job getting her mind off everything last night, but that was how long it could last. She was swimming in the thoughts of what awaits her today. The entire week has been a roller coaster of events, and she needed a break.The past three years that Olivia had spent trying to build her fashion empire, she had not, for one day, missed work for any reason and today seemed like the perfect day for her to rest in.But she just couldn't help herself.Olivia got up from her bed and went into the shower. Steam curled around Olivia as the hot water hit her skin, washing away the stiffness in her shoulders. She closed her eyes, letting the water run over her face, trying not to think.But her mind wouldn’t stop wandering. Taylor Walker.Alex.The heaviness that sett

17 years ago….The sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, painting gold on the countertops and catching specks of flour that danced in the air. The radio played in the background.Taylor stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with one hand and cradling a cup of tea in the other. Her robe was barely tied, and her curls were frizzing wildly.“Baby,” Daniel called from the living room, “you put cinnamon in these, didn’t you? I can smell it.”She grinned without looking. “You got a nose like a hound.”“For cinnamon, I concur.”She heard him walk into the kitchen, barefoot and still shirtless, his arms coming around her waist from behind.“Careful,” she warned. “You might get splashed.”“With love?” he murmured on her neck.“Hot oil, idiot.”He laughed and kissed her cheek, then turned to sneak a pancake off the plate. She slapped his hand with the spatula.“Ow!”“Wait till Olivia’s up. These are for her.”As if on cue, the soft patter of little feet echoed down the hallway.“Mama?”