"I haven't seen Lyra around for the past few days. Do you know where she is?" Tom asked as he sat down with his wife, who had just appeared at the breakfast table.Margareth waited to answer her husband's question. Instead, she approached him and gently kissed his forehead. Tom raised both eyebrows in surprise; this was not Margareth's usual behaviour. What could have suddenly improved her mood?"Good morning," greeted his wife as she sat at the table's end. She immediately sipped a cup of black coffee with beans specially roasted and imported from Indonesia, feeling the caffeine in the coffee work its magic as it prepared her for the drama she was about to stage."Good morning..." Tom replied hesitantly. His initial happiness had turned into apprehension as he awaited the worst possible outcome. He knew Margareth's habit well; she would act cheerful before unleashing her anger, like a rainbow before a storm."Zhar, my dear. Can you manage my boutique on High Avenue? I feel like someo
The sun had risen as Anne's car pulled up to Turin Mansion. From the front window, she glanced at Danzel, who was still asleep, and that irritation returned. As a result, she intentionally parked her car far from the lobby, closer to the stable.Anne got out of her car and intentionally slammed the door loudly. I was instantly jolted, shocked by the sudden loud noise and vibrations. I was even more surprised when Anne's face appeared at the window, ensuring her actions had succeeded in waking me up.'Anne?' I thought, the pain all over my body and my face making me aware of the previous night's events, and I looked around.'Why am I suddenly here?'[Be thankful to me.]"Ugh..." I groaned in pain."So—" Anne began, and I was prepared for the questions she would ask, but it seemed Anne hesitated. She took a deep breath, then excused herself, "Never mind, it's pointless. I have no right to know your business because, after all, I'm nobody. Goodbye," she concluded on her own. She turned a
"What do you mean?" Margareth shouted at Tom, her finger pointing at the man who had been her husband for 30 years. "You, whom I lifted and placed in the spotlight to boost your ego, now turn against me for that woman? She's our daughter-in-law, you bastard!""Boosting my ego, you say? Is that how you see it? To the extent that I never had the right to speak with you freely? You only needed me as a pawn in your game, Margareth. You don't think I didn't realise that? You fool, as for Lyra, I can't deny it: I love her."Margareth's eyes widened upon hearing her husband's confession, spoken so calmly. Throughout her life, she had never imagined that Tom would betray her like this. "You don't mean it," Margareth protested."You'll find out whether I'm lying or not," retorted Tom.Tom stood in front of Lyra, protecting her, shielding her from Margareth. That's when Margareth realised that the game she had prepared to win had ended with her becoming the loser. She had never lost a game befo
"It's not like that, Dr. Bertha. That kind of thing can easily go unnoticed for ordinary eyes like mine. Look, even other people are cheering for them," Anne defended herself."Oh, is that so? Alright, let's assume that," Dr. Bertha insisted, closing the debate. But Anne knew that Dr. Bertha had sensed something. Even if that were the case, Anne preferred that Dr. Bertha keep his knowledge to himself. She wasn't ready for those feelings to be openly acknowledged."So, what are you going to do about that woman once you know she knows your secret?" Anne asked me."I'll decide when I meet her again," I replied."Oh."'Is it to find out or continue what you didn't finish yesterday?' Anne wondered, surprised that she could still feel disappointment in her heart even though she had resolved not to hope for more from Danzel.I knew what Anne was thinking, but I also knew Anne wouldn’t consider my explanation objectively. I didn't want to argue before Dr. Bertha, so I remained silent, ignorin
After seeing the CCTV footage that showed Anne's concern for Rupert, Bash suddenly thought of Lyra and how he had been neglecting the woman who had faithfully waited for his attention. As far as he could remember, she had not mentioned anything about their severe relationship to his parents. She had a way of winning over his parents and getting closer to them than he ever could.As he thought back, Lyra wasn't a bad wife. ‘If I were the one who fell in the trash like that bastard Rupert, would Lyra still accept and embrace me?’ Bash wondered.He had never wanted to have children because he knew he wouldn't be a good father, having never experienced love and care from his own father. The materialistic form of affection he had received had never made him truly happy. But when he thought about it again, maybe Lyra could make up for his shortcomings. Perhaps Lyra could be a loving mother. Unlike his mother, who was always working and socialising, Lyra waited for him faithfully at home.Th
"We have to clean up this mess, Bash," Margareth ordered, releasing her embrace of her son. She walked toward the room that had once belonged to her son and former daughter-in-law, looking at the bodies of the two individuals indulging in worldly desires. Two people who had betrayed her from behind. There was no remorse or sadness in her heart because she knew that sooner or later, Tom would go to great lengths to kill her once he had obtained what he desired.She pulled her phone out of her pocket and called Zhar. "Where are you?" she inquired.[Still at the boutique, Ma'am.]"Come home immediately."[Of course, Ma'am.]Without hesitation, Zhar readily agreed to Madam's request. Although he was Tom's right-hand person, it was Margareth who recruited and elevated him to his current position. His loyalty was with Margareth and the Merrick lineage, not Tom Pascal.Bash followed his mother. "I will protect you, Mom," he promised, surprising Margareth, who was still trying to figure out h
"I promise to make Merrick Corp stronger and more successful, to the point where those who wish to overthrow Merrick will be afraid and retreat out of their awareness," Bash declared confidently in front of the journalists.We were still watching it together on my room's television screen. Even Mr. Rocky had joined us. His expression was unreadable to me. How did he feel now that one of the prominent figures, his daughter's murderer, was dead?"Well, he's already throwing shade at you, Danzel," Anne commented, a sentiment Mr. Rocky and Dr. Bertha shared."He might just be bluffing. A Bash couldn't possibly stand alone without Tom and Margareth's support. Though I admit, his acting this time is quite convincing. What about you, Mr. Rocky? Are you still 100% committed to taking down Merrick, or has the burden been lifted from your shoulders, especially now that Bash, not Margareth, is leading?""As long as this city is under Merrick Corp's control, whoever leads it must be brought down,
Hundreds of luxurious black cars marched through the city streets, followed by abundant flower arrangements. They were escorted by several police outriders, and other motorists who realised what the march was for pulled over and watched as if it were a parade.Anne and I sat in the backseat of one of the cars driven by Dr. Bertha, who was disguised with a mask, a black fedora, and black gloves. She concealed herself well. According to her confession, this was the first time she had mustered the courage to appear in public since the fire incident."I want to witness those scoundrels being buried in the ground with my own eyes. That way, I can be sure he's really dead," her determination made me smile and respect her resolute decision.Upon arriving at Crescent Cemetery, my steps momentarily halted as I passed the section where the bodies of my three loved ones lay, the pain piercing my heart. Anne held my hand tightly, patting my shoulder to provide comfort."Why, Rupert? Do you recogn