“My experience in the kidnappers’ den was hell, but your image in my heart kept me strong. Darling, I love you with all my heart,” Lucas said to Norah, his hands gently resting on her stomach. “I know this will be a baby girl,” he added with a smile.“Whatever gender it is, it’s okay by me,” Norah replied, her eyes filled with love.Three months later, Xavier returned home to find Evelyn waiting for him. “I should pretend I don’t know where you’ve been spending so much time,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.“It was just a business meeting,” Xavier replied, trying to sound convincing.Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. “A business meeting that took you three days? Do you think I’m a fool, Xavier?”Xavier sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Evelyn, it’s complicated. I can’t explain everything right now, but you have to trust me.”“Trust you?” Evelyn scoffed. “How can I trust you when you’re always hiding things from me?”Before Xavier could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at
Even at this point, Renee refused to give up her fight for Lucas. She met with Anna. “Anna, I know you are close to Lucas and Norah. You know exactly how I can penetrate Lucas’s life. I have nothing to offer you if you do this for me,” she said to her.“Renee, why pursue the shadow? You’ve done everything in your power to get Lucas back, but the more you try, the deeper he falls in love with Norah. Isn’t that a red flag that your efforts have been wasted?” Anna asked.“That’s because I’ve worked with unfaithful humans, of which you were one of them. If you had worked the way we planned earlier, this would have been a story of the past. But you failed. What you did was seek favor,” Renee retorted.“I sought favor because I knew that what you offered me at first couldn’t get my loyalty. That lovely family gave me a better home. You seek wealth, Renee, not love,” Anna answered.Renee’s eyes narrowed, her frustration boiling over. “You think you’re so righteous, Anna? You think you’re bet
Lucas, intent on making Renee’s life even more difficult, called for a meeting. “Renee,” he said with a smirk, “you will now be our new office assistant.” The announcement was met with stunned silence. This was the lowest position in the company, a clear and deliberate insult to her capabilities and experience.As Renee settled into her new role, the office atmosphere grew colder. Colleagues who once respected her now saw her as an easy target. They assigned her the most menial tasks, often piling on extra work just to see her struggle. Some openly mocked her, turning her into the subject of cruel jokes and gossip.Despite the constant humiliation, Renee remained steadfast. She performed her duties with unwavering determination, refusing to let their taunts break her spirit. Deep down, she still believed she could win Lucas back. Her resilience only strengthened her resolve to prove her worth, not just to Lucas, but to herself. She knew that her strength and perseverance would eventua
“Do you want to give up now, daughter? Remember, you have come far in pursuit of loving Lucas. I suggest you work even harder,” Isabella said to Renee.Mr. Liam, sitting with his legs crossed, remarked, “It is still obvious that you can’t understand the writing. Lucas can’t love you in any way; you better seek another option.”“Father, I detest you for this,” Renee stood boldly and said to her father.“Well, daughter, that’s the reality. You see, I made the worst mistake by not allowing Lucas to show much of his potential, and I have come to learn from my mistake. I am not begging you to quit your persistence on a shadow but rather encouraging you to find something reasonable or get married to any of those who really want you,” Mr. Liam added.“Who on earth will take me for a wife at this point, seeing all that I have done? Father, if I can’t get or win Lucas’s love, then I remain single.”Isabella stepped forward, her voice gentle yet firm. “Renee, my dear, don’t let your father’s wor
“It is quite unfortunate that even the stubborn fly has refused to know that it is not needed,” Lucas mocked Renee while walking down to his office with his bodyguard.“And the stubborn fly knows exactly what it is doing,” Renee replied, standing her ground with a smile.When Lucas got into his office, he sat and pondered, “I think I have not done the needful to Renee; she seems to be stubborn and strong-headed. Nevertheless, I will make sure she regrets crossing paths with me.”While Lucas was speaking, Mr. Liam barged into his office, with the secretary trying to stop him. “Allow him, please,” Lucas said with a smile as he saw Mr. Liam.“Father, what are you doing here?” Renee ran quickly to stop him. “Do you want to ruin my plans?” she asked.“Oh, you have plans that only your family knows about?” Mr. Liam retorted.“Shut your mouth, Renee. You should know that I am fighting for your future, our future,” Mr. Liam shouted, while Lucas folded his hands and watched them argue.“What f
“Have you seen what you’ve turned me into, Father? A ridicule before Lucas, whom I’m supposed to hold down as my man,” Renee demanded, her voice trembling with frustration.Her father, his face flushed with anger, retorted, “Haven’t I told you before that you’ve lost your senses? How dare you barge into my sitting room like that! And is Lucas the only man on Earth?”Renee’s eyes blazed with defiance. “You don’t understand, do you? Lucas is not just any man. He’s the one I love, the one I want to be with. But you, with your stubborn pride, have made me a laughingstock!”Her father’s fists clenched at his sides. “Love? You call this love? It’s nothing but infatuation. You think you know what’s best for you, but you’re just a child, Renee!”“I’m not a child!” Renee shouted, her voice echoing through the room. “I’m a grown woman, capable of making my own decisions. And I choose Lucas!”“Over my dead body!” her father roared, stepping closer. “As long as you live under my roof, you will fo
One day, during one of her visits, Xavier shared a new plan with Evelyn. “Evelyn, I need you to help me prove that I am a fit father. We need to gather evidence that shows I can provide a stable and loving home for my son.”Evelyn nodded, her resolve strengthening. “I will do whatever it takes, Xavier. We will fight this together.”They began working tirelessly, gathering character references, improving their home environment, and documenting every positive aspect of Xavier’s life. Evelyn even reached out to a lawyer who specialized in family law, hoping to build a strong case for Xavier.Meanwhile, Vera, who had initially been wary of Xavier’s intentions, began to see the genuine effort he was putting into proving himself. She started to reconsider her stance, realizing that perhaps Xavier truly wanted the best for their son.As the court date approached, tensions were high. Evelyn and Xavier stood side by side, ready to present their case. The courtroom was filled with anticipation
While Xavier and Renee remained in jail, Xavier demanded to speak with Renee during their break hour, but his request was ignored. Meanwhile, Vera’s heart grew heavier as she thought about how to help Xavier. “Yes, he was my husband, the same man I have this son with. But I began to hate him the very day he betrayed me,” she confided in Jessica, Lucas’s lawyer.“Do you still love him?” Jessica asked.Vera reluctantly smiled. “The question is tempting. Though I still love him for the sake of my child,” she replied.“I can help you, even though the case seems unattended to,” Jessica assured her.“Norah was the one who orchestrated this. She wanted to use this opportunity to pin Renee in jail so she wouldn’t disturb her marriage with Lucas,” Jessica explained.“The evidence that Xavier and I stole from Renee is real, unless you have other means to help out,” Vera admitted.“Don’t worry, I will convince the judge when we next meet in court,” Jessica promised.The next day, Vera decided to