Maria couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions—relief that Alex was safe and on his way, yet a lingering sense of curiosity about the events that had unfolded. "Is he okay?" she asked, unable to conceal her concern. Zac nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "Yeah, he's on his way here. Said he called the guys too."As the door swung open, revealing a rain-soaked Alex, Zac greeted him with a hearty welcome. Pleasantries exchanged, Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Maria in the room. "Hey, Maria! Good to see you. What are you doing here? Are you two...?" he trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air.Maria, her hands slightly raised in a defensive gesture, responded with a chuckle, "Oh God, no. I mean, he's not bad, but not what you're thinking." Alex nodded, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "Right."Curiosity lingering, Maria got straight to the point, "I've been trying to get a hold of you for a while now. Everything okay?" Alex reassured her with a
A heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the pattering rain outside as Daniel, the outspoken one, voiced the collective shock. "Hold on, you mean to tell us you've been lying to us all along?" Alex, his gaze steady, responded, "I didn't lie. I just didn't want this part of me out."Zac, recalling Maria's revelation, interjected, "Maria did mention it when she was here. I said it can't be true." Aaron, catching up on the unfolding drama, queried, "Maria was here?" Zac sighed, "Long story."Daniel, attempting to maintain order, exclaimed, "Guys, hold on! Alex, what other thing did you keep from us about you that we don't know?" Alex's voice, tinged with regret, replied, "This is the only thing, and my ex-wife doesn't know about this either."John chimed in, "So you've been fake with us all along?" Alex defended himself, "Again, guys, I wasn't. I only did it to protect myself." Daniel, seemingly unconvinced, retorted, "Yeah, but we've all been buddies for years now. How ar
As they arrived at the hospital, the atmosphere was tense with worry. Alex wasted no time and sought answers from the butler, his concern evident. "What happened?" he asked urgently.The butler, a look of genuine concern on his face, shared, "I just met her in her room, on the floor, passed out." Anxiety tightened its grip on Alex's chest. Just then, the family doctor entered the scene, providing a glimmer of reassurance. "She's stable. Thank God you brought her in the time you did," the doctor said.A visible sigh of relief escaped Alex's lips. "Thank God. So, what happened to her?" he inquired, anxious to understand the cause of his mother's sudden health scare. The doctor, adopting a professional demeanor, explained, "It's a heart attack, and your mum won't exercise. You really have to convince her to."Alex, fully aware of his mother's stubbornness, nodded gravely. "You know how she gets. I'll try my best." Eager to see his mother, Alex asked, "Can I go see her now?" The doctor, a
In the opulent living room, Eleanor lounged on the couch, engrossed in her favorite show, a bowl of popcorn in hand. She wielded her authority effortlessly, sending Tes on trivial errands around the house. The atmosphere, however, was disrupted when Sebastian, sauntered in, appearing disheveled from a night of revelry.Eleanor immediately interrogated him, "Where the hell are you coming back from?" Sebastian, seemingly unfazed, responded, "From a party. I told you this before, Mum." Eleanor, not buying into his nonchalance, retorted, "Yeah, you didn't mention overnight party." Sebastian, with a casual shrug, stated, "Well, I'm here now, Mum. What's up?"Eleanor, her patience waning, directed him to prioritize personal hygiene. "Will you go on and freshen up? You reek of alcohol," she scolded. Sebastian, seizing the moment to address more pressing matters, added, "I'll do that, but I need some cash. I'm flat for this month." Eleanor, unimpressed, reminded him of the allowance he'd rec
After the call with JJ, Sebastian mulled over the likelihood of his mother disapproving of him going out. The need for cash, however, outweighed the potential consequences. Summoning his resolve, he decided to take the chance. As he made his way out he unexpectedly encountered Isabella. "Hey, I've been looking for you. Can you help me buy fuel for my car? I don't think there's any in that trunk," Isabella requested. Sebastian, caught off guard but eager to assist, replied, "Oh my goodness, of course."Isabella, aware of Sebastian's peculiar demeanor, sought reassurance. "Okay, but hope you're not busy or something," she inquired. Sebastian, with a genuine smile, countered, "How can I be busy for you? Of course not. Where is your key?" Isabella handed him the key, and with a sense of purpose, Sebastian ventured out to fulfill the unexpected task.Passing by his mother on the way out, Sebastian offered a quick explanation, "Isabella needs me to help her fill her trunk with some fuel. I
Sebastian's jaw dropped as his mother, revealed the surprising benefactor of the luxurious Rolls Royce. Ruben, it seemed, had orchestrated this extravagant gesture for Isabella. Sebastian's eyes widened in amazement, and he couldn't believe the sheer opulence of the situation.Eleanor, with an infectious enthusiasm, ushered everyone into the gleaming car. "Come on, Isabella, let's take it for a spin!" she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. Isabella hesitated, voicing a note of caution, but Eleanor, unfazed, dismissed any reservations. Sebastian, caught up in the whirlwind of emotions, joined his mother in the luxurious vehicle. "This is amazing!" he declared, still grappling with the sudden turn of events. Isabella, albeit hesitant, eventually succumbed to the infectious joy and got into the car.The engine roared to life, and the Rolls Royce gracefully glided out of the driveway. Sebastian couldn't help but marvel at the smooth ride and the newfound extravagance that had unexpectedl
Isabella, fueled by a mix of irritation and determination, paced around the room. The news of an impending marriage had struck a nerve, challenging her autonomy and personal choices. Eleanor, understanding the weight of the situation, tried to reason with her daughter. "Isabella, you know Grandma means well. Let's talk to her, make her understand your perspective."But Isabella, driven by the fire of rebellion, shook her head. "No, Mum. This is not right. I won't let her dictate my life. I need to make it clear that this is my decision, not hers." Eleanor watched Isabella leave, a mix of concern and understanding in her eyes. "Okay, but I am with her on this Ruben married to you thing," she admitted, a touch of apprehension in her voice. Isabella, turning to her mother with a bewildered expression, asked, "Whose side are you on?"Eleanor replied with a serene smile, "Both sides." Isabella, feeling the weight of conflicting opinions, sighed in exasperation. "Okay, I can't with you righ
As the night concluded, Isabella and Ruben emerged from the restaurant, the city lights casting a gentle glow around them. The air, filled with the lingering warmth of shared laughter and meaningful conversations, carried a sense of connection that went beyond the surface. Leaning casually against her car, Isabella expressed her sentiments, "This is a wonderful night. I had a good time." Ruben, standing a few steps away, smiled genuinely, "I'm glad we're finally getting along." Isabella echoed his sentiment, "Me too."However, before they could delve further into personal matters, Ruben hesitated, "Well umm... I just want to say that I'm sorry about your ex-husband." Isabella, with a dismissive wave, responded, "Oh, I've completely forgotten about him. We should move on from him."Ruben, attempting to express himself further, was cut off as Isabella, in a spontaneous and decisive move, leaned in and kissed him deeply. The unexpected yet passionate gesture left Ruben momentarily stunn