The CEO's Ex-Wife Is A Famous Doctor


~Lilhyz~


©️SⓂ️S/©️🅰️🅰️🅰️


Chapter 1: Divorce

“I want a divorce! I am now the CEO of the Thompson Group of Companies- the master of the Thompsons. My father can no longer control me. I am done with your selfishness!” Evan Thompson, her husband, towered over her as he yelled.
“I thought I knew you. I thought you would change, but I was wrong to think that you deserved a chance!”
“Evan, please,” Shantelle’s words broke in and out. This wasn’t the first time her husband had brought up the divorce in the past few months, but now he had the
divorce papers in his hand. Fear crept into Shantelle’s heart, knowing how serious he was this time. She reasoned, “I thought you were cheating on me. So I did every married woman would do and confront a mistress whom you have been housing in a luxury
apartment -”
“I was only helping her!” Evan insisted. “She isn’t a mistress! Why are you so insecure?”
“Nicole has no one. I brought her here to Rose Hills, and she is my responsibility. Two years ago, Nicole quit her job in Lockwood to be with me. She has no one. Do you hear me? No one. You and father ensured she could not get a decent job!” Evan shot back. With a frown, Shantelle said back, “She could have gotten a decent job ifnshe stayed away from Rose Hills -”


“And with what? No money – in a new town without anyone she knows?” Evan retorted.
“Then, she could go back to Lockwood -” Shantelle tried to reason, but hencutnher off again.
“That’s not the point, Shantelle! Haven’t you realized it? I do not like to be dictated!” Evan said. He pointed at her and described, “You think you can control my life? Who do I want to be acquainted with?”
“That’s never going to happen, Shantelle! Never! I only permitted thismarriage because of my father – because he threatened me with my inheritance, my birthright!” Evan added. “You realized how unfair that was for me?”
“And what if I cheated? Why would it matter to you? You forced yourself into this marriage – conspired with my father to trap me in this situation! You knew that I had my eye on Nicole, but did that matter to you? No! You had to squeeze yourself into my life!” Evan shot back, his voice strengthening.
‘Forced myself into his life?’ Shantelle silently asked. ‘But we have known each other longer!’
Shantelle and Evan had been married for two years. Their parents were close friends and had always said that she and Evan were bound to get married.Evan was the gentle older brother she looked up to when they were young.He treated her kindly and even blushed at her claims of marrying him. She was five years younger than Evan, so her thirteen-year-old self did not
hold back in expressing her love for him back then. Sadly, the time came when Evan had to leave Rose Hills City for his college and master’s degree.


Evan only visited Rose Hills during holidays since he was often busy, taking two majors in college and managing an off-shore branch near Lockwood City.
When Evan fully returned to Rose Hills, he was already twenty-five years old,ready to take on more responsibility in his father’s company. He was mature,
more brilliant, taller, better built, and absolutely good-looking. However, when he came back, he brought someone with him, a friend whom he introduced as
a potential girlfriend, Nicole Lively.Shantelle never saw the signs. Whenever Evan visited Rose Hills, they
chatted like old times. She was always very transparent about her attraction towards him, yet he never shut her down. Imagine her surprise and dismay when he returned with a woman he was casually dating at that time.The oddest part was how Nicole Lively looked somewhat similar to her. Nicole had long blonde hair, amber-colored eyes, and the same nose. If not for Shantelle’s blue orbs, more prominent jawlines, and tall figure, they were almost the same. It wasn’t just Shantelle who was disappointed when Evan brought home a girl. His father, Erick Thompson, was so furious that he tried to push Nicole away. He paid her off to leave the city, but she never took the bait. After some time, Evan’s father forced him to marry Shantelle. He would have been disowned if he had not. It was Erick’s way of declaring that Nicole Lively had no place in their family.


Yes, Shantelle was selfish. The thought of Evan being with another woman made her incredibly resentful. So when Evan’s father insisted on their marriage, she… willingly agreed.Shantelle was only twenty when she married Evan, still studying biochemistry at a local university that her father co-founded, but that did not stop her from being with the man she had loved. She thought this was her chance. Eventually, he i would love her. She loved Evan so much and would do anything for him – to be with him, including working with Erick Thompson to keep Nicole Lively away.
Erick and Shantelle tried everything. With her own family’s influence, they banned Nicole from entering the city. For over a year, Nicole was out of the picture. However, Shantelle had to admit the woman had her ways! Nicole found her way back to Rose Hills with Evan’s help.
“Now that I hold power and my father can no longer run the company, I can finally make this decision with no one to threaten me,” Evan coldly said. “I want you out of my life, Shantelle!”
“But Evan, I love you,” she admitted, water welled in her eyes this time. “I did everything for you to love me. Since I was young, you knew I have always loved you.”
She kneeled in front of Evan and wrapped her arms around his knees. She begged, “Please don’t leave me. I love you so much.”

“BUT! I DON’T. LOVE YOU! I never did!” Evan forced his frame away from her.He then slammed the papers against the living room table. With how strongly he struck the table, Shantelle shuddered, feeling chills
down


her spine. For seconds, she remained silent, gawking at the document.‘This is it. It has come to this. Despite everything I had done to earn his love,’ Shantelle said to herself. Her breathing became labored as tears finally rolled down her face. Shantelle felt utterly defeated. Her mouth parted, yet no words left her lips. Before she could respond, Evan groaned, saying, “You are unbelievable! What happened to the Shantelle I used to know?”
‘What does he mean? I am still the same Shantelle, except I tried to fight for what I thought was right for me – him – his love!’ She pondered deeply.
“Fuck!” He clenched his jaws before saying, “I’m leaving. I have better things to do than deal with you.”
Pointing to the divorce agreement, he said, “I’ll give you one week. One week to sign that document.”
He stood up and put on his coat. As he did, Shantelle asked, “Where?” She gulped. “Where are you going?”
“None of your business.” He took a few steps forward and then purposely said,
“Maybe I’ll stay at Nicole’s apartment – anywhere but here.” The next thing Shantelle heard was the loud banging of their double doors


Chapter 2: The Letter

Selfish? Yes, that was true. It was because she loved Evan so much. Insecure? How could she not be? Knowing that Nicole Lively was at arm’s length, Shantelle’s insecurity grew. Shantelle and Evan had a relatively tranquil marriage for more than a year.
It wasn’t fruitful or romantic – the dream marriage she wished for, but at least they
were civil. Occasionally, they spent quality time as a married couple.
Occasionally, they had made love. Shantelle could tell that Evan had tried.
However, six months ago, she received an anonymous message, tipping
her of
Nicole Lively’s return. She became paranoid. She kept prying, infuriating
Evan
with her constant interrogating and snooping. He started bringing up a
divorce
since. Eventually, whoever gave her clues sent her photos of Evan and
Nicole
together, having lunch or taking her to a luxury apartment building.
That was when Shantelle pursued to know where Nicole lived. So when
she
found out that Evan was paying for the apartment, she stormed into the
apartment building and gave Nicole a piece of her mind. Shantelle made
sure
Everyone in the building knew that Nicole was a mistress!
Naturally, Evan found out about it. That was how they wound up in their
most
noteworthy argument, within the living room of their villa.
So yes, she was selfish and insecure, but that was all because of her love
for
Evan.
What hurt Shantelle the most, however, were Evan’s words. ‘I DON’T.
LOVE


YOU! I never did!’
She thought, if there was no ounce of affection for her, then why? Why would he touch her? She ridiculed herself, still sitting on the floor. She muttered, “I guess
I’m just a convenient partner.”

“Of course, Shantelle. You already know this,” she added. Evan had never told he loved her. He never even said he liked her. She was just someone his father forced him to marry.Shantelle got up from the floor when she realized the maids were staring at her.
‘They must have overheard. How shameful. How pathetic.’ She picked up the divorce papers and went to the master’s bedroom. It was then she read the terms of the contract. To set Evan free, she would get ten million dollars as alimony.
Shantelle set the document aside and stood in front of a full-length mirror.
Watching the stain on her face, the bags around her eyes, and her skinny
frame, she murmured, “How pitiful.”
Before she became Misses Thompson, she was once the most
sought-after
young girl in college. She could not count the number of men who
confessed
their love for her, yet she chose to be with a man who did not love her.
“How pathetic.” She told herself. “Shantelle, you are so pathetic!”
It’s fair to say that love can turn one into someone foolish.
Shantelle was only twenty-two years old. She graduated at the top of her
class
in biochemistry, finishing her degree in seven semesters. She wasn’t
supposed
to be someone who felt unloved and unwanted. She was meant to be
greater!


After finishing college, she was so hung up, knowing that Nicole was just
around
the corner, that she did not even think about herself or her career. She had
always wanted to become a doctor – a surgeon, but that would mean
leaving
the city to pursue medicine – allowing Nicole to see her husband freely!
Thus,
she gave up on that idea.
After studying herself in the mirror, Shantelle looked around the room. Her
eyes
landed on the portrait of her and Evan. It was a picture of them on their
wedding
day.
She noted how she was so happy. Her eyes were gleaming in the photo,
but as
she glanced at Evan’s face, her heart sank. In that photo, there was only
hurt in
Evan’s expression.
Guilt washed over her. Then, after some time, she laughed. The kind of
laughter
that was mixed with misery. Indeed, she was pathetic. She was at fault for
marrying Evan against his will. If she had said no back then, he would have
been free to choose, and she would not be in such a wretched state.
Shantelle did not know for how long she reflected on her decisions in life,
but
Before dozing off to sleep that night, she admitted, “You are right, Evan.
You are
right. I am to blame for this.”
***
“Mrs. Thompson, have dinner. You barely ate for two days,” Mrs. Shaw,
their
the house caretaker walked in the door, forcing Shantelle to get up from the
bed.


Shantelle did not know how, but she managed with only water and bread
for two
days. That was how depressed she had become after Evan gave her the
divorce papers.
“I brought your dinner instead, so you don’t have to go out,” Mrs. Shaw
said.
Mrs. Shaw urged Shantelle to eat. She did not leave, making sure
Shantelle
filled her stomach.
After Shantelle finished half her plate, she smiled and said, “Mrs. Shaw,
thank
you for taking care of me. Thank you for being my constant companion
here at
home, but -”
The words were stuck in her throat, and she cried, saying, “I’m afraid I must
leave. I’m afraid I have pushed myself too hard on Evan’s life that he hates
me
-”
“Shhh. Mrs. Thompson. You are a good person. You just need to learn that
love
cannot be forced,” Mrs. Shaw said. “If you love something, set it free. If it
comes
back, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, then it never was.”
Shantelle smiled at Mrs. Shaw. She acknowledged, “Thank you, Mrs.
Shaw. I
i guess I know that already. I was… really hoping he would love me one
day.”
Mrs. Shaw nodded. She had been working with Evan’s family for years.
When
Evan moved to his marital home, the Thompsons asked her to take care of
the
newlywed couple.
She had known Shantelle since she was in high school. The Scotts were


constant visitors to the Thompson’s home. Thus, Mrs. Shaw was aware of
her
kind nature, but Shantelle slowly changed since she married Evan.
Mrs. Shaw tried to mind her own business, but this time, she could not help
but
give Shantelle her advice. If they were both unhappy with the marriage,
why
stay?
“Have you decided?” Mrs. Shaw asked.
Shantelle nodded and faintly replied, “Yes, I have.”
After Mrs. Shaw left, Shantelle first took out a paper and pen. Evan has
been
bringing up the divorce since four months ago, but it was only in the past
twenty-four hours that Shantelle gave it enough thought.
She sucked in a breath and wrote a letter to Evan:
[My Dearest Evan,
You first helped me with my math homework when I was ten. Your
technique for
mastering mathematics was excellent. I thought you were so brilliant.
Remember when my parents were so busy because of a doctor’s
conference
My father had to attend? Mom and Dad had to leave me in your house, and
we
made a mess of the kitchen, making pancakes. I enjoyed those happy
times
with you.

When I was twelve, our families went camping by the lake, and you saved
me
after falling into the water. That was the first time I felt I truly liked you. Even
if I
i was just a kid, I was crazy about you.
I only told you about how I felt when I was thirteen because I knew you
were


leaving for college.
Evan, my love for you is not shallow. It goes deeper than you can imagine,
but I
was wrong about how I showed my love. You are right. I should not have
agreed
to the marriage and trapped you into such a commitment.
I’ve heard this line many times, but I have always denied it. Loving
someone
means setting them free. So, here it is. I have already signed the divorce
papers.
I hope you and Nicole will find happiness. I’m sorry to have come between
the
two of you. Forgive me for being selfish. Forgive my childish ways.
Goodbye, Evan.
Take care.
Love,
Shantelle.

Chapter 3: The Anonymous Number
Dark circles formed around her eyes as Shantelle packed her bags at five
in the morning. She kept returning to the closet
and deciding on what to bring. Evan bought her a few dresses. Even if they
were in a loveless marriage, somehow, he
had thought about her.
“I think it’s better not to bring anything that would remind me of Evan,” she
mumbled and resumed packing only those she
bought with her father’s money.
When she was done, she called for her father’s driver and asked him to
pick her up. Only then did she read the terms of
their divorce. She read it once and twice until it all sunk into her head.


“You are getting a divorce, Shanty. You are getting a divorce,” she
repeated. “No more crying. Cry later when you are at
home.”
“Ten million dollars.” She reread. Evan would give her ten million dollars as
alimony for accepting the divorce terms.
Shantelle marked out the alimony. She affixed her signature on the
correction. Afterward, she cautiously signed her name
on every page and at the last part.
She felt a knife stab her heart as she affixed her signature next to Evan’s.
For a moment, she wondered when he had
signed this contract.
When Shantelle was done, her shaking hands placed the same document
beside the table, and she sadly removed her
wedding ring. Tears threatened to fall again, but she held back.
Shantelle allowed herself a few minutes to take it all in. Just as she was
sitting on the bed, her phone buzzed.
Immediately, she assumed it was her father’s driver.
To her surprise, it was the same anonymous number that had been telling
her about Evan and Nicole. However, the
the message was bolder this time, declaring herself.
Her eyes widened at what she saw, and her heart galloped!
On her screen was a picture of Evan having coffee at an unfamiliar dining
area. From the photo, Shantelle could tell that
Evan had just woken up. His hair was messy, and he wore his usual office
attire, except it was all wrinkled.
The message on her phone read: [No matter what you do, he will come
back to me. He never loved you. Give up.]
Shantelle’s face turned ghostly white. She could not believe her eyes!
Apparently, her mysterious tipper was none other
than Nicole Lively herself! How brazen!
Her mouth fell open as she threw her head back on the sheets. She
laughed and laughed while tears streamed down her
face.


After what felt like ten minutes of laughing and crying, her heart out, she
replied to the message, saying: [So it was you all
along, Nicole. I would never have thought. Well, you can have him. I accept
my defeat.]
Either way, Shantelle had already signed the divorce papers and earnestly
accepted that Evan did not love her.
For seconds, she contemplated what to do. Still, she thought it was
necessary to let Evan know what Nicole had done.
She took a screenshot of Nicole’s message. Then she sent it to Evan.
Shantelle typed her message: [I agree to the divorce. You can have your
ten million dollars. I don’t need the money, Evan.
I am Shantelle Scott, daughter of the world-famous cardiac surgeon, Doctor
William Scott. Thank you for everything, Evan,
and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.]
Before leaving, Shantelle made sure that Evan would get her message
clearly. She wrote added instructions in her letter:
[By the way, I marked out the alimony and countersigned it. As I said in my
text, you don’t need to give me any money.
And, I’m sorry about the picture message I sent you. I just thought you
should know.]
The next call she received was that of her father’s driver. She gave her
room one last look before finally leaving her
marital home.
***
Last night, in a private room in an exclusive club, Evan was spending time
with his friends. His brown-colored eyes
narrowed at his drink. His perfectly sculpted and slightly bearded jaws
clenched before gulping down a full glass of hard
liquor.
After settling the glass on the table, he ran his fingers through his dark
brown hair and announced, “I’m divorcing
Shantelle.”
Dead air fell upon the room, but soon, one of his friends, Sean, asked, “I
can’t believe this. Are you serious, Evan?”


“He is dead serious, man. We all knew he was always envious of our
single-blessed life,” Wendell remarked before
gulping down a full glass of wine.
“What’s going on?” Keith arrived, curious about the purpose of their
gathering.
Sean Ross, Keith Henderson, and Wendell Franco have been good friends
with Evan since high school. They parted
ways when they studied at different colleges, but they had always
communicated with each other.
Sean and Wendell first glanced at Evan. Seeing he was seriously drinking
his liquor, Wendell revealed, “Evan is divorcing
our beautiful Shanty.”
“What?” Keith asked with a frown. He sat next to Evan and poured himself
a glass of wine. “Why?”
“Why not?” Evan said back. “I never wanted to get married two years ago. I
was twenty-five then, at the prime of my life. I
had many plans. It was all my father’s doing, and she rode in on it. She is
not that innocent!”
“But I thought you both were fine last year?” Sean asked. “Weren’t you
going out on occasional dates?”
“A few. A few dinner dates were just a front to appease my father.” Evan
scoffed. His response was his way of justifying
his decision. “I just endured it. But now that father no longer has the
stamina to run the corporation, and he has no choice
but to hand me the full authority, I am free to make my own choices.”
“Besides, I have had enough of her being constantly jealous and insecure!”
Evan added.
There was silence between the four friends, but eventually, Keith sought,
“Is this because of Nicole Lively?”
“I don’t know, man. I mean, you have been spending time with Nicole lately.
Plus, you kept that a secret from Shanty. It’s
natural for Shanty to be jealous,” Wendell suggested.
“Who I make friends with is none of her business,” Evan curtly pointed out
and then indulged himself in another glass of


alcohol. “Whose side are you on?”
The temperature in their room dropped instantly. It took minutes and a few
more drinks for Sean to break the ice. He
asked, “So you are only interested in becoming friends with Nicole? Or are
you planning to make her your girlfriend after
the divorce?”
Evan thought deeply about it. That was the plan before he was forced into
marriage. Now, many things had changed, but
Of course, he still felt responsible for Nicole’s well-being. Nevertheless, he
wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
Despite his uncertainties, he retorted, “Why not? I brought Nicole to Rose
Hills two years ago with that intention.”
Evan immediately noticed the varied expressions of his friends. Keith
scoffed. Sean sneered. Wendell bit his lip. All the
more irritation filled his heart.
“What the hell is wrong with all of you?” Evan cast them an intimidating
glare as he questioned.
“Nothing, Evan. It’s just that.” Sean cautiously looked at Wendell and Keith.
When he confirmed their minds were synched,
He said, “We don’t get you, Evan.”
Keith nodded. He, for one, had known Shantelle and Evan since they were
young. Evan used to cherish Shantelle, and
their families always knew they would end up together. Everything changed
when he came home one day and brought
Nicole Lively.
“What do you mean you don’t get me?” Evan, in his stern voice, sought.
“Sure, they have similarities, but if you look closely, they are so far apart.
And it’s not just the look; it’s everything else;
Shantelle’s background, her character.” Shaking his head, Keith said, “Let
me show you, Evan.” With his left hand raised
above his head, he said, “This is Shantelle.” Then, he lowered his right
hand below his waist and suggested, “This is
Nicole Lively.”
“That’s the difference between the two of them. Any man would want
Shantelle over Nicole. We don’t get how you like


Nicole over your wife,” Keith said in a sarcastic tone.
“Then!” Evan yelled, “Why don’t you marry her?!”
Angered by his friend’s idea, Evan pushed the liquor bottles off the table,
spilling the contents on the tiles. He got up and
fixed his coat and acted to leave.
Just when he had heard enough from his friends, Keith said back, “Are you
sure about that, Evan? Because if you are not
interested in Shanty, I’d be more than happy to pursue her!”
The thought of Keith wooing his wife filled his heart with fury. Keith was a
known playboy. He dated women left and right!
He did not deserve someone like Shantelle. He said back, “Don’t even think
about it!”

Chapter 4: Nicole Lively
For an hour, Evan drove around town aimlessly, thinking about the divorce.
Thanks to his so-called friends, he was
second-guessing his decision.
It was past midnight when he still had no specific direction where to go.
He thought about going to a hotel or his office, but suddenly, he
remembered one person who could understand him,
Nicole. Thus, he drove to Nicole’s apartment.
When Evan arrived at the apartment, he rang the doorbell several times.
Finally, when the door opened, he saw Nicole’s
a smiling face.
She was surprised to see him, and he could tell by how her eyes widened
and gleamed. Faintly, she said, “Evan, you are
here!”
“I need someone to talk to,” Evan revealed. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Nicole quickly let him in and guided him to the living room. She said,
“What’s bothering you, Evan?”
Then she frowned, and with a sad expression, she asked, “Did you fight
with Shantelle? I’m sorry. I don’t know how she


learned that I had returned. I was surprised when she came barging into
my door last Tuesday.”
Nicole quickly cried and said, “I should have never come back here and
make trouble for you and Shantelle -”
“I’ve asked for a divorce,” Evan revealed.
“What?” She asked in shock.
“I told Shantelle I want a divorce. Since my father stepped down at the
company, he can no longer force me to stay
married to Shantelle,” Evan revealed, looking past Nicole.
“Are -are you sure?” Nicole inquired.
Evan groaned. He lowered his head and rested his face against his palms,
saying, “It has to be done. I want out. This
wasn’t how I wanted my life to be.”
Nicole stretched her hands to rub Evan’s shoulder. She said, “I know how
you feel, Evan. It’s hard when everything is
taken from you – like how your father deprived me of getting an opportunity
here in Rose Hills. You and I both know what
it feels like being stuck in a situation you can’t escape.”
In a caring tone, she added, “I wholeheartedly support your decision. You
deserve to make your own choices.”
To Evan, Nicole was a good listener, and that always gave him a sense of
comfort. It reminded him of how he became
friends with Nicole in the first place.
When Evan was still taking his master’s degree at Lockwood University, he
met Nicole while borrowing a book from the
library. She was working as a librarian there. At first, she quickly caught his
attention because her back looked like
Shantelle’s. Besides that, Nicole was very efficient in giving Evan the books
required for his research. Then, every time he
visited the library, they would chat briefly.
Evan and Nicole seemed to like the same things. Outside the library, they
often bumped into each other, especially in the
places where Evan spent his free time. It was as if fate was bringing them
together that Evan casually dated her. So when


it was time for Evan to take on a more prominent role at the company, he
offered to bring Nicole to Rose Hills. He wasn’t
sure yet of how he felt about her back then.
Nicole did not have friends or family, and Evan felt sorry for her. Evan
thought, with his connections in Rose Hills, Nicole
would have a better life in the city of his birth.
Unfortunately for Evan, he forgot about one thing.
Shantelle Scott.
He failed to factor in Shantelle in his decision to bring a woman to Rose
Hills. How could he forget that his parents had
always wanted him to marry Shantelle?
Evan could only blame the distance. He was technically gone for seven
years, returning only a few days every year and
forgetting about that verbal arrangement between their families.
However, before Evan could consider things thoroughly, his father acted
harshly against Nicole. He looked down at her
and tried to pay her off. When it did not work, and Nicole remained in the
city, his father forced him to marry Shantelle.
Evan let out all his frustrations with Nicole. Feeling relieved, he said,
“Thank you for hearing me out, Nicole. I’m glad I
i came here. Is it okay if I sleep in the guest room?”
“Of course, Evan. Technically, this is your house,” Nicole replied.
Evan guided himself into the guest room. He smiled at Nicole, who was
standing outside the door. He said, “Goodnight,
Nicole.”
“Goodnight, Evan,” Nicole answered with an amiable smile.
When the door slammed shut, Nicole frowned. She was very disappointed
that Evan did not let her in. She walked closer
and even tried to open the door. However, it was locked from the inside.
She cussed but reminded herself of how Evan was divorcing Shantelle!
She made her way to her room and mumbled, “Be
patient, Nicole. In due time. The wait is all worth it.”
***


In the morning, Nicole prepared breakfast for Evan. Then, recalling how
Even complained about Shantelle’s paranoia, she
took a picture of him while drinking his coffee. Over the past few months,
she had secretly sent clues to Shantelle that
Evan had been seeing her. The photos did not have to suggest that they
were in a relationship. Nicole knew Shantelle had
always been insecure when it came to her.
Since Evan was divorcing Shantelle, she no longer hid her identity. ‘Soon,
Evan will be mine, like it should have been two
years ago, bitch!’
Nicole smirked as she sent the photo to Shantelle. She gave Evan her back
and awaited Shantelle’s reaction.
After a few minutes, she received a response, and oh, how it was favorable
to her. A sinister grin became painted on her
face with the realization that Shantelle had given up!
She imagined herself living with Evan, sleeping beside him in the bed, and
finally making love. Her relationship with Evan
had always been ambiguous. When they were casually dating back in
Lockwood City, they had kissed, but they had never
gone beyond that. Evan never gave her a title, whether a girlfriend or a
fling.
When Evan married Shantelle, everything changed. Evan held back with
her and put a distance between them. It was
worse when Evan’s father banned her from the city. She could not get a
job, and Erick’s men constantly threatened her
away.
Nicole had no choice but to stay away for over a year. Once in a while, she
would reach out to Evan, but their
communication was minimal.
Finally, with her back in Rose Hills and with Evan holding the CEO position
of the Thompson Group of Companies, Nicole
was more determined to be with Evan. She smirked as she thought, ‘Soon,
with Shantelle gone, Evan will remember who
He truly likes me, and that’s me. I did not sacrifice so many years to fail!’


“Thanks for breakfast, Nicole. I better head back and remember, you have
an interview at the public library. Don’t worry.
Father would not interfere from now on. He has become tired of fighting
me.”
“Really?” Nicole asked. “That’s good news. That means I can finally pay
you back for all the help you gave me.”
“No, don’t pay me back. I owe you for what my father did.” Evan suggested.
He then turned in the direction of the common
restroom and asked, “Can I use the toilet?”
“Sure, Evan,” Nicole said with a smile.
She watched as Evan first attended to some of his messages. He left his
phone on the table before going to the restroom.
Nicole was cleaning the table when she saw Shantelle’s message. Her
hands itched to see what Shantelle had to say,
especially since she had revealed herself to her. Thus, she opened the text.
Thankfully, Evan’s mobile was still open from
his earlier use. She did not need his password at that point.
When she saw that Shantelle had sent a screenshot or her picture
message, Nicole panicked. Even if she had used an
alternate number, it was obvious that the picture came from her. The angle
of where the photo was taken gave it away.
‘Evan can’t know!’ She quickly deleted the screenshot Shantelle sent,
including the message where she had agreed to the
divorce. “Bitch! Do you think that will work?”
She laughed. She rolled her eyes and said, “Sorry, Evan will never know
about it. You are such a loser, Shantelle Scott.”

Chapter 5: She Left


“Sweetheart, if he can’t appreciate you, then he doesn’t deserve you,”
Doctor William Scott said. “I’m glad you have come
to that decision.”
William and Eleanor Scott embraced their weeping daughter inside the
Scott's family mansion.
“I loved him, dad, mom. How I wish it did not have to end this way -”
Shantelle expressed, but her mother cut her off.
“But more importantly, you have to love yourself,” Eleanor suggested.
As Shantelle pulled away from her parents, her father suggested, “It’s time
to put yourself first, my dearest Shanty.”
“When you married Evan, you lost yourself – your dreams and aspirations. I
know you loved Evan, but there’s more to life
than that boy.” William lifted Shantelle’s chin and suggested, “You deserve
better.”
If it were two years ago, William would have wanted Evan as a son-in-law,
but since Shantelle married him, he saw
through her sadness. In the first few months of their marriage, his daughter
was still elated at being with Evan. However,
As the months passed, he could see Shantelle’s longing to be loved.
Recently, she has been crying more often. She lost so much weight and
was never interested in anything else but
following Evan around. It pained William to see his daughter this way.
Shantelle was never lacking in love. Everyone around her loved her! For
his daughter to feel so unwanted – to become
doubtful of herself hurting William the most. He had long been asking
Shantelle to get a divorce, but she always insisted that
Their marriage was getting better, day by day. Of course, that was not what
he saw.
Finally, they were going to be separated. He did not care who initiated it.
What mattered most was how his daughter
would be free to live her life. He urged, “Let’s leave this town. Let’s relocate
to where you can pursue medicine.”
William smiled and suggested, “Become a surgeon like me.”


In William’s view, taking Shantelle away was the best solution. His daughter
may appear strong right now, decided on the
separation, but he knew well that Evan was her weakness. She could
easily crawl back into his arms, and it wasn’t
because his daughter had no brain. She was too in love with Evan, and it
clouded her judgment.
Shantelle sighed and contemplated. After some time, she weakly replied,
“Okay, father. I agree with your plans.”
“I’m glad you approve,” William answered. “Then your mother and I will
prepare for everything. I’ll have the house for sale.
I don’t want us coming back here, even if it means cutting my friendship
with the Thompsons.”
“But, dad. That would mean – your work?” Shantelle asked.
“I will resign from St. Dominique’s Hospital as their director. I will sell my
shares at the university. I can easily find work
elsewhere, being the best cardio surgeon in the world,” William suggested.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you.”
“I have a city in mind. Warlington. They have the best training facility for
Surgeons,” he revealed. “As soon as I can find a
home, I’ll move you out of Rose Hills.”
***
Days passed. “Mr. Thompson, sir. I’m very sorry, but my mother was
admitted to the hospital because of pneumonia the
the other day. May I please be allowed to review the documents at the
hospital?” James, Evan’s assistant, asked. “I will bring
my laptop with me.”
“Will you bring your laptop to the hospital?” Evan leaned back and sighed.
He finally understood why his assistant had
i've been so exhausted recently. He shook his head and suggested, “Take
two days off and attend to your mother. I’ll ask
Sherly to cover your work. Get some proper sleep while you are at it.”

James’ eyes lit up. He quickly bowed and said, “Thank you, sir Thompson.
Thank you so much. I will give Sherly my


endorsements.”
Evan brushed off his assistant with a hand, saying, “Go. Take care of your
mother.”
“Sir, since you allowed me to take a leave,” James said. “May I recommend
that you also get a good sleep yourself?”
Evan froze. Was it obvious how he had been struggling to rest for many
nights? He glanced at his private room next
to the office and gasped. Maybe he needed a good sleep – at home, the
same home he shared with Shantelle.
Again, he sucked in a breath, knowing it was finally time to deal with the
divorce. Evan had yet to return home for more
than a week. It was beyond the time that he gave Shantelle. ‘Could she
have already signed the divorce papers?’
There was only one way to find out. He turned to James and said, “You are
right. Thank you, James.”
“You are welcome, sir. Goodnight,” James said before leaving the CEO’s
office.
***
“Mrs. Shaw? I have several clothes from the office in need of laundry.
Kindly take care of them,” Evan said as soon as he
entered the villa.
“Oh, my. Mister Thompson, you have been staying too much in the office.
You used up all your spare clothes!” Mrs. Shaw
said. “Have you eaten dinner? I can make one very quickly.”
When Mrs. Shaw suggested she prepare his dinner, he frowned and asked,
“Shanty did not make my dinner?”
Sure, he gave Shantelle divorce papers, but she had always attended to
his needs, even when they were arguing. The
the fact that she did not cook dinner was surprising to him.
Mrs. Shaw was taken aback by Evan’s probing. She knotted her brows and
asked, “But, Sir, aren’t you getting a divorce?
She left three days after you and the Misses quarreled in the living room
last week.”
Immediately, Mrs. Shaw lowered her head, saying, “I’m sorry to pry. Your
voices were so loud it was hard not to listen.”


“I see.” Evan frowned. He could not believe it. “She left?”
“Yes, Sir. She has left some papers on your bedside table,” Mrs. Shaw
revealed.
Evan skipped dinner altogether. He went straight to the bedroom and saw
the papers, exactly as Mrs. Shaw had
disclosed. When he moved closer, he understood it was the divorce
agreement.
He was surprised that Shantelle signed it, even without making a drama.
She did not go to his office. She did not call or
send him any messages these past few days. Evan did not also get a call
from his father, which meant his family had not
learned about his decision to divorce Shantelle.
Evan picked up the two-toned wedding ring that was meant for Shantelle.
He unwittingly studied the ring on his finger and
muttered, “She signed it. She really signed it.”
His brows met. Evan thought he would be relieved, but why did it feel like
his chest was heavy? He was about to remove
his wedding ring when he discovered another paper underneath the divorce
agreement.
He picked it up and recognized it was a letter addressed to him. Lazily, he
flipped the paper open and read it.
[My Dearest Evan…]
The weight on Evan’s chest felt heavier in each line of the letter. Shantelle
recounted the years when they were young.
Somehow, it also reminded Evan of how close they were back then.
Eventually, his eyes landed on the last words, which
appeared to have been written as a follow-up. It read:
[By the way, I marked out the alimony and countersigned it. As I said in my
text, you don’t need to give me any money.
And, I’m sorry about the picture message I sent you. I just thought you
should know.]
He raised a brow and wondered, “A message? She sent a message?”
Evan found it strange because he had never received a single message
from her.


Chapter 6: Divorce Celebration
“Good morning, Evan. I love you.”
Evan smiled in his dream, hearing Shantelle repeat those words. She never
got tired of expressing how she felt. In his
dream, he did not respond, but he sensed the warmth in his heart.
Suddenly, he heard his phone buzz. It was his wake-up call.
“Shanty, can you turn off the alarm, please? I want to sleep longer. It’s
Saturday,” Evan groaned in his sleep. “Shants.
Shanty?”
His eyes opened, realizing he was calling out his wife’s name. He sat up
and turned to the empty side of the bed. Then his
gaze landed on the bedside table. When he saw the divorce papers and
the letter she wrote, it dawned on him how
Shantelle was already gone.
“Right. She left,” Evan said under his breath. Again, this was supposed to
be his happiest moment. He was free! All he
needed to do was to formalize the divorce, and he would be officially a
single man, but why was his chest still feeling
heavy? It had not felt any better since he learned about Shantelle’s leaving.
He noticed his phone was ringing. He checked it and saw it was Nicole
calling. He ignored it at first and just lay on the
bed. When his phone continued to ring, he groaned in irritation and
answered it, “Nicole.”
“I got the job from the public library! It’s like what you said. Your father did
not interfere!” There was a smile in her tone


when Nicole added, “Evan, I can’t thank you enough. How about we have
dinner to celebrate? I can cook for you?”
“I.” Evan glanced at the bedside table. Then he replied, “I can’t. I have to
hand to my lawyers the divorce papers – ”
“Oh, did Shantelle sign it?” Nicole probe.
“Yes. Yes, she did,” Evan blandly answered. There was not a hint of
happiness in his voice.
“That’s even more reason to celebrate. Come on, Evan. Let’s have lunch
together,” Nicole kept insisting.
Evan sighed and responded, “I’m sorry, Nicole, but I have things to do. Next
time.”
He ended the call without letting Nicole finish, and then he started staring at
his phone, going through his messages.
Recalling Shantelle’s letter, he wondered, “Which message was she
referring to?”
From one app to another, Evan checked all his messengers, but he did not
find any recent texts or messages from
Shantelle. He frowned and pondered what she meant.
Soon, he attempted to call Shantelle’s phone. “The person you are calling
is out of reach.”
Again and again, he called. Since he could not get through, he sent her a
message: [Shanty, I got your letter. Thank you
for signing the divorce papers. I know you said you did not want the
alimony, but I will still transfer the funds to you. By the
anyway, I did not get any message from you, despite what you have written
in your letter.]
Evan spent an hour waiting in bed, but Shantelle did not reply. He went
down to have his late breakfast. When Shantelle
still did not respond, he sent another message: [Shanty, we could still be
friends. We have known each other since we
were young. We don’t need to be strangers.]
He bathed and changed into a new set of clothes. Evan left to meet his
lawyers and, after handing in the divorce papers,
He decided to pay his father and mother a visit.


When he entered the gates to the old Thompsons’ mansion, Evan felt
tense. It was about time for him to tell his parents
of his decision to divorce Shantelle. He did not know how they would take
it.
His parents, Erick and Clara Thompsons, genuinely loved Shantelle as
their daughter-in-law.
“Are my parents here?” Evan asked.
“Yes, Sir. They are in the garden with Misses – I mean, Miss Scott,” the
maid said.
Instantly, Evan knew what was going on. He looked outside and realized
that the Scotts’ car was parked next to his
father’s. Shantelle was here to report their divorce!
Many possibilities played in his head. Yet again, he was angered. He was
prepared to defend himself should his father
retort by threatening him again. Evan marched with heavy steps until he
found himself in the gardens. What he saw broke
his heart. He could make out how the news saddened his parents.
Erick and Clara were embracing Shantelle with tears in their eyes. His wife
was doing the same, weeping.
“Evan,” Clara, his mother, called. “You are here.”
The embrace between the three broke off, and Evan could finally see
Shantelle. It was obvious that she had been crying,
observing the bags around her eyes.
“Shantelle tells me you have finally divorced?” Clara said in a soft tone.
Then, to Evan’s surprise, his father said, “I guess it’s better. I’m tired of
forcing this onto you both.”
“Don’t worry, Evan. Shantelle had told me it was her decision. So I respect
it,” Erick said.
‘What?’ That came as an amazement to Evan. If his father knew it was his
decision, a debate would happen again! He
secretly thanked Shantelle for that.
“Aunt, Uncle. I have to go,” Shantelle sniffed her tears away and said,
“Goodbye.”


“Goodbye, Shanty. We love you, dear. Good luck with everything,” Clara
said, waving goodbye.
Shantelle walked past Evan, not minding him for a second. It wasn’t like her
at all. Evan asked silently, ‘Did she just ignore
me?’
A big part of Evan was dumbfounded. She never ignored him. Noticing how
she kept walking without glancing at him, he
said, “I tried calling you.”
“Hmmm?” Shantelle raised a brow and softly replied, “I changed my
number.”
And just like that, Shantelle walked away. She did not even say goodbye or
give Evan her new number.
***
A month passed.
“Miss Shanty said thank you for the divorce certificate,” Howard, the
Thompsons family driver, said in front of Evan.
Everything You Need to Know
With his money and connection, Evan quickly got the divorce certificates
done. Officially, he was already a free man.
Clearing his throat, Evan asked, “Is that it? Did she say… anything else?”
“Nothing, sir. She just accepted it and returned to whatever it was she was
doing. The Scotts appeared to be busy.”
Howard shrugged. “Their maids were walking in and out of the house,
carrying boxes. Maybe they were cleaning the
house.”
“I see,” Evan replied, inwardly disappointed. “Thank you, Howard – oh, and
-”
Evan reached for a gift box inside his drawers and gave it to Howard, “This
is for your son.” He smiled and added, “I
i remember he liked baseball. Wendell sold some of his card collections.”
“I figured Clark would love this,” Evan added.
Howard had a huge smile on his face. He answered, “Thank you, sir. You
are very thoughtful.”


“Don’t mention it. I just remembered,” Evan replied, and Howard left his
office.
Half bothered by Shantelle’s pure silence, Evan went about his work. As he
did, he kept reminding himself how this was
his decision and that it was best for both of them; him and Shantelle.
In the evening, he received an invitation from his friend, Sean. They wanted
to have drinks at the club.
At the same time, he received a text from Nicole. She said, “Evan, let’s
celebrate. I got my first salary from the library, but I
i don't have any friends to celebrate it with. Please, Evan.”
Evan felt responsible altogether. He had been busy with work and had not
also visited Nicole. Thus, he wound up inviting
her to the club.
Instead of a private room, like they usually had, Sean booked a secluded
booth at the club. Keith and Wendell were
already there.
“Hey, Eva -” Sean’s mouth fell open when he saw Nicole. He said, “Oh, hey,
Nicole.”
“Hi guys, I hope you don’t mind that I join you?” Nicole said, giving off that
amiable smile.
“Sure. It’s fine,” Sean responded awkwardly. “You remember Wendell and
Keith, right?”
“Hi everyone, nice to see you again,” Nicole replied.
The music was on at the club. The DJ played the most upbeat tune, and a
few guests started dancing. On the other hand,
Evan’s group enjoyed their drinks, discussing businesses, and whatnot.
“You know, Nicole, I honestly thought you were so familiar, even during the
first time Evan brought you to our circle,”
Wendell suggested. “Have we met before?”
“I see. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought your eyes were familiar,” Wendell
added.
Nicole smiled and said, “No, it can’t be. It was my first time to be here in
Rose Hills two years ago.”
“Woah, isn’t that Shanty?” Sean asked, seeing a girl in a sexy white dress
that hugged her body, her blonde hair bouncing


as she danced with three other girls.
“Woah!” Wendell hissed.
Keith, on the other hand, whistled. “Damn, I knew she had a sexy body
beneath those jeans and long dresses!”
“Announcement, everyone!” Another girl with short black hair took the
microphone from the DJ. She said, “Meet my girl,
Shantelle Scott! We are celebrating her divorce! She is a hot sexy ass who
is single and ready to mingle!”
Evan’s nose flared. His eyes widened in shock.

Chapter 7: Take Me Home
“Shanty! Are you excited about your going away party!” Karise said with
glee. Her short black hair bounced as she jumped
at the idea.
Shantelle had just arrived at her best friend‘s home. She had called her
days before, informing her that her family was
leaving Rose Hills permanently. They cried over the phone, but soon, they
covered the bright future ahead of Shantelle. It
was more than enough to lighten up their mood.
“Shants!” Celeste, another girl with red hair, exclaimed. “I can‘t believe I‘m
taking my prim and proper girl out to a club!”
Felice, Shantelle‘s other friend, flew all the way from another city to see her
that day. She said, “I am going to teach you
how to dance, bitch!”


Karise, Celeste, and Felice were Shantelle‘s college friends, which she had
neglected since her marriage with Evan. Her
the world revolved around Evan, and she missed out on all the good fun
during her last year in college. The four friends
changed into dresses and put on their makeup at Karise‘s house. After
which, they left for the most exclusive club in town,
LEX.
Immediately, when they found a table, they all ordered their drinks.
Shantelle wasn‘t much of a drinker, but her friends
were, especially Felice and Karise.
“Here‘s some mojito!” Felice handed her another glass. “Get some
courage, girl. We will find you a fine young man – yes,
That's right, a younger man. Evan is old. You deserve someone hotter!”
“Yeah, he may be the richest man in town, but he ain‘t the hottest!” Karise
remarked, encouraging laughter in their group.
“I‘m so happy you are finally going to take medicine, Shanty. Come back
when you become a famous surgeon and show
Evan what he lost!” Celeste suggested.
“Uh Uh!” The three girls said in unison.
“I don‘t know, guys. Maybe, when that time comes, I won‘t even care,”
Shantelle faintly said. Then she smiled, “But to
making him drool over me would be great!”
“That’s my girl!” Karise encouraged. “Cheers!” They all drank up while the
music in the club roared.
It did not take long for the girls to hit the dance floor. All of them had the
boost of confidence they needed. Karise, who
made it her ultimate goal to get Shantelle a good overnight fling, went to
the DJ and took his microphone. She said,
“Announcement, everyone!”
Karise pointed at Shantelle and said, “Meet my girl, Shantelle Scott! We are
celebrating her divorce! She is a hot sexy ass
who is single and ready to mingle!” “Woohoo!” Shantelle‘s friends hooted,
making her flush thoroughly. Soon, a tall man


with dirty blond hair came up to Shantelle. He had striking features; inviting
gray–colored eyes and chiseled jaws. The
the same man asked, “May I have this dance?”
When Shantelle turned, she gasped. Her eyes widened, “Keith! What –
what are you doing here?”
Keith laughed. He replied, “Same as you, enjoying my single life.” He
winked at her and said,” Congratulations. You are
free again. May I say you married too young? Don‘t ever think this divorce
was such a waste.” “Oooh, hottie. Nice pick,
Shanty. Still, he looks old,” Felice remarked.
Shantelle laughed. She snorted as she replied, “He is Evan‘s friend. So,
yeah, he is a bit old.” She danced along with
Keith. The man shook his head as he said, “I don‘t look that old. I look so
much more handsome than your… ex–husband.
We should date now that you are free.”
Another laugh escaped her lips. Shantelle replied, “That would be
scandalous – dating your friend‘s ex–wife. Besides, we
i just got divorced. It would be inappropriate to be dating right away –
“Evan has moved on.” Keith purposely tilted his head in the direction of his
friends, and so when Shantelle saw Nicole
sitting next to Evan, her face paled.
“Eyes, here pretty,” Keith instructed. “Don‘t give him a bit of your attention.
It will only boost his confidence. He is that way
because he knows you will always be there for him, but that‘s going to
change, right?” “You should get used to seeing me
more often instead,” Keith added with a sly grin.
Shantelle narrowed her eyes at him. She asked, “Why?”
“Because I‘ll be seeing you in Warlington,” Keith said with a smirk. “Who do
you think recommended Doctor Scott to
Warrington Hospital?”
Shantelle‘s eyes widened. Then, she realized the Henderson‘s were in the
health insurance business. Keith or his father
could easily connect her father to any hospital in the country. She sucked in
a breath and shook her head, unable to grasp


what she heard. ‘Why was Evan‘s friend helping us to relocate?‘
Keith warned her against gazing at Evan, but she could not help it. She
was leaving the next day. She glanced at Evan,
maintaining her gaze for seconds longer. When she noticed Nicole move
closer to Evan, she turned her attention back to
Keith. she asked, “You won‘t tell him, will you?” “Never! I won‘t tell him,”
Keith said. “Then again, it might be unnecessary.
He might not look for you at all… He already has Nicole.” Shantelle fell
silent. ‘That‘s right. Evan already dared to take
Nicole out in public.’ “What‘s that long face, girl?” Felice jumped in, handing
Shantelle another glass of liquor.” Drink up
your sorrow, and you will feel much better!” Recognizing Keith‘s words,
Shantelle wound up drinking three more glasses
of cocktails that, at the end of her dance with Evan‘s friend, she was ready
to retire for the night! She turned to her friends
and said, “I think I am drunk! I want to go home!” “I‘ll take you home,” Keith
offered. “Nice try, lover boy,” Karise said. “But,
we will take her home.”
“No, I‘ll take her home. You guys have fun!” Keith urged. Shantelle found it
entertaining how her friends and Keith were
arguing about who will drive her home. In her drunken self, she yelled,
“Haha! Who else wants to take me home – Ahhh!”
To everyone‘s shock, Evan had carried Shantelle over his shoulder. He
turned to Shantelle‘s friends and Keith, saying, “I‘ll
take her home. She is my wife.” “Excuse me, but you are already divorced!
I thought Mister Thompson was a smart man.
Let me spell it out for you,” Karise said. “D.I.V.O.R.C.E.D! As in past tense
–""She is a long–time family friend. She is still
my responsibility. I‘ll take her home!” Evan insisted.
“Evan, you seem to be forgetting about your date,” Keith suggested, his
head tilting toward Nicole. “I‘ll take Shantelle
home.”
“I feel dizzy,” Shantelle complained while being swung from side to side. “I
want to go home! Keith, take me home –” “I‘ll


take you home!” Evan turned to Shantelle‘s friends, saying, “I‘ll take her
home. I’d never harm her!” Then, he ordered
Keith, “You take Nicole home!”
Keith let out a sarcastic laugh. He said, “I‘m sorry, man.” He looked over at
Nicole, who was standing there, listening. He
described, “I don‘t settle for second best. You take Nicole home –
Without warning, Evan marched into the exit, leaving Nicole, Keith, and
Shantelle‘s friends behind.
“Evan!”
“Evan, let her go!”
While Shantelle‘s friends chased after Evan, Keith hissed. He fished for his
wallet and turned to Nicole. He gave her a
hundred–dollar bill and said, “Find your way home.”

Chapter 8: Ignored
Evan could not believe his eyes. Shantelle had always been conservative.
Evan liked to think of it that she preserved
herself for him. He was her first, and oddly, he had never been intimate with
anyone, other than his now ex–wife.
Shantelle was never the kind to go out in a club, nor did she enjoy dancing
in the middle of a crowd, wearing a skirt above
her knees.
She was fashionable, but she rarely showed off her skin in public. To Evan,
Shantelle did not have to wear sexy clothes to
i know she had a gorgeous body.
Seeing Shantelle wear a laced dress that hugged her frame, Evan ‘sucked
in a breath. His eyes studied how her golden
hair bounced from side to side, her hips swaying as she danced with her
friends.


Evan was familiar with Shantelle‘s companions, especially Karise. One
thing he was relieved about was the fact that she
did not come into the club with a man. He already guessed this night out
was something Karise had decided upon.
“Our Shanty is really beautiful,” Wendeļl remarked. “That, she is,” Keith
said. Then he stood up and announced, “Well, I
better dance with the most beautiful girl in the club.”
“What are you doing, Kieth?” Evan asked in irritation.
“What? Can‘t I dance with a friend?” Keith suggested with a sly grin. Then
he gave Evan his back and walked to the
dance floor, finding Shantelle.
Evan eyed as Keith and Shantelle spoke to each other. He saw her smile.
Instantly, he felt his heart being squeezed by a
hand. How long has it been since Shantelle smiled that way? She used to
have that glowing face, a smile that could
launch a thousand ships. Yet, that all faded through the latter part of their
marriage.
“They look good together,” Nicole remarked, her eyes fixed on Shantelle
and Keith. She turned to Evan and tried to get his
opinion. “Don‘t you think so, Evan?”
As Evan frowned, Sean spat out his drink. He laughed at the idea of Keith
and Shantelle being together. Sean said, “That
would be… a dream come true for Keith.”
‘What? What did Sean fucking say?‘ He sought in his head. ‘Does – does
Keith like Shantelle?‘
Suddenly, Evan noticed Shantelle staring at them. Immediately, guilt
washed over him, like he was caught cheating. Evan
knew how Shantelle had always been hurt by his closeness with Nicole. He
saw that again when their eyes briefly met.
‘No,‘ he thought. He did not want Shantelle to misunderstand why he was
out with Nicole.
“Evan, I want to dance. Can we dance?” Nicole asked. “Please.” 1
Turning to Nicole, Evan said, “I don‘t want to dance. You go and dance.”


He kept drinking while observing Keith and Shantelle. He had no idea what
they were talking about, but it was making him
uneasy. ‘What if Keith really liked Shantelle? Why am I so upset about it?‘
‘Furi. Why do I even feel this way?’ He asked himself as his eyes narrowed
on the dance floor, The next thing he knew,
Shantelle was enjoying herself in Keith‘s company, dancing, and chatting.
Her friends kept giving her drinks, which also
concerned him. While Evan was studying Shantelle, Nicole was enraged
inside. She tried her best to act calm. to pretend
that Evan‘s attention towards Shantelle did not affect her, but how could
she not? Evan was practically ignoring her! “That
bitch! This is all her fault!’ She screamed in her head. Oh, how she wanted
to walk to the dance floor and scratch
Shantelle‘s face! Nicole hated Shantelle so much, especially her godly
looking face!
Once in a while, Nicole studied Evan. How he looked at Shantelle made
her wonder if he had fallen in love with her. At the
possibility, she frowned. ‘No, that cannot be. Otherwise, he would not ask
for a divorce.‘
After an hour of just sitting next to Evan, drinking while being ignored,
Nicole tried again,” Evan, I want to da –”
Before she could finish her words, Evan marched into the center of the
dance floor and suddenly carried Shantelle over
his shoulder!
Her mouth hung open in shock. She turned to Sean and Wendell, who
were both smirking at Evan‘s actions. Then they
turned to her, giving her a pitiful look.
She was angered! Nicole could not believe how Evan had left her just like
that. Trying to prove she carried greater weight
in Evan‘s heart, she paced to where he was.
“I‘ll take Shantelle home,” Nicole heard Keith say.
With her head down and legs over Evan‘s shoulder, Shantelle tried to
reason, “I want to go home. Keith, take me home –”
“I‘ll take you home!” Evan suggested.


So, apparently, they were arguing about who should take Shantelle home.
Nicole quickly made herself visible in Evan‘s
view, just in case he forgot how she was there all along.
However, she heard Evan instruct Keith, “You take Nicole home!”
Nicole‘s face paled, but the dimmed lights at the club hid the pained
expression on her face. “Evan. Evan, let Keith take
her.” Her voice could not even be heard against the calling of Shantelle‘s
friends.
“Evan!”
“Evan, let her go!”
What made her situation worse was how Evan‘s friend, Keith, treated her.
Keith fucking Henderson gave her a hundred–
dollar bill and said, “Find your way home.” She was infuriated! All the more,
she hated Shantelle! ‘Bitch!‘
***
“Evan? Evan? Why did you leave me here?” Nicole kept calling Evan, but it
only got routed to his voicemail. All she could
i left him a bunch of messages. “Evan, please come back
Chapter 8: Ignored
after you send Shantelle home. I‘m scared. I don’t know anyone here. Keith
refused to send me back.”
What bothered Nicole further was how Evan was spending time with
Shantelle. Anything could happen between them,
and she could not allow it. Again and again, she called Evan. Much to her
dismay, Evan never called back. In the alley
where the club was located, Nicole waited and waited until her patience
grew thin. She saw a bunch of horny teenagers
looking at her maliciously. Seeing the boys continue leering at her, she
knew exactly what to do. A smirk formed on her
face very quickly. She eyed the surroundings, and after making sure none
of Evan‘s friends were present, she called on to
the group of teens, “Hey, boys. Do you want to make good money?” ‘After
this,‘ Nicole thought. ‘Evan would feel obligated
to keep me by his side. Then Evan will be in love with me.‘
***


A luxury sports car was speeding on the road. Evan narrowed his eyes,
recounting how Keith wanted to take Shantelle
home. He said, “Shanty –” “Window –window!” Shantelle was jumping in
her seat. Her hand covered her mouth.” Luhh!”

Chapter 9: One Last Time
Evan managed to flee from Shantell‘s friends. Unfortunately, his beloved
sports car did not escape Shantelle‘s vomit.
“Urgh. This is awful!” Shantelle said in disgust after throwing up on the side
of Evan‘s car. Her dress got partly stained,
and she absolutely reeked of alcohol.“I’m never going to drink
again.”
‘Damn, my favorite car.‘ Evan was behind the wheel. His other hand
stretched to Shantelle‘s back. He stroked her back,
saying, “You are never drinking again, Shanty. You got that?! You can‘t hold
your liquor.”
“Ha! It‘s your fault I‘m drinking, you asshole!” She unwittingly said before
heaving. She rolled back the car windows and
emptied the contents of her stomach. Yes, she puked on the empty streets
as Evan drove through the night.
“I‘m not taking you to your parents like that,” Evan announced before taking
another turn. After thirty minutes, they arrived
at their villa.
Evan carried Shantelle, princess style. Aş he paced into the house,
Shantelle kept spouting nonsense. “Oh, home sweet
home. I‘ll never see you again. Will you miss me?”
“Oh, it‘s the Misses!” Mrs. Shaw walked up to Evan.
“Can you make chicken soup for Shanty, Mrs. Shaw? Bring it up to the
room when it‘s ready,” Evan requested. After
seeing a nod, he hurriedly took Shantelle to their room.
Evan settled her in the chair while he prepared the bath. After achieving the
proper water temperature, he returned to
Shantelle carried her into the tub.


“You need to take a bath, Shanty,” he suggested. “I‘ll ask Mrs. Shaw to help
you –.”
Before he could do as he thought, Shantelle had already removed her
clothes.
“I stink. I stink – ah, my bath! I miss my bath! My favorite bathtub. I will
never see you again, “Shantelle said as she
carelessly lay on the tub. Evan had no choice but to aid her. He figured,
since they had already been intimate a few times,
there was no harm in seeing her fully naked.
“Are you okay continuing by yourself?” Evan asked.
“Hmmm.” Shantelle lifted her face, and with narrowed eyes, she said, “I can
take a bath, hubby.”
Reluctantly, Evan stepped back. He said, “Okay, I‘ll check on you once in a
while.” It took half an hour for Shantelle to
finish. By that time, Mrs. Shaw had already brought the chicken broth and
placed it on the room‘s coffee table. Evan
instructed her, “Can you help the Misses out of the bath?” “Certainly, Mr.
Thompson,” Mrs. Shaw confirmed. After some
Shantelle came out with a robe over her body. Mrs. Shaw guided her to the
coffee table and encouraged, “Have
some soup, Misses. It will help you feel better.” Since Evan carried
Shantelle, he also had puke on his clothes. He decided
to bathe while Mrs.
Shaw was feeding Shantelle. When he came out of the bathroom,
Shantelle was already sleeping on the bed. Mrs. Shaw
had also left their room.
Evan changed into his pajamas. He sat in front of Shantelle with a chair
and studied her sleeping features. Her face was
red from all the drinking she had done. Her eyes, without makeup, were
back to being puffed.
Immediately, it reminded Evan of how she had probably cried so much. It
made Evan feel tightness in his chest, knowing
He was the root of her cries. He caressed her face and pushed back her
hair, saying, “Shanty, what am I going to do with
you?”


Evan gazed at Shantelle for almost an hour, just contemplating. When he
felt his eyes helplessly falling, he climbed onto
the other side of the bed. He covered Shantelle and himself with a blanket
and pulled her into his arms. He shut his eyes
and easily wandered off to sleep.
“Evan, don‘t leave me!” In the middle of the night, Shantelle said in her
sleep.
“Shant. Shanty, I‘m here.” Evan woke up, hushing her cries. “Evan, please,”
Shantelle cried again. “Eva –” “Shanty, wake
up,” Evan pulled her up, pressed her against his chest, and soothed her
back, saying, “I‘m here.” He clenched his jaws,
saying, “I’m sorry, Shanty. I’m sorry.” Soon Shantelle awoke and realized
she was in Evan‘s arms. She cried for real. She
said, “I‘m going to miss you, Evan. I‘m going to miss you.” “Shanty, we live
in the same city. We are still going to see each
other,” he said, but Shantelle kept weeping until she was out of breath. In
the next few minutes, Shantelle was silent. Then
she looked up at Evan and faintly asked,” Evan, make love to me one last
time.”
Evan gulped. “Shanty, I –” “Please, one last time. One last time,” she
begged. Looking into Shantelle‘s blue orbs, Evan
blinked. How could he say no to this beautiful woman? He nodded, saying,
“Okay.”
In the next half an hour, two naked bodies were on top of each other,
moaning and wailing their desires. Their lips were
hungry for each other, not wanting to let go. To Evan, there was something
special about the way they were in bed that
night. He seemed to have poured more emotions into their kiss and how he
entered her. It was probably the best sex they
have ever had to think they had already parted ways. When Evan came, he
threw his head back, relishing the moment.
When his eyes returned to Shantelle, he saw a tear down her face, which
made him speculate there was something


wrong. Evan rolled on his back and sought, “Is there something you need
to tell me, Shanty?” Shaking her head, she
replied, “Nothing, Evan. Nothing.” Evan struggled to sleep that night. The
girl resting on his arm shed tears; he knew it
was for
2/3
.
a One last line
him. Besides the guilt consuming him, he was surprised by how intimate
they were. They had sex in the past, but it was
nothing like this. The closeness between them was far different.
He meticulously studied Shantelle‘s face and acknowledged her elegance.
Shantelle had long lashes, a long pointed
nose, and very fair and youthful skin. Indeed, she would have been a wife
any man would want. ‘Do I truly want this?‘
One thing was for sure; Evan wanted his freedom. Maybe if he was not
forced into the marriage, he could have seen her
in that way–that way, exactly how he looked at her with admiration.
He moved closer and pecked Shantelle‘s forehead. He noticed her do the
same. He assumed she was still awake. Thus,
he whispered, “Shanty, nothing is going on between Nicole and I. I promise
you that. I might have considered it before, but
everything has changed now.” Why was he even telling her this? Evan was
unwilling to admit anything. He simply wanted
her to know the truth about where Nicole stood in his life.
After some time, he realized that Shantelle was indeed asleep. ‘Did she
hear me?‘ With a sigh, he said, “Shanty,
Goodnight.”

Chapter 10: Goodbye Evan


When morning came, Evan woke up to find Shantelle dressed in one of her
clothes. She had not brought home all of her
dresses. Those that he had given her in the past remained in their closet.
For a second, he studied her slender frame. He admitted she had a
beautiful body.
“Do you want me to have Howard send all of your clothes?” Evan asked,
referring to the Thompson‘s family driver. He sat
up, showing off his well–defined chest. Shantelle had just zipped up her
dress. She did not turn to Evan when she
answered, “I won’t need them.”
Shaking his head, he said, “Shanty. Don‘t be like this –” “I won‘t need
them,” she repeated firmly, finally looking at him. “I
better go, Evan. My parents are waiting for me.” “I‘ll take you,” Evan
offered.
“No.” Shantelle pursed her lips and suggested. “It‘s not a good idea. I can
take a cab.”
Evan furrowed his brows. He suggested, “If you don‘t want me, then I can
have Howard –”
“No, I can take a cab,” she repeated.
“Okay. If you insist,” Evan responded with a pained expression. He
observed as Shantelle was about to leave, then he
recalled something important. He cleared his throat and reminded,” Shanty,
you are still taking contraceptives, right? Last
night, I –”
He raked his fingers through his hair, saying, “Given our situation, it would
be best that you do not get pregnant. We are
no longer… husband and wife.”
“Right,” she answered promptly. “I know that. Don‘t worry. I took my pills.” 1
She lied. Shantelle had been so occupied these days that she forgot to
take her pills. It wasn‘t a problem, though. She
meant to take the emergency pill.
Unlike last night, Evan noticed her indifference. It made him uncomfortable
that he brought up her special day. He said,


“Shanty, it‘s your birthday in two months. Do you want to go somewhere? I
remember you always wanted to go to Paris. I
can take you there.”
Instantly, Shantelle stiffened in her stance. Evan quickly noticed how her
breathing became labored. Eventually, she
answered, “Wow. that would be nice, Evan, but I don‘t know my plans yet.”
Shantelle turned to Evan. She forced a smile and said, “Thanks anyway,
Evan.”
“Of course,” Evan said. “I‘ll visit you when I can. Thank you again, Shant,
for signing the divorce agreement. I‘ll send you
the alimony –” “I don‘t need the alimony. I marked it out, remember?” She
said, “I sent you that text, remember?”
“About that message. I never received any. What else did you say in your
message?” He asked with a brow raised.
Chapter 10 Goodbye Evan
Shaking her head, Shantelle dismissed it. She replied, “It‘s not important.
Don‘t send me any money.” “Take care of
yourself. I hope you‘ll be happy with Nicole. Goodbye, Evan,” She added,
forcing a smile.
Evan did not trouble correcting her understanding of his relationship with
Nicole. He was more bothered by how
Shantelle‘s goodbye gave him a sense of emptiness. “Shanty.” “Goodbye,”
She said again before dashing to the stairs,
her feet heavy against the floor. “Shant?!” Evan could not fathom the
uneasiness of his chest. It was with the way
Shantelle said it and the way she looked into his eyes that he felt there was
more to her words.
He quickly changed into his pajamas and chased after Shantelle. “Shanty!
Shanty!”
When he made it out of the villa‘s gate, Shantelle had already taken a taxi.
Evan groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. He rushed back inside
and grabbed his phone, hoping to call Shantelle.
Then, he realized he did not have her new number.


He was about to call Doctor William Scott when his phone rang. It was an
unknown number.
With a frown, Evan answered the call. He heard someone say, “Mister
Thompson, this is from St. Benedict Hospital. A
a patient by the name of Nicole Lively was admitted last night. She was
violated by thugs downtown. She named you as a
contact person? I hope you can come to see her soon. She said, "You are
the only family she has?”
“What?” Evan groaned. He was conflicted about whether to follow
Shantelle or go to the hospital. In the end, he felt
obligated to attend to Nicole, given her circumstance. He left for the
hospital with a heavy heart.
***
“Shanty, given by the dress you are wearing, I think I know where you came
from,” Shantelle‘s mother asked, seeing her
daughter arrived later in the morning, wearing a dress her ex–husband
gave her. “I thought you were supposed to be with
Karise, but she called me to check if you were already home.”
“Sorry, mom. I made another stupid mistake,” Shantelle admitted. While
allowing Shantelle into the house, Eleanor said, “I
hate it when you say that because you only make such mistakes with
Evan!”
Eleanor let out a heavy sigh, saying, “I‘m glad we are leaving Rose Hills. As
much as I love this city, we should keep you
away from Evan.” “I know, mom. I know,” Shantelle admitted. Earlier, when
Evan asked her about her birthday, she was
this close to giving in – to giving up on their plans of moving. ‘Why would
Evan offer to treat me on my birthday? Was he
trying to lead me on?‘ The idea just irked her. Thank goodness she found
the courage to leave the villa. “Go, call back
your friends. They were worried sick about you. The maids have already
brought down your luggage. We will leave in two
hours,” Eleanor instructed. Shantelle quickly called her friends and
instructed them to meet her at the airport.


Two hours came and went. Shantelle and her parents arrived at the airport.
A private jet was
L‘anter TU Goodbye Ivan
meant to take her and her parents to Warlington.
She was happy her friends met her one last time, knowing it would be long
before she would see them again. “I‘m going to
miss you, guys,” Shantelle said to her friends. She hugged them one by
one and added, “Visit me sometime, okay?” “We
will try,” Felice said. “Either way, there is always the internet.”
“I love you, my girl,” Karise said. “I will miss you.”
“Bye, Shant. Live your dreams,” Celeste said. “Call us anytime.”
“Don‘t ever think of Evan,” Felice suggested. “Don‘t look back. Just keep
moving forward.” “You can do this, girl. You are
not Shantelle Scott for no reason. Remember, one day, you‘ll be called
Doctor Shantelle Scott,” Karise reminded.
The group of friends formed a circle as they hugged each other. Soon,
however, it was finally time for Shantelle and her
parents to leave. She smiled at them and said, “I have to go. I‘ll miss you
guys like crazy. Goodbye.” “Bye Shanty!” “We
Love you, Shants! Bye!” “Bye Mrs. Scott!” “Bye Doctor Scott!”
After Shantelle‘s friends gave their last goodbyes, she and her parents rode
on the jet. When the aircraft took off,
Shantelle stared at Rose Hills City, the place of her birth. She had many
memories of her home, happy ones and sad
ones. Shantelle knew she would never forget Rose Hills, but she had to say
goodbye. A tear fell down her cheek as she
said, “Goodbye, Evan. Goodbye.”


Chapter 11: Nicole‘s Request
Evan was staring blankly at the glass window of the hospital room,
wondering how Shantelle was. He fished his mobile
from his trouser pocket and gawked at his phone.
“Fuck.” He still had no means of communicating with her.
“Evan, the doctor said I can go home in two days,” he heard a female voice
say behind him.
He lazily turned and looked at the source of the voice and realized it was
Nicole. Yes, that‘s right. How could he forget he
had visited her at the hospital and had been for more than a week?
Instantly, Evan felt regretful about how Nicole looked. She had cuts and
bruises on her face.
A bunch of thugs violated Nicole in the streets, all because he left her at the
LEX club. Keith, his friend, did not even
bother apologizing in person for not taking Nicole home.
While he was being intimate with Shantelle, Nicole suffered in the streets.
All the more, Evan
felt obligated to aid Nicole. He paid for her medical expenses and found
time to visit the hospital daily. “Evan? Did you
hear me? The doctor said I could finally be discharged in two days,” Nicole
repeated.
“That‘s good news,” Evan answered. “Since you are feeling better, how
about we have the police visit you today? Your
statement would help capture those who did this to you.”

“Evan.” Nicole was suddenly teary–eyed. She said, “I don‘t want to. I can‘t.
I can‘t bear to recount what happened to me. I
know the heavens will take care of them – punish them for what they did to
me.” 1
“I don‘t want to press charges. I don‘t want people to look at me in a dirty
way – to look down at me and pity me.” Nicole
howled further in tears as she added, “All I need… is you, Evan. You are all
I need.”


“Don‘t remotely leave me behind again – anywhere. I‘m afraid of what
might happen to me next, Evan.” She lifted her
hand, suggesting she wanted to hold Evan‘s hand.
Evan reluctantly took her hand. He sat next to Nicole and said, “But, they
have to be punished
“Karma will get to them,” Nicole insisted. “Evan, all I need is you now,
please. Please. Let‘s forget about what happened.”
Evan frowned. He just could not let it go. Given that Nicole was ashamed,
what about other women who may be violated?
All because such scums can walk around the city?
“Okay. For now, I’ll let you recuperate first.” While Evan appeared to agree,
he still meant to follow up with the police. As
necessary, he can have someone privately look into it. Besides, Evan
thought that in cases of violence and abuse, the
the city's prosecutor would always pursue the case, even if the victim chose
not to press charges. 2
“Evan, I‘m scared to be on my own. This would not have happened if you
had not left me at the club.” Nicole looked up at
him with pitiful eyes and said, “What happened was so traumatizing, I don‘t
know if – if I could sleep at night.”
“Even here in the hospital, with the nurses and doctors – it‘s been hard
resting. I could only rest when you come and visit
me after your work,” with her lips trembling, Nicole resumed.” With all this,
maybe I – I can live with you temporarily? I feel
much better, and with you near, I could sleep better.”
“Can – can I stay at your villa?” She added.
‘Live in my villa? Our villa?‘ Evan‘s eyes widened, referring to his marital
home with Shantelle. His brow raised, and his
mouth parted, but before he could answer, his phone rang. He used this as
an excuse and stepped out of the room.
When he returned to Nicole‘s room, he revealed, “There is a problem at the
company. If I can‘t come tomorrow, I‘ll send
someone to look after you.”
He left, not wanting to entertain her request to stay with him in the villa.
***


(Evan, why is your maid here? Aren‘t you coming to take care of me?] The
next day, Evan received a message from
Nicole. He did not want to speak to or see her, especially after she
suggested staying with him in the villa.
Moreover, there were problems at the company that he had to deal with.
His schedule was bound to be busy up until the
the next day, he needed to get home and rest for the night. He figured he
would respond to Nicole later – much later. It
was already past eight in the evening when Howard, the Thompson family
driver, picked him up at the office. Often,
Howard would drive him when he was entirely out, exhausted from a day‘s
work They drove past a boutique selling formal
wear, and a long white evening gown on display caught his attention.
“Howard, stop.”
Sarah Kate. It was a dress designed by a fashion designer in Braeton City.
Evan recalled how Shantelle liked the
designer‘s dresses. He stepped out of the car and went into the shop. 3
“Sir, we are sorry, but we are already closed,” a store manager said. She
had just flipped the signboard over when Evan
walked in.
“Please, I‘m Evan Thompson. My wife is your regular customer here,” he
said. “I can pay you any amount.” 2
“Ah, yes, Miss Shantelle.” The store manager frowned and said, “I haven‘t
seen her in a while. “Looking up at Evan, she
asked, “What can I do for you, Mister Thompson?” “That gown at the front.
Is that a limited design?” He asked. “Yes, sir.
It‘s a limited edition. There are only four of the same design. The owner of
the brand, Misses Sarah Kate, has one. One
had already been bought. The other is in London, still available for sale,”
the lady proudly said. “Then, I want that for
Shantelle,” Evan said. “But not now. Send it to her next month, please. It
will be her birthday this coming December.” “You
know her size, right?” Even asked. “Ah, yes, Mister Thompson. Miss
Shantelle has lost a lot of weight over the past few


months. It has been more than a month since she last came here. She
looked very sad. I hope she is okay
now, though,” the store attendant muttered unknowingly.
This made Evan feel unhappy. He gulped and replied, “I – yes, of course.
Problems in business. Please adjust the gown
as necessary according to your last recorded size of Shantelle.”
He gave the lady his card and said, “Thank you for arranging everything.
My assistant will be in contact to make sure the
delivery happens.” Recalling how the store may send it to the villa, he
added, “And… you‘ll need to send to a different
address.”
Before leaving the shop, Evan glanced at the dress displayed in the
window. A smile formed on his face as he pictured
Shantelle wearing it on her birthday.
***
Another day had passed, and Evan was busier than ever.
The Thompson Group of Companies had several businesses. Their biggest
one was the E&E Shipping Lines. Recently,
They acquired a Russian client, moving cars from a nearby coast to
Russia. It was their most noteworthy deal yet, but also
the most challenging.
The client was very demanding and often asked for huge shipping
discounts. The client went to see Evan personally to
get the required adjustment. Evan had to take the client for a tour, showing
and explaining why they could not lower the
shipping cost.

After dealing with the Russian client, Evan returned to his office. He was
reading one document to another when Mrs.
Shaw called.
Remembering how he had sent Mrs. Shaw to attend to Nicole, he frowned.
Then, Mrs. Shaw would never bother him
unless it was an emergency. Thus, Evan answered the call.


On the other line, Mrs. Shaw said, “Mister Evans, Miss Lively is in the villa.
She insisted on coming here after her
discharge from the hospital. She said you had agreed to let her live here. I
reluctantly followed her instructions, but now
Miss Lively is inside your room. She has removed Miss Shanty‘s clothes
and replaced them with hers.”
Evan‘s eyes darkened in irritation. He wondered, ‘Did I ever make her think
she could replace Shanty?

Chapter 12: Misunderstand
The double doors abruptly opened, resulting in them banging against the
wall.
Mrs. Shaw and Nicole snapped their heads in Evan‘s direction.
Evan.” Nicole jolted in her stance as she called his name. “You – you
startled
us! Thank
goodness you returned early.”
Nicole still had a butterfly tape on her cheek. Part of her eye bag was still
swollen with a purple tint on her skin. The crack on her lips had dried.
Overall,
she was better compared to how she was severely battered over a week
ago.
She pointed to the clothes scattered on the sofa and then to an empty box,
saying, “You were probably too busy that you failed to pack Shantelle‘s
clothes.
So I did it for you.” When Evan did not answer, Nicole walked up to him and
described, “The villa is amazing. It will be a good environment for me to
heal
better. With you –”


“What are you doing here, Nicole?!” In an ice–cold tone, Evan asked. His
voice
raised while he was at it.
“Evan? We – we talked about this, right?” Nicole said. “Evan, I was raped
and
assaulted because you left me at the club! I need a nurturing environment
to get
better. Aside from my wounds, my emotional trauma –”
“I never said that! That you could live here!” Evan shot back, the veins on
his neck
protruding as he spoke. “This is mine and Shantelle‘s home!”
Nicole was taken aback. Her eyes widened at Evan‘s words. Her voice
broke in
and out as she replied, “Shantelle? But, Evan, you already divorced her.”
“It doesn‘t change the fact that this was our home. My father bought this as
our
marital home! Out of respect for Shantelle, I would never let another
woman live
here!” Evan announced. “And whoever told you I wanted Shantelle‘s
clothes out
of our bedroom? Did you really put your clothes in there?!”
“For one, I did not even agree that you live with me. I avoided answering
your
request because it was my way of politely rejecting it! Can‘t you take a
hint?”
Evan added. His eyes immediately shifted to the direction of the stairs, and
he
marched into the second level of the villa, finding his way to the master‘s
bedroom. Evan was horrified when he looked at the contents of the walk–in
closet. Nicole‘s clothes were certainly there!
Evan gulped. His brows met as he thought, ‘Just… What was Nicole
thinking?‘
“Evan! Evan, I can explain,” Nicole had chased after him. Standing behind


Evan, she reasoned, “Evan, I told you I was traumatized, and I only felt
safe
around you. I can sleep on the floor. I don‘t mind. I put my clothes there, so
it‘s
more convenient –”
“Enough,” Evan said. He turned to Nicole and ordered, “I want you to get
your
things out. I‘ll ask Howard to take you to your apartment.” Nicole‘s eyes
widened. She said, “But Evan, I‘m afraid. I‘m afraid of being alone. I might
have
nightmares about how I was badly beaten and raped! We went out at the
club
together, but you ended up leaving me for Shantelle! Why? You have
already
divorced her, and she was with her
friends! Whereas, I – I was alone.”
Suddenly, Nicole collapsed on the floor, saying, “Evan, I would not be like
this if
you had not left me at the club. I was in an unfamiliar place – Evan, please.
Don‘t you feel sorry for me at
all?”
Yet again, Evan felt guilty, but he also thought, ‘So I have to sacrifice my
personal life because of that mistake?‘
Moreover, Evan considered how he had just gotten a divorce. He wanted
his
freedom, his time alone, and to experience a single life with his friends
while
holding the most powerful seat in his father‘s company. He did not want
Nicole
or any woman sleeping in the same house as him, much more, his marital
home
with Shantelle!
Evan groaned as he stabbed his hair with his fingers. He clenched his jaws
and


finally said, “I can‘t – I can‘t repay you for that mistake with my personal life
–
my private space. Please go to your apartment. I will hire a caregiver and
security guard for you. I‘ll ask my assistant to find the best therapist who
can
help you return to your old mental and emotional health, but I‘m sorry,
Nicole…
You cannot live with me.”
***
Nicole gave Evan one last glance. Her eyes watered as she entered the
private
car of the Thompsons.
Evan could tell Nicole hoped he would change his mind, but he would
never. He
did not judge Nicole just yet, but why did it feel like she was using the
assault
incident to force her way into his life?
When the car disappeared into the road, Evan returned to the villa. Seeing
the
maids, he instructed, “Please help Mrs. Shaw return Shanty‘s clothes to the
room.”
“Yes, sir,” one maid replied.
“Mr. Thompson, there is something else you should know,” Mrs. Shaw
reported.
Evan‘s brows met. He turned to Mrs. Shaw with his heart racing. ‘What else
could it be?‘ He absolutely did not like the worried expression of Mrs. Shaw.
Mrs. Shaw pressed her lips. Then, she revealed, “Just before you arrived,
the
Misses.” She still resumed addressing Shantelle as the “Misses” of the
house.
Strangely, Evan did not seem to mind it at all.
“The Misses called the landline,” Mrs. Shaw revealed. “Shanty told me
about a


ring she ordered, but we never finished our conversation.”
Mrs. Shaw frowned. She added, “Because Miss Lively took the phone and
said
something to the Misses. I‘m afraid Shanty will misunderstand.”
“What did Nicole say to Shanty?” Evan asked as calmly as he could, but
inside,
his heart was drumming against his ribcage. “Miss Lively suggested that
you are
living together now – here in this home,” Mrs. Shaw described.
Silence fell upon the living room. The other maid looked at Mrs. Shaw
before
she also said, “I – I also heard it, Mr. –”
Evan rushed outside the villa, heading to his car without letting the maid
finish.
More than an hour ago, at Warlington, Shantelle was completing her
information
online for medical school. She went back and forth from an old email to a
new
one, transferring files when a specific email reminder caught her attention.
Subject line: Winning Bidder for Jade Prosperity Ring.
Her eyes widened, remembering how she had bid for a twenty–four–carat
male‘s ring with a jadeite head. The ring was supposed to be her belated
gift to
Evan – to congratulate him for taking the CEO seat of his father‘s company.
She
had forgotten all about it since she and Evan had been arguing a lot before
the
divorce. Shantelle carefully read the email and confirmed that she had won
the
bid and had twenty four hours to complete the payment.
She thought about canceling the order, but then again, she considered how
the
the ring would look good on Evan. In the end, Shantelle decided to push
through


with the order and gave delivery instructions. She did not dare to speak to
Evan.
Instead, she made a long–distance call to the villa‘s home phone in Rose
Hills.
When Mrs. Shaw picked up the call, Shantelle said, “Mrs. Shaw, I‘m glad
it‘s
you.” “Oh, Misses! How are you, dearest Shanty?” Mrs. Shaw asked. “It‘s
so
nice to hear your voice.”
“I‘m… coping, Mrs. Shaw. Your voice also brings me joy,” Shantelle
answered.
“Anyway, Mrs. Shaw, I ordered a ring for –” “Is that Shantelle?” Shantelle
heard
a woman‘s voice.
The next thing she knew, the same woman took over the call, and she
introduced herself,” Shantelle, this is Nicole. Evan and I are living together
now.
Thank you for setting Evan free. We can finally be together the way it
should
have been… two years ago.” It was Nicole Lively, and she was living with
Evan
in their marital home! Learning of this, Shantelle cried. The news broke her
heart completely. Shantelle was certain Nicole sensed her weeping as well.
Still,
remembering that she was the woman who came in between Nicole and
Evan,
she faintly replied, “Congratulations, Nicole. You have already won. Take
care of
Evan. Goodbye.”
***
Meanwhile, in a private community within Rose Hills, Evan was ringing the
gates to the Scotts ‘mansion. 1 “Shanty! Shanty!”


Chapter 13: Deleted Message “Shanty! Shanty!” Evan had been calling out
in front of the locked gates of the Scotts‘
mansion. His eyes narrowed as he looked around the estate. The lights
from the gates and the lights on the fences were
on, but the house was completely dark. “Is there no one inside?”
Despite knowing he may end up facing his former father–in–law‘s anger,
Evan courageously drove to the Scotts‘ home,
wanting to clear any misunderstanding with Shantelle. Something inside
him wanted to set the record straight with her,
especially about Nicole.
“Shanty? Shanty!” He called again. He wasn‘t even sure if anyone was
inside the house who could hear his voice.
Since he was getting no response, Evan decided to ring Doctor Scott. The
phone rang once, and then it went straight to
voicemail. He called again, and the same thing happened.
A groan escaped his lips with the realization that Doctor William Scott,
Shantelle‘s father, had blocked his number. He also
called Eleanor Scott, but she had also blocked his number.
After some time of studying the estate, a security guard called his attention.
“Sir, a neighbor had reported you making
noises out here.”
The guard looked at the house number on the gate, and after seeing it was
21117, he added,” Do you know the house
owners?”
“Yes, they are –” Evan paused and then made a white lie. “My in–laws.”
Knowing how it may have looked to the
neighbors, Evan took out his wallet and shared his driver‘s license, calling
card, and community pass. He said, “I‘m Evan
Thompson, CEO of the Thompson Group of Companies. I‘m sorry if I
alerted the neighbors. I was hoping to speak to my
in–laws.”


“Wouldn‘t a phone call work?” The guard asked.
“Ah, they were not answering,” Evan reasoned. He glanced at his car and
was ready to leave. Then, he returned his
attention to the guard and asked, “Have you seen Doctor Scott around,
though? Did they leave the house?”
The security guard shrugged and answered, “I‘m afraid I‘m new here, Sir. I
started just three days ago. I don‘t know the
owners of this house, but.” The guard returned to his patrol car, and after
confirming his notes, he said to Evan,
“According to the homeowners‘ association, the owners of house 21117 will
be here in two weeks.”
“Maybe they took a vacation, Sir. I have seen no one since I started
working here. The roving guards are the ones who
switch the lights on every night in this house,” the man revealed.” The
maids may also be on leave.”
“I see.” Evan frowned. He supposed that also addressed his question why
Shantelle had not contacted him since that
night at the villa, when they were intimate. That also explained why he had
not also seen Doctor Scott at the hospital.
Shantelle‘s father always had patients at nearly all hospitals in the city.
When Nicole was admitted, he had prepared
himself for an encounter with Doctor William Scott, but he never saw him.
Evan smiled weakly in the guard‘s direction and clarified, “Two weeks, you
said.”
“Yes, sir,” the guard confirmed.
“Then I’ll try to call them again later. I best be on my way,” Evan said before
hopping into his
car.
He immediately assumed Shantelle had called the villa from wherever they
had taken a short vacation. As he drove away
from the private community, he muttered, “Two weeks. I’ll see Shanty in two
weeks.”
***


“Mr. Thompson, it’s a pleasure doing business with you, and I look forward
to seeing you in Russia next month,” Mr.
Romanov, a client of the E&E Shipping lines, said.
Evan took his hand and responded, “I am equally thrilled to visit you in
Russia, Mr. Romanov.” Seeing his assistant, Evan
ordered, “James, please walk Mr. Romanov down to the lobby.”
“Yes, sir,” James acknowledged.
A sigh of relief escaped Evan’s lips. The problems with the shipping lines
have been resolved. He slumped against his
couch and said, “Finally, a breather.”
Evan was about to check his emails when his phone rang again. It was
Nicole.
It had been four days since Nicole was discharged from the hospital. Nicole
had been calling Evan day and night, but
Evan did not answer her calls.
Evan has yet to confront Nicole about how she had suggested to Shantelle
they were living together. Work had to come
first. Furthermore, he feared he could control his temper in front of her.
Since that day at the villa, Evan found himself completely irritated by Nicole
despite knowing she was already pitiful
enough, having been raped and battered. Avoiding Nicole, for now, was his
best solution.
Still, it did not change the fact that he blamed himself for how Nicole got
violated in the streets, that he sent a caregiver
and a security guard to help her feel secure.
After he ignored yet another call from Nicole, Evan received a text from her.
At the same time, another message came
through from one of his directors.
He opened his phone and saw the initial text from Nicole. It read: [Evan, I’m
sorry. I didn't mean to assume things. I am
i'm so depressed now. I want to …)]
He shook his head and decided to delete her message, but instead of
Nicole’s message, he deleted his director’s text!
“Damnit, Nicole!” Evan cursed as he carelessly rechecked his messages.
When he realized his mistake, he went to his


cloud backup to retrieve the text.
Evan knew this director was on an important trip to another city, seeking a
potential investment. The signal was relatively
poor due to weather conditions, and the same person only communicated
updates via emails or texts.
Evan quickly found the recently deleted text messages. He thanked the
heavens for having backed up his phone with an
android cloud. He selected the important message and restored it. As he
did, he caught sight of a text from Shantelle. It
appeared to be… a picture message.
A frown formed on his face when he thought back recently. He had not
deleted any of Shantelle’s messages, but why was
this message in his cloud backup?
He opened Shantelle’s message. He first read about her text, telling him
she did not want the alimony. Then he looked at
the screenshot closely.
One second passed.
Two seconds passed.
Three seconds passed.
Evan’s hand slammed firmly against the surface of his table. His entire
body trembled, understanding the content of the
screenshot. It was a picture of him having coffee inside Nicole’s apartment.
This same picture was sent to Shantelle for
one purpose, and that was to anger her.
He read Shantelle’s reply on the screenshot: [So it was you all along,
Nicole. I would never have thought. Well, you can
have him. I accept my defeat.
With his jaws clenched, Evan said, “Nicole. Nicole!”
There was no one else who might have touched his phone that day. No one
else got closed, and no one else would dare
to.
Evan recounted the last time he went to Nicole’s apartment and the day
that he read Shantelle’s letter. She sent him a
message. That was what she had said, but someone deleted it on purpose!


“Nicole!” Evan could not believe it! He earnestly thought Nicole was a
simple and gullible librarian. Who would have
thought she had it in her?
Rage filled his heart. He was about to leave his office and berate Nicole for
what she had done when James walked in,
pushing his office doors loudly.
“Sir,” James called. “The security at Miss Lively’s apartment called. She –
Miss Lively, she tried to take her life! She tried
to commit suicide! The caregiver and the guard rushed her to the hospital!”
‘Suicide?‘ Even did not feel any remorse. With his voice raised, he said, “I
meant to see her, anyway!”

Chapter 14: Doubting Nicole
“I want a background check on Nicole Lively – everything you can find out
about
her, and I want it ASAP!” Evan ordered his contact on the phone. He was
walking back and forth in a secluded area of the hospital‘s corridor. “And
what‘s
the progress on the rape investigation? Have you found out anything?”
“Sir, we have leads, but it wasn‘t enough. We have yet to comb through
several
surveillance videos around the club and within a few blocks away, and
going
downtown,” said the man on the other line.
Evan had hired a private investigator since last week. He did not mean to
rush,
but knowing what he knew now, Evan was in a hurry to find answers
“You see, Mister Thompson, we found a surveillance video of Miss Lively
leaving with a few teenagers right in front of the club. It did not corroborate
her
story. So, I took the liberty of digging further,” the investigator said.


Evan acknowledged. Nicole did say she walked alone for several blocks,
hoping
to get a taxi. He thought about it deeply and assumed that maybe this was
the
reason why she never wanted to press charges in the first place. A hiss
escaped his lips before he instructed, “For now, give that information to the
police. I‘ll also make a phone call so the authorities will be on top of the
case.”
“Then! Send me a copy of the video,” he added. After speaking to the
private
investigator, he marched back to Nicole‘s room. A doctor stepped outside
and
quickly found Evan. “Mr. Thompson, the patient is resting. I did not think
she lost
that much blood, but her body must be weak. She is still unconscious,” the
doctor revealed. “It‘s normal for rape victims to be suicidal. It‘s good that
Miss
Lively has someone like you to help her get through this.”
“I‘ll be on my way now,” the doctor said. “Best to let her rest for now.”
Evan did not count the hours that he was there. He could not even work!
He
doubted his decisions about Nicole and was beginning to hate himself.
Finally, Nicole woke up. She appeared weak and hurt. She glanced at Evan
once and turned to give him her back. She faintly said, “You should have let
me
die.”
She sniffed, and her chest heaved again and again. “This is all your fault,
Evan.
First, you brought me here to Rose Hills only to be cast aside and
humiliated by
your father. Then you left me alone at the club.” Nicole sobbed as she
added, ”
I’m broken, Evan… Don‘t you realize this was all your fault? Yet, you could
not


even comfort me? You would not even answer your phone. You should
have let
me die –”
“Was it my fault, Nicole?” Evan interrupted her. “If it were a few days ago,
Maybe I would feel guilty all over again, but not today. No.”
Immediately Nicole turned her frame to face Evan. She asked, “What –
what do
you mean, Evan?”
“I accidentally deleted an important message today,” Evan revealed. His
jaws
clenched, trying
to control his anger. “I wound up checking my android cloud backup. Can
you
guess what I found?”
Nicole’s eyes widened. Suddenly, she seemed to be more alert than a few
seconds ago. “I – I –” Evan tapped on his phone and then showed her the
message from Shantelle. He said, “Only you could have sent this. Why did
you?
Why?!”
“You were the one who kept provoking Shantelle all along? Why did you do
it?
Why?!” At that point, he could not help but raise his voice. “And don’t you
think I
would not know how you told Shantelle on the phone that we were living
together?! Did you assume I’d go along with it?”
Nicole’s face turned white as a ghost. Her eyes rounded in horror. ‘A cloud
backup?‘ She did not expect that. ‘And Mrs. Shaw? That maid actually
reported
her speaking to Shantelle? Who does she think she is!‘
This was the second time Evan raised his voice at Nicole. The first time
was at
the villa. Nicole admitted that she had gone overboard. She was so excited
to


be with Evan that she tricked Mrs. Shaw into taking her to the villa. That
was her
biggest mistake.
She thought that since Shantelle and Evan were already divorced, he
would
eventually let her stay there. Besides, he owed her. She blamed Evan for
what
had happened to her, and she saw through how he felt utterly responsible.
To her dismay, she miscalculated how Evan unknowingly valued Shantelle.
He
may have actually liked her, maybe even loved her!
At that thought, Nicole knew she had to speed up her plans. What better
way to
do it then to make him feel guilty again? Making Evan feel responsible for
her
misery had always worked like a charm! Beyond his overbearing exterior,
deep
inside, Nicole had always known how thoughtful of a person Evan was.
She imagined how Evan would feel sorry for her again. She acted suicidal
and
slashed her wrist! He wanted to let him realize that her depression was real
and
that he was the root cause!
Nicole imagined how Evan would rush to her and ask for her forgiveness.
But
What is this? After more than a month, Nicole never expected Evan to
retrieve
that deleted text! Instead of asking for forgiveness, he looked at her with
utter
hatred!
Nicole frantically fished through her brain. She cried and said, “Evan –
Evan, I’m
sorry.” Tears quickly flooded her face as she declared, “I love you! I did all
that


because I love you. I hated Shantelle for getting in between us! Even
before,
she was always the apple of your eye “What?!” Evan snapped. His brows
met
when he asked, “What did you mean before?”
“I
Nicole quickly bit her lip. Her lips trembled as she replied, “Before! You had
talked about her in Lockwood! You did not recognize it!”
“Then, when I came to Rose Hills, I expected us to be together. Evan, I
gave up
my life in Lockwood to be with you! Instead, your father and Shantelle took
you
away from me,” she described. “It was unfair to me, Evan, unfair to us!”
“I wanted to show Shantelle that your heart belonged to me, even if she
was
married to you! Evan, she would not have agreed to divorce you if I had not
done that! Don’t you see? She needed to see the truth!” Nicole resumed.
“My
methods were wrong, but we both got what we wanted in the end. She is
out of
your life, Evan! We can finally be together exactly how it
should have been two years ago!”
“Whatever gave you that idea?! My heart never belonged to you!” Evan
shot
back in anger. “I was wrong to think you were a good person, Nicole.
Shantelle
may have worked with my father into our marriage, but at least she was
always
honest and upfront with me! On the other hand, you made secret and
underhanded methods – a scheming woman!”
“What else have you done that I haven’t uncovered, Nicole? What else?
Does it
have to do with you being raped?” Evan asked. He then quickly played the
video the private investigator sent him and showed it to Nicole.


“Didn’t you say you walked alone down the streets searching for a taxi?”
Evan
pointed out. When Nicole fell silent, he suggested, “Don’t worry, I already
forwarded this video to the police.”
He put his phone back inside and revealed, “It won’t be long now. Those
teenagers will be interrogated. We will know the truth, eventually.”
Evan left, not allowing Nicole to give any explanation whatsoever.
Nicole was left alone, her mouth agape, thinking of what to do next. She
muttered, “He’s going to find out.” She jerked out from the hospital bed and
frantically took off her IV. “I have to leave. Evan can’t know. He can’t know.”
She thanked the caregiver Evan had hired for being so responsible. She
had
clothes inside the room’s closet. After changing into a dress, she attempted
to
flee. However, after she opened the door, a man blocked her way and
asked,
“Where are you going, Miss Lively?”

Chapter 15: Guilt–tripping
“This is imprisonment! You can‘t force me in here! I refuse to receive
treatment!
Let me go!” Nicole screamed at the top of her lungs while inside her
hospital
room, but no matter what, the security guard Evan assigned to watch her
remained unchanged. The private guard said, “I‘m sorry, Miss Lively, but
Mr.
Thompson instructed me not to let you out of my sight. You can‘t leave until
the


police investigation of your rape case has been cleared.”
“No! No!” Nicole tried to reason with the guard. She pleaded to the nurses
who
checked on her inside the room. However, it was futile. None of them
listened to
her plea.
It had been over twenty–four hours since she was admitted due to a suicide
attempt. Evan had not visited her since, and she could only speculate that
time
was running out for her. Evan would find out sooner or later, and she would
be
doomed.
Nicole had no choice but to make a phone call. She called a number, and
when
the person on the other line picked up, she said, “Dad, I need help.”
***
Later in the day, at the police station, Evan stood before a one–way glass
mirror
of the interrogation room. He listened as a private investigator questioned
one of
The four teenagers caught on camera with Nicole on the night of her
assault.
“Admit it. You raped her!” The police insinuated. “We did not fucking rape
her! She
i wanted it rough!” The teen said. “You can ask my friends. All our stories
will check
out! Fucking bitch! No wonder she gave us all that money!”
“Check the hotel we stayed in! There should be fucking cameras!” The teen
added. “She wanted us to hit her! She even directed us where to hit. She
did not
want us to punch her nose since she had a nose fucking job!” 1 0
Evan had been listening for the past hour, but the said teenager never
changed
His story. It was the same with his friends. He was completely and utterly


disgusted with what he had learned.
Nicole had invited a group of teens to have sex. She instructed them to
play
rough with her to the point that she was severely battered. What kind of
woman
would do that to herself? A nutcase! Evan had invited a crazy woman into
Rose
Hills, into his life, and let the same woman get between his relationship with
his
father and Shantelle!
His hands clenched into fists, thinking how Nicole acted so innocently, so
incapable of protecting herself, Evan shielded her. It was all fake – a sham!
All along, Nicole abused his sympathy hy guilt–tripping him! How conniving!
How
manipulative! Evan recounted all those times when she would make him
feel
responsible.
“Evan, I can‘t find a job here. I should have never left Lockwood. Your
father
banned me from getting any job! I can‘t even get past being a waitress.”
“My
neighbors seriously think I am a mistress. I should not have come back
here to
Rose Hills. Now, Shantelle thinks wrongly of me. I should never have left
Lockwood! Why did you bring me here in the first place?”
“I have no friends here. It was better in Lockwood, but you are here for me,
Evan,
right?”
“Evan. I‘m scared to be on my own. This would not have happened if you
had not
left me at the club. I feel much better, and with you near, I could sleep
better. Can
– can I stay at your villa?”


Oh, how wrong it was to believe her. But how could he have known? She
was a
simple librarian in Lockwood.
Afrown formed on Evan‘s face. He then realized how convenient it was for
Nicole
and him to have bumped into each other many times in Lockwood. Back
then,
Nicole would often say,” Wow! What a coincidence! I guess this is fate!”
‘Fate? Was it fate?‘ Now he utterly doubted it.
Moments later, Evan went with the police to the hotel the teenagers were
referring
to. It took an hour, but ultimately, they found the video in which Nicole
arrived at
the lobby with the teens. Nicole was the one who booked the room, and
they all
went to the elevators together. Another video showed how they all stepped
out of
the lift on the tenth floor. There was no video of them entering the room
together.
However, the next day‘s surveillance cameras captured the teens leaving
early.
An hour after, Nicole came out, limping, with bruises on her face.
The front desk who processed her hotel check out called the police, but she
refused help. Nicole left the hotel before the police arrived.
Yet again, Evan was enraged by what he saw. His hands shivered as he
took out
his phone and called his friend Wendell. When his friend answered, he
asked, “I
i need your help. Ask your father to pursue a legal case against Nicole.”
“Against Nicole?” Wendell asked on the other line. “Or the thugs who raped
her?”
“Again, Nicole!” Evan repeated. “She needs to be punished for wasting
police
hours – for perverting the course of justice!” In the next few minutes, Evan


explained everything to Wendell. His friend was utterly shocked.
Wendell‘s father was Rose Hills‘ presiding prosecutor. If anyone could help
put
Nicole behind bars quickly, It was Wendell‘s father.
“Fuck, Evan! I thought she was a timid one. I guess the silent ones are
dreadful,”
Wendell remarked. “I‘m sorry to hear about this, Evan. On another note,
though,
Keith would be happy to learn that he did nothing wrong by not sending
Nicole
home.” “I‘ll speak to my father. In the meantime, make sure she doesn‘t…
get
away,” Wendell suggested.
“I WON‘T! let her,” Evan firmly answered.
After his phone conversation with Wendell, he asked more men to watch
Nicole at
the hospital. A formal complaint has yet to be filed for Nicole. It will take at
least
twenty–four hours for an arrest warrant to become available. However, to
his
dismay, the security guard in charge of Nicole called with bad news.
Evan was about to leave the police station when he accepted the call. The
man
said, “Sir, I‘m sorry, but Miss Lively‘s father came here to fetch her. He
brought a
lawyer with him and
demanded Miss Lively‘s release.” “I did not have the time to call you or
analyze
the situation since it happened so fast, and the hospital was afraid that the
accusations of illegal detention were true. Their security forced me away
from the
door,” the man said. “Miss Lively got away.” “What?” Evan could not believe
his


ears. ‘Didn‘t Nicole say she was alone? She had no friends or family? How
was it
that her father suddenly appeared at the hospital? Just who is… Nicole
Lively?‘

Chapter 16: Evan‘s Plan
Wendell was driving out from his home in the evening when he noticed the
mansion across from theirs had the gates
opened and a car was driving in. It would not have surprised him, except
the house had been empty for about nine years.
Only caretakers come and go during weekends. “Hmmm.” Wendell said,
“The Campbells are back?” At the thought of the
Campbells, Wendelle sneered. He remembered their daughter had this
crush on Evan back in high school. She became
so jealous of how Shantelle and Evan were close that the same girl tried
hurting Shantelle. Recalling the past, Wendell
scoffed as he drove away, heading toward Evan‘s office.
His friend needed him.
***
“Did you find her?” Wendell asked. He passed on a glass of liquor to Evan
and said. “Rough day, huh?”
This time around, they were all in Evan‘s office. Sean and Wendell had
arrived earlier. Evan came an hour after.
Since Nicole‘s escape, Evan barely had rest. He was driving back and
forth, speaking to the authorities while making sure
every private transport company was aware of who they were going up
against should they let Nicole Lively flee the city.


“No, not yet,” Evan responded as he took the glass. He gulped it all down
and said, “But she isn‘t going anywhere!”
With the help of Evan‘s connections, especially Wendell‘s family, the police
searched for Nicole. The borders were
secured, and the airport had been warned. Nicole could only hide, but she
wasn‘t leaving Rose Hills.
“Where is Keith?” Evan asked, seeing his other friend missing. “He left
town last week after you had an argument with
him,” Sean revealed. “He‘ll be back.” Evan nodded. When Nicole was first
admitted due to being supposedly raped, he
quarreled with Keith on the phone. Now, with how everything was
unfolding, Evan was the one who needed to apologize
to Keith. With a nod, Evan replied, “I‘ll speak to him when he arrives.”
“Damn, man. The chick digs you to the point of
obsession,” Sean suggested with a smirk.
“Not funny, Sean,” Evan said as he sat on one sofa seat. Evan‘s office had
a mini living room set up. It was connected to
his private room, where he sometimes rested. “Has your investigator
returned with Nicole‘s profile?” Wendell sought. Evan
groaned and replied, “In a day or two. The investigator went to Lockwood to
check her family‘s background. Whoever her
family, they will pay the price for crossing me!” “Don‘t worry, Evan. Once
she is caught, my father won‘t let her off too,”
Wendell revealed.
The group of friends chatted, all while covering Nicole‘s manipulative ways.
The three could not believe such a woman
existed!
“She has an ID, right?” Sean sought. “Of course!” Evan replied. “I, at least,
checked if all her identifications were valid
back in Lockwood, and they were! She had a bank account under her
name. There was no reason for me to suspect her
identity.”
“She would not get the librarian job if she did not have proper documents to
show,” Wendell also pointed out.


“We can speculate all evening, but I supposed we will find out soon
enough,” Sean suggested.
With a sigh, Evan said, “I can‘t fucking wait!”
“On a side note, our neighbor is back in town,” Wendell suddenly said.
“Who?” Sean asked.
“Remember the high school cheerleader who was head over heels for
Evan?” Wendell reminded.
“Oh, Melody Campbell? How could I forget? She pushed Shanty into the
road! Shanty nearly got hit by the school bus.”
Sean asked. “I remember. Didn‘t her family leave town before Melody
finished high school?”
“Correction,” Wendell reminded me. “She was expelled!” “I remember my
father imposed a business ban against the
Campbells too,” Evan said out of the blue. “They had no choice but to leave
the city.”
Evan shrugged and reminded, “You know how my old man adored Shanty.”
There was silence in the room before Sean suggested, “Actually, Evan.
Back in high school, it wasn‘t just your father. You
valued Shanty too.” “Yeah,” Wendell echoed. “You always had that smile
when she would rush towards you at school.”
“Shantelle… Shantell,” Evan said under his breath. The thought of his
ex–wife somehow relieved him of his current stress.
“Yes, we were close, but I was young – we were both young back then.
Also, I was gone from Rose Hills for too long. I
i guess time changes you. Time makes you forget.”
“It‘s just a shame, Evan. Because if you had not returned to Rose Hills with
Nicole, maybe,” Wendell implied. “Maybe you
and Shanty would have hit it off… naturally. No forced marriage; you
probably ended up dating and married voluntarily.”
Silence fell upon them. Evan wound up resting his head on the sofa‘s back.
His mind wandered back to the days when he
i was young.
The image of the young Shantelle running across the school grounds
popped into his head. Every after her dismissal, she


would run to the high school grounds to say goodbye to Evan. There were
also times when Doctor Scott would ask Evan
to drive Shantelle home. Their families were that close. The Scotts
entrusted Shantelle to the Thompsons, and Evan‘s
parents cherished her.
When Evan was in college, he rarely returned to Rose Hills, but he
remembered a few occasions when he and Shantelle
met. Each time he saw her, she became more and more of a lady, no
longer that youth who was like a sister to him.
Thinking of what Wendell said, he was also reminded of how Shantelle
became so insecure because of Nicole, and how
She was so jealous.
Inwardly, he cussed at Nicole. He shut his eyes, calling her name silently,
‘Shanty. I‘m sorry. I‘ll make it up to you, I
promise. I‘ll take you to Paris, just like I said.’
Opening his eyes, Evan revealed his plan, one that had been on his head
since he last saw Shantelle. “I have been
thinking of this for some time… I want to… reestablish that closeness I had
with Shanty.”
He sucked in a breath and added, “First, I need to ensure Nicole is behind
bars.”
Sean‘s mouth fell to the floor, whereas Wendell nodded approvingly.
***
Earlier that day, in Warlington, Shantelle had started her first day in medical
school. She took a picture of herself from the
front lawn of the building and posted the photo on her social media
account. Shantelle never had to worry about Evan
finding out. She had her account in a private mode, and Evan never had a
personal social media account. He always said
He never had the time.
On her wall, she posted: (It wasn‘t long before I said goodbye. Today, I say
hello. The past is done. It‘s time to move on. If
anything I have learned in life, it‘s the fact that it goes on. Live it! ) 1
Her friends were quick to like her post, giving her words of encouragement.
Shantelle smiled as she walked into the


building, but just as she was about to enter her first class, she received a
notification on her phone. There was a comment
from a man, and it read: [ You‘ll never know. I might just be… “Hello.“) It
was Keith Henderson, Evan‘s friend. She could
not believe her eyes. She did not even remember when Keith had followed
her on social media!

Chapter 17: Forget Evan
“How was the first day in medical school?” Shantelle was beyond shocked
to find Keith Henderson leaning against a
BMW sports car in front of her school.
He looked striking in a white Chinese–collared shirt, gray coat, and
trousers. His dirty blond hair was brushed up neatly,
and his face was clean–shaven.
“I look great, don’t I?” He teased me. Seeing how Shantelle studied him
closely, a sly grin formed on his face.
“What – what are you doing here?” She asked, ignoring his comment.
“I am on a business trip. Prima MedCare has over ten thousand
policyholders in Warrington, and I plan to strengthen our
company’s hold here in the city,” Keith revealed.
When Shantelle raised a brow at him, he chuckled. He said, “Oh, you
mean, here? In front of your school?”
“I asked Doctor Scott where you were. I was going to see him anyway, so I
decided to pick you up. I know your father has
yet to hire a driver,” Keith said. “I’m in town for two months. I can be your
driver.”
Shantelle shook her head and said, “You don’t need to. I can get a taxi –”


“I’m heading to Warrington Hospital. You can ride in a taxi, pay a taxi fare
and put your trust in a stranger, or you can ride
with me… for free,” Keith pointed out.
“Fine.” Surrendering to Keith’s offer, she rolled her eyes and went straight
to the car’s passenger side.
While on the road, they were silent. When they were nearing the hospital,
Keith announced, There is something you
should know about Nicole –”
11
“That she is living with Evan in our marital home? I know,” Shantelle said
while looking out the window.
“What?!” That information took Keith aback. He answered, “I don’t think –”
“I heard it loud and clear. Nicole picked up the landline when I called Mrs.
Shaw, our house caretaker,” Shantelle reported,
still avoiding his gaze.
Keith sneered. He said, “I don’t know about that, but –”
“I don’t want to know anymore, Keith. Please, stop. I came here to forget
Evan, not to remember him all over again.”
Shantelle thought back to when she found out about Nicole living in their
villa. She cried for hours, feeling the pain in her
chest coming back all over again. She could not count how many times she
said she would no longer cry over Evan.
Better said than done. The things that love does to you.
“But, Shanty –” Keith tried again. However, Shantelle cut her off.
2
“Please. You promised me, Keith. Back at the club. You would not tell Evan
where I am, and here in Warlington, let’s not
talk about him either,” She reminded me.
“We did not agree on the latter, but if you insist,” Keith replied.
“I don’t want to change my mind about Evan and Rose Hills. This is my life
now, here in Warlington,” Shantelle
expounded. “So, whatever you want to say, don’t.” 2
Silence stretched between them. Eventually, Shantelle reasoned, “I love
him, Keith, but loving him is too painful. Again, I


i came here to forget. Soon, I won’t love him
anymore.” “I understand, Shanty,” Keith answered, fixing his eyes on the
road. “I know exactly how I feel.”
you
Dead air fell upon them once again. When they were nearing the hospital,
Shantelle took the opportunity to ask, “When –
when did you start following me on social media, by the way?”
“I have always followed you since you turned eighteen. Remember, your
father invited us to your debut,” Keith reminded.
“Besides, we’ve known each other since we were young. Like the
Thompsons, we are locals in Rose Hills. Sean and
Wendell only moved to the city in high school.”
“Oh, right, I forgot about that,” Shantelle replied. “You were at my
eighteenth birthday party.” Keith laughed as he turned
off the engine. He answered, “That’s fine. I’m used to it. You forget about
other people… except for Evan.”
“Doctor Scott, it is our honor to have you on our list of doctors in
Warlington,” Keith said, smiling after William Scott signed
the documents.
“This is an ex–deal, Keith,” William responded. He looked out the glass
door of his office and seeing Shantelle sitting in
the waiting area and reading a book, he emphasized, “Remember our
arrangement.”
“I won’t tell anyone in Rose Hills,” Keith confirmed.
It had been over a year since Keith had been poaching Shantelle’s father to
be part of their company’s accredited doctors.
He honestly thought it was impossible until over a month ago. Doctor Scott
called him, asking if he could connect him with
Warrington Hospital. So when Keith found out the same hospital was in
need of a new medical director, he recommended
Doctor Scott. In return, Shantelle’s father conceded to cooperate with their
insurance company. Part of their agreement
included, his full silence about the Scott’s relocation.
“And you should not update Shanty of Evan’s life,” William reminded. “It
was a risk for me to trust someone close to Evan,


but you promised, and your offer was very attractive.” Immediately, Keith
felt regretful. Earlier, he was this close to telling
Shantelle about how Nicole turned out to be a psycho who had staged her
rape to blame him and Evan. He had left Rose
Hills for over a week, but Sean had updated him about everything. Within
his group of friends, it was Sean who knew him
best.
“Keith, my daughter, had given up so much to be with Evan. Yet, he did not
see through her sacrifices. Yes, Erick and I are
partly to be blamed – me for allowing the marriage and Erick for forcing it
on them, but to me, Evan could have tried
harder,” William expressed his inner thoughts.
“Now, Shanty is back on the right track, and I want no one to interfere in her
plans. She is talented, and she took a lot from
me. We both have the same dream: to save people’s lives. Shanty has to
become a doctor. If anything is going on in Rose
Hills that you think would
tempt my daughter to return, I want you to keep it to yourself,” William
instructed.
“We are never going back to Rose Hills… unless it’s a matter of life and
death,” William added. Shantelle’s father then
looked at Keith, and seeing him think deeply, he asked, “What’s on your
mind, Keith?”
Keith had been reflecting on what Doctor Scott said. When Shantelle’s
father noticed, he decided to give his two cents on
the matter. “Doctor Scott. If I were Evan, I would have cherished Shanty,
but Evan – he –
He cleared his throat and added, “He never wanted to get married at
twenty–five.”
“When he returned to Rose Hills, he had many plans, especially him and
Wendell. He was going to travel across the
country and establish branches for their financial entity. We were going to
attend most, if not all, Grand Prixs. We were


going to travel to the Bahamas – but that all changed when he was forced
to marry Shanty,” Keith explained.
“I don’t agree with Evan’s decision of divorcing Shanty, but –” Keith paused
before resuming, “A part of me understood
why did he wanted to be free of marriage.” 2
Keith leaned back in his seat and added, “I think you and Uncle Erick
should have just… let nature take its course –” 1
“Well, that’s why I am changing things now,” William interrupted Keith. “I
acknowledge where we made a mistake in the
past. That is why my daughter should just… forget about Evan.”
A day passed.
Back in Rose Hills, Wendell was driving back to his family’s home in the
middle of the day. He went past a checkpoint the
authorities had set up nearing their community. He chuckled, realizing how
serious Evan was about catching Nicole.
It wasn’t like Nicole had committed a heinous crime to have all the police
stations bow down to Evan’s request. However,
Evan was Evan. He was Erick Thompson’s son, and the city was indebted
to the Thompsons.
If not for the most impressive corporation in the city, many locals would be
jobless. If not for Evan’s recent initiatives, the
Thompson Group of Companies would not be as thriving as it was today.
Last, Evan was a generous soul deep down. He
supported charity events and donated to the city’s public hospital.
Arriving at the Franco residence, Wendell noticed the same car that
entered the Campbells‘ estate the other day. He
drove past the car and proceeded to his family’s mansion.
While at the entrance to their home, the gate’s automated system incurred
problems. Wendell had to open the gate
manually.
After doing so, Wendell walked back to his car. Just then, he saw
Campbell's car return. He frowned, thinking, ‘Didn’t
do they just leave? Why are they back so soon?‘
There weren’t any establishments nearby. It was rows and rows of houses
up until the checkpoint.


Then, he saw an older man. He was cursing as he stepped out of the car
and opened the gates
to their home. Someone’s head popped out on the other side of the vehicle
but retreated quickly as soon as the man
scolded.
“Mister Campbell. It’s been a long time. Here on a short visit?” Wendell
asked. He strengthened his voice to make himself
known.
He saw the frightful look of Thomas Campbell. It was as if he saw a ghost
in Wendell.
“Excuse me?” Thomas asked with a frown.
“Wendell Franco. We were neighbors until your family left town,” Wendell
reminded. He walked across the street to let
Thomas sees him clearly. “I was a schoolmate of Melody back in high
school.”
Briefly, Wendell locked eyes with Mister Campbell. He had amber–colored
eyes, a striking eye color that somehow he
thought was familiar. It wasn’t just the eye color, though, but also the shape
of his eyes – how downtrend it was.
“Oh, Wendell Franco. Right!” Thomas Campbell said. “Sorry, Wendell. It
has indeed been a while. I am just here on a
short visit, yes. It was an emergency.”
“I see,” Wendell said, his eyes studying the silhouette frame inside the
tinted car.
“That’s Melody. She came with me on this trip, but we should be leaving
this week,” Thomas said. “Excuse me, Wendell.”
Wendell simply nodded. He also entered his car. However, as he drove into
the driveway of their home, he thought,
realizing the girl he saw was a blonde. He raised a brow and remarked, “I
guess she didn’t enjoy being a brunette.”


Chapter 18: Nicole’s Past
“You only had one thing to do: make Evan Thompson marry you.” An older
man spoke coldly to his daughter in a private
home. “Now, we could not even get out of the city. If Evan ever finds out,
we will lose everything. Have you forgotten what
the Thompsons did to us back then? This was your chance to redeem
yourself!”
Glancing at her father, Nicole replied, “I – I’m sorry, dad. I – I was careless.
I failed.”
The man shook his head, saying, “You waited many years for nothing.” Her
father was not screaming, but his tone was
glacial enough to send shivers down her spine. “We are done with Evan.
It’s getting too dangerous –”
“But, dad –” Nicole tried to retort, but his father seethingly approached her,
thrusting his hand back.
He was this close to hitting her, but he halted mid–way. He said, “I went
along with your plan, thinking you could do it, but
in the end… you are still no match for Shantelle Scott!”
Her father turned around and marched to another room. He came back
quickly and threw an envelope containing old
documents, saying, “I’ll go out and buy hair color. For now, we will have to
make use of that old ID. Let’s hope the police
won’t suspect us with you, holding on to a mere high school ID and an old
birth certificate!”
“Forget Nicole Lively! You are back to being Melody Campbell!” Her father
said before pacing out of her room and down
the stairs of their old home.


Alone in her room, Nicole wept, thinking about her situation. After many
years of planning, stalking, and studying Evan
from afar, she still failed. After changing herself completely, to become
someone Evan would appreciate, she still could
not win his love.
Everything was going according to plan when Evan brought her back to
Rose Hills, but alas, his father forced him to marry
Shantelle! Then, even after she successfully made Evan divorce Shantelle,
she was still no match for her!
Evan did not have to say it, but Nicole saw how he left her at the club to be
with Shantelle. He defended their marital
home and kept her clothes in their closet. He did not even realize it, but
until now, Evan still wore his wedding ring!
–
“This is all Shantelle’s fault! Shantelle! I hate you! You ruined everything –
everything! Nine years have passed, and you
are still the same person who ruined my life!” She barked, thinking about
the past. “I really hate you, Shantelle! I hate you
so much!” 2
*** FLASHBACK: 9 YEARS AGO ***
A girl with amber–colored eyes saw Evan and his friends coming her way.
A smirk formed on her face as she held her
books tightly against her chest.
When Evan walked past her, she purposely let all her books fall to the floor.
Evan was the first one to pick up the pieces.
His friends soon followed.
“Here, be careful next time, Melody,” Evan said. “You are always very
careless with your things.
“Thank you, Evan,” said the girl. Her name was Melody Campbell, a junior
at the same school as Evan and a neighbor of
Wendell Franco.
“You are welcome,” Evan plainly replied before walking away with his
friends.
That day, Melody wore the latest fashion trend. She had her hair done at
the salon. They were silky smooth and smelled


of lavender. Like always, when she created opportunities for Evan to aid
her, he helped, but she got nothing more than
what was required.
“Um. Evan. Evan?” She called and chased after the group of friends.
“There is a small gathering at my house tonight. Just
a few girlfriends of mine and maybe.” She smiled brightly and suggested,
“Maybe, your friends? There is free beer?”
“You are not eighteen yet,” Evan said.
“Oh, but it’s my house. So, it should be okay,” the girl said.
Evan frowned. He answered, “I don’t know –”
“Sounds like fun,” Keith said. “We could go for an hour or two.‘
“Yeah. I don’t have to drive myself back home,” Wendell remarked, and
Sean laughed.
Before Evan could answer, Shantelle rushed in their direction. The girl
already knew Shantelle Scott. She was the
daughter of a cardio surgeon, Doctor William Scott, and her rival in Evan’s
attention.
“Evan! Evan! Dad has a meeting at the hospital. As usual, mom will be with
him to help. Dad asked if you could take me
home, but I want to go to the beach. It’s plankton season!” Shantelle
squeaked in excitement.
“Wait. Wait. Shanty, didn’t uncle William say you should go home?” Evan
asked. It was as if no one was around them. His
full attention was on Shantelle.
A laugh escaped Shantelle’s lips before she revealed, “But it’s plankton
season!”
“I don’t know.” Evan frowned at the idea.
“Come on, Evan! Don’t you want to see the ocean wonder of
bioluminescence? The sea sparkling in neon blue?”
Shantelle encouraged, her eyes gleaming as she described.
Evan laughed, and his eyes sparkled altogether. It made him look
handsome, but that smile was only meant for Shantelle.
He shook his head and said, “Shanty, what am I going to do with you?”


“Say yes, and let’s see nature’s wonders!” Shantelle beamed as she
insisted on her plan.
“You and your biology,” Evan complained. He sighed and said, “Fine.
Planktons, here we come –”
“But, what about the party?” Melody sought. Her earlier smile faded after
Shantelle came into the picture. Shantelle easily
convinced Evan to take her to whatever it was she was talking about.
‘Planton? Phantom? Plakons? Whatever!‘
“Um, the boys can go,” Evan said, referring to his friends.
“Well, if you are not going, then we aren’t,” Sean revealed. Even Melody’s
next–door neighbor declined.
As Evan walked away with Shanty, Melody’s blood boiled. A mere
thirteen–year–old defeated her! For a year, she had
been trying to catch Evan’s attention. She observed how Evan was always
helpful, so she faked many encounters with
him.
One time, Melody tripped on purpose, knowing Evan was behind her. He
aided her up, but then, he just left. Shanty came
rushing to him, and Melody was ignored.
On another occasion, she saw Evan in the library. She pretended to be
interested in books and was about to approach
him when she realized the same young girl was with him. They were
studying together.
Last month, she pretended to faint from sickness in front of Evan. He
helped her to the clinic. However, after that, Evan
was yet again rushing to where this little Shanty was!
Melody brewed hate for Shantelle, and in their subsequent encounter, she
made sure her message was clear.
One afternoon, Melody saw Shantelle talking with her friends outside the
school gates. She rolled her eyes as she moved
closer to Shantelle. She smirked at the thought of Shantelle sprawled on
the ground. Thus, with her right hand, she
pushed Shanty onto the road.
Melody laughed and said, “Oops! sorry –”


The screeching of the school bus stopping in front of Shantelle shocked
Melody and everyone around her. She did not
realized it then as her back faced the arriving vehicle. Melody had just
pushed Shantelle to the road where a bus was
moving in the same direction!
The worst part was how Evan was apparently nearby. He carried Shantelle
in his arms and held a murderous look in his
eyes. “Melody! How dare you? You are going to get punished for what you
did to Shanty!”
Melody was expelled the next day. Evan’s parents, who held the most
power in the city, ensured it. Not only that, Erick
Thompson announced a business ban against her family, and they were
forced out of Rose Hills. Her family lost many
business opportunities while she struggled to enter a new school.
To Melody, her life turned into shambles, all because of Shantelle Scott.
She hated Shantelle so much that she made it a
mission to take what was hers, especially Evan Thompson.
After a series of plastic surgery, trying to look like Shantelle, she became
Nicole Lively. She used part of her family’s
wealth to get her a new name instead of going by Melody Campbell. ***
END OF FLASHBACK ***

Chapter 19: Melody? Or Nicole!
Melody’s hair was back to its rich dark brown color. She had carelessly cut
her hair and wore sunglasses despite leaving
in the middle of the night. She wore a jacket and a hoodie over her head.


From that night onwards, she was no longer Nicole Lively. She was back to
being Melody Campbell.
She settled at the back of their car while her father, Thomas Campbell,
drove to the exit of the private community.
This was their chance to escape.
“At least this time, with your hair changed back, they won’t look into you
closely,” her father suggested.
True enough, when they arrived at the nearest checkpoint, presented with
Melody’s old school ID, a mere birth certificate,
The police did not look into the car closely. They simply asked Melody to
roll down the car window, and seeing her dark–
colored hair; the police returned to his post.
“I think they bought it,” Melody said nervously.
The officer who took their identification was speaking through a radio
transceiver from a distance. After some time, the
the same officer approached their vehicle and returned their ID. He asked,
“Why does Melody not have a valid ID?”
“We lost it when we arrived,” Thomas Campbell replied. “We are going to
get her new ones.” “I see,” the police officer
replied. “And where are you headed tonight?”
“Um.. we are driving early to the next state,” Thomas replied. “We are
meeting some friends there.”
Next, the police officer’s radio called him in. He had to step aside and
exchange with whoever was commanding him.
“Yes, sir. Got it.”
When he returned to Thomas and Melody, the police said, “You may now…
leave.” He smiled, but to Thomas, the way the
the officer smiled and appeared to have a meaning behind it.
Still, Thomas was relieved. He hurriedly drove off to the main road. “We got
out. There may still be another checkpoint,
but getting through the first meant Evan has not identified us.” “Oh, my god.
We are going to get out, dad!” Melody was
equally relieved that she was teary- eyed. “Wendell did not suspect us at
all, and Evan, he – he was never able to connect


to my real identity!”
Melody still could not believe it. With Evan’s power, she thought Evan
would have already learned! She exhaled, saying,
“Luck is on our side.”
After making it a kilometer away from their neighborhood, Melody thought
about Evan again. She inwardly said, ‘I’ll come
back for you, Evan. When I do, I’ll be prettier, and I won’t make the same
mistakes again.‘
The two of them drove for half an hour more, making their way to the
middle of the city, when they encountered another
inspection. This time, they were more confident. Yet again,
they surrendered their identification. The officer in front of them smiled
courteously.
They noticed two private vehicles arrived a few yards behind them, but
since they were only private cars, they assumed
they had been pulled over for inspection too. Seeing how the officer in front
of them was so collected, Thomas and
Melody suspected nothing.
The father and daughter exchanged approving nods.
Out of nowhere, the police declared, “Mr. Campbell, someone is here to
see you. Can you and your daughter please step
out of the car?”
“Excuse me?” Thomas asked. “Is there something wrong?”
Melody had her eyes widened. She turned to look out the back window and
saw figures stepping out of the vehicles.
However, it was so dark she could not decipher who they were.
“Please, step out of the car, sir,” the officer insisted, leaving Melody and
Thomas with no choice.
Soon the two were outside, leaning against their car. Thomas kept asking
the officer what the problem was, while Melody
did her best to hide her face.
“Good evening, Mister Campbell.” Eventually, they heard a man’s ice–cold
tone calling out to them. The voice came from


Evan Thompson, and he was pacing towards them with his friends,
Wendell and Sean.
When Evan stood before them, Melody quickly looked down. She
repeatedly gulped air down her throat. Whereas,
Thomas spoke to Evan defensively.
It was already midnight. The air was cold, but with the sudden arrival of
Evan Thompson, Melody and Thomas felt the
the temperature dropped to near zero degrees. Melody’s knees were
shaking, and Thomas could not contain the drumming of his
heart.
“Evan, what is the meaning of this? Were you not satisfied that your family
nearly ruined us over a simple fit of teenage
argument?” Thomas reacted defensively.
“A fit of teenage argument?” Evan asked. “Really? Pushing Shanty onto the
road was just a fit of teenage argument?
Shanty did not even fight back. Something! Is it seriously wrong with your
daughter? Have you considered having her head
checked?”
Thomas gulped. He answered, “Stop holding grudges of the past! That was
a long time ago, and Shantelle was not hurt!
We don’t want any trouble. We want to leave – Melody and I.”
“Melody?!” Evan said the name with complete sarcasm. “Melody. Melody.
Melody!”
Evan glowered significantly and moved closer to Melody. He left only a few
inches away, his frame towering over her. He
was breathing loudly, almost like he was purring in anger. Behind him,
Wendell was shaking his head, and Sean was
narrowing his eyes at the woman. “Or should I say… Nicole Lively!” Evan
announced, his voice strengthening.
“Do you honestly think I would not connect the dots, Melody?” Behind
Evan, Wendell said. “I knew you looked familiar.
Even with your face changed. Your eyes remained the same!” “What?”
After hearing Wendell, Melody unwittingly looked
up. “I – I don’t know what you are talking about! Who is this Nicole Lively?”


It was earlier that evening that Wendell came to Evan’s office. He
discussed his inkling about
his neighbor. Shortly after, Evan’s private investigator returned with the
news!
They confirmed that Nicole Lively was Melody Campbell!
After learning the truth, they set the plan in motion. With the help of the
authorities, they allowed the father and daughter
to believe they had gotten away, but Even just wanted them to have a taste
of freedom, knowing it would leave them more
frustrated. Regardless of their route, the police already had the entire city
surrounded!
“Nicole Lively, you are under arrest for perverting the course of justice by
claiming to have been raped. You will also be
charged for fraud, for falsely misleading Mister Thompson about your
identity,” another police officer said behind Evan.
“You are mistaken –” Melody tried to deny it, but the police kept speaking.
“And Mister Thompson? You are also under arrest for conspiring with your
daughter,” the police added.
2
“No -no. This can’t be.” Thomas was shocked. He never expected to be
pinned down together with his daughter.
“You don’t need to deny it, Nicole or fucking Melody!” Evan barked. “We
already know how you changed your name and
face. I had you investigated!”
“No! No, that’s not true!” Melody said back.
“What nonsense are you spouting about, Evan?!” Thomas countered.
Throughout the entire arrest, the father and daughter denied the
accusations. They fought back, physically and verbally, to
the point where the officers had to force them into a police
car.
Ultimately, Melody and Thomas Campbell were brought to the police station
for questioning.
***


“Mister Thompson’s private investigator traced your previous apartment in
Lockwood. The landlady gave up the storage
room you had rented for the right price. So now we have this,” the man
said. Inside the interrogation room, the police sat
in front of Melody and opened an envelope containing the pieces of
evidence.
There were several pictures of Evan, taken from his later years in college
until he was taking his master’s degree. Some
photos showed Evan relaxing during his free time.
“You hired a private investigator yourself. Isn’t that right? You stalked Mister
Thompson for years. You knew where he ate
breakfast, lunch, dinner, where he bought his coffee, and where he spent
most of his time studying – at the library,” the
the officer pointed out.
Another document showed how she changed her name. “You paid off a
judge in Lockwood to allow your name change,
and then you planned your meeting with Mister Thompson.”
“Of course, this was after you had a series of surgery to look like Miss
Shantelle Scott,” the police added. “You were so
jealous of Miss Scott that you tried to look like her. Isn’t that right, Miss
Campbell?”
“I – am not jealous of Shantelle! I don’t know what you are another set of
photos on the table, Melody jumped in her seat.
“When the police slammed
The following photos were of Shantelle. Each one had a big red “X” mark
on them. It was clear
to the officer that whoever drew the marks on the pictures had deep–rooted
anger toward Shantelle.
Next, the police showed Melody a video of the teenagers‘ statements and
the recording from the hotel. The police took a
pen and paper. He pushed it toward Melody and suggested, “We can go all
night and day at this. You can keep denying it,
or you can admit to everything. Either way, the pieces of evidence against
you are solid.”


“The choice is yours, Miss Campbell, the easy or the hard way?” The police
added.
There was a long silence as Melody gawked at the documents and photos.
After nearly five minutes, she turned to look at
the one–way glass mirror. She knew exactly who was behind that mirror.
“Evan!” She howled in tears, her palms pressed against the glass. “Evan,
forgive me. I won’t do it again. I promise! I’ll
leave Rose Hills!”
Water flooded her cheeks as she described, “Don’t forget, I listened to you.
I was that person you leaned on. I was your
friend too. You must have cared for me at some point.”
Melody pleaded, but nothing changed after hours of standing behind the
glass mirror. She kneeled and begged, but
nothing happened. The officer behind her remained unchanged. The police
said, “Mister Thompson left the station two
hours ago. Your begging is pointless. Besides, it’s out of his hands. The
prosecutor is determined to file a case against
you. You will definitely be locked behind bars.”

Chapter 20: Evan Hoped
Days passed.
With the help of Wendell’s father, Evan had Melody, and her father locked
up. Although Thomas Campbell’s charges were
less severe, and he was bound to be set free, he did not escape Evan’s
wrath.
Thomas‘ unpaid property taxes surfaced, and the local government issued
a memo to seize his mansion in Rose Hills. His
illicit transactions with politicians in Rose Hills and in Lockwood were
spread through the internet, and the truth about his
failing business came to light.


Like what his father did in the past, Evan also announced a business ban
against the Campbells. No one wanted to be
associated with Thomas Campbell, and no private lawyer represented him.
He was left to choose a public defender, who
wasn’t that keen to support him as well.
Evan had never been angered in the same manner all his life that he made
sure Thomas and Melody Campbell would
learn to fear him. He used up all his influence, and he did not hold back.
However, despite receiving justice, despite going all out on Melody’s
punishment, Evan’s heart was not at ease. He was
angry at Melody, but he was more… mad at himself.
For days, he had been staying at his office, barely sleeping, and simply
putting all his effort into his work and following up
with the authorities. He hoped that by tiring himself, the heavens would
forgive him for his oversight.
He had not spoken to his parents, and he avoided his friends. His
Assistant, James, was also sensitive enough never to
mention Nicole Lively or Melody Campbell in the office.
One afternoon, Wendell came to see Evan.
Evan had dark circles around his eyes. He had not shaved his face for days
and appeared troubled.
“What’s wrong with you, Evan? Nicole slash Melody is already behind
bars,” Wendell asked.” Why are you killing yourself
with work?”
Evan continued signing the contract in front of him. When he was done, he
sucked in a breath. He shut his eyes and
finally revealed what was bothering him. “Wendell, I don’t know what else to
do. I don’t know what to say to my parents.”
His mouth parted as he gawked in no particular direction. He felt a lump in
his throat, which was very difficult to gulp
down. Eventually, he resumed, “I – I don’t know how to apologize to Shanty.
Her family should be back from vacation, but I
don’t have a face to show her. It was Nicole who provoked her the whole
time.”


“I brought that woman back to this town! I caused my parents and I to
quarrel!” He groaned and added, “If Nicole Lively
did not happen, my father would not have forced me into marrying
Shantelle, and maybe things would have been
different.” 2
“Evan, please. Shanty loves you. She always has. Speak to her about it,
and she’ll forgive you. Besides, it wasn’t directly
your fault,” Wendell suggested. “As for your parents, you have every
reason to be upset after taking away your will to
choose.”
“Although.” Wendell frowned and reluctantly described, “Uncle Erick did
choose well for Shanty is great.”
you.
Evan repeatedly took deep breaths, doubtful. Thus, Wendell asked, “What
I’d like to know is what you want from Shanty,
Evan? Do you want her forgiveness because Nicole turned her into that
insecure person you talked about? Or do you
want more from her? Without Nicole – I mean, Melody, can you see
distinctly now? How do you feel about Shanty?”
Observing how his friend had no definite answer. Wendell suggested,
“Don’t you have to go to Russia? Use that time to
Think through and plan for what you want. When you return, and your head
has cleared, speak to Shanty. She’ll never turn
you away. Shanty is Shanty.”
Evan gasped. The Scotts should have already returned from their vacation
a few days ago, but he did not dare to see
Shantelle.
To admit that he brought an insane woman into their lives was not
something he could easily swallow. He was ashamed.
Even if he never cheated on Shantelle during their marriage, Nicole Lively
was the reason for her paranoia, hence their
periodic fighting during the last few months of their marriage. While Evan
had long desired his freedom, their constant
arguing had pressed him to ask for a divorce once and for all.


‘What do I want from Shanty?‘ Evan could not put a finger to it.
He once told Shantelle how he wanted her out of his life. When it finally
happened, however, it never made him content.
Shantelle’s absence and utter silence left an uncomfortable feeling deep
inside him, one that he had not deciphered.
it
Evan shifted his gaze to his friend and confirmed, “You are right. I need
time to think this through.”
In the afternoon, Evan prepared to leave for Russia. He returned to the villa
late at night and packed his bags. The next
one day, he was ready to go when Mrs. Shaw rushed to the driveway,
giving him a gift box.
“Sir, this arrived yesterday for you,” Mrs. Shaw said with a smile.
“What is it?” Evan asked.
“It’s a gift.” Mrs. Shaw pursed her lips before showing the box with a blue
ribbon. “It’s from Shanty.”
Evan froze. ‘A gift from Shanty?‘
For seconds, he stilled. Suddenly, Evan saw hope. Perhaps, what was
broken could still be fixed. The Scotts were a
family friend. Their ties did not have to end due to their unfortunate divorce.
A smile became painted on Evan’s face when he accepted the gift and
hopped into the car. As Howard drove him to the
airport, warmth filled his heart. He was constantly studying the gift box, his
head full of Shantelle’s smiling face. Under his
breath, he muttered, “She gave me a gift.”
Because his flight would leave in an hour, he could not see Shantelle that
day, but he would see her upon his return – on
Shantelle’s birthday.
Minutes into the road, he opened the gift and breathed in at the sight of the
jadeite prosperity ring. He saw a note that
said: [Evan. This is my belated gift for your promotion. I wish you
prosperity in life. Shanty.]
Evan was elated, but after reading Shantelle’s note, he felt heaviness in his
chest that he could not fathom. His eyes felt


watery. Evan had to sniff it back, overwhelmed by what was happening to
him.
Despite everything that had happened between them, Shantelle still
thought of him. Guilt washed over him. He gripped
the ring tightly in his fist before attempting to put it on.
As he did, his eyes widened when he realized he still wore his wedding
ring! It had been part of his daily wear for two
years, and he could not bear to remove it. For a second, he gawked at his
wedding ring, thinking, ‘Was it really that hard
to remove? Why didn’t I take this off?‘
Evan laughed slightly. He doubted his reasons. Finally, after putting on the
prosperity ring, he said under his breath,
“Thank you, Shanty. I’ll see you when I return.”

21-35
Chapter 21: Missing Shanty
“Evan, tomorrow, we can strike another deal,” Mr. Romanov suggested. “It’s
good that you decided to visit. At least you
I can see how serious I am being a client in the many years to come.
Mr. Romanov had taken Evan for a tour, driving from one showroom to
another. “I expect over a hundred shipments to


happen next year, so we can agree on a fair price where we both will be
happy.”
Evan laughed. He replied, “Yes, that we should do.”
They were talking while walking around Mr. Romanov’s enormous car
showroom when a woman with dark brown hair
approached them. She was tall, slender, and had an elegant face, with
chocolate brown eyes.
“Ah, Alina,” Mr. Romanov called, “Come meet Mr. Thompson.”
“Mr. Thompson, since you have already divorced, it would be good to meet
other women then, “Mr. Romanov said. “Alina
is one of our primary models for the
“I’m not interested in seeing anyone, Mr. Romanov,” Evan quickly
interrupted.
“Oh, come on.” Mr. Romanov pointed at the girl, saying, “Isn’t she
gorgeous?”
Evan glanced at the girl and saw her smiling his way. He studied her
clothes and disapproved of how revealing it was. He
returned his attention to Mr. Romanov, saying, “I prefer a conservative one.”
It had been a few days since Evan was in Russia. The trip was primarily for
business, but he also used the time to think
things through, especially about Shantelle.
Now and then, Mr. Romanov would introduce him to a woman, whether an
employee or an acquaintance, but he found
himself comparing them to Shantelle.
“I don’t find her attractive at all.”
“I prefer who can cook. My ex–wife used to prepare my meals.”
“I see, are you interested in fashion? My ex–wife is interested in biology.”
No matter how attractive or achieved the women seemed, Evan could not
bring himself to like any of them. It was as if
they could not compare to his ex–wife!
On another occasion, Mr. Romanov invited Evan to dinner with his family.
He met his son, who, after dinner, required help
with his homework.


Evan and Mr. Romanov were drinking coffee when the boy walked in. “Dad,
Mom, doesn’t know this, and I was sick last
week, so I missed the lesson. It’s biology!”
“What about your nanny?” Mr. Romanov said. “I have a guest, son.”
“She doesn’t know this,” Valentin complained.
Mr. Romanov tried to help his son, but having missed school for a long
time, all he could say was, “Try… the internet.”
Evan laughed from across the table. He offered, “Let me try. What’s your
homework about?”
“Biological molecules,” said the young man.
“Ah, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids,” Evan suggested.
“Let me see how I can help.”
Minutes went by, and Evan shared his knowledge about biological
molecules. “Proteins repair and build your body’s
tissues, allow metabolic reactions, and coordinate bodily functions. Which
is why getting protein into your diet is very
important.”
As Valentin took notes, Mr. Romanov nodded approvingly. After the boy
was done, he smiled and thanked Evan. Then, he
left to put his homework together.
“Thank you, Evan. I did not know you were very keen on biology,” Mr.
Romanov remarked.
“It was my wife – I mean, my ex–wife.” Evan paused. Then, he added, “She
always incorporated biology into our daily life.
She was stern with my diet and reminded me of how each body molecule
works. Every day was a new lesson learned
with her.”
“She
um. She would have pursued medicine if we did not marry early,” Evan
added. Evan remembered when Shantelle would
talk about photosynthesis as she directed where the plants around the
garden should go. Back then, he felt it was
unnecessary, but their villa wound up having a good amount of floral
blooms that neighbors were always jealous of. “She


must be quite a woman,” Mr. Romanov revealed. “No wonder you are still
so hung up on your ex–wife. Too bad you are
already divorced.”
Evan leaned back. He said inwardly, ‘Me? Hung–up on Shanty?‘ He had to
admit that part of him wanted to see her, and
he definitely did not like how she cut all communications with him. ‘I
guess… I miss her?‘
‘I miss her,‘ he repeated in his head.
He recognized he had never been this way with any other woman, even
with Nicole, whom he thought he liked in the past.
He felt sorry for Nicole, but other than that, he never missed her or longed
for her. Evan rarely dated in his college years.
When he went out with a girl, it was only for a simple dinner. He never
asked for a second date.
Following this realization, Evan was more determined to see Shantelle
upon his return. He wanted to understand what he
was going through.
After ending his dinner with Mr. Romanov, Evan called his assistant back in
Rose Hills. When James answered, he
directed, “James, send a bouquet or roses to Shanty at the Scotts‘ address.
He gulped before adding, “Ask the florist to add an ‘I’m Sorry‘ card.”
Silence stretched for seconds before James answered, “Oh, Sir. That’s
good to hear. I thought Miss Shanty was lovely. I’ll
do that first thing in the morning.”
The next day, Evan had an entire day of meeting with Mister Romanov and
his executives, but when he was done, he
immediately called his assistant.
On the other line, James said, “Sir, the flower shop said there was no
Shantelle Scott at the address I gave him. I’ll deliver
–”
“It’s fine. You don’t have to. You have a lot on your plate with me being
gone. They probably went to the wrong house. Ask
then send it again. I’ll be preparing for my flight tomorrow.‘


Evan said. “Call the Sarah Kate boutique and have the gown I ordered for
Shanty delivered.” “Yes, Sir,” James confirmed.
“Announce to the company that I’ll take a week’s leave upon my return.
Book me and Shanty a package to Paris. I want
the best hotel, first–class tickets, and excursions to the Louvre Museum
and the Eiffel Tower,” Evan added.
“Yes, Sir. That’s well noted,” James replied with enthusiasm, for he
wholeheartedly supported his boss‘ change of heart.
Another day came, but Evan received bad news.
“The flower shop insisted that there was no Shantelle Scott at the house,
Sir. Maybe I should deliver this myself,” James
reported.
“What?” Evan was on his way to the airport when James called. “It’s fine.
Ask for a new bouquet by tomorrow. I’ll
personally go to the Scotts and give Shantelle the flowers. Have it sent to
the villa. It’s about time that I speak to
Shantelle,” Evan instructed. “And the gown?” “Sarah Kate will deliver the
gown today, Sir,” James confirmed. “And the
tickets to Paris have already been booked, including your 5–star
accommodation in the city.”
“Good,” Evan answered. “Send me the booking details, and I’ll print them
when I get home.” Evan knew he was thinking
ahead. There was always that possibility that Shantelle would reject the trip
to Paris, but he did not care. He had to try.
Buying the tickets and reserving the rooms was his way of showing
Shantelle his sincerity to spend time with her.
Soon, Evan boarded the aircraft. He settled in his seat in the first–class
cabin and took a nap. Just before shutting his
eyes, he thought only of Shantelle. He wanted to dream of her.
** FLASHBACK ***
“Evan, let me help you,” Shantelle said as she walked before him.
Evan was shaving his face in front of their bathroom mirror when Shantelle
insisted she give it a try.


“I am not a child, Shanty,” Evan complained, but Shantelle only giggled and
took the shave. Evan and Shantelle were
i have already been married for six months. They were harmonious with
each other, though; they had not yet been intimate. After their
wedding, they left for their honeymoon in the Caribbean but never made
love.
To Evan, the first six months of their marriage felt like getting to know each
other all over again. Having been gone for so
Long, he barely knew what went on with Shantelle’s life.
“Evan, this is not about being an adult. This is me, your wife, being
affectionate,” Shantelle said. Her face flushed from her
admittance.
While Shantelle shaved the beard on his face, she smiled. Her eyes
gleamed at her actions.
Meanwhile, Evan could not help but study her closely.
Evan silently admitted how Shantelle was magnificent. She had that
innocent look on her face when she smiled. It was for
the first time that Evan forgot everything. He forgot his anger toward his
father and overlooked that Shantelle had worked
with his father to marry him.
“There, done,” Shantelle said. Her green–colored eyes were glued to his.
They both stilled, just doing nothing but looking at each other for seconds.
Evan did not show it, but secretly, he admired her beauty and spirit. Evan
held Shantelle’s waist, and for the first time
Since their marriage, he has leaned and kissed her lips.
Heat spread through his body. For the first time, they made love that night.
Evan had never reacted to any woman that same way. Despite that fact, he
hid his every emotion. At that time, Evan
would never admit to being affected by Shantelle, not when he was pushed
into their marriage.
*** END OF FLASHBACK***
“Ladies and gentlemen, Blue Airways welcomes you to Rose Hills. The
local time is nine in the evening.”
Evan awoke to the announcement. He groaned as he relaxed back in his
seat. He was dismayed as he said, “It was a


dream. It was… only a dream.”
He wished it wasn’t a dream, and that Shantelle was right before him.
‘Shanty,‘ he said. ‘I miss you.‘
It was late in the evening when Evan arrived, but tomorrow, he would
unquestionably drop everything to see Shantelle.

CHAPTER 22
Chapter 22: The Scotts Moved
Evan was dressed in his best suit. He applied the perfume Shantelle
always encouraged him to use. His hairstylist came
to the villa and had his hair trimmed early in the morning.
‘Shantelle would have already received her gown yesterday. I hope she
liked it,‘ He thought in his head.
After Evan’s haircut, he checked himself in the living room’s mirror. When
satisfied with his appearance, he dismissed the
hair stylist. He grabbed the printed itinerary of the trip to Paris from his
room and went down the stairs, ready to leave.
In the living room, he saw that the flowers had already arrived. Evan seized
the bouquet and paced to the door when
someone rang the doorbell at the villa’s gates.
To Evan’s surprise, his assistant, James, made an unexpected visit. He
walked out of a car with a huge box in his arms,
making Evan frown. It was in the driveway when Evan asked, “James?
What are you doing here?”
“Sir, I could not reach you last night, and I assumed you were resting, so I
did not bother to call the landline. Sarah Kate
the boutique sent the gown to your office instead. They said.” James
frowned before informing, “They said Miss Shanty no
longer lived in that address.”
Evan was stunned. He gulped and frowned. Soon, he asked, “What – what
do you mean?”


“I don’t know, Sir, but it was what the store manager told me. Whoever was
in the house said that Miss Shanty had
already moved,” James said before bowing his head.
Silence fell upon them, but after a few seconds, Evan cleared his throat.
“There must be some mistake. That’s their
familial home. Doctor Scott loved that house so much. It was his father’s
home. He had just recently renovated it. They –
they must have delivered it to the wrong house.”
While Evan said this, his heart was uneasy. First, it was the flowers, and
now, the gown. ‘Could the Scots have moved?
Impossible. Shanty would never leave without saying goodbye.‘
Suddenly, the image of Shantelle leaving the villa flashed into his head. It
was two months ago when he last saw her. He
remembered how her last words gave him that feeling of emptiness. Back
then, she said, “Goodbye, Evan.”
He felt the sudden throbbing of his heart that he tried to convince himself.
“I’ll go there now. I’m sure it’s just a mistake.”
“Yes, Sir. I am sure,” James reluctantly echoed Evan’s words. “Do you want
me to go with you, Mister Thompson?”
“No, go to the company. I need you there. Howard will drive me,” Evan
replied. “Put the gown in the car.”
***
“Everything, okay, Mister Thompson?” Howard, the Thompson family driver,
asked.
For the last fifteen minutes, Evan took deep breaths and repeatedly
bounced his left leg, all while Howard drove in the
direction of the Scotts‘ residence.
“Everything is fine, Howard. I appreciate your concern. I am just a little
nervous,” Evan
suggested. “Do you mind hurrying up?”
“Certainly, sir,” Howard confirmed. He understood. This was the first time
Evan would see the Scotts after the divorce.
Howard assumed Evan was worried about what Doctor Scott and his wife
had to say to him.


It did not take long for Evan to turn up at the mansion. It was Howard who
rang the gate’s doorbell for Evan. Howard said,
“Mister Evan Thompson is here to see Miss Shantelle Scott.”
“Um, okay. I guess I better speak to Mister Thompson.” Whoever it was on
the other line simply allowed the gates to open,
and Howard drove in.
Evan was unfamiliar with the voice. He wondered, ‘Was it a new maid?‘
Maybe. He certainly hoped it was the case, for he
could not fathom the restlessness of his heart.
Something was wrong, and he sensed it.
When Howard parked by the mansion driveway, a middle–aged woman
with black hair walked out of the house. Just as
Evan exited the car with the flowers in his hand, the lady said, “Mister
Thompson, it’s good to see the face behind the
name.”
The lady extended her hand and said, “My name is Kristine Jones. My
husband and I are the new owners of this estate.
Judging from your recent deliveries, you were not informed that… the Scots
have moved.”
Evan froze in his stance. He could feel his grip around the flowers
loosening by the second. He clarified, “Excuse me?”
“Mister Thompson, I allowed you into the property to inform you that the
Scots have moved. About two months ago, we
bought this estate from Doctor Scott. We just recently moved since we
were still preparing for the relocation ourselves,”
Kristine repeated.
“The Scotts moved.‘
‘The Scotts moved.‘
“The Scotts moved.‘
The words played in his head over and over again. In each second that
passed, he felt his heart becoming heavier.
Evan’s breathing sped. His chest was heaving seriously when he asked,
“To – to where? Which community is in Rose Hills?”


The lady gave Evan a polite smile and replied, “I’m afraid Doctor Scott did
not inform us, Mister Thompson, but from what
I know… they were moving out of town permanently. He clearly said they
were leaving Rose Hills for good.”
Yet again, the image of Shantelle saying goodbye played in his head. He
recounted how she said those words, “Goodbye,
Evan.”
He recalled how Shantelle cried that night at the villa. “I’m going to miss
you, Evan.” Seeing the reaction of Evan, Kristine
offered, “I’m sorry, Mister Thompson, if this is bad news, but I can show you
our deed of sale if you like –”
“Shanty!” Evan dropped the flowers on the ground and began to call her
name. “Shanty! Shanty, please come out and
speak to me. I’m sorry, Shanty!”
He barged into the house and looked around. The new homeowner had to
follow behind him, saying, “Mister Thompson?
They are long gone. Please, this is our property now.”
Despite the lady’s objection, Evan kept calling Shantelle’s name, “Shanty,
please! Shanty!” He called again and again.
Even went as far as checking Shantelle’s room on the third level of the
mansion, but he saw an empty room. There was
not a hint of Shantelle left in it.
Kristine had to go to the study and bring the purchase contract to the
property. After showing it to Evan, he finally
conceded. She said, “Is this proof enough? I don’t fully know your history
with the Scotts, but I knew his daughter was
your ex–wife.”
“I understand that you are looking for her, and clearly, there are unresolved
matters about your marriage. So, Mister
Thompson, I will overlook your intruding into our home, but I hope this is
the last time you come here without our
permission,” the new homeowner added. ” Again, the Scots have already
moved.”


“I – I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Evan faintly said before leaving the
house. As he entered his car, he instructed,
“Howard! To the St. Dominique Hospital! To Doctor Scott’s clinic!”

CHAPTER 23
Chapter 23: Never Coming Back
Two buttons on Evan’s shirt were undone. He had difficulty breathing and
had to open part of his shirt. He could not
believe his eyes. A new doctor was now occupying doctor Scott’s clinic!
“This can’t be happening.” Evan raked his fingers through his hair and
looked around. Seeing several secretaries walk by
and others entertaining patients, he asked, “Does anybody know where
Doctor Scott moved? Anybody?”
“Anybody?!” He asked again. Then, his gaze fell on the secretary across
Doctor’s Scott’s previous clinic. He walked inside
the room and asked the woman, “You! Do you know where Doctor Scott
moved? What about his secretary? Do you know
How can I reach her?”
“I’m sorry, Mister Thompson, but Eana did not say where they were
moving,” the woman said. “Eana was still here last
week, finalizing documents for Doctor Scott, but I believe she also left
town.‘
Eana was Doctor’s Scott’s long–time secretary. Evan was convinced she
would know everything. He asked, “Do you have
her number? Please. I need to call her.”
Evan got Elana's number, and he quickly made the phone call. He called
three times until Eana ultimately answered. Evan
said, “Eana, this is Evan Tho –”
The next thing he heard was a busy tone. When he tried calling again, his
call went to voicemail. It was clear to him that
Eana had blocked his number too. From where he was, he tried calling
William and Eleanor Scott, but it was the same. All


his calls would only route to voicemail.
Desperate to find answers, Evan went to the hospital’s administration
building. From there, he spoke to the hospital head.
“Doctor Jacob, did Doctor Scott resign?”
“Yes, he gave only one month’s notice. It was a struggle on our part, but he
was very adamant about moving,” Doctor
Jacob responded.
“Do you know where they had relocated?” Evan sought.
Doctor Jacob sighed. He responded, “No, Mister Thompson, but even if we
knew, that information is private –
||
“Don’t you know me? I am Evan Thompson!” Evan raised his voice, making
the doctor shake
his head.
“I know you very well, Mister Thompson. I know your family’s power and
influence in this city, but you forget I am also a
professional doctor. I know what is wrong and right. I know I cannot freely
give you information about Doctor Scott!”
Doctor Jacob said.
“Although we honestly do not know. Doctor Scott said he needed to take
his daughter out of Rose Hills.” Doctor Jacob
shrugged and concluded, “So, he left –”
“But what about his patients?” Evan asked calmly this time, knowing that he
could not threaten Doctor Jacob.
“From what I know, some were referred to a new doctor. I don’t have the full
knowledge,” Doctor Jacob replied. “I’m sorry,
Mister Thompson, but that’s all the information I can give you. Doctor Scott
and his family have left the city.”
The rain poured over Evan as he left the hospital with nothing. He could not
think straight. Just when he had admitted how
he missed Shantelle, he learned she had already left the city!
“Mister Thompson! Mister Thompson! Get in the car, Sir!” He heard Howard
call his name from behind, but it took seconds
to come back to his senses.


Eventually, Evan turned on his heel and lazily entered the car. While inside,
his eyes landed on the box containing the
white gown he had bought for her birthday.
Will he ever see Shantelle in this dress? Will he ever see her again? Was
this for real? Many questions played in his head
as Howard drove away. Evan said in his head, ‘Shanty, did you want to
leave me?‘
The Shantelle that Evan knew would never leave him. The Shantelle that
he knew would do anything for him. How did she
find the courage to leave Rose Hills?
Evan still could not accept it.
“Sir? Can I take you to the villa?” Howard asked. “You need to change. You
are completely drenched –”
“No,” Evan answered. “Take me to UC MED University.”
There was one last hope, and that was where Shantelle completed her
degree. Doctor Scott was one of the founders of
the school. Evan was convinced that Doctor Scott would never give up on
his shares. If he did, selling them in just a few
months would be close to impossible.
Half an hour passed, and Evan arrived at the university. He went straight to
the dean’s office to get answers. Upon
arriving, he met with professor Arya Dewan.
He wasted no time and asked where Doctor Scott had relocated. However,
to his dismay, the professor gave him the
same answer. “I’m sorry, Mister Thompson, but we don’t know. Doctor Scott
did not tell anyone where he was relocating.
Even if we knew, we would not share this information with you
”
“But, he shares. Surely, he still has his shares,” Evan pointed out.
Professor Dewan was frowning in her chair. Not only did Evan soak her
sofa seat with his wet clothes, but the information
he sought was something she honestly thought the man would know.
The professor sucked in a breath and revealed, “Mister Thomspon, Doctor
Scott easily sold his shares. Your father bought
all of his shares.”


‘What?‘ Evan was beyond shocked. His parents bought Doctor Scott’s
shares at the university. It only meant one thing; his
parents knew Shantelle was leaving. They knew they were moving out of
the city, yet they never told him!
From the university, Evan asked Howard to bring him to the old Thompson
mansion. His heart was filled with bitterness,
knowing his parents knew all along. He thought, ‘How long have they
known?‘
The entire drive, Evan was trying to hold back his emotions. He was angry.
He was sad, and he was in pain. Oddly, his
my heart was aching from the news. He was upset that his parents did not
tell him, and he was mad at himself for he knew
This was all his fault.
“Evan, what have you done? What have you done?” He asked himself as
he threw his head back.
It did not take long for Evan to arrive at his parent’s home. He briskly
walked inside and found his parents having tea on
the patio.
Evan was catching his breath when he asked, “Did you know?”
“What is it, son?” His father, Erick Thompson asked.
“Did you know the Scotts were leaving? Is that why you bought Doctor
Scott’s shares at the university?” Evan sought.
“Why? Tell me why, father?!”
“Why?” Erick asked back. “It was the least I could do. I felt guilty because
of the divorce. Since they did not want the
alimony, I could at least make it easier for William to leave.”
“But.” Evan moved closer as he inquired, “But why did you not tell me she
was leaving?!”
Clara, Evan’s mother, gazed at her husband. Seeing him silent, she
directed his gaze to Evan and asked, “Why does it
matter, Evan? You and Shanty are already divorced.”
It was as though Clara was reminded of the last day Shantelle came to bid
goodbye. She was teary–eyed, and her voice


broke in and out as she described, “They cut ties with us, Evan over thirty
years of friendship gone to waste. William
decided it was best to cut all relations with us. He concluded it was best to
take Shantelle away from here to forget
everything.”
“Evan, it was no secret how Shantelle was brokenhearted with the divorce.
You knew she loved you very much,” Erick
explained. “William will do anything to make Shantelle heal, and that can
only happen if she forgets you. Forgetting you
means forgetting about Rose Hills. William said… they were never coming
back.”
Suddenly, Evan found it hard to breathe. He felt wetness in the corner of his
eyes, one he never knew he was capable of
having.
“What’s wrong, Evan? Isn’t it better?” Erick asked. “Isn’t this what you
always wanted? Shanty has finally left you alone.”
We recommend you read these novels after this one. Please check them
out. We hope you will like them.

CHAPTER 24
Earlier that day, Shantelle was lazily preparing for school. She wasn’t
feeling well, but school was school. Every day is
vital for medical
school.
After showering and changing into a pair of faded jeans and a white top,
she made her way to the dining area to have
breakfast.
“Surprise! Happy birthday, Shanty!” Both her parents greeted.
Shantelle smiled from ear to ear, seeing her mother, Eleanor, had prepared
balloons and a bouquet for her special day.
Her father held up her favorite cake, saying, “Happy birthday to my
beautiful daughter, Shanty.”
Recently, her breakfast usually involved toast


and fruit, but she supposed that day could be an excuse to indulge, since
her mother had her
favorite dishes on the table.
The new maids they hired also cheered her on. Good morning, Shanty!
Happy Birthday!”
“Maybe I should.” Looking at the
mouth watering food, she suggested, “skip school today!”
“Hahaha!” Her father laughed. He said, “No
skipping school. One of your professors is my subordinate at the hospital. I
don’t want him asking about your
whereabouts, and he
shouldn’t be giving you any special treatment,
neither.”
Shantelle laughed and said, “Fine.” After her father put the cake on the
table, she embraced
him and her mother. “Thank you. To the best
parents in the world that love me so. Thank you.
After having breakfast, Doctor Scott informed
her they would have dinner at the best
restaurant in town to celebrate her birthday
formally. He said, “I invited Anna's family and
Keith.”
Her father referred to his secretary. Eana and
her family relocated with them. Her father entrusted Eana with all of his
patient’s personal
information.
Shantelle’s mother, Eleanor, was her father’s
constant aide. She was a nurse surgeon at St. Dominique Hospital in Rose
Hills, and that was
how they met. She acted as his sole assistant in
the past, not just in surgeries, but also during clinic hours and meetings.
However, over time,
Doctor William’s patients grew in number.


Now, Eana was the one who made patient appointments and managed her
father’s clinic.
On the other hand, Eleanor screened and
scheduled her father’s surgeries. Sometimes, she took part in helping the
surgery itself.
“We don’t have many friends yet here in town to share your special day,”
Eleanor said. “But
we have each other.”
“Thank you, mom. And, of course, I’d love Anna's family to be there, and I
don’t mind. Keith’s presence. He already
promised not to talk about Evan,” Shantelle replied.
She checked the time and, realizing it was getting late, stood up and said,
“I better go.”
“Sorry, dear. The driver I hired will start next week. Bear with taking a taxi in
the meantime,” her father said before walking
her out to the
driveway.
***
At four in the afternoon, Shantelle was
exhausted. She walked out of the school with an upset stomach. She
groaned, “I should not have eaten so much at
breakfast.” 1
“Shanty, over here!” She turned to find Keith,
leaning on the side of his car, his hand waving at her. He was holding a
bouquet in his hand. He said, “We can go together
for your special
dinner.”
Since Shantelle moved to Warlington, this was the third time Keith fetched
her from medical
school. In between, he did not bother her nor call her, despite knowing her
number. She met him on two other occasions
at the hospital. They talked, and he flirted, but then again, it
was Keith. It wasn’t a secret to Shantelle how
Keith was a ladies’ man in Rose Hills. After a
short chat, he would always rush to whatever he


was doing, building his network of doctors. within Warlington.
“Happy birthday, Shanty,” he said with a
smile.
“Thank you for the flowers,” Shantelle said,
accepting the bouquet.
As she entered Keith’s car, she could feel the
jealous eyes of the ladies outside the school. She could not blame them.
Keith was gorgeous. He knew how to dress well.
He was rich and had a well-toned body.
Shantelle buckled her seatbelts just before Keith turned on the engine.
Then she shifted to him
and said, “You should stop at this. You are going to give the girls at school
the wrong ideas. You will miss out on all the
potential prospects here in Warlington.”
Keith laughed. He shook his head and replied, "I'm not interested in them,
and… they are not at all wrong.”
Shantelle simply shook her head at his remark, not wanting to dwell on it.
Keith was handsome
and charismatic, but he was also Evan’s friend.
She did not want to go there with him.
Moreover, Shantelle did not know if she could
ever like someone again. 2
Ten minutes on the road, Shantelle was feeling extremely uncomfortable.
She was taking deep breaths and kept gulping
down whatever was threatening to come out of her throat!
Eventually, she knew she could no longer hold it in. She instructed, “Park at
the side of the road.
Park at the side of the road. Now!”
Keith’s car stopped by the entrance of a park. Shantelle rushed outside and
found a tree,
where she threw the entire contents of her
stomach.
When Keith made his way to her, he soothed her back, asking, “Are you
okay? Are you fine?”


It took a few minutes for Shantelle to feel
better. Keith had to buy warm water from the coffee shop across the street
since Shantelle did not feel like drinking
beverages.
Keith observed how Shantelle was drinking the water slowly, too slowly.
She sometimes acted to heaven even with drinking
only water. He suddenly felt uneasy. He hated the possibility, but he saw
the signs and had to ask, “Shanty… are you…
pregnant?”
At his probing, Shantelle froze and looked distantly. Soon fear washed over
her, and she stood up, looking at her
surroundings. When her eyes landed on a pharmacy, she excused herself.
“I need to buy something.”
***
An hour passed, Keith and Shantelle were
sitting on a park bench, their faces white as a
ghost.
Shantelle had taken a pregnancy test, and it
came back positive. She used not only one, but five pregnancy test kits.
Tears flowed down Shantelle’s face as she
hugged herself with her arms. Then, out of nowhere, Keith walked to the
nearest tree and
punched it with his fist.
“Fuck! Fuck!” He kicked the truck with his feet
and did so again and again. Most of the time, he said no words, but he
grunted and groaned. He was so angry that he did
not care how he had cut his knuckles. He only stopped being frantic when
he noticed the stares of people passing
When Keith returned to the park bench with Shantelle, he rested his elbows
against his knees; his hands held his face. He
said, “I don’t
mean to scare you.” He wanted to explain
himself, but no words came out of his mouth. ”
It’s just that… this wasn’t what I wanted for


you, Shanty.”
His words took Shantelle aback. It was awfully
caring for someone who wasn’t really that close to her. Sure, she had
known Keith since they were young, but they were
never that tight.
Silence fell upon them, but soon, Shantelle asked, “What – what do I do
now, Keith?”
It took some time, but eventually, Keith answered, “Do the right thing,
Shanty.” Keith was taking deep breaths. He avoided
her gaze for some time, but when he peered back at her, he reminded, “My
mother left my father and me
for another man when I was eight years old. I’ve always thought it was
unfair to me.”
“Do what’s right, Shanty,” he faintly said. “I will be here to support you and
your family, no
matter what.”
Shantelle silently understood what he meant. She remained in her seat,
just thinking and crying. After ten minutes, she
asked, “Please… please don’t tell Evan.” 1
The last time Shantelle saw Evan, she perfectly remembered how he asked
her about taking contraceptives. He did not
i want a child with her. So, he did not have to know.

CHAPTER 25
Chapter 25: One Day
“Oh, my goodness! Not again!” Mrs. Shaw exclaimed, seeing Evan being
guided by Wendell into the villa’s entrance at
four in the morning.
She tried to aid Wendell, but Wendell said, “It’s okay, Mrs. Shaw, I can
manage. Please help me open the door to his
room.”


More than a week had passed since Evan learned that Shantelle had left
the city.
After confronting his parents, he locked himself inside his room. Evan did
not bother to eat until lunch the next day. He
spoke to no one, not his parents, friends, or the villa’s caretakers.
Evan only returned to work after three days of isolating himself.
In the succeeding days, he spent it at the office, working until midnight.
Occasionally, he went to the club with his friends Wendell and Sean.
Wendell often drove Evan home since he was
usually drunk.
Tonight was no exception. Wendell rang the villa’s gates, delivering Evan in
a drunken state.
Same as the last that he was intoxicated,
Evan was talking like Shantelle had never left.
“Mrs. Shaw, where are the Misses? Tell her to make my favorite dish.”
“Why is she not home yet? It’s already late. Mrs. Shaw, call the Scotts and
have Howard pick up Shanty.”
“Wendell, call Shanty.”
“Yes, Evan. I will. Take a nap first, okay, buddy!” Wendell could only ride on
Evan’s gibberish, knowing he was not himself. Generally, the next day,
Evan would be back to being silent.
Wendell carefully laid Evan on the bed. He turned to Mrs. Shaw and said,
“He is fine, Mrs. Shaw.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Mrs. Shaw asked. ” How long will he be like this?” 1
“I don’t know, Mrs. Shaw, but it’s different with Evan because he knows he
is at fault,” Wendell said. He returned to
studying his friend, saying, “Only time will tell.”
***
“Mr. Thompson?” In the morning, Mrs.
Shaw knocked on Evan’s room for the tenth time. It was already past nine,
and his assistant had been calling the landline
since seven.
It wasn’t like Mrs. Shaw to enter the room without permission, but at the
same time, she was worried for Evan’s sake.


“Sir, Mister Thompson?” Mrs. Shaw called again while opening the door
halfway.
To her surprise, there was no one on the bed. “Sir Thompson? Mister
Thomson? James has called about an important
contract.”
There was no answer. She knocked on the bathroom door, but there was
no response either. When she opened the
bathroom, no one was there.
“Where is Mister Thompson?” Mrs. Shaw was confident the man had not
left the villa since four in the morning. He was
not capable of walking a straight line, much more, have the readiness to
leave the house.
Mrs. Shaw was about to leave the room when she heard a thud inside the
walk-in closet. She frowned and decided to
investigate it.
After switching the lights to the enormous room, she found Evan sleeping
on Shantelle’s side of the closet! He was
still in his clothes from last night, curled like a ball on the part where
Shantelle’s long dresses were kept.
She walked over to Evan with a painful expression. Instantly, Mrs. Shaw fell
to her knees, crying. She wound up waking
Evan.
“Oh, my. Mister Thompson, I’m sorry you and the Misses had to part. If only
you had realized how you loved her then, this
would not have happened to both of you,” she said, stuttering in her words.
All those times when you were together “Her
howls became lower as she said, ”
All those opportunities were lost.” 5
The words that Mrs. Shaw said stung
Evan’s heart. He wasn’t completely sober yet, but he understood her
words. Indeed, there were so many opportunities.
They were married for two years, and even after their divorce, Evan
remembered how he felt empty but never acted on
those feelings.


He silently reflected, ‘Did I love her? Did I love Shanty?’
Perhaps, because Evan would not have been so miserable these past few
days if it were not the case. He had
acknowledged how he missed Shantelle, but had not yet admitted it was
love.
Evan placed a hand on his chest and clenched it. The pang in his chest
was unbearable. He thought, ‘So this is pain… the
pain of loving someone. I loved Shanty. Why didn’t I see it before? Was it
because she was always there that I took those
feelings for granted?’
‘I loved her… I loved her, but she is gone.
How unfortunate,’ Evan mocked himself.
For a minute, she listened to Mrs. Shaw cry in front of him. He shut his
eyes, stopping his tears from escaping.
Finally, Evan massaged his forehead, sensing a headache. He tapped on
Mrs. Shaw’s shoulder and softly requested,
Please, Mrs. Shaw, prepare some chicken soup for me.”
He looked up and studied the white gown he had bought Shantelle for her
birthday.
Mrs. Shaw had hung the same in the closet a few days back. Then he
looked at Shantelle’s other clothes.
Mrs. Shaw was still wiping the wetness on her face. She was about to
leave the room when Evan instructed, “Please
make sure to maintain Shantelle’s clothes.”
“When she comes back, she can readily wear them,” he said. He left the
walk-in closet and went for a hot bath.
***
Days went by again. Evan found himself in front of the Scotts’ mansion.
This time around, he had spoken to Kristine
Jones before visiting. That day, he came with his assistant and a lawyer
with an offer.
A maid guided them into the living room.
Kristine and her husband were waiting for him.
“Good Morning, Mister Thompson,” Mister Jones greeted.


“Good morning, Mister and Miss Jones, Evan greeted me. His assistant
and lawyer echoed the same.
“Welcome to our home,” Kristine said.
After Evan and his companions took their seats, she sought, “What brings
you here, Mister Thompson?”
“I would like to make an offer,” Evan suggested. He turned to his lawyer
and presented a document to the Jones couple.
Kristine and her husband read the document carefully, flipping from one
page to another.
When Evan saw their overwhelmed expressions, he explained, “I want to
buy back this house twice the amount you paid
Doctor Scott. This is… my ex-wife’s home, and I want it to remain the
same.”
“Please, let me buy this house for her,” he repeated.
The Jones couple looked at each other, contemplating. The Scotts’ estate
was really lovely, but… Evan’s offer was also
very generous. They excused themselves into the library to discuss, and
when they returned, Kristine said, “Mister
Thompson, you must really love your ex wife. I hope this is all worth it. We
agree to sell you the property.”
Relief filled Evan’s heart. The house was nowhere close to having
Shantelle back, but this was where she had lived for
twenty years. Evan thought that one day Shantelle would return. One day,
he will give this house back to the Scotts as a
gift, and one day, Shantelle will forgive him.
One day.
No matter how long it would take, Evan would hope for that… one day.

CHAPTER 26
Chapter 26: The Playboy’s Backstory
[Sometimes, when things don’t work out the way you planned, something
better is coming. It may be difficult to believe


where you stand; often, redirection is a helpful intervention. This is a gift,
and I know it. Love and kisses to my girl, Shanty!
I’ll see you in a week.]
Shantelle smiled, reading Karise’s post on her profile. Soon, her other
friends left comments.
[I don’t care if I am broke. I’ll see my girl, too] Felice said.
Below, Felice, her other friend, Celest, remarked. [I am far more broke, but
Karise will pay for my ticket. I love you @
Karise! See you soon, beautiful Shanty!]
It made Shantelle smile altogether.
Shantelle was leaning against the wall outside the classroom of her last
subject of the day, going through her friend’s
plans of flying out to Warlington.
She sucked in a breath, and after putting her phone back inside her bag,
she caressed her growing belly.
Two weeks ago, during her birthday, she had told her parents about the
pregnancy. It broke their heart because plans
were changing now with a new life taken into the equation. However, like
the loving parents they were, they accepted the
circumstance. Her father began making phone calls, assessing how she
could get through medical school faster despite
falling pregnant.
Shantelle walked out of the school, confident. She knew she could
overcome her endeavors with her friends’ and family’s
support. One day, she will become one of the best thoracic surgeons.
One day.
Arriving outside the gates, she was stunned to see Keith Henderson. She
looked around and realized the driver her father
had been nowhere to be seen.
“I told your father I would send you home. I am leaving Warlington and
don’t know when I’ll be back. I thought I’d say
goodbye,” he said. “Not forever, though.”
Then he gave that sexy smirk that made Shantelle shake her head.
***


“I’m keeping the baby,” Shantelle revealed as they sat in the park bench.
Keith had decided to make a stop at where it all unfolded; the Warlington
Park. He had bought her camomile tea from the coffee shop while he had
an espresso.
She saw him nod, and his shoulders lifted and fell for a second. He replied,
“It’s the right thing. I hoped that you had
pursued medicine right after graduation.”
Shantelle lightly laughed. She answered, When I finished college last year,
I thought I spend more time with him, you
know. Then, a few months later, I discovered that Nicole was back in town.
So all that plan of taking medicine went down
the drain. Back then, I could not allow Nicole to have her way.” 1
“I was following Evan around, secretly checking his phone, going to his
office, and making excuses like bringing him lunch
– among other things.” She chuckled and revealed, “I even went to one of
Evan’s client meetings at The
Hillview restaurant, thinking he was meeting with Nicole.”
Shaking her head, she revealed, “He lost that client because of me, and
that’s when we started arguing, really, really bad.”
“I did stupid things for love, all of which lead me to this day. Can you
believe it?” She said, 1
Her statement wasn’t meant to be a question, but an affirmation of her
mistakes. However, Keith replied, “I know precisely
what you mean. Love can make you do outlandish things.”
“Wait, what is that statement? Why do you talk about love, Mister
Henderson?” She nodded and suggested, “I doubt
Mister Casanova has ever been in love.”
Keith chuckled and responded, “Shanty, you should know, every playboy
has his backstory.”
Shantelle laughed entirely. She snorted as she answered, “Really now? I’m
all ears.”
For seconds, Keith just looked at the bystanders in the park. Eventually, he
revealed, “I started to like this girl when I was


twenty-three. She is younger than me, but unfortunately, she was in love
with another man.” 3
“I tried to turn up in front of her, looking sexy, the boy next door type, the
hot shot businessman, but nothing. Not a single
a version of me attracted her. She never saw me,” he said. “Around two
years ago, she broke my heart completely.”
“What happened? Did she reject you?”
Shantelle asked.
“You could say that,” Keith replied.
“Oh, was that why you left town for two months without talking to anybody?
I remember that. Evan was cussing about it all
week,” Shantelle said.
“He was cursing about me during your honeymoon?” Keith asked with a
frown.
“Yeah, something to do with the children’s hospital in Lockwood,’ Shantelle
said, lifting her brow.
“Oh, that.” Keith sneered. “Well, I took care of those insurance claims when
I returned. Evan was being theatrical.”
There was an awkward silence that stretched between them. Shantelle
never recalled Evan saying something about Keith
i like girls. She turned to him, asking, “Is it someone I know?” 1
Keith chuckled. He ran his fingers through his hair, and, without looking at
her, he answered, “No. Not really. Maybe in
time, I will introduce you to her. I don’t know yet if that time will ever come.
“So anyway, that’s when I started -‘ Keith frowned, trying to find the right
words.
“Serial dating?” Shantelle said before laughing. “I’m pretty sure you dated
back then, but I admit, the number of women’s
hearts you had broken doubled, if not tripled, in the past two years.”
“I wanted to forget her. I know I’ll never have a place in her heart, but I
know my methods were wrong,” Keith said in the
end. “The idiotic things we do for love, right?”
Shantelle just laughed. She remarked, pointing to him with her hand, “This
doesn’t suit you at all, Keith.”


Keith chuckled with her and said, “Laugh all you want. You wanted my
backstory, so I gave it. How dare you ridicule me?”
The two continued to laugh and chat as they finished their drinks, but after
some time, Keith received a call. From the
out of Shantelle’s eyes, she saw Evan's name on his screen. She quickly
looked everywhere, not wanting to
appear affected.
Keith got up and walked toward a tree, the same trunk he had punched the
last time when he learned she was pregnant.
After two minutes, he returned, saying, I have to go, Shanty. " I'll take you
home?”
Shantelle nodded and said, “Need to go back to Rose Hills?”
“Nah. Not yet. I need to fly out to Lockwood and meet everyone there,” he
said. Then, noticing her curiosity, he explained,
“Evan won the bid for the
Lockwood National Park.”
“Ah,” Shantelle said. “That means one thing, he will buy the Lockwood
Children’s Hospital.”
“Yes,” Keith acknowledged. “It’s his biggest humanitarian project.”
Shantelle smiled as she got up. She expressed, “I may hate Evan for
breaking my heart, but I must admit that he can be
such a philanthropist.”
Keith nodded in agreement. He remarked, “He took a business risk, a big
one, but it’s for charitable reasons.
“But you are also generous, Keith. I know that you offered insurance
coverage to those poor children in Lockwood,”
Shantelle said.
Keith paused, as if he was thinking. Then he smiled and answered, “Yes,
that’s right, Shanty, we can talk more about my
humanitarian projects. You might just… fall in love with me.”
Shantelle laughed. She replied, “What a sudden shift!”
“Can I tell you a little secret?” Keith said as they were walking towards his
car.
“What?” Shantelle asked.


“I have always thought that single moms are hot!” He teased and winked at
her.
Shantelle chortled hysterically. She replied, “Your lines won’t work on me,
Keith.” 5
“Really? But I wasn’t aiming for your heart. I was aiming for your smile,” he
answered, making Shantelle smile from ear to
ear.

CHAPTER 27
Chapter 27: Give Me A Chance
“Evan, son. Do we really need to go?”
Erick Thompson asked.
The Thompsons were in the car, heading their way to the airport. They
were flying to Lockwood for the formalities of
Evan’s recently acquired property.
“Of course we do, Erick. Evan wants us to see his plans,” Clara said in the
car.
“Please, father,” Evan said in a lifeless tone. “I booked a charter flight, so it
will be comfortable for everyone. I want you to
see the potential of the place.”
With a sigh, Erick answered, “Very well.”
Evan was on his laptop while in the car, reading emails he had missed the
other day. Work had to continue for Evan,
being the CEO of his father’s company, but it was obvious that he was
unhappy.
He lost that glow on his face. He let his beard grow lengthier than usual,
and his eyes looked tired. It was clear to
everyone how Evan still had not slept properly.
While reading one email, he noticed a familiar person walking down the
street.
His eyes rounded, recalling how his private investigator could not find her
new address. She lived in the same city but


proved rather hard to find.
“Karise,” Evan said under his breath. His heart raced, seeing hope at last.
“Stop the car, Howard. Stop the car!”
After the vehicle pulled over on the sidewalk, Evan rushed out and chased
after Karise.
“Karise! Karise!” He called. “Please stop!
I need to speak to you!”
Karise heard and glanced his way. He saw how her eyes rounded and how
she ran in another area. “Karise! Please,
stop!”
Eventually, Karise was out of breath, and Evan cornered her in one alley.
Karise was taking deep breaths as she
comforted her chest with her palm. She barked, "What do you want, Evan?”
“Karise,” Evan was also panting. He moved toward her and pleaded,
“Please, I beg you. I need to know where Shanty is.”
“Why? You are divorced! Let her have her peace!” Karise shot back. “She
needs to live her life, Evan. What do you want
from her -“‘
“I miss her. I miss her so much. It’s been so hard to live through the day
and not think of her – I miss her scent, her smile,
her beautiful face, the way she talked about science – everything about
her.”
Evan did not hesitate to let out his inner thoughts. “I was wrong to ask for a
divorce. I need her to know that.”
Evan saw Karise was taken aback, but very quickly, her face showed a hint
of anger. She countered, “What the hell,
Evan? First, you pushed her away, and then you say you miss her? Well,
too bad because Shanty doesn’t miss you!”
“Where is she? Let her decide for herself,
“Evan suggested.
“And what about Nicole?” Karise pointed out. “Isn’t it that Shanty stood in
your way? Didn’t you love Nicole? Then you
could not get over the forced marriage thing, Evan. Tell me, what really
went on with your head, huh? Did your pride get


in the way? Did your fucking ego make you blind to see how great Shanty
was for you? Almost every man in Rose Hills
i was jealous of you, Evan!”
“I did not have any relationship with Nicole! And fucking no! I never loved
Nicole. I never cheated on Shanty!” Evan
maintained, but he did not have the time to explain it all – how Nicole
turned out to be Melody Campbell. He was more
surprised that Karise did not seem to know. 5
Evan tried to describe his point of view. ” My reasons were more than just
about Nicole. Hear me out.”
Seeing how Krise paused, he admitted, ” Yes, you are right, Karise. My ego
got in the way. I could not get over how my
Father pushed me into our marriage. I felt suffocated. I thought I wanted my
freedom – I thought that being single, I
–
would be contented, but I’m fucking miserable, Karise. I miss Shanty so
much!
Evan tried to reach for her hand, but
Karise pushed him away and firmly answered, “I don’t know where she is -”
“You are lying! You are her best friend!”
Evan rebutted. Then, he did the impossible and went down on his knees.
In front of her, he asked, “I know you are just looking out for Shanty, but
please let me see her, let me speak to her. I was
wrong to let her go.”
“Get up, Evan! Get up!” Karise raised her voice and said, “Why now? Why
did you realize this now when it’s already too
late?”
Karise berated. “I’m sorry, Evan, but I don’t know where Shanty is.’
“Karise!” Evan held her wrist and asked,
“I am asking you not as Evan, but as an acquaintance who is regretful. No
one is perfect, and I certainly am not. I beg
you, give me a chance.” 3
Evan looked into Karise’s eyes and declared, “I love her, Karise. I know that
now. I love Shanty. Give me a chance to
prove it.”


“If you won’t let me see her, at least please tell her for me,” Evan implored.
Karise, you are my only hope.”
Karise looked down at Evan pitifully. She listened as he begged again. She
thought about it deeply, but recalling Doctor
Scott’s goal for Shantelle, she responded weakly, “I’m sorry, Evan, but the
Scotts left without saying where they were
headed. They meant never to come back. I think… it’s better that way.
“Forget Shanty,” She suggested. “Your story ended the moment you asked
for a divorce. It’s time to close that chapter of
your life. She has moved on, and so should you.” 1
Karise walked away, leaving Evan still on his knees. She had already made
it out in the same alley, and only then did she
turn to check on him. She saw Evan, still kneeling from afar, his back facing
her, his head down, looking thoroughly
defeated.
She should not feel sorry for Evan, but considering that Shantelle was
pregnant, she whispered, “Should I let Shanty
know?” 1
***
Later that evening, Karise called
Shantelle’s new mobile number, but she did not pick up. She called the
landline of the new Scotts’ residence in
Warlington, and Doctor William Scott answered the call.
“Doctor Scott, is Shanty home?” She asked.
“Yes, but she is studying right now for her exams. Eleanor is giving her
some pointers. Can I take a message?” Doctor
Scott offered.
There was silence between them, but finally, Karise revealed, “I – I bumped
into Evan. He seemed apologetic -”
“Karise, Shanty has to become a doctor.
Please don’t give us news about Evan. I already cut relations with the
Thompsons. I don’t want to have Shanty cut ties with you too. Do you want
that to happen? Will you promise me never to


bring this up? I don’t care about Evan or whatever he has to say. I don’t
care that he is the father of Shanty’s child. My
daughter has us, and she has you too. We are more than enough,” Doctor
Scott declared. 1
“Promise me, Karise. Promise me,”
William continued.
—
“I'm sorry, Doctor Scott. It won’t happen again,” Karise said in the end.
After the phone conversation with Shantelle’s father, Karise looked out the
window of her home. She thought it was funny
how Evan only realized Shantelle’s
worth now that she was out of his life.
Barely a whisper, Karise said, “I’m sorry, Evan, but you are just going to live
with the choice you made.”
CHAPTER 28
Chapter 28: The Lockwood National Park
“Mister Thompson, this is for you,” a young bald girl walked up to Erick,
Evan’s father, and gave him a teddy bear.
Another young boy, wearing a cannula, breathed deeply as he handed a
single flower to Clara Thompson. He said, “For
you.’
“This is Lily. She has leukemia. She is waiting for a bone marrow donor,”
Evan whispered to his parents. “And the boy is
Scott. He has damaged lung cells. He easily gets sick and is a common
visitor at the hospital.”
One by one, kids at the Lockwood
Children’s Hospital gave their thanks to Erick and Clara Thompson. The
decision to purchase the Lockwood National Park
meant saving the hospital, the very last scenic view in town, and possibly
saving their lives.
Some children could not get out of bed. They were attached to the
machines that kept them alive. Erick and Clara could


only watch as the children lay on their beds.
When they made it to an entertainment room, they saw older children,
some wearing masks, playing in their hospital
gowns. They were admitted because of different illnesses but only had one
goal: to live longer.
“Children, say hello to Mister and Misses Thompson,” one of the hospital
administrators said. Her name was Mina.
She guided Evan, his parents, and his friends through the hospital.
“Mister Thompson! Misses Thompson, thank you for saving the park!”
“It’s nice to meet you!”
Some children gave a piece of their belongings as a token of appreciation.
The parents who were around also gave their gratitude to Erick and Clara.
Behind Evan, his friends, whom he had invited, gave their approving nods.
Sean, Wendell, and Keith had been walking
with them.
After the playroom, Mina guided them to a resting lounge near her office.
Pointing to the sofa seats and said, “Please take
a seat.”
Refreshments were provided as they settled on the sofas. It was from there
that Mina stood in front of the guests, saying,
“Mister Thompson, I cannot thank you enough for helping our hospital – ”
Erick raised his hand and said, “This was… my son’s idea the whole time.
He is now the CEO of my company. I have
transferred all rights and assets to him. Besides, I don’t have any other
heir.”
Mina glanced at Evan, but knowing their prior agreement, she said to Erick,
“Still, if you had pulled out from the bid two
years ago, we didn't know what would become of our hospital.”
Erick choked. Yes, Evan was not the CEO of his company two years back.
Back then, he threatened Evan to pull out from
the bidding of the Lockwood National Park.
Erick had briefly looked away to think. Then he smiled at Mina, saying, “I’m
glad I changed my mind.”


The lounging area had huge glass windows that faced the park. The
hospital was situated right next to Lockwood National
Park. 1
More than two years ago, the Lockwood government faced a significant
deficit in funds that the governor had decided to
sell the very last nature reserve in the city, which stretched to over three
hectares of land, and that was the national park.
The sale announcement made headlines!
Many locals questioned the government’s decision. Environmentalists and
residents were against it. Whereas bidders
readily offered their prices, many of them were for industrialization.
Mina pointed to the park and said, “The children here at the hospital have
direct access to the park. The government had
allocated a certain area for the children to use.”
“Critically ill children need it. The natural environment, fresh air, pines
growing several feet high and lush, birds nesting in
the trees, and squirrels running around.” Mina gasped. “Peace and serenity
are what some of these kids live for.”
“And it is not just the kids, me, including. The park keeps me sane. It’s true
for many locals out here,” Mina added. ” While
many bidders were eyeing to turn this park into another factory or a mall,
Mister Evan Thompson promised to keep the
park while finding a way to earn from it.” 1
“So -“Mina wept instantly. “So, you don’t know how thankful we are for
bidding for the park, and thankfully, Sir
Evan won the bid.”
“The bidding was so controversial that it took over two years to be fully
approved. There were two conditions for winning
the bid. Aside from the price, it had to be approved by many local officials.”
Evan described. “Some politicians were my
college professors, while others had known me because of our financial
branch here in Lockwood. I won the bid, not just
because of the 50 million dollar promise, but because the people trust me,
father.”
“Well, I’m glad you won the bid, son,” Clara softly said.


“Congratulations, Evan,” Wendell said. ” I’m proud of being your business
partner.
When they were alone to enjoy their refreshments, Clara broke down in
tears. The children moved her heart thoroughly.
As she sniffed her tears away, she said, “Son, even if you fail in this
investment, I will be proud of you. Either way, it’s just
money.”
“This is a big risk, Evan, but let’s hope you do not fail,” Erick said. “Tell me
about your plans.”
Evan explained his intentions. The park was previously a public property
that everyone could freely visit. He meant to
bring in more animals, impose entrance fees and build stalls to provide
guests with food and beverages.
“I will build only lodges at the end of the park, which will be up for daily
rent,” he added. “Aside from that, the park can host
special events and many more. Much could be done while keeping the
park’s natural habitat.”
He pointed to Wendell, Sean, and Keith, saying, “My friends will be my first
business partners in this new venture.”
“And the hospital?” Clara asked.
“I will buy the hospital too. The owner already intended to sell the hospital
to the other bidders. If I did not win the bid, this
hospital would probably be demolished,” Evan revealed. “I’ll make this
hospital far greater with Keith’s help.
It will have flexible insurance claims.”
“Very well. Very well,” Erick said approvingly.
While their party continued to chat about the park’s potential, Erick walked
to the window and looked at the park. It was
undeniably beautiful.
Evan walked up to him and appreciated the view as well. He relished the
moment, but suddenly remembered his
encounter with Karise the other day. He felt sad all over again.
Meanwhile, Erick turned to the right and pointed to a building not so far.
“That was your old apartment back in college.”


“Yes, father. That’s why I wanted to save it, and during weekends, I
sometimes. volunteer here at the hospital,” Evan
revealed. “We all have our… humanitarian goal. This one was my biggest.”
Erick nodded, and silence fell upon them. Soon, he said, “I’m sorry, Evan.
I’m sorry I threatened to cancel the bid two
years ago. I’m glad you did not give up on this project.”
*** FLASHBACK MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO ***
“Father, did you have Nicole evicted from her apartment? Wasn’t it enough
that no establishment would hire her in town?”
Evan barged into Erick’s office in the middle of the day.
“Yes, I did. Because I can, and I don’t like it. her. You were supposed to be
with Shanty from the beginning. You forget how
William and I had agreed on your marriage beforehand!” Erick said. “I don’t
want you seeing Nicole anymore.”
“Father, I brought her here. She was my responsibility!” Evan reasoned. 1
“Evan! Do not oppose me. I am getting old and don’t have time to dwell on
this matter. I have a business to run!” Erick
stood from his seat and announced, ‘
Being my son, I will protect you from what I know best!”
At that point, Erick had tried several methods of driving Nicole out. He paid
her off, but that did not work. How long will he
have to endure and keep pushing the woman away? The best solution was
taking Evan out of the market!
“You will marry Shanty and stay away from Nicole!” Erick declared. “If you
don’t, I will disown you, and I will have you fired
from the company -”
“Father, are you serious? I was born and raised to be your successor. I
lived for it every day. I don’t know what else to
become of me other than running your business! That’s what I have been
doing my entire life!” Evan reasoned. “How
Could you do this to your son? Don’t you think you are overreacting? I’m
not even marrying Nicole!”
The father and son continued to argue, exchanging the exact words. After
some time, Evan felt he had had enough. He


turned his back, wanting to walk away, but as soon as he held the doorknob
to his father’s office, Erick said, “If you do not
marry Shantelle, you will have nothing. I will disown you! I will cut your
credit cards, take away your cars, and whatever
privileges you have for holding my name! Lastly, I will cancel the bid for the
Lockwood National Park!”
Evan stilled, and Erick said, “I got your attention now, didn’t I? Admit it,
Evan.
You need my money. How will you raise 50 million dollars on your own?”
Seeing Evan still unresponsive, Erick picked up his phone and called the
Lockwood governor’s office. He said, “I’d like to
speak with Governor Lamont, please. It’s about the bid for the national park
-”
“Okay,” Evan said in a lifeless tone. He breathed in and closed his eyes,
saying, “I will marry Shanty.”
“Nevermind, I’ll just call later,” Erick said on the phone and canceled his
plans altogether.
“Listen to me, Evan. One day, you will thank me for my decisions. Shanty is
a good girl. She will be the perfect wife for
you. Marry Shanty, and you will still be my sole heir. You’ll have every right
to continue the bid for the Lockwood National
Park.” Erick resumed.
*** END OF FLASHBACK: BACK TO PRESENT ***
Thinking about the past, Erick sighed. Tears welled in his eyes. He still did
not regret his decision. If only he had found a
more creative solution to the problem.
The father and son were silent for some time, but soon, Evan softly said,
“Father, I’m sorry I did not listen to you then. Yes,
you pushed me into the marriage, but unknowingly, your methods protected
me from the real danger. You were right about
everything.”
Water fell down Erick’s face. He turned to
Evan and embraced his son, saying, “I’m sorry too, Evan. I’m sorry for
being harsh on you back then, and I’m sorry for
how things turned out.”


“Let’s forget about everything. You at least have this project to keep you
busy,” Erick suggested. He paused and added,
Now that Shanty has left, also consider… letting her go. As much as I hate
it, Evan, I’m afraid we already lost them. They
are, too, now part of our past.’
CHAPTER 29
Chapter 29: Nicole’s Judgment
Evan, his friends, and his family stayed in Lockwood for two days, finalizing
documents. It was on the last day that
Evan asked Keith for a favor.
In the lobby of the same hotel they were staying, “Evan invited Keith for
coffee.”
As they were drinking their beverages in front of a round table, Evan said to
his friend, “I’d like to apologize again about,
you know, Nicole.”
Keith laughed and answered, “No need to apologize. That’s all good.
Besides, I also have things to be sorry about.”
“What?” Evan asked with a frown, but Keith just shrugged.
How could Keith tell Evan about Shantelle? He can only keep his mouth
shut.
“That I am hotter?” Keith teased, and
Evan managed a weak smile.
“Fuck, you look like shit, Evan,” Keith remarked. “You can’t even smile
properly.
Evan groaned. He replied, “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m trying to live through
it.”
He looked at Keith and said, “Keith, I need a favor.”
“What is it? Wasn’t it enough that I approved those insurance claims?
Evan, you better do your part and market Prima
MedCare.


It was difficult for me to approve the kids’ policies. Most insurance
companies do not cover pre-existing illness,” Keith said
back. “I would not have agreed to it without your promises.”
“I know. I owe you, and the children owe you,” Evan acknowledged. “Tell
me if it goes beyond the policy limit, and I’ll find a
way to cover it.”
“Shut up. Haven’t you realized your thoughtful nature got you involved with
Nicole slash Melody? I’m telling you, Evan, sometimes, you have to be
cruel,” Keith suggested.
“I can be cruel when I lose my patience, but I get what you mean.” Evan
nodded and answered, “I’ve already considered
that, but it has nothing to do with helping a sickly child. It is better to give
than to receive.”
“Anyway, about what I need from you.” Evan first drank his coffee. After
which, he revealed his intention. “I need help… in
finding Doctor Scott.”
“You have the right connections, Keith. Your father’s company has opened
branches in ten states, and I know you are
expanding,” Evan said. “You know doctors – you know people in the
medical field more than I do.”
Evan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He said, “I need
help in finding Shanty.”
Keith fell silent. He sucked in a breath and said, “Do you have to, Evan -”
“Are you my friend? Fine, you were right. I was wrong. I’m sorry, I did not
listen to you about not divorcing Shanty. I regret
it now, and that’s why I need to find her,’
Evan revealed.
“But she left, Evan. Let her be,” Keith insisted.
“I just want to try,” Evan reasoned. ” Please, help me.”
After a few more convincing, Keith unwillingly agreed, saying, “I will do my
best, Evan, but no promises. It’s not like we
have the entire country covered. Plus, there is always the possibility that
they left the country.”


“Consider one thing, though, Evan,” Keith proposed. “I’ve dated a lot of
women to get to know them well. For love, they do many
crazy things – give up many things, but when they give up on the
relationship, it means they are tired of loving you.”
“What if Shanty doesn’t love you anymore? Are you going to be that man
who will push yourself into her life?”
Keith asked. He finished his coffee and added, “Just think about it, but I will
see how I can help you find Doctor Scott.”
Evan sucked in a breath, listening to his friend’s words. After giving it much
thought, he answered, “Keith, I don’t want to
i have another regret. I have to try before I willingly let her go.”
“Thank you for helping me, Keith,” he added. “I appreciate it, friend.”
***
“Nicole Lively, since you have changed your name legally, and it is within
records, you will be addressed as such in this
court,” the judge in the courtroom said.
Months had passed since Evan learned of Nicole’s true nature. It was
finally time for the judge to give the verdict. The
the judge, including the audience, listened to both the defense and
prosecution arguments. Pieces of evidence were represented and
reviewed.
After two hours, the judge came to a decision. He asked everyone to stand
as he first looked at Evan on the prosecutor’s
side and slightly nodded.
Then he directed his gaze to Nicole.
“In the case of Rose Hills versus Nicole
Lively, for wasting police hours, the court is going to impose a sentence of
five years without the possibility of parole,” said
the judge.
Instantly, Nicole’s eyes widened in
horror. She turned to her father behind the audience, and Thomas shook
his head, looking defeated. Thomas
Campbell was only locked up for over a month, unlike Nicole, who was
facing serious charges.


“For your fraudulent activities, the court is going to impose a sentence of
another five years without the possibility of
parole,” the judge added, making Nicole completely lose her temper.
“That’s absurd! Are you kidding me? I did not kill anybody to deserve ten
years!”
Nicole complained. She turned to Evan and saw the menacing look on his
face. She said, “you did this, Evan!”
On the other side of the bench, Evan repeatedly nodded, satisfied with the
sentence. He was unaffected by Nicole’s
frantic claims. In Rose Hills, he was power now, and he meant to make use
of it. Yes, he did it. He influenced the judge’s
decision and will do it over and over again to make Nicole Lively suffer.
“Miss Lively, you need to calm down!” While her defense attorney tried to
put her in place, the judge became more
irritated.
“You are a scheming woman, Miss Lively. The kind who is dangerous to the
community. Just look at your reaction!” The
the judge scolded. “For disrespecting this court and seeing your violent
nature, this court will send you to Long-Island
Penitentiary!”
The judge ended the session without giving Nicole another chance to
speak, saying, “The court is now adjourned.”
“No! Father! Please, help me!” Nicole became more delirious, thinking
about where she would be imprisoned. The Long
Island Penitentiary was intended for murderers, drug dealers, rapists –
those involved in heinous crimes, yet why was she
sent to such a facility? All she did was try to get Evan’s affection! It was an
injustice!
“Evan!” She snapped at Evan while he took his leave with his attorneys.
“You paid the judge! I’m sure you did! You can’t
Get away! I will file a plea! This isn’t fair!” 2
“You did this to yourself!” Evan coldly said. “You want to appeal, then try.
Try to try if the court will even listen to you. Suffer
and pay the price for messing with my life!”


CHAPTER 30
Chapter 30: Chantelle's New Love
“Sorry, Evan. Doctor Scott isn’t in Hamlin, either,” Evan heard Keith say on
the other line, and very quickly, his heart sank.
“What about the private investigator you hired? Didn’t that come up with
any results? “Keith asked. “Who was the PI
again? Mr. Ren Austen, yeah – what about him?”
“Strangely, no,” Evan replied.
Evan thought it was unusual. Mr. Austen was the same person who had
found out about Nicole. Despite his experience,
he could not find Doctor Scott. Still, he trusted the investigator due to his
previous dealings with him.
Aside from hiring a private detective, Evan did what he had never tried to
do before: he created a social media account.
James, his assistant, walked him through it.
Evan tried to spy on Shantelle’s friends, creating a fake name, but they
would not randomly accept unknown persons on
their friends’ list. He felt like a foolish teenager, but what else could he do?
Evan had to use every method possible to find
his ex-wife.
He also asked for Keith’s help. He always knew his friend had social media,
but it was the same; According to Keith,
Shantelle’s friends had blocked him. Not only Keith but also Sean.
Of course, Evan considered there was also that possibility that Shantelle
eventually disabled her social media or that she
might have changed the name on the account.
“Well, what can I say, Evan? A person in hiding cannot be found,” Keith
suggested.” I’m sorry, Evan, but at least we tried. I
have to go. I need to make money. It’s an important day for me tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Keith,” Evan said. “Thanks for trying.”


Evan was on the road, counting the months in his head. It had been almost
ten months since Shantelle left, yet he still had
not found her.
They say time heals, but time has not helped at all. The Lockwood National
Park had kept him busy, but he felt emptiness
and longing whenever his day ended.
He had his laptop open in front of him, but he gawked outside the car’s
window. As he closed the laptop, his eyes landed
on the ring on his finger.
Till that very day, he still wore his wedding ring, including the gift Shantelle
gave him.
“Mr. Thompson, where to?” Howard, his driver, asked.
“To the cemetery,” Evan instructed. That day was another attempt to find
Shantelle, and he hoped he would succeed.
******
Within Rose Hills cemetery, Karise was with her family and friends,
mourning the loss of her mother.
Her mother’s sudden stroke left her in the hospital for a month. Despite the
efforts of the doctors, her mother still passed
away. It left Karise’s family heartbroken. With the length of period, her
mother was in the hospital, Karise’s family fell into
near bankruptcy.
Karise was crying in front of her mother’s coffin when she saw the man
collecting the payment for her mother’s burial. She
walked towards him and begged, “Please, not now. I promise I’ll pay for
everything. It’s just been so hard -”
Her words were cut off when the man before her gave her a receipt. The
man said, “The memorial package has been fully
paid. You don’t need to worry.”
The man left, and from where she remained, she understood the reason.
She saw Evan Thompson.
Karise scoffed. When she caught Evan walking towards her, she said, “If
this is a bribe, it won’t work. No matter how you
pay me off, I won’t tell you because I do not know where Shanty is!”


“I wasn’t expecting anything in return.
What I do hope is for Shanty to come and see your mother,” Evan replied.
“You don’t need to pay me back. Consider it as
my help, for old time’s sake.”
Evan placed a hand on Karise’s shoulder and said, “I’m sorry for your loss,
Karise.”
Minutes turned into hours. Evan boldly joined in the gathering of Karise’s
family and friends, despite being uninvited. He
wished he could finally see Shantelle. She would not miss this very last day
of the wake. Shantelle loved Karise and her
mother.
She would come and pay respect.
Time passed. People around the wake had already begun to leave, and the
rain started to pour, yet Evan remained in his
seat under the tented lawn of Rose Hills Cemetery.
“Evan, it’s getting dark. My mother is already beneath the ground. She is
not coming. I’m telling you, she has already
forgotten about Rose Hills,” Karise warned Evan. “We are leaving.”
“Shanty is coming here to see your mother. She would not miss this very
last day,” Evan insisted, looking past the rows of
tombstones.
“You are crazy, Evan. Go home! She is not coming. I know it!” Karise said.
She and her family left reluctantly. Only Evan
remained while Howard, his driver, parked nearby.
Hours passed again. Evan slept in the car while Howard staked out the
cemetery for Shantelle’s possible arrival.
However, to his dismay, Shantelle never came.
As Evan awoke the next day at six in the morning, he heard a knock on his
car’s window. It was Karise.
When he rolled down his window, Karise said, “Evan, what are you doing?
It’s enough. Let Shanty go. As you can see.
She did not come. It’s like I said to you yesterday, she would not come.”
“Forget, Shanty, Evan. For your sake, for her sake, and everyone’s sake.”
Karise was about to leave, but she returned to


give Evan a piece of advice. She said, “If fate would have you meet again,
then maybe you are destined, but stop torturing
yourself and move on with your life -”
“You don’t understand, Karise. I fear regret will continue to haunt me,” he
said in a lifeless tone. He looked at where
Karise’s mother was buried again and said, “I guess she isn’t coming. I
hoped that she did.”
“Goodbye, Karise, and I’m sorry again for your loss,” Evan said.
Karise purposely drove back to the cemetery to see if Evan had waited for
Shantelle. The crazy part was how he really
did!
Karise watched as Evan’s car drove away. Guilt consumed her completely,
but what was she to do? She promised Doctor
Scott not to tell Evan. She wondered, “Am I doing the right thing?” 1
Then, recalling how Shantelle cried over Evan, how she gave up so much
for him only to get hurt, Karise muttered, “I’m
sorry, Evan, but more than anything, my girl needs to love herself. She
can’t be with you.”
Karise was confident that her best friend would not come that day. It was
because, that very day, Shantelle was in the
hospital, ready to give birth.
***
In Warlington, within the hospital’s delivery room, a woman’s screams could
be heard.
“Aahhh!” Shantelle was holding her tears. Beads of sweat formed on her
forehead as she pushed and pushed. “Argh!”
“The baby is almost out, Shanty! You can do it,” the doctor instructed.
In tears, Shantelle gave another push. Her beautiful face frowned as she
held her breath.
“Wah! Wah! Wah!” Upon hearing the baby’s cry, she also howled in tears.
Finally, her son was out.
“Baby boy Scott!” The doctor announced.
Nurses quickly cleaned him up in Shantelle’s chest. The baby kept crying
and crying, making Shantelle shed more tears.


“Oh, you are so beautiful, little one,”
Shantelle said, stroking his head and back. ”
I love you. I love you. You are my lucky baby, my gift, my love.”
She kissed the baby’s head and said, Thank you for coming into my life.
From this moment on, I will never love
another man. Only you. I will love only you.”
“I’ll love you, Lucas.”

CHAPTER 31
Chapter 31: Doctor Shant
Over seven years passed.
At Warrington Hospital, Operating Room 1.
“Scalpel,” the woman said in a blue scrub. She had a surgical loupe on as
her eyes narrowed at the patient’s chest.
She cut through the skin without hesitation.
Everyone watched and aided the great chief surgeon of Warrington
Hospital, resuming the incision and cutting through the
chest. bone.
That day, the doctor, who had become
famous in just a year for her success rate in chest surgeries, had two
unexpected back-to -back operations. Two hours
ago, she removed a patient’s damaged lung tissue. Now, on her second,
she was performing an- open heart surgery on a
patient with a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
It was a life-threatening situation, and the chief surgeon could not put off
the surgery for later.
The patient was hooked into a machine, temporarily doing the job of his
heart, while the excellent doctor proceeded with
the process.
The female surgeon inserted a Dacron graft tube, replacing the ruptured
aorta.
1


The doctor continued to stitch the new tube, tightening the aortic valve that
had gone loose. Next, the same doctor sewed
together the arteries. It took an additional hour for all the stitches to be
completed. Only then did the team within the
the operating room awakens the heart by shocking it.
After testing the heart and observing the patient’s vital signs, the doctor and
her team began to close up the patient’s
chest.
“Great job Doctor Shant. Another successful surgery!” The anesthesiologist
said.
“We are proud of you, Doctor Sant! Another life saved!” An assistant doctor
declared.
The hospital’s chief surgeon was none other than Shantelle Scott, whom
everyone called Doctor Shant.
“Thank you, everyone. It’s a long day today. You have all worked very
hard,” Shantelle said with a smile. “It’s time for me
to get some sleep.”
Stepping out of the operating room, the patient’s relatives were teary-eyed,
giving applause for Shantelle’s efficient work.
The nurses and the staff quickly surrounded her, giving her words of praise,
and even as she still wore her scrub uniform,
the family members of the patient did not hesitate to provide her with an
embrace.
“Thank you, Doctor Shant. You are a savior from heaven!” The patient’s
daughter, a little girl in tears, said.
It made Shantelle swell with pride. She
leaned over and said to the little girl, “I’m glad I was able to help. You take
care of your father when he recovers from the
surgery, okay?”
“Yes, Doctor Shan!” The girl gave a salute before she carelessly wiped the
stain on her face.
As she bid goodbye to the family members and the surrounding staff, she
made her way to the office, where her long-time
friend and


supporters were waiting for her with a bouquet of roses.
“Another triumphant surgery, adding to your success rate, and the more this
hospital will become widely known as the
best facility for heart patients,” Keith Henderson said with a huge grin. His
arms stretched, offering a hug.
“Awww.” Shantelle quickly embraced Keith. She said, “Thank you, Keith.”
—–
Shantelle went through tough times. Due to her being pregnant, she
stopped schooling for one semester. However, upon
on her return, her father helped her get into an accelerated program for her
medical degree.
She burned her brows while her mother,
Eleanor fully cared for her son during the day and sometimes even at night.
It was a blessing that her father was already a heart surgeon. Doctor Scott
gave Shantelle full access to his operations,
crediting it to her medical experience. Furthermore, she also trained with
another doctor who specializes in thoracic
surgery, Doctor Hale.
Shantelle specialized in thoracic surgery, or surgical care for coronary
artery disease, lung cancers, esophagus, and chest
wall. Abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves, congenital
anomalies, mediastinum tumors, and diaphragm
diseases were also part of her scope.
“Thank you for the flowers, but what brings you here? Aren’t you going to
Europe?”
Shantelle asked.
“I am,” Keith answered. “But I decided to put it off a day later and fly up
here.” A hiss left Keith’s lips as he said, “I’ll be
gone for a month, and I still need to go back to Rose Hills after my trip from
Europe.”
He shrugged and added, “So I decided to have dinner with you and Lucas
first.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Busy Mister CEO,” Shantelle remarked with a smirk. “You
have got something good going on. I mean,
Prima MedCare is expanding in Europe! That is just awesome!”


Keith had been running the insurance company for over two years. It kept
him very busy, but he always made it a point to
visit Shantelle and her family.
“Anyway, about dinner.” Shantelle sighed and said, “I don’t know, Keith. I
worked
Doctor Shant double shifts today. I’m exhausted, but we could have dinner
at home.”
“That will work just fine,” Keith answered. ” I miss the little guy. I have a gift
for him too.”
***
“Mommy!” Lucas turned to Eleanor and said, “Grandma, mommy’s home!”
Yes, seeing Shantelle home before Lucas. going to bed at night was
surprising. It was always busy at the hospital, and
Most emergency surgeries came in the evening.
“My baby, good evening!” Shantelle went down on her knees. Her hands
stretched to embrace her six-year-old son. “I
i miss my baby.”
Shantelle carried her son up and pecked his cheek. She spun him around
and tickled his sides. She announced, “I love
you. I love you! I love you!”
Landing her son on the floor, she said, “I love my Lucas.”
Lucas chuckled and answered, “I love you, mommy.”
“And I have another surprise for you,” Shantelle revealed. She moved away
from the door, and Keith walked in, carrying a
gift box.
“Uncle Keith!” Lucas screamed. He jumped for joy, seeing that he had
another gift from Keith.
The young boy quickly opened the gift and found a new polaroid camera.
He exclaimed,
“Woah! You are the best uncle!”
Keith laughed and made a mess of Luca’s hair. He said, “I’m your only
uncle!”
Everyone else wound up laughing.
***


The Scotts were preparing for dinner. Doctor William Scott had also arrived
from a long day’s meeting. When he first
entered the living room, he congratulated his daughter, I heard you had a
back-to-back today. The board is pleased with
your performance.”
“When I retire next year, I will recommend you to take my place,” Doctor
Scott proposed.
Shantelle was posing for her son as he took pictures of her. Hearing her
father, she rolled her eyes. She replied, “I just got
promoted to chief surgeon. I’m not ready to be a medical director, dad.
Doctor Hale should take the position.”
“Perhaps,” William replied.
“Doctor Scott, good evening,” Keith greeted.
“Good evening, Keith. I did not know you were in town,” William said.
“Joining us for dinner?”
“Yes, I miss your wife’s cooking,” Keith said playfully. “Which is why I flew
across the state to dine here. I think I am falling
in love with Mrs. Scott.”
Doctor Scott shook his head. He smiled and said, “You fool, since Lucas
was born,
Eleanor has not been cooking. It was the maid’s dishes that you love. Go
confess your love to Rosa.”
Shantelle wound up laughing while Keith made funny faces.
Meanwhile, Lucas was studying the pictures that he had taken. He was
sitting on the carpet, laying out the photos. He put
Eleanor’s photo next to Shantelle then he examined the picture of himself.
Of course, he had to have his photo as the new camera owner.
After some time, Lucas turned to Shantelle and asked, “Mommy, you look
like grandma, but.” The boy pouted his lips and
asked, “But who do I look like?”
Lucas pointed to the pictures while asking. Immediately, Shantelle’s heart
raced. She studied her son closely. Who does
What does Lucas look like?


Lucas had dark brown hair and brown eyes. He had a heart-shaped face, a
straight nose, and thin lips. Of course,
Shantelle knew this face. 1
Her son, Lucas, looked like his father, Evan Thompson.

CHAPTER 32

Chapter 32: Evan’s Number One Rule
“Mommy, who do I look like?” Lucas repeated.
“Who else do you look like? You are the one and only most handsome kid
in Warlington International School, Lucas
Scott!” It was Keith who replied. “Sometimes, you don’t have a look-alike
because you are simply unique.”
“Come on, tell me. Who is the hottest kid on the block?” Keith added.
Lucas wound up chuckling. He said, “Silly uncle, Keith,”
Keith kept at it, complimenting Lucas and pointing out his unique qualities
that the boy’s initial inquiry had been forgotten.
From across Keith, Shantelle mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
The Scotts had a lovely dinner with Keith. Eleanor offered to wash Lucas
for the evening while Shantelle had a brief chat
with Keith on the patio of their home.
They were both drinking tea when Keith noticed Shantelle’s silence. She
acknowledged his words but was looking
distantly.
“Are you thinking about telling Lucas who he looks like?” Keith asked.
Shantelle hummed as she massaged the back of her neck. She sipped her
hot tea and gently put the cup on the table.


She said, “Oh, god. It’s gotten so complicated. I don’t know the easier way
to deal with this.” She had thought about it
shortly after giving birth to Lucas, but over time, Shantelle had drowned
herself in her studies and doctor’s fellowship
program, and the idea kept slipping away. When she finally had her
residency, her time became more constrained.
Her time as a doctor was valuable, and adding Evan into the equation was
another potential strain she did not want to
handle. Unfortunately, it was different now. Lucas was becoming more
aware of the absence of a father. ‘What am I going
to do?”
She sighed and suggested, “If I tell Evan, he may come here and find out
about you”
“Right, or he may not care entirely,” Keith suggested.
Shantelle fell silent. She gave no facial reaction to suggest how she felt
about Keith’s statement, but she replied, “Right.
That would make things a whole lot easier.”
“Shanty,” Keith said. He leaned closer and looked into her eyes. “I’ve been
with you – supported you throughout your
endeavors – you and Lucas, and I will continue to do the same. No matter
what happens, I will be here for you.”
He gasped and said, “But you know how I feel about you, right? Will you
ever give me a chance to be with you? Don’t I
have a place in your heart other than just being your friend?” a
Shantelle blinked. It wasn’t the first time Keith had brought up his feelings
for her. It wasn’t the second. time, either.
Apparently, she was the same person Keith had been in love with all these
years. Talk about the irony of love.
She did not have to consider his feelings. After the experience with Evan,
she had long understood that love could not be
forced. Shantelle could not bring herself to love Keith.
After a moment of silence, Shantelle said, “Keith. You are a great person,
and I thank you for all the help you have given
me and my family.”


She put her hand where her heart was and explained, “However, I had
promised myself to love only Lucas.
I will only pour my heart out to my son and no one else. I love my parents,
naturally. I care for you as a friend, but I don’t
see myself being with another man romantically. 2)
“If anything. I’ve learned that relationships hinder me from achieving my
goals in life.” She smiled and said. “You could say
I am committed to my son and married to my career.”
“Keith, please don’t hate me,” Shantelle said. “But someone else deserves
your love. It isn’t me.”
“Damn, what happened to Shanty? She has become cold-hearted,” Keith
remarked playfully. He ran his hand against his
chest and suggested, “You are missing out on the good stuff.”
Shantelle smiled. This was what she appreciated about Keith. Despite
being rejected, he always found a way to turn the
situation around. She chuckled and answered, “Keith, you have known me
since I was young, yet you are giving me the
wrong incentive. I’m not into hot stuff.”
“Mommy! It’s time for bed!” Lucas came out onto the patio, hopping at the
idea of Shantelle putting him
to bed.
“Oh, Uncle Keith! Are you going? Can I borrow your phone? I want to show
mommy the game I installed on your phone?”
Lucas said in his direction.
“Ah, the one from the last time,” Keith recalled before he fished for his
phone and opened it. He gave it to Lucas then
after.
“Here, Mommy? I want to install this game on my tablet,” Lucas said while
showing Keith’s phone.
Shantelle controlled whatever apps Lucas had on his tablet. It always
required a passcode, one that only Shantelle knew.
“Oh, daily facts, huh? Nice!” Shantelle smiled and said, “Sure, I’ll install it.
Good choice. Widen your knowledge. Return
the phone to your uncle Keith.”


“Yey! Yey!” Lucas was so excited that he carelessly returned Keith’s phone
by throwing it in his direction. Uncle catch!”
Unfortunately, instead of Keith’s hand, it landed on an open pitcher of water
the maid had earlier set, in case Keith and
Shantelle needed any. The phone sank to the very bottom of the pitcher.
Keith’s eyes widened.
Shantelle’s heart raced.
“Oh, F -* Keith covered his mouth with his hand and fished the phone
quickly.
Keith promptly opened his phone, taking out the sim card while Shantelle
ordered the maid to fetch a towel and a hair
dryer. After minutes of trying to revive Keith’s phone, they all surrendered,
and their shoulders fell in dismay.
“It’s no use. It’s dead.” Keith scratched his head, adding, “I’m dead.”
“Let’s try your sin, " Shantelle offered. She inserted his sim card into her
phone, but sadly it was useless.
“I’m sorry, uncle Keith. You can have my tablet instead.” Poor Lucas was
teary-eyed, feeling guilty.
“Hey, buddy. It’s just a phone.” Keith called Lucas and soothed his back,
saying, “I can get a new phone.”
Of course, he was hiding the fact that his phone had vital contact
information, which he could not immediately get a hold
since he was traveling to Europe the next day.
“Really, it’s that easy?” Lucas sought.
“Yes, it’s that easy,” Keith assured him. He made a mess of Lucas’ hair and
said, “So don’t feel sad. I will get a new
phone, but uncle Keith may be unreachable for a day until then.”
Shantelle had asked Lucas to wait for her in his bedroom. She first walked
Keith out of the house, saying, ” I told you, you
i should get two phones.”
“It’s hard enough when I keep traveling around the country,” Keith
reasoned. “But after today, I probably will. I will call my
assistant to request a new business phone, and I’ll get a temporary one
from the hotel. It’s not a problem.”


“I’m sorry, Keith,” Shantelle said with regret.
“No need to worry. On the bright side, I won’t get bothered by phone calls
tonight. Gotta thank Lucas for that. Sweet rest!”
He winked at Shantelle, saying, “Goodnight, Shanty. See you in a month or
two.” 1
Meanwhile, in Rose Hills, Evan Thompson was still in his office at nine in
the evening. He had asked some of his
executives to work overtime. He wasn’t in the mood to go home early. He
wanted to work and work until his body gave in
to exhaustion.
His assistant James walked in and reported, “Sir, your last appointment is
Miss Dones, the new head of finance for the
shipping lines.”
Evan groaned. He yelled, “Didn’t you tell her to have her assistant report
instead? Doesn’t she know the number one
rule?”
It wasn’t like Evan to be upset, but when it came to breaking his number
one rule, his mood always turned
sour.
“Sir, I swear I have told Miss Dones a hundred times, but she insisted that
she wanted accuracy in her report, and thus,
she would rather do the report herself,” James replied nervously.
Evan’s nose flared in irritation. He coldly answered, “Fine. Tell her to report
by the door.”
When Miss Dones entered the office, she smiled at Evan. Her eyes
gleamed excitedly, seeing Evan for the first time since
She joined the company.
She walked up to Evan, but he stopped her, saying, “Stay by the door.
Report by the door!”
The door was around twelve meters away from Evan’s desk. Miss Dones
had to raise her voice to be heard. Still, she put
up a smile and began, “Mister Thompson! I am pleased to inform you that
expenses have dropped since my takeover of
the finance department!”


It took ten minutes for the female executive to finish her report. When she
was done, she felt like she had lost her voice
altogether.
“Give the document to James, and I’ll review it later,” Evan instructed.
“Oh.” Suddenly, Miss Dones pushed her coat back, revealing her cleavage.
She said, “I can just give this to you.”
She walked so fast that Evan did not have the time to call James in.
“Stay there, Miss Dones. Stay!” Despite Evan’s warning, the woman did not
retreat. Worst, upon reaching Evan’s desk,
she appeared to trip, falling to the floor and whimpering. “Um… I hurt my
leg!”
Evan first ordered James inside. He got up from his seat and found his way
in front of Miss Dones. The woman looked up
a hirm with puppy eyes and stretched her hand. She did not miss flaunting
her breast and looking helpless. “Can you help
me, Mister Thompson? Please?”
James walked in, and Evan glared at his assistant. He ordered, “James,
what did I tell you? This woman broke the
number one rule! Fire this woman! Now!” 1
Six years ago, Evan Thompson implemented his number one rule. He
made all his employees understand this and sign
an agreement with their contract.
His number one rule was that no woman outside his family could come
near him within ten feet.

CHAPTER 33


Chapter 33: Surgery Needed
Evan left for Hamlin City the next day. Their financial business had
expanded across the country, slowly opening branches
in various cities. That day was their groundbreaking ceremony. Evan had to
be there. and pretend to shovel some earth.
“Sir, um. Did you sleep at all?” James asked, observing him from inside the
car. They were now driving out to the location
of the site. “You should have taken the sleeping pills.”
“Two hours. I slept for two hours. I try not to be dependent,” Evan plainly
said. “Did you take care of Miss Dones?”
“Yes, Sir. The Human Resource Department had already given her
termination notice,” James said.
“She broke the number one rule, James. I don’t want to block women from
working in my company, but you need to
ensure everyone understands the consequences of breaking my number
one rule,” Evan pointed out.
“Yes, Sir. My apologies,” James acknowledged.
“Hire more bodyguards if you need to.” Evan instructed. “I don’t want it to
happen ever again.
Yes, Sir,” James repeated.
“How is your mother doing?” Evan asked out of the blue.
“Ah, the boss is still thoughtful, but not to the female population who want
to break his number one rule,” James silently
concluded. He smiled and answered. “She is better, Sir. Thanks to the
supplement you gave her. She was very thankful.”
“Very good,” Evan replied.
The groundbreaking ceremony came and went. James successfully
implemented the boss’ number one rule throughout
the event; not even female reporters could go near Evan Thompson.
After the ceremony, they made their way to the airport. Evan was not
interested in staying longer.


They were almost at the airport when Evan saw a girl with blonde hair. She
had a figure similar to that of Shantelle. His
heart raced at the possibility that he ordered the driver to stop. “Pull over!
Pull over now!”
Evan rushed outside the car as soon as the vehicle pulled to a stop. He ran
after the girl and grabbed her wrist. “Shanty!
Shanty!”
Much to his dismay, the girl was not at all Shantelle. She had the same hair
and height but was nowhere near as beautiful
as Shantelle. The girl smiled at Evan, saying, “I ain’t Shanty, but you can
call me anything. you like it.”
She winked at him while blood drained from Evan’s face.
“Sorry.” Evan turned around and walked back to the car, feeling defeated all
over again.
How long has it been since Evan had seen Shantelle? Evan thought about
it in silence while in the car. He shut his eyes,
knowing it had been far too long. Too long.
Evan had been unsuccessful in finding Shantelle. After more than a year of
utilizing his resources, from Keith to hiring a
private investigator, he gave in, and accepted the unfortunate fate.
However, admitting that he had lost Shantelle did not
ease the yearning in his heart.
Instead, he redirected his focus to his company. He allowed work to hide
whatever pain he felt. Now and then, he would
ask his friend Keith if any hospitals had taken in Doctor Scott. Every time
Keith gave him bad news, it let him down, but the
the pang in his chest had slowly lessened over the years.
A year ago, he had utterly stopped asking Keith about Doctor Scott, but it
was as if time was playing a joke on him. Why
Was he suddenly reminded of Shantelle? The powerful man of Rose Hills
was back to being woeful again.
Evan Thompson was now thirty-four years old. Single and a
multi-Billionaire. He is still the CEO of the Thompson Group


of Companies and has accumulated billions of gains in favor of his
company, but he was unhappy. Indeed, money could
never buy happiness-the irony of life.
On the plane heading back to Rose Hills, James noticed his silence. He
suggested, “Sir, do you want to give it one more
try? We can hire another detective to look for Miss Scott.”
Evan sucked in a breath. He raked his fingers through his hair and
answered, “I don’t know.”
The truth was, he feared what would come out of the investigation. What if
Shantelle was already married? She may
i already have a child. To Evan, the unknown was less heartbreaking.
“Get me a sleeping pill,” he ordered. That was the only way he could get
some rest now that Shantelle had unknowingly
awakened Evan’s longing. He switched his mobile off, and after drinking the
pill, he shut his eyes.
Evan arrived at Rose Hills late in the afternoon. When he turned his phone
on, he received several messages from his
mother. He immediately called Clara.
“Evan!” His mother said on the other line. “Your father is in the hospital. He
fainted! Be here quickly. I need you, son.”
“Your father’s heart is failing because of coronary blockage,” the doctor
reported. His name was Doctor Cooper. “We have
i have already tried medication, but it is not enough. Surgery is needed.”
“Mister Thompson, your father needs a coronary artery bypass, which I’m
afraid none of our doctors here have the
necessary skill to perform. We have a good general surgeon, but I have
already brought up your father’s case. He
declined to handle the procedure,” the doctor revealed.
“Can we invite a reputable person from another city? Or another country,
perhaps?” Evan sought.
“That, we could do, Mister Thompson, but most qualified doctors would
rather operate in a familiar facility with advanced
technology and a team of surgeons to aid in the same procedure. Usually,
surgeons go into an operating room as a team.


They identify who they work best and operate in a patient together,” Doctor
Cooper explained. “The best way is to bring
your father to the country’s most suitable facility for heart surgeries.”
Evan and the doctor were having a conversation inside Erick Thompson’s
room. Erick was resting at the moment, but he
looked weak, Evan glanced at his father before asking Doctor Cooper, “And
what facility would you recommend?”
–
“In the country, two hospitals are leading in heart surgeries. Brixton Clinic
they have tenured doctors who have practiced
for more than twenty years. It’s closer to Rose Hills, but if you want the best
of the best, Warrington Hospital is rising to
fame. They have trained new, young doctors surgeons with good hands,”
the doctor said, raising his hands. “You know,
older surgeons may have developed tremors over time.” “These new young
doctors at Warlington have also trained with
the best in their fields. I actually sent one patient to Warlington last week.
She also had a bypass. She said that the
the doctors there were very professional and competent,” the doctor added.
“She had nothing but praises for the Warlington
Hospital, from the facility to its staff.”
“When you are decided, I can arrange everything,” Doctor Cooper offered.
Evan nodded. He replied, “Thank you, doctor. I will look into it.”
After the doctor left, Evan called Keith. If anything, Keith would know which
facility is best for a heart surgeon, not that he
did not trust the doctor, but Keith was his friend and had worked with
hospitals all over the country.
Unfortunately for Evan, Keith could not be reached. Instead, he called
Keith’s assistant, Edward. Evan explained the
situation to Edward.1
Edward replied, “Mister Thompson, Sir Henderson is on a business trip to
Europe and will be out of reach. He damaged
his phone, somehow. But, I can give you that information, Sir. I know which
facility is best for heart surgeries. We have


had many patients claim insurance coverage in Warlington. All of their heart
surgeries were successful.”
“Brixton Clinic is currently facing a lawsuit. One patient who was operated
on still had a surgical tool left inside his chest.
He wound up being operated on again,” Edward revealed. “I highly
recommend Warlington Hospital.” 3
“Thank you, Edward. Then, Warlington it is,” Evan said.

CHAPTER 34

Chapter 34: New Patient
“Happy Anniversary, grandma & grandpa!” Lucas greeted, carrying a cake
early in the morning into the dining room.
Behind him was his mother, Shantelle.
“Happy Anniversary, mom and dad!” Shantelle greeted.
Both Shantelle and Lucas kissed William and Eleanor on the cheek.
Shantelle then gave an envelope to her father,
saying, “As promised, your anniversary trip!”
“Anniversary, trip?” Eleanor’s eyes widened in surprise. She turned to
William, asking. “Had you known all along? So
that’s why you took a two-week leave?”
“Three weeks,” William corrected. “And yes, I could use a vacation. It had
been so long.”
“I don’t know if I can. Who will take care of Lucas?” Eleanor said with a
worried expression on her face.


Shantelle felt guilty altogether. It was because of Lucas that her parents
gave up on taking breaks. She went on several
years straight, focusing on her studies and residency, that her parents had
to see through. Lucas’ needs.
“Mom, I can take care of Lucas, please. Then, the maids can attend to him
if I have an emergency surgery.
Shantelle combed Lucas’ hair with her fingers, saying, “He isn’t a baby
anymore.”
“Right, I’m not a baby,” Lucas said back.
“You deserve a vacation, mom. Besides, the tickets have all been paid for,”
Shantelle insisted. “It’s a two- week Antarctica
cruise. You can’t miss out on all the whales and penguins!”
“Whales? Penguins? I wanna come! I want to come too, mommy!” Lucas
expressed, and they all laughed.
“Honey, you can’t. You have school, and mommy has a lot of work.
Shantelle pinched Lucas’ cheek and said, “Please,
don’t leave mommy behind. We will go together, one day.”
“Promise?” Lucas sought.
Shantelle raised her hand and answered, “Promise. One day. Now, let’s
hurry up with your breakfast. I’m taking you to
school today.”
“Really?” Lucas asked in surprise, his eyes sparkling.
“Yes,” Shantelle replied. “My work starts at five. In fact, I’ll be taking the
night shift until your grandparents
return.”
“Yay! Mommy is taking me to school! I’m going to introduce you to my
friends, mommy!” Lucas exclaimed, and he
excitedly ate his meal.
After breakfast, Shantelle and Lucas prepared for school. They left soon
after, with the family driver taking them.
Being a busy doctor, while sometimes working for two days straight, taking
Lucas to school was rare. moment, and
Shantelle knew she needed to cherish each opportunity.


Heartbeats later, the mother and son arrived at the school gate. Shantelle
gave Lucas some last-minute reminders. “Be
good, play, but don’t overdo it.”
She kneeled in front of her son and suggested, “Learn, make friends and
be happy.”
Lucas chuckled. He hugged Shantelle and said, “I will. I love you, mommy.”
“I love you,” Shantelle said, hugging her son back.
When Shantelle stood up, Lucas’ classmate greeted him, “Lucas! Is that
your mommy?”
Lucas nodded, and the girl who came up to them said, “She is so pretty!”
Shantelle smiled at the little girl. Then, the same girl pointed to her parents
and said, “That’s my mommy and daddy! They
dropped me off before going to work.”
“Lucas!” Another friend of Lucas greeted. A young boy with a darker
complexion asked, “Where is your grandma?”
“My grandma is going on a vacation, Adrian. My mommy brought me to
school, instead,” Lucas happily responded and
proudly held Shantelle’s hand. He added, “She is a doctor!”
“Cool!” The boy named Adrian said. “I wanna be a doctor too!”
“It’s almost time, Adrian. Go inside,” a man behind them said.
Adrian then pointed to the man and told Lucas, “That’s my daddy. He builds
things. He’s great! We play cars together, and
He teaches me basketball.”
“Oh. That’s nice,” Lucas said, and immediately, Shantelle saw how the
smile on his face faded. It appeared to her that
Lucas purposely waited for his classmates to go inside the school. After
which, he asked, “Mommy, why don’t I have a
daddy?” 2
Shantelle choked on her spew. She forced a smile and took a deep breath.
For a moment, she looked away. Then, she
returned her regard to Lucas. She said, “I’m sorry, Lucas. I’ll tell you about
your father soon. Not now. You still need to go
to school.”
“So, I have a daddy? When are you going to tell me?” Lucas asked.


“This weekend,” Shantelle said. “Let’s talk about it this weekend, okay?
When you are not in school.”
“Okay, mommy,” Lucas said. “I can’t wait.”
He smiled and waved goodbye before he rushed into the school building.
From there, Shantelle saw how he entered his
classroom, which fortunately was just on the first floor.
“Evan,” Shantelle said, the name she had avoided all these years. ‘How am
I going to tell him?”
What worried Shantelle the most was the possibility that Lucas would only
get hurt. Evan could be married to Nicole by
now, maybe even have his own kids. Having an illegitimate child would be
the last thing that he needed.
With a sigh, she wondered, “What if he rejects Lucas? How can I protect
my son from the pain?’
“Doctor, Shant?” Shantelle turned to find one of her mentors, the veteran
thoracic surgeon, Doctor Hale.
“Doctor Hale, good afternoon,” Shantelle greeted back. She was just about
to aid the Emergency room when he found
her.
“You probably already know that I am taking your father’s responsibilities
while he is away,” Doctor Hale said. “But with my
current workload, I was hoping to get some help.”
“I’d be happy to help, Doctor Hale. What can I do?” She offered.
“Two things.” Doctor Hale raised his forefinger and said, “You could help
evaluate incoming patients and assign doctors.
Or, you could be on top of the organ transplant list and coordinate with The
Organ Center.”
“Right,” Shantelle said. Within the city, Warlington Hospitals was the only
transplant facility. Her father, in particular, could
recommend a patient to be moved up to the waiting list, depending on the
patient’s condition. “I’ll coordinate with The
Organ Center.”
“Okay, then, Doctor Shant. Thank you for the help,” Doctor Hale said. “If
you need anything, I’ll be in my office.”


Doctor Hale watched as Shantelle disappeared into the hallways. Then he
returned to his office. Just in time, his secretary
walked in, carrying several documents. She placed three folders on his
right side of the desk and revealed, “We have
admission requests from three hospitals today. These are not only highprofile clients, but they require immediate
surgery.”
“Thank you,” Doctor Hale said.
“This one,” said the secretary. She placed the folder to his left and added,
“This child is applying for charity.”
Doctor Hale first reviewed the charity case. The patient was a six-year-old
girl with a hole in her heart. He approved the
admission, knowing Shantelle was good with kids. She would never let a
child be deprived of medical care.
After that, he studied the other patients’ profiles and medical conditions.
For the patient with lung cancer, he set the folder
aside and said, “Assigned to Doctor Park.”
Another patient required brain surgery, and he gave it to another doctor.
The last patient was an older man who needed a heart bypass surgery. A
hiss left Doctor Hale’s lips. Only Shantelle was
good with this procedure and had the same surgery three times this year.
During her residency, Shantelle had assisted
over thirty bypass surgeries.
Business-wise, the patient could also pay the full deposit required for the
surgery. Thus, Doctor Hale approved the
patient’s admission and assigned it to Shantelle.
He placed the patient folder on the pile of approved lists. The name of the
patient was Erick Thompson.

CHAPTER 35


Chapter 35: His Ex-Wife
Shantelle was getting used to her new schedule. For the past three days,
she had been bringing Lucas to school. She had
a few hours to rest at home before waking up again to fetch her son, and
then she would go straight to work.
What she dreaded, however, was the coming weekend. She was going to
tell Lucas about his father. Shantelle wasn’t
sure if she was ready for it.
Shantelle had just arrived at the hospital. She rushed to her office when
Eana, her father’s assistant, bumped into her.
“Shanty, there you are,” Eana called.
“Eana, I thought you were on vacation. Why are you here?” Shantelle
sought. Because her father was always working
Over the past few years, Eana rarely took a break as well. Thus, now that
William was on a three-week vacation, Eana
i also applied for leave.
“Shanty, I got a call from the Organ Center. They said a patient wanted to
be reassessed. The patient requires a heart
transplant badly. I left the file on your desk, and ah.” She pursed her lips,
saying, “There is a representative from the
patient already waiting for you.”
Eana shrugged and added, “I guess they could not wait.”
True enough, when Shantelle arrived at her office, a man in a black suit
was waiting for her. The man said, “Doctor Shant,
My name is Peter Haris. I represent the patient Briana West. I believe her
profile is already in your hands.”
“I have yet to review it,” Shantelle said. “You can leave me your contact
number, and I’ll call you when I am done.”
“This is a matter of life and death, doctor,” the man said. “Please, consider
reviewing it… now.” The man was demanding,
but Shantelle understood. She assumed the patient must be very sick.
It took half an hour for Shantelle to review the patient’s condition
thoroughly. Finally, she remembered how the same


a patient had been admitted to the hospital several times due to congenital
heart disease. It did look to Shantelle that the
the patient required an urgent transplant; however, other patients on the list
were equally in need. Some were even in worse
condition. Shantelle sighed and said to the man, “I’m afraid, based on my
evaluation, Miss West will remain on the same
waitlist.”
“Why? We have money. We can pay you to move it. How much do you
want? How about five million dollars?” The man
curtly said, and Shantelle had to stop herself from retorting in the same
manner.
“Mister Haris, the organ list and priority is not about who is wealthier. It’s
about who applied for the list beforehand and
many other factors involved. Many patients wait for donors. In fact, an
average of twenty patients worldwide die each day,
waiting for a donor. We have to be fair to others,” Shantelle said. “And no,
you cannot bribe me.”
“Doctor Scott, I should tell you that Miss West’s boyfriend is a powerful
man. You don’t want to make enemies,” the man
said, making Shantelle frown.
“Is that a threat?” Shantelle said back. “I should also explain that while I
can recommend Miss West to be prioritized, this
the decision will be passed on to management and the Organ Center.
Either way, they will nullify my proposal because they
will see that her need is not as urgent as the other patients. More
importantly, other patients above Miss West had been
waiting for years. We can’t cut in the line just like that! It isn’t fair to them!”
“I’m sorry, but I have to go. Please have Miss West take her medications as
required and encourage her to follow a
healthy diet so she may live long enough for a heart organ to become
available,” Shantelle recommended.
Shantelle left her office with a firm stand. If only organs are readily available
for all patients, then why not? However, there
were not enough organ donors to save all lives, and that was the truth.


Meanwhile, in one private suite at Warrington Hospital, the Thompsons had
already settled in.
Erick Thompson was connected to a heart monitor, resting in bed while his
wife, Clara, noted instructions from the nurse.
“Doctor Hale will introduce you to the patients attending doctors tomorrow.
Doctor Hale is already off for today. My name is
Mitch, and I’ll be your head nurse. You may dial one at any time should you
need assistance,” said the nurse before
excusing herself. 1
Evan did not waste any time. Yesterday morning, he received a
confirmation from Warrington Hospital, guaranteeing his
father’s admission. Immediately, Evan booked an air ambulance to take
them to Warlington.
His father will still undergo observation and some laboratories to ensure he
is ready for surgery. Once everything is clear,
they will proceed with the operation.
“Evan, son. You can go to the hotel and settle our things,” Clara instructed.
“Mrs. Shaw is here to assist me.”
In order to aid them at the hospital, Evan requested Mrs. Shaw to come
along. She could buy medicines or food, whatever
is required, should Even need private time to deal with business at the
hotel.
“Very well, mother,” Evan said. “I will be back in the morning to bring food.”
He kissed Erick’s forehead and embraced his mother before leaving. He
made his way to the halls and instantly noticed a
a few nurses rushed to the lift.
“Code Blue Emergency Room.”
“Code Blue Emergency Room.”
Evan could hear the announcer calling names into the emergency room.
He understood that a patient was having a
cardiac arrest, and some nurses on the same floor were heading down to
aid.
He got on the lift. On each floor the elevator stopped, more nurses entered.


“There was an accident on South Road. A truck hit five cars. It was a
domino effect,” said the nurses. “We are going to be
busy tonight.”
When Evan got off the lift on the ground floor, he called the hotel driver.
James, his assistant, had booked a hotel car for
their entire stay. Evan was on the phone, telling the driver he was heading
out.
Suddenly, the hospital’s announcement caught his attention.
“Doctor Shant. You are needed at the Emergency Room.”
“Doctor Shant. You are needed at the Emergency Room.”
Evan’s heart raced. He immediately froze in his stance, ‘Doctor Shant?’ He
frowned and wondered, “Could it be?”
Everything around Evan turned mute. All he could hear was the hospital
announcer calling Doctor Shant.
He gulped. It was as if his feet moved on their own. He thought, ‘What are
the chances?
He searched the emergency room, asking a few hospital staff who walked
past him. When he arrived, he brazenly
entered, his eyes roaming the entire area.
“Sir, are you related to any patient here?” One nurse asked. “We have
many patients coming. Sir. We need to clear the
ER.”
“Sir, could you step outside?” Finally, the nurse requested.
It took Evan seconds to recognize the nurse’s appeal. He retreated behind
the door and into the sitting area where many
of the patient’s relatives lingered. He stood there waiting and looking out.
‘Shanty, are you here?’
Soon, he saw a woman with blonde hair rushing to the emergency room.
She was in a scrub uniform. Her hair was neatly
tied into a bun, and she had those familiar blue-colored eyes he had not
seen in a very long time. 2
The woman was none other than Shantelle Scott, his ex-wife.
“Shanty.” His voice broke in and out as he said the name.


His mouth parted as he went to the emergency room door. Through the
glass window of the same double. doors, he saw
Shantelle commanded the entire room, her voice firm and loud, her eyes as
sharp as a hawk.
He saw her turn in his direction, and their eyes met.
She stilled.
His heart fluttered.

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Chapter 36: Are You Married?
Evan’s heart swelled with pride, seeing this different side of Shantelle. This
had always been her dream, and she finally
achieved it.
His ex-wife was now a doctor.
Shantelle looked more sophisticated. She was confident, and she
commanded the nurses with conviction. She moved
around the emergency room like it had been her home for many years.
Immediately, he wondered, ‘How long has she
been working for this hospital?”
Evan felt heaviness in his chest. Seeing her again, all the years of longing
came rushing back. So many years had been
lost, and many efforts had gone to waste. Who would have thought that he
would still get this chance? Now here she was,
right in front of him.
Recognizing the changes in Shantelle, Evan wondered what other changes
had happened in her life. Could Shantelle be
single? How will he approach her? As a friend? Or should he pour his heart
out?
Finally, when their eyes met, he thought this was his opportunity. She stilled
and studied him for a second. She recognized
him, and he felt it deep in his bones. Evan was about to approach her, but
sadly, she was back to attending to her
patient’s needs.
Thus, Evan remained rooted to the floor, his eyes never leaving her.
After what felt like an eternity, he saw how she was walking his way.
Shantelle stepped out of the
emergency room. He tried to meet her eyes, but she was looking for
someone else.
“May I know who are the relatives of Mister Gonzales?” She asked. Her
voice seemed angelic in his ears.
“Here! I am his mother,” said a Hispanic woman, who was coincidentally
behind Evan.


Immediately, he turned his attention to the patient’s mother. The closer he
was to the woman, the closer he could get to
Shantelle.
Shantelle ignored him and merely spoke to the woman. “My name is Doctor
Shant. I am a surgeon at this hospital. Your
The son has massive internal bleeding in his chest walls due to blunt force
trauma. We need to operate on him -”
The mother wept. Saying, “Oh, my god! We don’t have enough insurance
coverage. How are we going to pay for this?”
That took Shantelle aback, but she assured the woman, “Misses Gonzales,
our hospital can arrange suitable payment
terms after the operation. For now, your son needs immediate medical
attention. So you know, the operation will only
require a minimum invasion-”
“Is there any other way?” The woman said. “You don’t understand. We are
drowning in debt. My husband. had just
recently been to surgery, that’s why-”
“Mrs. Gonzales, our hospital will arrange something for you. Please give us
the authorization so we can proceed with the
operation. Your son needs it urgently,” Shantelle urged.
Evan was somewhat irritated. What could be more critical than saving this
woman’s son that she would think twice about
agreeing to the operation? More importantly, he felt the woman was
dragging Shantelle from doing her job. He did the
impossible, saying, “I’ll offer you a charity case. In return, I hope your son
can consider working for me.”
‘This young man better have skills.’ He thought.
Finally, he got Shantelle’s attention, and he rejoiced inside. She turned to
him and looked him in the eye.
He thought her sparkling blue eyes were so beautiful. Oh, how he missed
looking at this pair of eyes.
“Who are you?” Misses Gonzales sought.
“It doesn’t matter who I am. Just know that I am good for it,” Evan said
confidently. He turned to Shantelle and urged, “You


I can ask the good doctor.”
Shantelle’s mouth parted. Then, she shook her head and said to the
patient’s mother. “If, after the operation, you are still
not in terms of the hospital’s payment options, you can be assured that this
man. can pay for your son’s surgery.”
Evan did not let Shantelle escape his sight. After Shantelle got
authorization from the patient’s mother, he followed her to
the operating room. He did not care how long it took. He wanted Shantelle’s
time.
Inside the operating room, Shantelle was performing a video-assisted
surgery. While an assistant surgeon held a tube
camera, she navigated through the patient’s chest wall using tiny
instruments, going through small incisions of the
patient’s chest.
Shantelle was suctioning the blood while searching for the source of the
bleeding.
“We found our bleeder,” Shantelle remarked, shaking her head as she
drained more blood. “I need a spatula cautery.”
Shantelle focused on closing up the bleeding when the assistant surgeon
said, “So, who is that handsome man outside,
Doctor Shant? Why do hot men always surround you? Care to share?”
“Just someone I know,” she plainly said. “Focus on the surgery.”
“Sorry, Doc,” the female assistant surgeon said.
An hour passed, and Shantelle prepared to leave. She gave the job of
closing the wounds to the assistant surgeon,
saying, “I’m late for my daily report.”
The medical staff inside laughed. The nurse said, “Say hello to Lucas for
me, Doc!”
Shantelle stepped out of the operating room and saw Evan waiting for her.
She froze and studied him.” Why is he waiting
for me?”
Evan had his hand up, suggesting he was about to speak, but her eyes
landed on his finger. He had a wedding ring on.
What made it strange was how the ring looked like their wedding ring. ‘So
he is married. Could he have ordered the same


wedding ring as Nicole?”
Honestly, it wasn’t in her place to care. She felt it was such a slap on her
face that he would get the same wedding ring for
him and Nicole. Of course, she considered how she could be wrong. It had
been so long since she had removed her
wedding ring. Perhaps her mind was playing tricks on her.
“What is it, Mister Thompson?” She asked.
She saw how disappointed he was with how she addressed him, but why
not? They were now… strangers. “What can I
Do you?”
“Shanty, I’m not just anybody. This is Evan. We’ve known each other since
we were kids,” he suggested.
“It’s been too long for that familiarity,” she pointed out.
“How are you, Shanty?” He asked.
Shantelle looked at him straight and said, “Please, call me Doctor Shant.
Again, it’s been too long for us to call each other by
our first names.”
Evan caressed his jaw. He replied cautiously, “Okay, I understand, Doctor
Shant. So you are finally a
doctor?”
“Obviously,” she replied. Then, she stared at the wall clock nearby and
realized it was almost eleven in the evening. Lucas
was probably waiting for her to say goodnight, and her personal mobile was
in her office.” Argh. Mister Thompson, I’m
Sorry, but I really need to go to my office. Excuse me.”
She left without giving him a chance to speak. She rushed to the lift and
made her way to her office. She grabbed her
phone from her bag when she made it in and called the maid, looking after
Lucas. She did not bother to close the door.
“Yes, please. Give the phone to Lucas,” she instructed.
“Lucas, honey. I’m sorry. I had an emergency surgery. I’m sorry I didn’t call
you earlier,” she said. Her back faced the
entrance of her office.


Little did she know Evan had followed behind her. When he lost her at the
lift, he asked around and learned where her
office was.
He found Shantelle just in time. He saw her back while she was speaking
to someone on the phone. That someone
appeared to be important in her life.
“I’ll call you in the morning, Lucas. Goodnight. I love you, honey,” he heard
Shantelle say on the other line, and instantly
Evan’s heart sank.
Shantelle was already in a relationship, maybe even married, and the
man’s name was Lucas.
When Shantelle was done with her phone call, she turned unknowingly and
was shocked to find Evan. She cleared her
throat and asked, “Mister Thompson, did you follow after me?”
Evan was silent, still thinking about her phone conversation earlier.
Eventually, he replied, “I wanted to speak with you,
Shanty I mean, Doctor Shant. Perhaps we could catch up? Like old times?”
“What – what do you specialize in? And How long have you been working
here?” He asked.
“I specialize in thoracic surgery. I mostly perform surgeries on the heart,
lungs, and chest cavity,” Shantelle replied, but
avoided Evan’s latter question. Instead, she sought, “What brings you to
Warlington, Mister Thompson?”
Evan massaged his neck and replied, “Father needs heart bypass surgery.
His doctor recommended this hospital, and so
we are here.”
“Bypass?” Shantelle asked. “Who evaluated your father’s admission?”
“Doctor Hale,” Evan said. “We were going to meet our father's assigned
doctors tomorrow.”
Shantelle thought deeply. Who would be best to perform the surgery? She
frowned, turned to her desk, and saw a
patient’s file.
Right. She received notice of a new patient, but the briefing would still
happen in the morning. She reached for the folder


and saw the patient’s name. Indeed, she was assigned to Erick Thompson.
It was clear to Shantelle that she would see Evan during Erick’s surgery
and recovery. She sighed, thinking, ‘Was fate
doing all this? Was it finally time to tell Evan about their son? Would he
accept him? What about Nicole? 7
Turning to Evan, she revealed, “I am the doctor assigned. So I’ll see your
father in the morning. Is there anything else,
Mister Thompson? I have to go back to work.”
Shantelle was not ready to tell Evan about Lucas just yet. She didn't even
know where to begin.
“Really? That’s good. That’s good.” Evan said. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She nodded.
Evan acted to leave but decided to ask anyway, “You -um. Are you married,
Doctor Shant? I heard you on the phone
earlier. Is Lucas your husband?”
The question shocked Shantelle. Still, she maintained her composure,
saying, “That’s rather personal, Mister Thompson,
but to answer your question. Yes, Lucas is a special person in my life.”
“Doctor Shant. You are needed in the Emergency Room!”
“Doctor Shant. You are needed in the Emergency Room!”
“Excuse me, Mister Thompson, duty calls,” she said. She put her phone
back in her bag and guided Evan outside her
office. After locking the door, she left, saying, “I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

Chapter 37: Tell Evan
“Hi, you must be new here,” a girl wearing an elegant cocktail dress
greeted Evan at the bar of their hotel accommodation.
Instead of attending to his emails and resting for the night, he drank away
his sorrows. Hearing the woman next to him,


Evan raised his hand, showing off his wedding ring, saying, “I’m married.”
“Oh, too bad. That should not stop you though
-”
“Get the fuck away from me!” Evan shot back, glaring at the woman who
approached him.
Yes, many years had passed, and he still wore his wedding ring. At that
point, Evan felt sorry for himself. Shantelle had
already moved on. She had a special man in her life now, but he was still
holding on to her. ‘Lucas,’ he said.
What a lucky man he was.
‘I love you.’ He recalled the words she said to Lucas. It was the same set of
words that Shantelle only used to say to him –
how she repeatedly told him he loved her, yet he never said it back.
It was his fault. He knew it. He realized too late what Shantelle meant to
him. Now, he could only suffer the consequences
of his mistake. If only he could turn back time.
Another irony of love; loving someone at the wrong time or finding out you
love someone after the same had walked out of
your life.
“Evan, you are so fucked up,” he said under his breath. He ran his hand
over his face, hating himself all over again.
After gulping down a full glass of wine, Evan remembered the last time he
asked Keith about Shantelle. How did Keith
miss out on the fact that Shantelle was here? When did Shantelle start
working for Warrington Hospital? Could Keith have
lied to him all along?
Several probabilities played in his head, but he also considered how Keith
had been busy recently. It was possible that
Keith no longer familiarizes himself with the new doctors.
Evan called Keith, but it was the same; he was not reachable. Evan still
needed to gain his friend’s new number from his
secretary. He wound up calling his other friend instead, Wendell.
“Evan, what time is it?” Wendell asked. “Why are you calling at this time?”
“I found Shanty,” Evan revealed.


Silence stretched between them before Wendell finally replied, “That’s
great news, right? Talk to her, Evan. Tell her
everything -”
“I think she is in a relationship. Fuck, maybe even married,” Evan said.
“Maybe?” Wendell sought.
Evan explained what he had overheard from Shantelle’s phone
conversation, and Wendell replied, “Well, Evan. You have
searched and longed for her for years. You can’t just let it go. At least talk
to her and get closure. If she is married and in a
happy relationship, all you can do is give up, but at least you tried, right?”
At the idea of giving up, Evan’s chest congested. However, he
acknowledged his friend was right. He said, “I’ll talk to her
tomorrow,”
“Oh, and Evan. It would not hurt to look extremely handsome tomorrow.
How about you shave your face?” Wendell
recommended. “Good luck.”
At five in the morning, Shantelle received a call from her superior.
“Doctor Hale,” Shantelle immediately answered her mobile, knowing full
well the reason for his call.
“Doctor Shant, you have your new patient’s profile? Let’s have a briefing
before meeting the patient. You’ll need to adjust
your schedule accordingly.” Doctor Hale said.
“Um. Okay, Doctor Hale. For today, though, can I head home to bring my
son to school? I’ll come back before nine in the
morning.” she asked.
“Of course. I’ll see you later, Doctor Shant,” Doctor Hale acknowledged.
After that conversation with her superior, Shantelle returned home to
prepare her son for school. She did not sleep at all,
but she was used to it. Working long hours was part of her job.
She asked their family driver to take them to school. In the car, she looked
at her son and was reminded of who he looked
like. Shantelle still did not have the heart to tell her son about his father, but
she knew there was no better time than now.


Evan was in the city. She might as well tell him… soon. Depending on his
reaction, she would solve other more significant
problems, like how Keith knew about Lucas.
While in the car, she quickly sent a text message to Keith. He had called
her the other night, giving her his temporary
number. Keith was still unable to retrieve his old number since he was still
in Europe.
[Keith, we have a problem. Evan is here. Uncle Erick is having surgery, and
I am his doctor. Call me when you can. Let’s
talk.]
Returning to the hospital, she and her surgical team were briefed about
Erick Thompson’s medical condition. That was
another reason for Shantelle’s worry. It’s been so long since she had met
the Thompsons, she wondered how they would
react to the fact that she would be Erick’s surgeon.
“Doctor Shant, do you have any questions before we meet the patient?”
Doctor Hale asked.
“Um, no,” she replied. “I’m all good.”
*Make us proud, Doctor Shant. Mister Thompson is a very high-profile
patient. He can refer our hospital to other high paying patients. He could
perhaps invest in our hospital,” Doctor Hale excitedly said.
Shantelle just smiled. She stood up from her seat, saying, “I know. I sort
of… know them back in Rose Hills, but we
weren’t really that close.”
“Really? Well, the fact that you are acquainted with them is still good. Trust
can be easily established,” Doctor Hale
remarked. “Shall we go and meet the patient?”
Minutes later, Shantelle and her surgical team made it to Erick Thompson’s
room. Doctor Hale entered first, and she
followed. Evan was there, and she felt Evan’s burning gaze on her. She did
not spare him a glance, but what affected her
was Clara Thompson’s immediate reaction.
Shantelle saw the shocked expression on Erick and Clara. Their faces
paled, and they both gave Evan a regretful look.


“Mister Thompson, my name is Doctor Hale. I am the acting medical head
for all surgeries in the hospital. “Doctor Hale
pointed to two other medical staff inside the room. They were Shantelle’s
assistant surgeon and scrub nurse.
Then he directed his gaze to Shantelle and introduced, “This is Doctor
Shant. She is the lead surgeon in your operation.
She is currently our chief surgeon in the surgery department and rising into
fame amongst thoracic surgeons across the
country.”
“I believe you already know her. Is that right? You would be happy to know
that you are in good hands with Doctor
Shantelle Scott,” Doctor Hale added.
There was no response from the Thompsons. They were staring at
Shantelle blankly until, out of nowhere, Clara cried.
She said, “Shanty, do we mean nothing to you? Have you ever thought
about us?”
Meanwhile, somewhere in Europe, Keith ended his business trip
prematurely. He was walking toward a private jet when
he called Shantelle. His call went to voicemail.
“Fuck.” Keith called again. When it was routed to voicemail once more, he
left a message, “Shanty, listen to me. We can still
make this work. Tell Evan I am Lucas’ father -no, I’ll tell him we dated after
you relocated. Shanty, Evan, doesn’t have to
Know.”

Chapter 38: Reunion With The Thompsons
“Shanty, I used to watch you as a child. Did you suddenly forget that?”
Clara said.


Shantelle felt her colleague’s gaze landing on her. Her superior gave her
that look. She knew exactly what Doctor Hale
I was thinking.
“Shanty,” finally Erick Thompson spoke. He forced himself to sit on the bed,
pushing his nasal cannula to tighten across
his face. It made Shantelle move forward, instinctively wanting to help.
“Shanty, let’s forget about the past,” Erick asked. “Many years have gone
by.”
“Don’t you recognize me? It’s me, your Uncle Erick. I used to take care of
you when you were little.” Tears welled in Erick’s
eyes as he asked, “Are you still mad at us, Shanty?”
“No.” Shantelle could not help it. She no longer cared for the fact that her
colleagues were there. She wept at Erick’s
words and offered him a hug. “I was never mad at you, uncle. I wasn’t.”
Many years had passed. The Thompsons tried to forget about the Scotts,
but sometimes, Erick and Clara thought about
their dear friends, especially the little girl that used to linger in their home
when her parents. were busy at the hospital.
Earlier, when Evan revealed that Shantelle would be Erick’s surgeon, Clara
was excited to see her. Erick wanted to
reconnect. He had a heart condition, after all. At least, he could correct the
mistakes that pushed his friends away- away
from their lives and from the home they once cherished.
“Uncle, please don’t cry. You are not yet well. It’s not good for you to be in
an emotional state,” Shantelle softly said.
“Oh, Shanty. My beautiful Shanty, please hug me too. I miss you so much,”
Clara pleaded, her arms. stretching Shantelle.
Quickly, Shantelle accepted the hug. She felt kisses on her cheeks, and
she was reminded of how Clara used to do this
often, especially when she was a child.
Meanwhile, Shantelle’s colleagues politely excused themselves, sensing
that the family required privacy. Doctor Hale
said, “Doctor Shant, please do the necessary discussion with the
Thompsons. I think we should give you some time.”


Shantelle wiped her face with her fingers and turned to her superior. She
nodded and said, “Yes, thank you, Doctor Hale.”
Minutes went by, with Shantelle being embraced by Clara and Erick. During
the entire time, Evan only sat on the sofa,
watching them. He did not know if he was welcome in Shantelle’s arms.
Inside, he wanted to throw his arms at her and
cry with them, for his longing was more profound than his parents”.
“Shanty, please talk to me. Tell me about your life,” Erick asked.
Shantelle sat beside Erick on the bed, and Clara pulled a stool next to
them. She smiled at Clara and Erick before
answering, “Well, as you can see, I followed my dreams. I am now a
surgeon, just like my dad. But instead of focusing
only on cardiac surgery, I opted for a broader scope. I am a thoracic
surgeon.``
A chuckle escaped her lips when she described, “In simple terms, I am a
chest surgeon. I operate on the lungs, the heart,
and the chest walls. Basically, organs and illnesses that are covered in the
thorax.”
“Here.” She pointed to her neck and down, just before her abdomen,
showing where the thorax was.
“Is it true what Doctor Hale said? You are famous around the country?”
Clara then bitterly narrowed her eyes, saying.
“How come we did not find you? Where have you been hiding all these
years? Have you always lived here?”
Shantelle smiled and replied, avoiding the latter questions, “Doctor Hale is
exaggerating. I’m not that famous, only that I
haven’t had a patient die on me, so that had spread through the medical
field.”
Proudly, she added, “I’m good with my hands. I’m fast, and I don’t make
mistakes. Plus, I easily find problems during
operations. They say I have a good eye.”
“Oh, Shanty. We are so happy and proud of you. We-” Clara wept again.
“We hoped we were there every step of the way,
seeing your success.”


While Erick and Clara chatted about Shantelle’s achievements from the
sofa seat, Evan could only watch in envy. He tried
to join in the conversation by clearing his throat and expressing, “It’s good
that you pursued medicine, Shanty.”
Shantelle paused and looked over her shoulder. She simply said, “Mmmm.”
She did not even look Evan in the eye.
“I bet you graduated the best in your batch,” Erick assumed.
“I did good, yes. It was all thanks to mom and dad for helping me despite
L-” She stopped herself, realizing what she was
about to say. She looked at Erick and Clara, and she was certain they
would love to meet Lucas.
“What is it, Shanty? Tell us. Share with uncle and aunt,” Clara pleaded.
Shantelle gave them another smile, saying, “I will have another talk with
you both, perhaps after the surgery?”
“Why, Shanty,” Clara pouted. “You can talk to us anytime. We don’t have to
wait for the surgery -” Suddenly, Erick’s heart
monitor beeped. His heart was beating erratically, and he struggled to catch
his breath. His hand was over his chest,
clearly feeling pain.
“Relax, uncle. Relax,” Shantelle said while studying the heart monitor. She
checked his medical chart. She called in the
nurse and adjusted the gap in Erick’s medication.
Evan eventually moved into Erick’s other side and helped soothe his father.
“Uncle, it’s best we talk more about my life after the surgery. We can’t have
you emotionally affected right now,” Shantelle
gently said, and Erick nodded.
She glanced at Clara and said, “I will wait until Uncle Erick feels better
before I explain the procedure. That way, you can
ask me any questions about the upcoming surgery. Please excuse me for
now. I need to check if the operating room has
been booked.”
Shantelle purposely returned to Erick’s room after an hour. She knew it
would take some time to calm down. down his emotions.
When she did, Evan was still there.


She merely nodded his way and sat next to Erick, explaining the procedure.
“Uncle, basically, in a bypass surgery, we
create a route for blood and oxygen to go around a blockage and reach
your heart. I will cut your chest open, use your
mammary artery as an alternate vein, and then connect it to the blocked.
coronary artery – bypassing it. In that way, your
heart’s circulation will return to normal.”
“How long will the procedure last, Shanty?” Clara asked.
“On average, it will last about four to six hours,” Shantelle replied. “Then
you’ll be moved to the ICU for observation.”
“I scheduled the operation at five tomorrow morning. Will that be alright?”
Shantelle asked. “We need to
have the operation soon, before any heart attack could happen.”
“Okay, Shanty,” Erick weakly replied. “Will you take care of me?”
“I will, Uncle Erick,” she replied.
Shantelle unwittingly yawned and said, “I’m sorry. I haven’t had any sleep. I
should go now and head home. I need to be ready
for tomorrow’s surgery.”
She got up and held Erick’s hand, saying, “Rest well, Uncle Erick.
Tomorrow, your heart will feel anew.”
“Shanty, have you told William and Eleanor?” Clara asked. “It would be
great to see them.”
“They are on vacation. They went on an Antarctica cruise. It can be difficult
to reach them, but I’ll try their email,” Shantelle
revealed. “They won’t be back after three weeks, though.”
“Oh, is it for their anniversary? I think it’s their anniversary,” Clara said with
a smile. “I remember you get stuck with us
when they go out on their anniversary dates. Please send them our best
wishes.”
Shantelle smiled. It was true, but her primary reason for allowing herself to
be stuck at the Thompsons’ house was Evan.
“I’m glad you remembered. I will let my parents know,” Shantelle replied. “I
should go now, Aunt, Uncle. I will see you
tomorrow.”


“Thank you, Shanty,” Clara and Erick answered, almost at the same time.
“Thank you, Shanty,” Evan said on the couch.
Seeing Shantelle walk to the room’s exit, Evan followed her outside. He
called, “Shanty -”
“It’s Doctor Shant, Mister Thompson,” Shantelle corrected.
“Okay, Doctor Shant. You can call me Evan,” he offered.
Shantelle continued to walk, saying, “I prefer calling you Mister Thompson.”
Evan walked after her, saying, “You said… we would talk.”
Shantelle yawned again and replied, “I did. And I’m sorry, I’m too tired now.
Can we talk after the surgery?”
“Okay. I understand. Can I at least take you home?” Evan asked.
“Take me home?” Shantelle asked with a frown. “Why? It’s not a good idea
-”
“Is it because of Lucas?” Evan asked.
Shantelle was this close to letting out a laugh, but she held back and
answered, “Yes, it’s because of Lucas.”
She turned and resumed her walk. Evan still tailed behind her.
“He must be a very protective man,” Evan suggested.
Shantell replied, “He is. He loves me very much, and I love him more than
my life.”
She glanced at Evan and saw him pale. His mouth parted, and he gasped.
Immediately, Shantelle wondered, ‘Why does
It looks like he is hurt?”
Another yawn escaped her lips. She recognized she needed to rest. It was
already eleven in the morning, and she still
needed to fetch Lucas at three in the afternoon. She said to Evan, “I’ll see
you tomorrow, Mister Thompson. I promise I’ll
talk to you tomorrow.”

Chapter 39: Successful Operation


“Mommy, the weekend is coming.” Lucas asked. His eyes gleamed when
he turned to her in the car’s back seat.
Shantelle faintly smiled and said, “I know.”
“Will you tell me about my daddy?” Lucas sought.
“Yes, I will,” she replied, but her heart raced at the thought. “You might even
meet him.”
“What’s daddy like?” Lucas asked.
Shantelle chuckled and answered, “Weekend. Let’s talk about him on the
weekend.”
She saw her son roll his eyes, and she laughed again. She decided to give
in. “He um. He has great parents. Your other
grandma and grandpa.”
“I have another grandma and grandpa?!” Lucas excitedly exclaimed.
Shantelle nodded. She said, “Yes, and I’m sure they would love to meet
you.”
“I can’t wait to meet them! When can I see them? Tell me more! What do
they look like?” Lucas eagerly probed.
“Weekend,” Shantelle recalled. “This weekend, honey.”
Lucas groaned, saying, “Fine! It's the weekend.”
She wasn’t sure what Evan’s relationship would be with Lucas, but based
on her reunion with Clara and Erick earlier, she
was positive they would accept and love Lucas.
Pondering about how to tell the Thompsons about her son, she
remembered Nicole. “What happened to her? Did Uncle
Erick and Aunt Clara still not accept her?’
It was already evening when Shantelle checked her voice messages.
[Shanty, listen to me. We can still make this work. Tell Evan I am Lucas’
father -no, I’ll tell him we dated after you
relocated. Shanty, Evan, doesn’t have to know.]
Hearing Keith’s voice message, she frowned. She called Keith back, but his
phone was switched off. She muttered, “Was
Is he flying back already? Wasn’t he supposed to stay in Europe for a
month?”


Shaking her head, she sent Keith a text: [Keith, do you know how
scandalous your suggestion sounds like? While I am
reluctant to tell Evan about Lucas, I met with Uncle Erick and Aunt Clara
today. I don’t think I could ever hide it from them.
I know they will love Lucas. Thus, I will have to tell Evan. Are you coming
back? Call me when you land.] 4
Realizing she had early surgery, she added another text for Keith: [Uff! Call
me tomorrow morning instead, maybe around
eleven. I had surgery at five. It’s Uncle Erick’s. You know me, I won’t
answer calls prior to surgery.]
Before sleeping that night, Shantelle reviewed Erick Thompson’s
laboratory, especially the radiology and ultrasound
reports. Only after making sure she had not missed a single detail did she
finally rest.
Overnight, her phone kept ringing, but she had her personal mobile on
silent mode.
At four in the morning, Shantelle was ready to leave for the hospital. She
noticed Keith’s multiple calls,
but she wasn’t entertaining anybody yet. She had surgery to take care of.
She called the hospital and ensured Erick had already been prepped for
the operation. When she arrived by the operating
room door, Evan and Clara were there. Clara smiled at her, saying, “Take
care of Erick, Shanty.”
“I will, aunt,” Shantelle replied.
Evan smiled at her, and she nodded.
When she entered the operating room, everyone was ready. Erick was still
awake, and thus, she introduced everyone
again. “Uncle Erick, you met some of my colleagues yesterday. Doctor
Park, my assistant surgeon for today. We have
Doctor Wee. She is a resident who will observe the operation. Doctor
Lancaster is my partner anesthesiologist…”
“Are you ready, uncle?” She asked and saw Erick nod. She added, “Then,
we will begin with the general anesthesia.”


The operation proceeded as planned. Shantelle and her team worked
together for four hours, performing a heart bypass
surgery. Usually, she would leave the wound stitching to her assistant
surgeon, but the operation was special to her. She
remained in the operating room and personally performed the stitches. As
she did, Doctor Park asked, “Doctor Shant,
What exactly is your relationship to the Thompsons?”
“Sorry, I could not help myself, seeing yesterday’s scene. I got curious,” the
doctor asked while helping Shantelle cut
through stitches.
“Um. The Thompsons are family friends, but we lost touch,” Shantelle
faintly replied.
“Oh. Is that it?” Doctor Park asked. “Mister Thompson’s son kinda looks like
-” 2
“Please,” Shantelle paused. She replied, “Let’s focus on the surgery and
please, Doctor Park. Let’s not talk about my
personal life.”
“Sorry, doc,” her assistant surgeon said.
After the stitches were done, Shantelle lingered to observe Erick’s
heartbeat. She was satisfied. She felt happy and proud
of being able to help her Uncle Erick.
Stepping outside of the operating room, Clara stood up to greet Shantelle.
“How was it?”
“The surgery was a success,” Shantelle confirmed. “He’ll be moved to the
ICU, receiving after-surgery care.”
She met Evan’s eyes, but only gave her regard to Clara. “We can go
together to the ICU.”
Shantelle observed Erick for another hour at the ICU, together with Clara.
After which, Shantelle offered,” Would you like
to have lunch with me, Aunt Clara?”
‘Oh, I don’t want to leave your uncle, dear. I’m not really in the mood to eat.
Though, I had taken some earlier to fill my
stomach.” Clara held Shantelle’s hand, saying, “But, Evan has wanted to
speak to you, Shanty. Will you give him a chance
to talk with you?”


The question made Shantelle’s heart stop. She weakly replied, “Well, I
meant to talk to him too.”
“Then, why don’t you have lunch together?” Clara suggested. “Just as
friends – like old times. Evan he, he has a lot to say
”
“Aunt.” Shantelle asked, “I’ve been meaning to ask. Is Evan with Nicole? I
was just wondering because she isn’t here and
-”
“Oh, that’s part of what he wants to talk to you about, Shanty,” Clara sighed
and described. “Give him a chance to tell you
everything. It may be too late since you have Lucas, but at least you will
know.”
Shantelle stilled. It surprised her how Evan had told them about Lucas,
which was so wrong, but then again, she led Evan
to believe whatever he wanted. She tapped on Clara’s hand and promised,
“I will… speak to him.”
When she made her way outside the ICU, she found Evan in the waiting
area, working on his laptop. After seeing her, he
quickly kept his belongings and walked up to Shantelle. “Doctor, Shant -”
“Let’s talk,” Shantelle said. “I just need to change back.”
Heartbeats later, Shantelle and Evan were in front of a round table in a
restaurant nearby. Evan had ordered all of
Shantelle’s favorite dishes, which utterly surprised her. 1
While waiting for their food, Shantelle’s eyes caught the ring on his finger.
She outright asked, “Are you and Nicole
Married?”

Chapter 40: Evan’s Confession


“Are you and Nicole married?” The question made Evan lean back. He
sucked in a breath, realizing how the time had
finally come.
He looked her in the eye and outright said, “No, I did not marry her, and I
never intended to marry her.”
“Then what’s that ring on your finger?” She asked.
For a fleeting moment, Evan saw a flicker of hope. The fact that Shantelle
was observant enough to notice the ring could
I mean she still cared. Very quickly, he took off his ring. He also fished
inside his shirt, revealing a necklace and a similar
ring dangling on the chain.
He gave the rings to Shantelle and confessed, “I had been wearing our
rings the entire time. I never took mine off.”
Evan was certain she saw the ring’s engraving, but Shantelle did not show
any emotion. She gawked at the rings for
seconds before pushing them back to him. Soon, she asked, “Why are you
wearing that ring? We are already divorced.”
He took back the rings. Weakly, Evan admitted, “Because, Shanty, I-I
regretted the divorce -”
“What about Nicole?” She asked again.
“About Nicole.” Evan shook his head in regret. He did not know where to
start. He figured he should clarify things from
where it all began. “When I brought her to Rose Hills, I thought of her as a
potential girlfriend, but we got married after she
was forced out of the city, things changed.”
Evan leaned forward. He rested his elbows against the table’s surface and
added, “I felt more responsible for her
misfortunes. I felt sorry for her, Shanty, and I thought of her as a friend.
There was nothing more. than that, but! I know I
was wrong for making you feel less important in my life.”
“What do you mean, Mister Thompson?” Shantelle asked. “I was never
important to your life. Don’t you remember how
you wanted me out of your life?”


Evan felt as though a hand squeezed his heart. Those words did leave his
lips, and he suffered for it, and had been for
years since Shantelle fled Rose Hills.
“I was wrong. I was terribly wrong.” Evan massaged his temples and
returned his regard to her, saying, ” During the days
that you avoided me, I realized how I missed you -”
“So you brought Nicole to our marital home to fill that void?” Shantelle shot
back, her eyes looking elsewhere.
“No, I did not. That’s another side of the story which you need to know.
Please, let me finish,” Evan begged before
cautiously proceeding, “As I said, I realized how much I missed you when
you were avoiding me well, unknown to me, you
had already left the city back then, but I honestly thought you were still in
Rose Hills. I want to clarify that the way I missed
you had nothing to do with Nicole. It was plainly me, wanting to be with
you.”
“And in that short time that I was away from you, I. '' Even reached for
Shantelle’s hand. She tried to pull back, but he held
on tightly, saying, “I realized that I loved you, Shanty. I loved you then, and I
still love you now.”
Shantelle glowered at him and pulled back her hand. That did not stop him
from saying, “I bought tickets for us to go to
Paris on your birthday. I wanted to spend time with you and have a fresh
start, regardless of where I started,” he added.
“But then, I discovered that you left, and everything else fell apart for me.”
“But,’ Shantelle said. She shut her eyes and
moved back, taking deep breaths. After some time, whatever emotions
were manifesting through her expressions
disappeared. She looked at Evan and pointed out, Mister Thompson, you
perfectly said that you did not love me. You
never did. Why are you suddenly saying this now? And what for?”
“Shanty, I know what I said, and I regretted all those. You have no idea how
much I regretted it,” Evan said. “I realized too


late how much you mean to me. You had already walked out of my life
when I recognized how much I loved you.”
Evan described how he went to her house on the day of her birthday. He
said, “But instead, I learned your left. I went to
the university, to the hospital, in search of Doctor Scott. In the later days, I
begged Karise for information. I hired a private
investigator to search for you, and I asked Keith to check on every hospital
his company was affiliated with, but I could not
find you.”
He went on, narrating his every effort, including how he slept overnight in
the cemetery when Karise’s mother died.
“Shanty, I did everything possible, but Karise never told me where you
were.”
“Good afternoon,” the restaurant’s server interrupted Evan’s story, serving
two plates of green salad.” Sundried tomato
salad and chicken salad. Enjoy your appetizer. Your main dish will be
served in ten minutes.”
On the other end of the table, Shantelle had been in deep thought all along.
He searched for me?”
She knew Keith would have said nothing. Shantelle recounted the times
when she avoided news about Evan and
reminded Keith never to tell her, but what about after she gave birth and
after many years when she had not mentioned
Evan’s name? Didn’t it occur to Keith to force the information on her? Still,
Shantelle thought Keith was not to be blamed
entirely. She did warn him against speaking about Evan, and she was
certain her father, William, asked the same. ‘But
What about Karise?’
“Shanty, say something,” Evan urged.
Shantelle stared into his brown eyes and replied, “Karise, probably did it to
protect me. That was the plan all along – to
stay away from you.”
“But Shanty –
“Call me Doctor Shant,” she repeated. As she requested, she did
everything to hide her emotions, all of it.. The old


Shantelle that kneeled before Evan was long gone. 1
She started on her salad like she did not hear Evan tell her he loved her.
After swallowing her first bite, she asked, “Tell
me about Nicole. What is it that I need to know more about her?”
Evan narrated how he recovered his deleted text messages. He described,
“I learned that Nicole was not the person I
thought she was.”
He told her about Nicole’s claims; from her supposed struggle to land a job,
how Nicole made him feel responsible, and
how she tricked Mrs. Shaw into taking her to their villa. Afterward, he
dropped the bomb, saying, “I had her investigated,
and I found out she was Melody Campbell all along. She changed her
name and had plastic surgery to look somewhat
like you. I made sure she suffered and was put behind bars.”
The news made Shantelle still in her seat. She stopped eating altogether
and dropped her fork on the plate. How could
she forgot the woman who had nearly killed her?!
Instantly, the memory of her young self came rushing back. She recalled
being pushed down the pavement and a bus
stopping just a meter away from her. Shantelle would have died thanks to
Melody Campbell. Now, she learned that the
same woman was Nicole Lively all along, and everything was all a ploy, the
moment she appeared in Evan’s life and how
she provoked her into becoming a paranoid wife!
“Excuse me.” Shantelle’s lips trembled as she said, “I need to go to the
ladies’ room.”
“Shanty-”
213
“Doctor Shant. I don’t know how many times I have to remind you, Mister
Thompson, but we are no longer married. Call
me Doctor Shant,” she said before leaving him and rushing to the restroom.
In the bathroom, Shantelle locked herself in one cubicle. She repeatedly
took deep breaths, trying to take it all in.


Nicole was Melody Campbell. The most shocking part was his confession
of love. She whispered, “Is he serious? After all
that I did for him, he realized he loved me after the divorce. And he still
wore our wedding ring?”
Love. She never wanted to be in that situation again, where she would give
everything up for love. That was why she tried
to forget about Evan.
“Control your emotions, Shanty,” she directed herself. “Meditate. Meditate.”
Shantelle did not count the minutes. She did not care how long Evan would
have to wait. Her sanity and taking control of
her emotions were more critical.
After some time, she felt soothed. She was about to get up from the toilet
seat with her personal phone. rang. The
school was calling. She picked up the phone and heard Lucas’ teacher on
the other line, “Doctor Shant, Lucas has a
fever. It would be best for him to head home. He isn’t feeling very well.”
“Oh, no. Why now?’ She thought to herself.
“Doctor?” The teacher repeated.
Shantelle cleared her throat and replied, “I – I will be there. Thank you for
calling ”

Chapter 41: HE IS YOURS!
“Doctor Hale, can I take the rest of the day off? The school called. Lucas is
sick. I need to make sure he is okay,”
Shantelle asked, calling her superior.
“It’s okay, Doctor Shant. You had come in for surgery before five in the
morning. Just leave your work phone open in case
we have an emergency that Doctor Park cannot handle,” Doctor Hale said,
and Shantelle confirmed.


She did not have time to have their family driver fetch her, but she
instructed him to meet her at the school.
Shantelle had walked out of the ladies’ room when a call came in. Her eyes
widened, seeing it was Keith. She first
scanned the restaurant and, after finding
Evan was still in his seat, she lingered in one corner and took the call.
“Shanty, where are you?” Keith asked on the other line. “I am in Warlington
airport. We need to talk.”
She sighed and replied, “I am having lunch with Evan -”
“What?” She heard him curse before asking, “Did you already tell him about
Lucas?”
“No, we did not get to that part, and it will probably wait another day. I have
to go to school and fetch Lucas. He has a
fever. His teacher called me,” she revealed.
“Does he know about me? About how I knew where you were all along?”
Keith asked.
“No, and I’ll definitely have to talk to you about that, Keith,” Shantelle said.
“Good. I’ll see you at Lucas’ school. Let’s talk about it. Let’s plan it out,”
Keith proposed.
Shantelle sucked in a deep breath and replied, “Fine – fine. I need to go. I’ll
see you at school.”
When Shantelle returned to their table, she told Evan she had an
emergency.
She saw how disappointed Evan looked. He tried to reason with her,
saying, ”
Doctor Shant. You promised we would have a proper talk.”1
“I know, but it really is an emergency,’ Shantelle replied.
11
Evan saw through the worry in her eyes. Realizing she was not just making
excuses, he asked, “Where? At the hospital?
I’ll take you –
“No. No.” Shantelle ran her fingers through her hair and said, “There is an
emergency with Lucas.”


“Oh.” Evan clenched his jaws. Suddenly, he wasn’t willing to let Shantelle
take her leave. “But what about your lunch? At
at least, eat some of your meals. You barely touched your salad.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I have to go,”
Shantelle replied.
Evan called for a server instead. He suggested, “At least take the food with
you. You can eat wherever you are going.”
He stood and grabbed Shantelle’s wrist, saying, “Please.”
The food attendant was quick to pack the food. Evan let Shantelle take
everything, including his meal. He offered to hold
the bags and said, “I’ll take you to Lucas.”
Shantelle was taken aback, and immediately, she rejected him. “No, that’s
not necessary. I’ll take the bags.
Thank you, Mister Thompson. I’ll take a taxi.”
“When are we going to finish our talk, Doctor Shant?” Evan asked as they
walked out of the restaurant.
“If everything goes well tomorrow, then tomorrow,” Shantelle said without
looking back. She hailed a taxi, and when the
car stopped in front of her, she looked back at him and swore, “Look, Mister
Thompson, I promise we will have that talk
again.”
She paused and said, “But thank you for telling me about Nicole. I think I – I
needed to know that.”
Evan watched as Shantelle’s taxi drove into the middle of the road. Just
then, his hotel service pulled in front of him. An
an idea sneaked into his head; he wanted to see this man named Lucas.
He hopped in the car and ordered the driver, “Follow that taxi. Be discreet.”
“Yes, Mister Thompson,” the driver confirmed.
Minutes into the road, Evan was starting to regret his decision. He shook
his head, remembering how Shantelle had
followed him in the past, shortly after learning of
Nicole’s return to Rose Hills.
Back then, Shantelle wanted to find out if he cheated on her. Now, he was
doing the same, secretly following his ex-wife,


only that Shantelle wasn’t hiding anything from him and they were no
longer married. He simply wanted to check out the
competition. That is, if Shantelle would ever give him a chance. 1
‘What am I doing? Would I become a man who would try to ruin someone’s
relationship?’ He questioned his character.
Shantelle said she was happy and in love with this man named Lucas. 1
Shouldn’t he be happy for her? ‘No, I should at least find out if this Lucas is
a good man, someone who deserves Shanty.
1
It took a little while for them to arrive at a reputable school. Evan saw how
Shantelle’s taxi had stopped at the front of the
gate. She got off, carrying the bags in her hand, and walked toward another
parked car.
His hotel service had parked across the street, where he had a perfect view
of what was happening. Next, he saw an
an older man stepped out of the car. He took the bags of food from
Shantelle and placed them in the trunk.
Relief overwhelmed him. It did not look like the older man was Lucas. He
was probably their driver, guessing how the
The same man regarded Shantelle with respect.
Next, Evan saw Shantelle enter the school. It did not take long for her to
come out, walking with a young boy, holding her
hand.
Suddenly, he felt his heart race. He wondered, ‘Who is that boy? Didn’t she
come to see Lucas?’
Before he could analyze everything, another car pulled over, covering the
boy’s view. A man stepped out of the vehicle
and immediately hugged Shantelle.
Evan’s heart drummed against his ribcage. He knew well who this man
was. It was his friend, Keith Henderson.
Anger surged in his heart. Everything came rushing back. No wonder. No
wonder he never found Shantelle. With how
Shantelle and Keith were talking with familiarity. He realized his friend’s
betrayal. His hand balled into a fist as he called


the name, “KEITH!”
Forthwith, he got out of the car. He bitterly marched across the street, his
eyes meeting Keith’s.
Shantelle must have also noticed him, for she tried to hold Keith back.
Evan could tell they were debating, but he could
not determine what they were arguing about.
“Let me tell him, Shanty,” he heard Keith suggest to Shantelle.
“No, Keith! Not as you suggest!” Shantelle reasoned with Keith.
As soon as Evan made it in front of his supposed friend, Keith said, “Evan,
I’m sorry, but Shantelle and I are together. We
have a son together, and his name is Lucas – ”
Evan punched Keith in the face! He did it once and gave him another blow.
“How dare you, Keith? You knew I was looking
for Shanty! You knew I was miserable! How could you do this to me? How
could you touch Shanty! I thought you were my
friend!” 7
“Evan, stop! Stop!” Shantelle screamed.
“You knew how regretful I was all those years, but you never told me!
Instead, you touched her!” Evan held Keith’s shirt.
He was about to throw another punch when Shantelle stood before Keith,
saying, STOP IT! Evan, stop!”
Finally, she called his name, but not in the way he hoped.
“Evan, Stop! Please, listen to me!”
Shantelle had her hands up. She said, “I don’t know what got into Keith, but
he is lying!”
“Look at my son, Evan!” She pointed behind him. “Look at him. His name is
Lucas.” 1
Evan was still full of anger. He wasn’t ready to stop punching Keith, but
what
Shantelle said next made his knees weak.
“Evan, Lucas is not Keith’s son. HE IS YOURS!”


Chapter 42: Keith’s Not Sorry
‘He is yours.’ The words that Shantelle said circled in Evans' head a few
times.
He could not move and simply stared at Shantelle.
“Mommy? Who is he?” He heard the young man’s voice, and Evan turned
to see.
He met a pair of brown-colored eyes that were similar to his. He gulped
with the realization; he was looking at a younger
version of himself.
Yet again, he still was. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it. He was relieved
that the boy wasn’t Keith’s, as his supposed
a friend had claimed, but he also felt utterly cheated. How could Shantelle
have kept his son from him over the years?
“Shanty, please. Let’s talk about this.”
Evan could hear Keith’s voice behind him, but he dared not look away from
the boy.
“Not right now, Keith. I don’t want to talk to you right now!” Evan could
make out
Shantelle’s words.
Shantelle walked past Evan, and he noticed Keith trying to grab her.
Instantly, Evan acted protectively and gripped Keith’s
wrist. He barked, “She said not right now!” 1
Seeing Shantelle grab Lucas into her arms, Evan pointed his forefinger at
him, saying, “We have a score to settle.”
He returned his attention to Shantelle, and, observing how she was having
difficulty in carrying the boy, he presented, “Let
help me, please.”
“It’s okay. The car is just right there!” Her voice strengthened, and she
appeared to be irritated.
Evan could not help carry Lucas, but he quickly opened the car’s backseat
doors. The driver, who stood there, shocked by
the commotion, suddenly returned to his senses. “Sorry, Shanty. Let me
take you home.”


“Shanty, let’s talk, please,” Evan pleaded. There was no way he could rest
easy after her revelation. He just learned he
I had a son!
Shantelle first settled Lucas into the backseat and put on his seatbelt. After
which, she closed the door and turned to
Evan. Replying, “Not now, please. He is sick. I need to take care of my son
-”
“You mean.” He paused before softly adding, “Our son. I have every right to
take care of him, too.”
“Please, do not push your fatherly rights just yet. I am very upset with how
you and Keith just made trouble in front of the
school.” She glared at him. Her stare went past him, and he was sure she
was giving Keith
that look of dismay.
Evan wanted to return to punching Keith
in the face, but Shantelle and Lucas were more important to him.
“I’ll wait. Where do I wait? I’m also worried for my son,” he insisted.
Shantelle caressed her forehead. She felt like having the worst headache
all of a sudden. She sighed and replied, “Evan,
please. Give me time. I know I was wrong not to tell you about Lucas, but I
honestly thought you would not want a child
with me – ”
“Why would you think that?” He asked back, mirroring the way she was
keeping her voice down.
“The last time we saw each other – the night we had sex, you asked me if I
was still taking contraceptives and how it
would be complicated, given that we are divorced,” she reminded him, her
jaws clenched at the end of her words. “And, I
thought that you and Nicole would have something going on, so I did not
want to bother you –
–
“Okay. Okay.” Evan raised his hands, saying, “It was my fault for making
you feel that way.” He unknowingly reached for


her arm, hoping to hold her. He said, ” I’m sorry. Let’s correct all of these
mistakes and misunderstandings -”
“It wasn’t a misunderstanding, Evan. You did not want to have a child with
me, period. Things may have changed now for
you, but that was how you felt about it back then,” Shantelle pointed out,
pulling her arm away from his hold. This time,
her voice was slightly raised.
“I’m sorry. I want you to know that out of all the wrongs I did to you, the
words that hurt you, I regretted all that. I – I want
to make it up to you. Please let me,” he begged. “Please.”
Letting out another sigh, Shantelle requested, “Give me time to talk to
Lucas, and I will tell you when you can see him.”
Because Evan took his time to respond, she added, “Please. Don’t make
this harder for me than it already is. I still need to
explain your absence to my son. This is not easy for me, Evan.”
Evan groaned. He did not want to let her go, but he did not want to push
himself, either. Forcing her when she was clearly
in a bad mood would not help, not in their situation. He made the bigger
mistake; he needed to man up and take a step
back – give her space.
“Okay. I’ll wait,” he finally agreed. He put his hand on his chest and
resumed, “I want to get to know him, Shanty.”
“And you will,” she promised. “I’ll see you in the hospital.”
She opened the car’s door again, ready to enter, but she looked back at
Evan, saying, “Please don’t follow me. I don’t
I need this right now, okay? I’m not going to run away. Not anymore.”
Her assurance alleviated Evan. He nodded, saying, “See you soon.”
Just like that, she hopped into the car, and the exact vehicle drove off to the
road.
‘Evan. You have a son. You have a son with Shanty.’ The idea made him
smile. He had not smiled so genuinely in years
that tears stung his eyes. Many years may have been lost, but there was a
young life that would forever connect him with


Shantelle. He thought, ‘Maybe there is still hope. Will the heavens give me
a second chance?’
He carelessly wiped the corners of his eyes, sniffing his tears away. When
he turned back, he saw Keith waiting for him.
Keith moved closer to him and said, “I’m sorry, Evan, but you don’t deserve
her. You hurt Shanty! You hurt her so badly
that you made her lose her pride. Back in Rose Hills, she used to be the
sun that lights up the crowd, but you took away
her beautiful glow. Where were you at her lowest point?”
11
A scoff left Keith’s lips as he said, Nowhere because you were the source
of her pain. I was there for her when she
needed a shoulder to cry on. I made her smile and helped her get a new
life here in Warlington. You can’t blame me for
not telling you because I just wanted to protect her from you – from getting
hurt again!”
Evan’s nose flared. He shot back, “Keith, you are a two-faced person
–
“Yes, I am. I lied to you. I backed out when you and Shantelle married. I
never pursued her, even if I liked her then. I gave
way to you, knowing that Shantelle loved you so much back then. But what
did you do, huh? You only hurt her! You hurt
the only woman that I loved. Why would I give her back to you? You say
you love her now? What about tomorrow?” Keith
claimed. “So you can get angry all you want, but I have my reasons.
Before Evan could counter, Keith marched into his car and drove away. He
thought of following Keith, but his phone rang.
His mother was calling.
He lazily picked up the phone, and Clara asked, “Son, are you done talking
to Shanty? I’m tired. I asked Mrs. Shaw to
remain at the hospital if the nurses and doctors needed anything from us.
Will you pick me up? I want to rest.”
“Okay, mother. I’ll be there,” Evan replied.


He rode in the car, full of thoughts in his head; One, Evan looked forward to
seeing his son. Second, Keith reminded him
of his mistakes again – how he hurt
Shantelle in the past. Furthermore, he learned that Keith, his supposed
friend, was in love with Shantelle.

Chapter 43: He Is Your Daddy
After helping Lucas take a lukewarm bath, Shantelle dried his hair. Lucas
was already in his pajamas, looking at the mirror
with a sad expression. He weakly asked, “What did you mean I’m his? The
man from school?”
Shantelle switched off the hair dryer and smiled at the mirror. She said, “Let
me take you to bed first.”
When Lucas sat on his bed, Shantelle first checked his temperature. The
school had already given him medicine to bring
down the fever. She simply needed to observe him for a day or two before
deciding on getting some laboratory tests done.
“Show me your tongue? Looks fine.” She asked. “Let me look at your eyes
again.”
After checking him thoroughly, she turned to the bedside table and
suggested, “Drink that full glass of water. Later, after
your rest, you need to drink another. Hopefully, your fever will go away
tomorrow.”
Lucas did as his mother suggested. Then he looked up at her and said, “I’m
ready to listen, mom.”
Shantelle nearly cried at her son’s obedience. She sat beside him in bed,
revealing, “Lucas, that man was your father.
Lucas’ eyes widened. He asked, “My daddy?”
“Yes, he is your daddy,” Shantelle replied.
“Why did he come just now?” Lucas asked with a pout on his lips. He
crossed his arms against his chest, saying, “My


a classmate said my daddy maybe did not love me. That’s why I don’t have
a daddy.”
Shantelle choked altogether. She put an arm around Lucas, answering,
“No. That’s not it. I’m sure your daddy loves you.”
She certainly hoped, now, that she was telling her son about Evan.
Shantelle urged Lucas to face her, both their feet on the bed. For a second,
she was silent, thinking of where to start.
Soon, she replied, “Sometimes, adults disagree with things, and that’s what
happened to mommy and your daddy.”
“Before you were born, your daddy and I parted ways,” she explained.
“Then, mommy was very busy at school and work,
and I failed to tell your daddy about you. Another thing, he lives far from
Warlington.”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault I did not tell your daddy about you,” Shantelle asked.
“Will you forgive mommy? Please don’t be
mad at mommy.”
Lucas looked up at her with the same blue expression. He said, “I’m not
mad at you, mommy. I’m just sad. I thought I did
not have a daddy. I wonder if I was a bad boy and why my daddy did not
love me.”
Her son’s words stung her eyes. It was the
the first time Lucas expressed his inner thoughts. She wondered if this was
how he had felt all along. She embraced him and
said, “I’m sorry, honey. It’s mom's fault.
Shantelle kissed his cheek repeatedly and suggested, “You have a daddy,
and his name is Evan, Evan Thompson. And if
you feel better tomorrow, you can see him then.”
“I wanna see him now,” he suggested.
“But you need to rest,” Shantelle proposed. She pulled away and ran her
fingers through his hair. “I promise, tomorrow. So
drink a lot of water to feel better, okay?”
“Okay, mommy,” Lucas said.
Shantelle decided to sleep next to Lucas. She wanted to be with him, to
make him feel loved. Moreover, it was easier for


her to monitor his condition.
It was already past five in the afternoon when Shantelle awoke. Lucas was
still sleeping like a rock. She checked his
temperature, and seeing he did not have a fever, she headed for the
kitchen. 1
When she made it to the living room, she was shocked to find Keith sitting
there, waiting. He said, “The maids let me in.”
“Of course, they would,” she softly replied.
“Shanty, let’s talk,” Keith asked.
Shantelle first instructed the maids to prepare a soup dish for Lucas. She
asked one of them to monitor her son’s fever
before guiding Keith to the patio.
When Shantelle and Keith were already there, she started, “Why did you do
that, Keith? I already said that I disapproved
of your proposal. Did I not make myself clear?”
“Keith, I treated you as my friend, and I still
I could never repay you for being there for me all these years, but you
upset me by going against my wishes,” Shantelle
pointed out.
“I’m sorry, Shanty.” Keith massaged his forehead and then walked over to
her. He kneeled before her and rested his head
on her knees. His arms circled her waist. He explained, “Shanty, you don’t
know how painful it is for me to love you so
much and never be loved back.”
“At first, when you moved here, I was half- hearted. Evan is my friend, and I
know how strange it was for me to pursue
you, but over time, I could not help it. The more I spent time with you, the
more I wanted to be with you,” Keith continued.
“So when you told me you were operating on Uncle Erick, I panicked,” he
reasoned. “I can’t lose you now, not when we
have this bond, and I am the only father figure Lucas has grown to know -”
“But Lucas knows you are not his father, Keith,” Shantelle reminded.
“I know, but I could be one if you let me,” Keith offered, lifting his eyes to
meet hers. Just say the word, and I’ll do it. Let’s


be together, Shanty. That will give the right message to Evan -”
“And what is the right message?” She asked.
“That you no longer love him, right? You don’t?” Keith probed intensely.
“Tell me you don’t love him anymore.”
Shantelle’s brows met as she replied, “I will love only Lucas, and I’ll be
married to my career for life. Keith, I don’t have to
be with you to send Evan any message. I can do that myself.”
She looked down regretfully and spelled out, “I’m sorry, Keith, but I don’t
want to lead you on. I value everything you have
done for me, but no matter how much I appreciate you, I could not bring
myself to love you.”
“Perhaps, my heart has turned to stone. When Lucas was born, I promised
only to love him and no one else. Of course, I
love my family and friends, but you know what I mean,” she described.
“Please, Keith. Don’t hurt yourself any further. Find
another woman who deserves your love. If this is too difficult for you, I will
understand if you avoid me -”
“No.” He stood up and returned to his seat.
He ran his hand over his face and answered, “I will not leave our friendship
behind. Besides, Lucas will look for me. Just…
please forgive me. You understand me, right?”
Keith did not say it, but inside he swore never to give up on Shantelle. He
couldn’t. He tried in the past, but in the end, he
lost Shantelle to Evan, who only hurt her. If Evan would pursue her again,
he swore to fight
Evan for her love, no matter what. 3
“Please don’t do that again,” Shantelle cautioned. “Don’t act before me on
behalf of me. I don’t want to hate you, Keith. I
owe you too much for that.” 2
“Okay, I promise,” he replied. “I will never overstep. Besides, the truth is out
now.”
Silence stretched between them. They were looking in no particular
direction, but soon, Shantelle asked, “Is it true,
though? Did he look for me? Did he ask for your help to find me?”


Keith nodded, explaining, “I promised your father I would not tell Evan. And
you warned me against updating you about
Evan.”
“I know,” she meekly replied. “But to make me assume Evan would outright
reject Lucas was wrong -”
“I never said that,” Keith countered.
“In a way, you did by not correcting my assumptions. While I was thinking
how my son could potentially be rejected by his
father because he was married to Nicole and did not want a child with me,
you had known all along that Evan was looking
for me,” she pointed out.
“But I don’t blame you entirely, okay? I understand it was my decision, so it
was mainly my fault, but I really wished you
could have told me.” Suddenly, she cried. She revealed, “Earlier, Lucas
asked me if he was a bad boy because he did not
have a daddy – that his father potentially did not love him. I did this to my
son, Keith.”
“Shanty, I’m sorry.” Keith returned to her side and offered comfort.
After some time, Shantelle sniffed her tears away and said, “So from now
on, we will
respect Evan’s wishes to meet Lucas. Lucas wants to meet him, too. We
will support
Lucas because he needs his father.”
***
At five in the morning, Shantelle felt a boy’s small hand on her cheek. She
had slept next to Lucas all night. When she
fluttered her
eyes, Lucas said, “Mommy, I did not have a fever overnight. Can I see
daddy?”

Chapter 44: Hi Daddy


“Shanty, dear. What did you and Evan talk about? He is not telling me
anything. Sometimes he smiled, and sometimes he
returned to his gloomy self again. What went on with your conversation
yesterday?” Clara asked while Shantelle was
checking on Erick inside the ICU.
Erick Thompson was still sedated. Their hospital’s protocol was to have an
open- heart surgery patient rest with a lung
machine within twelve to twenty-four hours. So far, he had passed the
observation period and was due to be extubated.
—
“He um. He hasn’t told you about Lucas?”
Shantelle asked Clara in surprise.
Clara frowned. She sought, “About your boyfriend, no? Is that what
happened to his knuckles? Oh, I hope he did not
punch Lucas in the face.”
Shantelle chuckled. She replied, “No, he could not dare to punch Lucas in
the face.”
She sat next to Clara and revealed, “Aunt, we did not get to finish our
conversation because of an emergency. That’s
probably why he did not tell you just yet. However, I already know about
Nicole.”
“Oh, thank the heavens,” Clara said. She held Shantelle’s hand and asked,
“Then, maybe, one day, you can forgive Evan,
too. I won’t force you, but I certainly hope.” 1
Shantelle did not react. She wondered why Evan had not told Clara about
Lucas.
However, she assumed he wanted to test
Lucas first for paternity. Anyone would.
After all, with what Keith had raised yesterday, she would not blame Evan
for having second thoughts.
So instead, she updated Clara about Erick. She reported, “I’ll have Uncle
Erick off his ventilator. He is doing well. I’ll order
the nurses to stop his sedatives, but he’ll need you when he wakes up,
aunt.”


“I’ll be here,” Clara confirmed.
Hours went by. Erick had been out of the ventilator and was now resting.
Shantelle thoroughly observed Erick’s condition,
and after being satisfied, she figured it was finally time to talk to bring Evan
to Lucas.
She found Evan in the waiting area, working on his laptop. Her eyes
widened, seeing Mrs.
Shaw for the first time. She heard that Mrs.
Shaw traveled with them, but she was never around every time Shantelle
visited Erick.
Mrs. Shaw was the first to greet her. “Oh, Misses. It’s the Misses! How
beautiful you are, Shanty.”
Shantelle embraced Mrs. Shaw and replied, Thank you, Mrs. Shaw. You
looked gorgeous yourself.”
Mrs. Shaw chuckled. She whispered, “Oh, not like your husband. Poor
Mister Thomson had been longing for you for so
many years. He still has your space in the walk-in closet full of your clothes.
We regularly have them cleaned, so they
remain in good condition.”
“Every year, he would buy something for you during your birthday, but it’s
all just there… in your closet. Maybe one day,
you’ll come and get them,” Mrs. Shaw smiled and
suggested, “I wholeheartedly believe he regrets everything. He waited this
long. He could have moved on from losing you,
but he did not. His heart still ached. What’s worse is he knows it was all his
fault.” 1
Shantelle’s smile faded. The revelation stunned her, but she found the
strength to reply, “Mrs. Shaw, I’m no longer the
Misses of the house. Evan and I are no longer married.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate. Nonetheless, it’s good to see you, Shanty. To me,
you’ll always be the Misses of the villa,” Mrs.
Shaw said. Then she quietly returned to her seat.
After her brief chat with Mrs. Shaw, she locked eyes with Evan. She lifted
her chin in his direction and said, “Let’s go?”


***
Shantelle and Evan were walking towards the exit of the hospital. From
there, Shantelle asked, “Do you want a paternity
test? We can have that scheduled tomorrow.”
“No need,” Evan said. “You don’t have a reason to lie to me. Besides, my
son definitely has good looks.” 3
It was the first time Shantelle saw Evan smile that week. He turned to her
and suggested, “Either way, you could pin as
many children, and I would gladly accept them.”
Shantelle rolled her eyes, and he chuckled. She remarked, “Suit yourself.
You seem to be in a good mood.”
“I am excited to see him,” Evan admitted.
They rode in Evan’s hotel car service to the Scotts’ residence, where Lucas
had been waiting all along. When Shantelle
invited Evan to their home, the maids were all stupefied at his sight.
Shantelle could make out what was on their minds,
but she chose to ignore them for now.
She directed Evan to her father’s study. She said, “I’ll get Lucas. Please
wait here.”
Evan nodded.
It did not take long for Shantelle to walk back in. This time, she had Lucas
with her.
The boy looked Evan straight in the eye, barely blinking.
Shantelle and Lucas settled into the seat across from Evan. She said,
“Lucas, honey, this is your father, Evan.”
Lucas turned to Shantelle with a smile.
Then, he returned his regards to Evan, saying, “Hi, daddy. It’s nice to meet
you.”
Outright, Evan felt heaviness in his chest. The way the boy called him his
father utterly drowned him in a sea of regret. If
he had only realized his feelings for Shantelle back then, he would have
seen Lucas’ every milestone.
He raised his arms and said, “Son, come to
Give your daddy a hug.”


Lucas’ eyes lit up. There was glee in his expression, and Evan immediately
felt elated. The boy practically jumped into his
arms, saying, “You are my daddy?”
“Yes, I am your daddy.” Tears rolled down Evan’s face as he hugged his
son back. He savored the scent of his hair, the
felt his embrace, and he unknowingly pecked his cheek.
Evan could not explain it. Beyond their uncanny resemblance, he sensed
deep within his bones that Lucas was his. He
has had the pleasure of embracing children at the Lockwood Children’s
Hospital. The children’s hold gave him a sense of
happiness, but Lucas’ hug appeared to have filled the void in his heart. It
was an explicit familiarity that he could not deny.
He repeated, “I am your father. I am your daddy.
“I’m sorry, Lucas. I had missed so many years of your life,” he described.
“But I promise you, from now on, daddy will be
with you. From now on, I’ll help your mommy take care of you. Would you
like that?”
Lucas pulled away. Evan saw how the boy had apparently cried. He
conveyed, “My classmates said that maybe you don’t
love me. That’s why I did not have a daddy. Do you love me, daddy?”
Evan was stunned. He wondered how he came to that conclusion. Still, he
assured
Lucas, “Of course, I love you, son. You are my son. You are my flesh and
blood.”
Meanwhile, from across from the father and son, Shantelle was crying at
the sight of them. How her son cried reflected his
longing. How could she have missed it?
She saw Evan look up at her, and he mouthed, ‘Thank you.’
She nodded, knowing she had done right by
Evan and her son. She mouthed back, ‘No, thank you.’


Chapter 45: Karise’s Reasons
“Adrian and Max are my best friends in school,” Lucas defined with
gleaming eyes. We have lunch together.”
“But sometimes, I avoid Max when it’s snack time. He always has crackers
for snacks. He often asked to try my sandwich,
but I like my sandwich. I don’t want to give him some,” Lucas said while
pouting his lips.
Evan caressed his chin. He replied, “Lucas, maybe his parents don’t have
time to make a sandwich. It could be that Max’s
parents don’t have enough means to buy the sandwich ingredients. Do you
know it is more blessed to give than to
receive?”
Evan, Lucas, and Shantelle were having dinner at the Scotts’ residence. It
was during their meal that Lucas told his father
about his daily routine and his friends at school.
Some of Lucas’ stories surprised Shantelle. She realized that her son was
so eager to chat with his father that he kept
going and going with whatever he could think of.
“More blessed to give than to receive?”
Lucas asked in complete bewilderment.
“Lucas, we talked about this. You should always share your food,”
Shantelle reminded him.
“You should not worry about running out of sandwiches because your
mommy and daddy can make sure you have your
favorite sandwich every day, but others are not so fortunate,” Evan
explained. “Instead, we should share our blessings
because we have more to give. When you do, you will receive more.”
“When you are being generous, it comes back to you in many ways,” Evan
described.
He then told Lucas about his Lockwood project and how it saved young
children’s lives with different illnesses. He


explained, The community gave back to me. They highly visit the park, the
people themselves promote it, and the hospital
always gets more and more patients because the children and their parents
share their good experiences.”1
Lucas had more questions after that, and Evan had to simplify things for
him, but he was patient throughout. “1
Across from them, Shantelle smiled. She remembered how Evan was
always very generous. To help him convince Lucas,
she also shared her knowledge, “Also Lucas, being generous – everything
from giving someone directions to helping a
a friend carries his books – activates the part of the brain that makes you
feel happy. They say giving is good for your health.”
“Really, mommy?” Lucas asked in surprise.
“Yes, honey,” Shantelle nodded firmly.
With his head down, Lucas said, “I feel bad now. I will share my sandwich
next time.”
“Better yet,” Shantelle recommended. “Let’s prepare two sandwiches for
your snacks next time so you and Max can have
one each.
After her words, Shantelle’s and Evan’s eyes met. He smiled, but her smile
faded.
Shantelle avoided his gaze and instead encouraged her son, “Three more
spoons, and you are done with your meal. Go
ahead and finish that.”
“Wanna race?” Evan challenged Lucas.
“I’ll race you, daddy!” Lucas exclaimed. He put a spoonful of food in his
mouth and chewed it down eagerly.
Evan only had two pieces of broccoli to finish, but he ate slowly to let Lucas
win.
“I win! I won!” Lucas exclaimed, showing off his clean plate. He turned to
Shantelle and asked, “Mommy, do I get a prize for
finishing up my food?”
“Sure. Would you like a treat?” Shantelle asked.


Lucas turned to Evan with bright eyes, saying, “I don’t want a treat! I want
daddy to put me to sleep!” 1
Evan’s eyes lit up, but Shantelle’s face paled.
Her mouth fell open as she said, “I – I think your daddy is busy. Your
grandpa is still in the hospital, and he needs to take
care for your grandma.”
Shantelle turned to Evan and narrowed her eyes. It was meant to be a
warning, and she hoped he got the message.
Unfortunately for Shantelle, Lucas was unknowingly going against her.
“Please, mommy! Please, daddy! I want to spend more time with daddy!”
Lucas declared. He directed his gaze to
Shantelle gave her his puppy eyes. “This is my first time seeing daddy. Can
he, mommy? Please.”
“Just put him to bed,” Evan said to Shantelle. “It won’t take long. I’ll leave
after he falls asleep.”
***
While Evan was trying to convince Shantelle to spend more time with
Lucas, back in Rose Hills, Keith went straight to his
favorite club, ready to drown his sorrows.
Keith was ushered into his usual seat.
Typically, he would go out with his friends, Sean, Wendell, and sometimes
Evan, but not that night. Not when he came
because of Shantelle. None of his friends knew that he had always known
where Shantelle was, not even Sean.
After several drinks, Keith went around the dance floor to find a companion
– someone to talk to. He needed to forget his
pain.
He saw a sexy figure with long black hair dancing with another man. The
man was not as good-looking as him, so he
figured he would cut in. He walked up to the girl and said, “You want to
spend time with a real man?”
The girl turned, and they both stilled upon recognizing each other. The girl
said, “Keith Henderson?”


“Well. Well.” A hiss left Keith’s lips when he realized who it was. “Karise,
right? Shantelle’s friend?”
Karise rolled her eyes and reminded, “Karise Myers, and yes, Shanty’s
bestie.” She turned to Keith, ignoring her previous
dance partner, saying, “Why are you here?”
“What do you mean?” Keith asked. They both started dancing together as
they chatted.
“I thought you were now a busy man? Wait. Don’t tell me. Did you confess
again to
Shanty? I remember the last time you got rejected so badly. You were out
here, too.” She shrugged and revealed, “I found
out the next day when I called Shanty.”
Right. Keith remembered how Karise was also a regular at the club. He
then offered, ”
Wanna have a drink?”
“Sure, why not? Your treat, of course,” Karise suggested, and Keith
nodded.
Back at his table, Keith and Karise drank.
together. Keith revealed what had transpired in Warlington, including Lucas’
desire to meet his father. “So, yes, I got
rejected again, but this time, it’s worse. Evan is in Warlington. They met.
Evan is probably visiting Lucas by now.”
“Oh,” Karise said before sipping on her martini. She had that look of regret
when she added, “I guess I’ll need to talk with
Shanty soon – prepare my apology.”
“You know, I’ve always wondered, Karise. I had reasons to keep things
from Shanty, but what about you? Why didn’t you
tell her how Evan went all out searching for her?” Keith asked.
Karise sighed. She finished up her drink and looked distantly. Without
looking at Keith, she admitted, “At first, I was angry
at Evan for what he did to my girl. I wanted him to suffer. Plus, Doctor Scott
had warned me against it. After some time,
however, I saw another side of him.”
She looked down, reflecting on her choices, and resumed, “Evan constantly
showed up before me, asking for Shantelle in


the first
two years. He sometimes would appear at my workplace. He would invite
me for coffee to get information out of me. My
workmates teased me and suggested we looked good together. That
somehow got to me.”
She gasped and admitted, “I ended up liking Evan.”
“Oh, fuck. You are some piece of work,”
Keith remarked.
“Excuse me?” Karise shot back. “You are the bigger piece of work!” 1
“But that was over. Even gave up on bothering me, and I realized that my
infatuation with him wasn’t going anywhere.
“Karise looked at Keith and included, “In the years that followed, I just felt
guilty that I did not have the heart to tell Shanty.
Then she was doing great. She was happy and had her life on track. I also
figured… she will do much better without
Evan.”
“I.” Karise pursed her lips and resumed, “I did not want to disturb the peace
that she and Lucas had already found.” Her
voice faded as she added, “But I guess I was wrong. I should have
considered a child’s longing for a father.”
There were moments of silence between them. Karise was constantly in
deep thought, clearly bothered.
Keith, on the other hand, could not help but
ask, “Karise, do you know if Shanty still has feelings for Evan?”

Chapter 46: Must Work Hard
“Does Shanty have feelings for Evan?” Karise repeated the question. She
shook her head and replied to Keith, “To be
honestly, I don’t know.”
“Shanty seemed to shut her emotions when
It came to Evan. Whenever I mention his name, she appears like she heard
nothing or just hum. I can’t tell if she is angry


with him. or if he misses him,” Karise reported. “But
it’s not just about Evan, though. Once, I told her I would introduce her to my
boss, but she would say outright that she was
not interested in men.”
“Maybe, what she says it’s true. She doesn’t want to love another man and
wants to focus on Lucas,” Karise suggested.
Keith groaned. He said, “She’s angry at me now. She is only keeping our
friendship out of gratitude.”
“You know, Evan realized how he loved Shanty after she left. Why don’t you
stay away from Shanty and give her time to
reflect on what she feels about you,” Karise proposed. “Maybe she will
realize she loves you.”
“Or, she’ll spend more time with Evan and rekindle those feelings from the
past,” Keith answered bitterly.
“Then,” Karise concluded. “Maybe it’s not meant to be.” She looked Keith in
the eye and suggested, “When that happens,
start looking elsewhere, and I don’t mean by just looking. Seriously, open
your heart to others.
“What are you, some kind of love guru?” Keith sarcastically asked.
“Nope. I had my fair share of love in the early days. Now, I just read many
novels. That’s where you can find the perfect
man,” she shrugged, replying to Keith.
The two continued to drink and chat. After some time, Keith asked, “Thank
you for
listening to me, Karise. We should do this more often.”
“As long as you pay for everything, I’m good with it,” Karise replied.
***
Back in Warlington, Evan had been studying Lucas for some time. He was
fast asleep, hugging his pillow on the side. He
smiled and pushed Lucas’ hair back. Softly, he said, “Sleep tight, little guy.”
He noticed the mild creaking of the door, and he turned to find Shantelle.
She pointed to her watch, suggesting it was time
for him to leave. He thought, ‘Ah, Shanty can’t wait to kick me out of the
house.’


Evan lazily got up from the bed and walked towards the door. After they
were outside Lucas’ room, he asked, “Can I see
him again tomorrow?”
It was a weekend, and Shantelle thought she could use the time to spend
more hours at the hospital. She sighed and
answered, “Yes, in fact, I was planning to work two shifts tomorrow – ”
“Then I’ll bring him to the hotel. He could spend time with mother,” Evan
suggested. ” I promise I’ll take care of him.”
Shantelle ran her fingers through her hair, and after giving it much thought,
she replied, “Okay, that works for me, too. You
can pick him up in the morning. I’ll have his clothes ready.”
“Evan, don’t ruin my trust,” she warned.
“What would I do to ruin your trust?” Evan asked back, utterly confused.
“Don’t even think of taking him away from me,” Shantelle said.
Evan leaned back, surprised. He replied, “I would never do that to you,
Shanty. I won’t break your trust. This is my
opportunity to make up for my mistakes. I would never deprive Lucas of his
mother.”
Shantelle nodded and replied, “Okay, then.
Tomorrow morning. I’ll leave for the hospital at eight. Don’t be late in
picking him up.
“I won’t,” he promised.
After reaching an agreement, Shantelle walked Evan out of the house and
into the driveway, where the hotel car service
I was waiting. From there, they said their goodbyes. However, Evan said
more than what was needed.
“Thank you, Shanty, for this day,” he said. ”
I appreciate it. Goodbye.”
“You are welcome. Goodbye,” Shantelle replied in a neutral tone.
“I haven’t been happy for years, but today was bliss,” he described. “Lucas
is just great. You did well in raising him. Thank
you. Goodbye.”
“I love him. Of course, I will take care of my son,” Shantelle pointed out.
“Goodbye.”


“Thank you for letting me meet Lucas, and thank you for dinner. It was
lovely. Did you prepare that dish?” Evan sought. “I
-”
“Are you stalling?” Shantelle finally asked. ” We have been standing here in
the driveway for over a minute. What else do
you want to say, Evan?”
Poor Evan’s heart. He experienced Shantelle’s sharp side.
Evan cleared his throat. He raked his fingers through his dark hair and
answered, ” Shanty, can I ask a favor, please?”
She frowned and asked, “What is it?”
Out of nowhere, Evan embraced her. He stroked the back of her head and
savored her scent when he proclaimed, “I
missed you so much, Shanty. I missed you so much that it hurt. Thank you,
Shanty, for today. Feel my sincerity and know
that I mean well.”
Shantelle said nothing. She gently pushed him away and said, “You better
go, Evan. Don’t forget tomorrow, eight.”
“I won’t be late,” Evan said. “Take care.”
“I have been,” she replied. Shantelle did not say more and just walked back
into the house and shut the door.
***
Evan fetched his mother from the hospital to get a better rest. Mrs. Shaw
remained in the
ICU’s waiting area.
In the car, Clara discussed, “Your father will be moved to a private room
tomorrow. He woke up early in the evening.”
She glanced at Evan and frowned. Her son was not listening much more;
he was grinning like a fool while looking out the
window. She asked, “Son, are you listening to me? What did you and
Shanty talk about?”
Suddenly, Clara had a lightbulb moment. What could be another reason for
her son to smile? It could only be because of
Shantelle! Promptly, she asked, “Are you and Shanty back together?
Please say that this is.”


“Um. What, mother?” Evan asked, bemused.
“I asked if you and Shanty are back together? “Clara inquired again.
Evan chuckled and replied, “No, mother. That has yet to be decided – if she
would allow me to redeem myself.”
Instantly, Clara grimaced. She asked, “then why are you smiling like you
have already won! You just gave your mother false
hopes.”
Yet again, Evan laughed. He embraced his mother from the side and
informed, “I have great news, mother.”
“What is it?” Clara asked.
“Shanty and I have a son together,” he announced.
Clara’s eyes widened. She clarified, “Say that again, Evan!”
“Shanty and I have a son. She fell pregnant after leaving Rose Hills.
Unfortunately, she chose to hide it from us, but now, I
see hope. I have a son, mother, and he looks exactly like me,” Evan said
with conviction.
“Mother, that means you are a grandmother, “Evan added.
‘Grandmother,’ the word repeated in Clara’s head, and her heart skipped a
beat. She said, “I’m – I’m a grandmother?”
She looked into her son’s eyes, and immediately, they were brimming with
tears. She asked, “Is this true?”
“Yes, mother. And his name is Lucas,” Evan revealed. “All along, I was
jealous of my own son. Who would have thought?”
“Oh, son. You need to work hard. You need
to win Shanty’s heart!” Clara implored. “My grandson cannot be without his
father and his mother!” 1
Clara grabbed Evan’s hand and asked, ” Promise me, you will do your best
to win my daughter-in-law back?”
“Mother,” Evan sucked in a deep breath. He replied, “That’s the plan.”


Chapter 47: Erick’s Reaction
Shantelle let out a heavy sigh. She had been holding her phone up for
almost a minute.
“Shanty, it’s just a phone number,” Evan said. “You’ll need to get in touch
with me for our son, Lucas.”
“Evan, I will not entertain calls that do not involve my son. So do not get
any wild ideas,
“Shantelle clarified.
A chuckle left Evan’s lips when he replied, “I wasn’t planning to get wild.”
Shantelle rolled her eyes. She gave out her personal number and let Evan
save it on her mobile. Afterward, she gave
him another number. She said, “That is my work number. Call me only in
case of emergency.”
“Thank you, Shanty. I will cherish your number like it is gold,” he said with a
smile, and Shantelle held back the urge to roll
her eyes again.
“He hasn’t eaten yet. He insisted on having breakfast with you,” she
revealed.
“Is that right, Lucas? Do you want to eat breakfast with your grandma and
me?”
Evan sought, looking down to his left, where Lucas clung to his waist.
“Grandma? Another grandma?” Lucas sought, his eyes sparkling at the
idea. “Is she excited to see me?”
“She is thrilled. She could not wake up early. She was exhausted from
looking after grandpa,” Evan replied.
Shantelle smiled at the thought of Clara meeting her son. She asked, “How
did Aunt Clara feel about all this?”
“Oh, Shanty, you know my mother loves you. That has never changed,” he
replied. ” You’ll probably see her later at the
hospital, and you both can have a heart-to-heart talk. She has a lot to say,
but overall, she is happy about Lucas.”
“Thank you,” Shantelle answered. She looked down at her son and
reminded, “Be a good boy. Take care of your
grandma.”


“Yes, mommy!” Lucas replied, giving Shantelle a salute. “Bye! See you
tomorrow afternoon!”
Returning her regard to Evan, she reminded, “Don’t give him too many
sweets, please. No sodas, and don’t buy him too
extravagant things.”
“Got it,” Evan acknowledged and ushered
Lucas into the car.
Just before leaving, Evan came out with red roses in his hand. He gave
them to Shantelle, surprising her altogether. He
explained, "It's just a little token for taking care of Lucas all these years.”
When Shantelle stood there, staring at the flowers, Evan pleaded, “Please,
take them.”
“Mommy, Daddy is so sweet, giving you roses,” Lucas said, peeking out of
the car.
Shantelle accepted the flowers, saying, “You don’t have to do this next
time.”
Evan and Lucas bid goodbye. Their car drove off the driveway and into the
street. Shantelle did not know how long she
took heavy breaths, reminding herself to trust
Evan with her son. He was his father, after all.
***
“Doctor Shant! Doctor Shant!” Shantelle turned to find Mrs. Gonzales, the
mother of the young man she had performed
surgery a few days back. She was chasing after her in the hallways of the
hospital.
“Yes, Mrs. Gonzales, what can I do for you?” She asked.
“The man who said he would pay for my son’s hospital bills, can I speak
with him?”
Mrs. Gonzales asked.
Bemused, Shantelle replied, “Mrs. Gonzales, the hospital already agreed to
take your son into the charity program. Why
would you need to speak with him?”
“Well, the problem is my son’s employer dismissed him. They could not
wait for him to recover from his injuries, and that


man said he could offer a job?” Mrs. Gonzales sought.
“I see.” Shantelle replied, “I will speak to him about it, but I don’t know if
that will work because his business is mainly in
Rose Hills.”
The lady heaved in regret. She remarked, ‘ Oh, that’s far.”
“It is. What kind of work does your son do?” Shantelle asked.
“He is a driver and security guard. He has undergone self-defense training,”
Mrs. Gonzales said.
“Okay, Mrs. Gonzales, let me see how my friend can help,” Shantelle
answered. “I know where to find you.”
“Thank you, Doctor Shant,” the lady said before wishing Shantelle well.
The morning went by smoothly for Shantelle. She had consultations in the
first three hours before going around the
hospital. She gave the order to move Erick Thompson to a private room
and assisted in the transfer, knowing she would
I need to make that talk with the old Thompsons.
Making it to Erick’s room, she smiled and gave the good news. “Uncle
Erick, I’m moving you to a private room.”
“Shanty. Your smile brightens up my day,” Erick said. He was already sitting
up, with his bed inclined. “Thank you for
moving me out here. Besides being scared by all these beeping sounds, I
feel so bored.”
“Good morning, Misses – I mean, Shanty,”
Mrs. Shaw greeted.
“Good morning, Mrs. Shaw,” Shantelle greeted back. “Aunt Clara hasn’t
come yet?”
“She called earlier, telling me about a surprise, but I supposed I will find out
later when she arrives. She said she is
bringing food for lunch and videos of her beautiful surprise.” Erick
shrugged. “I wonder what else could be a better
surprise?”
Shantelle smiled. She knew full well what the surprise was all about.
Seeing the nurse aids. ready for the move, she said,
“Let’s go.”


The transfer to the new room was seamless. Erick was amazed by how the
hospital staff moved his body without
discomfort. He smiled brightly at a new space, which was huge and
brighter. “Now, this is more like it.
“Uncle, it’s time to start getting up,”
Shantelle ordered. “Have you passed gas yet?
“No, I haven’t, but I only started eating last night,” Erick admitted.
“Well, the sooner your body can adjust, the better. We can finally remove
your urine catheter. Now that you are in a bigger
room, try getting up,” Shantelle instructed.
“Oh, but it’s painful, my dear. My body feels very sore,” Erick complained.
“Let me rest first for another day. We can
practice getting up tomorrow.”
Shantelle chuckled, and she replied, “I know. That’s because of the surgery,
but you need to move, uncle. Walk around so
your muscles will return to normal, and so will your bowel movement. If you
don’t, your intestines will stick together, which
will be more trouble for us.”
“Well, since you put it that way, I have no choice. Will you help your uncle,
Shanty?” Erick asked with a smile.
Shantelle could not deny Erick’s request.
Together with Mrs. Shaw, she assisted Erick in getting up. They had
multiple attempts but succeeded after their fifth try.
“It hurts to straighten my back,” Erick grumbled. “But for the sake of my
intestines not sticking together, I will move.”
Shantelle and Mrs. Shaw wound up giggling.
They each carried one arm of Erick as he slowly took steps near the bed.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and a hotel staff member first
walked in, carrying bags of food. Clara followed, pacing
inside the room with a glow on her face. She exclaimed, “Oh, Erick. You are
up!”
“Thanks to Shanty, she threatened me with my intestines,” Erick remarked,
once again encouraging giggles in the room.
“Shanty, you really bring so much happiness into our lives. I’m so glad we
found you,” Clara remarked, going straight for


Shantelle and hugging her frame. “He is so beautiful. He reminds me so
much of
Evan, and I thank you for sharing him with us.”
Clara pushed back a strand of Shantelle’s hair, saying, “I want you to know
that I am not angry. I was disappointed at first,
but I don’t want us to have any more distance. More than seven years is
enough. Let’s get past the time we have lost and
focus on Lucas, okay, my dear Shanty?”
Shantelle nodded, and tears stung her eyes, accepting Clara’s embrace.
She replied, “I’m sorry, Aunt Clara. I did not
I mean to keep him to myself. I was just – I did not know how Evan would
react.”
“Shhh. It’s okay. Let’s forget about it,” Clara suggested. “Evan explained to
me, and I understand.”
Erick and Mrs. Shaw were utterly baffled. Mrs. Shaw had to aid Erick into
his bed as they listened to Clara’s emotional
words. They watched as Clara and Shantelle continued to hug, exchanging
statements that did not make sense to them.
Finally, Erick has had enough. He asked, ” What is going on? Who is
Lucas?”
Clara and Shantelle let go of their embrace. Clara looked at Shantelle,
silently asking for approval. When Shantelle
nodded, Clara revealed, “Erick, dear. Shanty has a son with Evan, and his
name is Lucas.”
She smiled brightly and revealed, “We are grandparents!” Immediately, she
fished out her phone from her bag and
showed Erick and Mrs. Shaw the video she had taken of Lucas.
At first, Erick was dumbfounded. He kept gawking at the videos, often
playing them back. After some time, he remarked,
“He looks so much like little Evan.”
“He does,” Clara admitted, “And he is our grandson.”
Erick glanced at Shantelle. His eyes looked heavy as he asked, “Is this
true, Shanty?”


“Yes, it’s true. I found out I was pregnant with Lucas after leaving Rose
Hills,”
Shantelle weakly confirmed. She presented her reasons for keeping it to
herself before, yet again apologizing. “I’m sorry,
uncle.”
There was a moment of silence coming from Erick. On the other hand,
Clara kept telling all the great things she had
learned about Lucas. Soon, Erick asked, ‘Shanty, when can I be
discharged?”
“When you have passed gas or have a bowel movement, and you can get
up from the bed three times a day,” Shantelle
answered.
“I – I.” Erick looked down at himself. He said, “I want to practice walking
again. Let’s try it again.” The corners of his eyes
welled with tears as he asserted, “I want to see my grandson. I want to hold
him. I want to kiss him.” 1
“Oh, how it must feel good to hold him.” Just as Clara and Mrs. Shaw aided
him off the bed, Erick turned to Shantelle and
said, ” Thank you, my dear Shanty. You – you give me more reason to keep
going.”
He put a palm on his chest and described, “A better heart and now, a
grandson.”

Chapter 48: Ask Forgiveness
“Daddy, over there!” Lucas’ eyes were wide open, his arms stretching to
reach for the apple he found. He was sitting on
top of Evan’s shoulders, leaning closer to the tree.
“Almost there, daddy. Move closer!” Lucas ordered.
Evan blended with the tree leaves to give Lucas his chance to grab the
apple. His son was not satisfied with the apples
that were easy to reach. He just had to go with the biggest and the reddest,
which was at the top of the current apple tree
they were at.


Finally picking the apple, Lucas exclaimed,
Got it! Yay!” He bounced on Evan’s shoulder, rejoicing, before taking a bite
of that sweet apple. “Mmmmm. It’s so yummy!
In the afternoon, Evan took Lucas outside of Warlington. The hotel had
recommended an apple farm for them to spend
quality time, and Evan thought it was perfect. Lucas had the time of his life.
Sure, they were picking too many apples and
might have to give away a few, but the smile on his face as he grabbed
each one was priceless.
“It’s so yummy, Daddy! Try it! Try it!” Lucas urged.
Evan helped him off his shoulders and onto the ground. Only then did he
take a bite of the apple. He remarked, “Mmmm.
This one is definitely a winner.”
“There’s another big red apple!” Lucas excitedly pointed at another tree.
Like the last, the apple was located on top. “Let’s
get it, Daddy! I want to give it to my mommy!”
He looked behind them and saw the tour guide chuckling. He was already
carrying two full baskets of apples. Evan
scratched his head and said, “Okay.”
After the adventurous apple picking, the father and son had a late
afternoon snack at the farm’s restaurant. They served
apple- flavored pastries and other goodies.
“Mmmm! I love apples!” Lucas announced. He took a big whiff of the
cinnamon apple pancakes and said, “Oh, Mommy
would have loved this too.”
Lucas ate heartily while Evan sent pictures and videos to Shanty, showing
her how their day went. She did not reply, but
Evan understood that she was busy at the hospital.
When he returned his attention to his son, he saw Lucas staring at the
family of three at another table. He looked at him,
and then he looked at his empty plate. Lucas fell silent.
“What is it, Lucas?” Evan sought.
“Daddy?” Lucas asked, “Why are you and Mommy not together?”


The question took Evan aback. He realized that was why he was staring at
the family next to them. He leaned back and
adjusted the buttons on his shirt before admitting, "Daddy made a mistake
in the past, Lucas.”
He sighed before adding, “I hurt your mommy.’
Evan saw the disappointment on Lucas’ face. His eyes became hooded,
and his lips turned downward. He inquired, “Why
Did you hurt Mommy? Don’t you love her?”
“Lucas, there are things I can’t explain to you thoroughly yet, but the bottom
line is, I made a mistake, and I hurt your
mommy.
Sometimes, we realize our mistakes too late, and that’s what happened to
me,” Evan admitted. “I’m sorry, son. It was my
fault, but now I am here and trying to make up for that mistake.”
“So that means you won’t be together?” Lucas sought.
Evan gasped and replied, “I don’t know, but I’ll try. If your mommy doesn’t
forgive me, that doesn’t change the fact that I
I am your father. I will always be here for you.”
“Did you say sorry to her, like, seriously?” Lucas asked.
Evan realized that he and Shantelle still needed to finish their talk. Sure, he
had apologized to her at Lucas’ school, but
there wasn’t enough time to get all the air out. More importantly, he wasn’t
able to get her side.
“I have, but it wasn’t a convenient time for us to talk about it,” he admitted.
“Don’t worry, I’ll say sorry to your mommy
again.”
“I hope she forgives you,” Lucas suggested.
Dead air fell upon them until Evan asked, What about you, Lucas? " Do you
forgive Daddy?”
“I don’t know. You did not hurt me, but if you hurt mommy again, I will be
mad,” Lucas said, his arms crossed against his
chest.
“I won’t hurt your mommy again. I have learned my lesson.” Evan
promised. “I love your mommy, and I love you, son.”


Evan saw how Lucas’ eyes were watering. He called him over, saying,
“Come here.”
Lucas stood from his chair and walked towards Evan, his arms
automatically encircling his father. He said, “I love you too,
Daddy. It feels good to have a daddy.”
***
Sunday came quickly. It was finally time to return Lucas to Shantelle. Lucas
has had two half days with Clara, which was
well spent. In between, Evan called and texted
Shantelle, updating her about Lucas’ daily activities. 1
They drove to the Scotts’ residence after lunch. When they arrived,
Shantelle greeted them at the driveway.
The hotel driver handed the maids a basket of apples and some shopping
bags. Clara said, “Those are the apples that
Lucas picked for you. Evan bought him some gifts, and you have some
too.”
Shantelle smiled at Clara. She turned to Evan and said, “You did not have
to.”
Before Evan could react, Lucas rushed to
Shantelle hugged her. He said,
Mommy, I miss you.” He yawned and added,
“I’m tired. I wanna sleep.”
“Okay. Go on inside.” She directed. Shantelle ordered the maid to help
Lucas to bed before attending to Clara and Evan.
“Have some coffee before leaving, Aunt Clara,” Shantelle offered.
“Oh, no, thank you, Shanty. I would rather attend to your uncle, who is so
excited to see more videos of Lucas,” Clara
replied. “I shall head back. Evan says he wants to stay for a while and talk
to you about something.”
Shantelle lifted her brow at Evan.
Evan proposed, “It’s just to plan our co- parenting set-up.”
“Ah, right.” She smiled at Clara, saying, “I ordered Uncle Erick’s discharge
tomorrow afternoon. He can spend time with
Lucas. before returning to Rose Hills.”


Clara eventually left with the hotel car service. Shantelle guided Evan to the
study, where they were to discuss Lucas’
care.
When Evan took his seat, Shantelle suggested, “We don’t need to make it
difficult for us, Evan. Do we?” She sat on the
opposite chair and suggested, “I don’t want your money, so you can freely
give anything to Lucas at your will. As for the
custody, I admit I’m uncomfortable with you taking him to Rose Hills.”
“Shanty, can we talk about something else?” Evan proposed.
Shantelle quickly frowned and asked, “What do you want to talk about,
Evan?”
From his seat, Evan stood up and walked towards her. The next thing
Shantelle knew, Evan was kneeling in front of her
and holding her arms steady.
“Shanty,” he said. “We did not really get to finish our talk, just between us. I
think this is the right opportunity.”
“What is it that you want?” Shantelle sought, leaning back in her seat,
putting distance between them.
“Shanty, I am so sorry for all I have done in the past. I’m sorry for all the
pain I have caused you. I regretted everything
and realized how much I love you,” he expressed.
He searched for her eyes and tried to make eye contact. He described, “I
have gone on for years, hating myself, longing
for you, asking the heavens that you would forgive me and come back to
me one day.”
Evan held her hand, and while she tried to pull her hand back, he forced it
against his chest and implored, “Consider the
beating of my heart. You’ll know if I am lying or not. I beg you to feel my
sincerity.” 3
“I’m sorry, Shanty. I’m sorry. And I will say it as many times as I can. until it
reaches your heart,” he added. 1
Maintaining her hand against his chest, he asked, “Shanty, will you ever
find it in your heart to forgive me?”


Chapter 49: Shantelle’s Reply
Just who is this man pleading before her? Shantelle did not recognize him.
In fact, his whole arrival and approach to
everything had been a complete surprise to her.
First, he told her he loved her and had gone around looking for her.
Second, he did not retort over the fact that she had
hidden Lucas for years. Even the way he accepted Lucas was still
overwhelming for Shantelle. Evan Thompson, the same
the man who told her to disappear from his life, was down on his knees,
begging and asking for forgiveness.
Her body stiffened. She had to shut her eyes and control her emotions. She
had to use her strength to free her hand. Yes,
she felt no change in Evan’s heart rate after his words. She honestly felt his
sincerity, but what does it matter now? She
wasn’t the same person she used to be.
“Evan, stop,” she ordered. “Please, return to your seat.”
“Shanty,” he looked at her and asked,
Please, tell me how you feel about all this. I want to hear what’s on your
mind. I know you probably hate me, but had that
hate faded even just a little knowing the full truth now?” 2
“Please, I need space,” Shantelle requested. She looked sideways,
avoiding his gaze. When Evan returned to his seat,
she finally relaxed, and Evan apologized.
She hid her hand behind her back and clenched them. After thinking about
Evan’s request, she cautiously responded,
“Evan, many years have passed. I have gone past that stage of keeping
hate.’
“No one is perfect in this world, and I supposed I would want to be forgiven
should our places be exchanged.” Shantelle
saw Evan gasp as if he was relieved.
She felt a little guilty, for she never meant to give him any hope. She
resumed, “I partly blame myself for what happened


between us. I agreed to marry you, knowing you did not love me. If I had
not done so, I would not have felt miserable.”
“But then again, I would not have Lucas too, and he is everything to me.”
Her voice softened as she referred to the
brighter side of their relationship. “I supposed everything happened for a
reason. Thus, for the sake of Lucas, and for my
own peace, I forgive you. I forgive you, Evan.”
“By forgiving you, you can play your role as a father to Lucas like you
should be, and we can agree on co-parenting
amicably,” she described. “However-‘
Shantelle looked Evan straight in the eye, and with her voice slightly raised,
she clarified, “Forgiving is one thing, Evan,
but I won’t… FORGET.” 3
“I will never be the same person who followed you around like a puppy
because that Shanty is already gone.” Her jaws
clenched before she continued, “I want to emphasize that other than being
good parents to Lucas, there can be nothing
between us.”
“You say you love me? Stop. Don’t pursue those feelings because you will
only hurt yourself. I don’t want to love,” she
repeated. “Never again.”
Earlier, when Shantelle hinted she would forgive Evan, he relaxed.
However, when she resumed, Evan could not help but
feel like a statue.
‘There can be nothing between us.’
‘You say you love me? Stop.’
‘I don’t want to love.’
‘Never again.’
Those words punched his heart like a knife. It rang in his head, and he was
lost in his thoughts for a few seconds.
Shantelle must have given him time to let it all sink in, since she also fell
mute.
Returning to his senses, Evan exhaled profoundly. His voice broke in and
out as he asked, “Is it because of Keith?”


“It has nothing to do with Keith. We are just friends. He is Lucas’ godfather,
and please don’t make trouble and start
punching him in Rose Hills. I told him not to update me about your life. He
also made a deal with my dad, stopping him
from telling you about me. He kept his mouth shut, and dad signed a
contract with him,” Shantelle revealed. “It was an exdeal, but yes, there
were wrongs in those decisions too, and that’s why I decided to forgive you
because even I -”
She sighed heavily and admitted, “Even I made mistakes. I kept Lucas from
you and acknowledged that I was also
wrong.” 2
“So are we good, Evan?” Shantelle inquired.
Evan did not know for how long he just looked past her, thinking, but
eventually, he sought, “Don’t you… feel anything for
me anymore, Shanty? All those years you have loved me, has that faded
over time?” 2
“Shanty, don’t you love me anymore?” he asked. He did not look away from
her.
Evan waited and waited.
Shantelle ultimately took a deep breath with her eyes shut. It appeared to
Evan that she was bracing herself. When she
opened her eyes, she clearly and slowly answered, “I don’t. I don’t, Evan. I
don’t love you anymore.
There was not a hint of emotion in her tone. She wasn’t angry or nervous. It
was all flat.
It hurt more than Even imagined. After Shantelle said those words, it
appeared as though the air was voluntarily leaving
his lungs. He could not breathe, and there was tightness in his chest that
he could not ease. Immediately, he wondered if
Shantelle felt the same pain when he said the same words to her years
ago. He felt like a fool all over again for hurting
this beautiful person, the woman he loved, and the mother of his child.
“So let’s get over this and move on with our lives as parents of Lucas. Let’s
talk about your scheduled visit,” Shantelle
quickly suggested, not dwelling on the topic.


The awkwardness lingered in the air for some time. Still, the two agreed on
how they could have Lucas both. It took a
while, but eventually, the surrounding tension withered. All that was left
were two parents, deciding on what was best for
their son.
Evan planned to visit every weekend while Lucas attended school. Evan
could come on weekdays, depending on his
schedule. Lucas would stay with him overnight during his visits, and Evan
would take Lucas to school.
“I agree to this Shanty,” Evan weakly confirmed, “But during the school
break, you would have to come to terms with me
bringing Lucas back to Rose Hills for a full month.”
Shantelle wound up massaging the back of her neck and then her
forehead.
Seeing Shantelle’s hesitation, Evan reminded, “Shanty, Lucas is my son,
and I missed seven years of his life. I want to
make up for all of that. You did say we didn’t have to make things difficult,
Shanty -”
“I know.” She puffed and added, “It’s just hard. He’s never been away from
me – that long and far.”
Ultimately, she replied, “I’ll prepare myself for it.”
“One other thing, I want Lucas’ last name changed to mine,” Evan
informed. “He is my son, after all, the rightful heir of my
company.”
Yet again, Shantelle was rendered speechless.
“Shanty, it’s bound to happen,” Evan firmly said. “We can’t change this
fact.”
“Fine,” Shantelle replied. “I agree, but before making the formalities, please
let’s talk to my parents -”
“I intend to,” Evan revealed. “I will return when your parents are home.’
Shantelle nodded and prepared him,
They will grill you.” 2
“They can fry me. They grill me, point a gun at my head, and I’ll be ready
for it. I’ve been ready for more than seven years,


“Evan suggested. “Over and over again – while sometimes on the road and
in my sleep, I played that speech I had
written, asking for your parent’s forgiveness. It hasn’t left my mind since.”
“I’m ready,” Evan repeated.
“Okay, then.” Shantelle acknowledged.” If you have nothing more to discuss
with me, I think you should see Uncle Erick.”
“Shanty, you are too excited to kick me out of the house,” Evan remarked. 1
“I’m tired. I want to get some sleep,”
Shantelle claimed. “My reason for asking you to leave has nothing to do
with you. So please, don’t flatter yourself.”
Evan hissed. While getting up, he remarked, “This is a totally different side
of you.”
“Get used to it,” she replied. 1
Evan and Shantelle were already at the door. Seeing his car service had
already returned from the hospital, Evan turned
to Shantelle. He said, “Shanty, thank you for forgiving me. It may not be
what my heart craves, but it is enough for me.”
She looked at him without answering.
“So, I supposed we are friends?” He asked, extending his hand to her.
Shantelle looked at his hand for a second.
Then, she took it, saying, “Acquaintances. 1
“Friends have an affectionate mutual bond that excludes intimacy. We don’t
have any of that,” she pointed out.
“Right. Should we start making that bond? Maybe I can take you out for
dinner on Wednesday evening? We will be
leaving on Thursday morning. It would be great to catch up.” He sought.
Shantelle lifted her brow. She answered, ‘
No. I am very busy, Evan. I am up for surgery consultation on Wednesday
afternoon, which sometimes lasts until the
evening. Sorry.”
“For Lucas? We would want to show him that we get along,” Evan
suggested.
Shantelle returned to the door, and before closing it, she replied, “Evan, we
get along just fine. Goodbye.”


Chapter 50: Consult + Dinner
“Grandpa, let me help you get up,” Lucas offered, guiding Erick to the
dining table of their hotel suite. To Erick’s other side,
a nurse aide held Erick around his waist.
“My sweet little boy,” Erick remarked, caressing Lucas’ head. “Thank you
for taking care of grandpa.”
It had been three days since Erick was discharged from the hospital. After
Lucas ‘school, Evan fetched him and brought
him to the hotel. Lucas bonded with his paternal grandparents for at least
an hour. Then after, Evan took Lucas home.
Erick and Clara had never been so happy in many years. Lucas was their
new source of happiness. He was a jolly kid
who was so sweet. He never failed to be affectionate towards his
grandparents, which made the old Thompsons feel
loved.
“Lucas, I’m headed to the hospital. You stay here and have an early dinner
with your grandma and grandpa, okay?” Evan
kissed Lucas’ cheek and said, “See you later, Luc.”
“Daddy? Are you going to fetch Mommy? Why are you going to the
hospital?” Lucas asked, his brows meeting in
confusion.
“Um. Sort of,” Evan answered, winking at his son. “I want to see your
mommy before leaving tomorrow, okay? Wish me
luck.”
“Okay, Daddy. Good luck!” Lucas said.
“Do your best, Evan,” Erick wished him well.
“Good luck, son,” Clara said. “Don’t forget the sushi. She loves sushi.”


“Sushi? Mommy loves sushi,” Lucas remarked. “Are you bringing Mommy
some sushi?”
“Yes, I am, son. See you in a few,” Evan said before finally leaving.
***
Meanwhile, at Warrington Hospital, Shantelle was entertaining a patient in
her office.
“Thank you, Doctor Shant, for enlightening me about my options. I will call
the hospital once we have decided,” the patient
said.
“Your attending physician can also make the surgery appointment,”
Shantelle replied with a smile.
“Goodbye, Doctor Shant,” the patient said.
“Doc, you have one more appointment and, um. He- um. He said he
wanted an hour of your time.” The male nurse
sneered and said, “I shall help him now.”
Shantelle did not fully understand. However, she has had patients whom
she needed to pacify or educate about
complicated surgeries. In such cases, she spent an hour, sometimes two
hours, with the patient’s family. Thus, she merely
dismissed the secretaries’ notice and waited for her next appointment.
To her surprise, the same nurse re- entered, carrying food boxes. One of
which was her favorite sushi box in town.
Two containers included salads, and another two had her favorite steak.
Shantelle gulped, and her stomach rumbled. It was already past six in the
evening, and she only had a sandwich for
lunch. Was it normal for patients to bless her with food? Yes. She has had
patients bring her fruit baskets and treats, but
Then again, who was her next patient?
“Doc, your next patient,” the nurse said. Then, the said person walked in.
Immediately, Shantelle’s eyes rounded. It was Evan Thompson. He was
carrying a bucket of ice, an expensive wine
bottle, and two glasses.
“Good evening, Doctor Shant. I hope you don’t mind that I brought dinner
during our consultation. I am starving, and I’m


afraid that my condition may take longer to assess,” Evan said before
taking the seat in front of her table.
Shantelle did not say anything. Instead, she glared at Evan while he set the
food packs.
“Your favorite salad, your favorite sushi, and your favorite steak.” He first
cut the steak into smaller pieces. Then he
suggested, “Shall we eat before discussing my condition, Doctor Shant?”
Shantelle saw how the male nurse kept staring through her office door.
Clearly, he was in on it. What made it worse was
how other nurses and doctors were eyeing her office. Wasn’t it enough that
Evan had been sending flowers to her office
every day since Erick’s discharge?
Evan just had to invite so much attention. 2
“What are you doing, Mister Thompson? “She asked, giving him the same
regard since he was acting like a supposed
patient in the first place, colluding with the secretary.
“I am preparing food so my good doctor can give me proper advice,” he
responded. “Bon appétit.”
Shantelle further glowered at Evan, but her stomach grumbled again.
He smiled.
Her mouth twitched.
Her stomach growled again. ‘The hell!’ Her stomach wasn’t cooperating
with her!
She wound up eating her salad, and he did the same. Halfway through her
greens, she asked, “So, since you paid for my
time. Tell me, what’s wrong with you, Mister Thompson?”
Evan had already finished his salad. He wiped the corners of his lips and
replied, ” Well, Doctor Shant. I need your
expertise.
Shantelle bitterly picked up her favorite sushi and chowed it down. It was
so flavorful. It was supposed to be a pleasing
experience, yet her feelings were mixed with annoyance at how Evan
pretended to be a patient.


Putting a hand on his chest, Evan described, “Doctor Shant, I often
experience pain in my chest. I might need an
operation.”
“Mister Thompson, you are bypassing the proper protocol. You should have
consulted with the cardiologist first. For all we
know, you don’t need surgery,” Shantelle pointed out. Her eyes glanced
sideways, and still saw the nurses and doctors
gossiping about whatever was happening inside her office.
Shantelle’s office wasn’t soundproofed. Only a glass door stood in the way.
She was positive they could hear a little of
their conversation, somehow.
“Oh, but I don’t need any other doctor,” he replied. “It would not help.”
“What do you mean?” Shantelle forked her steak angrily. She chewed it
down like the meat wronged her in many ways.
Evan, on the other hand, served her a glass of wine.
Only after gulping down her drink did she study Evan properly. He was
silent, and his expression turned frail. His eyes
were full of longing as he put his hand over his chest again. He cautiously
responded, Doctor Shant, you see, my heart is
broken, and I think only you can mend it.”
‘What? What did he say?’ Shantelle could not believe her ears. She did not
know that Evan was capable of such a drama.
She could not help but laugh. She snorted as she pointed out, “Mister
Thompson, I’m a doctor. I am not God! The chest
The pain you describe is from emotional stress. It has nothing to do with a
surgeon’s work.”
“What you need is acceptance. Accept that whoever broke your heart is no
longer willing to mend it. Only then can that
heartache heals by itself,” Shantelle described. “Trust me. I’ve been
through the same situation.”
“Accept it,” she repeated. “And in time, you’ll forget all those… feelings.”
In the next few minutes, they both fell silent. Little by little, the tension that
had earlier brewed slowly waned. Evan wasn’t
eating anymore. He closed his box of food and simply watched Shantelle.


Shantelle, on the other hand, angrily ate her food. When she was done,
she studied Evan for some time. Seeing that look
of defeat on his face, she sighed and said, Don’t do this again, Evan. I
won’t be so accommodating the next time.”
“I.” Evan sucked in a breath. He looked down, forcing a smile, saying, “I
just… wanted to have dinner with you, Shanty.” 1
He returned his gaze to her, adding, “I think it was all worth it, seeing you
and talking to you before I leave for Rose Hills…
If you are good, we can get Lucas now.”
***
Shantelle walked ahead of Evan into the driveway of the hospital. She
stood on the far left, away from the crowd, letting
off some steam.
Evan followed. When he found her, he called the driver and walked toward
Shantelle. Just then, Evan noticed a motorbike advancing at high speed. It
appeared to him that the two-wheeled vehicle
was aiming at Shantelle.
“Shanty!” He screamed, but she ignored him. Instead, Evan ran and pulled
her over to his left side. “Shanty, watch out!”
The motorbike hit Evan, sending him face down on the ground.
As the motorbike fled the scene, Shantelle screamed, “Evan!”

Chapter 51: The Threat
“Are you sure you are okay?” Shantelle asked as she lifted Evan’s shirt
from the back. There was a big red mark above
his hip, suggesting blood had pooled in that area, forming a nasty bruise.
Not only that, he had scratched his forehead,
and he admitted to hurting his arm.
“I’m fine. I protected my head, but my arm hurts,” Evan said, turning to his
right arm.
Still, I can move it.”
Earlier, after the encounter with the motorist, the hospital security team
tried to race after the motorbike, but they failed to


catch the rider.
Evan was brought into the Emergency Room (ER) for evaluation. He
insisted he was fine, but Shantelle would not let him
leave. After all, he did somehow save her from the collision.
Shantelle turned to the ER nurse and requested, “Put him through a CT
scan, to be sure.”
Evan forced himself up from the hospital bed, saying, “Shanty, no. I think I’ll
live. What I’d like to do is talk to security and
maybe watch the surveillance. Clearly, that motorbike was aiming at you -”
“Will you stop thinking about others and focus on yourself?” Shantelle shot
back.
“Don’t be disobedient and listen to the doctor,” Shantelle ordered. She
turned to the nurse and gave the same directive.
“Put him through CT scan now.”
Evan had no choice. The doctor’s orders were definite, and Shantelle
would not give him a discharge order. Besides, he
was rather pleased about Shantelle’s sudden concern. Transferring to a
wheelchair, he remarked, “I’m at least glad you
I still care.” (1
While Evan was brought to the radiology room, Shantelle returned to her
office. She realized she had forgotten her
personal phone when she had left with Evan, following his supposed
consultation turned into dinner.
When Shantelle entered the room, she was surprised to find Doctor Park,
taking a call from her office landline. “Yes, the
next patient in line is Bri -”
“Doctor Park, what are you doing here?” Shantelle asked, her brow raising.
“Who's that on the phone?”
She saw how Doctor Park paled. Her eyes widened in shock. “Doctor –
doctor Shant, you’re okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Shantelle asked, fully baffled.
“Oh, I mean. You’re back! I thought you had already left, and I heard your
phone ringing. Your office was still open, so I
answered the call,” Doctor Park explained.


Shantelle thought back. She had instructed the nurse in charge to lock up
her office, but perhaps it was a miss on the
nurse’s part. It was also her fault for rushing out with Evan earlier.
“Who's that on the phone?” Shantelle asked again.
“Um. It’s the organ center. They um. There is a heart ready,” Doctor Park
revealed. 1
“Oh, my god! What are we waiting here for?” Shantelle exclaimed. She
immediately took over the call and confirmed the
same. After getting the donor’s details and cross- referencing them to the
patients on the waitlist. She responded to the
person on the other line, “We indeed have a match. The next patient is
Jean Lace. We will call the patient to confirm if
they will accept the heart’s condition.”
Shantelle made another phone call. The waitlist patient accepted the
heart’s conditions, and Shantelle ordered her team
to prepare for surgery.
It would be Shantelle’s second heart transplant procedure. During her first,
her father walked her throughout the process.
In previous years, she had assisted her father with three heart transplants,
one of which involved both heart and lungs.
Shantelle went back and forth in the next few minutes, giving her team
instructions. However, Doctor Park was not herself.
She nodded and appeared to understand Shantelle’s orders, but her feet
weren’t moving.
“Are you okay? Doctor Park?” Finally, Shantelle asked.
Doctor Park turned ghost white. Then she replied, “Um. I – Doc. I don’t
think I can assist you today. I don’t feel well.” 1
“Very well, I’ll ask another surgeon,”
Shantelle quickly decided. She turned to her scrub nurse, directing, “Call
Doctor Varma.
It’s his chance to assist me with a heart transplant!”
“Yes, Doctor Shant!” The scrub nurse replied.
While Shantelle’s team was preparing the operating room, she returned to
the ER and discovered that Evan was not in


danger. Shantelle was relieved. She said to Evan, Thank goodness you are
okay –
“No, thank goodness you are okay,” Evan said back. “Shanty, that
motorbike was aiming for you -”
“You told me that already, but I don’t know why that biker would. Anyway,
can we talk about this later? I have an
emergency heart transplant procedure. The heart is due to arrive in less
than an hour. It’s being airlifted from the next
town. The recipient will be here at any minute. Do you mind looking after
Lucas? I’ll fetch him in the morning,” she asked.
“Of course,” Evan confirmed. “That’s a critical surgery.”
He held her arm, saying, “Do well, Shanty. Good luck.”
She smiled and replied, “Thank you.” She responded by holding his wrist,
saying, ” And thank you for saving me earlier,
Evan.”
“Doctor Shant, you are needed in Operating Room one. Doctor Shant, you
are needed in Operating Room one,” the
the hospital's announcement came through.
“That’s me. Are you sure you can manage?”
She asked.
“Positive,” Evan replied.
Shantelle quickly ordered Evan’s discharge with pain medications and antiinflammatories. She instructed the nurses in
the ER to have Evan ushered in a wheelchair before finally leaving the
Emergency Room.
***
“Sir, we can’t give you the video recordings. We need to course this through
management,” the head of security on duty
advised Evan. “They will be in tomorrow.”
Instead of going to the hotel, Evan went straight to find the hospital’s head
of security.
Evan turned to the guard who had chased after the motorbike rider and
focused on him, saying, “You! You saw how that


The motorbike nearly hit Doctor Shant! If I had not pulled her away, who
knows how seriously injured she would have been!”
“Yes, sir,” the guard reported to his superior. “It was done intentionally since
the motorbike fled the scene.”
The motorbike wound up hitting Evan, but he was stronger and well-built.
He also had a better footing than Shantelle.
Knowing the potential impact, he had protected his head from hitting the
pavement. However, what about his ex-wife?
Shantelle was oblivious to the speeding vehicle. It would have been worse!
Oh, how Evan thanked the heavens that he decided to pester his ex-wife
that evening.
Seeing the head of security still undecided, Evan threatened, “In that case,
I will go to the police and report this incident.
Aside from that, I will share with the media how lacking you are in keeping
your employees safe!”
His voice strengthened as he warned, “The choice is yours! And I warn
you, I am not one to mess with!”
With Evan’s persistence, eventually, the head of security agreed. Together
with the guard, the three of them watched the
surveillance videos. They saw how the motorbike had been waiting in the
driveway for four hours. The same rider only
turned on his motor engine at the sight of Shantelle.
“He was definitely waiting for her,” Evan concluded, his brows meeting
altogether. Who would want to hurt Shanty?”
***
Hours passed.
There were many things to consider when matching a heart to a patient.
After the recipient’s complete medical history,
proximity and body size played a role in deciding who would get the organ.
In Warlington’s Hospital Operating Room One, Shantelle was proud of
being part of a team that saved lives.
Shantelle had just sewn the new heart into place. She had been in the
operating room for over four hours, ensuring that
each blood vessel and arteries were attached together without leaking.


“Okay,” she said. “Let’s turn off the heart and lung machine.”
She allowed some time to monitor the new heart’s performance. Observing
how the said organ was beating on its own,
she instructed, “Everybody. Good job. Let’s close up the patient’s chest.”
“Amazing job, Doctor Shant!”
“We are proud of you, Doctor Shant.”
“Thank you for making me part of this operation, Doctor Shant.”
Each of her team members gave their commendations and gratitude. Even
as Shantelle stepped out of the operating
room, the patient’s parents were in tears after learning how the surgery was
a success.
“There is still more work to be done, Shantelle claimed. “Your daughter’s
cardiologist and I will work together to keep
Jean’s heart is beating, but for now, rest knowing that she has a new and
healthy heart.”
“Thank you, Doctor Shant!”
“Thank you!”
The patient’s family members cried for joy as Shantelle left the operating
room floor. She first returned to her office to get
some rest.
It was already five in the morning when she decided to leave. Before doing
so, she called Evan to inform him she was on
her way to the hotel.
Much to her surprise, she saw Evan in the driveway with a familiar young
man she had operated on last week. They had
been waiting for her all along.
“Morning, Shanty. Do you remember Miguel Gonzales? He’ll be your
bodyguard from now on,” Evan suggested.
“Good Morning Doctor Shant,” the young man said. “I never got to thank
you for saving my life. Thank you. You are a
great doctor.”
“My bodyguard? What for?” Shantelle sought.
“Shanty, the motorbike from earlier was aiming at you. He was waiting for
hours and turned on his engine when you came


out of the hospital,” Evan revealed. “I’ll hire more bodyguards to keep an
eye on you and Lucas safe. For now, Miguel and
your family driver will be your constant companion.”

During their drive to the hotel, Evan showed the video of the motorbike
rider to Shantelle. Seeing it, Shantelle’s skin
crawled. She wondered, “But why? Why would anyone want to hurt me?”
“Have you made enemies?” Evan sought.
“I don’t think so, I -” Suddenly, Shantelle had a lightbulb moment. It wasn’t
long before one Peter Haris threatened her for
not putting Briana West on top of the donor’s list.
She gulped. She massaged her forehead and said, “I – I might have
angered someone.”
“Who?” Evan asked. His eyes narrowed, and his voice raised in anger.

Chapter 52: Evan’s Offer
Three days had passed since the motorbike incident.
The hospital administration strengthened its security around the facility and
reported the same to the authorities.
Unfortunately, the motorbike had used fake plates, and the police could not
trace the vehicle’s owner. Thus, the purpose
The attack remained unknown.
Following Shantelle’s testimony, the authorities questioned Briana West
and her family but denied their involvement.
Sadly, there was no solid proof to connect them to the incident. The police
also interrogated Peter Haris, but he also
refuted the accusations.
Shantelle had also reported Doctor Park. She suggested to her superior
how Doctor Park acted strangely that day. Still,


because they could not find solid proof that the said assistant surgeon was
trying to sabotage the organ waitlist, Doctor
Park remained as a medical staff of Warrington Hospital, but she was put
under investigation. Shantelle, however,
removed Doctor Park from her surgery team and replaced her with Doctor
Varma.
Given the circumstances, Evan and his family remained in Warlington for
another three days. Since no one could trace the
biker and there were not enough pieces of evidence against Briana West
and Peter Haris, all Evan could do was add
more escorts to watch over Shantelle and his son.
A day before leaving Warlington, Evan brought Shantelle’s new bodyguards
to the Scotts’ residence. He introduced,
“Shanty, this is Andy. She will be your head of security. This is Mark,
Duane, and, of course, you know Miguel. They will all
take turns escorting you in and out of the hospital while one attends to
Lucas.”
“You already know Miguel. Andy, Duane, and Mark are from the same
security agency I work with in Rose Hills. They
came highly recommended,” Evan added. “Andy is a former police officer,
and the rest are former marines.”
It wasn’t just the bodyguards. Evan bought Shantelle a new car. That way,
she would always have one on standby instead
of relying on the family driver, who sometimes would drive Lucas or Doctor
Scott.
They were all in the living room of the Scotts ‘ residence when Evan set his
expectations for the bodyguards.
Shantelle was still so overwhelmed. After Evan had dismissed the security
team, she said, “Evan, I saw the video with my
own eyes, and I have to admit, it was scary, but four bodyguards? Don’t
you think it’s a little too much?”
“Shanty, if anything happens to you, I would go on a rampage – I don’t
know what I would do. I might just lose myself


completely,” Evan expressed. “I hired a private investigator to look into the
Wests, but while he is still gathering
information, I need to ensure you are safe.”
He lifted his shoulders and said, “Besides, better safe than sorry, right?
What’s the use of my money if I can’t protect my
family?”
“Fine,” Shantelle conceded, retreating into the chair and slouching.
“I wish you would come with me to Rose Hills instead, Shanty,” Evan
presented. “I don’t know many people here – I have
started, but I don’t know how long it would take for me to have full influence
in this city. Until then, this is my only means of
protecting you.”
“I would feel much better if you are safe and sound in Rose Hills,” he
added.
Shantelle fell silent. Then she answered, “I don’t know about that, Evan. My
life is here. Maybe this will just pass. Maybe
it’s not about the heart transplant; there may be another reason for it, and
the culprit will be caught. Maybe everything will
return to normal for me. Besides, I – I don’t have a home in Rose Hills. We
sold our house, remember?”
“Actually. About that.” Evan revealed, “Your house is still well maintained.”
When Shantelle gave him that puzzled look, he took out his phone and
showed her pictures of the Scotts’ estate back in
Rose Hills, including its deed of sale. He said, “I bought the property from
the Jones that same year you left. I meant to
give it back to you. I had always hoped you would return.’ 11
Shantelle’s eyes widened. She was utterly rendered speechless. One by
one, she skimmed through Evan’s phone and
studied the photos of her old home.
“Just so you know, Shanty, you will always have a home in Rose Hills. Just
say the word, and I shall have the old Scotts’
estate transferred under your name,” Evan said. ” Think about it.”
***


Another day passed. It was time for Evan and the Thompsons to fly back to
Rose Hills.
They are at the runway, meant for private jets, saying their goodbyes.
Shantelle and Lucas hugged Clara, Erick, and Mrs. Shaw before they were
aided into the air ambulance.
While Erick was doing better, Evan did not want to take a risk. Anything
could happen, considering his father had recently
had open -heart surgery. Thus, he still opted to take an air ambulance back
home.
Evan lingered on the runway for Lucas and Shantelle. He hugged his son
tightly and kissed his cheeks, saying, “I will miss
you, Lucas, so much. Be a good boy to your mommy.
Lucas was already crying. He had been since he said goodbye to his
paternal grandparents. He replied, “I’ll miss you too,
Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you more, kiddo,” Evan replied. “I’ll call you every day.”
When it was finally time for Evan to say goodbye to Shantelle, he said to
her, “I will be back in a few days. I’ll just settle
mother and father. I have a very important business deal to take care of,
and then I’ll come back.”
“Okay, thank you, Evan, for everything – the bodyguard arrangements and
all,” Shantelle said. Her voice turned soft as
she added, And, um. Of course, thanks again for saving me from that
motorcycle.”
“Shanty, you don’t have to thank me. I would do the same – step in to save
you in a heartbeat.” He held her arm and
added, "That's how much I care for you.” 11
Shantelle did not know why but she wound up smiling while shaking her
head.
Evan chuckled at her reaction, utterly pleased to see her smile.
“What?” Shantelle asked. “Just be thankful that I smiled.”
“Oh, I am. That’s so much better than your usual eye-roll,” he remarked. He
did not say it, but he was claiming progress in
his heart!


It took seconds for Shantelle’s smile to disappear. When she did, she said,
“Goodbye, Evan. Take care.”
“Same to you,” Evan said. He raised his arm, asking, “Can I at least… get a
hug?”
Shantelle hesitated for a moment, but soon she allowed it. They embraced
each other and quickly pulled away.
Before Evan boarded the plane, he reminded, “See you in a few days and
think about returning to Rose Hills.”
The mother and son watched as the air ambulance took off from the
runway.
Shantelle glanced back and saw Andy and Mark signaling her to get back
into the car. She was about to suggest the
same to her son when Lucas said, “Mommy, I want us to go to Rose Hills
with Daddy.”

Chapter 53: The Video Call
Evan: [Good morning. Hope you had some rest. Mother says hi, and she
misses you.]
Shantelle read Evan’s message. It included a picture of Clara and Erick
having breakfast at the old Thompsons’ mansion.
It made her smile, thinking how many times she had spent at the same
house.
She typed her reply: [Please tell Uncle and Aunt I miss them too. Thank
you for the photo.]
After sending the text, Shantelle returned to reviewing a patient’s file.
However, just when she was in the middle of doing
so, another message came through.
Evan: [Someone else misses you.]
Reading the message, Shantelle blinked once and then twice. She stared
at the phone for seconds, speculating about the
person’s identity. Is this really Evan? It wasn’t in his character.


“Doctor Shant, I know you did not have breakfast yet, so the boss told me
to get one for you,” Miguel walked into her
office, interrupting her train of thought. He presented a clear food package
containing buttermilk pancakes with whipped
cream.
Shantelle could not believe her eyes. The package had the Century Hotel
logo, meaning Miguel had driven an hour away
to get the pancakes.
Alright, she had to admit. Evan knew her well. After all, they had known
each other since they were young. Every treat he
had given her so far was on point. However, the pancake was a new
addition to her guilty pleasure. She rarely ate
pancakes in Rose Hills, so how did he know about the Century Hotel
hotcakes?
A mystery. Despite the unknown, Shantelle thanked Miguel for going to
lengths for her breakfast.
Four days had passed since Evan left Warlington. So far, she had
encountered no threat. Still, Andy, her head of security,
thoroughly ensured her daily route.
Shantelle no longer arrived and left at the hospital driveway. Her car drove
into a guarded route meant only for the
ambulance’s entry. The hospital had other entries that were only meant for
the staff or for suppliers to go through. The
administration willingly gave Shantelle access after the motorbike incident.
***
In the evening, Shantelle went home with Miguel and Andy. They were
stuck in traffic when Evan called her. She
answered, “Yes, Evan?”
“Shanty, how are you?” Evan asked on the other line.
“I’m good. Nothing bad happened as usual at the hospital,” Shantelle
reported, her eyes on the busy streets.
“Who is with you?” Evan sought. “It should be Andy and Miguel’s turn to
take you home. I’ve already mapped out their


schedules. Mark and your family driver should have already taken Lucas
home.”
“He is home. I called the house earlier,” Shantelle revealed, referring to her
son. And yes, Andy and Miguel are driving me
home.”
“Let me see,” Evan suggested.
“What?” Shantelle asked.
“Put me on video conference, and let me see if Andy and Miguel are really
doing their job,” Evan urged.
“Evan, no. You should trust them,”
Shantelle pointed out.
“I just want to have a look myself,” Evan insisted. “I want to make sure you
are safe.”
“I’m safe as can be,” Shantelle replied, but there was no stopping the man.
He would not let it go, so she turned on the
camera.
Of course, her face came up first as she set the call. She heard Evan
remark, “You look tired. Get some rest later,
Shanty.”
“I will,” Shantelle replied. “I had a very critical patient today. It drained me.”
She was about to rotate her camera and give Evan a view of Miguel and
Andy when he sought, “What’s that behind you?”
“What?” Shantelle frowned and turned her head back. “There is nothing
behind me.”
“I swear there was something behind you, “Evan insisted. “Look again.”
“There is nothing, okay? This isn’t a scary movie, Evan. You are giving me
a fright.” Shantelle scolded. “Let me show you,
Miguel and Andy, now.”
“There is no need. Shanty, I know they are there. Thank you for taking my
call. Let me talk to Lucas later, okay?” Evan
ended the video call from there, making Shantelle completely bemused.
What was all the fuss about wanting to see
Miguel and Andy then? 2
***


“Daddy, I really miss you. When are you coming back?” Lucas said, his
body turned sideways on his bed, refusing to give
Shantelle her phone.
Like every other night since Evan left, he and Lucas spoke until nine. That
night, however, Shantelle was already feeling
sleepy. She said to Evan, “Let him rest,
Evan. He has school tomorrow.”
“Mommy, I’ll give the phone to you later. I promise,” Lucas said, turning to
her with pleading eyes. Her son even acted to
cry, saying, “I really miss my daddy. Why can’t he be here with us? Maybe
we should just go to Rose Hills.”
That was a discussion that Shantelle wasn’t prepared to have. Thus, she
gave up, saying, “Fine. When you are done,
don’t forget to put the phone in my room and charge it. I’m so tired. I’m
going to bed.”
“Goodnight, Mommy. I love you,” Lucas said.
“Goodnight. I love you,” she replied.
“Daddy says goodnight, too,” Lucas announced.
‘Goodnight, Evan,” she answered.
“I love you, mommy,” Lucas repeated.
A smile spread through her face when Shantelle replied again, “I love you,
honey.”
“Love you, mommy,” he said again.
“I love you,” Shantelle replied, already at the door. From then on, the
mother and son went back and forth, having the
same exchange.
Lucas: “I love you, Mommy.”
Shantelle: “Love you, Lucas.”
She earnestly thought it was entertaining that she kept saying it back. The
entire time, Lucas was on the phone with Evan.
Lucas: “I love you, Mommy.”
Shantelle: “I love you more!”
Lucas: “Daddy says I love you!”


“And I love -” Shantelle stopped herself, realizing who Lucas was referring
to. She raised a brow, thinking, ‘Did my son try
to trap me into saying the words for Evan?
“I love you, Mommy,” Lucas said again before chuckling. “Daddy says he
loves you, too.”
Shantelle stood by the door for an undetermined time, not knowing what to
say to her son. Soon, she smiled at Lucas,
saying, “Goodnight, honey. If you can’t bring my phone back, that’s okay.
Spend some time with your daddy. I’ll get my
phone in the morning.”
She left the room and went back to sleep.
***
The wee hours came, and Shantelle awoke due to the heavy rain.
Warlington had a few storms coming, and that night
was one of them.
Shantelle wanted to check on her son. Lucas could sleep like a rock, but
there were a few occasions in the past when he
would jerk awake, following a loud downpour.
When she entered Lucas’ room, he was sleeping sideways, facing his
bedside table. Only then did she notice her phone
leaning against the lamp.
She pulled up Lucas’ blanket and reached for her phone, only to realize
that the camera was still on.
Shantelle gasped. Tears welled in her eyes, understanding how Evan
watched Lucas to sleep and her son probably did
the same with his father. Guilt washed over her, thinking how many years
she had deprived her son of this moment – a
moment with his father.
She saw Evan’s handsome face lying sideways, just like Lucas. Her eyes
wandered behind Evan and saw the picture
frame still hanging on the wall. It was their wedding picture. She
understood Evan was in the villa.
How long has it been? Yet, Evan never took it down.


Shantelle did not know how long she studied the video, but when she
noticed her phone was about to run out of battery,
she reached for her mobile.
Just then, her eyes met a pair of dark brown orbs, apparently staring at her
through the call. She heard Evan say, Shanty,
I don’t know how long I can handle this. The distance is killing me. I miss
you and Lucas so much. I really hope you’ll
come back to Rose Hills.”

Chapter 54: William’s Test
“Dad, please,” Shantelle begged. “I’m not doing this for me. I swear. I don’t
plan to be involved with Evan in that way. This
is all for Lucas.”
The day finally came for Shantelle to have that talk with her parents. After
arriving from their long vacation, Lucas spilled
the beans before Shantelle could inform
Eleanor and William Scott about the Thompsons.
Immediately, William was doubtful. He ordered Shantelle to the study,
where they talked about Evan for over an hour.
“Sweetheart, are you sure about this?
Didn’t you say Evan did not want a child with you?” William sought.
“He – he had a change of heart, Dad. He said he was wrong about asking
for a divorce, and so far, Evan has proven to
me he loves and accepts Lucas,” Shantelle explained.
“Really? Sorry about the divorce? Did he not see how my beautiful princess
had looked down on herself because she felt
so unloved?” William recalled the past.


Shanty, I never want to see you in that state again.”
“You are my pride and joy. I want you to keep loving yourself before any
man,’ William added, his eyes starting to water.
Eleanor had to comfort him as they sat on the couch.
With her father’s sudden outcry, Shantelle reached for William’s hand,
saying, “Dad, I’m not that young girl anymore. I am
Doctor Shantelle Scott. I am one of the best chest surgeons out there. I will
never look down on myself ever again.
Besides, I am not going back to Evan.”
“You say that now, but what about tomorrow?” William pointed out.
“If it comes to that, then let me make my own choice,” Shantelle replied.
“Are you saying -”
“I am not saying anything that involves Evan and me. I want Evan to be
part of
Lucas’ life,” she repeated.
“Again, this decision has nothing to do with me. This is all about Lucas. He
loves
Evan, and his father sure loves him. How can I deny him that, daddy?
Would you ever deny me your love?” It was
because she threw that line to her father that William eventually yielded.
Eleanor said to her husband, “We were wrong about keeping Lucas from
the Thompsons. We both know that, darling. We
were simply lying to ourselves, thinking they would not care. We did not
know how Evan would react, but we knew Clara
and Erick well. They would never turn Lucas away.”
The Scotts lingered in the study for another hour, letting all the air out, but
at the end, William suggested, “I want to see it
for myself. I want to know how Evan is serious about being a father.” He
looked into Shantelle’s eyes, suggesting,” I want
to test him, my way.”
***
With just one phone call, Evan left Rose


Hills the next day. William asked Evan to join them for dinner at the Scotts’
residence. There was much-needed talk to be
done, but William insisted it had to start with dinner.
When Evan arrived at the door, Shantelle welcomed him in. Evan brought a
bottle of expensive wine. Behind him, Miguel
carried boxes of aged cheese and a few unique dishes from Rose Hills –
the treats that her parents had probably missed
all these years.
“Shanty, good evening. You look so beautiful,” he remarked, and Shantelle
smiled.
Shantelle could tell he wanted to kiss her, at least on the cheek, but she
evaded, rushing him to the dining area. “Let’s go.
Dad is waiting.”
“Honestly, I thought your dad and I would start with an argument – me
defending,” Evan said outright. He let out a sigh,
adding, “But dinner? I must have done something right.”
“Lucas spoke very highly of you,”
Shantelle assured him. “Let’s go. I don’t know what he is up to, but he is
adamant about having you join us for dinner.”
It did not take long for Evan to arrive at the dining area. Lucas immediately
rushed to him, jumping into his arms, and
Evan spun him around.
“Daddy, I miss you so much!” Lucas exclaimed.
“I miss you too, Lucas. Daddy has several gifts for you, but we will open
them later, okay?” Evan revealed. He put Lucas
down on the floor and held his hand.
It was the first time William and Eleanor had witnessed Evan’s affection
toward Lucas. Immediately, Evan saw how
William’s stern expression became frail.
“Good evening, Uncle William. Aunt Eleanor. It’s been a long time. I’m glad
you have been well. Thank you for taking care
of Lucas for me,” Evan greeted before taking the seat next to Shantelle and
Lucas.
“Evan, if you survive this dinner, then for me, that will be the first test of
your sincerity,” William suggested. “Later, given


that you pass, we will have that talk, and oh, boy, we will have a very – very
long talk.”
William turned to the maids and ordered, “Bring in the food.”
Their dinner started out with the usual salad. In between, Lucas and Evan
chatted. Lucas was always eager to talk to his
father, which made everyone else look at them. William was especially
observing how Evan would react to Lucas’ every
tale. So far, he did not give any adverse reaction.
“I shared my snacks with Max now, Daddy, and you were right. It feels good
to share!” Lucas said.
“That’s good, Lucas. Remember, it is -”
“Better to give than to receive,” Lucas finished for Evan, and they both
smiled.
“Atta boy,” Evan remarked, making a mess of Lucas’ hair.
After the appetizer, their main dishes arrived, but Evan noticed his food
was… different.
Shantelle also caught a glimpse of Evan’s plate. She raised her brow,
asking, “What is Evan having, Dad?”
Evan peered at William. Then he looked back at his plate. It was a
deep-fried dish that was long and thick.
“Only for Evan. It’s Rocky Mountain
Oysters,” William revealed.
“Rocky Mountain Oysters?” Both Shantelle and Evan sought, their faces
looking down at the plate.
“Normally, they are sliced thinly, but I’d like you to take a bite at it and test
your teeth,” William urged. “Eleanor and I
discovered it during our trip to Argentina, right after the Antarctica cruise.”
“Sounds classy,” Evan reluctantly remarked. He was trying to sound
optimistic, but his gut was telling him something else.
Evan was a person with class. He was born with a silver spoon and was
never lacking in money. He was a generous soul,
but he would not be caught dead eating something below standard, odd or
exotic.


When it came to his meals, Evan was very picky. The Scotts knew this
about Evan. There was just no way he would try
something… strangely different, but the dish was decent looking enough,
so he started slicing it.
He put one slice into his mouth and began chewing it. It was very leathery.
“Mmmm. The texture is rather different from
regular meat.”
Evan was starting to feel that metallic irony that he just had to ask, “Uncle
William. What – what exactly is a rocky
mountain oyster?”
William’s eyes narrowed. A smirk formed on his face as he revealed, “Bull’s
testicles.”
Shantelle’s eyes widened. She looked at Evan with horror and saw how he
was on the verge of throwing up.
“If you spit that out, Evan! We won’t have that talk!” William warned. “Finish
that rocky mountain oyster. It’s a rare kind of
meat.”
“What’s wrong, Daddy? Is it not yummy?
Lucas asked. “Can I try?”
“No!” Everyone said in unison, all gazing at Lucas.
Evan quickly swallowed the meat and drank a full glass of wine. Then, he
turned to Lucas, saying, “It’s actually good, son,
but this is a man’s food.”
He pointed to Lucas’ plate and suggested, “Yours is chicken.”
It took a lot of chewing, and Evan ended up drinking half of the bottle of
wine, but he finished the darn bull’s testicles. In
between, he coughed over ten times, holding back his gagging, and often,
tears welled in his eyes.
“Was it spicy, daddy?” Lucas asked. “You drank a lot. I see Mommy drink a
lot too when she eats spicy ribs.”
Evan sucked in a breath. He turned to Lucas and answered, “It was a little
spicy, son. Good thing you did not try it.” He
directed his gaze to William and proudly said, “I guess we will have that
talk, uncle.


“Hmmm.” William acknowledged bitterly. The dinner resumed. At least
Evan recovered, thanks to the delicious dessert prepared for that evening.
When supper was over, William excused himself to take a call, leaving
Evan with Shantelle and Lucas at the dining table.
His son was having another piece of that delicious chocolate cake.
“I’m sorry about the special oysters, Shantelle whispered, but while she
was genuinely guilty about what her father did,
She ended up laughing.
Evan was still so grossed out by what he ate, but seeing Shantelle so
amused, he also laughed. “I’m glad it made you
smile. 11
“How was it?” Shantelle asked. “God, you’d never eat those things.”
“You wouldn’t either,” Evan reminded.
“Yep, I would never. I don’t have the balls, “Shantelle declared before
getting thrown into another set of laughter. She was
laughing so hard that her eyes sparkled.
Evan wound up falling silent. He was smiling while getting mesmerized by
Shantelle’s laughter. He may have eaten that
unique meat, but the prize of hearing Shantelle making a joke was utterly
worth it. This was a side of her that he missed.
It was a bizarre development, but it was still progress. Evan said, “I would
do it all over again if it means you’ll keep
smiling that way for me.”
“I highly doubt that,” she replied, still laughing her heart out. “Do you want
me to ask the maids to prepare another set?”
“Don’t you think I have suffered enough? “Evan sought.
Before Shantelle could answer, William walked back, calling Evan. “Let’s
talk, Evan.”
Chapter 55: See The Old Mansion
“It wasn’t just about the divorce, Evan,” William said. “You never spoke to
me, Eleanor. Weren’t we family friends?
Wasn’t Shanty the same girl you had looked after when you were in high
school?”
“All that was thrown away, all because of your marriage. You have to admit
it, that arranged marriage ruined our


relationships. “William added. “And now, you are telling me you want my
daughter back? After all the pain you had made
Will she go through? Evan, maybe you and Shanty weren’t meant to be
together -”
“It’s like saying that Lucas isn’t meant to be, “Evan interrupted, making
William sigh.
“I didn’t suggest that- I wouldn’t,” William replied. “I love my grandson. He
brings joy to our lives. Lucas was not a
mistake.”
“Uncle William, I was wrong, and I will say
sorry over and over again. Not only that, I will prove it. My being here is not
temporary. I will be part of Lucas’ life. If Shanty would have me, I would
make up for all those times I hurt her. I will treat
her as my queen, but I won’t be able to show you if you don’t give me a
chance,” Evan
expressed.
“I’m sorry, Uncle William. I was blind, and I realized it too late, but please.
We can’t change the fact that I am Lucas’ father.
Let me be that father for him and let me try to win Shanty back,” Evan
begged.
“Whether my daughter takes you back is not my decision to make,” William
responded. But I, for one, am against it. You
say you love my daughter now? That remains to be seen. More than words,
Evan. More than
words.”
“And what is this I keep hearing from Lucas about going back to Rose
Hills? Evan, we have left Rose Hills for good. We
gave up on everything – including our familial home so
I could give my daughter a new life,” William described. “I sacrificed my
career, my investments
“I know about that, Uncle, and I’m sorry that you made those decisions,”
Evan cut in. “But I can make it right. If you let
me.”


“Shanty doesn’t have to make a name here in Warlington,” Evan explained.
“From what I understand, Warrington Hospital
relies on you and Shanty when it comes to chest surgeries.” 1
“That skill won’t go away. Shanty can practice her profession in Rose Hills. I
can buy shares in St. Dominique Hospital and
turn it into a heart center that focuses on heart treatment,” Evan began.
“And as for your home, Uncle, you still have a
home in Rose Hills. The home you cherished, the
same estate where Shanty grew up, is in my
name.”
“What?” William asked in confusion.
“When I learned that you left, I bought the property in the hopes that your
family would return,” Evan revealed. “I hoped,
and I
hoped because I meant to give it back as an
apology – a gift.”
“I know that house means a lot to you and your family, so I bought it. I
brought the deed with me today. It’s in the car,”
Evan added. “I can show it to you.”
There was silence between them, and it
stretched for almost a minute until William
ordered, “Go get it. Let me see.’
Evan went to get the documents. Walking past the living room, he met
Shantelle’s
gaze on the staircase. She mouthed, ‘ Everything okay?’
He gave her a thumbs up and a smile, suggesting it had not gone
disastrous.
When Evan returned to the study, he presented William with the title and
the deed
of sale from the Jones’. He also showed
pictures of the house on his phone.
Again and again, William gasped. From where Evan sat, he saw moments
of William smiling, sometimes teary-eyed.
“How did you get the Jones’ to agree? I gave them a very good discount.”


Evan sucked in a deep breath and revealed, I bought the house twice the
price they paid you. They immediately agreed. If
they didn’t, I would have offered more.”.
Yet again, dead air fell upon them. William uttered, “So you think your
money is the answer to everything?”
Evan did not know where the remark came
from, but he replied, “No, definitely not.
“Uncle, I was miserable for over seven years
without Shanty. If anything, I learned that money couldn’t buy contentment,
but if I can help it, I would use my money
wisely to
carve the path for my own and my family’s
happiness – Lucas’s and Shanty’s,” Evan
claimed. He went on and on, declaring what he would do for Shantelle and
Lucas.
William did not answer at first. He returned to recheck the photos until he
suggested, This still doesn’t convince me of your
sincerity towards my daughter, Evan“I’ll keep proving my sincerity,” Evan responded with conviction in his tone.
“And this still doesn’t change the fact that it will all boil down to Shanty’s
decision,”
William recalled.
“I understand,” Evan acknowledged.
“Despite that, you still want to give this back to us?” William sought.
Evan nodded firmly, saying, “Willingly, without expecting anything in return.”
“I.” William looked Evan in the eye, saying, ‘ I want to see my old house.”
“Right away, sir,” Evan confirmed.
“And I’d like to see Erick and Clara,” William
requested.
Warmth spread through Evan’s heart. He knew meeting the Scotts would
make his parents happy. Tears welled in the
corners of his eyes, and he replied, “They – they would love to see you.
Thank you, Uncle William. You will
unquestionably make my father happy, and my father… deserves to be


happy.”
***
“Are we going to see Daddy’s home, Mommy?” Lucas asked. He yawned,
still
tired from waking up at four in the morning the next day.
“Yes, honey. We are, but since your grandpa decided on this trip abruptly,
we aren’t
going to stay longer, okay?” Shantelle
explained while buckling Lucas’ seatbelt. ” Only for a day.”
“Only for a day?” Lucas replied with a full
frown on his face. He looked to the seats
behind him, asking, “Daddy, only for a day?”
The Scotts were off to Rose Hills, taking a private jet Evan commissioned.
They were only visiting for one day. Thus, Evan
had to
make their journey as quick as possible without sacrificing the comforts of
traveling.
They left Warlington at precisely five in the morning and arrived at Rose
Hills before seven. They went straight to the old
Scotts’
estate for their first itinerary.
It was the longest drive to the old mansion. There wasn’t any traffic, but the
anticipation kept the Scotts silent, their hearts
beating faster with excitement.
Their party drove in two SUVs. Shantelle rode with Lucas and her parents
while Evan rode in another vehicle with
Howard, their old family driver.
Soon, they arrived at a familiar community
and into the gates of the Scotts’ old
mansion. One by one, they got off the car, studying the lawn and the front
of the
estate.
In Shantelles’ view, everything was the same; the trees, the landscaping,
and the roses. She felt they were the same


flowers, but they could not be. With how the seasons change, some must
have died over the years. Whoever took care of
the house simply
planted the same floral blooms.
“Oh, my,” Eleanor said. Her eyes widened in amazement as she walked to
the rows of
roses on one side. She said, “They looked the same as the ones I had last
grown. Well done, Evan.”
“I had a lot of help,” Evan admitted.
On the other hand, William kept staring at the front of the mansion. It
looked good as
new. He nodded, saying, “You had the house repainted?”
“Over the years, yes, Uncle. Some cracks
developed, but I had those fixed too,” Evan
answered.
“Wow! So big and so cool!” Lucas exclaimed.
He turned to Shantelle and asked, “Is this our home, Mommy?”
Shantelle held Lucas’ hand. She smiled at
him, saying, “This used to be my old home.”
“It is still your home, Shanty, yours and your parents,” Evan interrupted. He
smiled at her, and she smiled back. Evan
offered his
hand to Shantelle, saying, “Shall we go
inside?”
Shantelle looked at his hand and stared for a
a few seconds, considering. Before deciding, Lucas reached out for Evan’s
hand and
clasped it with Shantelle’s.
Lucas smiled at his parents, turning from his mother to his father. He
chuckled and
expressed, “Mommies and daddies hold
hands all the time. I see it at school.”


Chapter 56: Vacation Home
Shantelle looked away but was already feeling uncomfortable, her ears
feeling warm. She and Evan had walked into the
doorway, holding hands. Thanks to Lucas, constantly staring at their hands.
It gave her mixed emotions, the kind that
Shantelle did
I do not want to be entertained.
Evan, on the other hand, was over the moon. It was just a hand, but it was
enough to send happy tingles, reaching his
heart. He relished the feel of her soft hands against
his. He noticed how her palm was cold, and
He was happy to keep it warm.
“Woah, nice!” Lucas was amazed at the living room chandelier that he
stopped guarding his parents’ hand.
Immediately, Shantelle tried to pull out her hand, saying, “He’s not watching
anymore.”
“Oh,” Evan regretfully said. Still, he held
Shantelle’s hand. He pulled her hand up to his face, saying, “Your hands
are cold.” He blew air into her hand, covering it
with his palms, saying, “Much better.”
He swore he saw Shantelle jolt a little, then she stiffened and gasped. He
wasn’t sure if he was affecting her in a good
way, but he still tried. “Give me your other hand.”
Shantelle hesitated. She glanced to where her parents were, and seeing
them studying the pieces of furniture up ahead;
she gave
Evan on the other hand. Her hands were indeed
cold, but she wasn’t sure if it was because of
the weather.
He breathed out into her palm, warming her skin. When he let go, he
asked, “Does that feel better?”
“Thank you.” Shantelle nodded without saying anything and pulled her
hand away. She turned to Lucas, saying, “Be


careful,
Lucas.”
Then she left Evan to follow after them.
“I know these aren’t the same pieces of furniture, Evan, but it sure feels like
it,
Eleanor remarked, her smile reaching her ears, utterly pleased by what she
had seen so
far.
From the living room to the bedrooms on the second and third floor, the
Scotts saw how it was kept the way Evan
I remembered it. The beds, the cabinets, how they were strategically
placed, all the details were nearly perfect, bringing
back happy
memories.
“Ah, this was my bedroom,” Shantelle recalled when she peeked through
the said
room.
“And it looks the same!” Eleanor said. She
walked up the window and felt the curtains, saying, “The fabric is… also the
same.”
What caught William’s attention was how his study had his portrait on the
wall, the
same one that used to be there. It was a
picture of him in his doctor’s uniform, his arms crossed against his chest
and his chin proudly raised.
After going around the rooms from the upper levels, Evan followed William
into the study. Seeing his uncle stare at his
photo much longer, he revealed, “Father had that same photo of you, and
that was what I used. I had it blown up and
framed.”
“I could not find the same frame, but the
size and the copper-like color are the same, “Evan explained.
The tour around the old Scotts estate lasted


for over an hour with William and Eleanor, especially reminiscing about the
old days.
Soon, the sweet scent of bacon, sausages, and toast filled the air, making
everyone’s stomach growl. They just realized
how it was already past nine in the morning.
“Let’s all have breakfast. The maids had
already set the dining area,” Evan called. ‘
I’m famished.”
“We are all hungry,” Shantelle said back.
“Me too!” Lucas claimed.
Throughout their meal, the Scotts told Lucas tales about the house. They
didn’t
understand it then, but it sparked Lucas’ interest in living in Rose Hills.
“When your mommy was little, she used to run around the entire house.
Sometimes, she would hide from us, and it would
take longer for us to find her,” Eleanor revealed.
“I have a special spot here, Lucas. I’ll show you later if it’s still there,”
Shantelle said.
“Yes, I remember I had that especially made for Shanty,” William added.
“The evergreen maze?” Evan sought. “Yes, it’s still there in the backyard. I
just had it trimmed. Lucas would love it.”
“Wow, mommy! I love it here already! So when are we moving?” Lucas said
outright.
It wasn’t just the thought of running around a garden maze, but of reliving
the memories of his grandparents and mother.
Plus, the
mansion was twice bigger than their home
back in Warlington. Moreover, it had a vast
front and back lawn.
“Um.” Shantelle’s eyes rounded at Lucas’
probing. She turned to her father for help.
William then looked at Evan. After studying his hopeful eyes, William
replied to Lucas, Lucas, boy. Your mommy and
Grandpa still has work in Warlington. You still have


school too. You have classmates and
teachers that will miss you. Plus, there are about two months left for this
school year.
You can’t miss school.”
The way William said it to Lucas made Evan
hold his breath. Hope filled his heart, and he was this close to screaming
his joy. However, it wasn’t quite what he
expected.
William suggested, “For now, we can come here for vacation, maybe every
school break,
sometimes on weekends. Warlington will still be our home. This home can
be our
vacation home.”
“Oh,” Lucas did not hide his dismay. He
pouted, “Only on vacation?”
“For now,” William responded. “For now. Let’s see how it goes.”
Turning to Evan, William asked, “Is that okay, Evan?”
“Vacation?” Evan asked.
“Yes, school breaks, holidays, and some weekends,” William proposed.
“We can’t just leave our work, Evan. You have to
understand that.”
Evan swallowed air down his throat. There
there was absolutely nothing to complain about. He had gone by with many
years of nothing – no Shantelle and no Lucas.
Seeing them on vacations was still a reward, and he wanted
to cherish it.
With a smile, he replied, “Of course! Of course!” He exhaled deeply and
claimed,
It’s a good start.”
He turned to Shantelle and smiled. She smiled back. Sure, it wasn’t
Shantelle’s heart just yet, but there was something in
how she smiled made it different.
There was a gentleness in the way her eyes gleamed. Moreover, she did
not look away. She maintained her gaze on him


until he leaned over and hugged her. Shantelle hugged back, sending tiny
jolts of happy electricity throughout his body.
The way Shantelle accepted his embrace felt warm and welcoming. Could
Shantelle open up to him, eventually? He
certainly hoped.
His heart craved it so much.
But more than the yearning of his heart,
Evan knew his parents also had their wishes.
Erick and Clara wanted to rekindle the bond
with the Scotts, their old-time friends. When
breakfast concluded, Evan suggested, “My parents are waiting. They have
been longing to see you, Uncle, Aunt. Shall we
go see them?”
“Grandma Clara and Grandpa Erick? I miss
them!” Lucas exclaimed.
William and Eleanor looked at each other,
nodding. William said, “We – we want to see
them too. It has been… so long.”
***
Heartbeats later, William and Eleanor stood
in front of the Thompson’s mansion. Erick
and Clara were already outside the door,
their eyes full of yearning.
“William,” Erick called.
“Erick,” William said back. “I’m glad it was
Shanty who operated on your heart.”
On the other hand, Clara and Eleanor smiled
at each other, and the next thing they knew, they were in each other’s
arms, crying.
It did not take long for Erick and William to offer each other a manly hug,
both
repeatedly lightly tapping their backs.
It was a moment of rekindling, a chance to mend the relationship that was
once


forgotten.
“It’s been too long, my friend,” Erick said. “I thought I would die without
seeing you
again.”
William continued to tap on Erick’s back. He answered, “I guess fate had
other plans.”

Chapter 57: The Party Invite
“The healing is good, Uncle. Don’t stress too much. Normally, it will take up
to six weeks to heal from an open heart
surgery,”
Shantelle said after checking Erick’s chest wound. “You must have received
detailed
instructions from your cardiologist.
Maintain your medication and keep monitoring your heart rhythm.”
Many words were said at their
reconciliation. The Scotts primarily were apologetic about keeping Lucas
from the Thompsons, but Clara and Erick did not
I want to dig up the past. To them, it was the time to heal and move
forward.
Thus, after Evan’s and Shantelle’s parents had talked, Erick requested the
excellent doctors to check his chest. It led
them to
Erick’s bedroom, where he took off his shirt
and lay down.
“Shanty, when can I return to my previous
activities? I want to run again.” Erick laughed because he had not been
running for a while, even before his bypass, but


he
undoubtedly wanted to get back in shape.
“You’ll need to undergo cardiac therapy first,
uncle. Slow and steady wins the race,” she
remarked with a smile.
“Did you hear that, son?” Erick said, looking at Evan, who was standing by
the door. Slow and steady.”
William groaned while Shantelle raised both
her browse. 1
The Scotts had lunch at the Thompsons, and
In the afternoon, Evan’s lawyers dropped by to give Shantelle the transfer
documents to the house. When she signed the
papers, she
told Evan, “I have about two million dollars. I can pay you back part of the
cost for the
house and -”
“No, Shanty, please. I insist. I told you then, and let me tell you again, it’s
my gift to you
and your family – one of my ways to
apologize about the past. Please, let me,” Evan insisted. William had
agreed to put the
estate in Shantelle’s name since she was
their only daughter. Thus, only Shantelle was needed for the transfer
deeds.
“Plus, Lucas is my son. It gets passed down to him at the end of it all,”
Evan pointed
out.
With that, Shantelle signed the papers away. The only document left
unfurnished was the request to change Lucas’ name
to a Thompson, which was also agreed upon
during that day’s gathering.
***
Days came and went.
Since the Scotts’ return to Warlington, Erick


and Clara had been chatting regularly with Shantelle’s parents. Lucas often
joined the conversation, adding more fun to
their video calls. So far, Evan had also consistently spoken to Lucas at
night. He got caught up
with work a few times, but he always
informed Shantelle or William should he fail
to call Lucas in a day.
At the hospital, With Doctor William Scott back, the anxiety about the organ
donor list
had been lifted from Shantelle’s hands. It
was now William’s responsibility.
So far, however, no threat had resurfaced. Yet, despite returning to her
usual routine, Shantelle still had her bodyguards,
taking turns protecting her. Evan insisted that it
had to be done.
One afternoon, William invited Shantelle to
his office. When she made it in, her father
disclosed, “Shanty, there is an invitation from the mayor’s office. He is
holding a party, inviting medical directors from
reputable hospitals in the city. As you know, the mayor’s family is very
wealthy. They have businesses all over the city.
Now, they are eyeing potential hospitals to fund.”
“The hospital wanted me to be the
representative,” William added. “However, the event is a fancy dinner in
those fancy
clothes, which your father no longer has the stamina to attend.”
“Please, I beg you to go to my place, Shanty. Doctor Hale has taken a
week’s leave, and he can’t go either,” William
added. “And don’t worry, you won’t be alone.”
“You mean my bodyguards will be with me? ” She clarified.
“No, Shanty. Someone who has also been invited to the party,” William
revealed, his eyes looking at the door.
When Shantelle turned around, he saw Keith Henderson, entering with a
bouquet in his hands. He had that wide grin


when he
greeted, “Shanty! I miss you. How have you been?”
“Keith?” Shantelle accepted the flowers, and Keith hugged her. She
embraced back. “I forgot you were coming.”
“I came for the party and business, of
course,” Keith replied.
“The mayor will not allow uninvited guests to attend the event. Thus,
bodyguards will be outside the convention center,
waiting in
cars,” William said. “So, I figured you should go with Keith. He will look after
you. You won’t be alone, and when it’s your
turn to talk about our hospital’s achievements, you are most knowledgeable
since you practically read my daily work here
at the office.”
William then received a call from the administration building. He excused
himself. “I need to take care of something. You
both plan for the event. It’s this coming weekend. Lock the door behind
you, Shanty.”
Seeing her father go, Shantelle glanced at Keith. Since their awkward talk
about his feelings, she had reluctantly
answered his calls. She did a few times, out of respect. He also called
concerning insurance coverage in which she had
no choice but to take the call.
She asked, “How are you?”
“Been keeping myself busy. I returned to Europe and finished my work. I
met Karise a few times, by the way. She said she
meant to talk to you,” Keith said.
“I do need to speak to her, but I’ve been busy,” Shantelle replied. She sat
on the chair and asked, “Have you and Evan
patched things up?”
“I don’t know if there will be any patching between us. We did not talk. He
suggested he would come after me when we
met at Lucas’ school, but funny how he never did. Instead, he is avoiding
me.” Keith admitted. “In fact, Wendell is not


talking to me, and Sean keeps shaking his head whenever he spends time
with me. I think I’m officially off the boy’s
club.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. You and Evan had been friends for a long time. You
will mend things eventually,” Shantelle
suggested. She glanced at the flowers and said, “Thank you for these.
They are beautiful.”
“I always give you flowers. It shouldn’t make you uncomfortable,” Keith
said,
seeing how different she was acting toward
him now.
Shantelle sighed. She replied, “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to act in front of
you and not make you think that -”
“I won’t. I know my place,” Keith cut off her words, knowing exactly what
she wanted to
say.
“Anyway, about the event. I’ll see you at the party,” Shantelle suggested.
“I can pick you up,” Keith offered.
“No, you don’t have to. Thank you, Keith, but I can go there on my own,”
she insisted. “Besides, my guards will never let
me off.”
“Oh, yeah, the guards, about that. Shanty, I’m sorry I wasn’t around to
protect you, Keith said. “I was – I had things to take
care
of.”
Keith meant to say that he did not have the
courage to face her after being rejected
again. He moped for several days, and he wound up spending time with
Karise. She was a good person to talk to in the
end. He then suggested, “In any case, I knew Evan would not let anything
happen to you.”
“You knew?” She asked back.
It took Keith some time to reply. He nodded, saying, “Yes, I knew he would
protect you.”


“So, I’ll see you this Saturday, then?” Keith asked, changing the topic
altogether. “And maybe, just to reduce the
awkwardness in my car, how about bringing only one bodyguard? Your
guards won’t be able to
make it inside, anyway. The place will be full of government security
personnel. It’s very
safe.”
“Um.” Shantelle thought about it.
“Come on, Shanty. I’ll be your knight in shining armor for the party. I will
protect you,” Keith said with a wink.
“Okay. Okay, I’ll bring only one bodyguard,”
Shantelle conceded. “Besides, nothing has happened over the past few
weeks. Maybe, it was something else, or maybe
that man only wanted my purse.”
***
Thursday came, and Shantelle received a call
from Evan while at work. He said to her,
Shanty, instead of arriving on Saturday, I will be landing on Sunday. I can
stay there until Monday to be with Lucas. It’s a
holiday,
after all. My client from Russia arrived
today, and I don’t think I’ll be finished with my business here on time.”
“Oh, I was hoping Lucas could spend the night with you, Evan. I have to
attend a party,” Shantelle replied. “But that’s
okay,
he should be fine with mom -”
“A party? What… sort of party?” Evan asked
on the other line. “Would you be… meeting other people there? Is it those
kinds of parties where you need to dress up?”
“It’s a formal party I have to attend in place
of my father. The mayor is sponsoring it to see potential medical facilities to
invest in,’ she explained.
“Oh, I see. Are you going alone?” Evan sought.


“Um. No, actually, Keith is taking me. He was also invited,” Shantelle plainly
replied. ” Anyway, Evan. Thanks for telling me
ahead –
“You know what, I can make it on Saturday,
Evan replied. “I’ll be there.”
“Really?” Shantelle asked. “Are you sure?”
“Positive!” Evan claimed. “I can deal with
the client.”

Chapter 58: Security Protocol
“Daddy!” Outside the Scotts’ home, Lucas ran to Evan, and his father
carried him in his
arms.
“Sorry I’m late, Lucas. I got stuck with work, but I still made it,” Evan said.
He looked at
his watch and confirmed he still had an hour
before dinner time. He whispered to Lucas, ” Where is your mommy?”
“Upstairs, changing,” Lucas replied. He then looked down and softly said, “I
think she is going out on a date with Uncle
Keith.”
Evan bit his lip. He asked, “Why do you say
that?”
“He is in the living room, waiting for Mommy. He is dressed very nicely and
brought flowers and chocolates for Mommy,
“Lucas weakley replied.
“I brought flowers for your mommy too. I also bought boxes of treats for
everyone to
share. Andy, Mark, and I stopped by the Century Hotel before making our
way here,” Evan revealed, exciting Lucas. (1)


Evan turned to the car and found Andy and Mark, the bodyguards who had
picked him up from the airport. He ordered,
“Bring in the flowers and gifts.”
“Yes, boss,” Mark and Andy said simultaneously.
Evan shifted his attention to Miguel, the other bodyguard, standing behind
Lucas. He asked, “Where is Duane?”
“He is off today, boss,” Miguel answered.
He then gave Miguel that look, and as if they had a silent agreement,
Miguel nodded.
Evan walked into the house, holding Lucas’ hand. He saw Keith, and their
eyes met. The temperature inside the living
The room went down to near zero degrees. Keith and Evan were zapping
electricity with their eyes.
Keith stood up, and he was leveled with
Evan, further increasing the tension in the
area.
Just then, Evan heard Shantelle clear her throat, and he turned toward the
staircase and found himself swallowing his
own spew. Immediately, he hated himself for not admiring this side of her in
the past. Shantelle was so beautiful. She took
his breath away, and his heart fluttered.
Shantelle was wearing an off-shoulder gown in the solid tone of Persian
blue. It highly emphasized her slender neck and
shoulders. The dress hugged her body tight, flaunting her long legs through
a slit that went up three inches above her
knee.
Her hair was tied into a neat bun. She wore dangling earrings with a
sapphire blue stone and a necklace to pair. Matched
with her blue eyes and confident stance, she looked like a goddess from
the sky. From
excitement, Evan’s heart ached again. He wondered why he had let this
woman slip through his fingers?
“Shanty, you look so beautiful in the dress I bought.” Evan snapped from
his trance, hearing Keith’s words. His eyes
immediately narrowed. ‘What did he say? The fucking


dress is from him?’
Evan turned to Shantelle. Controlling his jealousy, he gently reminded her,
“I gave you a dress recently, together with my
gifts for Lucas? I think that would have fit you better. It’s your favorite brand,
Sarah Kate?”
“Oh.” Shantelle frowned. “I’m sorry. I
haven’t opened those, Evan.”
Evan caught Keith smirking his way, and his blood boiled. Later, he
witnessed Keith
approach Shantelle, giving her the flowers
and the box of chocolate.
“For you, Shanty,” Keith said, but Miguel stepped in between before
reaching
Shantelle’s hands.
“Excuse me, Mister Henderson, but I need to inspect the flowers. I’m sure
you know the recent threat to Doctor Shant’s
life. Since we
have not identified the culprit, we must
follow protocol and inspect every gift the
doctor receives, including your flowers and the chocolates,” Miguel said.
“Miguel,” Shantelle cut him off, saying, "It's not necessary. Keith is a friend.”
“But it’s protocol, Doc,” Miguel said. “I owe you my life. I will never fail to
follow protocol. I was trained to follow it.” He
turned to Keith, saying, “If you have nothing to hide, Mister Henderson, you
will let me inspect the flowers and the
chocolates.”
“Fine,” Keith surrendered the flower to Miguel, and everyone watched as he
pulled out one stem of rose to another from
the
bouquet.
When he was done, Miguel carelessly put them together, not bothering to
tie the ribbon back to its place. He told
Shantelle, It’s safe, doc, but very poor quality. I easily dismantled the
arrangements.”


“What the -” Keith glowered.
”
This time, Evan smirked at Keith.
Shantelle’s eyes rounded.
Next, Miguel opened the box of chocolate truffles. He tasted one and then
another.
After which, he suggested, “But how would we know if the rest don’t have
poison?”
Miguel ended up eating half of each truffle before giving it to Shantelle.
“Here you go, Doc. It’s safe. No signs of poison.”
Shantelle held back from laughing. She said to Miguel, “Um. You can…
have it, Miguel.
I’m not so fond of chocolates.”
“Oh, what kind of man doesn’t know you
that well, doc? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Miguel
remarked before returning to Evan’s side.
Eventually, Andy and Mark walked in. They each carried two sets of flowers
arranged in
a box. They were a combination of roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus,
clematis, sweet peas, and other seasonal flowers. Not
only that, Mark returned to the car to fetch boxes
of treats from Century Hotel.
Evan proudly said, “Shanty, these are for you and your family.”
“You need to inspect Evan’s gifts, too. Just because he is your boss doesn’t
clear him from being a suspect,” Keith
suggested bitterly.
The three bodyguards looked at each other, but Mark answered, “We
picked up the flowers with Mister Thompson and
saw how each one was made. We were also present when the pastries
were bought from the Century Hotel. The boss is
clear from
suspicion.” 1
Evan smiled triumphantly, and Keith hissed. As if laser beams left their
eyes, they looked


at each other intensely.
Shantelle coughed to clear the air. She said, ‘ We should go, Keith. It’s
getting late.” She glanced at Evan, saying, “Evan,
take care of Lucas. Bye.”
“Very well,” Keith said. He placed his hand
on the small of Shantelle’s back and smiled,
giving Evan that ‘I got the girl’ look.
Evan urged Shantelle to bring Andy and
Mark with them, but Keith had fully
convinced her it was unnecessary. She said, Miguel is enough. Besides,
even he won’t be able to make it to the party. He
will just wait
outside.”
“Evan, please,” Shantelle insisted.
Not wanting to make Shantelle upset, Evan
gave up, but before allowing them to leave,
he said to Keith, “A word.”
11
Keith first ushered Shantelle into his car.
Seeing how Evan and Miguel had stepped out of the house, he walked up
to Evan and said, “You may have ruined my
flowers, and fucking have your minion eat the chocolates, but I’m the one
with Shanty -”
“You make it sound like you are dating her, but you are not. You are just
conveniently accompanying her to the party,”
Evan pointed out.
“Doesn’t change the fact that I am with her and not you,” Keith said.
Evan wanted to punch Keith, but held back. He hissed and said, “You better
protect
Shanty, Keith. If anything happens to her, I swear to God, I will have you
pay.”
“Jesus, Evan. It’s just a party. Much more, it’s the mayor’s party. What
could go wrong? “Keith said, but later swore, “I’ll
protect


Shanty with my life, because between you
and me, I love her more.”
Keith turned his back without letting Evan recover. Miguel hastily followed
inside the car, and they drove away.
When Evan returned inside the house, he
saw his son shrug as if feeling his defeat for
the night. Just when Evan thought that evening could not get any worse,
William walked out of the dining area, finding
him.
William said, “There you are, Evan. I have been waiting for you. Before you
bring Lucas
to the hotel, have dinner here. I have a meal
specially cooked for you. It’s from Argentina.
Evan gulped. He loosened the buttons on his
tie and asked, “What – what’s for dinner,
Uncle?”
“Something special,” William said. “What? Giving up now?”
“No. No, uncle. I’m up for the challenge,” Evan said, his head silently
praying it would
not be as bad as the bull’s testicles.

Chapter 59: Find Shanty
“Mister Morgan, this is Doctor Shant from the Warlington Hospital. She
would be happy to share the facility’s
achievements when it comes to chest surgeries, Keith proudly introduced
Shantelle to Warlington s mayor, Frank
Morgan.


Frank Morgan was a young mayor. He took the seat at thirty-five while still
unmarried. He was as tall as Keith, but his
features were like that of Evan; dark hair and brown eyes. Only that the
mayor was more slender.
You're, Doctor Shant? The Mayor asked with a frown. He appeared to be
stupefied at learning of Shantelle’s identity.
Yes, Mayor, I am. Doctor Shantelle Scott. Doctor Shant for short,” Shantelle
replied, but she felt awkward at how Frank
Morgan was studying her closely.
l guess Doctor Shant is more famous than I thought,” Keith tried to break off
the
Odd stating by Voicing Otphj and it worked, The blinked and leaned back
sorry i had the impression that you are a man,” Frank replied. He smiled,
but it looked more like an obligation. He said, lt s
Nice to meet you, Doctor Shante. I did not realize that the famous doctor in
town was SO beautiful.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mayor,” Shantelle replied, feeling her ears burn, It
wasn’t every day that you got a compliment
from the town’s mayor. l understan&yowwish to invest in a medical facility
this time?
“Well, yes. Recently; due to He paused, saying, “A friend 9 medical
condition, I have become interested in the medical
field. I want to invest in a hospital that focuses on heart treatment.
“Heart treatment is, in fact; Warrington Hospital’s specialty, " Shantelle
claimed. She was about to say more when the
the mayor cut her off.
“Excuse me, I need to speak to someone, } Frank said. Ile stiiiled at Sliantyj
$éiyjijg; j will be back. I promise,” The
the mayor then disappeared into the crowd and wé/ii ‘the door.
“That went well, Shantelle / pouting her lips.
“Don't worry. you Ill Chance,” Keith said.
Indeed, Shan!elle got another chance to speak to the mayor. When he
returned, Frank Morgan asked Shantelle to join
‘him in a private room next to the convention hall. It was in that room where
Shantelle found the opportunity to list all of


Warlington's achievements.
“From what I heard, these look like your achievements, Doctor Shant. ll
Frank Morgan smiled. He remarked, “You must be
a very talented doctor.”

‘lts just that, recently more and more heart patients need treatment,”
Shantelle replied*
l I'd like to ask if YOU are the only surgeon it) Watling 01j Hospital that is
capable of a heart transplant?” mayor asked.
“Other than lily superiors, my father, and Doctor Hale, I am the only
resident chest surgeon who has led a heart
transplant,” Shantelle confidently answered. “However, two of our other
surgeons have assisted in the same type of
procedure. With guidance, they could potentially lead to a heart transplant.”
Frank nodded, saying, “Very well. 1 1 m glad to know others can perform
such a complex surgery. I think a hospital should
have more than one good surgeon.”
After discussing business, the mayor suddenly asked, “Are you married,
Doctor?”
NO, I am not -well, I used to be, but we divorced, Il she replied.
I l l am sorry to hear that. It i s his loss, obvious y, ‘the mayor retire we will
again, Doctor Shant/ life the opportunity
allows it, j WOOI(I like to takes you for dinner, just tli(l two of
Shantelle froze, The janitor was very upfront. Of course, she had received
compliments from outstanding male doctors at
the hospital, but this was coming from a very influential man in the city.
“Um. I don't know about that, mayor,” she shyly replied. I'll have a son. I am
a single mom and I 1 1
“It doesn I t botherrnevl mayor claimed. He then paused;noticing his phone
ringing. He¯directed his gaZéback to
Shantelle, saying, ILI i ' m sorry%have to take this call. You may return to
the party, Doctor Shant.ll
“Of course,” Shantelle quickly got up and excused herself. She smiled one
last time while at the door and then stepped


outside.
Before shutting the door close, she heard the ‘he phone. “The plans have
changed, that’s an order You better listen ‘to joe
Shantelle felt guilty altogether for having heard a portion of Frank’s call,
She then looked to the far front and saw Keith
waiting for her, his back facing her, He was speaking to a lady who
appeared to be engrossing him with her narrative.
The room she was invited to was at the end of a hallway. She had to walk
about twenty meters to reach where Keith was
standing.
Shantelle had already taken several steps when she suddenly felt an arm
around her waist, a hand covering her mouth
with a cloth.
‘I Mmmmm! Mmmmm! ll She saw the lady speaking to Keith look into her
eyes, but the same woman averted her gaze as
if nothing had happened. ‘Did she not see me?’
The next thing Shantelle knew, she was pushed through a door and thrown
onto the floor. She felt dizzy, but before
completely losing her awareness, she caught glimpse: of the standing
before her, It was Peter Ijaris,
The door slammed shut and was locked up from the outside.
While all this was ha Wag smoking inside of the convention ceil areas at
the eve for his regular
II Noah, are you in there. ‘lifn€co meet the mayor! He heard his wife call;
knocking vigorously against the bathroom door,
The man carelessly threw the cigar in the trash bin full of tissues.
Hestepped out without thinking about the consequences
of his actions.
Little by little, his cigar lit up the trash, and the fire slowly spread from the
male! s bathroom and through the other rooms
of the convention center.
Meanwhile, at the Scotts’ residence, Evan was in the bathroom, gargling
with mouthwash after eating a bull’s intestines.


His face was red, and he swore he would throw up at the hotel. Not there,
though. doctor Scott would not let him off.
Evan took deep breaths, watching himself in the mirror, when William
frantically called for him. “Evan! Evan! Something
has happened to Shanty! Evan! ”
When he rushed outside, Doctor Scott showed him a picture message. It
was Shantelle lying unconscious on the floor
inside a small room. The message said: [Do not answer the call from the
organ center. Let the hospital answer instead.
Wait six hours, and we will let your daughter go. Follow our instructions,
and you will see her alive.]
Panic flashed through Heaven's eyes. He immediately called Miguel, and
he picked up at the first ordered; “Get inside the
fucl(ing party and finding Shanty! She vis in
Evan drove with Andy and Mark to the convention center, leaving Lucas; in
Willian i s care. Evan and William agreed to follow the instructions of the
picture Imessage. Whether it was William’s
career on the other line, Shantelle’s life had to come first.
With Andy driving at high speed on the road, they arrived at the convention
center in twenty minutes, but much to their
dismay, a fire had erupted in the west wing of the same place, and people
were being evacuated.
Evan was horrified, and his heart raced, worried for Shantelle’s sake.
Together with
Mark and Andy, they marched inside the building, hoping to find Shantelle.
They found Keith frantically calling out Shantelle’s name in the second-floor
lobby.
I
‘Shanty! Shanty, where are you?!
There were police officers everywhere, guiding everyone to the exit, On
one side of the building, dense smoke could
already been seen. The sight of it was chaotic.
From one side, Miguel had exited the convention hall. He was sweating
profusely when he said, ‘t She is not here. I’ll


check the west wing! ‘ l
Andy and Mark, ordering them, l
‘Go to the east wing! Check every room!
‘I And you! You could not even move your feet!” Evan barked at Keith. He
revealed, 1 1 Someone locked Shanty inside a
room! Report to the police and make yourself useful!
“Wait -wait – what! She was talking to the mayor a while ago, but I probably
missed her leaving, Il Keith reasoned.
“Where was the last time you saw her?” Evan sought.
Keith's eyes then landed on the West wing of the building, where a fire had
erupted not long before. He replied, it There
through that hallway, the last room.”
It was because Keith had come across the mayor earlier. Frank Morgan
suggested that Shantelle had left before him, and
Keith had probably missed her exiting the room and through the hallway.
Kieth did not doubt the mayor’s words; instead,
He searched for Shantelle elsewhere.
Keith’s heart felt heavy, thinking, ‘Someone locked Shanty in a room?’
Seeing a police officer, he called, I l Sir! My friend is missing. We suspect
something bad has happened to her! Please,
Help me find her!

Chapter 60: Safety First
Shantelle woke up, choking at the feel of the smoke entering her lungs.
When she opened her eyes, she was shocked to
see the vapor slip through the door.
“Shanty! Shanty, where are you?” She heard Evan call. He was coughing
and calling out her name, making her realize he
was close.


“Evan! Evan, I’m here!” She called. Tears welled in her eyes, realizing the
danger she was in. She forced herself up and
punched the door with her fists, calling out to Evan repeatedly. “Evan! I’m
here! Help me, Evan! Help me!”
“Shanty! Shanty, is that you?!” Evan called. ” Move back! I’m going to kick
the door open!”
“The fire is getting worse, Sir! The fire extinguisher is running out,”
Shantelle heard Miguel say behind the door. Then
Evan began to kick through the door again and again until the door gave in.
“Stop using the extinguisher. Let’s use it when we take Shanty out!” Evan
instructed.
After entering the room, Evan rushed to Shantelle. He wrapped her in his
coat for protection.
Before blazing through the fire, Evan had soaked his coat with water while
Miguel found a fire extinguisher. Evan used his
jacket to cover Shantelle as they walked through the hallways where the
fire had reached the ceiling.
Miguel, in particular, had used up the last contents of the extinguisher to
ensure
Shantelle did not get burned as they exited the hazardous area.
Evan loomed over Shantelle as they ran out, protecting her with his frame.
She heard him scream repeatedly, but she did
not know why or have the time to assess the situation.
Finally, when they got out, they were met by police officers. They readily
covered them with a fire blanket.
More and more help arrived. It wasn’t just Shantelle who was trapped
inside the building. Some guests had used the
bathroom or lingered further in the west wing, failing to make it out before
the fire worsened. A report also came in that
one victim had died in the fire.
Shantelle, Evan, and Miguel were rushed to Warrington hospital. Shantelle
only had minor burns on her legs, thanks to
Evan shields her, but Miguel and Evan suffer second and third-degree
burns on their arms. After the extinguisher ran


out, they had apparently used their arms to clear their passage.
While Shantelle’s burns were treated in the emergency room, Keith
apologized. He blamed himself for not looking out for
Shantelle. Keith wept as he said, “I didn’t know. I swear. I’m sorry, Shanty.”
Shantelle did not say anything to Keith. She blamed herself more. She
shouldn’t have come with only Miguel. Better yet,
she should not have come at all. When the nurse covered her leg wounds,
she went to the other bed, where Evan had
been groaning and screaming in pain for the past few minutes. A nurse was
cleaning off his wounds.
The sight utterly squeezed her heart.
Evan’s wounds in his right lower arm were mainly third-degree burns. Some
parts of his skin were literally off him and
were glued together with his shirt. He had second- degree burns on his
upper arms, including his left arm.
Looking at the nurse, she ordered, “Give him pain meds now.”
“Um, doc, he already had one,” said the nurse. “It’s going to take a few
minutes for it to work. I already applied anesthetic
gel to his wounds before cleaning him.”
“Why does he not have IV yet?” Shantelle asked.
The nurse looked down, replying, “Um, Doc.
I could not find a site. I was waiting for Doc –
11
“You are an ER nurse, and you can’t find an IV site!” Shantelle shot back,
her eyes brimmed with tears in anger.
“Shanty, calm down.” Evan clenched his jaws. “My arms are burned. She
was trying to find one.”
Still in her gown, Shantelle first washed her hands. She helped find a vein
in Evan’s arms that was not burned. Then she
inserted a site for his intravenous fluids. After which, she helped clean his
other arm, saying, “I’m sorry, Evan. I’m sorry.’
11
‘Shanty, it’s just a wound. It’s going to get better,” Evan assured her.


Shantelle sucked in a breath. Her lips trembled as she replied, “But – but
this will leave a permanent scar. Not even
surgery can completely cover this kind of scar.”
“What’s important is that you are safe. I’m afraid it would have been too late
if we had waited for the firemen.” He shut his
eyes and said, “Shanty, I was so scared. I did not want to lose you. I don’t
care if I won’t be part of your life the way I
hoped, but I won’t let anything happen to you – never.”
Shantelle stilled. She pondered on his words and could not deny how they
touched her. As she was in deep thought,
However, she heard her father call out. She snapped in William’s direction.
“Shanty, there is a heart coming to the hospital. Calm your emotions. You
are needed to perform the surgery,” William was
panting as he revealed. “I left Lucas in Andy and Mark’s care. They are at
home.”
“I knew it. It had something to do with the organ donor,” Shantelle softly
asked.
William nodded and admitted, “I’m afraid so, Shanty.”
“Well.” Shantelle grit her teeth. She glanced to where Miguel was, lying in
bed and being treated, and then to Evan. Her
eyes also
landed on Keith. He had been observing her the whole time. She said, “I
won’t let them win!”
“Shanty, I need to know. Did you see whoever pushed you inside the
room?” Evan asked.
“Yes, Shantelle replied. “It was Peter Haris.”
***
Shantelle operated on the rightful heart recipient, and no, they dared not let
Briana
West gets a free pass. She remained on the waitlist for the heart donor.
With Evan in the hospital recuperating, it was Keith who reported the
incident to the police in the following days. Following
Shantelle’s statement, Peter Haris was put behind bars before the week
ended.


The Wests denied their involvement and claimed that Peter Haris acted
alone.
If there was one thing good that came about the incident, it was the fact
that both Keith and Evan were now working
together. They were using both their resources to keep Peter Haris behind
bars. Evan brought in top lawyers within the
country, while Keith used his connections to get as many insiders within the
police station.
Keith received reports from the chief of police that someone powerful was
trying to set Peter free and that the police
the commissioner tried to dismiss Shantelle’s case.
Shantelle, Andy, Keith, and Mark discussed this in Evan’s hospital room.
Poor Miguel was in another room being cared for
by his colleague, Duane. Keith described, “I think we are dealing with
someone very influential in Warlington.”
“Evan, I threatened the chief of police with his insurance claim, but he tells
me that his job is on the line,” Keith added. “He
also mentioned that the commissioner seemed distressed as well.”
“So what you are saying is, whoever is behind Peter Haris is someone
above the police commissioner,” Evan sought.
“Looks like it,” Keith confirmed.
“Do you think it’s the mayor? After all, that was where it all started. At his
event?” Evan sought.
Shantelle and Keith looked at each other. Then Shantelle said, “The mayor
did seem interested in heart transplant
surgery. He clearly said this during our conversation.”
Both Keith and Evan frowned.
“If he is responsible for all this, then we need to be wary,” Keith pointed out.
“Rumor has it that the Morgans are into dark
trade.”
“Dark trade?” Shantelle sought.
“Illegal drugs,” Keith replied. “Of course, no one would dare to investigate
them because of the mayor.”
“Shanty, this is what I have been talking about. With what we know now, it’s
getting too dangerous,” Evan said.


“And the more we dig, the more we find ourselves in a bigger hole, altering
the enemy,” Keith agreed.
“You have got to return to Rose Hills,” Evan concluded. “Please, think about
it.”
Keith looked at Evan and then at Shantelle.
He said, “I hate to admit it, Shanty, but safety is first. You are better off back
in Rose Hills.”
Chapter 61: F-R-I-E-N-D
“Sir Erwin, we would just like to know the condition of the last organ donor,”
Shantelle asked.
With what happened to Shantelle,
Warrington Hospital requested a meeting with the organ center. The
organization’s assistant administrator, Erwin, came to
entertain their queries.
“What’s the use of asking this, Doctor Shant? “Doctor Park rolled her eyes.
“We have patients to attend to. What’s
important is that the donor gave the organ, and the recipients got it happily.”
Doctor Park’s reaction no longer surprised Shantelle. After she removed
Doctor Park from her surgery team, she acted ill tempered toward her.
Shantelle quickly put her in her place, saying, “Watch your tone, Doctor
Park. I am still your
superior.
Besides, we are only trying to find answers to the recent attempt on my
life!”
Shantelle looked into the eyes of her co- doctors and described, “How
many heart transplants do we usually get in a year?
One, two, at most, maybe three. But I had just performed a heart transplant
with a gap of six weeks. Moreover, there is a
threat to my life due to the organ donor waitlist.”
“What are you suggesting, Doctor Shant?”
Doctor Hale asked.
“I am saying that there may be foul play in this,” Shantelle replied before
turning back to Erwin. “For one, each time my life


is in danger, a heart is due to arrive at our hospital. Someone from the
organ center is also leaking this information.”
“There is no foul play regarding the donor’s death,” Erwin responded. “We
have already done our investigation. The last
the donor was a cerebral palsy patient who was technically brain-dead, but
her other organs were still healthy.”
“The families confirmed that someone approached them and asked if they
could specifically name a recipient for their
daughter’s organs, but they refused. They did not think it was fair to the
waitlist.
Unfortunately, they failed to identify who approached them,” Erwin
explained.
“Being advised of donating their daughter’s organs, however, hastened
their decision to cut off her life support,” Erwin
added. ”
Nevertheless, I admit that someone is leaking the potential donor’s list from
our office, and that’s what we are currently
looking into it.”
At least Shantelle got some answers. It wasn’t as bad as she thought.
Somewhat, she was afraid that someone was killing
donors on purpose to give way to one, Briana West.
***
After the meeting, Shantelle went straight to Evan’s room. He had been
admitted to the hospital for three weeks. He
underwent an operation to cover some of his severe wounds. Miguel was in
the same boat as
Evan because of their efforts to save her.
Entering the room, she saw Evan’s attending physician, Doctor Carson. He
studied Evan’s arms, saying, “It’s healing
better now. We made the right choice by doing a skin transplant.”
Noticing Shantelle’s sudden arrival, Doctor Carson probed, “Doctor Shant.
Are you in the wrong room?”
Shantelle pursed her lips, saying, “No, I am not. I’m here to see Evan –
Mister


Thompson, I mean.”
‘Oh.” Doctor Carson glanced at the smiling Evan and then back to the
neutral-looking Doctor Shant and asked, “Are you
related?”
“Um. Well.” Shantelle cleared her throat and replied, “He is my friend.”
Shantelle did not know why, but saying the word friend made her ears burn.
“Ah, I see.” Doctor Carson smiled and said to
Evan, “You must be proud to have a famous surgeon for a friend. You
should know, Mister Thompson, some of our
patients come here only to be treated by Doctor Shant.
Evan nodded with a smile. He looked at
Shantelle replied, “I am very proud of my F-R-I-E-N-D.”
“Very well then, I shall leave you both to talk. “Doctor Carson said to Evan,
“I’ll have a nurse clean your wounds -”
“It’s okay, Doctor Carson, I can do it. I’m on break,” Shantelle offered.
Doctor Carson nodded.
Evan’s smile grew wider.
After Doctor Carson left, Shantelle started cleaning Evan’s wounds. The
entire time, her ex-husband was grinning from
ear to ear. She raised a brow and asked, “What’s wrong with you? Keep
smiling like that, and I would think you have lost
your mind.”
Evan laughed. He then revealed the reason for his amusement, “I’m happy,
Shanty.”
“Why?” She asked. “You think your wounds are something to be happy
about?”
“It’s not about the wounds at all,” Evan replied. He carefully folded his other
arm, resting his palm against his chest, and
revealed, “I just went from being ah – an acquaintance to being a friend.
You don’t know how that pleases me.
Hearing him, Shantelle held back the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she
shook her head and grinned back. She purposely
pressed harder against his wound, making him screech in pain. a


“Ah -ah! Careful, careful, my dear friend. That precious arm protected you
from the fire’s debris,” he reminded.
Only then did Shantelle return to being gentle, meticulously wiping his
wounds. A portion of Evan’s burn got stuck to the
gauze she was using, and she sneered.
Her reaction made Evan ask, “Are you disgusted with me?”
Shantelle’s eyes widened. She looked at Evan and answered, “Disgusted?
No! I was more worried that it would hurt.”
Evan’s wounds were not a good sight. The cuts were still evident, even if
he underwent
surgery to cover his wounds. Other parts of his skin will have slight
deformity and discoloration. Genuinely, it broke
Shantelle’s heart just looking at it. She said to Evan, “I’m sorry, Evan. So
much for being one of the most sought-after men
in Rose Hills. These scars will reduce your appeal.”
“I’m happy to know my friend thinks I am appealing,” Evan gladly remarked,
making Shantelle squint. That wasn’t her
point at all.
She pressed his wounds again, and Evan hissed. “Careful, friend. Careful
there.”
“Which part of your skin did they use to cover your arm?” Shantelle
inquired. That was how skin grafting worked. Since the
skin in Evan’s arms would not heal because of the burns, they scraped off a
portion of his skin from another part of his
body.
“The side of my ass,” Evan responded, pointing as he lifted his behind. 1
“Pfft… So much for your perfect ass,”
Shantelle remarked.
“You know, Shanty, I’m starting to think you aren’t just my friend. Friends
don’t know how perfect my ass is, not even
Wendell,” Evan said with a smirk.
“Haha! Let’s face it. We’ve seen each other’s asses,” Shantelle said before
pressing his wound again, making Evan jolt.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it.”


“You were the one who brought it up,” Evan pointed out. After some time of
being silent.
With Shantelle only cleaning his burns, Evan indicated, “I tell you one thing
that friends sometimes do.”
Shantelle looked at his athletic face, and he suggested, “Friends have
movie nights. They have friendly dates, tell each
other secrets, and play a game of truth or dare.”
“Truth or dare?” Shantelle asked in surprise.
“How dare you fall into this?”
“Truth or dare?” Evan sought again. “Come on, Shanty. Truth or dare.”
“I’ll go first, and I choose the truth. Ask me anything you want,” he offered.
He reached for Shantelle’s hand and put it on his
chest, saying, “Ask away. I won’t lie.”
Shantelle sighed. Then, she asked what had been bothering her for some
time. “Tell me the truth. Do you have any regret
about saving me from the fire, considering how badly wounded you turned
out to be?”
Evan was surprised by her query. He looked into Shantelle’s blue eyes and
answered
firmly, “Shanty, I am proud of these wounds because I did it to save you. My
body can heal, but my heart can’t go on,
should I ever lose you again. I said it before and will keep saying that until
you understand. No, I did not regret going into
the fire and finding you. That’s how much I care for you.”
Shantelle felt the rhythm of his heart and sensed no changes. She did not
realize it, but they stared at each other in
silence. When she realized this, she retreated her hand and smiled weakly,
saying, “Thank you, Evan. Thank you for
everything; for saving me twice, the house, and not hating me about
keeping Lucas a secret.”
Evan smiled back. He said, “You are welcome, Shanty.”
Yet again, dead air fell upon them, with Evan simply studying her reactions
and how she finished cleaning his wounds.
“Your turn,” Evan eventually said. “Truth or dare.”


She gasped, questioning why she had taken part in the game in the first
place. As she retreated her hand, she replied,
“Truth.”
“Will you ever love me again, Shanty?” Evan asked.
The question utterly took Shantelle aback. Her mouth parted, but no words
left her lips. Soon, she replied, “Dare. I want
dare, instead.”
She saw how Evan was dismayed, but he quickly recovered, saying, “Okay.
No problem. So dare.” He sucked in a breath
and requested, “How about… a friendly kiss? 2
‘A friendly kiss?’ Shantelle froze in her seat. She looked at Evan for some
time. Then she quietly picked up the extra
gauze and other apparatus she used to clean up his wounds.
“Shanty, I’m sorry. Please forget about it. I didn't mean it. I’m sorry. I won’t
ask again next time,” Evan kept apologizing.
He got off the bed, reaching for her arm.
However, to his surprise, Shantelle turned around and moved closer.
Everything played in slow motion as she closed her eyes and pouted her
lips. Evan’s heart fluttered when her lips landed
on his cheek!
Fireworks erupted. Heck, he did not even know that one could see stars
just by a mere peck on the cheek, but that was
because he loved Shantelle so, that her every touch sparked happy tingles
throughout his body.
For the rest of the day after Shantelle left, Evan was smiling like a fool. He
attended a video meeting with his executives
and announced a special bonus for them. After his session, he
enthusiastically called his father, reporting his progress in
Shantelle’s heart. 1
“What are you so happy about, Evan?” Erick asked on the phone.
Evan let out a heavy sigh and proudly announced, “Shanty kissed me on
the cheek.
Hah!”
“What did you say?” Erick asked again. 1


“Shanty kissed me on the cheek, father!” He repeated with glee. 1
“What are you, nine?” Erick scolded. “Evan, you are not working hard
enough! What makes you think a kiss on the cheek
Is progress enough? Work harder, son! Work harder!”

Chapter 62: Return To Rose Hills
“Doctor Shant, we have a patient that may require an artificial heart
transplant,” a nurse reported to Shantelle in her office.
She looked at the nurse and asked,
Artificial? Who is the patient?”
“Briana West,” the nurse said, her face forming a sneer.
Shantelle gasped. Briana West’s admission only meant one thing; there
was an added pressure to push the same patient
up to the organ priority list, but was it right? Two other patients with the
same body type as her were also in critical care
and need a heart transplant. It had been over a month since the last threat
to her life. Evan was discharged from the
hospital two weeks ago and was recuperating in Rose Hills, all while
working.
When Keith and Evan suggested she leave Warlington, she seriously
considered it, but as the days went by, it felt normal
again. Shantelle was back to her routine, with her bodyguards following her
around. She and her father hoped there would
no longer be a threat to their lives with Peter Haris behind bars. Moreover,
it was very difficult to leave the foundation that
She had already built it in Warlington.
However, with Briana West admitted into the hospital, she wondered if
anything would change.


Before Shantelle could think about the possibilities, the hospital president
called her into a small conference room. She
hurriedly made her way to the meeting room and was surprised to see her
father, Doctor Hale, and Doctor Park.
The president of the Warlington Hospital was a part owner and a veteran
doctor,
Doctor Brian Wester.
“Doctor Shant,” Doctor Wester, the CEO, greeted. “Please take a seat.”
She greeted everyone. Only Doctor Park did not return her regard. She sat
on the vacant seat and gave her father that
question mark look, but William was also clueless.
“I have good and bad news,” the CEO said. ”
The bad news is that we have an investor who pulled out of the hospital. It’s
a loss of funds worth five billion dollars.”
“The good news is, we have a new investor.
He is willing to give the hospital ten billion dollars as an initial investment,”
Doctor
Wester added. “Sadly, however, with the investment offer, it came at a
price. They want change in management,
particularly in the surgery department.”
Shantelle and her father looked at each other before the CEO revealed,
“There have been rumors of how Doctor Shant
only got her promotion because of Doctor Scott. Thus, the new investor did
not think it was wise to keep politics in the
hospital.”
“That is not right.” Doctor Hale was the first one to interrupt. “There was no
one else qualified.”
“But that’s because Doctor Scott only prioritized Doctor Shant in the
fellowship training,” Doctor Park interfered. “If he
gave me a chance, I would have been qualified to be the chief surgeon.”
Shantelle’s mouth fell open. She pointed out, “You have led no heart
transplants and by-pass –
“Again, that’s because the opportunity was always given to you,” Doctor
Park pointed out.


“In any case, the decision is already final,” the CEO said. He looked
Shantelle and
William in the eye, saying, “I regret to inform you that we are letting you
both go, Doctor Scott and Doctor Shant.”
Doctor Wester gave William a set of documents, saying, “Doctor William
Scott, thank you for your service at Warlington
Hospital. We are offering you an early retirement benefit, with an
accumulated compensation of two million dollars.”
Turning to Shantelle, he
Shant, we are offering pressed, “Doctor you one million dollars as
compensation for whatever potential income you may
i am staying in this hospital. It is with regret that we have to let you go, but
the potential losses are greater should we
not accept the terms of the new investor. In Doctor Scott’s place, Doctor
Hale will be the new Medical Director for
surgeries, and Doctor Park will be the new chief surgeon-trainee…” 2
The rest of the news faded into the air like it meant nothing. Shantelle could
not believe her ears. Her heart was crushed
altogether, and tears stung her eyes. As the CEO continued outlining the
termination contract’s conditions, Shantelle
recounted
Doctor Wester gave William a set of documents, saying, “Doctor William
Scott, thank you for your service at Warlington
Hospital. We are offering you an early retirement benefit, with an
accumulated compensation of two million dollars.”
Turning to Shantelle, he expressed, “Doctor Shant, we are offering you one
million dollars as compensation for whatever
potential income you may have in staying in this hospital. It is with regret
that we have to let you go, but the potential
losses are greater should we not accept the terms of the new investor. In
Doctor Scott’s place,
Doctor Hale will be the new Medical Director for surgeries, and Doctor Park
will be the new chief surgeon-trainee…” 2


The rest of the news faded into the air like it meant nothing. Shantelle could
not believe her ears. Her heart was crushed
altogether, and tears stung her eyes. As the CEO continued outlining the
termination contract’s conditions, Shantelle
recounted how many sleepless nights she spent at the hospital, saving
lives.
All those years of practicing at the same hospital and efforts to make a
name for the institution were nothing; it meant
nothing to them. To the hospital board directors and CEO, they were just
employees who could easily be dismissed.
It hurt like hell. To think she meant to grow her career in Warlington, and
she considered the staff her second family.
“Do you have any questions?” Doctor Wester asked, his face showing no
signs of care.
“Just like that? You are going to let us go just like that?” Shantelle said in
anger, her voice breaking in and out. “After all,
what have we done for this hospital?”
From the corner of her eyes, Shantelle saw how Doctor Park rolled her
eyes.
Meanwhile, the CEO exhaled, saying, “We did not let you go just like that.
You are compensated – ”
“It isn’t about the money,” Shantelle shot back. “Do you know how many
offers I have received from other hospitals? So
many, yet I declined those because I whole-heartedly rendered my service
to this hospital – ”
“Then, now that you are free, you can accept those invitations.” The CEO
suggested.
“But!” Shantelle rose from her seat in anger. However, her father cut her off.
“Enough, Shanty,” William said. “We will not waste our talent for this
hospital. We will go elsewhere, somewhere worthy of
our skills!”
He ordered, “Sign the contract!”
“But, dad
“Sign it! And let’s leave this ungrateful facility!” William repeated. 3


***
In the succeeding days, following the announcement of Shantelle and
William’s termination at the hospital, Keith’s
company, Prima MedCare, discontinued his support at Warrington Hospital.
While Keith had preferred that Shantelle move back to Rose Hills, agreeing
with Evan, he also wanted to give her a face.
He wanted to send a message that what the hospital did was wrong.
However, despite that, Warrington Hospital remained
unmoved.
They were firm in letting Shantelle and William go, not even caring to take
back their words.
When Evan heard the news, he flew to Warlington again without hesitation.
He meant to support her in any way.
In the living room of the Scotts’ home, Evan offered to Shantelle.
“I wanted you to go back to Rose Hills, but not in this way, not when they
have labeled your promotion as a result of
politics. I never wanted your credibility to be affected, ” he said. “I’ll hire a
lawyer to make them pay for what they did.”
“Alternatively, I can offer to invest in the hospital,” Evan offered. “If that’s
what will make you feel better. They will certainly
take you back if I can offer a higher investment amount, and I will see to it
that the CEO is replaced!”
Shantelle looked Evan in the eye. She gasped and asked, “Really? You
would do that for me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? They will pay for hurting my precious friend,” he meant it
as a tease, and it worked like a gem for
Shantelle wound up smiling.
“Ah, Evan. I don’t know what to do with you, ” she said while leaning back
in her seat.
“Well? What will it be?” he asked.
Just in time, Shantelle’s father walked in.
She and William glanced at each other, and he nodded. She nodded back.
Before Even arrived, they had already come to
a decision. It was only a matter of revealing it.


She turned to Evan and announced, “We have decided… to return to Rose
Hills.”
‘Return to Rose Hills.’ 1
‘Return to Rose Hills.’ 1
The words echoed in his head, making his heart skip a beat. He kept his
excitement hidden. Evan nodded calmly, saying,
“You won’t regret it, Shanty.”
“I sure hope so,” Shantelle replied.
“Excuse me, I – I need to make a quick phone call,” Evan excused himself.
He walked out of the Scotts’ home and into the
driveway. He ordered Miguel to drive him two blocks away, and they pulled
over at an empty lot.
From there, Evan stepped out of the car. He looked up at the skies and
screamed, ”
YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
“Yes!”
While Evan did not like how Shantelle was dismissed from the hospital, he
could not help but thank the heavens for the
opportunity. To him, it was finally time to take the love of his life home. He
felt guilty about being happy that he muttered,
“I’m sorry, Shanty, but YES!”
When he returned to the Scotts’ home, Shantelle waited by the door. She
asked, ” That must have been some private
phone call, Evan. Did you have to drive away?”
“Oh, um.” Evan smiled, answering, “The signal was bad. Really bad.”

Chapter 63: Lucas’ Hero


“Let me, Shanty,” Evan offered.
“No, let me,” Keith proposed. (1
Both Keith’s and Evan’s eyes narrowed at each other as if letting out laser
beams. They still had not settled their issues,
but when it came to Shantelle, they worked together. They had both offered
to help Shantelle carry out a box of her
belongings to the van.
Two months had passed since Shantelle and William were dismissed from
the hospital. The day had come for the Scotts’
to move back to Rose Hills. Evan and Keith offered a helping hand.
“I’ll take that, Shanty,” Evan repeated.
“He shouldn’t really be carrying things. His skin will stretch. My company
paid a hefty amount of money just to cover his
skin transplant,” Keith reminded.
Shantelle pursed her lips, saying, “Keith is right, Evan. You should sit this
one out. This box is rather heavy.”
“You are right, Keith. How concerned of you, “Evan confirmed. Then, he
glanced at Shantelle, asking, “Can I get help
readjusting my compression garments?”
“Oh, of course.” Shantelle gave the box to Keith and ordered Evan on the
couch. “Let me take a look at it.” 2
Keith’s mouth twitched, his eyes further thinning at Evan. He may have
carried Shantelle’s things, but Even got her
attention, thanks to his burns!
As Shantelle removed the compression garments around Evan’s arm, the
man smirked at Keith, suggesting he still won.
Keith bitterly loaded the box into a van outside the house.
Back in the living room, Lucas approached his parents. He asked, “Mommy,
why does daddy wear stockings around his
arms?” T
Both Evan and Shantelle chuckled. Shantelle replied, “It’s not stockings,
honey. It’s a compression garment that will keep
your daddy’s arms from swelling and help reduce the scarring. He will have
to wear this for maybe eight months or a


year.”
As Shantelle readjusted the compression garment, Lucas caught a glimpse
of Evan’s arm. Seeing how it was somewhat
disfigured, tears unknowingly rolled down his cheek, and he embraced
Evan on the side.
He said, “You are my hero, daddy. You are better than Batman and
superman! Thank you for saving Mommy. I love you,
daddy.”
At first, Evan chuckled at being compared to a DC Comic hero, but he soon
embraced
Lucas, kissing him on the forehead. He replied, “I love you too, Lucas, and I
love your mommy. I will do anything for her,
but I don’t know about being better than Batman and superman.”
Shantelle wound up smiling at Lucas’ words, but at the same time, tears
also stung her eyes at how her son hugged his
father. The way he looked up to Evan was so heart- warming. She had to
turn to the side, stop adjusting Evan’s
compression garments, and hide whatever emotions she felt. As she wiped
the tears from the corners of her eyes, she
saw Keith staring at them.
Keith had that look of defeat on his face, and Shantelle could not help but
give him an apologetic glance. Shantelle knew
Keith cared for Lucas, but the bond between Evan and her son was so
natural. They just instantly clicked.
She watched as Keith returned to the driveway, his head down, his face
looking frail.
Since the Scotts’ home in Rose Hills was fully furnished, they only brought
their clothes and valuables. Shantelle packed a
a few books, but other than that, pieces of furniture were left in the house,
which they had put up for sale.
***
Heartbeats later, everyone was on the private plane to Rose Hills, including
Keith. Miguel was with them. He had decided


to relocate to Rose Hills. Among Shantelle’s other guards, only Andy came
with them, adding to Evan’s security team.
Shantelle and her family settled at the back of the jet. Evan was in the
middle, working on his laptop.
Evan was reviewing emails from his assistant when Keith unexpectedly sat
in front of him. Evan frowned. He declared, “I
i don't want to argue.”
“I’m not here to argue,” Keith said.
“Evan, thank you for saving, Shanty,” Keith suddenly voiced. “I must admit,
you did better than me. You bought the old
Scotts’ home, you saved Shanty twice, and I could tell that Lucas loves you
more than me.”
“You sure had it made,” Keith added.
Evan found himself leaning back, simply studying Keith. Soon he said,
“Thank you for looking out for Shanty and Lucas all
those years, but it still doesn’t change the fact that you deprived me of my
son and lied to me.”
Keith looked down and replied, “I thought I would be enough for them,
Evan. Would it make you feel better to know that I
now realize how I was wrong?” en I saw Lucas calling you his hero, it broke
me,” Keith declared. He hissed, massaging
his neck and turning to the plane’s window. His expression turned gentle as
he described. “There was longing in Lucas’
eyes that I had never seen. I should have known. He never called me his
hero before.”
“I’m sorry, Evan. I’m sorry about everything. I know I was selfish.” He
looked at Evan and declared, “I want you to know
that I will back off, but if you ever hurt
Shanty again or Lucas, I swear to god, Evan, I will initiate Shanty’s next
leaving, and I will make sure you never see them
again.”
The two stilled in their seats for an undetermined time until Evan cleared
the air. He said, “While I don’t like the threat, I
i want to clarify that it won’t happen. I have learned from my mistakes, and
you have seen me regret all those years. Do


you think I’d want to be in that situation again?”
“Look me in the eye, Keith, and tell me. Did you never see my sincerity all
those years? How I have become depressed,
how I have buried myself in my work so I can forget my pain,” Evan
reminded.
Keith did not answer. Instead, he sucked in a breath and said, “I don’t
know. Maybe, I chose not to see. Good luck, Evan,
because you will need it. Shanty has turned cold when it comes to loving
another man.”
“I’ve waited this long to find her. What makes you think I’ll give up now?”
Evan said back. “Regardless of her decision, I
i am happy just to be around her. I will keep loving her without expecting
anything in return.”
A weak smile became painted on Keith’s face. He replied, “Then I’ll be
here, waiting to see how it ends.” He cleared his
throat and added, “I’ll still be there for Shanty and Lucas, no matter what.
Don’t take that away from me.” 1
“I wasn’t planning to. You are my son’s godfather, and I expect you to do
your part – give the gifts and never miss a
birthday or a holiday – it better not cost less than a thousand dollars each,”
Evan responded before returning to his laptop.
Keith wound up chuckling. He was about to leave when Evan surprised him
by saying, I’m sorry for punching you in the
face, but you must admit how you deserved that.”
With a nod, Keith answered, “I accept your apology.” He left without saying
more.
***
While in the air, Shantelle was arranging her bag when she noticed her
phone was off. She charged her mobile and
turned it on before quickly putting it on airplane mode. Soon, however, she
saw how she had missed ten calls from
Warrington Hospital. The calls came in while they were moving boxes into a
van.
She turned to her father and revealed, “Dad, the hospital called.”


“Yes, they called me too, but I did not
answer. They even called Eana, but I told her not to entertain their calls.
They say it had something to do with a heart
transplant procedure.” William said, “Let them be. Whatever they need, we
are no longer obligated to deliver. They made
their choices.
Eana, William’s assistant, had to stay behind to ensure the house sale went
through smoothly, but she would soon follow
to Rose
Hills with her family. That was how the hospital got through Eana.
Hearing her father, Shantelle thought deeply. She said, “I wonder why they
would call. They still have Doctor Hale.”

Chapter 64: Surgery Failed
Earlier that day, at Warrington Hospital, Doctor Hale was notified of a heart
arriving. Doctor Park prepared the operating
room.
What surprised Doctor Hale was how the organ center did not call him. He
wondered, So who was notified? Was there a
bypass in the hierarchy?’
His job was to walk Doctor Park through the procedure, and thus, he made
his way to the operating room. To his shock,
The patient lying in bed was not who he expected. He may not have had
the complete list of the patients on the waitlist, but
he was sure
Briana West was not the next one!
“What is the meaning of this? Doctor Park? Why is Briana West here?
Send her back! Let me check the waitlist!” He
questioned.
Because of his reaction, Doctor Hale was ordered into the CEO’s office,
where the truth was revealed to him.


He met Briana West’s parents and the mayor, Frank Morgan. Apparently,
the new investors were the West Family, and the
the person behind their strength was the mayor himself. 2
“Doctor Hale,” the hospital’s CEO advised. It did not have to be this way.
The Wests expect your full cooperation in the
decision to move up Briana on the organ waitlist. Mr. Frank Morgan, our
mayor, is Miss West’s boyfriend. He will reward
you generously for keeping your mouth shut -”
“Alternatively,” the mayor threatened. “You can get terminated, just like
Doctor Shant and Doctor Scott.”
“Think about your family,” the mayor added. “Think about your newly
acquired position here in Warrington Hospital.”
Dead air fell upon them as Doctor Hale tried to absorb all the news. Soon,
he said, “I get it now. You had Doctor Shant,
and Doctor Scott was dismissed because of the transplant waitlist! Of
course, it had to be it!”
“Doctor Hale, calm yourself down. This is not a big deal. We are simply
skipping two patients on the list,” the CEO said.
“Why can’t Miss West be on the artificial heart instead of skipping the line?”
Doctor Hale asked. “Patients have a life
expectancy of up to five years in a mechanical heart. That can still work,
and she can wait for an actual heart to become
available.”
“I don’t want my girlfriend to experience the complications of an artificial
heart. I can’t have her carry a pumping machine
throughout her daily life! Moreover, cut her open twice!” Frank added.
“This goes against my work ethics! I don’t want to do it!” Doctor Hale
declared, utterly enraged. What really frustrated him
more was that his colleagues, William and Shantelle, were dismissed
unfairly because of the waitlist.
Doctor Hale recognized that the hospital would not have told him the entire
truth if he had not reacted in the operating
room. He said, “Doctor Shant, Doctor Scott – how could this hospital allow
its reputation to be tarnished?”


“If you are not going to do it, then you are fired, Doctor Hale!” the CEO
declared.
“I would rather be fired than be part of this! “Doctor Hale threw his ID on the
floor and left the hospital without turning back.
1
***
Meanwhile, in the operating room, Doctor Park learned that Doctor Hale
refused to help. She received a call from within
the operating room and spoke to the CEO, “Can you do this without Doctor
Hale, Doctor Park?”
Doctor Park scoffed and confidently replied, “I can do this. I was born
ready! Besides, Doctor Varma is assisting me today.
He had also helped Doctor Shant with a heart transplant.”
“You can put your faith in me,” Doctor Park claimed, assuring their CEO.
The operation proceeded as planned. The entire time, Doctor Park led the
surgery eagerly. Sometimes Doctor Varma
offered aid due to the time constraint, but Doctor
Park was a proud woman. She told the assistant surgeon, “Your job is to
hold the incision open, hand me tools, and close
up the chest. That’s what assistants do.”
“But, Doctor Park. It has been over six hours. The heart might not be good
anymore, “Doctor Varma warned. “Let me help
you.”
“I know what I am doing, Doctor Varma. Just continue to assist me,” Doctor
Park insisted and resumed stitching in the
new heart.
It took longer than expected. Doctor park ended the surgery after eight
hours. They shocked the heart, but the organ did
not beat. Again and again, they tried to wake the heart, but despite their
efforts, the new heart did not respond.
“Doctor Park, I think the surgery took too long. The heart is no longer
good,” Doctor Varma said. “A heart can only be
outside a body for six hours maximum.”


Doctor Park began to panic and retreat to her step. Seeing her reaction,
Doctor Varma took charge. He ordered the surgical
team, “Let’s put the patient back on the heart and lung machine! Prepare
for an artificial heart transplant instead!”
“Yes, Doctor Varma!” The nurses replied, leaving Doctor Park in shock at
her failure.
She simply leaned back on the sidelines, watching as everything unfolded.
1
“Try to get Doctor Shant on the line, please!
Or Doctor Hale!” Doctor Varma ordered.
Operating room one was in a scramble, trying to save the life of Briana
West. They failed to contact Shantelle and William,
but they convinced Doctor Hale to save Briana West’s life, regardless of the
donor list issue.
Doctor Hale eventually returned. He and Doctor Varma implanted an
artificial heart in Briana West, saving her life. Sadly,
However, Briana still had no real heart. The
Wests avoided the mechanical heart option, but in the end, their daughter
wound up with one. Not only that, they wasted a
good heart that was meant for someone else. 1
***
In Rose Hills, the Scotts had just settled in their home. The Thompsons
came by the next day to join them for a picnic
lunch in the mansion’s backyard.
While Shantelle’s parents and Clara set up the table, Lucas challenged his
father on a chase, going around a Magnolia
tree.
When Shantelle called Lucas for lunch, he did not hear her. She walked
towards the father and son, calling their attention.
“It’s time for lunch. Come on, Lucas. Evan, stop chasing him.”
“I got you!” Evan screamed, grabbing Lucas by the waist. He lifted his
weight as Lucas laughed uncontrollably.
“Lunch time, guys,” Shantelle repeated. She was a meter away from them
when Evan lowered Lucas to the ground.


Suddenly, Lucas ran in the direction of the picnic table, throwing Shantelle
spinning on her heels. She bumped into Evan,
and they both fell to the ground under the Magnolia tree.
Shantelle wound up on top of Evan, her chest against his, her face brushed
against his cheek, and his hot breath warmed
her skin. When she lifted herself, her hand settled on his chest. Their eyes
met, and for the first time since meeting Evan
again, she swore she sensed her face burned and her heart raced.
Evan’s eyes were gentle on her, and for some reason, she could not look
away until Lucas cheered them on. “Mommy
and Daddy sitting under a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love. Then
comes marriage. Then comes the baby!” 2
Shantelle hurriedly peeled off Evan while he smiled like a fool. Evan
thought his ex-wife was so adorable when blushing.
Then, reality hit him. ‘Wait, did she just blush because of me?’
Evan’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Lucas and winked at him.
Lucas winked back, giving his father a thumbs up.

Chapter 65: Karise’s Apology
“Karise?” Shantelle said, seeing her best friend arrive at the doorway of
their old mansion. She leaned back and asked,
“How – how did you know?” (1
“Are you here?” Karise replied. “Keith told me.”
Shantelle smiled weakly and embraced her friend, saying, “We are having a
picnic lunch. Why don’t you join us for
dessert?”
“Picnic lunch? With whom?” Karise asked.
Shantelle first pursed her lips. Then she shrugged and revealed, “With the
Thompsons, Uncle Erick and Aunt Clara are


here. Evan is also here.”
“Oh.” Karise hesitated and said, “I don’t know if I am welcome then. I have
heard from Keith how Lucas has met his father.
I am happy for him.”
There was that awkward silence between them before Shantelle asked,
“Are you?”
“Shanty, please. Let’s talk about it, okay? That’s why I came in the first
place,” Karise pleaded.
Shantelle let Karise in. They settled on one bench in the backyard,
permitting Karise a good view of how Evan and Lucas
were chatting merrily. Karise had earlier greeted the Scotts and the
Thompsons, including Evan. Lucas seemed to have
forgot her, but that was understandable. Their busy lives prevented them
from keeping in touch.
“Wow, they look happy,” Karise remarked, seeing Lucas feeding his father
with dessert, and Evan acted like a bear with
claws before taking the spoon into his mouth.
“They are,” Shantelle answered contently. And I guess it’s because they
don’t see each other every day that they make
most of their time together.”
Shantelle did not know how long they sat there, merely watching Lucas and
Evan, but soon, she heard Karise say, “Evan
looked for you, Shanty like seriously did, but at first- I don’t know if Doctor
Scott told you
“Yes, my father told me,” Shantelle acknowledged. “So, I don’t blame you
entirely.”
–
“I’m sorry, Shanty,” Karise said. She then narrated Evan’s every effort,
saying, “He stayed overnight at the cemetery on
the day you gave birth to Lucas. He honestly thought you would come.”
Karise said a lot more, including how they met a few times to have a casual
conversation over coffee, and Evan wound up
in front of her office. She said, “There was a time when I got used to him
suddenly appearing out of nowhere. I realized


how serious he was and that, despite the wrong he had done, there was
actually… the good side of Evan.”
Shantelle frowned as Karise narrated. She did not quite understand where
her friend was going with her tale until Karise
revealed,
“I ended up liking Evan, Shanty – like, super infatuated.”
“I um. I took advantage of the fact that
Evan kept asking about you. I was secretly excited to see him once in a
while,” Karise added before breaking down in
tears. “I’m sorry, Shanty. I kept the truth from you because there was a part
of me that hoped something would spark
Evan and I know I am a bad friend and aunt to Lucas!”
Hearing her friend, Shantelle wound up gasping for air. She sat still with her
eyes widening. The words that left Karise’s
the mouth seemed to have quieted into the air. She could not think
properly; all she grasped was how her best friend liked
Evan, which was part of why she had said nothing to her in those seven
years since Lucas was born!
At the end of Karise’s explanation, she hugged Shantelle on the side, but
her friend did not reciprocate. Karise wound up
letting go and asking to leave.
Shantelle guided her back to the door, where Karise asked, “Will you
forgive me, Shanty?”
“I-I can’t hate you, Karise. I will always love you because you are my friend,
but I can’t help but be hurt by what you told
me,’
Shantelle said. “Give me time.”
Shantelle was about to close the door when she asked, “I want to know one
thing. Do you still have those feelings for
Evan now?”
“No. God, no.” At the door, Karise sighed, saying, “He probably realized I
would not tell him about you that he stopped
seeing me. He was only meeting me, hoping he would know where you
were. It was all about you, Shanty. I haven’t seen


Evan for years. I can’t even remember. Those feelings are long gone, but I
just wanted to be honest. with you.”
“In the past, I would never say this, but seeing Evan now and how he is
with Lucas – knowing how he still loves you, I
want you to know that I honestly felt he was very regretful about your
divorce, Shanty,” Karise added.
Karise held Shantelle’s wrist and continued, “And I’m not just saying this for
the sake of Lucas. I’m saying that maybe, you
should also give yourself a chance – a chance to fall in love again.”
“A chance to get hurt again?” Shantelle asked with a hint of irony.
“Well, that’s what love is all about. It’s all about taking risks. Otherwise, you
will be left wondering for the rest of your life. I
I know it’s hard to fall in love again, especially with your past with Evan. It
might not work, but what if it will?” Karise said.
“You know what they say; love is sweeter the second time around. Think
about it, Shanty.” 2
Karise embraced Shantelle, relishing in her warmth. She said, “I miss you,
Shanty. Take care, and I hope we can get back
to how things were – you know – not like this when we are both
uncomfortable with each other… Goodbye, Shanty.”
After that talk with Karise, Shantelle was primarily silent. Karise’s words
gave her something to consider. Time went by so
she failed to notice how it was time for the Thompsons to leave. 1
At the door, Evan kissed Lucas goodbye. He told Shantelle, “I’m going to
be very busy in the next few days, but I’ll drop by
every evening, no matter how late. I hope that’s fine.”
“It’s fine,” she replied. “I don’t have work, remember?”!
“You’ll have work soon,” Evan insisted, reminding her of his plan for her
career. 2
“Well, Dad and I are taking a break, regardless. I haven’t been this free to
do anything but lounge for years. I might as well
enjoy it for at least a month,” Shantelle answered.
“You should. You deserve a break,” Evan responded. “I should go now.
Father is tired. On the weekend, I can take Lucas
home with me?”


Shantelle nodded.
They both said their goodbyes. Evan had ushered his father into the car,
and he was about to hop into the front seat when
Shantelle walked down the driveway. She asked, “Evan!”
“Shanty?” Evan asked, turning in her direction.
“They say love is better the second time. around. Why is that Evan?”
Shantelle asked.
Evan was taken aback. He gulped air down his throat before finding the
words to say, Well, Shanty. I think second
chances work better because we learn from previous mistakes.”
His mouth parted for some time until he promised, “I won’t make the same
mistakes again, Shanty. I swear I won’t.”
Shantelle simply blinked and declared, “I was just thinking, you knowhypothetically. I don’t mean anything by it.”
“Sure.” Evan smiled. “I love you, Shanty. I always will. And that’s not
hypothetical.”

Chapter 66: A Marriage Proposal
The next day, Evan came in the evening as promised. He was putting
Lucas to bed when his son asked, “Daddy, why


can’t we live in the same house? Do you have to leave for tonight?”
“Yes, son. I have to,” Evan answered. “For us to live in the same house,
your mommy has to love Daddy back.”
“Mommy still doesn’t love you?” Lucas asked.
Evan smiled and winked at his son. “Daddy is working on it.”
“What else can I do, Daddy?” Lucas asked.
A chuckle escaped Evan’s lips. Truth be told, his son helped more than
enough, even without Evan directing him. Evan
replied, Just be yourself, and keep loving Daddy. Everything else will
follow.”
‘I hope,’ he said in his head. He pecked Lucas goodnight before heading
down to the living room. He found Shantelle on
the phone, speaking to Doctor Hale.
“Be careful, Doctor Hale. These people attempted to hurt me,” Shantelle
said with a worried expression. After ending the
call, she turned to Evan and asked, “Heading home?”
Evan nodded, replying, “Lucas is asleep.”
“Evan, I’d like to ask a favor,” Shantelle sought. “Mark and Duane are
based in Warlington, right? Can you connect me to
the same security agency and maybe offer
Doctor Hale protection -”
“What happened?” Evan asked, seeing
Shantelle’s concern.
Shantelle narrated what happened to the hospital, including how Briana
West wound up with a mechanical heart. She
described, Doctor Park got fired. She is facing a lawsuit from the West
family. Doctor Hale had reported the incident to the
organ center and was planning to go to the media with the information he
had.” 1
With a heavy sigh, she resumed, “Briana West is the mayor’s girlfriend. He
was probably behind Peter Haris the whole
time.”
Evan clenched his hands as he said, “That explains everything. The
invitation to the party was probably not a coincidence.


You or your father would have been trapped in that room to manipulate the
organ waitlist.”
“I’ll hire Mark and Duane again to protect Doctor Hale and his family. I’ll
take care of the expenses.” He vowed, “And as for
the mayor? I’ll make sure he suffers the consequences of hurting you,
Shanty. I swear on my life.”
***
##TV REPORT##
“On another breaking news, Warlington Hospital faces multiple lawsuits
following the alleged manipulation of the organ
waitlist. In Warlington, only Warlington
Hospital is certified to perform organ donor operations and maintains
contact with the patients on the waitlist,” a news
anchor of
TMC News reported on TV.
“Just recently, a respected thoracic surgeon, Doctor Hale, surfaced with
allegations of the hospital accepting a bribe to
push up a patient on the waitlist.”
The TV showed an interview with Doctor
Hale, saying in front of the camera: “The hospital dismissed two of our best
surgeon, Doctor Shantelle Scott and Doctor
William
Scott, because they opposed any manipulation of the donor waitlist.”
“One patient was moved up to receive a heart. Her name is Briana West.
That can be seen in hospital records, and the
the organ center can confirm that we have received an organ. In the master
list of the organ waitlist, the patient in question
was not on top of the list,” Doctor Hale explained.
“I met with the West family themselves, including the boyfriend of Briana
West. Our beloved Mayor, Frank Morgan, is the
patient’s boyfriend. He was the one who pushed the hospital to
accommodate the West family’s request,” Doctor Hale
added. ”
They threatened me with my job if I did not cooperate!”


## END OF TV REPORT ##
Within the CEO office of the Thompson
Group of Companies, Evan was watching the news on TV.
Turning behind him, he directed his assistant, “Tell the lawyers working on
Shanty and Doctor Scott’s formal complaint against the hospital to support
Doctor Hale. They can bring in another lawyer
as needed. I’ll personally shoulder their professional fees.”
“Yes, Sir,” James confirmed.
“Have someone look into Frank Morgan, the mayor,” Evan instructed.
“Then, hire a blogger to spread this news across the
internet. Have them feature the qualifications of Shanty and Doctor Scott.
This exposure will greatly help the new heart

and the lung center by the time it opens.’
“This is noted, Sir.” James nodded. “I’ll work on it right away. And, regarding
the new medical facility, the documents are
on your desk.”
“Mmmm. Very good,” Evan replied before dismissing his assistant. He
walked over to his desk and saw the said
documents. He read, “Saint Dominique’s Heart and Lung Center.”
Evan smiled, thinking of Shantelle’s new future. He had purchased fifty
percent of the hospital’s shares, convinced the
board of directors to turn it into a heart and lung center, and recommended
hiring Shantelle and William Scott.
The facility was contented to accept his offer since the same hospital had
struggled over the past years, following Doctor
Scott’s leaving. Saint Dominique Hospital used to be a regular medical
institution, accepting all kinds of patients. However,
It will only focus on heart and lung treatment in the future. The center was
still being refurbished, but it was due to reopen
in a month.
Evan signed the documents before him and went about his day’s first
meeting.
***


Stepping outside his office, James advised, Your first appointment is ready.
It’s Mister Jason Turner and his daughter,
Jessica. They had also requested your father’s presence, but I know it
wasn’t wise, so I suggested a video call instead.
Your father should be online with them now.”
11
Evan frowned. He wondered why the Turners wanted to speak to his father.
The Turners were business partners in Evan’s
new realty company, but while their cooperation only started five years ago,
Jason Turner was his father’s classmate back
in the old days. They were old acquaintances, but they weren’t close.
James and Evan made their way to the floor below them and into the main
conference room. Evan saw how his father
was on the widescreen monitor, in the middle of the area, and he greeted,
“Morning, father.”
“Morning, son,” Erick said back. “Jason and I were just talking about the
good old days.
Evan nodded and studied the long table. On one side, there was Jason
Turner and his daughter, Jessica. Taking note of
his number one rule, he decided to take the opposite side of the table.
Once there, he asked, “May I know what brings you
here, Mister Turner? James has just updated me regarding the new
condominium. There seems to be no problem.”
“Oh, Evan. I did not come here for business, “Jason Turner said. He smiled
at Evan and then at Erick, who remained
online with them. After which, he beamed at his daughter, Jessica.
Jessica Turner was an engineer and functioned as the project manager of
the new condominium being constructed. She
was very effective in her job and contributed to the seamless building of the
new structure. She had long, black hair,
brown eyes, slender features, and was young.
After her father regarded her, Jessica turned to Evan with a cordial smile,
saying, “Just so you know, this was not my idea,
Mister Thompson.”


“What is it? I have things to do,” Evan curtly said. If it wasn’t about
business, it wasn’t important to him.
“We want to strengthen our alliance with you, Evan, Erick, and I know that
Evan is a single man. So, I wanted to propose
a marriage alliance between Evan and my young daughter, Jessica.” Jason
Turner had a wide grin on his face. He
elaborated on his daughter’s qualities, “My daughter is still twenty-eight, a
well-achieved woman, is fit, and is very
intelligent. Many men wish to date her, but I don’t see potential in them. I
think Evan is the most suitable to be my son- inlaw.”
Next to Evan, James’s eyes widened.
On the TV monitor, Erick’s face paled.
On the other hand, Evan narrowed his eyes, his hand clenched into a fist.
He said, ” Whatever respect I had for your
daughter has gone down the drain.”
“I don’t know where you got the news from, but I am already married!” Evan
shot back. ” Bring up this proposal again, and
I will not. hesitate to discontinue our partnership, regardless of how much I
will lose.”
“But Evan, you are not married,” Jason pointed out. “You would be lucky
with my daughter. She is young and talented -”
“I am married!” Evan repeated. “Whoever said that I wasn’t?” Even in his
compression garments, he flashed his wedding
ring, saying, “I am married, and I also have a son.
He glared at Jessica, adding, “Have some self -respect, Miss Turner!”
Evan got up and declared, “This meeting is over!” Instructing his assistant,
he ordered, “James, make sure that my
appointments are business-related moving forward. If there are
non-business related appointment requests, have them
pay a hundred thousand dollars per hour for my time!”
“Yes, Sir. Apologies, Mister Thompson. This won’t happen again,” James
acknowledged. He glowered at the Turners, for
he got mixed up in the mess they had just brewed. James sighed, thinking
his boss would be in a bad mood for the rest of


the day.
***
Hours later, Jason Turner had dinner with his daughter in a private
restaurant. He said, “I asked around and discovered
that Evan is still hung up on his ex-wife. He isn’t married anymore!”
“I found out that his ex-wife was a jealous
woman. Some veteran workers have attested that Evan’s ex-wife
constantly monitored him, coming over for lunches and
bringing him food. Then, I spoke to one businessman who said his deal
with Evan had gone sour because his ex-wife
suddenly appeared during their lunch meeting, thinking Evan was cheating
on her,” Jason added.
“Oh, such an insecure woman!” Jessica remarked. “I’ll never be like that!” 1
“It’s very simple,” Jason proposed. “All we need to do is to make this
woman doubt Evan.” (3
Jessica smiled and said, “Then, let’s do that. Who is this ex-wife of his?”

Chapter 67: She Said Yes!
“My clients were humiliated. Your hospital purposely circulated a letter via
email, suggesting that Doctor Shant and Doctor
Scott was dismissed due to political gains,” the lead counsel firmly said.
She gave the opposing lawyer copies. of the
said email and added, “We want five million dollars as compensation for
defamation and a public apology through print or
TV media.”
“If you choose not to cooperate, we will bring this case to court, where your
clients will spend twice more and still make


that public apology. Remember how Warlington Hospital already had a
reputation for manipulating the organ waitlist? That
alone has reduced your clients’ credibility,” the impressive lead lawyer said.
She laid out all the documents and pointed
them out. “You forget that Doctor Scott has copies of the entire promotion
election.”
“Your choices were Doctor Park, the same woman whose surgery failed,
resulting in an additional lawsuit. The second
was
Doctor Lewis, the same doctor who finished third to Doctor Shant in
Warlington Medical School, who later made surgical errors following his
transfer to another hospital,” the lawyer added.
“Your third option was the general surgeon, but he had not performed a
heart surgery,” the lawyer conveyed with a sneer.
“Is it not true that the basis of promotion was the surgeon’s experience?
Regardless of the relationship between
Doctor Shant and Doctor Scott, who had the best qualifications?”
She turned to Doctor Hale, who was also present during the meeting, and
the said surgeon confirmed, “Doctor Shant was
Chapter 67 She Said Yes!
always the best candidate. No one else was as good as her.”
Everyone was inside a conference room in a local law firm in Warlington.
William, Shantelle, and Evan flew back to
Warlington to bargain their case against the hospital.
Their lawyers were fearless, top-notched, and hired all the way from the
best law firm in Braeton City. The lead counsel
was a woman, but she held the most authority during the discussion. Her
name was Scarlett Wright. 12
The opposing lawyers discussed amongst themselves, including
representatives of the board from Warrington Hospital.
They went at it for minutes, and Scarlett warned, “Keep wasting our time,
counsel, and we will add our professional fee to
the compensation request!”


“We agree to your conditions,” finally the opposing lawyer said. “And we
would like to let Doctor Scott and Doctor Shant
know that the board had no involvement in
Doctor Wester’s actions. He was terminated as CEO, after last week’s
hearing of the organ manipulation case.”
“That’s good to know,” Doctor Scott said. “He deserves the same conditions
he gave us.”
Not only did Warrington Hospital agree to the compensation request, they
had urged Shantelle and Doctor Scott to return
to their facility, but the two doctors refused.
Evan helped by adding justification, While the case against the mayor is
still ongoing, I don’t think it is safe for them to
work in Warlington. There is no assurance that the mayor will not retaliate.’
||
“Then, it is our loss,” the opposing lawyer said. “Again, we apologize for
what happened. We are glad that we met.
halfway without going to court.”
They finalized the deal, and each party. signed the agreement.
When the meeting was over, Shantelle and William, including Evan,
thanked the lawyers who assisted them.
“It’s a pleasure to be of service,” Scarlett said, extending her hand to them.”
Though my work is not done here. My team
will work hard to put the mayor behind bars.”
“Please take care of yourself, Scarlett. He is a powerful man and could
potentially hurt you too,” Shantelle pointed out.
“Oh, I’m not afraid of him. If he hurts me, he will be in bigger trouble.”
Scarlett winked, saying, “Trust me. I have a military
backup.” 3
“That’s why I hired her. She can protect herself,” Evan pointed out. “Her
husband is the CEO of the Diamond Hotels, and
they have connections in the military, where the mayor has no influence.”
Shantelle happily shook Scarlett’s hand, saying, “You are amazing, and I
thank your husband for your support.”


“Thank you, Misses Wright,” After Shantelle, Doctor Scott, also shook
Scarlett’s hand.
Scarlett then extended her hand to Evan, but the man only narrowed his
eyes. He reminded Scarlett, “I know I hired you,
but I’m sure you recall my number one rule.”
1 “Oh.” Scarlett quickly retreated her hand, saying, “My apologies, Mister
Thompson. I forgot. Though, I have seen you
hold Doctor Scott -”
“She’s the only exception to the rule,” Evan said coldly.
“Oh.” Scarlett chuckled. “You remind me of my brother-in-law.” She winked
at Shantelle and said, “He’s a keeper.” 3
Nearly a month had passed since the Scotts relocated to Rose Hills. Many
relevant events transpired, but they mainly
occurred in Warlington. Thanks to Evan’s efforts in investigating the mayor,
it was later revealed that Peter Haris was
employed by the mayor to see through Briana West’s needs. Now, the
mayor was facing bribery charges and a criminal
case for the attempt on Shantelle’s life.
***
“Evan, thank you for everything; the lawyers, helping Doctor Hale,
investigating the mayor, investing in a heart and lung center, convincing me
about the lawsuit, being there when I need
you just everything,” Shantelle declared. They were on the plane, heading
back to Rose Hills, seated next to each other in
the front row.
She turned to Evan with gentle eyes, saying, “I would not have survived all
this without your help. This was way more
more stressful than I could imagine.”
“Are you stressed now?” He asked.
“A little. Earlier, I was nervous before the negotiations,” Shantelle admitted.
“Let me absorb all that stress,” he offered, leaning in for a hug.
Shantelle smiled and allowed the embrace. She felt his warmth and the
tightness of his hold. As he wrapped his arms
around her, he said, “God, I miss you so much.”


It was because Evan was away for over a week, traveling to Lockwood and
other cities where his business had expanded.
He only returned after learning that the lawyers were ready with their
negotiations with Warlington Hospital. Before
leaving, Evan was also constantly busy, following up with the heart and
lung center’s opening date. He only visited Lucas
at night, sometimes too late at night, that there was little opportunity for him
and Shantelle to chat on a personal level.
Evan meant to soothe Shantelle, but he felt equally relieved to be engulfed
in her scent and to hold her in that way. Still,
He did his best, rubbing her back, hoping she would feel better.
After pulling away, he asked, “How’s that? Good?”
Shantelle smiled. She rubbed the back of her neck and admitted, “Yes.
Thank you, Evan.” She paused, looking distantly,
and asked, “Are you sure there is nothing I can do to um – repay you?”
Evan chuckled. He replied, “Don’t tempt me because I will go big on that
query.”
“Ask away. I might just.” She maintained. her smile and suggested, “I might
just grant it.”
Evan froze. He looked at Shantelle and studied her expression. It did not
appear to him that she was bluffing. Thus, he
brazenly asked, “I want a date and a kiss. The kind that’s not friendly. I
want time. alone with you, Shanty.”
“Will you grant me that? I’m dying here,” he added, his eyes full of
yearning.
Shantelle looked him in the eye. Her smile faded, seemingly in deep
thought. Soon, she replied in a soft tone, “Okay. I
I don't know about a kiss, but I’m fine with a date.”
Evan’s mouth fell on the aircraft’s floor can do to um – repay you?”
Evan chuckled. He replied, “Don’t tempt me because I will go big on that
query.”
“Ask away. I might just.” She maintained her smile and suggested, “I might
just grant it.”
Evan froze. He looked at Shantelle and studied her expression. It did not
appear to him that she was bluffing. Thus, he


brazenly asked, “I want a date and a kiss.
The kind that’s not friendly. I want time alone with you, Shanty.’
“Will you grant me that? I’m dying here,” he added, his eyes full of
yearning.
Shantelle looked him in the eye. Her smile faded, seemingly in deep
thought. Soon, she replied in a soft tone, “Okay. I
I don't know about a kiss, but I’m fine with a date.”
Evan’s mouth fell on the aircraft’s floor panels, utterly shocked. In truth, he
never expected Shantelle to agree. “You – you
said yes?”
“I said yes,” she replied. “You have to tell me about that number one rule,
though.”
“You really said yes?” He asked again.
“You want me to take it back?” She asked, seeing how he doubted her.
“No! You can’t take it back! You already said yes!” Evan responded.
“So stop questioning me and plan for the date!” She ordered, making Evan
laugh.
“Oh, I will. You are going to enjoy every moment! You are going to want to
kiss me then!” He declared, his smile reaching
his ears.
Shantelle beamed, challenging him. ”
Let’s see about that.”

Chapter 68: The Special Date
Immediately the next day, Evan purposely ended his work early. He had
been waiting for the opportunity to take


Shantelle was out for months, and this was his moment. After she said yes,
he did not wait another day, another week, and
definitely not another month.
Fortunately, it was the right season for his ideal date with his ex-wife. He
thought about it a hundred or a maybe a
thousand times. When Shantelle left, he had long imagined taking her to
one of her favorite spots, and he wished it would
bring back the old Shantelle that loved him so.
Shantelle shrugged, saying, “You said it wasn’t formal.”
“And you don’t look so bad yourself. I didn’t know you could wear shorts,”
Shantelle commented, noticing how Evan was
in a white shirt and denim shorts. that reached his knees.
“Oh, I admit it’s been a while, but I’m happy to be in comfortable clothes,”
Evan replied, giving her a bouquet of roses.
With a sigh, Shantelle accepted the roses. She smiled, saying, “Evan, I
don’t know where to put these. The house is full of
roses.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll prepare tulips or sunflowers next time,” Evan suggested,
resulting in Shantelle chuckling.
“You won’t stop, will you?” Shantelle asked.
“Not until you love me back,” he replied without hesitation.
Shantelle smirked. She accepted the roses and handed the bouquet to the
maid. She instructed it to be placed in her
room before entering the car.
“Good luck, Daddy!” Lucas said, peeking through the door and giving Evan
a thumbs up.
“Thanks, Lucas. I love you. I’ll see you later. Daddy will put you to sleep,”
Evan promised.
Shantelle and Evan were on the road for two hours. In between, they talked
about the new heart and lung center, which
was due to open next week. They also covered Evan’s number one rule.
“Yes, the only time I became unguarded was at the hospital, when nurses
had to help with my burns, but I still tried to ask


for a male nurse each time. Sometimes, there just weren’t any,” Evan
admitted. ” You can ask James if you want. He can
attest to everything.”
“Yes, it’s true, Miss Shanty. I’ve been scolded many times for failing to
maintain the boss’ number one rule,” James said.
He had to drive Evan and Shantelle, for he was the planner of that
evening’s date. He needed to make sure everything
went according to plan. 1
“Why such a rule?” Shantelle asked Evan.
There was a moment of silence. Evan thought back before he turned to
Shantelle, admitting, “Because I don’t want any
more Nicole's slash Melody to ruin my life.” He reached for her hand and
described, “The life I would have had with you if
Nicole was not in the picture.”
Shantelle thought about Evan’s words. She recalled how he requested a
male doctor back in Warlington. Whenever he
was in front of a woman, he would distance himself. The other day, he
dared not shake the lawyer’s hand, even if
Scarlett was already married and had loads of kids. 1
Despite these observations, she uttered, ” I’d like to see you pull through
with this rule of yours.”
“I have been for more than six years, Shanty,” Evan revealed.
Halfway through their journey, Evan put a blindfold over Shantelle’s eyes.
Out in the car, Evan guided her the whole time,
holding her hand. He purposely did not wear his compression garment with
that solid plan of being to feel the softness of
her palm against his.
“Just where are you taking me, Evan?”
After walking for minutes, Shantelle asked.
“Smell it,” Evan suggested, and Shantelle did as she was told.
“I smell the beach,” she replied. “Oh, god. I miss the beach. It has been
ages!”
“I know that for a fact, only the young Evan Thompson drove you to your
favorite beach spot,” he declared.


Hearing Evan, Shantelle stilled. She gasped before asking, “You mean to
say – Evan?” She removed her blindfold
hurriedly and found herself gaping at the beautiful beach. It was already six
in the evening, and the same shoreline
glistened in bioluminescence!
“Planktons!” Shantelle delightfully exclaimed. “Oh, my god, Evan. You
remember!”
Shantelle ran to the beach, removed her sandals, and stepped onto the
sand. She created blue footprints as she
continued down the shore. Shantelle had probably hiked several meters
when she turned to Evan and asked, “Come on,
Evan! Just like old times.”
Evan walked toward Shantelle and offered his hand again. He said to her, ”
Better than old times.”
Shantelle studied his hand for a second, but then she took it, responding, “I
suppose.”
Evan and Shantelle walked along the shores holding hands, sometimes
submerging their feet into the water, just to see
how the planktons formed shapes around them. The entire time, James
was there to take pictures of their plankton
experience.
They continued to march further into the shoreline until arriving at a resort
where a sandbank dinner awaited Evan and
Shantelle. They had a candle-lit dinner under the stars where all dishes
were a favorite of Shantelle.
After supper, Evan still had another surprise for Shantelle. Evan guided her
to the tip of the sandbank. The resort had set
up a picnic blanket with candles lying around the sand.
A bucket of ice was buried halfway into the sand, with an expensive bottle
of wine and a platter of assorted cheese sitting
next to it.
In the next half an hour, they simply drank wine, paired it with cheese, lay
on the picnic blanket, and watched the stars
gleaming against the night.


Shantelle had a smile on her face as she studied the skies. It was lovely.
Paired with the sea breeze and a little kick of
alcohol, it was the most relaxing night of Shantelle’s life.
“I know this isn’t a luxurious date,
Shanty. I have taken you to those classy restaurants in the past,” Evan
said. “But –
“I think this is a special date you have taken me to, Evan, one that is
meaningful, “Shantelle expressed, cutting off his trail
of thought. She glanced at him, and their eyes locked. She bit her lip and
softly said, “Thank you, Evan.”
Evan badly wanted to kiss Shantelle that night. She kept smiling throughout
their date, and Evan thought she looked more
beautiful. He was this close to stealing a kiss, but he was afraid he was
pushing his luck too far. With every bit of strength
in him, he held back.
***
luo midnight at the Scotts’ mansion. The first thing that Ever did was to put
Lucas to sleep. His son had apparently been
waiting for him.
Shantelle, on the other hand, bathed before checking on the two. When
she entered Lucas’ room, she saw Evan lying
next to Lucas. Her son made a pillow of Evan’s arm while Lucas’ limbs
wrapped around his father like he was afraid of
losing his daddy.
She sucked in a breath. Her heart ached at the thought of breaking off their
sleep.
Shantelle sat next to Evan. He must have noticed her that he hummed
awake. She suggested, “You know what? Why
don’t you stay? You looked so tired yourself. You could use a good sleep.”
Who doesn’t sleep well with their kids? To Shantelle, Lucas was her
sleeping pill. She was confident Lucas would have
that same effect on Evan.
In response to Shantelle’s proposal, Evan smiled and dozed off to
exhaustion.


Seconds turned into minutes. Shantelle did not know how long she simply
studied the father and son. She remained to sit
next to Evan, looking, thinking, and wondering.
Aside from noting the closeness between the father and son, she studied
Evan’s features. Despite being already in his
mid -thirties, Evan looked incredibly handsome. Even if he had dark circles
around his eyes due to lack of sleep, he still
appeared like someone ready for a modeling gig. He could easily play the
ruggedly handsome look without even putting in
any effort.
When she realized she had been staring at Evan too much, she decided it
was time to leave. She leaned to the other side
and kissed Lucas on the cheek. As she retreated, her gaze landed on
Evan’s sleeping face, and she stilled.
‘He was asleep. He would not know,” Shantelle thought inwardly.
Shantelle gulped. She called him, “Evan? Evan?”
She waved her hand over his face, and after seeing how he wasn’t moving,
nor was he affected by her attempt to wake
Shantelle concluded the man was fast asleep. Thus, she did what she
thought she would never dare to do.
Shantelle moved closer and closer until her lips met Evan’s. She briefly
shut her eyes at the feel of his lips, but when she
opened them, she met a pair of dark brown orbs looking straight at her.
Her heart raced.
Chapter 69: Evan’s Reward
Evan thought he was dreaming when
Shantelle called his name. He was too exhausted. Evan couldn’t tell if it
was real. He wanted to fall into a deep slumber,
but out of nowhere, he felt soft lips against his.
His eyes opened, feeling the drumming of his heart. He could not believe
what he had just witnessed. ‘Shanty kissed me?’
Evan was this close to pinching himself for a reality check, but in the next
second,


Shantelle frantically stood up and ran outside Lucas’ room.
‘What just happened?’ Evan thought. ‘
She kissed me, but she ran away!’
Was Evan going to let her go that easily?
No. A big NO.
Evan carefully removed himself from
Lucas’ hold, but his son awoke when he pulled back his arm. Lucas called,
Daddy, where are you going?”
“Lucas, I’ll only check on your mommy, but I’ll be right back. I promise,” he
replied.
Lucas gave his reluctant approval. Evan rushed outside to find Shantelle’s
room.
She stayed in her old room as a child, two- rooms away from Lucas’.
He knocked on the door, calling her name. “Shanty, let’s talk. Open the
door, please. Please, Shanty.”
Evan kept knocking and knocking, but Shantelle would not reply. ‘Was she
pretending to be asleep?’
Evan was about to give up all hope when he realized another way into
Shantelle’s room; the Romeo style. He returned to
Lucas’ room and found his son sleeping.
He went straight to the window and looked out. He turned to the left and
analyzed the climb. There was very little concrete
that he could hold on to, but. Despite this, he climbed out the window and
traversed into Shantelle’s small balcony.
*****
Shantelle was leaning on her balcony window, biting her lip. She kissed
Evan earlier, and she ran away.
‘Why did I even do that? Simple, Shanty, you wanted to!’ She scolded
herself silently.
When Evan came to her room, she did not reply. She hoped he would walk
away and assumed she fell asleep incredibly
fast.
She did not know how to face him.


Suddenly, she heard a loud thud against her balcony floor. She jerked while
turning around. To her shock, she saw
Evan standing there and chasing his breath.
“Open the window, Shanty. You are wide awake,” Evan pointed out.
She had no choice but to open the glass. door and let him in. She
mumbled, “What are you doing, Evan?”
“Someone stole a kiss, and I needed to get it back.” He teased me.
Evan stared into Shantelle’s blue-colored eyes. From there, she started
reasoning, ” I – I thought – I thought I’d give you a
reward for a good night out.”
“Ah.” A smile spread on his face. He replied, “That would be nice, Shanty,
except I wasn’t awake to enjoy my reward. If
that is the case, then perhaps you should… do it again and properly.”
He spread his arms, offering himself,
Here I am.”
Seeing her think twice, he made his intentions clear. “I’m not leaving until I
get my proper reward. Please, Shanty. I want it… badly.”
Shantelle’s body solidified, but she eventually let her shoulders down and
said, “Okay.”
Her face turned bright red while adding a quick one.”
“Define quick,” Evan asked. “For me, a quick kiss is a minute – ”
“Hah! Don’t push your luck, Evan!”
Shanty shot back, but while she said those words, she chuckled. “Don’t
trick me
Evan wound up giggling, too. He then proposed, “As long as it feels right,
let’s keep at it?”
As they were talking, Evan was advancing. Shantelle was also taking steps
back. Eventually, she leaned against
the wall with Evan closing in on her. With this, she suggested, “One
second.”
“Or if it feels right, keep at it?” He insisted.
Shantelle’s mouth parted, thinking. She answered, “I don’t know about that,
but –


Before she could finish her words, Evan’s lips landed on hers, stilling her
altogether.
Immediately, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, her heart
pounding angrily against her ribcage, and the
butterflies in her stomach went wild.
As Evan gave her a single-lip kiss, Shantelle thought, ‘What is happening
to me?’
After many years of caging her heart and shutting down her emotions, why
was she feeling this way again? Realizing
what was happening to her, she sucked in a breath, momentarily halting
Evan’s kiss. She stiffened and closed her eyes.
“Please don’t do that, Shanty. Stop trying to control your feelings. At least
for this moment, let go,” Evan begged. He
cupped her chin and suggested, “Let go and let me kiss you.”
He then sensed Shantelle’s arms relaxed.
Her eyes fluttered in agreement.
Evan rested his forehead against hers. He lowered his head so that their
noses touched. He tilted his head just enough so
that nothing else could stand in the way of when their lips would meet.
Evan pecked Shantelle’s lips again. He gave her gentle kisses and
watched her close her eyes. However, unlike the last,
her expression was soft. She was calmer.
He went for it repeatedly, ultimately parting his lips. Evan turned his head to
the other side and gently gave another kiss.
This time, Shantelle kissed back.
Evan gave it another shot, and still, she returned the kiss. Oh, yeah. Evan
was ready to celebrate, but before throwing a
party for his achievement, he relished the moment!
He kept at it, pecking and pecking. In each second that passed, his mouth
parted further, and so did Shantelle’s.
As their kisses grew demanding, Evan’s hand slowly climbed up to the back
of
Shantelle’s neck, his other arm circling her waist. As for Shantelle, her
hands also crawled up to his chest.


Shantelle did as Evan requested. She allowed her passions to come
through. It scared the hell out of her, but at the same
time, when Shantelle acknowledged it, it gave her a wave of pleasure that
she had not felt in a very long time. Thus, as
Evan suggested she let the kiss continue, as it felt very right at that
moment.
Yes, it felt so right, even if her mind tried to oppose her.
Their kisses became louder and more careless. Evan could not help but
push a little of his tongue, and to his surprise,
Shantelle did the same. The two did not know how long their lips locked
together, but they soon pulled away, feeling out of
breath.
Evan smiled while looking at her flushed face and how she was chasing her
breath. She did not say it, but he could tell he
had
that effect on her. He simply didn’t know the weight of it. Still, he was
elated.
He embraced her tightly and pecked on the side of her face. He said, “God,
I love you. I love you so much.”
“I want to keep holding you,” Evan added. He held her stronger that
Shantelle was thoroughly wrapped in his arms, her face against the crook
of his neck. “I don’t want to go to work.”
Shantelle was lost in her thoughts, hearing Evan repeatedly say those
words of love. Moreover, being engulfed in his
The scent reminded her of how it felt good to be around him. All those
years, she tried to forget, but did she really forget? She
wondered. Later on, she realized what he had said.
Evan can’t miss work. She would hate to be the reason for any delay at the
heart and lung center. She looked at him and
weakly said, “You can’t skip tomorrow, though. Remember, you will inspect
the heart and lung center before it opens next
week?”
“Are you coming with me?” Evan asked while he slowly peeled off her.


“I wanted to,” she replied, her gaze gradually landing on Evan’s face. “Dad
said the robotics arrived. I want to try it. It’s the
most advanced technology for surgery.”
“Then, I’ll see you in the afternoon,”
Evan said. “In the evening, it will be Wendell’s birthday. Can you and Lucas
come with me? It won’t be a big event, just
family and close friends. He keeps asking about you.”
“Wendell?” She asked. She thought about it and agreed. “I suppose it’s
okay.”
Silence stretched between them for some time but eventually, Evan took
the chance to ask, “Shanty, what does this mean.
between us? Can we get back together, please? Do you love me?”
Yet again, Shantelle toughened. It was as if talking about relationships or
commitments scared her to death. Evan saw
how she took a deep breath. Knowing what she was doing, he immediately
said,
“Relax, Shanty. Okay, I -”
“Evan, I want you to understand something.” Ultimately, Shantelle
expressed, “I hate talking about the past, but it has
everything to do with the changes in me.”
“I gave everything to you, Evan – told you how I felt every day of my life.
But despite that, it wasn’t enough to keep you.
So yes, I have shut myself down for a very long time. I avoided these
relationships with men, but after meeting you again,
I’m trying to open up every day,” she described.
1
“It’s hard for me to even talk about this – to admit this, but I did, so you
would understand where I am coming from.”
Nearly a whisper, she added, “Please be patient with me. I still don’t know if
I am ready for a real relationship, but can we
simply see how it goes -” 1
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything,” Evan said, cutting her off. He
returned to hugging Shantelle. It hurt him to
remember how he was the reason for her to react so strongly against
loving, but he would wait forever if he had to. “I


understand, and I will wait. I will keen showing you how much I love you
because -”
Evan wound up in tears, declaring, “My life felt empty without you, Shanty –
all those years.
In response, Shantelle hugged him back. She did not realize how a tear
had rolled down her cheek.
“Daddy?” As Shantelle and Evan were soothing their emotions, Lucas
knocked on Shantelle’s door, asking, “Mommy, is
Daddy with you?”
“Lucas, I’ll be out in a minute,” Evan said.
“You better go,” Shantelle said while she wiped the wetness on her face.
When Evan pulled away, she helped clear
his face from the tears. Evan held her
hand and kissed her fingertips. Before leaving, he gave her one last kiss.
He could not help but smile because Shantelle
kissed back.
Walking away, Evan said, “Goodnight. I love you.”
Shantelle smiled, replying, “Goodnight.”

Chapter 70: Like A Queen
Shantelle arrived at the new heart and lung center before noon. Her father
was appointed as the center’s head
administrator. Thus, William had some last-minute preparations before the
tour.
After helping William inspect specific parts of the building, she waited in the
lobby where the tour was to start. Some
Doctors recognized her right away.
Thanks to the issue in Warlington,


articles about her and William circulated around the internet. Since then, a
few residents quickly identified her whenever
She went out of the house. It was later
that she found out how it was Evan’s
work. The articles were meant to hype the heart and lung center for its
grand
opening
“Doctor Shant
–
the famous Doctor
Shant?” A male cardiologist approached
her with a huge smile on his face.
Shantelle knew this doctor. He had
referred some of his patients to
Warrington Hospital. He was the new best
cardiologist in Rose Hills.
“Doctor.” Shantelle dug through her
brain. When she remembered the name,
she repeated, “Doctor Dimitri Putin, right?”
Now, she remembered this was the same cardiologist the nurses talked
about whenever he visited Warrington Hospital.
The said doctor was Russian but had
relocated to Rose Hills a few years back.
The nurses said he had a face that could
break panty strings, though it didn’t
seem to work on her.
“I’m glad you know me!” Dimitri said. ‘
You know, I used to see you in Warrington Hospital whenever I had patients
for surgery, but you rarely pay attention.”
Dimitri was trying to captivate Shantelle, and she felt it. He kept
complimenting her, showing off his dimples, and he
suggested how they would hit it off. She tried to escape from the chat
because the
said doctor was very flirtatious, and


Shantelle wasn’t into flirtatious men.
While Shantelle tried to leave, Evan
arrived with James and Andy. When he entered the center’s lobby, he saw
a man trying to charm Shantelle. He
recognized
this doctor as the center’s elected head
cardiologist.
His lips twitched, and jealousy filled his heart. The said doctor had very
striking features, and he was younger. To his
relief, however, it would seem like
Shantelle was irritated. Thus, he wasted
no time and walked over to his ex-wife, ”
Shanty.”
“Oh, Mister Thomspon! It’s an honor to be in your presence! Thank you for
letting me join the center!” Dimitri said
outright.
Everyone knew Evan in Rose Hills. The
Thompson Group Of Companies was the most influential corporation in the
city. Being employed by one of Evan’s
The company was an honor to Dimitri.
“You are welcome, though. I didn’t choose you personally. Doctor Scott
recommended you,” Evan revealed. He then
turned to Shantelle with gentle eyes. He put his hand on the small of her
back and asked, “Did you sleep well last night?
“I decided not to wake you. I figured you were tired,” Evan described. “But I
asked
our son to tell you what time I left – ”
“Oh, I did not know Doctor Shant was married!” Dimitri exclaimed. “Had I
known, I – But how come Doctor Shant’s last name is Scott?”
“In this generation, the woman can choose to keep her last name,” Evan
pointed out. He gave an accurate answer without
having to reveal the fact that Shantelle was already his ex-wife. “Do you
need anything else, Doctor Putin?” 2


Evan’s eyes narrowed at the cardiologist, and Dimitri understood he
needed to
leave Shantelle alone. He would not go
head-to-head with the wealthiest man in
the city!
Seeing Dimitri nervously find someone
else to talk to, Evan smirked. On the other
hand, Shantelle said, “Thank you for
saving me. Although, you made him
I believe we are still married.”
“Oh, well. Many of the center’s board of directors think I am still married
anyway,
Evan said. “Let it be. That way, no one will dare to disrespect you.”
“Or flirt with me,” Shantelle indicated.
“That especially,” Evan added.
Soon, the facility inspection started.
Doctors and board members toured the newly refurbished facility, with
Doctor Scott explaining every section of the
building. The entire time, Shantelle felt eyes on her.
So why was everyone staring at her? Because the most powerful man in
the city kept walking behind her. Evan’s hand
often landed on the small of her back, guiding her in every part of the tour.
Sometimes, Evan would take her hand,
but mainly, the way he looked at her with complete adoration made the
ladies gape at her with envy.
Evan looked incredibly happy that day, like he had won the lottery. There
was a glow on his face that Shantelle could not
describe.
Everyone was introduced by their profession, position, and importance, but
her father did not name their relationship with
Evan. However, with the way Evan
was tailing her, the small crowd had
probably guessed she had a special
relationship with one of the board of


directors, Evan Thompson.
Shantelle could not help but feel
important. During their marriage, she followed Evan around, but now it
seemed
like the tables had turned. Shantelle
thought it felt good to be treated like a
queen, and she was the center of the
king’s attention, a king, that was Evan in Rose Hills.
***
“Shanty! Oh, the beautiful Shanty is back! “At Wendell’s party, Sean was
the first to greet them in the living room. He
offered Shantelle a hug.
After embracing Shantelle, he pointed to Evan’s smiling face and then back
to Shantelle. Sean announced, “See that?
Evan is smiling again! The sun around Evan has returned!”
“Evan does not deny it,” Sean confirmed. Glancing down at the young boy,
he said, “And this is clearly the young Evan.
Hello Lucas, I’m your uncle Sean.”
Wendell followed behind Sean. He hugged Shantelle while she greeted,
“Happy Birthday, Wendell.”
Seeing Lucas, Wendell said, “I’m your uncle Wendell! It’s nice to meet you,
little Evan.”
“I have many uncles?” Lucas asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“That mean more gifts for me?”
Laughter echoed around the space. Evan seconded Lucas’ claims, “Yes,
that’s right, son. Like your uncle Keith, your
uncle Wendell and Sean will give you gifts on birthdays. They won’t miss a
single holiday either.”
“That’s a promise,” Wendell raised his hand and vowed. “As long as you
don’t go anywhere else, okay, buddy? Your
daddy
I was so sad being alone for a long time.”
Wendell kneeled down and declared, “In
In fact, you don’t have to wait for your birthday. I have a gift for you.”
“Gift for me? But it’s your birthday?”


Lucas asked back.
“Yes, well, I still have a gift for you,” Wendell announced.
“I got a gift on your birthday, Uncle Wendell?” Lucas asked, and Wendell
nodded.
Wendell guided Lucas into the gardens, where an inflatable bounce house
had
been set up. He declared, “That is yours! But I had it inflated, so you can
use it during the party!”
It was a small bounce house with a slide, around six square meters. While
Lucas played with his gift, a few kids joined
him, too.
“Shanty, the maids will look after them here. You can enjoy the party with
Evan,”
Wendell said, winking at her.
Evan guided Shantelle to one table. Like earlier, he always had a hand on
her back.
He didn’t leave her to chat with his
friends. His attention was entirely on her
and Lucas.
“What would you like? I’ll get them for you,” Evan asked.
“I can get my own food, Evan,” she said.
“I know you could, but I want to get them for you,” he insisted. “I don’t want
your feet to feel sore with all the back-and forth walking. You are wearing
heels.”
“Pfft! It’s just a little walk, Evan, but if you insist. Do I need to tell you what I
like, though?” She asked with a smile.
“You don’t. I know you like the back of
my hand,” Evan assured her.
First, Evan brought Lucas’ favorite dishes. Afterward, he returned to the
buffet area to get her a salad and her preferred meat. When he arrived at
the table, he mixed her greens before setting
the salad in front of her. Then, he sliced Lucas’ meat into bite-size pieces.
“Lucas!” Evan called. “Your food is ready, son! Come over before the food
gets cold.”


Next, Evan did the same with Shantelle’s meal, slicing them into bite-size
pieces. The entire time, Shantelle studied him
and rested her cheek on her fist. She recalled the past and compared how
Evan treated her differently now. The old Evan
never told her he loved her, but now, there was not a day he missed telling
her how he felt. Second, he had been so
attentive to her, a little too attentive, but she could not help but enjoy the
attention, anyway.
Shantelle did not know what came over
her, but she leaned in and pecked his
cheek. She knew she startled him because he stilled briefly.
When Evan turned to her, he smiled. He
moved closer and kissed her lips. She kissed back, and they pulled away,
grinning.
“Mommy, Daddy, kissing in their seats. K -I-S-S-I-N-G!
First comes love, then comes babies!” Lucas sang before
chuckling. He sat in his seat and asked,
Mommy, Daddy, can I h
now?”
a brother
Shantelle’s face turned crimson red while
Evan chuckled.

Chapter 71: Evan Cooking
Following Lucas’ question, Shantelle turned to Evan for help, but the man
said to their son, “That’s entirely up to your
mommy.”
Shantelle’s mouth fell open as she glared at Evan. "Great, so much for the
help.’
“Please, Mommy. Please. I want a brother and then a sister and then a
brother
again!” Lucas said, counting with his


fingers.
Before Shantelle could answer, however, she saw Keith walk in. She found
a perfect excuse to change the topic. “Oh,
look. It’s your Uncle Keith!”
“Hi, Uncle Keith!” Lucas waved. Then, he
saw a familiar lady who walked up behind
Keith. “Hi, Aunt Karise.”
Behind Lucas, Shantelle was shocked to see her friend arriving at the party
with Keith. She could tell Evan was also taken
aback.
Keith and Karise first greeted Lucas. After which, they exchanged
pleasantries with Shantelle and Evan.
Evan gave Keith that probing look that the latter mouthed, ‘Later.’
Shantelle was also curious, but Karise gave her that same face, the kind
that suggested she would talk about it
afterward. They all ate at the same table. There was silence for the first few
minutes, but eventually, Keith and Evan
talked business, covering the insurance claims of Lockwood Children’s
Hospital.
They were all mostly done with their
meals when Keith turned to Lucas and
asked how he was. Lucas happily shared
how he loved his new home, including enrolling in a new school. Lucas
described, “I’m going back to school next month.”
“That’s great, Lucas,” Keith said, giving the boy a high-five.
“And guess what, Uncle Keith? Mommy and Daddy will give me a brother
soon!” Lucas announced, making Shantelle
choke on her wine.
Keith wound up frowning at Evan. He signaled Evan to join the boy’s table
by
standing up and walking over to where Wendell was.
“Shanty, excuse me. I won’t take long,”
Evan said.
“Go, have time with your friends too,” Shantelle encouraged.


After Evan left, Karise moved to sit next
to Shantelle. She whispered, “Are you back together?”
“Um, no,” Shantelle admitted. “I want to think this through first. Lucas is just
jumping to conclusions because I have
allowed myself to spend time with Evan. I don’t want to put a name on it for
now, but what’s with you and Keith?”
“Oh, me and Keith? Nothing, we are just friends!” Karise replied, her face
turning
red.
“Okay, then. Why did you blush?” Shantelle asked. “There’s something
else,
is there?”
“No – well, we are sort of having a ‘ friends with benefits’ kind of
agreement, “Karise revealed. “Don’t tell Keith I told
you.
“Well, okay. Just be careful. Keith is a
serial dater,” Shantelle reminded.
“I know that, but he only did that to forget you,” Karise reminded Shantelle.”
Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up. You are not
affected, are you?”
Shantelle shook her head and smiled. She replied, “if anything, I want Keith
to move on with the right girl. Who knows, you
could be the right girl?”
Karise laughed and replied, “No, strictly no feelings are involved.”
“Well, since you gave me advice the last time, let me point out one thing:
where friends have benefits, one usually catches
feelings,” Shantelle remarked.
***
Meanwhile, in the boys’ group, they
covered the same. However, Keith only
owned up to being friends with Karise.
They focused more on Evan and where he
stood in Shantelle’s life.


Evan looked at Keith, explaining, “Lucas saw us kiss, and he thought we
were
ready to give him a brother, but no, we haven’t.”
“As for where we stand, I don’t know. We finally went on a date, and I’ll ask
Shantelle again this weekend. I don’t
I want to scare her and push for a commitment. I’ll just keep working hard,
“Evan claimed.
“Cook for her,” Wendell suggested.
“Yeah, chicks dig that,” Sean approved.
They all turned to Keith as if asking for his opinion. Keith chuckled and
replied,
I think… It’s a good idea. Go for it, Evan.”
Evan gulped. When was the last time he cooked? That was probably in
college
when a storm hit Lockwood and Evan had
no choice but to boil some eggs. Was that even considered cooking?
***
“Here goes nothing,” Evan said as he narrowed his eyes at the pan.
Weekend came. Evan was receiving tips on how to flip a pancake from
Lucas.
“Careful, Daddy. Careful!” Lucas said. He was standing on a chair, waiting
for his father to show off that golden brown top.
Finally, when Evan turned the pancake to the other side, he rejoiced, “Yey!
Nice and golden brown! Way to go, Daddy!”
Relief washed over Evan because he had
burned some pancakes on one side. He badly wanted the succeeding ones
to be perfect and impress Shantelle.
To cook and impress, he told Lucas about his plan. His son was excited to
help him,
and they agreed to be in the kitchen at six in the morning. That day, Evan
left the villa at five, bringing bags of ingredients
for breakfast.
Aside from the pancake, Evan had baked an egg casserole. Now, he
simply needed to whip some sausages.


Minutes later, everything was done. The maids helped Evan prepare the
dining area for breakfast. Shantelle was the first
to arrive.
“Surprise!” Lucas exclaimed.
Evan stood behind Lucas, still wearing an apron. He said, “Surprise?”
“Evan? Why are you wearing an apron –
no, wait. You cooked breakfast?!”
Shantelle asked in shock. Her ex–
husband cooked with his own hands? No
way!
“Yes, to impress the beautiful Doctor Shant,” Evan said, not hesitating to
call Shantelle. “Lucas helped me.”
Evan first pulled a chair for Shantelle to take a seat. He said, “Do you want
to be the first to try?”
“I wanna try it too, Daddy!” Lucas requested.
“Okay, then, we will try it together,” Evan answered. He helped Lucas into a
chair. He removed his apron and served
Shantelle and Lucas with the egg
casserole, a single pancake, and two
pieces of sausage each.
After removing his apron, he sat next to
Lucas and served himself.
“Mmm. Smell’s good. Buttermilk?”
Shantelle sought.
“Buttermilk. I tried to mimic Century
Hotel’s pancakes.” Evan winked at Shantelle, saying, “The chef there was
happy to give me the recipe.”
Shantelle laughed at Evan’s suggestion. She shook her head and
indicated, “I’m
sure he did, with a few thousand bucks, that is.”
“On three! Shall we?” Evan proposed. One, two, three!”
They all sliced their pancakes and chewed down their first bite.


“Daddy! It’s delicious!” Lucas exclaimed. “I love pancakes. They taste like
the Century Hotel pancakes!”
“They do, don’t they?” Evan proudly said. If only his son knew how many
times he practiced at home with Mrs. Shaw, yet, despite that, he still had
some pancakes burned. Glancing at Shantelle,
he asked, “Do you like it, Shanty?” 1
“Mmmm.” Shantelle smiled, and then she laughed. “It’s crunchy.” She spat
out an eggshell, saying, “It’s fine. It happens to
everyone, but great flavor, Evan. You did great.”
“Tsk. Tsk.” Evan said, “At least I recovered.”
Next, they tried the egg casserole. There was no need to judge the
sausage since Evan did not make them from scratch.
Shantelle tasted the egg casserole but leaned back immediately after the
first
bite.
Beads of sweat formed on Evan’s
forehead, seeing Shantelle’s reaction. He
asked, “What’s wrong?”
“They are okay, but I think you put in too
much cheese,” Shantelle said.
Evan groaned and admitted, “Half the
pack fell in. I thought it would be okay.” He was so disappointed in himself
that he offered, “Let me take this away –
“No. No. Don’t,” Shantelle said, laughing. “Don’t! Even! Don’t waste food.
Sometimes, cooking is trial and error. Let’s fix the casserole together. We
just need to add more eggs. That’s all.”
In the next few minutes, Shantelle and Evan redid the dish. They helped
together in the kitchen. Evan beat the eggs, and
Shantelle remixed the casserole. Lucas
cheered them on.
When the egg dish was done in the oven, Shantelle and Evan both tried it.
The taste was balanced now, thanks to
Shantelle’s
suggestion.


“Taste so much better now,” Shantelle
confirmed.
“I think we make a great team,” Evan
suggested. “You, me, and Lucas.
11
“I’ll help Daddy cook every day!” Lucas
declared.
“I’ll be happy to cook here every day!” Evan said, giving Lucas a high-five.
“And Mommy is going to be our food judge.”
Shantelle laughed uncontrollably, saying, “I guess this means I need to
wake up early every day!”
“Yey!” Lucas added. “Me, Daddy, and Mommy spending time together!”
“Well, well. What do we have here?” William said at the kitchen door.
Behind William, Eleanor also peeked through the door. She said, “Sounds
like a happy family to me.”
With Eleanor’s words, Shantelle flushed.
Evan felt warmth spread through his
chest. The words ‘Happy Family’ were music to his ears.
***
Breakfast was jolly at the Scotts’. William often joked about how crunchy
the pancakes were, but ultimately, everyone had
a good meal, mixed with laughter at Evan’s efforts.
After breakfast, Evan said to Shantelle, "Ready for our second date?”
After Wendell’s party, Shantelle agreed on their next date. He planned the
best
date he could think of.
Shantelle wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. She challenged
Evan, ‘
Wow me.”
“That’s the plan,” Evan promised, before winking at her.


Chapter 72: The Second Date
“So, where are we going? How are you going to wow me?” Shantelle asked
as she got comfortable on a leather
seat.”How much did you pay for this flight? This is really posh.”
Right after breakfast, Evan and Shantelle left for the airport. Miguel and
Andy came with them as part of their security.
There were other passengers whom Shantelle did not know, but she did not
bother
asking, seeing how they regarded Evan with respect.
They boarded a private jet and settled in the middle seats, where a table
was available for eating and having
refreshments. What surprised Shantelle was how elegant the aircraft was.
It wasn’t the same kind that Evan booked
for them when they traveled to Rose Hills
from Warlington.
“Um. A few thousand dollars. As for our
date, it’s a secret, remember? You’ll need
to wear a blindfold when the aircraft is
about to land,” Evan revealed before
winking.
When the aircraft finally lifted off the runway, Shantelle said, “If we are
going outside the country, you better have
got my passport.”
“No, no. We are going to go around the
air and do skydiving,” Evan said out of
nowhere.
Immediately, Shantelle’s eyes widened. She retorted, “Are you trying to kill
me, Evan? I can’t skydive! I’m afraid of
heights!”
Evan laughed. He put his arm around her and teased, “Don’t worry, I’ll jump
down first and catch you when you fall.”


“What kind of date idea is this, Evan?”
Shantelle smacked Evan on the arm and
angrily said, “I swear if you are taking me skydiving, I will visit you in the
villa and put a cockroach in your room!”
“What? What kind of comeback is that?”
Evan asked, his laughter unwavering. “It
comforts me, however, that you intend to
visit me in our matrimonial home,
regardless of your intention.”
Indeed, Shantelle knew him well. It
wasn’t that he was afraid of cockroaches,
but he disliked them to the core.
In the next few minutes, Evan and Shantelle bantered. Eventually, Evan
admitted they would see a special place, and no,
they were not going skydiving. Still, he did not disclose their final
destination.
Soon, a flight attendant served the couple
red wine with nuts, grapes, and cheese. It was only after taking four
glasses of wine that Shantelle dozed off in her seat,
her head resting on Evan’s shoulder.
Hours passed, and Shantelle awoke with a grumbling stomach. She had a
blanket around her and felt Evan’s arm
wrapped around her waist. Shantelle
comprehended how she was resting on Evan’s chest. She looked up at
Evan and asked, “Evan? Are we still flying? What
time is it?”
When she checked her watch, she was alarmed to know they had been
flying for five hours! No wonder she was feeling
hungry.
Despite her panic, Evan calmly ordered the food to be served. He said,
“Eat lightly. We will arrive in two hours and have
our special dinner there.”
Shantelle’s mouth fell to the floor. They were going for another two hours?
Just where was the man taking her? Sadly,


Evan wasn’t giving her any clue. Thus,
She followed his orders and ate the fivestar-looking food. Evan ate with her,
and after the meal, he asked, “You can take another hour of rest, or if you’d
like, you
can prepare for our date. There is a stylist on board to do your hair and
makeup. I
I also have a dress for you to wear.”
Shantelle opted for the latter. After
sleeping for five hours straight, she
wouldn’t feel sleepy, even after another
set of wine.
The dress Evan bought for her was in the shade of indigo. It covered her
arms up until her elbows. It had a satin top with
Swarovski stones embellished on the
neckline. The skirt of her dress was in a darker shade of indigo, with two
layers of
fabric. The outer layer was a lace, where the hem was embroidered with
flowers
and decorated with more gems.
Evan had also prepared a set of gold jewelry for her, a golden purse and
heels of the same shade.
A stylist did her hair and makeup from one seat at the back while Evan
changed in the bathroom. An hour later, both of
they were done.
Shantelle thought Evan looked gorgeous, wearing the same shade of
tuxedo as her dress. As usual, his hair was combed
upward and styled with gel, and he always had his beard grown only up to
two millimeters. He smelled of expensive
perfume, and he had that sexy smile that he had confidently worn over the
past few weeks. Shantelle could only assume it
was
because she had allowed their
relationship to develop this way.
‘Heck, it better be!’ She thought.


“A blue shade makes you stand out,
Shanty,” Evan suggested. “You look so beautiful.”
The flight attendant gave Evan a bouquet of sunflowers, and he passed it
to
Shantelle. He said, “I heard Aunt Eleanor had been planting the seeds, so
don’t think it’s a waste.”
Shantelle only chuckled. She held the flower with care and replied, “Yes,
soon we will have a plantation of sunflowers.
Next time you give me tulips, include the bulbs so we can plant them.
Mother is now considering getting into the flower
business, thanks to you.”
“Tulips plus bulbs – got it,” Evan acknowledged. He ushered Shantelle to
their seats, and from there, he took out a
blindfold. “Sorry, but we are almost here.
It’s time to cover your pretty eyes.”
Soon, Evan and Shantelle arrived at their
date site. Shantelle was absolutely
clueless. The pilot did not announce
where they landed as well. After the airplane, Evan guided her to the
runway, directing her to pose for a photo with
him.
“Smile for the camera. Miguel is taking our picture and no, don’t remove
your blindfold,” Evan said, holding Shantelle by
the waist. He claimed, “First memory
of our second date captured.”
Shantelle complained about how her eyes were covered, but Evan assured
her they
would have another photo upon their
return to Rose Hills. This time, with her eyes looking straight at the camera.
For now, she would have to bear it.
They hopped in a rented car and were on
the road for only ten minutes. Evan said, ” We are here. Are you ready to
be wowed?” He leaned in and whispered into
Shantelle’s ear, “Do I get a really long kiss if your jaws drop?”


Shantelle laughed and pushed him away.
She said, “I’m not wowed yet.
Evan was smiling from ear to ear as the car pulled to a stop. Andy and
Miguel
escorted them to a famous structure in
the city. It was already late when they
arrived, so only a few people were
around. Moreover, Evan paid for private time at the said tourist spot,
including an exclusive dinner. The place was
practically closed only for their date.
“It feels cold,” Shantelle remarked. “Why didn’t we leave the flowers in the
car?”
“Because, we will capture every memory, including how you hold your
flowers,”
Evan suggested. “Are you ready to see where we are?”
“I am very curious,” Shantelle said. After
all,
they had been on the super-fast plane for seven long hours!
“Miguel, prepare to record Shanty’s
reaction,” Evan ordered. He held
Shantelle in front of him. He couldn’t
contain his smile as he slowly removed
her blindfold.
When Shantelle opened her eyes, she
stared at Evan curiously. She smiled at his excitement and heard him say,
“Turn
around, Shanty. This is the trip I missed
taking you in the past.
})
Shantelle did not recognize her
surroundings just yet. Her brows met at
Evan’s suggestion. Soon, she lazily
turned around, and the moment she saw
where she was standing, tears rolled


down her face, her heart fluttered, and her jaws fell open. “Oh, my god!
Even! I – I can’t believe this!”
Shantelle felt goosebumps all over, seeing
the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the city of love. When Shantelle and Evan were
married, she had hoped they would take this trip
and experience the romantic side of Paris, wishing it would make Evan
realize his feelings for her.
1
It certainly was the vacation she had always wanted. Sadly, Evan had only
offered to take her after their divorce, but
It was already too late. What was the point of going to the city of love if you
had lost the one you love?
Shantelle did not know for how long she
gaped at the tall tower, her eyes looking at its peak. Her knees weakened.
She
almost lost her balance, if not for Evan
supporting her back. Recalling Evan’s
presence, she turned to him and embraced him tightly. She broke down in
tears, completely in disbelief.
Evan stroked her back and said, “When you left Rose Hills, I had booked a
trip for us to Paris, remember? We didn’t get to
go, and that was entirely my fault. So let me make it up to you, Shanty. Let
me take you to the places you have always
dreamed of going, and let’s make memories together.”
“Tell me where else you want to go, and
I’ll take you and Lucas. I’ll never put it off
again – never,” Evan swore.
Shantelle and Evan remained to hug each
other for minutes. It took a while for
Shantelle felt soothed. When Shantelle
pulled away, she looked at Evan with
tender eyes. She gazed at Miguel and
Andy. They were both smiling with
contentment.


She returned her attention to Evan, feeling her face, and ears burn. She
stuttered in her words as she softly said, Um, but
– but we can’t make out here.” She bit her lip, embarrassed at admitting
she wanted to kiss Evan.
Evan laughed. He leaned in and simply pecked Shantelle’s lips. He
revealed,
After dinner at the tower, I’ll take you to the perfect place where… we can
make out all night.”

Chapter 73: Hottest Kiss
No one else mattered, because only Evan and Shantelle were present at
the restaurant within the Eiffel Tower. The couple
relished in delectable dishes, making Shantelle moan with each bite.
“Mmmm… it just melts in your mouth,” Shantelle said. As she relished the
flavor of her food, she remarked, “It would be
great if you could learn how to cook this, and no, don’t even think about
hiring the chef.”
She chuckled as she stared into Evan’s face. He looked really pale,
following her suggestion. Meanwhile, Evan shook his
head and replied, “I’ll do my best to serve my queen all her favorites.”
He called one of the food attendants and requested a word with the chef
after dinner.
Oh, yeah. Shantelle was feeling like wanting to demand things already.
Indeed, Evan was spoiling her, and she liked it. In
In fact, each and every day, she felt more and more confident about Evan’s
intentions. Of course, what greatly affected her
The decision was how Evan treated Lucas. Evan proved himself to be a
great father, and the way he bonded with Lucas was
above her expectations.


Second, Evan saved her life twice. Third, in her trying times in Warrington,
he supported her financially and emotionally.
Despite Evan’s busy schedule, he would find time to see her and Lucas. In
between, he updated Shantelle about his
whereabouts. If it weren’t him, James would. She knew precisely where
Evan was at a specific time of the day.
The gifts were constantly there, and each one wasn’t random; it had
meaning, or it fitted her preference and style. If it was
a treat, it was definitely her favorite or, at least, Lucas’.
After dinner, Evan and Shantelle danced to slow music. They had their
pictures taken before heading to the tower’s higher
levels for more incredible views of Paris.
Soon, they left the Eiffel Tower for their last stop. In the car, Evan said to
Shantelle, “We don’t have time to take a tour in
all of Paris, but we at least had the Eiffel experience and one more. We will
come back with Lucas and stay longer
when everything is doing well at the heart and lung center.”
“Mmm.” Shantelle smiled and said, “I want a European tour instead.”
Evan smiled and replied, “Noted. Tell me everything you want, and I’ll make
it happen.”
“I might just abuse that,” she suggested before chuckling.
“Abuse any way you like,” Evan encouraged.
“Wait, so we are going to one more? Nowhere else?” Shantelle
remembered
Evan suggested they were going somewhere where they could…
thoroughly. Her face turned red when she asked,
“Where are we going next?”
Evan looked out the car’s window and pointed to the huge, illuminated
wheel, saying, “There.”
Shantelle’s eyes lit up. Realizing where they were headed, she laughed.
She felt the butterflies in her stomach already
going wild, thinking about her teenage dream of experiencing a kiss with
Evan at the top of a Ferris Wheel.
Minutes later, they arrived at the Grande


Roue De Paris.
Like their special dinner at the Eiffel, there was absolutely no one. Only the
operators, who had huge grins on their faces,
were present upon their arrival. Evan offered his hand, saying, “Shall we?
11
“Let’s go,” she happily replied, taking his hand.
They rode on the famous Ferris Wheel in the city of love for minutes. They
took pictures and enjoyed the feeling of
excitement. Whenever their capsule would reach the top and then take a
downward motion, Shantelle felt her blood
pumping through her veins. She would giggle each time.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world, 11
Shantelle said while looking at the city lights below.
“Are you happy, Shanty?” Evan asked while the Ferris Wheel prepared to
go up again.
Shantelle turned to Evan with a genuine smile. Her eyes sparkled as she
admitted, “Yes, Evan. I am overjoyed. Thank you
for the most amazing date.”
“Shanty, do you know why they say a kiss on top of a Ferris Wheel holds a
significant meaning?” Evan sought, his eyes
showing complete adoration for Shantelle, his frame moving closer.
“No,” Shantelle softly replied. Seeing how Evan was now looking steadily at
her lips, she asked, “Why don’t you tell me?”
The truth was Shantelle already knew this. In fact, it was why she had
thought about riding one with Evan in her teens.
However, she wanted it to come from Evan.
Suddenly the Ferris Wheel stopped when their capsule was at the summit.
It made Shantelle’s eyes widen, wondering
how long they would remain on top.
“Shanty,” Evan said while caressing her cheek. He leaned closer, saying,
“They say if you kiss at the very top of the Ferris
Wheel, you’ll be together forever.”
“What do you think about proving this myth is true?” Evan said under his
breath. He held the back of Shantelle’s neck and


kissed her lips.
Evan was over the moon. Whenever his lips brushed Shantelle’s, his heart
fluttered in excitement. For years,
Shantelle often visited his dreams, sometimes even during the day. In those
dreams, Shantelle returned to his life.
They kissed and made love countless times. Now, it was slowly becoming a
reality, and he would not waste any minute of
it. He would treasure Shantelle, put her on a pedestal, and make her feel
his love.
At the peak of the Ferris Wheel, they continued to make out. Their mouths
quickly parted, and their eyes shut. Their
hands easily clasped each other’s necks, deepening the kiss while their
heads moved from side to side.
Nearly a minute into the kiss, Evan wrapped his arm around Shantelle’s
waist. He urged her to sit on his lap, and she did.
Shantelle’s face remained flushed, her body heating up from their hot kiss.
As she sat on Evan’s lap, she dove right in,
relishing his flavor, her hands on his face and jaws.
As they kissed, she heard Evan groan and moan a few times. Then she felt
something growing and poking her ass.
Shantelle dismissed it. She knew it was normal for a man to get aroused by
a kiss. At the back of her head, however, she
was pleased to know their kissing thoroughly stirred Evan.
They continued to make out, despite feeling their lips become numb. Their
tongues carelessly danced together, and
Shantelle swore her jaws were already moistened. With how they were
going at it with fervor, she felt fireworks erupting in
her stomach and her heart pumping wildly. Then, for the first time in a very
long time, she felt excitement in her core!
When was the last time she felt this way? It had been a very long time, yet
she was experiencing it with the same man all
over again. How did fate manage to bring them back together?
Shantelle moaned into his mouth, and her body shuddered in pleasure.
She could not describe it. It simply felt so good –


so good that she thought she was in heaven. This was definitely the hottest
kiss she shared with Evan. Nothing could
compared to it!
Finally, after what felt like forever, Shantelle pulled away, completely out of
breath.
As she rested her forehead against Evan’s, he kept rubbing his thumb
against her cheek. He said, “Shanty, I love you so
much so much. I want that forever with you. Will you take me back?”
Before Shantelle could answer, fireworks exploded in the dark sky. It
startled
Shantelle, but as soon as she saw the beautiful colors and the
heart-shaped fireworks, she realized they were Evan’s
work. She smiled at Evan and pecked at his lips.
More and more fireworks flared up, and the next thing Shantelle saw were
letters forming in the sky. It read: WILL YOU
MARRY ME AGAIN?
Shantelle gulped, and her mouth fell open in shock.

Chapter 74: Officially & Exclusively
Shantelle’s eyes fluttered. Her heart was in a panic, reading those words.’
Marriage?’
After returning to her senses, she saw Evan holding up an engagement
ring for her. It was a beautiful sapphire ring.
During their last marriage, she never had an engagement ring from Evan.
That was because Erick Thompson pushed
their marriage quickly. Of course, since the wedding was against Evan’s
will, he did not give her an engagement ring.
Seeing Evan give her one now certainly melted her heart.
“Shanty, you don’t know how hard it is for me to stay away from you and
Lucas. I want you to be with me – live with me.


Forgive me for being too forward, but I wanted nothing more than to be with
you.
Will you take this journey with me forever and marry me again?” Evan
asked.
Shantelle surrendered in Evan’s arms, embracing him tightly. She said,
“Evan, I never thought I would open up to the
possibility of being in a relationship again, but I am wholeheartedly giving it
a chance. Spending time with you has been so
overwhelming so far,” She pulled away, saying, “But marriage? Evan? I’m
sorry, I am not ready for it.”
She saw how the blood drained from Evan’s face, and his brows met. She
caressed his jaws and said, “Remember how
We got married the last time? We never went through courtship, which, I
think, greatly contributed to how our marriage
failed. I was also at fault for agreeing with Uncle Erick, knowing you did not
want to get married then -”
“But Shanty, it’s different now,” Evan claimed. “I want to marry you, and I
have regretted losing you for many years. Now
more than ever, I want to be with you – to wake up next to see you smiling
at me every day of my waking hours. I
I want to go home to Lucas and you.”
“Evan,”
“Shantelle said with her forehead creasing. “Please. Let’s not rush things.”
Following her reply, Evan wistfully closed the velvet box and put it back in
his trousers. He was completely disappointed in
himself. Evan had an idea that
Shantelle would shut him down. After all, she had expressed how she
wasn’t ready for a commitment, but he badly
wanted to push his luck. He just had to, for his sanity and for Lucas.
He was already turning thirty-five, at the right age for marriage. He had a
whole empire to sustain the family he wanted
and much more. He had experienced the ultimate heartbreak and learned
from it… the hard way. Evan was beyond ready


to settle down. It was far different when he prematurely married Shantelle
many years back.
“I’m sorry, Shanty. I don’t know why I proposed. In fact, that was the plan B.
Plan A was just to keep this a simple date, but
I thought I made you so happy, I thought you would – ” Evan explained.
With a sigh, he resumed, “I thought I could make
you mine.”
“And you did. You made me so happy.” She maintained her arms around
his neck, saying, “But getting married is another
thing, Evan. It’s a commitment before the heavens and the law of the state
– what if you discover something new about
me and you change your mind?
“I won’t change my mind,” Evan insisted.
“And I know you well.”
“But many years have passed, Evan. We both have changed. We have yet
to discover new things about us and learn how
to deal with them.” Shantelle sucked in a breath and asked, “Please, Evan.
Let’s not rush things… I am, however, open to
the idea of us officially and exclusively being together.”
“Officially and exclusively together?” Evan repeated. “You mean like a
boyfriend and girlfriend?”
Shantelle nodded with a smile. She echoed, “Yes, like boyfriend and
girlfriend.”
Evan cleared his throat, saying, “I never had a girlfriend before, only a
wife.” 1
A chuckle escaped Shantelle’s lips. She replied, “Well, I have never had a
boyfriend before either, only a husband. So I
guess we needed to experience that.”
There was a moment of silence, with
Evan merely takes deep breaths.
Eventually, he answered, “I – I can live with that. At least I can formally call
you mine. I will insist on calling you my wife,
though.”
Shantelle thought about it and then responded, “Fine by me.” 11


“I’ll definitely claim it,” Evan responded. He cleared his throat and
suggested, "And you can call me husband or hubby.”
Shantelle chuckled. She asked, “When did you learn those kinds of
endearment, hubby?”
Evan smirked. He pushed back a strand of her hair that had fallen off her
bun and said, “It feels good for you to call me
that.
“He was almost teary-eyed as he added, ”
So good. I miss you – I miss us.”
“Evan, I don’t want to get hurt again,” Shantelle gently reminded.
“Neither do I,” Evan said back. “I was also hurt, Shanty, but the pain and
regret came too late. I would never make the
same mistakes. I promise.”
“Okay, then. Let’s make this official.”
Shantelle pouted her lips and demanded, “Ask me properly.”
“You already agreed,” Evan pointed out with a grin. Still, when Shantelle
frowned, he took her hand and pecked it. He
asked, “Shantelle Scott, the Beautiful Doctor Shant, will you be my one and
only girlfriend? And by agreeing, I can call
you, my wifey?”
“Yes, hubby, I agree,” Shantelle said, her smile reaching her ears. “So from
here on, let’s be open with each other – be
honest and clear any misunderstandings
“To you, I’ll be an open book,” Evan swore. Then, he said, “Don’t do any
disappearing act.”
Shantelle laughed and answered, “As long as you remember to take care
of my heart – ”
“More than my life,” Evan described.
The two continued to outline their wishes in the relationship. When they
agreed, Evan and Shantelle returned to kissing.
Minutes later, the wheel went back, going in circles, but the two remained
to lock lips, their tongues intertwined. At the
same time, Shantelle kept tugging on


Evan’s hair. The sounds of their smacking lips became deafening in their
ears, sending waves of pleasure into their
abdomens. Moans evidently left their lips, and a few times, skins crawled in
euphoria.
Finally, when the Ferris Wheel stopped, they pulled away, their faces
reddened from sharing such a passionate kiss.
While they exited their capsule, Miguel and Andy gave that congratulatory
look. Although they got it wrong, Shantelle did
not correct them. The proposal was not a complete failure. She and Evan
at least moved forward with their relationship.
Their date formally ended. They were now driving back to the airport,
where they were to make another seven-hour flight
back to Rose Hills. In the car, Shantelle noticed Evan checking his phone,
and then she saw how his face paled. Beads of
sweat formed on his forehead.
She also noticed how he held her hand tighter, like he was afraid of letting
go. Observing this, Shantelle asked, “What’s
wrong, Evan?”
“Uh, nothing. Something on g-o-o-g-l-e that bothered me,” Evan admitted
before closing his phone.
“What is it?” She asked. “Evan?”
Evan swallowed air down his throat. He reluctantly disclosed what was
bothering him, “G-o-o-g-l-e says, on average,
courtship takes two to three years.” It was as if his entire world crumbled as
he asked, “You won’t let me wait that long,
right Shanty?” 1
Shantelle laughed immediately. Then, Evan had to add, “Poor Lucas. He
has been asking for a brother. We don’t want to
fail him, do we?”
At that point, Shantelle went at it, laughing hysterically. When she calmed
her emotions, she suggested, “Don’t always
believe what g-o-o-g-l-e says. Since when does Evan Thompson let g-oo-g-l-e dictate his destiny?”
“Right. I was just really nervous. I’ll woo you so much, you’ll ask me to
marry you instead,” Evan firmly convinced himself,


leaving Shantelle to keep laughing.
“Let’s see about that,” Shantelle replied.
Then, out of nowhere, Evan whispered into her ear, “you know what else
did g-o -o-g-1-e say? Make love only after
marriage.” He sneered and concluded,
We can’t always believe what g-o-o-g-l- e says, right?”

Chapter 75: Strange Patient
“Are you okay, Lucas?” Shantelle asked while combing her fingers through
her son’s hair.
Lucas nodded, saying, “Yeah, I’m just tired.”
“Tired? From the party last night?”
Shantelle asked.
A yawn escaped Lucas’ lips as he shut his eyes while lying in bed. He said,
“Yeah, mommy. I think so.”
The other night was the heart and lung center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Evan sponsored a grand dinner at a nearby
hotel, which lasted until eleven in the evening. Evan didn’t want to leave
Lucas. behind, and the boy did not want to part
with his father. Thus, Lucas came along.
He was introduced to a few board members as Evan’s son and Shantelle’s.
Again, it confirmed their suspicion about their
relationship, but no one dared question Evan whenever he called
Shantelle his wife.
“I want to get more sleep,” Lucas pleaded.
“Okay, then. When you wake up, eat breakfast straight away, okay?”
Shantelle directed, and Lucas nodded.


She pulled up Lucas’ blanket, and part of his leg got exposed. She saw a
bruise on his leg, and she instantly checked it.
Where did you get this?”
Lucas looked at his leg and shrugged, saying, “I’m not sure, mommy, but I
fell yesterday from the car.”
Shantelle frowned. Last night, after arriving home, Lucas was so excited
that
Evan offered to read him a book before sleeping that he practically jumped
out of
the car. He fell on his knees, but Shantelle did not notice if the way he fell
would result in a bruise.
“Okay. Well, that was a lesson learned,”
Shantelle reminded me. “No more jumping out of the car.”
“Yes, Mommy, I’m sorry,” Lucas promised before he yawned again. He shut
his eyes, curling into the bed while
Shantelle kissed his forehead.
“Mommy and grandpa are going to work, okay? See you in the evening,”
Shantelle said. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mommy,” Lucas replied.
Tell Daddy I love him.”
After saying goodbye to Eleanor,
Shantelle and William drove to the heart and lung center, where they would
face an entire day of several consultations.
***
“Doctor Shant, your first patient is here,” the nurse said after knocking on
her door.
To Shantelle’s surprise, however, Evan walked in carrying another bouquet.
He said, “Good morning Doctor Shant. Evan
Thompson here, your husband. I wanted to consult with you about my
heart.”
Shantelle laughed, saying, “What are you doing here? I thought you
needed to fly to Lockwood?”
“Doctor Shant, please be serious. I have a heart condition,” Evan
suggested.


Shantelle scoffed and giggled. She replied, “There is nothing wrong with
your heart, Evan.”
“Doctor Shant, not only am I an investor in this facility, but I am also a
patient. Please take me seriously,” Evan said while
taking a seat in front of Shantelle.
She really didn’t like rolling her eyes, but she wound up doing so, asking,
“Okay, what’s wrong with your heart?”
Evan presented the flowers to Shantelle. He said, “I think my heart is
missing.”
He got up and kissed Shantelle on the lips. Then, he added, “What do you
know? It’s been with you all along.”
It could not be helped. Shantelle wound up laughing hysterically before
sharing another kiss with Evan. They went at it for
seconds, with Evan leaning across her desk. After pulling away, Evan
revealed, I just needed to see you before I leave. I’ll
be gone for a few days… I went to the house, but Lucas was still sleeping.
He only hummed when I said goodbye.”
“What? Really?” Shantelle checked the time. It was already past eight in
the morning. Lucas should have already taken
his breakfast. She sighed and replied, “Maybe he really is exhausted. I’ll
check with Mom in a few.”
Evan carefully placed the flowers next to Shantelle’s table and declared,
“Now that I have filled your room and perhaps
your house with flowers, it’s time to fill your office.”
While Shantelle smiled in recognition of his plans, Evan also updated, “by
the way, the trial court has accepted your case
against Frank Morgan. We should hear from Attorney Scarlett about the
trial date soon.”
“Good to know,” Shantelle replied. “But how is she dealing with the threat?”
Shantelle and Evan had learned that their lead attorney had received a
threat. It worried Shantelle that she asked Evan to
send men to protect Scarlett.
“Don’t worry. Scarlett got the military as her security instead. Plus, her
family is putting pressure on the Morgans. Then,


with Keith’s influence and mine, they are cowering over these threats,”
Evan assured her. 2
“Honestly,” Evan admitted. “I was doubtful if I could handle the Morgans,
but with three powerful families putting them in
place, Frank Morgan and his family don’t stand a chance.”
Shantelle sighed. She remarked, “Thank goodness you hired a lawyer from
an influential family.”
“Thank goodness Scarlett is a righteous lawyer, too.” Evan embraced
Shantelle from behind and said, “I’m going to miss
you. I have to go now.”
“Okay, see you in a few days, Evan. Don’t forget to call Lucas at night,” she
reminded.
“I won’t. Goodbye, wifey. I love you,”
Evan said.
“Goodbye, hubby,” she said back, and Evan smiled from ear to ear.
A few days had passed since Evan and Shantelle had gone exclusive.
Evan was elated. Shantelle undeniably loved the
attention. Lucas was the happiest, although he wasn’t satisfied yet. Their
son wanted all of them to live in the same
house. Everything was going well for
Shantelle, and she hoped she had made the right choice for her heart and
Lucas.
***
The day went on for Shantelle. An hour into her consultations, the nurse
advised another patient. “Miss Jessica Turner.
She doesn’t have a recommendation from a physician, but she insisted she
needed help with her chest?”
With a shrug, the nurse gave Shantelle the patient’s file. Soon, Jessica
Turner entered her office.
“Ah! I can’t get enough of his large penis, “Jessica added before biting her
lip, as if thinking about her experience with the
said my boyfriend.
“Ah, excuse me?” Shantelle asked, utterly disgusted with the necessarily
added information. ‘I mean, what was that for?’


Moreover, this woman did not properly research the kind of doctor she
should see. ‘What a strange patient!’
“My boyfriend and I are a perfect match.
He is smart and well-achieved, just like
He is also the wealthiest man in the city, so I will do anything for him and
his large dick.” She crossed her legs and added,
“You know Evan Thompson? He is my boyfriend.”
Jessica fished inside her bag and showed Shantelle an article from a
magazine. It was dated today, and it read: [A perfect
couple, Engineer Jessica Turner and the
CEO of the Thompson Group Of Companies, Evan Thompson.]
Below the headline were single photos of Evan and Jessica, taken
separately. The report suggested they were a good
pair, but it did not confirm whether they were in a relationship.
“See that?” Jessica pointed to the article and said, “We look good together,
don’t We?”
Jessica stood up and ran her hands over her body, saying, “I want to be the
best for him. That’s why I want to look sexier.
Since you are a chest surgeon, I wanted to have an operation, removing
my lower ribs to have that hourglass shape.”
Shantelle leaned back, her eyes finding her phone. She did not react.
Instead, she did something with her mobile and
flipped it facing down. She said, “I’m sorry, but do you mind repeating all
that?
I want to make sure I got that right.”
She pointed at Jessica with her entire hand, asking, “State your name, age,
profession, intellectual quotient, and family
background. Then, describe exactly what you wanted from me and why?
Don’t miss a single detail.”

Chapter 76: Chantelle's Prescription
“My name is Jessica Turner, age twenty- eight, and I am a licensed Civil
Engineer. I don’t know why you need my IQ, but


My score is a hundred and twenty-nine. I am the only daughter of the
Turner family here in Rose Hills. We are in the realty
business, and currently, I am a project manager of the condo my boyfriend
and I are building together,” Jessica replied.
She then described her reasons for wanting to get an operation, repeating
how Evan was her boyfriend and how she
wanted to keep him happy. She dared mention the size of his organ again.
As Jessica talked, Shantelle kept writing on her notes, including her
prescription pad. When the lady explained the
surgery she wanted, Shantelle returned to her phone and pressed
something. She got busy with her mobile for a few
seconds. before putting her phone back in the same position. Then, finally,
giving Jessica her full attention.
“Don’t you think it’s disrespectful to use your mobile in front of me, Doctor
Shant?
Jessica pointed out.
Shantelle merely smiled and leaned back in her seat. She answered, “Miss
Turner. You obviously sought me out for a
purpose, knowing my relationship with Evan. Otherwise, why would you be
here? 11 Shantelle resumed.
“Excuse me?” Jessica countered. “Evan?”
Jessica was aghast, seeing how Shantelle could casually call Evan by his
first name. She never even had that pleasure! It
made Jessica wonder if they had really gotten back together. She frowned
and added, “I don’t know what you are talking
about and how dare you to call my boyfriend that way. Who are you to
him?”
“Oh, you know exactly who I am to him,’ Shantelle curtly replied. “I am
Evan’s wife!”
Shantelle did not want to claim something untrue, but the woman gave her
a reason to. She figured Evan wouldn’t mind.
Jessica laughed. She countered, “Wife? You mean Ex-wife, right? Evan
divorced you because you were a paranoid wife


who never gave her husband privacy and respect. What gives you the right
to claim to be Evan’s wife? You should be
be careful of your words because my boyfriend will sue you for slander.”
“Oh, so you do know me after all,’ Shantelle said, shaking her head. “Miss
Turner, you say you are a smart woman, yet
you came to see me for a job that is required of a plastic surgeon. You
made an excuse to see me, yet you made a
ludicrous one.”
“Second, I am Evan’s wife, and he is my husband. That is how we address
each other. I doubt he will press charges. On
On the other hand, you are making false claims about my husband with no
regard for consequences. You say you are Evan’s
girlfriend? Prove it. Show me a picture of you and Evan?” Shantelle
challenged.
“And that article that you are showing me doesn’t prove anything. You
aren’t even in the same photo together. If I call the
magazine company, will I find out that you were the one who requested for
this article to be published?” Shantelle gripped
the magazine and read, “You and Evan, a match made in heaven? Is it the
magazine talking, or is it your delusion
talking?”
“You -”
“I think we are done here, Miss Turner,”
Shantelle concluded. She scribbled her signature on her prescription pad
and gave it to Jessica, saying, “This is my
recommendation for your condition. You should attend to it quickly before it
gets worse.”
Jessica frowned while receiving the prescription note. She looked down
and read:
[Diagnosis: Delusional Disorder
Recommended receiving psychotherapy. Please visit Psychologist Doctor
Patterson in Rose Hills South Hospital, Room
204.]
With a flaring nose, Jessica said bitterly, You – you


“U, U, U.” Shantelle mimicked and said, "If you need speech therapy, I can
recommend you to another doctor.”
“You are horrible!” Jessica said in anger before turning to the door.
“STOP!” Shantelle said. “Don’t forget to pay for a consultation. It’s a
thousand dollars for you, Miss Turner.”
“Ahh!” Jessica bitterly fished ten pieces of hundred-dollar bills and threw
them on Shantelle’s desk. She warned, “I’m not
done with you yet!”
When Jessica left, Shantelle picked up her phone and stopped her
recording. Just like what she did with the first
recording, she sent it to Evan. She recorded her entire conversation with
Jessica, starting when she had her repeat
everything.
***
Early in the evening, Shantelle finally received a call from Evan. It was just
as she expected; the man had a long day at the
Lockwood Children’s Hospital and National Park.
From their phone conversation, Evan revealed to Shantelle how the
Turners requested a marriage alliance and how he
had declined. He said, “I’ll deal with this, Shanty. I’m glad you did not
believe her.”
“I knew she was lying,” Shantelle replied.
“How did you know?” Evan tested.
“Well, she said she made love to her boyfriend last weekend, but we were
together the whole weekend in Paris,”
Shantelle answered.
“Right,” Evan acknowledged.
“Then, she, ” Shantelle laughed. In her office room, she found herself
flushing before resuming, “She said you had a large
male reproductive organ.”
“Right,” Evan said. “I don’t have a large size.”
“Right,” Shantelle admitted. “She was just making it up!”
“So you still remember, wifey?” Evan teased.
“What time is it? I think I need to get home and check on Lucas,” Shantelle
suggested.


“Okay. Okay,” Evan said on the phone.
But just in case you forgot, I have an extra large size – ”
“I didn’t forget, Evan!” Shantelle shot back.
“Including how it felt?” Evan playfully added.
“Evan! Please get back here soon so you can take care of this woman. I
don’t want to deal with her coming back here,
Shantelle said, her face burning and her laughter unwavering.
A chuckle escaped Evan’s lips. He swore,
I’ll take care of it before returning. Trust your hubby.”
“We did agree to trust each other,”
Shantelle reminded me.
“Thank you, wifey. I love you, and I miss you and Lucas. I’ll see you in two
days,”
Evan said. “Then, you can recheck my size in case you have doubts – ”
“Evan!” Shantelle scolded. 1
***
Meanwhile, Jessica was seething in anger in a private office of the Turner’s
Realty.
She said to her father, “That woman has such a sharp tongue!”
“She isn’t that vulnerable woman we thought she was! She knows how to
fight back!” She added as she walked back and
forth in front of her father’s desk.
“Then, if you can’t get Evan to marry you, I will give the CEO seat to your
cousin. A woman is not fit to run a company. I
considered giving it to you if you had Evan Thompson’s support, but
unfortunately, he doesn’t look at you that way,” Mister
Turner said. “I’m sorry that you lost, Jessica -”
“I am not done yet, father! Watch me. I will make Evan see who that woman
really is. She is evil!” An idea suddenly
popped into Jessica’s head. She declared,
“I will set her up. Doctor Shant will be greatly humiliated!”


Chapter 77: Mark Evan
Walking into the heart and lung center the next day, Shantelle felt eyes on
her.
Wherever she went, whether during her consultation hours or discussing
with the other doctors about their patients,
someone always gave her that worried look. It was only until mid-afternoon
that her father’s assistant, Eana, told her why
Everyone was giving her that strange gaze.
Eana showed her an article that circulated over the internet.
“Shanty, I just thought that you should know. The people around the center
are talking about you – more like, they feel
sorry for you,” Eana revealed. “I told your father first, but Doctor Scott
believes this news is fake.”
“Why, Eana? What is going around the internet?” Shantelle asked with a
frown.
Eana showed her an article online. It was the same report printed in the
magazine from yesterday, only that many
bloggers shared it through their social media pages. It looked to her like the
entire community of Rose Hills was talking
about the article featuring the perfect couple, Jessica Turner and Evan
Thompson.
Shantelle frowned, reading the comments.
[They are great together.]
[I can’t believe it. My ideal man is already taken.]
[Miss Jessica Turner sure is a lucky girl.]
[I think they look good together.]
[Miss Turner, in case you break Mister CEO’s heart, can I be the next in
line?]


[Evan Thompson is the next hot thing. Too bad he is taken. He has that
mysterious vibe in him, and I heard he is a very
generous man.]
Some thought it wasn’t true, countering the comments on social media.
[Get in line, Jessica. You aren’t the only one who wants Mister Evan
Thompson.]
[Hi, Mister CEO, wanna date me? I’m prettier than Jessica.]
[Miss Turner is not the first woman linked to a great CEO. Clara Thorn,
Venice Sash, etc. But Evan Thompson has always
denied being in a relationship with these women. Besides, no one had ever
seen Evan Thompson with a woman.]
[I work in the Thompson Group of Companies. Our CEO is already married,
so stop dreaming about him.]
Shantelle went on and on, reading the remarks. She could not help but go
through them since there were over a thousand
comments and likes.
It shocked her how so many ladies were interested in Evan’s life,
particularly his love life! She felt proud of Evan, but at
at the same time, she felt a hint of jealousy.’
Just how many women wanted to be with Evan?’
She was at least happy when one remarked that Evan was already
married.
As she clicked and clicked, expanding the comments, she read one remark
that made her lips twitch.
[Really, he is married? Maybe she isn’t that pretty since he doesn’t show
her off!]
A full grown body formed on Shantelle’s face. Me? Not pretty?’
She had the urge to reply to the comment and present herself, but she held
back. She didn’t think she had the right.
Introducing her is supposed to be Evan’s job and not hers. At least, that
was how
Shantelle felt about it.
An entire half an hour was wasted just checking on the comments. When
Shantelle realized what she was doing, she


gasped, complaining at Eana, “Eana!
Why did you show me this? We should be working. This article will not
affect me in any way. Besides, I know the full truth.
Evan is not with this woman. I’m sure of it.”
“Oh, okay, Shanty. I just wanted to tell you this, so you know why the staff is
looking at you strangely,” Eana reasoned.
“I don’t need to explain myself to them. Besides, they had seen me with
Evan during the ribbon cutting,” Shantelle pointed
out. “Why would they believe a mere article when he spent nearly every
minute by my side during that event?”
“Well, that’s true, Shanty. It’s just that, you know, the comments and the
rumors turned it into a big deal,” Eana suggested.
“I think you and Evan should go public with your relationship.”
“We aren’t hiding it,” Shantelle pointed out.
“Yes, but Evan is a famous man, Shanty. He is close to being a celebrity,
given his status and name,” Eana suggested. ”
What you need to do is to put your mark all over your man”
“Mark Evan? Like, bite him?” Shantelle asked, lifting her brow.
Eana laughed. She said, “Oh, Shanty. Sometimes, you can be too literal.
You can do many things, like go with Evan to
some of his events, especially company events. Get yourself photographed
with him, and for crying out loud, Shanty,
when have you used your social media?”
Shantelle thought about it. When did she last use her social media? She
can’t even remember. Yes, she was too busy
with her life. She did not have the time to go to the internet and put her
pictures there.
“I don’t need to prove anything, Eana,” Shantelle pointed out.
“It’s not about proving yourself. It’s about making yourself be known and
saving the hearts of those poor women who
remained hopeful for Evan’s attention.” Eana shrugged and added, ”
Trust me, you are doing them a favor but shutting down their dreams of
sleeping with your ex-husband – now future.
husband.”


Eana laughed at the end of her words. She then patted Shantelle’s back
and left her office.
In the afternoon, Karise visited her at the center. Shantelle was surprised to
see her friend, but simultaneously, she was
comforted.
Shantelle and her friend had mended entirely over the past few days since
Wendell’s birthday party. Karise was one of the
first to learn about her and Evan getting back together as a couple. If
anything, Karise would be an excellent person to talk
amid the rumor that she may be a fake girlfriend slash wife.
After ending her shift, Shantelle took
Karise out for coffee. It was from the coffee shop that they covered what
was going on around the internet. Karise asked,
“Have you spoken to Evan yet?”
Shantelle shook her head. She revealed,
There was a fire at the Lockwood National
Park today, so Evan’s pretty stressed. It came unexpectedly. I mean, yes,
we spoke, but simply to inform me about the
incident.”
“Shanty, I want you to know this is not new. Many women had tried to get
their hands on Evan. There was this actress,
Clara Thorn? She cropped her photo and edited it next to Evan.” Karise
laughed hysterically before revealing, “The
The following week, she lost all her sponsorship. I bet that was Evan’s
doing. From a rising star, she is now a backup dancer.”
“If I were you, I’d leave my mark on your man,” Karise said before laughing.
Shantelle’s eyes widened. She chuckled and replied, “Funny how I’ve
heard those words already. And you know what, I
will probably bite him.”
“You have every right!” Karise encouraged.
***
It took Evan four days to return to Rose Hills instead of three, and when he
did, he went to Scott’s residence first. He put


Lucas went to sleep, and after kissing him goodnight, he and Shantelle
spoke on the mansion’s patio.
“I’m sorry about the article. I was going to order it to be removed, but I
thought of a better way to counter it. However,
needed your on first,” Evan
“My permission. Why?” Shantelle asked.
“I am considering hiring a top magazine to feature us, you, me, and Lucas
– our family. I want the article to name it as The
Thompson Family,” Evan proposed. It requires us to have a family portrait.
Can I Shanty, please?”
Shantelle thought about it. If Evan ordered the article to be shut down, it
would not change the minds of those who had
I already read it. Meanwhile, if an article featured Evan in a relationship and
having a family, that would end rumors and
potentially cut her rivals in half. Maybe.
Turning to Evan, she cautiously replied, saying, “I agree.”
Evan smiled from ear to ear. He asked, ”
Really? You like the idea.”
“Someone told me I should mark you,” Shantelle reported, her ears burning
as she admitted, “I thought it was a good
idea.”
“Mark me? Like bite me?” Evan asked in confusion.
Shantelle laughed and replied, “Yes, well, not literally. Haha!”
“I don’t mind if you bite me, though,” Evan suggested. He leaned closer and
said, “I love you and miss you so much.”
He pecked her cheek, and she turned to kiss him back. From there, he
begged, ressed over the fire incident in Lockwood.
I need my wifey’s love.”
I’m so He whispered, teasing,
Please, bite me.”
Evan littered kisses on Shantelle’s neck, and she felt happy electricity
running through her body. She moaned from
Evan’s touch and said, “Mmmm… okay, but… not here.”
Bemused, Evan asked, “What?”


Shantelle suggested, “Let’s go to the villa.
Hearing Shantelle’s suggestion, Evan gulped. He felt his throat dry up. He
said, “Let’s go to the villa.”

Chapter 78: I Miss You
The truth was Shantelle had an awakening. While Evan had hurt her in the
past and knew she needed to guard her heart,
She also realized many women wanted to be with him. And these women
weren’t just average.
She recalled the names Karise had given her two nights back. She was
shocked to learn who they were. Some were
supermodels, and some were well- respected socialites.
They weren’t as forward and cunning as Jessica Turner, but a few had
expressed their interest in Evan through an
interview or simply by complimenting him in one article or Wo.
It did not stop from Clara Thorn or Venice
Sash. Karise dug up a few social media posts or tv interviews where these
women flush at the mention of Evan’s name.
Of course, Shantelle did not belittle herself. She was one of the country’s
best doctors and believed in that firmly.
However, more than just marking Evan, she admitted it was time for her to
give back. After all, she agreed on a
relationship, and all relationships require a give and take.
Thus, she agreed when Evan suggested they would go public with their
relationship. Deciding to bite him was another
way of her… giving back. She figured flourishing her relationship with Evan
and Lucas would be more critical than keeping


her heart partly caged.
Evan was blowing his horns in the middle of the road. A car had stopped
from nowhere, creating traffic at nine in the
evening.
“Oh, come on!” Evan barked, and it left Shantelle laughing in her seat.
“Relax, will you!” Shantelle said. “It’s the weekend tomorrow. We have… all
weekend.’
“Did that mean you’ll stay with me?”
Evan asked, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
A laugh escaped Shantelle’s lips. She replied, “I mean, I don’t mind staying
late.” Then, she added, ” And I thought we
Would I have a photoshoot?”
“We are. Tomorrow afternoon. After that, you and Lucas should stay with
me until Sunday. It would be good to let Lucas
know where I live – where we used to live,
Evan suggested. “Please, just a day to make me feel like we are a family
living in one house.
Shantelle turned to Evan and studied his pleading. She saw through his
eyes how he badly wanted it. Softly, she replied,
We are a family.” Caressing his face, she added, “Legality won’t change
that.’
“Please,” Evan repeated.
Shantelle pecked Evan’s lips, and with a sigh, she answered, “Okay. We
will stay in the villa tomorrow.”
Evan was delighted. He was going to make the most out of the traffic and
kiss the hell out of Shantelle, but the next thing
He heard the beeping of the horns behind him.
He groaned, discovering the road had already been cleared. Still, he looked
forward to Shantelle biting him; he sped on
his way to the villa.
When they made it to
་་
Ta, Shantelle met Mrs. Shaw. She smiled from ear to ear, saying, “Welcome
back, Misses! It’s good to see you home –


“No, I'm, I'm just visiting,” Shantelle reasoned.
On the other hand, Evan claimed, ”
Today, she is, but soon, she and Lucas will live here. Excuse us, Mrs.
Shaw.”
“Enjoy your night!” Misses Shaw suggested.
As Evan dragged her toward the master bedroom, Shantelle saw how the
house was maintained almost as she did
before. The vases, and the carpets, were precisely the ones that she had
bought. The furniture arrangements were also
the same.
When they made it inside the main room, she found herself studying the
portrait of her and Evan. It was their wedding
photo.
She had seen this exact picture when Evan was on a video call with Lucas,
but seeing it for herself made her emotional.
Shantelle peered at the same photo for seconds. Her eyes landed on
Evan’s expression. Yet again, she was reminded of
how Evan was so unhappy that day. She weakly said, “Evan, you should
take this down.”
“No, I won’t,” he said, embracing her from behind. “Why should I?”
“Evan, you don’t look happy in the photo,
Shantelle weakly admitted. “You should take it down.”
Hearing Shantelle’s words, Evan embraced her from behind. He moved her
to face him as he said, “I’m sorry, Wifey. Can
Do we forget about the past?” 1
Shantelle shut her eyes and caressed
Evan’s face. She rested her forehead on his lips and replied, “Evan, I just
think you should put a happy picture there from
now on.” When she opened her eyes, she saw his dark brown orbs and
suggested, “We are going to have a photoshoot.
So why don’t you replace that with the new photo?”
Evan nodded. He explained, “I kept it because that is one of my only
memories of you, and you looked so beautiful there,
but if it makes you uncomfortable, I will take it down.”


“Let’s just… replace it with newer, happy- looking photos, Evan. Is that
okay?”
Shantelle asked.
Reaching for her hand, Evan suggested, ” When you’ll marry me again, I’ll
be the happiest man alive. It will show in my
eyes, my smile, and how I stand beside you. I’ll put a photo in the house.”
Ty corner of the
Shantelle giggled. She replied, “No – not every corner, Evan, but yes – if I’ll
marry you.
When Evan’s face paled, Shantelle laughed. She teased, “You should see
the look on your face.”
“Shanty, please don’t break my heart, " Evan requested. “I wanted you for
so long. I can’t see myself being with another
woman.” (1)
Shantelle did not reply. Instead, she wrapped her hands around his neck.
She revealed, “Evan, I have something to tell
you.” Her face turned crimson as she admitted, “I practiced saying it for the
entire day yesterday, but seriously, it was a lot
easier saying it to a pretend Evan.”
Evan frowned. He asked, “You practiced?”
She nodded, saying, “I don’t know, but I find it hard to say it… to you, but it
doesn’t mean I don’t feel it.”
Her mouth parted, struggling to let the words roll out of her tongue, and
while her mouth remained open, Evan waited and
waited; all his attention was on her.
Eventually, she declared, “I miss you.”
She gasped, and her forehead formed beads of sweat. She resumed, “I
miss you so much that I realize I did not like being
far from you.
Shantelle embraced Evan, hiding her blushing face from his direct view.
She expressed, “I want to hold you longer, kiss
you longer, and that’s why I decided to come with you to the villa because I
want to feel more of you.’ ”


Listening to Shantelle admitting her feelings, Evan was overjoyed. He
forecasted how he might hear her say how she
loved him very soon, and it might not be such a distant future when she
would say I do.
He lowered his head and pecked her lips. He replied, “Thank you, Wifey. I
needed that.” He pulled her closer to his frame,
his arms completely embracing her. Every day, I miss you and Lucas so
much.”
Evan lifted Shantelle’s weight and pushed her against the nearest wall,
kissing her intensely so that her jaws moistened. Their tongues quickly
became entangled, and they moaned into their
mouths.
With how they were making out intensely and how her legs hanging in midWere air, Shantelle automatically circled her
limbs around Evan. It urged the man to push his entire weight against her
that Shantelle felt the hardness of his shaft.
Next, Shantelle felt Evan’s hand climb up to her chest. He briefly pulled
away and informed, “I want to touch you so badly
–
“Touch me,” Shantelle said, and
instantly, she saw Evan’s eyes filled with passion. “Touch me, Evan,
because I will definitely… bite you.”

Chapter 79: Taste Good
Shantelle threw her head back and heaved. Evan’s hand cupped her
breast, and it felt so damn good. Evan only touched
the outside of her blouse, yet her body was already sent into a sea of
pleasure.


Next, she felt Evan’s lips on her neck, pecking and sucking her skin, which
made her shiver in satisfaction. She
remembered how it felt so good to be with Evan in this way, in this very
room, but she could tell the difference – a big
difference.
—
Now, Evan was taking his time, like a boy slowly eating his candy. He was
kissing nearly every part of her skin as he
massaged one of her breasts while still in her clothes.
I miss this. I miss touching you, and god, how I missed the feel of being
buried inside you,” Evan recounted.
The couple went at it, kissing carelessly while Evan carried Shantelle’s
weight. Her frame remained pressed against the
wall. Evan wanted more that he wound up tearing off her blouse.
At that point, Shantelle did not know how to react. She wanted to continue
that she cared not for her blouse. The next
thing she knew, her bra was dangling in her arm.
Evan pulled away to relish the view of her naked top. As he did, Shantelle
said, ‘
They aren’t as perky as before. I breastfed your son for two months before
returning to school.”
“They are beautiful. You are so beautiful,
“Evan commented before returning to kiss Shantelle, his hand finally feeling
her bare bosom.
Shantelle felt goosebumps all over her body. Evan’s hand on her skin sent
tingles down her core that she clenched her
legs around Evan. She bashfully admitted, “Your touch feels amazing.”
In the next few seconds, Evan and Shantelle made out senselessly, their
heads turning from side to side and their
breathing labored. As they kissed, Evan’s hands alternately grabbed her
breast, his hips unwittingly grounding against her
pelvic area.
Later on, Evan brought her to bed. He lowered her to the sheets and
continued kissing her. From there, Shantelle urged


Evan removed his clothes, starting with his coat. Then, she began
unbuttoning his shirt.
When Shantelle ran her fingers over his chest, Evan pulled back. He
removed his shirt and the compression garments.
He briefly kissed her on the lips again, started giving Shantelle love bites
on the neck, and soon began sucking on her
breasts.
“God, I miss this,” Evan swore. He circled his tongue around the areola of
her breast before sucking her nipple, and he did
the same to the other mount, fondling them leisurely, a
Evan left love bites on her chest too, and he did so generously. Eventually,
his eyes landed on Shantelle’s pants. He
hissed, feeling his size enlarging. He swore his member would pop out of
his trousers anytime soon.
He sat up and gripped the waistband of Shantelle’s pants. Before removing
it, he gazed at her, silently asking for
approval. She did not refuse him, so he took it as a yes.
Evan enthusiastically removed her pants, and her underwear came off with
it.
When he saw her bare bottom lips, he lifted a brow at her, asking, “Do you
always shave down here?”
Shantelle turned to the other side, ashamed at admitting, “I thought about
letting you touch me since… yesterday.”
“Fuck!” Evan did not think twice. He dove right in and sucked on her core.
“Evan – Evan!” In a split second,
Shantelle felt a warm tongue against her peach. Evan was hungrily drinking
her, sucking her bottom lips and flicking his
tongue against her clit. As he did, he reached for her bosom and kneaded
it. ” Fuck I love you, and I miss you so much.”
He licked her from her entrance and up to her clit, declaring, “This one, I
definitely miss!” He ate her thoroughly before
adding, “You taste so good! I can’t get enough.”
Shantelle was floundering in bed. Her hips would not stop waving, and her
back repeatedly arched.


Evan relentlessly fondled her rose. He was so hungry for her that he swore
he could go all night pleasing her and making
love with her.
“Evan, I – I can’t handle this, I can’t – Shantelle announced. She was ready
to reach the peak in no time and felt utterly
ashamed of how prematurely she gave in to the pleasure, but what could
she do? It had been a long time for her. Every
The moment she lay in that bed felt like heaven.
Yes, she had not been with a man, but she was sharing the exact intimate
moment with Evan. It was all familiar to her, as
if every excitement she used to have about this very scene came rushing
back into her head and in her heart.
“Ahhh! Evan!” With that thought, Shantelle eventually came. Her insides.
pulsated, and her body mildly convulsed.
Despite her reaction, Evan continued to suck her, drinking her love juice
altogether.
After pleasuring Shantelle, Evan climbed back up to kiss her, and they did
so passionately.
Seconds went by, and Evan’s gaze returned to her core. His eyes were yet
again filled with desire. He was about to sit up
and removed his trousers when Shantelle stopped him, saying, “No… I – I
want to kiss you too.”
At first, Evan was puzzled, but soon he recognized what she meant when
Shantelle tried to turn him over.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t, and Even laughed.
“Cooperate!” Shantelle warned, and Evan pivoted to the other side of the
bed, lying on his back.
Shantelle climbed on top of him, straddling his groin area, her body
completely bare and in full view of Evan.
“Oh, god, Wifey. You are so beautiful, and it feels so good with you on top
of me. Movie it a little for me – god, it has been
too long,” Evan remarked, shutting his eyes and relishing the moment.
Shortly, Evan felt Shantelle kissing his chest. It quickly sent shivers down
his spine, knowing she had made such a bold


move. It wasn’t new to Evan, Shantelle used to kiss him in the chest often
when they did the deed as a married couple,
but this time, it was different.
When they were married, he refused to acknowledge whatever excitement
he felt about her, especially when they were in
bed, but now, Evan was expressing it, knowing what he had lost for a very
long time.
“Evan? You swore you haven’t been with a woman other than me?”
Shantelle asked, her eyes fixed on him as she
lowered her chest to his.
The man looked into her eyes and replied, “I swear, I haven’t. I couldn’t. All
I think about is you.” He coughed against his
fist and admitted, “I – um. I think of you when I – you know. You are my only
release.”
Shantelle’s eyes reflected a hint of desire as she kissed his chest. She
returned her regard to Evan and naughtily asked, ”
How? What am I doing when you think of me? Like this?”
Evan nodded. He gulped and replied, You, kissing you, making love with
you. You, sucking me. Your perfect lips around
my dick.”
Shantelle’s eyes became hooded. She kissed Evan’s chest repeatedly,
leaving him marks, just as she promised. Soon her
gaze lowered to his trouser. She looked back at him and asked, “Do you
want me to?”
“Oh, yeah. Very, very much,” Evan said.
Every second mattered at that point for
Evan. When Shantelle unbuttoned his slacks, his heart raced. When she
helped him off his trousers, his excitement was
off the roof. After years of having wet dreams about his ex-wife, it was
finally coming true! Evan swore he had a precum
before Shantelle could even hold his length.
It did not take long for his underwear to be on the floor, his manhood erect
like a stiff rod.


Shantelle’s slender hand wrapped around his stick, and she palmed it
briefly, declaring, “You are so big, Evan.”
“Aaah!” Evan moaned as soon as Shantelle’s lips touched the tip of his
manhood. He soon felt her mouth warming half of
his full size. “Fuck, yeah.
Shantelle felt her face burn as she ate his shaft. Evan tasted divine!
Everything about him gave her waves of pleasure.
Looking at and feeling his body bedazzled her. Evan had the right amount
of muscles, and she loved his flat yet firm waist.
In his clothes, anyone could see through his sexy manly frame, but without
it, it was even more alluring.
Now, while eating his member, she was delighted with the softness of his
skin and was pleased with how hard he was.
She did this to him. He was so aroused because of her.
When Evan revealed how he had masturbated at the thought of her, she
did not know why, but it thrilled her.
Shantelle wasn’t a sexual woman, but the idea of Evan thinking of her
through those years somehow flared the fire of her
desires. Her inner self wanted to do what Evan described: the intimate
moments she had with him when they were
married.
Up and down, Shantelle’s head bobbed in
between Evan’s legs, but with everything they had done for that night, the
man was ready to explode. 1
“Shanty, I’m going to cum,” Evan warned.
Shantelle let him go with a pop. Evan jerked himself in front of her, erupting
on her chest and some on her face.
Evan was panting when he said, “Fuck, that felt so damn good. How much
more.
when I enter you.
With conviction, he declared, “I swear, Wifey, I would probably go at it all
night long.”


Chapter 80: Filled
Because Evan wasn’t satisfied, feeling Shantelle’s soft skin, he urged her to
take a shower with him. As they did, they
kissed and groped each other’s bodies.
After the bathroom, Evan carried Shantelle back into the bed and laid her
gently on the sheets. He eagerly covered. her
mouth, assaulting it like he had not done so in the last hour. His hand
senselessly roamed Shantelle’s body.
It wasn’t just him, though. He was proud to say that Shantelle did not
hesitate in feeling his chest, back, and especially the
She claimed to be perfect. She used to do this a lot when they were
married.
Evan recalled how Shantelle was always fascinated by his body.
Little did Shantelle know, it was the same with Evan, only that he had never
expressed it before. Now, he would forever
correct his mistakes and shower
Shantelle with the compliments she deserved.
Descending to her neck, Evan added more kiss marks on her skin. He
remarked, “So beautiful. Your skin feels like silk.”
Evan was on top of Shantelle, pressing his entire weight on her. He felt her
breast against his chest, her bare thighs
around his waist, and her pubic area making contact with his groin.
He did not think twice about grounding his member into her soft skin. He
wound up moaning in pleasure at the thought of
being able to enter her.
Soon, he climbed down to her stomach and kissed it generously. Then, he
asked, “Turn around for me, Wifey. You know, I
love your ass.”
Shantelle bit her lip and did as he requested. While changing position, she
seductively raised her ass cheek at him before
giving him her entire back.
At the view of her firm, two-round flesh, he grabbed them with both hands,
saying, “God, I miss this too. I had probably


dreamed about this a thousand times.”
He kissed each bottom cheek and bit it gently, making Shantelle gasp in
desire, her body twitching. Repeatedly, he kissed
and felt her ass, and when he was satisfied, he spread her ass-cheek apart
and studied where he would enter.
“Fuck, it looks so nice. I really miss this, Evan said again. He could not help
but want to tell her how much he had wanted
her for many years. “It’s everything I’ve always imagined.”
He used his fingers to feel her entrance and was pleased with how she was
still wet. He said, “Lift your ass for me, Wifey.
I’ll taste you again.”
“Okay, Hubby,” she replied.
Shantelle thought he was already going to fondle her rose, but he was still
at it, kissing and biting her butt. She was
Certainly Evan wound up leaving marks there, too.
“Mmmm, Evan. That feels so good,” she admitted. She felt his fingers
gently rubbing her entrance, and his tongue joined
in the stimulation too. Indeed, their love making this time was far different
from when they were married.
“Aahh! Evan!” Shantelle felt goosebumps with the way Evan’s tongue
tasted her again, his fingers relentlessly caressing
her clit.
“Evan, I’m going to cum – god!” She revealed. Truth be told, she was
surprised by how she was moaning and calling his
name. However, it was inescapable.
Evan’s fondling utterly stirred her, Shantelle’s desires came overflowing.
“Cum for me again, Shanty. I want to taste it, to feel it with my fingers,”
Evan encouraged. “Cum on my fingers.”
It did not take long for her body to mildly convulse with pleasure. She
slammed onto the sheets as the pleasure spread
throughout her body.
Shantelle was chasing her breath, relishing the moment with her eyes shut.
As she did, she felt the tip of Evan’s stick,


wiping the wetness of her core. She heard him say, “Wifey, I won’t hold
back. More than seven years, Shanty. I haven’t
done this for too long. I want to go deep, and I you know I can’t – ”
“Mmmm. I know,” Shantelle replied.
When they were married, Evan never managed to pull out whenever they
were intimate. He always said she made him
feel so good that he didn’t have the strength to cum outside of her. That
was why she needed to take contraceptives. back
then.
This time, however, they were not married, and despite Lucas’ request to
have a brother, Shantelle wasn’t ready to have
another child, not when the heart and lung center had recently opened. She
already had surgery scheduled for the next
two months. She wasn’t ready to go through nausea and everything else
that came with pregnancy. 1
“I’ll have my period in two days,”
Shantelle admitted. It was another reason to be intimate with Evan.
Women, in general, are wired to procreate following
their ovulation period. The hormones significantly make women feel the
need to be intimate with their partners during such
days.
Before Evan returned to her life,
Shantelle would simply busy herself with work, but the center was still new,
and surgeries were still being scheduled.
Shantelle admittedly had the free time to think about Evan intimately,
especially after missing him for a few days.
‘I’ll have my period in two days.’ Hearing Shantelle’s reply, Evan’s eyes
narrowed. That meant he only had two days to be
buried inside of her!
“Fuck, we need to do a lot of this before your period,” Evan proclaimed,
making his wifey giggle. He lined up his shaft in
in front of Shantelle’s opening and began pushing it in.
“Oh, yeah.” He pushed again, making it halfway through. Evan’s eyes never
left his manhood. He celebrated the way his


size was entering Shantelle’s pink hole, and he especially loved how he
had a perfect view of her behind.”It feels so
good.”
“You are so tight, Shanty,” Evan remarked. He shut his eyes, relishing
being sucked in around her tight and wet flesh.
When he made it all the way in, he moaned, “Aaahhh! My god. It’s way
better than I remember – Ahh! Ahh!”
His hips moved slowly, thrusting back and forth. “I love it. I love you,
Shanty. I love how you make me feel.”
Finally, he opened his eyes. He held
Shantelle’s ass as he watched how his stick was glowing with her love
juice. He was especially delighted at how her
The entrance stretched for him, accommodating his size.
Meanwhile, Shantelle clenched her hands into fists. Her eyes closed,
recognizing the sensation of being filled. Evan was
so big, he filled her completely. There was not a space left untouched
inside her hole.
It felt amazing, especially since she had just come. Her insides were still
throbbing, and then came Evan’s manhood. It
simply sent her to an ocean of pleasure that she found herself moving back
and forth along with Evan.
She felt Evan’s hand reaching for her breast. Then he urged her to rest her
back on his chest while still making love.
Shantelle arched her back so her head would rest on his shoulder, his arm
over her breast, his hand firmly cupped on one
mount, and his lips covering hers.
Evan maintained to pump in and out of her while keeping her in place. It
was a difficult position to preserve, but she loved
how their lips were locked, and the sound of their slapping flesh was so
arousing, she did not want it to stop.
Eventually, Evan’s thrusting became more demanding. Shantelle knew he
was about ready to cum. Thus, she let go of
their kisses to give him more room. She returned to giving Evan her entire
back, her arms resting on the sheets.


Evan held her waist, and from that moment on, he moved faster, pumping
two to three times per second. As he did, his
moans became unending, and erotic wails filled the air. He shut his eyes,
calling, “Shanty – Ahh. Shanty!”
He was going at it passionately that Shantelle lost her hold, falling flat on
the bed. Evan quickly followed, lying above her
while still thrusting from behind.
“I’m cumming. I’m cumming,” Evan announced, and as soon as he did, he
pushed in hard, really hard. “Aaaah! Fuck,
Shanty!”
Like Evan, Shantelle had also reached her peak. Evan was hitting all the
right places, and another orgasm came to her. It
felt even better to cum while his rod was inside of her. She moaned, “Oh,
god, Evan. Mmmmm.”
“Ahh! Fuck. Ahh!” Evan pushed and pushed until he squirmed his hips
leisurely. He stayed there for an undetermined
time, remaining buried inside Shantelle.
He kissed her back, neck, and cheeks, saying, “I love you. I love you so
fucking much. I want to make love with you every
day of my life.”
Evan flipped Shantelle to lie on her back. He climbed on top of her and
showered her with kisses once more. Shantelle
happily kissed back, feeling fulfilled by their lovemaking. They went at it for
minutes, nibbling on their lips like there was no
tomorrow.
Shortly after, Shantelle felt his tip poking into her rose again. She pulled
away from the kiss, asking, “Evan? Are you
serious?”
Evan stared at her with complete yearning, saying, “I am dead serious.”
“We – we never had a second round before,” Shantelle recalled.
“Well, Wifey. It’s different now. I want a second, third, and maybe fourth
round,” Evan declared. “Shall we?”
Before Shantelle could answer, he had already pushed inside her, and she
felt filled again. “Aaah!”


Chapter 81: A New Business Partner
“Shanty. Where are you? Shanty, come back! Please!” Evan’s dream
startled
Shantelle. His hold around her waist tightened, and her naked body was
pressed against him.
“Evan. Evan!” Shantelle called, waking him. “Evan, I’m here.”
Evan jerked awake, his eyes rounding while his breathing hitched. He held
Shantelle tightly, repeatedly calling her name,
“Shanty. Shanty.” He turned to her side and hugged her firmly. “Don’t leave
me again, please. I can’t bear it.”
Shantelle returned the embrace. She wrapped her arm around his neck,
answering, “I’m here. I’m not leaving, Evan.
Whatever it was, it was just a dream. I’m here.”
It took some time for Evan to settle his emotions. When he did, he
revealed, “I haven’t been dreaming of such a scene
lately, but it came so often during the first two years when you left.”
“Lately, I have been sleeping better,”
Evan disclosed.
His words made Shantelle wonder how badly Evan struggled to sleep at
night for many years. She had those nights too,
when Evan broke her heart, but when she learned she was pregnant, her
hormones aided in her rest.
Shantelle pecked his cheek, saying,
You’ll be sleeping much better now.”
“You promise to stay with me all night?”
Evan softly asked.
Shantelle chuckled and replied, “In some nights.”
With a nod, Evan replied, “I’m okay with that.”


Evan realized how it was nearly dawn. He checked the time and said, “I’m
fucking hungry.” He should. He made love with
Shantelle until one in the morning, making it until the fourth round.
When Evan realized it was half an hour past four, he suggested they have
an early breakfast. “Lucas should be awake
soon. Let’s eat first, and then I’ll eat you for dessert before heading back to
your house.”
“But, I don’t have a top anymore,”
Shantelle reminded him of how he tore off her blouse.
Evan pointed with his head and said, "You have lots of clothes inside the
closet.”
Shantelle remembered how Mrs. Shaw suggested the same. Well, seeing it
would be much better. ‘Did he maintain all my
clothes?’
She got up, covering herself with a blanket, leaving Evan baffled. He asked,
” What are you doing? I have seen you
naked. I have tasted every part of your body. Why are you covering up?”
Shantelle rolled her eyes before leaving the blanket on the floor. When she
entered the closet, she was shocked to see all
the clothes. It was more than what she remembered! There was so much
Evan barely had space for his own. She saw
several pieces that were unfamiliar to her. She asked, “Are these new?”
“Yes, I buy clothes for you now and then, “Evan said behind her. He
entered the walk-in closet to fetch a shirt and
pajamas.
“How did you guess I would be back here, though?” Shantelle asked.
Evan laughed and embraced her from behind, cupping her breast while he
was at it. He kissed her cheek, saying, “I did
I do not know, but I never stopped hoping.
“I’ll head down first,” Evan said.
After hearing him leave the room, Shantelle found a good pair of shorts and
a shirt she remembered Evan bought her
when they married. She was about to leave when a particular white dress
caught her attention.


“Wow,” she remarked. It was a Sarah Kate dress. she bit her lips,
remembering how she used to be so particular about
buying only the same designer dress, but it wasn’t her priority after leaving
Rose Hills. Still, she bought a dress or two, but
because Warlington did not have a Sarah Kate boutique, she had failed to
follow the trend.
She went through the dresses and found more limited edition ones. Her
eyeballs would have fallen off just by how they
were rounding in each dress she pulled out.
“So beautiful,” she complimented on a blue dress. Some needed resizing
since Shantelle had lost weight, but not
significantly. She checked the mirror and said, “This brings out the color of
my eyes, but then again, the white dress is so
elegant!” a
Shantelle felt like a princess, having many clothes to choose from, yet she
didn’t know about them until now. “I love this.”
“Can’t decide which one to wear?” Evan walked in behind her. “We will
have a formal wear photo shoot later. Let’s have
white and blue?”
Shantelle’s eyes were gleaming. She smiled brightly at Evan, saying,
“Thank you, Evan. These are so beautiful. Some are
even more stunning than the ones you recently gave me.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d want these since they are old,” Evan described.
Fashion styles always come back every few years. Some of these will
return to trend,” Shantelle suggested. “Some
designs can be timeless.”
She turned to Evan and kissed his lips, saying, “I love them.”
He kissed back, asking, “How about you love me?”
Shantelle’s face burned. Instead of answering, she tasted his mouth and
relished in a deep kiss. When she pulled away,
Evan said, “Mmmm. I’m going to eat two servings of dessert later.”
***
Evan had his double dessert after an early breakfast. Next, they went to the
Scotts mansion to fetch their son.


Lucas was over the moon when he learned they would spend two days
together as a family. His tired self became. full of
life as he jumped for joy. He excitedly packed his bags with his parents.
help and left with them for their family photo
shoot.
From formal to casual wear, the family of three changed from one set of
clothes to another, posing for the cameras.
Evan brought them to a studio full of professional stylists and
photographers. Shantelle and Lucas were introduced as
Evan’s family, and they had Evan’s full attention the entire time.
“Make sure my wife and son look good in the photo,” Evan instructed while
posing for the cameras.
“Does my son look like me or what? Make sure our angles are the same,”
Evan added.
When Shantelle changed into a new dress, he constantly checked if it fit
her well. As for Lucas, he personally helped him
with clothes and styled his son’s hair to make it look like his.
During breaks, Evan took it upon himself to prepare his family’s meals, and
they all ate together simultaneously.
James, Evan’s assistant, was also present to direct the team of writers and
the magazine representative on how the
features will go. Evan’s plan was to block an entire five spreads, equal to
ten pages all in all, of the magazine to introduce
Shantelle and Lucas.
When the photo shoot was done, Evan selected from all the pictures and
decided which ones would be published in the
magazine. He and Shantelle also quickly met with Evan’s PR manager to
discuss the subsequent publicity that needed to
be done.
As the family drove to the villa, Shantelle asked Evan, “So about Jessica
Turner
With a sigh, Evan said, “Wifey, I don’t want you to think I’m not doing
anything. I am working on it. Let them think they


have escaped my punishment; the higher they climb, the harder they will
fall. So be patient with me. Just one week more,
and everything will fall into place.”
“I have canceled our future collaboration, but I am having difficulty buying
their rights in the newly built condo. I will let
them glorify for now, but I’ll take everything back, eventually, eventually.
With Attorney Scarlett’s help, I’ll have full rights to
the condo and a new business partner, too,” Evan revealed. ‘
Everything will unravel at the company’s anniversary party, where I will
reintroduce you and Lucas and formally announce
the new business partner.”
“The new business partner?” Shantelle repeated. 2
“Yes,” Evan smirked and announced, Scarlett’s husband will buy the shares
of the Turners and will convert the
condominium into a Diamond Hotel, the first here in Rose Hills.” 2
“Oh, wow. Nice catch, Evan. Good job,” Shantelle remarked. The Diamond
Hotels was one of the biggest hotel brands in
the country. Making partners with the said hotel brand would certainly pave
the way for Evan’s growing empire.
“Yes, well. Everything happens for a reason,” Evan remarked. “It was a
good decision for me to hire Attorney Scarlett and
her team to represent you against Warrington Hospital and Mayor Frank
Morgan.”
“I have invited Scarlett’s family to the anniversary party,” Evan announced.
“I can’t wait to meet them,” Shantelle commented.
“Yes, I heard they have lots of kids.” Evan winked at Shantelle, saying,
“Maybe, we can learn from them, Wifey. Make
loads. of babies.”
Shantelle shook her head as she looked outside the window of the car.
Meanwhile, Lucas, who had been lying on her lap the whole time,
exclaimed, “I want a brother!”
“Sure,” Evan promised, while Shantelle glared at him.


Chapter 82: William’s Support
“This is where your mommy used to cook, “Evan described, taking Lucas to
the kitchen. “Your mommy always loved
putting things in order.” Walking back into the living room, Evan pointed to
the furniture. “Your mommy bought these.”
Evan was giving Lucas a tour of the entire villa. Shantelle followed behind
them, smiling and giggling whenever her son
made a silly remark.
Taking Lucas to the main bedroom, Evan revealed, “This is Mommy and
Daddy’s room. Wanna look around?”
“Uh Uh!” Lucas exclaimed. The first thing he saw was their wedding portrait
hanging on the wall. “Wow! Is that Mommy?
She looks so pretty!”
“The room is nice, daddy! It’s so big!” Lucas added.
“It is,” Evan confirmed. “Now, let me take you to your room.”
“My room? But I want to stay with you,’ Lucas begged. “You did not put me
to bed for days!” Lucas hugged Evan, asking,
Please, daddy. Please. Can I sleep next to you? I miss you. Can I stay here
with you and Mommy?”
The plan was to have more of Shantelle, but that would not happen if Lucas
slept in the same bed with them. But how can
Does he ever deny his son? He owed him so many years of his time and
attention.
Behind the door, Shantelle was giggling at him. She raised both her hands,
suggesting how it was all his decision to
make. Thus, he surrendered to Lucas, saying, “Alright, buddy. We will all
stay in the main room.”
“Yey! Yey!” Lucas jumped for joy. He then revealed, “I remember my
classmate in Warlington telling me that when he was
little, he used to stay with his mommy and daddy at night, but I never did,
so I wanted to try it!”


Lucas’ words made Shantelle choke on her spew. Her face paled, knowing
that it was her fault, but thankfully, Evan was
quick to divert the topic. When he saw Shantelle’s reaction, he immediately
carried Lucas into his arms, saying, Let’s do
everything you wanna do. What else do you want to do with your mommy
and daddy?”
”
“I want to do hand painting with Mommy and Daddy! I want to swim with
Mommy and Daddy! I want to go to an
amusement park with Mommy and Daddy.” Lucas went on and on, even
repeating some of the things they had already
done. The last thing he requested, however, made Evan laugh. The young
man said, “I want to take care of my little
brother with Mommy and Daddy!”
At night, Lucas slept in between his parents. He turned from side to side,
repeatedly hugging Evan and Shantelle. He kept
saying, “I love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, Lucas,” Shantelle said each time he expressed those words.
“I love my little man,” Evan said whenever Lucas would turn to him.
For an hour, Lucas was restless, circling his leg around Shantelle and then
turning to Evan to do the same. He did it so
many times, unable to decide which position to take.
In the end, Lucas grabbed Shantelle’s arm and wrapped it around him,
forcing his mommy to face the boy’s back.
Whereas, Lucas’ legs were around Evan’s thigh.
Evan and Shantelle both patted Lucas to sleep. When he was completely
out, Evan said, “I know we are supposed to
teach him independence, but I figured, let’s have him experience the things
he missed when I wasn’t around.”
Shantelle nodded. She said, “This is just a phase. He is overwhelmed that I
have allowed this intimacy between us. He’ll
want his own space in time.”
“I guess it’s the same for me,” Evan admitted. “Having you both here,
sleeping in the villa – our villa, resting in our bed.”


He smiled, nearly teary-eyed, adding, “It makes me so elated to be able to
make up for lost times.”
Evan’s hand reached for Shantelle. He caressed her cheek and said,
“Thank you so much, Shanty, for giving me this
a chance to be with you and a chance to be a father.”
***
The next day, Evan brought Shantelle and Lucas to the old Thompson
mansion, where Erick and Clara had the
opportunity to play with Lucas.
As Evan promised, they swam together at the swimming pool behind the
mansion. Erick and Clara were photographers as
Evan taught Lucas how to swim. They played ball in the water and played
with sharks.
Shantelle would carry Lucas on her shoulder while Evan chased after them,
pretending to be a shark.
“Mommy, hurry! Daddy’s going to catch us! Ahhh!” Lucas screamed, and
each time Evan would catch up, he would tickle
his son. The sight of which added to everyone’s amusement.
Evan also found time to have a hand painting-session in the afternoon.
Howard had bought large papers and oil paints from the nearby bookstore,
and the family of three indulged, coloring the
paper with their fingerprints.
After they were done imprinting the paper, Shantelle suddenly smudged
Evan’s face. It started a gleeful battle that ended
in tickling, smearing their entire clothes, and endless laughter. Lucas
happily yielded, painting both his parents.
Clara and Erick happily took pictures repeatedly, utterly entertained. He
also sent copies to William and Eleanor.
Needless to say, Lucas had the time of his life. He had so much fun that he
dozed off while riding back to the Scotts’
mansion in the evening. When they arrived, Evan carried Lucas to his room
for a nap while Shantelle carried their things.
In Lucas’ bedroom, Evan watched his son sleep. He did not know how long
he stayed there, simply admiring his son. He


ran his fingers through Lucas’ hair and said, “I wish I were there when you
were born. I would have been the happiest
dad.
After checking the time and realizing how late it was, Evan kissed Lucas’
cheek, saying, “Goodnight, my little man. Soon,
we will live together.”
He turned to the door and found
Shantelle standing there. She immediately wrapped her arms around his
neck and kissed his lips. She said, ” You are
such a great father, Evan.”
“Thank you,” Evan said, kissing her back and circling his arms around her
waist. “I love being a father to Lucas.”
“Did you already have your period?” Out of nowhere, Evan asked. He
hoped a little that he could still make love with
Shantelle. 1
However, his wife laughed and replied, ‘ I did. Just now.”
A hiss left his lips, and he swore, “Next week, then. During the anniversary
party.
Shantelle did not know why, but the thought of doing it with Evan again
made sense. her core tingle. She tried to dismiss it by
laughing, but her face showed everything as she turned tomato red.
Bashfully, she replied, “Next week.”
She walked Evan down the mansion. They were about to make it out to the
driveway when William called their attention.
“Evan, a word, please,” William said, his head leaning toward the study.
Evan followed Doctor Scott and closed the door behind him. After settling in
his seat, he asked, “What is it, Uncle?”
William showed him the photos that
Erick had taken. He smiled and said, "Look at Lucas here.” His eyes
gleamed as he described, “I’ve never seen my
grandson is happy.”
“I think I spent half an hour just going through these pictures. Both my
daughter and my grandson look so happy,” William
described.


William leaned back and said, “Of course, I have seen this for a while. I just
did not want to admit it yet.”
“Evan, you broke my daughter’s heart. You made her take away her glow,
that beautiful smile on her face. You don’t know
how much that hurt me too,” William said.
Evan did not know why William was suddenly bringing this up again. He
honestly thought they were done talking about
the past. He wound up looking down apologetically.
“But who would have thought,” William resumed. He sniffed and added,
“Who would have thought, you would be that
same person to make her smile this way again, and bring so much
happiness to my grandson.”
“You know, Evan. I was worried that I might be talking to you about this
prematurely. I meant to wait it out, observe some
more – maybe another month or two, but I realize it is just holding me back
from fully moving forward,” William described.
“So, let me say it before I change my mind.”
“Evan, I give you my support wholeheartedly. I pray that you won’t hurt my
daughter or Lucas, because I would hate
myself too – ”
“Uncle, I won’t. I swear I won’t,” Evan promised. He felt so relieved; it
seemed like a needle had been pricked out of his
heart. Evan wound up letting out a sigh, massaging his chest. He looked
down and then back up. Water welled in his eyes
as he said, “I will love Shanty and Lucas with everything in me – with all my
life.
Thank you, Uncle. Your support means a lot to me.”
“Please, Evan, take care of Shanty and
Lucas, because not everyone gets a second chance in love and life,”
William closed.
Evan nodded and replied, “I am giving it my all, Uncle, all the way.’
Chapter 83
Chapter 83: The CEO IS Off The Market


“The Thompson Group Of Companies’ CEO, Evan Thompson, is already
off the market. A full five-spread of CELLE
Magazine featured happy photos and an interview with the great CEO. In
that interview, Mister Thompson admits to being
in love with the same woman for many years. Mister Thompson also
confirms having a son,” a news anchor reported on
TV. “According to the powerful CEO, his family is everything to him, and he
loves them beyond words; he would move
mountains for them.”
The news quickly flashed the photos featured in CELLE Magazine, showing
off the stylish poses of Shantelle, Evan, and
Lucas. The same report also featured Shantelle’s profession, highlighting
how she was the lead surgeon of Saint
Dominique Heart and Lung Center.
There were single photos of her where she looked like a top model from the
best agencies in the country. The finest shot.
featured Evan and Shantelle wearing formal clothes. They were facing
each other with passion in their eyes. Their arms
were wrapped around each other, and their lips nearly met.
After the photos were shown on TV, the news anchor reported, “So,
Unfortunately, ladies, Mister Thompson has given a statement himself. He
clearly said he is not interested in meeting other
women, for he is madly in love with
Doctor Shant. He wishes his fans to find
the love of their lives and contentment
like he did.”
The news was everywhere. In the center, Evan had ordered every TV to
tune in to Channel Six, where the magazine
would be highlighted. From the receptionist,
whoever was lounging in the canteen, to the facility’s private rooms, there
was no
escaping the critical breaking news of Channel Six. Wherever Evan had
control, they all saw the broadcast.


All businesses of the Thompson Group of Companies were urged to watch
the news, including business partners. If that
wasn’t enough, the same report was also presented on the internet. Evan
had
ordered all employees to share the article, like it, and leave comments.
[Wow, Mister Thompson has a handsome son like him and his wife is
absolutely gorgeous.]
[Beautiful and smart! It’s not easy to
become a doctor.]
[Mister Thompson is a philanthropist
who married someone who saves lives.
It’s only fitting.]
[Now, this is a perfect couple.]
[There is no denying this. There is a
photo of them together and an interview
with Mister Thompson. Sorry ladies, it’s
time to move on and find another man.]
[Ufff! Jessica Turner was just another
rumor or a Misses Thompson wanna-be!]
[Oh, my god! Doctor Shant is way more
beautiful than Jessica Turner! No wonder
Mister Thompson never batted an eye on
all those claims.]
[Doctor Shant is a 10/10. Jessica Turner is
a 4/10]
[Back off, Jessica. Mister Thompson is already married! Have some
decency!]
James, Evan’s assistant, left several comments too. He gave his personal
thoughts about the couple.
[I have been Mister Thompson’s assistant for nine years. He is very in love
with the
Misses, Doctor Shant.]
[Mister Thompson only has the Misses in his heart, Doctor Shant.]


[The boss talks about being a father to Lucas all the time. He loves his boy
just as
He loves the Misses.]
With Evan’s corporation having over thirty thousand employees all over the
country, the article became the town’s
news, and it went on for days. There was
no denying Evan and Shantelle’s
relationship at that point, especially since the man was around town.
To back up the article, Evan consistently picked up Shantelle from the heart
and lung center every afternoon. They also
went out for dinner with Lucas once in a famous restaurant. Evan allowed
photos to be taken each time, and like the
article, the same pictures went around the internet, where remarks were
flying at
how perfect their family was.
As for Shantelle’s colleagues at work, the
turn of events has reconfirmed her
relationship with Evan. No one was
giving her that doubtful look. In fact, many of her colleagues apologized to
Shantelle for questioning her place with Evan Thompson.
Many began calling her as ‘The Boss’ Boss,’ seeing how Evan was smitten
by Shantelle.
***
Meanwhile, in a private office of Turner’s Realty, Jessica was cursing while
reading the trending news. She could not
believe how her efforts were quickly
overshadowed.
The article about Jessica and Evan was supposed to lift her worth so Evan
would see her as a potential partner.
Reading all those compliments about her and Evan being a good pair
sparked her interest in Evan more. She fantasized
about the possibility, sometimes thinking of Evan in her room. Getting
married to Evan hit two birds with one stone.
Jessica could be her father’s new CEO, and she would be married to her
ideal man.


Jessica had always appreciated Evan’s looks, power, and wealth. So when
her father presented the idea of a marriage
alliance, she willingly agreed, thinking that his father had that much footing
with Erick Thompson.
The article that she hyped up was also supposed to make Shantelle
paranoid. This was only her first step; to create
suspicion in their relationship. However, with the way it was going now, how
was she supposed to make Shantelle
jealous? Evan had practically declared his love for Shantelle in public!
In the end, Jessica was the deeply jealous
one. The worst part was how people
mocked her for being a nuisance to Evan
and Shantelle’s relationship. Much more,
she was deemed less attractive than
Shantelle. How did she end up getting humiliated instead? 1
Jessica thought back to her plans. She was failing miserably. It did not help,
but she could not even get close to Evan,
thanks to his number one rule. How was she going to make Evan think that
Shantelle was not good for him? And what
Can she make Evan give her attention?
“Ah! What am I going to do?” Jessica asked herself bitterly.
She searched online, trying to find ideas until she stumbled on an old news.
Jessica bit her lip, thinking it was the perfect
plan. She could play the victim, and Evan would feel sorry for her. The
news read: [Jealous Wife Tries to Kill The
Mistress.]
Jessica’s eyes wandered to the left side of her table and saw her invitation
to the Thompson Group Of Companies
Anniversary party. She smiled and said, ”During the party. I’ll finally catch
Evan’s attention for sure.”
***
Days came and went. It was finally time for the anniversary party. Shantelle
was chatting with Attorney Scarlett and her


husband, sitting at one table while Evan briefly excused himself to speak to
a client.
Jessica Turner approached Shantelle from nowhere, saying, “I want to
apologize for everything. Will you ever find it in
your heart to forgive me?”
Turning to Jessica, Shantelle lifted her brow, thinking, ‘Is this woman
serious?’

Chapter 84: Jessica’s Apology
“Wifey, you’ve met Attorney Scarlett. This is her husband, Kaleb Wright, the
CEO of the Diamond Hotels and my soon- to-be business partner,” Evan
presented after meeting Scarlett’s family at the
Intercontinental Hotel’s grand ballroom. The Wrights had already settled at
one table with their kids.
Scarlett and her family were all dressed in white; coincidentally, Shantelle
and Evan were too. Lucas was also in a white
tux, and instantly, their party laughed at how they all turned up in the same
shade.
“It’s nice to meet you again, Scarlett.”
Shantelle extended her hand to Kaleb and said, “Mister Wright. It is truly an
honor to meet the great CEO who runs
biggest corporation in the country -”
“Oh, that’s not me,” Scarlett’s husband replied. “That would be my brother.
Our company has become too big, and it was
too difficult for my brother to handle everything. Thus, we decided to
separate the Diamond Hotels and put it under my
leadership. My older brother is the one handling the mother company.”
“Oh, is that right?” Shantelle remarked.


It looked like she missed that detail
entirely. Last night, Evan had given her a rundown of the Wright family.
Over the years, their company had risen as the
country’s wealthiest corporation. Being associated with the Wrights was
considered an honor and a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity. Thus, Evan was
looking forward to the partnership with Kaleb Wright, Attorney Scarlett’s
husband.
“Like the Thompson Group of Companies, it will eventually separate other
companies as the expansion continues for each
entity,” Evan described, and Kaleb agreed. Looking past Kaleb, Evan
asked, “And these must be your lovely children!”
Scarlett’s husband said, pointing to the tallest young man, “This is my
eldest,
Liam. Next are Lewis and Levin. Our only rose, her name is Lily Rose, and
there are Kayden and Kristoff.”
“Wow, six kids,” Shantelle remarked. ” What a happy family.”
“It is. While more kids can be a mess, in the end, it’s enjoyable. You both
should try it,” Scarlett proposed. “Have at least
five kids.”
“Meaning, I’ll have brothers and sisters!” Lucas exclaimed from behind
Evan. 11
Shantelle flushed while Even laughed. He made a mess of Lucas’ hair and
said, ” That depends on Mommy.”
Guiding Lucas in front of him, Evan said, “And this is my son, Lucas.”
“Oh, only one. Tsk. Tsk,” Scarlett expressed. “The poor boy needs a brother
and sister.” Scarlett elbowed Shantelle and
suggested, “Aim for a girl. It’s really nice to have a girl – the dress up and
how they act like princesses is just adorable.”
“I wish it works that way,” Shantelle responded, chuckling.
“Oh, it’s simple. You just need to keep trying!” Scarlett suggested. “Take
those supplements that make you ovulate more.
Have fraternal twins!”
Yet again, Shantelle’s face burned. She turned to Lucas, ensuring her son
was not paying attention. She whispered, “I’m


not ready yet to have another child. Evan invested in a heart and lung
center for my father and me. I can’t fail him. He
spent a lot of money so I could continue my career here in Rose Hills.”
“I understand, Shantelle. I took a break from making babies after Levin and
Lewis, but you know what? Each time I was
pregnant, I won big cases. They say pregnancy is a lucky charm,” Scarlett
winked at Shantelle. 3
“We will be joining your table. You are our most valued guest, after all,”
Evan proposed.
Shantelle and Evan sat next to Kaleb and Scarlett, while Lucas sat next to
Lily. As Lucas settled himself, he smiled at Lily,
his face turning red at the beautiful young girl. He said, “Hi, Lily. It’s nice to
meet you.” 2
Lily Rose beamed at Lucas. Her cheeks also flushed as she replied,
“Likewise, Lucas.”
Seeing Lucas’ and LiLy’s reaction, Kaleb’s eldest son commanded, “Let’s
exchange seats, Lily. You should stay near
Dad.”
“It’s okay, Liam. It would be good for Lily to chat with kid’s her age,” Scarlett
recommended. “You need to watch over
Kristoff and Kayden. They are still young to be on their own.”
“No, Lily, stay with us!” This time, it was Lewis who ordered.
“Your sons sure are protective over your only rose,” Evan remarked. 1
“Ah, yes, they are. Too overprotective, I should say,” Scarlett
acknowledged. She leaned closer and whispered in Evan’s
and Shantelle’s way. “Sometimes, I worry about Lily’s future love life, if you
know what I mean.”
“Anyway, sorry about that,” Scarlett said before turning to Lucas. She said,
“Sorry, Lucas. You can chat with Lily next
time.”
“If there will be a next time!” Levin sarcastically said. “What? Do you like my
sister? You’ll have to fight us first, including
Kayden and Kristoff.” 6
“Levin! For crying out loud, Lucas and Lily are still young. You are feeding
them the wrong ideas,” Scarlett complained.


Just as Evan and Shantelle were getting entertained by the kids, Mister
Romanov arrived. Evan excused himself to
welcome the client, saying, “I’ll speak to Mister Romanov. I’ll be back in a
few seconds.”
Shantelle’s eyes followed Evan, and after seeing him with Mister Romanov,
she returned her regard to Scarlett and Kaleb.
She said, “Thank you for coming.”
“Oh, it’s our pleasure. I have always been interested in expanding my
hotels here in Rose Hills. I never had the proper
connection before. I’m glad my wife worked with you and Evan,” Kaleb
replied. “By the way, you are wearing a beautiful
dress. I like it very much.”
The first thing that came into Shantelle’s mind was how Scarlett’s husband
was flirting with her. How does she get out of
this situation? However, before she could answer, Scarlett laughed and
revealed,
He is just proud of her sister because you are wearing her sister’s designed
dress.”
“What?” Shantelle asked, utterly bemused. “Sarah Kate?”
“Yes, Sarah Kate. My sister designed the dress you are wearing,” Kaleb
revealed proudly. “Sarah Kate is my twin.”
Shantelle leaned back in her seat. She figured the designer Sarah Kate
must have carried her married name. She
clarified, “Sarah Kate is a Wright?”
“Yes, she is. She married Carlos Ronaldo, the tennis superstar, and that’s
why she carries a different last name,” Kaleb
explained. 11
“Oh, my god! I wanna meet her! I wanna see her! I want a custom-designed
dress,
Shantelle went on and on with excitement that her eyes sparkled.
“That can be arranged,” Kaleb promised. “She would be delighted to meet
you too.”
“I’m sure she would, and if she ever finds out that you are planning to have
a child in the future,” Scarlett moved closer to


Shantelle again and then suggested, “My sister-in-law is very good with
sexual advice.” 1
“Oh, my!” Shantelle laughed. She loved the idea of meeting her favorite
designer, and she supposed getting sexual advice
Would it be a bonus? 2
Shantelle continued to have a pleasant talk with Attorney Scarlett and her
husband until she heard a woman’s voice.
“Doctor Shant, I am sorry to interrupt, but I would like to apologize for
everything. Will you find it in your heart to forgive
me?”
In response, Shantelle leaned back. She asked, “Miss Turner?”
“Yes, it is. I wanted to show you how I am sincere about my mistake, so I
approached you personally. I am still invited to
the party since my father, and I own half of the condo unit,” Jessica
reminded.
Shantelle only blinked her eyes. While that was true, Evan had another
reason for not canceling their invitation. She told
Jessica, “I don’t know what your plan is, but if you are going to use this to
cause trouble, I’m telling you, Miss Turner, it
won’t work.” 1
“I swear, I am being sincere. I won’t bother you at the center ever again.
Honestly, I admire Mister Thompson greatly, but I give up knowing he is
fully committed,” Jessica admitted.
“And about the article featuring you and Evan?” Shantelle asked, she
remained seated while asking, “Aren’t you going to
take that back?”
“The article?” Jessica pretended to be clueless. She replied, strengthening
her voice, “I swear I have no involvement in
that article.” Jessica’s eyes scanned the area, searching for witnesses to
their exchange. When she locked eyes with a
she continued, “Some people think Evan and I look good together. I can’t
dictate their actions or opinions. It’s because
I am a known socialite who is single, reputable, and available -”
“Evan is not available, though,’


Shantelle retorted. “You knew that.”
“Yes, but the people don’t know that, and whoever wrote that article was
probably just a fan whom I don’t know,” Jessica
insisted, making her voice more audible. She giggled, and while looking at
others, she remarked, “Please, Doctor Shant.
Don’t be jealous. Evan and I are just friends.”
Shantelle lifted a brow at Jessica. On the other hand, Scarlett quickly
whispered to her, “So this is Jessica Turner. She is
on to something.”
“She is trying to make me look bad,”
Shantelle admitted.
“Be mindful,” Scarlett said.
“I definitely will,” Shantelle replied.
Meanwhile, Jessica saw Evan glaring at her. She also noticed how Evan’s
security team was approaching her. She said
loudly, “Again, I am sorry for any misunderstanding, Doctor Shant. Please
don’t be jealous. I really don’t have a clue about
who made the article. Thank you for listening. Goodbye.”
***
Minutes went by, and all the guests had already arrived, including Evan’s
friends and their dates.
Shantelle was surprised to see Karise with Keith. It made her wonder if
there was something more going on between
them. However, because she and Evan were with special guests, they only
said their hellos before Keith brought Karise to
the table where Wendell and Sean were.
Soon Evan was asked to go on stage. He spoke of his achievements last
year and the company’s upcoming growth. Evan
highlighted a potential partnership with The Diamond Hotels, introducing
Kaleb Wright to all the visitors. At the end of his
speech, he spoke of the most significant people in his life.
“Of course, I would not be as successful as I am today without my parents’
support –
Erick and Clara Thompson,” Evan said.
And I would not be as motivated to create


more projects if it were not for my
personal inspiration. Ladies and gentlemen, you have read the feature from
CELLE Magazine. In front of you now, let me
introduce you to the two people I love the most, Doctor Shantelle Scott and
my son, Lucas.”
When Evan called their names, a spotlight spotted Shantelle and Lucas.
Everyone applauded, throwing them compliments. 11
**
At another table, Jessica was rolling her eyes while Shantelle and Lucas
walked to the stage. She took a walk, not
wanting to see any public display of affection. As she left, she heard
murmurs around.
“I don’t know what Jessica was talking about. Why would Mister
Thompson’s
wife will be jealous of her when Doctor Shant is so much more beautiful!”
One woman said.
“And classy too!” Another one was praised.
Jessica stopped in her tracks, hearing those remarks about her. Her eyes
darkened as she mumbled, “Let’s see later if
you still think that woman has class.”

Chapter 85: Call For Help


In the middle of eating dinner, Jessica’s eyes narrowed at Shantelle.
Jealousy completely filled her heart. Everywhere
Shantelle turned, the people gave her a smile. They respected her because
she
was Evan’s partner – whatever was her relationship with Evan. They were
already divorced, but they called each other
husband and wife. What really happened between them? How she wished
she had more insiders.
Jessica noticed how Shantelle had already finished her third glass of water.
Earlier, Shantelle also drank a glass of
cocktail. Jessica knew Shantelle was bound to go to the comfort room
soon. Thus, she executed her plan.
As she got up, her father grabbed her wrist, reminding her, “This is your
chance to prove yourself. One of the richest
families in the country are here. Make sure you don’t fail.”
She smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, father, no one will ever look down on
a victim.” 1
Jessica left the ballroom to find the hotel staff she had earlier
commissioned. His name was Oscar. He was the hotel’s
F&B supervisor.
“Here is the rest of the five thousand dollars,” Jessica said to Oscar. “You
rarely get this opportunity. All you need to do is
to direct Doctor Sent to the nearest restroom and make sure the others
take the other.”
“Yes, miss. Easy work,” Oscar acknowledged. “Thanks for this job, but why
do you need to have private time with Mister
Thompson’s wife?”
“I need to clear up a misunderstanding. Because of that article on the
internet, Doctor Shant is jealous of me. However,
there is absolutely nothing going on between Evan and I,” Jessica said,
purposely calling Evan by his first name.
“I see. I hope you and the doctor clear up any misunderstanding,” Oscar
said. 1


Jessica smiled and then proceeded to the restroom, saying, “Don’t forget to
warn me when she is about to come in.” 1
Oscar nodded.
From her earlier observation, Jessica noticed how Evan’s security guards
often followed Shantelle and her son. She
feared that it would be the case when going to the restroom too. Thus, she
decided to wait in the ladies’ room instead!
Thankfully, she managed to hire Oscar at the very last minute. With money,
she can do anything. Besides, Oscar did not
know the full details of her plan. Five thousand dollars was good pay for
simply directing someone to the restroom and
giving her a heads-up.
***
Back at the hotel ballroom, Shantelle had a pleasant time, having drinks
while chatting with Attorney Scarlett and her
husband. She felt the need to relieve her bladder. 1
Before heading to the female’s restroom, Evan put a necklace around
Shantelle’s neck. He whispered into her ear, and
she nodded. She got up and found her way to the nearest restroom, with
Miguel behind her. 1
“I’ll be right outside,” Miguel said,
saluting Shantelle.
When Shantelle entered the ladies’ room, she saw Jessica inside,
powdering her face. She ignored the woman entirely
and went straight to one of the cubicles.
As she did her business, Shantelle saw lipstick rolling inside her cubicle.
She then heard Jessica say, “Ooops! Sorry. Do
you mind giving that to me when you are done?”
Rolling her eyes, Shantelle picked up the lipstick and carried it with her until
she was done. When she made it out of the
cubicle, she gave the lipstick to Jessica, saying, “Here. Be careful where
you put it around.”
Just as Shantelle returned the lipstick, she noticed how Jessica already
had gloves on. Jessica held the lipstick and


began screaming, “What are you doing,
Doctor Shant?! Get a hold of yourself!”
Immediately, Shantelle’s eyes widened. Before she could evaluate the
situation, Jessica had already uncovered the
lipstick, which turned out to be a knife!
“Stop, Doctor Shan't! Stop!” Jessica screamed before stabbing herself in
the left outer arm, causing her to bleed. Ahhh!
What a crazy woman you are!” 11
She quickly tossed her gloves into the trash before anyone could see them.
While all that was happening, Miguel walked in, finding Jessica in pain. He
asked, “What’s going on here?!”
Before everything could sink into Miguel and Shantelle’s heads, Jessica ran
past them while maintaining her acting, ‘
Help! Help me! Doctor Shant has gone mad!”
***
Inside the ballroom, many guests heard Jessica’s voice from the entrance.
The security team had halted her from entering
so as not to cause any unnecessary commotion. However, Jessica was still
at it, shouting, “Doctor Shant did this to me!
Call the police!”
Some guests quickly surrounded Jessica while the security team tried to
help her. One was putting a handkerchief around
the wound and the knife to stop the bleeding. Jessica’s father was now on
the phone, calling the police.
“Whatever you do, do not touch the knife! It will have evidence to put
Doctor Shant in prison!” Jessica claimed as she sat
on one chair while being attended to. “Oh, god. It’s bleeding so much.
She howled and pointed out, “I’m losing so much blood!”
“You are going to be okay, Miss Turner. Don’t worry. We are trained to
cover trauma wounds such as this,” said one
security. “Trust me, this loss of blood is only minimal.”
Shantelle and Miguel also arrived at the ballroom entrance. Everyone saw
how Jessica was bleeding in the arm. A knife
was sticking out of her flesh, and her face became stained with tears.


Seeing Shantelle in front of her, Jessica screamed, “It was her! She did this
to me!
I want Doctor Shant arrested! She tried to kill me! She was so jealous of
me that she tried to kill me!”
The crowd that surrounded Jessica was swift to judge. Shantelle could hear
murmurs about her from every side.
“I can’t believe she was really jealous, to the point of stabbing someone.”
“Maybe Mister Thompson cheated on her, and she has proof.”
“She looks so elegant on the outside, but apparently, she was just holding it
all in. I guess it was true what we heard
earlier.
Mister Thompson’s wife must have been really jealous of Miss Turner!”
The words of the guests made Shantelle’s skin crawl in anger. However,
she could not blame them. Jessica looked
incredibly pitiful. It showed in her tears, the mess on her face, and the
apparent wound where the knife remained attached
to her arm. To add to that, her dress was stained with little blood.
Some quickly took a video of what was happening, and Jessica
encouraged it. She challenged, “Post it in your live feeds!
Everyone should know what kind of a doctor she is!”
Just then, Evan made it out to the entrance, along with Keith Henderson.
Scarlett also stepped out to settle the
commotion. After all, being a lawyer, mitigation was her field of expertise.
“What’s happening here?” Evan asked coldly, his eyes narrowing at
Jessica.
Seeing Evan, Jessica broke down completely. She claimed, “Eva – I mean,
Mister Thompson. I tried to reason with Doctor
Shant. She was very jealous of the article about us. I tried to tell her I had
nothing to do with it, but she would not believe
me, and then, she stabbed me with this knife!”
Jessica stood from her seat, hoping to get Evan’s sympathy. “Mister
Thompson, I don’t deserve this -”
“Stop right there! No woman is allowed to go near Mister Thompson,” Andy
stepped in, warning Jessica.


James, Evan’s assistant, also made it out in time. He reminded Jessica
about the number one rule. “Miss Turner, You
cannot go near Mister Thompson.”
Jessica heaved. She pointed to her wound and explained, “But this is
Doctor She's doing! She did this to me –
Before Jessica could finish her words, Evan walked towards Shantelle. He
checked her face, her hands, and her arms. He
urged her to take a full turn, asking, “Were you hurt? Tell me, what did she
do to you?”
“Nothing, she just.” Shantelle’s eyes widened, saying, “She just stabbed
herself! She is crazy!”
Jessica was stunned by how Evan inspected Shantelle instead of her.
Wasn’t she the one bleeding in the arm? She needed more attention and
not
Shantelle! Angrily, she said, “Mister Thompson, she is lying. You know
better than to be deceived by her. She is an
insecure woman who is constantly jealous of the women around you -‘ 11
“Enough!” Evan barked. “She has no reason to be jealous because no
other woman is around me!”
“And all of you here, do not listen to a single word Jessica says!” Evan
warned.
“How dare you, Evan!” Finally, Jason Turner, Jessica’s father, got involved.
” Why would my daughter stab herself in the
arm? Do you know how hard that can be? The amount of pain? It was
clearly inflicted, and you know it because your wife
is a paranoid woman!”
“Unless!” Scarlett Wright, Evan’s lawyer, said. She strengthened her voice
as she pointed out, “Unless Miss Turner has
something to gain by putting the blame on Doctor Shant!” 1
“Why don’t we test my theory, and let’s prove or disprove whether Doctor
Shant stabbed Miss Turner,” Scarlett suggested,
her eyes confidently looking at everyone standing outside the ballroom’s
entrance. “How would you like this to go, Miss


Turner? Would you like to settle this now? Or perhaps you’re guilty and
afraid and want to avoid the discussion?”
“Let’s settle this now! No one dares to accuse my wife and gets away with
it!” Evan ordered the head of his security, ”
Secure the entrance and exits! We can let the police enter, but no one
leaves until the real culprit is revealed!”
“No, we want to go to the hospital and deal with this later,” Jason hurriedly
grabbed Jessica’s arm. He tried to get away
from the crowd, but the next thing he heard was Evan’s commanding tone.
“No one leaves! And that’s an order.
Don’t you know who I am, Mister Turner? In this city, I am god!” Evan said,
his eyes darkening. “STAY!”

Chapter 86: Jessica Begging
The police eventually arrived, but because
Evan was Evan, they agreed to evaluate both sides before taking anyone
for
questioning. Evan wanted to take the
discussion in the other ballroom, but Shantelle said, “No, let everyone who
has
come out here stay.”
Shantelle glanced at those who had
earlier judged her. She said, “It will be good for everybody to make their
own decisions about what happened.”
Looking out to the others, she added, And to those who had posted this on
social media, please continue to put it on your
live feed. Let the community be the judge as well.”
When Shantelle sat on her designated
chair, Scarlett, the lawyer, winked at her,
and she winked back. Shantelle did not know why, but it felt to her she and
the attorney were entirely in sync.


Scarlett sat beside her while Evan took the other seat to Shantelle’s left.
Keith was behind Shantelle, and so was Karise.
Wendell and Sean also came out, along with William, her father. Evan did
not bother calling his parents out. He did not
want his father to have added stress, considering he was still recovering
from his operation.
A police officer divided the crowd. One from Jessica’s side and one from
Shantelle’s side.
The authorities who were present already aided in securing the weapon in
Jessica’s arm. Now, her wound was covered
appropriately by the hotel nurse. The injury was not too deep, and it did not
require surgery. Thus, Jessica was capable
of explaining her side of the story.
“Let’s start with Miss Turner. Please tell
What happened?” The police asked.
Jessica turned to her father. Jason nodded
back at her. Some of his business
acquaintances expressed their support and stood by them. Some couples,
who wholeheartedly believed Jessica, gave
support them as well.
“I was in the restroom when Doctor
Shant came in. I think she followed
behind me,” Jessica narrated. “She
confronted me about the article that came
out, but I kept telling her I had no idea about it, and besides, that article
was just saying that I was a good match to Mister
Thompson.”
“Suddenly, she stabbed me in the arm! She said she wanted to kill me!”
Jessica described. Tears began to roll down her
face again. “You all heard her being jealous earlier. She was very envious
of
me.”
“She was so strong. I was powerless over her. She said she wanted to kill
me for trying to get in between her relationship


with Mister Thompson. Jealousy can do that to a woman, you know.”
Jessica
looked at the individuals around her and said, “Many women have been
killed because of jealousy!”
“You can check the lipstick knife. It would have Doctor Shant’s fingerprints
on it,” Jessica added.
“You lying bitch!” Behind Shantelle,
Keith spoke, “Shanty would never hurt anyone. Watch me ban you from
any insurance company.”
Scarlett opened her mouth, ready to
question Jessica’s claims. However,
Shantelle raised her hand, suggesting she wanted to speak. Shantelle said,
“Allow
me.”
Scarlett nodded in approval.
Shantelle calmly looked at the police officers. She narrated her version of
the story, telling everyone how Jessica tricked
her into holding the lipstick. Then, she said, ” Police officers, everyone, I am
a surgeon. I am one of the best in my field.
Almost every day, I hold a surgical knife and use it to save lives. Given my
anatomy knowledge and skill in holding a knife,
if I truly intended to kill Miss Turner as she claims, I certainly WILL NOT
FAIL.” 2
“Why would I stab her in the outer arm when I know where her major veins
are? I would have aimed for her brachial artery
or jugular vein, leaving her to die in just seconds. She wouldn’t be here to
tell the
tale,” Shantelle described. “On another note, why would anyone want to
stage a killing in a hotel full of people, much more
at my husband’s event?”
Shantelle looked around and asked, “Any other medical professionals
here? You know what I am talking about.”
The nurse who had earlier attended to Jessica nodded repeatedly. She
said, "That makes sense.”
The moment Shantelle let out those


words, the crowd surrounding them began to whisper, considering
Shantelle’s remarks.
Then Shantelle smiled at Jessica, saying, "When you planned out this
whole scheme, you didn’t think this through, did you?”
“Oh, my god. Did Jessica stage this whole act?” One guest said, and the
rest began to pick up on what Shantelle
suggested.
“I bet if we order the court for your credit
card history, we will find that you
purchased the lipstick knife. Right, Miss
Turner?” The lawyer implied.
Jessica’s face paled. She turned to her
father, and seeing how he was also
stupefied, she answered without thinking, “Yes, she is a knowledgeable
doctor, but I fought back so she could not stab me
properly.”
Laughter left Scarlett’s lips; she said, ” Didn’t you say you were
overpowered? Besides, every stab-wound victim who
fought back would have cuts in their
hands and below the forearm as a way to protect themselves you, on the
other hand, have none.”
Just then, James returned with a laptop and a speaker. He placed it at the
table meant to be the receiving area for the
event. Seeing how they were ready to fry the Turners, Evan stood up and
said, “But let’s not waste any more of our
precious
moll up
time because we have a party to attend.”
Evan glowered at Jason and Jessica, saying, “I was going to discuss this
with
you privately, but seeing how you had called out my wife in the way you did,
let’s go public all the way.
“Are those taking videos still recording?” Evan asked. After seeing nods, he
said, "Then, let’s watch this.”


“What
what is that?” Jessica asked. ”
Did you install a camera in the ladies’ room? That is against our privacy!”
“Of course not!” Evan barked. “I respect women’s privacy in using the
restroom.” He pointed to Shantelle and revealed, I
did, however, put a camera on my wife’s necklace.”
“I knew you were on to something the
the moment you approached my wife, so I took measures.” Without giving
Jessica a chance to report, he ordered his
assistant, “Play it, James!”
In her seat, Jessica was taking deep
breaths. Blood drained out from her face
as she studied the laptop. ‘Is Evan serious? Maybe he is joking. Maybe it’s
just a way to scare me off. Yes, that’s
right. He is just trying to see if I would
freak out.’
Jessica tried to convince herself.
However, the video began to play,
showing the events leading to her stabbing. She stilled, her eyes roaming
the crowd, trying to find an exit, but there
there was none.
The people began to call her names, and it did not miss Jessica’s ears.
“She is crazy.”
“Jessica should be put to jail.”
“A mental institution is more like it.”
Jason was the same, trying to figure out how to flee, but as the second
went by, the closer the security team circled them,
the eyes of the policemen throwing daggers their way.
The video did not stop there. It also played Shantelle’s and Jessica’s
conversation back in the hospital – how she claimed
to be Evan’s girlfriend.
At the end of the audio presentation, a picture of an email flashed on the
screen. It showed Jessica sending an email to
the local magazine requesting a feature of her and Evan.


One lady said, “Oh, my god. It was her all along. How delusional!”
“So she featured herself and Mister Thompson? Haha!” The nurse from
earlier remarked. “How desperate!”
Jessica realized how people were recording everything. She stood up and
tried to get their mobiles. “Stop recording! Stop!
Stop everything that you are doing!”
“Wasn’t it you who wanted to record your schemes?” Evan shot back.
“Well, you got your wish! You wanted to be famous.
Tomorrow, you will be more than a celebrity!”
“Anyway,” Evan’s lawyer, Scarlett, stood up. James handed her the
documents and said, “The reason for my presence
Today is to present you with this lawsuit, Miss Turner. We will be filing a
legal case against you for stalking my client,
Doctor
Shant, and falsely claiming a relationship
with Mister Thompson – a defamation
case.”
“Defamation! His reputation was not ruined by what I said!” Jessica
rebutted.
“By claiming Mister Thompson is having a relationship with you when he
already has a family will undoubtedly make
people think less of him, thus, ruining his reputation,” The lawyer, Scarlett,
reasoned. “Now we are done with this
show. Are you ready to stop this nonsense and make negotiations?
Prepare your
lawyers because you are going to need them badly.”
She turned to Jason Turner and added, “I will also prepare another lawsuit
for your involvement in all this, Mister Turner.
We will see you again tomorrow.”
“In the meantime,” Evan said in an angry tone. “Police officers, arrest Miss
Turner
for false accusations against my wife and for wasting police hours!”
“No! Don’t!” Jessica screamed. “Mister


Thompson, don’t. Please, forgive me. I won’t do it again! Please have
mercy on me.”
Jessica kneeled in front of Evan and
pleaded. Tears rolled down her face as she said, “I’ve learned my lesson.
Please. I won’t do it again.” a
“You certainly won’t because you will rot in jail for the rest of your life!” Evan
claimed. “You think I don’t know the kind of
woman you are? Trust me when I say one kind of crazy woman was more
than to teach me a lesson. You will never stop,
and I know it, so let me do the community a favor and protect others from
the likes of you!” (1
Turning to the police, he called again,
Officers! Bring her to the police station
Now!”

Chapter 87: Love Again, But Not Me
Mister Thompson, please! Please have mercy!” Jessica begged as the
police dragged her in the lift’s direction. She
looked at the man one last time, but Even gave no response. He only stood
distantly while holding Shantelle’s hand.
Jessica reminded Evan of Nicole. When Nicole was Melody back in high
school, she was merely expelled for nearly killing
Shantelle. Years later, Melody reappeared in his life as Nicole, and to Evan,
that woman made a mess of his life. 1
Earlier, when Evan claimed that Jessica would never regret her mistakes,
he was sure of it. For women like Jessica
resembled Nicole; she was calculative, selfish, and thought she could do
anything she wanted without being punished.


Women like Jessica had no respect for others or regard for the law.
The younger Evan might have given a little mercy, but that Evan was gone.
The present.
Evan was unforgiving to anyone who wanted to break his rules and hurt the
woman he dearly loved.
Seeing Jessica gone, he walked over to Attorney Scarlett, bringing
Shantelle with him. He used Shantelle as his middle
person, to keep his safe distance from Scarlett, following his number one
rule. Evan instructed Scarlett, “Attorney, please
add the false accusation to the defamation case against Jessica. Seek
moral damages amounting to ten million dollars.”
The lawyer Scarlett kept leaning sideways to view Evan’s face entirely. She
replied, “So basically, you want to find the
Turners a hefty amount of money so they would give their condominium
shares for free.”
“Haha! How I wish.” Evan laughed behind Shantelle’s ear. Shantelle wound
up getting tickled, and she acted to move
away from the conversation, gently pushing Evan’s face. out from the side
of her face.
“You can still speak to Attorney Scarlett. from this angle,” Shantelle
suggested.
Besides, I’m standing right here.”
Scarlett laughed.
Evan cleared his throat and stood beside
Shantelle instead. He said to the attorney,
I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect.”
“No offense taken,” Scarlett replied. “I’ll add it to the lawsuit and be in touch
with the Turners so we can have a better
settlement soon.”
“The sooner, the better,” Evan added, and the attorney nodded in approval.
After Scarlett, Evan instructed his public relations (PR) manager to release
a statement about what happened that night.
His PR manager was on it immediately, realizing damage control was
necessary.


***
“Everything okay, Shanty?” William asked, seeing Shantelle walk back in,
ahead of Evan. “You did great. You sure showed
that woman how no one should mess with you.”
Shantelle smiled at her father and embraced him tightly. She said, “Dad,
Evan has too many admirers. Some are
obsessed with him. Do you think I can keep up with this?”
William walked with his daughter to their table. As they strolled, he replied,
” Sweetheart. You are strong enough to
withstand such trials, and you are far better than those women who are
after Evan. Whether or not you can keep up is
entirely up to you. How much do you love him? How badly do you want to
keep your family together?”
Knowing they were almost at Shantelle’s table, he stopped and asked, “Do
you love him already?”
Shantelle opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, she flushed
utterly.
William smiled and said, “Remember, now that you are giving this
relationship another chance, do better than the last.
Communication is the key, like when I tell your mother how beautiful she is
every day.” He winked at Shantelle, saying, “I
better get back to your mother.”
Shantelle returned to their table to explain everything to Kaleb, Scarlett’s
husband. As she did, Evan also took the stage to
apologize for Jessica’s drama. He compensated generously, ordering the
hotel to serve several bottles of their most
expensive wine.
Soon the party resumed. Evan’s company gave away anniversary gifts,
including gift packs, hotel stays, airline tickets,
laptops, cellphones, and a brand-new car. Some employees rendered
dances and songs. And to close the formal
program, a professional band took the stage and played several songs.
Employees, investors, and clients soon danced at the center of the
ballroom, depending on the tune.


At the couple’s table, Evan noticed Shantelle. admiring those dancing on
the floor. He was about to ask her to join him
when someone else beat him to it.
“Can I have this dance, Shanty?” It was Keith Henderson, offering his hand
to Shantelle.
Lucas also received a dance offer from Karise, and they first went to the
center and swayed to the tune.
“I miss my friend. Come on, Shanty, let’s dance,” Keith requested.
Wanting to speak to Keith about Karise, Shantelle accepted Keith’s hand.
As Keith walked to the dance floor, Evan glared at him. Keith mouthed to
Evan, ‘Do you know how to dance?’
Coincidentally, when Shantelle danced with Keith, the female vocalist sang
a song somewhat related to their situation
sided love.
a one“That’s awkward,” Keith remarked. Still, he held Shantelle by the waist, and
they began to sway to the music.
Shantelle saw Karise glancing their way while she danced with Lucas. She
occasionally made funny faces so Lucas
would laugh, but Shantelle knew her friend was bothered by how Keith
danced with her.
She looked Keith in the eye, saying, “Keith, I never really got to sincerely
apologize how- how I couldn’t return your
feelings.”
“Oh, Shanty. You did. You apologize too many times,” Keith replied. “You
used to tell me that you don’t want to love again,
but maybe there is no place in your heart because Evan is still in it, right? I
already accepted that fact. That was why I
gave way to Evan.”
Shantelle did not directly answer his probing. She looked down and said,
“I’m sorry, Keith.”
“Don’t be. You were being honest with me. At least I tried,” Keith said.
“I want you to be happy, Keith – to find that person who can love you back,”
Shantelle said. “Promise me that you will try.”


With a long sigh, Keith answered. “You don’t know how much I tried -”
“Keith, look at me. I won’t love you. I can’t. To me, you will only be my
friend,” Shantelle said. “Love again, but not me.”
“Did I just ask you to dance with me so you could hurt me all over again?”
Keith teased.
“I meant to hurt you so you can wake up and start seriously considering
other love interests. Think about it, Keith, before
you realize that you like someone else and they decide to give up on you,”
Shantelle said, her eyes briefly checking
Karise. “You know that someone is not as patient as me when it comes to
love.”
Instantly, Keith understood what Shantelle meant. He also turned in
Karise’s direction. He did not say anything, but he
kept staring at her. After some time, Keith returned his attention to
Shantelle. He asked, “Are you happy with Evan,
Shanty? That’s all that I want to know.”
Shantelle was teary-eyed. She did not know what caused her tears, but she
replied, “Yes, I am. I have never been
happier. We still have a long way to go, but Evan is giving me no reason to
doubt him. More than that, he loves Lucas so
much.”
This time, Keith’s eyes were welled with tears. He sniffed and said, “Very
well. Let me hug you one last time before Evan
marches over here and takes you away from me. He is looking at me like
he is ready to snap my head off.”
Keith and Shantelle shared a hug for a second. That was all it took for Evan
to jump in and join their dance. Evan said, “I
I think that should be more than enough, Keith. You have danced far too
long with Shanty.”
“I did not even finish a song,” Keith said. ” Let me finish a song, Evan! It’s
just one dance.”
Evan’s lips twitched. He snapped his head in the band’s direction and
ordered, “End this song now! Just this song.”
The song ended prematurely, marking the end of Keith’s dance with
Shantelle.


“What a sneak attack,” Keith remarked, shaking his head and saying
goodbye to Shanty. “Careful, Shanty. Evan has two
left feet.”
Meanwhile, Shantelle was laughing so hard at Evan’s tactics. She
remarked, “That was indeed sneaky.”
“I wasn’t sneaky, Wifey. I was taking control, “Evan said. He took
Shantelle’s hand and pulled her closer to his frame,
saying, ” Sometimes, I can’t help but want you all to myself. The only man I
want to share you with is Lucas.”
Shantelle chuckled and replied, “Well, too bad because I want another
baby boy.”
Evan stilled. His mouth fell to the floor before he asked, “You want to make
a baby now? Let’s go -” 1
“No. No. Not now!” Shantelle laughed. “I mean in the future!”
“Define future, Wifey. Future can mean the next day, week, or month.” Evan
smirked and suggested, “It could also mean
the next minute.”
Shantelle laughed again. Her face burned while she was at it. After dancing
with Evan, she proposed, “Having a baby is a
distant future, but the process of making a baby, we could do that tonight.”
“Hmm,” Evan said. “I like the sound of that.
He pressed his lips against her ear and claimed, “I want to be buried inside
you the whole night.”

Chapter 88: All Of Me
“Have you noticed how he is easily tired lately?” Evan asked while carrying
Lucas into his designated room within the villa.
Lucas and Shantelle were staying two nights with Evan that weekend. “He
used to wait up for me, no matter how late I
visited your house.”
Upon entering, Shantelle immediately pulled the bed’s comforter open, and
Evan laid Lucas down. She frowned at Evan’s


words and replied, “During the first few months, yes, Lucas would try his
hardest to wait for you, but lately, I assumed he
was just getting used to our set-up, Evan.”
Evan stepped back, walking to the closet. When Shantelle had agreed to
sleep in the villa occasionally, Evan bought a set
of clothes for Lucas. That way, they did not have to pack each time they
stayed overnight with him.
While Evan pulled out pajamas for his son, Shantelle admitted, “But yes, I
admit that he seemed more tired lately.”
Because of Evan’s suggestion, Shantelle wound up checking Lucas’ hand.
She pressed her son’s fingers and evaluated
his oxygenation.
While Evan removed Lucas’ shoes and pants, he added, “He doesn’t even
wake up when I change him, Shanty.”
Shantelle frowned, realizing how Lucas’ palm was not as pinkish as before.
She checked his eyes. Lucas finally
complained when she evaluated his tongue, saying, ” Mommy! I’m sleepy!”
The young boy merely rolled to his other side, avoiding his mother’s
inspection.
“What is it?” Evan asked. Her reaction may have been evident that Evan
also grimaced.
“He looks a little paler than the last. I’ll run a blood test on him tomorrow
morning,” Shantelle suggested. “Just to be sure.”
“You don’t take him to a pediatrician?” Evan sought.
Shantelle shrugged and replied, “Medicine is practiced the same way,
regardless of our specialty, but I will take him to a
specialist if I find anything odd. In the past two years, though, Lucas
showed signs of anemia -”
“So that’s why he takes iron?” Evan sought.
“Yes,” Shantelle acknowledged. “But every time we put him on a serious
iron diet, he would have his red blood cells up.”
Shantelle noticed how Evan was taken aback. She supplemented, “Anemia
is pretty common, Evan. Many people


normally live well with the same condition, thanks to iron supplements and
an iron-rich diet.” 1
“Okay. You are the doctor,” Evan remarked. “I don’t mean to be paranoid
about it. I’ll come with you tomorrow.”
“But I thought you would see Attorney Scarlett and Jason Turner?”
Shantelle asked.
“There is no confirmation yet from Jason
Turner’s side. Scarlett was only threatening, hoping to get a faster
settlement, but most definitely, I will demand a meeting
within the week. I don’t want to waste her husband’s time, especially since
Scarlett and
Kaleb brought their entire family to Rose Hills,” Evan described.
Shantelle helped Evan in changing Lucas’ top. After which, they both
kissed their son goodnight.
Before they walked into the main bedroom, Evan suggested, “I have some
documents for you to sign. The judge finally
approved Lucas’ name change. You can shower ahead.”
“Um.” Shantelle tried to hide her dismay.
She secretly wanted to shower with Evan, but with him walking toward the
staircase, she replied, “Okay.”
Shantelle entered the main bedroom. Before getting a nightgown, her eyes
landed on the framed photo on the wall. She
smiled, observing how Evan had changed it to the family photo of her,
Evan, and Lucas.
Her heart fluttered, noticing the glow on their faces and the sparkle in their
eyes. Unlike her marriage photo, where Evan
looked incredibly sad, the picture she was looking at included genuinely
happy people. She muttered, “So much better.”
After choosing a nightgown to wear, Shantelle bathed thoroughly. When
she stepped out of the bathroom in her sleeping
gown and robe, Evan was already back. He pointed to the table and said,
“The documents for you to sign. Take your time.
Go through them while I shower.”


“Pfft. I trust you,” Shantelle said, merely skimming through the documents.
The attorneys handling the first name change
The request failed to include Shantelle’s testimony, resulting in a denial. It
caused a delay in giving Lucas Evan’s last name.
Eventually, though, they re-applied for the name change, and finally, it was
approved.
“I signed it!” She said out loud.
Evan replied inside the bathroom, “Okay, I’ll take it back after I shower.”
“Where? To your study? I can put it there,” Shantelle said.
There was a moment of silence, but eventually, Evan replied, “Okay, you
know where the safe is.”
Shantelle walked into the bathroom and asked, “The safe? I don’t know the
passcode.
Evan peeked out of the shower’s glass divider and answered, “The
passcode is… 04051994.”
“0405 – wait. That’s my birthday!” Shantelle said.
“Mmmm. It is,” Evan admitted.
Shantelle went to the study and found
Evan’s safe behind his bookshelf. She entered her birthday and smiled at
how it indeed opened. She wondered where
else Evan had used her birthday as a passcode.
The plan was to simply leave the document inside the safe, but her eyes
caught a folder. that was labeled under her
name. She bit her lip, wondering, ‘Would Evan mind? Why would he have a
folder for me, anyway?’
Curiosity got to her, and she grabbed the folder and read the documents
inside. In total, she skimmed through three very
important files. Her mouth was open the whole time. She muttered, “Evan
is crazy!”
Shantelle probably spent fifteen minutes making sure she read it right.
However, no matter how often she reflipped the
papers, her findings were correct.
She marched back to the main bedroom. Evan was done showering and
had just exited the bathroom with only a robe


around his waist. He winked and said, “Ready for me.
She wasn’t quite ready to get naughty just yet. She wanted to flaunt her
new discovery. She cleared her throat and
claimed, “I’m thinking about buying an island – a vacation island.”
“An Island?” Evan asked, bemused.
“Yes, an island. At the top of my head, I want to buy The White Coral
Island,” Shantelle described. The island she named
was a famous island resort in the next town.”
What do you think?”
“You want me to buy you the island?” Evan asked, his hands on his waist,
thinking.
“Nope!” Shantelle said, “I want to buy it with my own money.”
She marched closer to Evan and indicated, ”
I’m thinking about spending a lot of money.
Lots and lots of it.” When she was inches away from Evan, she said, “I just
found out that I am… a billionaire, and I didn’t
even know how it all happened!”
Folding her arms against her chest, she asked, “Who could my generous
benefactor be?”
Evan laughed. His eyes thinned in amusement as they gleamed. He
answered, ” Oh, that.”
“What do you mean, oh, that? You just transferred thirty percent of your
company’s share into my name! And the heart
and lung center? How in the world did I end up owning half of the facility?”
Shantelle asked. “And when did you transfer the villa under my name?”
“The villa has been under your name for a while. The company shares the
heart and lung center? I had transferred
them recently. So yes, I am your benefactor, Miss Billionaire,” Evan said
while grabbing
Shantelle’s arm and pulling her closer to his frame.
He cupped her chin, sealed her lips with a kiss, and said, “Spend your
money any way you want.”
“Why did you transfer all those shares under my name?” She asked. “I can
accept the villa, but the shares? Evan?”


“What’s mine is yours,” Evan expressed, wrapping his arm around her
waist.
“Evan.” Shantelle’s hands settled behind
Evan’s neck. From there, she said, “It’s just that… you are giving me too
much. I can’t possibly accept that.”
“It will eventually be yours soon. I am just speeding up the entire process,
and no, I won’t transfer it back to my name. I
refuse to, and you can’t make me. Just accept them for Lucas.” Evan
argued. “Everything that I worked hard for is all for
you and Lucas.
Besides, that’s just money. I intend to give more than just money and
assets.”
Lifting her brow, Shantelle asked, “And what is that?”
Evan pecked her cheek. He littered kisses on her neck while securing her
into his arms. He answered, “My time, my love
all of me.”

The CEO’s Ex-Wife Is A Famous Doctor by LiLyz Chapter 89
Chapter 89: Where It Belongs
It was the way Evan held her, the way his lips came in contact with her
neck, that made the butterflies in her stomach go
wild. More than just that ticklish feeling, she sensed thrilling electricity
running down her spine, and she moaned, ”
Mmmm.”
“Mmmm,” he teased. A smirk formed on his face as he said, “I like the
sound of that.”


“Pfft! Stop,” she said, pushing his face away from my neck. “That really
tickles – stop!”
Evan kept at it, tickling her thoroughly that Shantelle wound up retreating to
the bed. They both fell onto the sheets, with
Evan on top of Shantelle.
Inevitably, Evan’s lips crashed into
Shantelle’s, and they started kissing each other hungrily. And as their lips
were locked, Evan’s hands were getting
restless, going under her robe.
Eventually, Shantelle also touched his body, especially his chest. She
reached for his towel and pulled it off of his waist.
“Someone is excited,” Evan teased.
Shantelle laughed and replied, “It was getting me wet.”
“Rrrr,” Evan said. He hissed and lust reflected in his eyes.
“Not that kind of getting wet!” Shantelle laughed entirely as her eyes
watered. “I mean, your towel is wet!”
“Excuses, excuses,” Evan implied. He helped her off her robe and began
kissing her shoulders, his hand caressing her
breast from the outside. “I have been thinking about this all week.”
Pulling down the strap of her nightgown and purposely exposing
Shantelle’s breast, he said, “My addiction.”
He cupped a bosom and eagerly sucked it. Shantelle gasped from ecstasy
and wrapped her legs around his waist.”
Mmm, Evan – Evan!”
Out of nowhere, Evan tore off her nightgown, shocking her completely. She
snapped, “I liked this nightgown! Evan!”
“I bought you five of the same kind,” he said before returning to eat her
chest.
His hand went down on her peach and tore off her lace thong. Shantelle
could only give up. Who was she to complain
when Evan bought all her clothes in the villa?
Like the last time they were intimate,
Evan took his time. He scattered kisses all over her chest, going down to
her abdomen. When Evan disappeared between


her thighs, Shantelle bit her lip, and her body waved as she drowned in
pleasure.
Evan loved her bottom lips. He especially noticed how soft Shantelle’s groin
area was. was. He was pleased beyond words.
knowing his wifey made the necessary preparation. It invited him to keep at
it, tasting her entrance as Shantelle
floundered with his tongue work.
When Shantelle began to raise her hips, he knew she was nearing climax.
He palmed himself, wanting to enter at the right
time.
“Aaahh, Evan – Aaah!” The instant
Shantelle came, Evan sat up and entered her, his manhood fully erected.
“Oh, god. It’s so big.” Evan was so huge, yet it felt so good for Shantelle.
The way her walls were stretched to
accommodate his rod, all while her insides were still pulsating.
“Eva” Shantelle’s calling muffled into Evan’s mouth. He sealed her lips with
a hot kiss as he moved to and fro. They were
skin to skin, chest to chest, and their hands senselessly grabbed each
other’s folds.
Evan was a heavy man, but Shantelle bore his weight on top of her. In fact,
she loved how their skins created friction.
Shantelle did not also spare Evan’s back. She was constantly feeling his
muscled back and sometimes his fine ass.
Having waited for days to make love to Shantelle, Evan orgasmed faster
than he had hoped. He let go of the kiss to cry
out his desires and pushed his hips harder against Shantelle’s.
“Fuck. It feels so good,” Evan had his eyes shut, enjoying the moment.
On the other hand, Shantelle traced his arms and felt the goosebumps on
his skin. She panted as her man kept pushing
and pushing, releasing every seed inside her.
While Evan remained in that position, Shantelle ran her hand against his
chiseled chest. After some time, she realized
that Evan was at it again, moving his hips.
She was sure he had come inside of her. She felt that warm fluid filling her,
but why was Evan still thrusting his thing?


And his member was still stiff as a rod?
She asked, “Are you already going for a second round?”
Evan smirked and admitted, “Yes, I can’t help it.”
Learning of this, Shantelle felt her face. burn. Her mouth parted for an
undetermined time. In their second round, Evan
took longer than the last, but he maintained the same position, pumping on
top of Shantelle.
The man’s thrusting became so needy that their slapping flesh echoed
around the room. Their bodies stayed pressed against
each other, and their tongues felt forever intertwined.
Shortly after the second round, Evan was. at it again, making love with
Shantelle. This time, they were spooning, allowing
him easy access to her peach.
As Evan thrust behind her, his fingers. rubbed her clit. Shantelle could not
help but lift her leg, giving Even better access.
To her, it felt terrific being filled with his length while also being fondled
within the clit.
When Evan came for the third time, Shantelle felt some of his fluid escape
her core, dripping to the side of her thigh.
Moreover, Evan’s stick twitched inside of her. The experience stirred her
thoroughly, and she chased her high soon after.
With both of them satisfying their desires, the couple cuddled into sleep.
Evan was still buried inside Shantelle, her back facing him. He kissed her
cheek and said, “I’m too exhausted to pull out.”
“Hmmm,” Shantelle replied. “I’m too tired to move either.”
“Let it stay there,” Evan suggested. ”
Where it rightfully belongs.
Shantelle snorted but soon gave in to exhaustion and shut her eyes. Barely
a whisper, she replied, “It better be.”
***
Dawn came. Shantelle felt something big inside of her, and it was moving.
She moaned as she fluttered her eyes open.
She shortly recognized that she and Evan were still completely naked
under the blanket.


Evan was holding her waist, and his hips moved back and forth behind her.
Shantelle turned to him, asking, “Did you pull out?”
“No, when I woke up, it was swollen. I was stuck inside you. I figured the
only way to shrink it back was to cum again,” he
replied with a sly grin.
Yet again, they made love at five in the morning. However, the man’s
member did not shrink. He pulled out, but
Shantelle saw how hard and big he remained to be. She pouted and
presented, “I guess we must take care of that. How
I'll be on top this time.”
A hiss left Evan’s lips. He replied, “Oh, yeah.

The CEO’s Ex-Wife Is A Famous Doctor by LiLyz Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Went Viral
“What did you and Keith talk about?” Karise asked on the phone. While
Shantelle was choosing clothes to wear, she
received a call from her friend, and this was the first thing Karise asked
when she picked up the call.
“What did we talk about? Why?”
Shantelle asked back.
“It’s just that he never stays overnight, ever!” Karise revealed. “So he is at
my apartment, and his sexy ass is still in my
bed. He never does that. Every night, he always leaves when we – you
know – do it.
After choosing a dress to wear, Shantelle lifted her brows. She can never
be like her friend, Karise or Keith, for that
matter. They both could casually hook up with anyone without establishing
feelings or connection. The only man she had


ever slept with Evan, and oh, how she thanked the heavens Evan hadn’t
been intimate with anyone else either.
“I did not say anything relevant.”
Shantelle did not want to tell her friend how she suggested giving Karise a
try. Instead, she implied, “I told him that he
should… move on from me and open up to others. Who knows, he is
considering you ‫ו‬
“Pffft!” Karise reacted.
“What?” Shantelle asked.
“Did you know that Ivana Lee, the supermodel who attended the party last
night, flirted with Keith, right in front of me – the
nerve,” Karise said. “Many women want to be with him -‘
“But who was Keith with last night? Who did he go home to?” Shantelle
answered.
“Oh, don’t give that crap. I might develop feelings,” Karise said.
Shantelle laughed. She pointed out, “I think you already did.”
“What? No!” Karise shot back. The two friends continued to argue about it
until Shantelle excused herself.
“Karise, I need to go to the heart and lung center. I’m sorry to cut you off,
but I need to have Lucas checked,” Shantelle
said.
I’ll call you later?”
“Okay, girl. Thank you for taking my call. By the way, you have gone viral
again. Everyone is talking about Jessica
Turner’s drama. Check it out. I’ll – Oh, my god, Keith! Why are you walking
naked in my living room – “Karise ended the
call, making Shantelle’s eyes widen.
It took a few seconds for Shantelle’s senses to return after discovering how
far her friends, Keith and Karise, had gone.
She changed into her clothes and wound up checking online.
News about Jessica was indeed everywhere. On social media, people were
mocking Jessica, calling her a scheming
bitch. Then, there were remarks about Shantelle. Many complimented her
for fighting back with her intelligence and


knowledge of anatomy. What stood out to her, however, were the
comments about involving Evan. She read:
[I’m backing off from crushing on Mister Thompson.]
[Mister Thompson is a scary man. He has the city in the palm of his hand.
No one should have messed with his wife. Else,
he will pin just about any lawsuit against you.]
[It’s excellent how Evan Thompson protected his wife.]
[I heard he doesn’t let any other women approach him. Only his wife could
stay close to him.]
[Any other women out there fantasizing about Evan Thompson? Carefully,
your might end up with the same fate as
Jessica Turner – behind bars!]
There was much more for Shantelle to read, but she stopped after a few
minutes of scrolling down. She had more
important things to do. Ultimately, she understood what good came out of
everything; the public realized how far Evan
would go for Shantelle. She certainly hoped the news about Jessica scared
off all the other women who were after Evan.
****
In the car, while Howard was driving the family of three to the heart and
lung center, Evan was frowning.
“Evan? Are you still upset about the chicken?” Shantelle could not contain
her laughter as Evan acted like he was
incredibly hurt.
“Yes, I am upset with myself,” Evan replied, shaking his head.
The man cooked for them, and he was proud of his efforts. Evan made a
pan- fried pesto chicken filet. The flavor was
great, but he overcooked the chicken, and it became rubbery.
When Shantelle only ate one piece of the chicken, Evan immediately knew
it did not meet her standards. She said good
words about the flavor since it was delicious. However, Evan knew her well;
besides, they had just had hours of bed
exercise, which should have made her extremely hungry.


So when Evan tried the chicken himself, he fell silent and decided to cook
bacon and eggs. In the end, they had a regular
breakfast meal. So much for his specialty chicken.
Lucas, who was next to Evan, laughed with his mother. He said, “Daddy is
so silly.”
“I am a Billionaire CEO. They say, I am the most desirable man in Rose
Hills, but… I can’t cook,” Evan stated about
himself.
Howard chuckled with the family.
Shantelle held Evan’s arm and pulled him. down to kiss his cheek. He said,
“Thank you for cooking breakfast. It was still
great, but just a little tough to chew. All you need to remember is that
chicken. breasts cook faster than thighs and
drumsticks.”
Evan sighed. He wrapped Shantelle in his arms and asked, “How is
cooking so easy for you?”
“It wasn’t always easy for me,” Shantelle said. “I used to work hard –
practiced to make the best dishes so you would have
a decent meal every day.”
With the sudden recollection of the past, Shantelle softly said, “I – I wanted
you to appreciate me.”
While Lucas was clueless about what
Shantelle was talking, Evan tightened his hold around Shantelle. He leaned
in and kissed her cheek. Pressing his
lips against her ear, Evan said, ‘I’m sorry. I wanted you to know that I did
and missed your cooking every day, but you
don’t have to cook for me now. I want to learn how to cook for you and
Lucas instead – well, not every day, but I will try to
make time always.”
Shantelle’s smile widened while looking at him. She grabbed the collar of
his shirt and warranted a kiss. After a peck, she
replied, “If you insist.”
“Mommy! Daddy! Can I get a kiss too?” Lucas asked, inserting himself
between his parents from the backseat of the car.


Evan and Shantelle laughed before moving Lucas in between them. They
both take turns pecking his cheeks and wound
up tickling him too. Laughter filled the air within the car, and their eyes
gleamed in cheer.
Howard said, “Do I hear wedding bells, Mister Thompson? Misses?” Evan
smiled.
Shantelle flushed.
***
“Wow, my son is so brave!” Evan remarked, seeing Lucas willingly stretch
his arm to the man in charge of collecting the
blood sample.
Lucas laughed and said, “I’m used to it, daddy. Mommy always takes me
for a yearly check-up.”
“That’s great. Mommy takes care of you well,” Evan said, nodding his head.
He looked outside the glass window and saw
Shantelle speaks to one of the doctors. on duty. He was the one who
accompanied Lucas to the collection area of the
center’s laboratory.
After a sample of Lucas’ blood was taken, the father and son stepped
outside. Evan overheard the female doctor’s report
to
Shantelle, “He underwent a heart transplant across the state, at the LH
Heart Clinic, but after being sent home, he
experienced heaviness in his chest and just collapsed!”
The female doctor took a deep breath and described, “We had a CT scan
done, and it would seem like one of his major
veins was sewn in together – not entirely, but it restricted the blood flow to
his heart -”
“Okay, prepare the operating room. Offer the family the option of
robotic-assisted surgery,” Shantelle instructed. “It will
reduce operation time and hospital stay, benefit them in the end rather than
cutting the patient’s chest open again.”
“Yes, Doctor Shant. Thank god you are. here today,” said the doctor. She
nodded. in Evan’s way, greeting him before
rushing to the patient’s aid.


When Shantelle turned to Evan, she reported, “I have an emergency
operation. A heart transplant has gone wrong.”
“Go,” Evan said. He turned to Lucas and declared, “I guess I’m going on a
date with Lucas.”
“Date with Daddy?” Lucas asked, turning to Evan.
“Just you and me, Lucas. What do boys do?” Evan asked.
“Ice cream and popcorn!” Lucas announced. “Arcade, obstacle course,
race track, movie, and basketball!”

Chapter 91: Date With Daddy
"Jason Turner has agreed to meet for a settlement,” Scarlett, Evan’s
attorney, reported. "He said he will be ready on
Monday."
"Will that be okay with you and your husband?" Evan asked on the phone.
"Yes, it's fine. We can wait," Scarlett replied. "The kids are still on school
break. We were taking them to the beach next to
town. I heard the resorts there are excellent."
"They are. Go to the Sand's Resort. It's amazing there. Thank you, Attorney
Scarlett, and please extend my gratitude to
your husband. He has been patient about this the entire time," Evan
responded.
"Don't worry about him. He is thrilled to start a hotel in Rose Hills. Aside
from that, he is dying to take a break, and now,
he finally has an excuse to have one,” Scarlett replied. "See you on
Monday, Mister Thompson. Please send my regards
to Lucas and Doctor Shant."


After the call with Scarlett, Evan turned to Lucas. They had just finished the
first on the boy’s list of activities, and Lucas
was eager to accomplish the next. Lucas made a list on his tablet. He
checked the first one, which was ice cream and
popcorn, then went to the next. "Arcade!"
In the next hour, Evan and Lucas played arcade games at a nearby mall.
Evan closed up the entire arcade only for his
son. Miguel and Andy had to follow after them since they went out in public.
Lucas also tended to run like the wind when
He was overly excited. Evan needed a second runner to chase after his
son from time to time.
After the arcade, they head off to a go-kart race track. Evan promised to
take Lucas on an obstacle course at a later time.
There wasn't one in Rose Hills, which meant they would require going out
of town.
At one in the afternoon, Shantelle was still not finished with her surgery.
Thus, after a late lunch, the father and son
watched a movie together. The film was a kid's cartoon about super pets.
Lucas was thrilled, while Evan did not care for
the movie. All he saw was the joy in Lucas' eyes. To him, his son's
expression was more entertaining than the cartoon.
Finally, at three in the afternoon, Shantelle had called Evan, alerting him
that she was done with her surgery.
Lucas and Evan drove in the heart and lung center's direction, with Miguel
and Andy following behind them in another car.
While on the road, Evan noticed how Lucas was fixed on his tablet, happily
updating his list.
From where he sat, Evan could not see clearly what his son was up to. All
he observed was how the list wasn't marked
out. He asked, "We completed some of your lists already, Lucas. You
should crush it out? Or does my son want a repeat?"
Lucas turned to him and realized what his father had said. He chuckled and
replied, "Daddy, this list is different."
Leaning back, Evan reacted, "A different list? What would that be?"


Lucas gave his father the tablet, and Evan read each one.
[Things to do with Daddy when school is back:
Ask Daddy to take me to school.
Show Daddy to my friends and teachers.
Ask Daddy to join the school's family day with Mommy.
Ask Daddy to join the class' career day.
Ask Daddy to come with Mommy and receive my honors certificate during
the school awards.
Ask Daddy to watch my recital.]
After reading the new list, Evan stopped breathing altogether. He wound up
teary-eyed. Evan had to take deep breaths
and sniff his tears away before smiling at Lucas. He claimed, "I will
definitely do these with you, Lucas. I will give up
anything to experience this with you."
Lucas reflected a bright smile and said, Really, Daddy! Back in Warlington,
only Mommy, grandma, or grandpa came to
school for me. It would be great if you would join my school activities then."
"I'll be there. I'll take you to school, not every day, but I promise on some
days, I will. You can introduce me to your
classmates and friends, including your teachers. Mommy and I will join your
school activities, and I will most certainly be
there to receive my son's award. And it's not just me. Your grandma Clara
and grandpa Erick will be there too," Evan
swore, sniffing more of his tears away. "Come here."
Lucas excitedly unbuckled his seatbelt and hugged his father. Evan
embraced him tightly, saying, "I'm not going
anywhere. I'll be here. I love you, son."
"I love you too, Daddy," Lucas replied.
The rest of the drive to the heart and lung center was an emotional one for
Evan. He missed so many years with Lucas,
He vowed to make up for it every day.
***
"What's wrong? How did the operation go?" Evan asked Shantelle as soon
as she rode in the car with them.


"Mommy, what's wrong? Why do you look sad?" Lucas asked from his seat.
Shantelle shook her head. It was as if she used every muscle to force a
smile. She cleared her throat and lied, "I - I'm
tired. That's all. It's nothing, baby. Can Mommy get a hug? I miss my baby
already."
"I'm not a baby, Mommy!" Lucas complained, but he still embraced his
mother, saying, "I miss you too, Mommy! Daddy
and I had lots of fun today. I wish you were with us to play."
"I'm glad you had a date with Daddy," Shantelle said. She shut her eyes,
relishing the scent of her son, and then pecked
his cheeks. She added, "I love you, baby."
"I love you too, Mommy,” Lucas answered.
When they arrived at the villa, Lucas went to sleep. It was in the main
bedroom when Shantelle finally told Evan what was
bothering her. She said, "Evan, I got the results of Lucas' blood test."
"And? How was it? Was that the reason why you were so troubled earlier?"
Evan asked.
Shantelle nodded, admitting, "Yes."
She took the blood test from her bag and showed it to Evan. She
described, "In the past, Lucas would have low red blood
cells, and that would suggest anemia. However, these results show that
Lucas has low red blood cells and low white
blood cells. Aside from that, his platelet count is at the borderline."
"Evan, it - it suggests that he has a bone marrow failure," Shantelle finally
revealed. "God! I'm a doctor. I'm not supposed
to be scared like this, but I can't help it. This is my son!"
"Shanty, wait. Lucas is my son too. Wifey, please, explain it to me," Evan
asked.
Shantelle took a deep breath and said, "Bone marrow is a substance found
in the center of our bones. It manufactures
bone marrow stem cells and other substances, which in turn produce blood
cells." Shantelle gulped and added, "Lucas, is
not producing enough of these healthy blood cells. It's not severe, but the
fact that his results are below the normal range


means we need to have him checked further."
Running her fingers through her hair, she added, "We need to bring him to
a blood specialist. He may have... a blood
Disorder."

Chapter 92: The Ultimate Cure
A Book can Change your Life
10 Lessons school won't teach you that help you reach your goal
amazon.com Open
"Ten million dollars, and that's a deal," Evan curtly said in front of Jason
Turner.
"But-," Jason groaned, thinking about his losses. His attorneys also tried to
reason with Evan and Scarlett.
However, Scarlett, Evan's attorney, opposed it, saying, "Then, we will go to
court. Trust me when I say we will get those
ten million dollars, one way or another. Plus, an additional penalty to cover
all our service fees."
Evan had to go to the police station without Shantelle since his wifey was
trying to seek out the best pediatric
hematologist in town. He wasn’t sure what was the result of her efforts just
yet. He needed to settle the issue with Jason
Turner and close the deal with Kaleb Wright.
The man was with two other local attorneys to support Scarlett. Kaleb
Wright, Scarlett's husband, was also present. They
were all seated in front of a long table, negotiating, and had been for an
hour.
Aside from Jason and his attorneys, Jessica was also present, giving Evan
a pleading stare, but the man was unmoved.
He did not spare her a glance.


Eventually, the lead counsel of the Turners asked, "And you will drop the
defamation case?"
"We will drop the defamation case, yes," Scarlett replied.
The lawyers of the Turners re-discussed for over a minute until finally
arriving at a decision. Jason's lead attorney said,
"Then, we will agree to the terms."
Jason Turner was to give up the full rights to the condo. He would be
penalized ten million dollars, and Kaleb Wright
would only need to buy out twenty million dollars of his shares.
They signed the agreement in that same place, and Mister Turner
reluctantly affixed his signature on a sale deed to Kaleb
Wright. After which, Kaleb gave Jason Turner the check for twenty million
dollars. Scarlett's husband said, "It's a pleasure
doing business with you, Mister Turner. You made the right choice. Your
realty company would have suffered from trust
issues after your daughter's shameful acts."
Following the settlement, Jessica wept, saying, "Thank you, Mister
Thompson. Thank you for showing me mercy."
Evan did not reply. Jason and Jessica were about to celebrate the
agreement with a lavish meal. Jessica presented,
"Maybe we can treat you to lunch, Mister Thompson?" She even dared to
give Kaleb Wright a flirtatious smile and said,
"Mister Wright? Can we treat you to lunch?"
Before receiving an answer, however, a police officer entered the room and
gave Jessica another arrest warrant. The
The police said, "Miss Turner, the prosecutor had filed a formal complaint
against you for wasting police hours. You will,
therefore, remain locked up until your trial period." 1
"What? What is going on?" Jessica snapped her head at Evan. She said,"
Mister Thompson. What is the meaning of this?
We signed an agreement."
"We did. We agreed I would take back the defamation case," Evan
responded. "The case presented to you is from the


prosecutor. It's entirely outside my jurisdiction. I can't help it if you angered
the district attorney by faking a stabbing attack.
Good luck with that!"
Together with the Wrights, Evan left the police station. From behind, he
heard Jessica and Jason indicating they were
deceived.
As they made their way to the parking lot, Scarlett asked, "You know the
district attorney?"
"I know everyone,” Evan acknowledged. "But yes, I am connected to the
prosecutor."
Scarlett laughed and concluded, "I guess Miss Turner is not escaping
punishment."
"She won't," Evan claimed.
"Anyway, from here on, we can forget about Jessica Turner. She is no
longer our problem," Evan suggested. "Attorney,
Scarlett, please have your team carry on with the case against Frank
Morgan."
"Absolutely," Scarlett replied.
Evan extended his hand to Kaleb, saying, "And I look forward to seeing
more of you in the coming months, Mister Wright."
"Definitely," Kaleb shook Evan's hand and revealed, "I'll be back next week
to discuss the rebranding of the condo. For
now, I'll need to see those plans and the building itself."
For the rest of the morning, Evan gave Kaleb and Scarlett a tour of the
newly built condominium. After which, Evan said
goodbye. The Wrights were returning to their hometown, and Evan had to
catch up with Shantelle.
***
Evan arrived at Rose Hill’s Children’s Medical Hospital and found Shantelle
and Lucas just in time for their consultation.
The blood specialist doctor was a male in his forties. He wasn't just a
hematologist but also an oncologist. The pediatrician
was very good with his approach toward Lucas. His name was Doctor
Patel.


After studying the blood results, Doctor Patel said, "I've seen worse cases.
Though, we should not undermine it. Yes,
These are low, but they aren't that alarming yet. I suggest we do a bone
marrow biopsy and figure out what's happening
beneath those bones. Let's schedule this in two days."
"For now, let's change his iron supplements. The one you have given him is
a relatively low dose which is okay for
children with no blood disorders, but for Lucas, we may need a bit more,"
the doctor advised.
***
Lucas underwent a bone marrow biopsy as required. Five days after the
biopsy, Doctor Patel recommended Lucas be
admitted to the Children's Hospital.
On the day of his admission, Lucas underwent several blood tests to check
his improvement after taking a different iron
supplement. Then, Doctor Patel asked for a blood donor for Lucas. Luckily
he was matched to Evan, as far as regular
transfusion would go.
Lucas received his blood transfusion in the evening, and in the morning,
the couple finally got to speak with their son's
doctor.
Doctor Patel was very jolly when he entered the room. He greeted Lucas
with a smile and said, "Good boy, Lucas. Your
blood cells have improved. Did you eat a lot of beans?"
Lucas eagerly nodded, saying, "And spinach too. I ate a lot of beef last
night!"
"Ata, boy! Because you did so well, I'll send you home this afternoon."
Doctor Patel turned to Evan and Shantelle, saying,
"Doctor Shant, Mister Thompson, you have an amazing boy. Shall we step
outside to discuss my findings?"
The doctor ordered one nurse to attend to Lucas while he ushered the
couple to one corner of the hospital's hallway. A
a resident doctor aided the pediatrician, carrying several documents.


"What is it, Doctor Patel? Please tell me it's not anything serious. I'm so
stressed out about this," Shantelle revealed.
Doctor Patel smiled and said to the couple, "Lucas is still responding to
basic iron supplement treatment. It wasn't that
significant, but it is improving, so his bone marrow cells are still working.
However, I still ordered a transfusion because he
needed those blood cells up. After the transfusion, his tests came back
normal."
Evan sighed in relief, as did Shantelle, but just as they felt comforted,
Doctor Patel said, "The biopsy report indicated that
Lucas is showing signs of aplastic anemia, but it's not severe."
The doctor showed the couple all of Lucas' recent results and suggested, ’
As you can see, he still has blood cells in his
bone marrow, but it's low. For now, let us observe him thoroughly. We don't
want him going through harsh treatments that
would affect his immune system."
"Always check for signs of bleeding, check his oxygenation and check for
signs of regular bruises," the doctor warned.
"We must have a weekly blood test in the first two months."
The resident doctor then handed a flowchart to the couple. Doctor Patel
educated the two, pointing to the diagram, "This
maybe be familiar to you, Doctor Shant. This is the process for aplastic
anemia treatment. For severe cases, a bone
marrow transplant is the only best treatment. Usually, we go through the
siblings and find a donor that would be a match
for Lucas.
Thankfully, his case is not severe."
Pointing to the other side of the chart, the doctor said, "For non-severe
cases, observation is needed, blood transfusion,
and supplements.
However, if his condition progresses, there comes a time when the blood
transfusions will no longer work. From there, we
will need Lucas to take immunosuppression suppressant medications. We
call it ATG treatment."


"The ATG treatment will suppress the T-lymphocytes. These are the cells
that are attacking the bone marrow cells. It will
give time for the bone marrow to produce more cells," the doctor described,
i
"Will that cure his condition?" Evan asked.
"It can be, depending on how the patient responds to the treatment," the
doctor described.
"But the ATG treatment will make Lucas prone to infection," Shantelle
weakly revealed.
Doctor Patel nodded. He admitted, "The ultimate cure for children with the
same condition is a bone marrow transplant.
And the best donor is a sibling."
"Let's be positive, but also, let's be prepared." The doctor pointed to the
charts and said, "All these are meant to help
Lucas recovered, but overtime, after going through the same treatments, it
may no longer work." 1
"Would you consider having another child? Because, more than just a
potential bone marrow donor, Lucas' sibling could
positively be a stem cell donor through cord blood. Cord blood transfusion
has shown very minimal side effects compared
to bone marrow transplantation," Doctor Patel described, 1
"Having another child?" Evan repeated. "If it means finding a cure for
Lucas. " The man shrugged and said, "We can have
lots of children."
"Haha!" Doctor Patel laughed. He then told one story, "I had a patient with
the same case. The child had severe aplastic
anemia. He couldn't find a bone marrow match. The parents decided to get
pregnant - went through fertility medication,
and had twins. Their child had a double cord transplantation from her twin
sisters' umbilical cord."
"That child is now doing well, thanks to a mere medical waste. I'm telling
you, it's amazing what an umbilical cord can
do," the doctor added, "it's such a shame that not many mothers know
about the wonders of the umbilical cord."


After their talk, Doctor Patel excused himself to give the discharge order for
Lucas. When the couple was alone in that
hallway, Shantelle turned to Evan and cautioned, "You better be good for it,
Mister Thomspon."
"Do you question how Lucas was made?" Evan asked.
"I suggest you ask tips from Mister Wright on how to make twins!" Shantelle
challenged. "I'm stopping contraceptives as of
today." 2
"I've always wanted to have another child," Evan resumed.
"You better stock up on your Viagra," Shantelle challenged.
"My wifey, you are all the Viagra I need," he teased, and despite the worry
over Lucas' condition, they both wound up
chuckling at what they were about to do in the next few weeks.

Chapter 93: The Plan

"Mrs. Shaw! I'm home!" Lucas happily announced as he entered the villa.
"I'm so happy to see you, Lucas!" Mrs. Shaw replied.
"Mommy and Daddy said we will live together now. Isn't it great?" Lucas
cheerfully said.
While Lucas and Mrs. Shaw chatted, Evan whispered to Shantelle, "He
looks better."
"Yes, his skin color is better," Shantelle agreed.
Evan took his family home to the villa. Since the plan was for them to have
another child, they decided to live together.


Shantelle also figured it was best for Lucas since the boy always asked for
his father.
In the evening, Lucas' grandparents, from both sides, came for a visit. They
had dinner together in the villa and spent time
learning about Lucas' treatment plan. After confirming that Lucas
responded to the essential treatments, Willaim said at
the dinner table, "Trust in medicine. Trust in the science behind it."
"I know my grandson will be healthy. You eat well, my boy. I heard broccoli
is also good for blood production," Erick
Thompson said, glancing at Shantelle.
Shantelle smiled and acknowledged, "Yes, Uncle. Proteins are, but
vegetables with proteins are better since they contain
folate. And folate helps in the production of healthy red blood cells!"
"I'll eat broccoli!" Lucas declared.
"We can make grilled broccoli. Battered deep-fried broccoli with barbecue
sauce," Evan suggested. Daddy is going to
learn how to cook that!"
"Evan cooking? I'd like to see that!" Clara remarked, leaving the table
laughing.
"Oh, he has been cooking. I've tried a few whenever he would cook for
Lucas in the morning," Eleanor revealed. "I would
say, Clara, Evan has changed so much."
"By the way, Lucas, grandma, and grandpa have gifts for you in the living
room. Why don't you check them out with Mrs.
Shaw," Clara suggested, and Lucas jumped for joy, running to the living
room with Mrs. Shaw chasing after him.
When the adults were left behind the table, Erick asked Shantelle, "So,
potentially, the plan is for Lucas to have a cord
blood transplant. Is that better than a bone marrow transplant?"
"Yes, uncle," Shantelle confirmed. "Cord blood stem cells are superior to
bone marrow stem cells in terms of risks of
rejection, contamination, and infection. They also outperform bone marrow
in their ability to replace damaged cells."
"That's why Doctor Patel called it an amazing medical waste because not
all mothers will choose to save the cord blood


after giving birth. It's just... thrown away," Shantelle added.
"We could spare a space at the heart and lung center for cord bank
donations and maintain it for free. That will add to the
reputation of our facility," William suggested, and everyone agreed.
"Shanty, I've always meant to ask. How much blood can be drawn out from
an umbilical cord? Will that be enough for
Lucas?" Evan sought.
"On average, about ninety to a hundred twenty milliliters of blood with
potent stem cells can be extracted from an umbilical
cord," Shantelle replied. "It may not be enough, but that small amount is
very potent."
"With new advancement, however, there are ways to grow these stem cells
in a marrow-like environment until it's ready
for transplantation," William supplemented. "The Children's Hospital should
have that kind of facility now."
"I see." Erick nodded after learning so much from both William and
Shantelle. "I think we are good in this direction, then.
Of course, we hope that Lucas doesn't have to, but in any case, I'm glad
that the end solution is to give me more grandkids.
Haha!"
The reason for having another grandchild was not at all compelling, but it
could not be helped. The Thompsons had
I always wanted more grandkids. They were delighted with the possibility of
taking care of new babies.
"We will support you in any way we can," Clara offered. "We can look after
Lucas for some days, and you both can... you
know, do it all day!" 4
Evan chuckled, whereas Shantelle turned bloody red. The Scotts, on the
other hand, shook their heads.
William cleared his throat to divert everyone's attention and said, "Mind has
power over our body. Our mindset can be our
greatest healer. Let's all keep influencing Lucas with positivity. Keep him
happy always. So I think it is a good idea to stay


as a family. Lucas began tiring himself, always waiting for Evan, and we
don't want him getting tired right now."
"That's true, and he is always looking for Evan," Eleanor admitted.
"Make the villa he's having - his secured environment," William suggested.
He turned to his daughter and said, "Shanty, you
know what to do."
"I do, Dad," Shantelle confirmed.
"I'll hire more help for the villa," Erick suggested. "We can have a nurse on
standby while you are at work."
"Unless I am not feeling well, I'll come here every day," Eleanor swore.
Evan nodded, "Thank you, Aunt. Miguel will also be focusing on being
Lucas ' constant companion."
"We will all get through this for Lucas because we love him. So don't think
you are alone in this. You have us too," Clara
reminded me.
Shantelle wound up in tears hearing both Evan's and her parents' words of
encouragement. She replied, "Thank you so
much, Mom, Dad, Uncle, and Aunt. I feel much better knowing you are
there for us."
"And, until when will you keep addressing Clara and me as Aunt and
Uncle? Shanty, aren't we family? Call me Father
Erick, like you used to," Erick proposed.
"And your Mother, Clara!" Clara offered.
Shantelle's face burned. She turned to Evan, and he was smiling from ear
to ear. She said, "Okay, father Erick. Mother
Clara. Thank you for always treating me like your own child."
"And you are. You will always be," Clara insisted.
***
In the evening, after putting Lucas to bed, Evan and Shantelle covered their
plans for the next few days.
Shantelle was holding her phone, marking her calendar. While sitting on the
bed, she said, "So I stopped taking pills
today. I'll bleed tomorrow or the next day. We have a few days before
ovulation kicks in. So we can go back to work this


week, but you need to spare time on Friday to meet a fertility doctor. I want
those medications to have more than one
egg."
"Mmmm," Evan acknowledged. "Is that how you end up with fraternal
twins?"
"Yes," Shantelle said. She returned to her phone calendar and said, "So
after two weeks, we can do it every day - have
lots of sex."
Because of the way Shantelle was describing things, Evan laughed
thoroughly. His wifey wound up getting angry that she
smacked his arm repeatedly. She asked, "Why are you laughing?!"
'Because, the way you are planning things, you are making it all too
complicated," Evan pulled her into his lap. He hugged
her tightly and kissed her arm, saying, "While we want to give Lucas a
sibling, let's not forget the reason why we make
love - it's to enjoy our time together and express our love for each other-"
"Did I say I would not enjoy it? I'd say it's hitting two birds with one stone.
It's a stress reliever and the answer to our
prayers," Shantelle remarked, raising a brow at Evan.
Then she smirked and climbed on top of him. She suggested, "Speaking of
which, I was so stressed the past few days, I
could use a stress reliever."
Evan lay on his back. He smirked and watched Shantelle's beautiful figure
that was merely covered in thin silk. He asked,
"What did you have in mind, Wifey?"
Shantelle did not say anything. She moved forward and flaunted her naked
peach in front of his face.
A hiss left Evan's lips, realizing Shantelle wasn’t wearing any underwear.
He licked his lips as she slowly lowered her hips,
and his mouth came in contact with her core.


Chapter 94: Chocolate

"I am just stapling the upper right lobes. Prepare to remove the affected
lung," Shantelle instructed her team as her eyes
were fixed on the console of the robotic surgery. She was operating on a
patient with lung cancer, cutting a portion of the
patient's lung with a tumor.
Seeing her patient's overall lung, Shantelle remarked, "I will never, ever
smoke."
"Agree to that Doc," her assistant surgeon said while watching the monitor
from a distance, observing Shantelle's work.
They looked at the patient's lung, which was covered with several dark
spots because of his smoking habits.
"I have been telling him that for years. Mister Sanchez is just a hard
headed rich old man," the patient's direct physician
said, shaking his head.
"Affected lung is inside the bag. You can take it out now," Shantelle
instructed. Shantelle studied each part of the lung
closely, with tiny cameras going inside the patient's chest. It took her a few
minutes, but after confirming that there were
no other tumors, she concluded, "The tumor was just contained in the
upper right lung."
”We are done with the surgery. Close up the patient’s incisions," Shantelle
instructed.
"Yes, Doctor Shant," her team of surgeons responded one by one.
"Thank goodness it's the robot holding a knife now, Doctor Shant!" One
nurse teased, and everyone laughed.
Jessica Turner's scandal became the talk of the center. They especially
teased Shantelle about how she could potentially
take anyone's life with a surgical knife.
Shantelle shook her head as she removed her surgical gown. She
remarked, "If you are not after my man, then you don't
have nothing to worry about." 1


"Ayeh! Mister Thompson and Doctor Shant are so possessive of each
other. When Mister Thompson comes here, he
doesn't let go of Doc's hand, " one nurse remarked. "They are so sweet
together."
"Doctor Shant is so lucky to wake up in bed with Mister Thompson daily!
Sex must be amazing!" The assistant surgeon
remarked.
"That's probably why Doctor Shant keeps smiling in her office. Do you often
think of Mister Thompson, Doc?" The
anesthesiologist added, encouraging more laughter inside the operating
room.
"Focus on your job, people, and get your own sex life to talk about!"
Shantelle shot back, smirking at her team. "Bye, I'm
taking my lunch break!"
Days had passed since Shantelle and Lucas lived back in the villa with
Evan. Everything was different now, with Lucas'
condition. She and Evan had to work together to provide their son with a
happy environment, despite not being able to go
to school.
Doctor Patel had recommended keeping Lucas away from potential
infections for now. Although Lucas' tests were better
than the last, the pediatrician did not want Lucas to catch anything that
would affect his blood count. Sadly, the school was
the number one source of infection. Many kids go to school while having
the flu or fever.
Kids were like that. They were stubborn and would prefer to go to school,
even when sick. 1
To give him that school environment, Evan converted one room on the first
floor into Lucas' school and study area. It
would be the place where Lucas would receive his one-on-one lesson with
a private teacher.
When Shantelle made it inside her office, she called her mother. Eleanor
had been committed to visiting Lucas daily.
While on a conference call, her mother showed her how Lucas responded
to his teacher.


Eleanor said, "Say hello to your mommy, Lucas?"
"Hi, Mommy! Are you coming home soon?" Lucas asked, waving his hand.
"In a few hours, honey! Study well, and I love you!" Shantelle replied.
Evan and Shantelle promised Lucas that it was only temporary. Thankfully,
their son was too happy about living together
as a family that he did not mind having school at home.
After speaking with Lucas, she checked her calendar and realized it was
day one of her ovulation period. She bit her lip
and suddenly felt excited. Tingles ran through her core.
Sex with Evan had been outstanding. It was beyond her imagination - a
huge difference from when they were married.
With both of them sleeping in the same bed each night, getting intimately
familiar was unavoidable. Evan was always
hungry for her, and Shantelle could not complain. She was extremely
satisfied.
Last night, Evan made love to her in the kitchen. He arrived very late, and
she made a simple dinner for him. While she
was tossing up a salad, she got pounced on from behind, and it was
incredibly thrilling.
All that thinking about Evan made Shantelle incredibly inflamed. She tried
denying it, drinking all the water in her tumblr,
but it didn't help. She wound up imagining getting filled that she swore her
panties became damped.
She puffed and complained, "Damn you, Evan. Phew!" She fanned herself
as she clamped her legs together, trying to
stop the excitement between her thighs. However, no matter what she did,
it wasn’t working.
A nurse walked in, giving her the schedule for the next day, and said,"
Doctor Shant. You are sweating all over, but your
The office is so cold. Are you okay?"
"Haha! I'm okay. I'm just craving chocolate," she lied.
The nurse shrugged and proposed, "Well, aren't you going out for lunch?
You might as well get that craving satisfied.
There's a convenience store across the street."


When the nurse left, Shantelle thought about it. While she did, she kept
pressing her thighs together, trying to control her
desires. It was as if her ovulation was calling her.
She found herself staring at the ovulation medication, one that she had
secured last week while visiting a fertility doctor
with Evan. She hissed and said, "This is all your fault."
Finally, she decided to satisfy her craving.
After calling Andy to pick her up, she ordered food at the nearby restaurant
and left for the Thompson’s Group of
Company office building. It was her first time returning to the same building
since coming back to town. It felt so surreal
being back and walking in.
She used to come to the same office building nearly every day to surprise
Evan with his lunch. Now, she was coming over
to have her version of chocolate.
Andy merely dropped her off at the lobby while he parked the car in the
underground parking area. Knowing exactly where
Evan's office was, she went past the reception area and into the lift's
hallway.
The receptionist clearly did not know her, so she called Shantelle's
attention, "Excuse me, Miss, but you don't have an ID.
Are you a visitor?"
Shantelle studied the woman. It was hard to decide if the person before her
had seen her at the anniversary party. Some
employees chose not to attend. Shantelle replied, "Yes, I'm here to see my
husband. Evan."
"Your husband?" The receptionist said, leaning back. "Mister Thompson?"
"El! El! That's Doctor Shant! The boss' wife!" The other receptionist called
the lady, which was Shantelle's cue to get
going. At least, someone did pay attention to the news or was present at
the party.
"Yes, that is Evan. Excuse me. I urgently need to see him," she said before
pressing on Evan's private lift. It required a


passcode, and she noticed how the receptionist studied her closely. She
thought about it and made an accurate guess.
She entered her birth date, and the elevator doors opened!
Her eyes widened in disbelief, but soon a smile replaced the expression on
her face. Shantelle entered the lift and waved
at the receptionist goodbye, and she waved back, saying, "Nice to meet
you, Doctor Shant. I'm sorry for the
inconvenience."
Shantelle made her way to Evan's office floor, carrying the boxes of food,
and as soon as she walked past the rows of
secretaries, they all stood up in respect for her.
"Good noon. Doctor Shant!"
"Hello, Doctor Shant. Good afternoon."
One male assistant walked over to her, saying, "Doctor Shant, Mister
Thompson, and James are in a meeting in the main
conference room. Do you wish to wait in Mister Thompson's office? May I
carry the boxes for you?"
Shantelle smiled brightly. She could not help but be pleased with how
everyone on the floor knew her. She gave the
a young man took the food boxes and said, "I'll wait in his office."
She walked in front of Evan's door and noticed it required a passcode, too.
Shantelle wondered if it was her birth date
again. She hesitated but keyed in her birth date, anyway.
Her eyes widened when the office door opened. It was still her birthday!
Before she could enter the room, however, she heard the man's voice
calling out to her.
"Shanty! Shanty! It's really you!" Evan was smiling from ear to ear, seeing
her. He asked, "Did you come to see me?"
Shantelle nodded, smiling back at him. She answered, "I thought I'd pay a
visit."
The truth was, Evan was so elated. The last time Shantelle visited him was
when they were married. Could his Wifey
finally be putting effort into seeing him?


Evan excitedly turned to his companions. Shantelle could tell they were
either clients or new investors, judging by their
custom-made suits, expensive jewelry, and watches.
"This is my beautiful wife and the mother of my son, Doctor Shant. She is
the lead surgeon of Saint Dominique's Heart
and Lung Center," Evan proudly introduced, after pecking Shantelle's lips.
"What a beautiful wife you have, Mister Thompson. No wonder you threw
out Miss Cartera earlier," an older man said
before he and the rest of his companions laughed.
Shantelle gave Evan a question mark look, but it was James who explained
everything. He said, "Miss Cartera was a
potential investor to the shipping lines who joined the meeting earlier. She
broke the number one rule and purposely sat
next to the boss's chair despite being warned against it.
Mister Thompson called security on her."
"Oh," Shantelle said. She pouted her lips and asked, "Did Miss Cartera get
to touch any part of you, husband?" 1
The group of men laughed, each of them commenting on Shantelle.
"Doctor Shant is protective of Mister Thompson," another man responded.
"Don't worry, Doctor Shant, the only
the thing Miss Cartera touched was Mister Thompson’s seat."
"Well, since your wife is here, then we better get going," the same man
said.
James ushered Evan's visitors, and Shantelle walked into the CEO's office
with her man. The young assistant placed the
food on Evan's coffee table and excused himself.
When the couple was alone, Evan wrapped his arms around Shantelle. He
pecked her lips and asked, "What a pleasant
surprise! What brings you here, Wifey?"
Shantelle kissed Evan's lips. When she pulled away, her face burned. She
bit her lip as her hand made it down to his
trousers. She grabbed his manhood, and they were immediately hard
following her touch. She chuckled and revealed, "I
wanted... chocolate."


Chapter 95: Not A Quickie

"Tell me the truth, Evan, did Miss Cartera get to touch you?" Shantelle had
not seen this woman, but again, this mystery
The lady tried to catch Evan’s attention, and it did not sit well with her. Was
Jessica not a lesson for everyone?
With Lucas' condition, she and Evan were taking it further into their
relationship. She wouldn't sit and watch any woman
try to seduce her man! For starters, she wanted Evan to know how she felt
about it.
"She did not. I swear." Evan's eyes narrowed. He suggested, "Although,
she was eye-fucking me the moment I entered
the conference ro - Ahhh!"
Shantelle squeezed Evan's manhood. She said, "Evan, let me make it clear
that you should protect what's mine, and that
includes this
"Ahhh! Wifey, how will we have another child if you keep squeezing it like
that?" Evan complained.
Shantelle loosened her hold on Evan's rod and instead began stroking it up
and down.
"Ah, fuck," Evan hissed, already feeling aroused. "You should... visit me
daily, Shanty."
Next time, let James assess your meeting before you make it inside the
conference room," Shantelle suggested.


"I will," he said with a smirk. Of course, he purposely made Shantelle
jealous because, since they had gotten back
together, she hadn't shown an ounce of jealousy. Seeing her reaction now,
however, made him feel achieved. He
wondered if Shantelle already loved him.
"Now, about that chocolate you wanted?" Evan asked, lifting his brow.
Shantelle's face burned again, and he was pleased. He pulled her back into
his arms and suggested, "Shall we go to my
private room?"
With a nod, Shantelle replied, "We've - we have never done it in your
private room."
"Well, from here on, we will explore other places to make love, other than
our villa," Evan suggested before crashing his
lips into Shantelle's.
When they entered Evan's private room, they were carelessly removing
each other's clothes. Their lips remained locked,
and their tongues senselessly intertwined.
Shantelle efficiently unbuckled Evan's belt and pulled down his pants. She
did not spare a second before she dropped to
her knees and put his member inside her mouth.
"Oh, fuck!" Evan threw his head back and gulped. He shut his eyes before
returning his attention to Shantelle. He
caressed her face and watched as his rod gleamed. His gaze was fixed on
how her thin and pinkish lips enveloped his
width. He especially loved how Shantelle watched him the entire time, i
He reached beneath her bra and cupped her breast. He played with her
nipple as he relished the feeling of her warm
mouth sucking his rod.
Because Evan was so excited, he could feel his climax coming. He said,"
Wifey, we shouldn't let my cum go to waste. I'm
about to cum."
Shantelle frowned. She felt Evan especially tasted good that day. Perhaps
the idea of doing it in his office exhilarated her.


She wasn't sure. However, acknowledging that Evan was right, she got up
and looked around.
Evan had a double bed inside his private room. He guided her to the bed
and said, "Lie down for me, Wifey."
They had already covered this with the fertility doctor. Missionary was the
best position to get pregnant. It allowed deeper
penetration without wasting a single drop of sperm.
She spread her legs as soon as Evan climbed on top of her. She was
expecting him to do the deed right away, but
Instead, he still took the time to please her.
Moans easily left her lips as soon as Evan's tongue played with her clit. He
stimulated her along with his fingers, thrusting
inside her core. Orgasm came quickly, and her toes curled when her body
shivered in delight. "Evan, hubby, I want you
inside me now."
Her brows met as she watched Evan sit up between her thighs, his hand
holding his stick, aligning it to her pulsating rose.
She demanded, "Now, Evan! Now-Ahhh!"
With her throbbing peach being fully penetrated, Shantelle moaned
endlessly. She called his name repeatedly, and her
erotic sighs filled the room.
Evan eagerly pumped in and out of her, making her reach another high in
no time. She came before Evan, and he
exploded into her womb in no time.
The man held her waist, pushing and pushing. He ground against her
entrance, feeling her every side. He said, "Feels so
good to be inside you, Shanty. Fuck, I love you so much."
After making love, the couple lay next to each other, kissing. They spent
about two minutes numbing their lips before
Shantelle pulled away and said, "Let's eat lunch. I only came here for lunch
break. I might have a patient who needs me."
Evan narrowed his eyes. He asked, "My wife. Did you come here for a
quickie? You hurt my feelings."


Shantelle laughed. She kissed his lips and said, "We did not do it quickly.
We did the whole thing, from foreplay to finish,
and we kissed at the end. It wasn't a quickie."
"But," Evan opposed. "We always go for a second round. One round is a
quickie for me."
Ignoring his suggestion, Shantelle got up and picked up her clothes. She
said, "We can go for a second round at home."
Evan smiled. He especially liked how Shantelle called their villa their home.
"I think you tore my skirt a little,” Shantelle complained. "But, it's okay. My
coat can cover this up."
"I'm sorry. I was too excited," Evan said while getting up from the bed. "I
don't have your clothes here, but I'll ask James to
order a few for your size."
Evan hugged Shantelle from behind. He littered kisses on her face and
neck, asking, "Please stay longer. Let's have a
second round."
Shantelle giggled. She answered, "I can't. I am meeting a patient before
two in the afternoon. It's already twelve-thirty."
She turned to kiss Evan's lips and said, "Let's eat, hubby. I'm hungry.”
Evan and Shantelle ate in his small lounge area very quickly. Afterward, the
man walked Shantelle out of the office and
into the driveway. Andy was waiting to drive her back to the heart and lung
center.
Shantelle arrived at her office on time and met with the scheduled patient.
At three in the afternoon, she was about to
check on Mister Sanchez, the same older man whom she operated on
earlier that day. However, a nurse walked into
Shantelle's office and said, "Doc, there is another patient to see you."
"Who?" She asked.
The nurse chuckled and replied, "Your regular patient, Doc."
When the nurse left, Evan walked in, smirking. Shantelle laughed and
asked, "What are you doing here? Didn't we just
see each other?” "Round two," Evan replied before locking the door to
Shantelle's office and pulling down the blinds.


Chapter 96: Lucas' Birthday
"Books?" Lucas asked after opening his gift. It came in a huge box, and he
was surprised to see how they were all related
to math.
Not just any books. These are all hard-bounds, fully customized math
books - look, it has your name on them. It includes
math tables, mastery activities, and some interactive learning materials. It
will help you become a master accountant like
Uncle Sean," Sean suggested, giving Lucas a wink.
"I like math, Uncle Sean. Thank you very much," Lucas said, giving Sean a
hug.
"Happy Birthday, Lucas. When you get fully healed, Uncle Sean and your
Uncle Wendell promise to throw you a big
party!" Sean added.
Lucas laughed and said, "Thank you, Uncle Sean."
My turn to give little Evan a hug," Wendell said, offering his arms to Lucas.
He embraced the young man tightly and
pecked on his head. Wendell gave a little prayer before letting go. Then, he
handed Lucas his gift, and the boy excitedly
unwrap it.
"Woah, it's a drone camera!" Lucas exclaimed.
"To capture every moment, from whichever angle, little guy," Wendell said
before pinching Lucas' cheek.


Over a month had gone by, and it was Lucas' birthday. Instead of a grand
celebration to welcome Lucas using his new last
name, they only had a small gathering between friends and family.
Yet, despite it being an intimate gathering, not everyone made it. Keith
gave Lucas a full insurance policy for treatments
related to his case as a gift, plus his favorite brand of shoes. As he gave it
to Lucas, he revealed," Your Aunt Karise could
not make it. She is down with a flu and can't see you while she is sick."
Everyone was gathered at the dining table of the couple's villa. They had
just finished their meal and had begun giving
Lucas their gifts. After Keith, the grandparents presented their lavish
presents.
William and Eleanor got Lucas a sports watch. Erick and Clara gave Lucas
a healing jade bracelet and necklace.
Finally, when it was time for the couple to give Lucas' their gift, Evan
disappeared, and the boy frantically searched for his
father. Shantelle said, "Daddy is getting your gift."
Soon, everyone could hear a small motor, making its way to the dining
room. Evan was riding on a Ferrari go-kart!
"Woah!" Lucas' eyes widened, and all the guests hooted as Evan honked
the horn and pulled the go-kart to a stop.
"Well, I'd like to ride that," Wendell remarked, adding more laughter to the
room.
"That looks like fun, Daddy!" Lucas remarked.
"And you'll get your chance in a few minutes!" Evan swore.
For the rest of that evening, family and friends took pictures with Lucas.
Afterward, Lucas went around the villa's driveway,
riding on his new Ferrari go-kart. Miguel and Lucas' nurse watched him the
whole time.
From the villas' patio, Evan and his friends, together with Shantelle,
observed Lucas from afar.
"He doesn't look sick to me," Wendell remarked.
"It's because we caught it earlier," Shantelle replied. "If there was no
intervention while his blood count went down, it
would have been terrible."


"It's a good thing you are a doctor. Doctor Shant," Sean said.
"I asked around Europe during my last business trip. There were cases
where aplastic anemia resolved on its own.
Doctors concluded other factors might have affected the bone marrow,"
Keith reported. "Hopefully, Lucas wont need a
bone marrow or a cord blood stem cell transplant. Although, I have heard
successful stories about cord blood stem cell
treatments too."
"Yes, hopefully," Shantelle said. "Us, getting pregnant is to prepare for the
worst-case scenario -"
"And, of course, Lucas always wanted a brother," Evan added, justifying
their reasons.
Shantelle nodded. She flushed as she admitted, "Yes, that's true." She
turned to Evan's friends and confirmed, "He has
been asking non-stop for a sibling."
"So, is Shanty already pregnant?" Sean asked with a smirk.
Evan and Shantelle looked at each other. Evan smiled and replied, "We
hope so. We... have been working so hard."
Too soon to tell," Shantelle said. "I mean, we tested last week, but we've
only been trying for over a month, so maybe in
two weeks."
"Who would have thought you two would get back together? Seeing you
like this, our beautiful Shanty back to her old
blushing self when next to Evan," Sean teased.
"And Evan being whipped is just a little too strange to see," Keith remarked.
"Is that right, Shanty? Is Evan whipped? Who has the last say in this
relationship?" Wendell sought.
'Is Evan whipped? Shantelle thought about it. She wondered if she was the
one making the decisions in their relationship.
Sure, Evan had given way to her in more ways than one. However, given
how he needed to earn her trust in the first
place, it was just about right. She smiled and replied, "He allows me in
order to prove his worth."


"From a friend who has seen Evan in his worst days, Shanty, I want to
thank you for giving Evan a chance," Wendell said.
"He won't hurt you again, I'm sure of it. Because if he does, I'll be the first to
punch his face."
"And me!" Sean offered. "I'll definitely break his nose."
"Evan will lose his only bond," Keith said before turning to the man, "So I
know he will cherish you this time."
"I'm glad you have my back, guys," Shantelle said, acknowledging the
boys.
It felt strange for Shantelle to hear Keith's assurance, but perhaps Keith
had earnestly begun to move on, and for that, she
I was thankful. She smiled at Keith, asking, "So, you and Karise?"
"This meeting is not about me, but yeah, I've been spending a lot of time
with your friend, Shanty. Don't ask me yet where
this is going. I'm still figuring it out," Keith admitted.
"What about you, guys? Evan? You both are having another child? Aren't
you going to get married?" Wendell asked.
"Don't you think it's about time?"
There was silence in the air before Evan cleared his throat. He said, "Well,
um -"
"Mommy, I wanna bathe now!" Lucas suddenly called from the living room,
excusing Shantelle from that awkward
moment.
When Shantelle left Evan and his friends, Evan had the chance to explain.
He looked at his friends and said, "I'm afraid to
ask her."
"What?" Keith said. "What are you scared about, Evan?"
"I had proposed to her before, remember? I got turned down," Evan
reasoned. "Although it's different now. We have
gotten extremely close. Still, I'm always afraid she would reject me."
He moved closer and revealed, "She had not said I love you to me... not
once."
All three of Evan’s friends leaned back, shocked by his revelation.
Wendell frowned and clarified, "Not once?"


Evan shook his head and answered, Not, once. I feel those words would be
my golden prize, should they ever leave her
lips."
Sean pointed out, "But I swear I see that old Shanty."
"Me too," Wendell echoed. "Not entirely the old Shanty. The new Shanty is
more confident and mature, but the way she
would look at Evan, I could have sworn that old Shanty is back."
Turning to Keith, Wendell asked, "What about you, Keith? What do you
think?"
Keith groaned. He took a sip of his wine and looked at Evan. He said, "I
don't know. Honestly, I think... a big part of Shanty
had never changed."
It was because Keith did not expound on his explanation that the three men
became puzzled. Instead, Wendell kept
suggesting that Evan propose again, "Just give a try."
’"Figure out a way to marry her," Sean proposed. "Anything!"
"Why, Even? If she rejects you again, would you give up, then?" Keith
asked.
Keith's probing made Evan frown. He replied, "I would never.”
"Then, there's really nothing to lose," Keith said.
"You know what else I'm glad about? Is that you two are talking like old
friends," Wendell said, referring to Keith and Evan.
He and Sean smiled, nodding in approval. Whereas, Evan and Keith
squinted at each other.
***
Later that evening, Evan approached Shantelle after she put Lucas to
sleep. Shantelle was combing her hair in front of
the vanity table when Evan gave a set of documents for her to sign.
"It's the contract for Lucas' insurance policy and some formal documents
the lawyers ask you to sign concerning his name
change," Evan explained, and he handed her a pen for convenience.
"Okay," Shantelle said before putting down her comb. She glanced at the
first document, and after confirming it was the


insurance policy, she signed away. She kept flipping and flipping from page
to page, finding her name. Then she would
affix her signature.
She had already begun the first stroke of her signature at the very last
document when she noticed that familiar paper
color. She frowned, having an inkling. She set the other papers aside to
have a better view and stared blankly at the
document in question.
Her eyes widened in shock. Evan was letting her sign a marriage contract!
She snapped in Evan's direction and asked, "Evan! What is the meaning of
this?"
"What?" Evan acted to be equally surprised. He took the document from
Shantelle's hand, saying, "What the - how did
this got here?"
Seeing Evan's reaction, Shantelle laughed. She said, "You are not a very
good actor, Evan. That's not how I wanna wear
my ring!"
"Of course! I am not Even still. His heart was racing in excitement. 'Did
Shanty mean I could formally ask her to marry
me?'
'That's not how I wanna wear my ring!' The words echoed in his head
repeatedly. 'Could she be willing to marry me now?'
Evan figured there was only one way to find out.

Chapter 97: The Drone Show
"Are you sure you made this trip safe for Lucas?“ Shantelle asked, worried
for their son to be out in public.
“James booked the entire resort," Evan explained. "It's a private island with
very little staff. I instructed the manager that
all employees should wear masks. I had also asked that no one should be
sick when serving us."
With a shrug, Evan proposed, "Besides, the beach is good for the health the fresh air, the sea breeze, and the natural


saline."
Weekend came. Evan decided to take his family out for a break. He figured
Lucas could use the time out. His son was
getting extremely bored with staying indoors.
Evan booked a private yacht to bring them to an island outside of town,
accommodating his and Shantelle's parents, plus
Miguel and Lucas' nurse. The entire resort, with twenty luxury guest villas,
was closed only for their stay.
When they arrived at the resort, Shantelle was surprised to learn that
Wendell and Sean were also present. They took
their own private yacht to the resort. Keith skipped the gathering because
he caught whatever Karise had and was down
with the flu.
They went swimming in the clear lagoon for the first half of the day on the
island. They had a picnic on the shoreline
covered with palm trees at noon. Lucas had his favorite iron-rich food and a
small piece of treat.
Shantelle gave Lucas a slice of chocolate cake, saying, "A little treat is
enough. Focus on your veggies and meat to make
you are big and strong!"
Lucas nodded, saying, "I understand, Mommy!" He turned to his father and
said, ' Daddy, thank you for taking me out on a
beach! And for booking the entire island. You are the best dad."
"Only your dad can do that," Wendell remarked, winking at Lucas.
"If you want, your daddy can buy the entire Rose Hills," Sean remarked.
Their party chuckled. William commented, "This is enough. It's over the top,
but it's definitely what Lucas needs. Lucas
can't be around crowded places. Open air environment is better for him too.
And, as long as we, the surrounding adults,
take responsibility to ensure we don’t pass him any infection."
"Yes, Doctor Scott," Sean said, saluting William.
"I am a responsible uncle," Wendell claimed.
"You are doing a good job, Evan," William remarked. "Thank you for caring
for my grandson and providing for his needs,


both financially and emotionally."
Evan smiled across from William and said, "Thank you, Dad. Anything for
my son."
After being called Dad, William still. In fact, everyone fell silent. Shantelle,
for one, pursed her lips, her eyes rounding at
her father. Sure, Erick and Clara had asked Shantelle to call them mother
and father. However, William had not said
anything the same to Evan.
Evan was equally nervous about his claims. Soon, however, William
scoffed and answered, "You are welcome, son."
Everyone's shoulders fell in relief, including Eleanor's. She said to Evan,"
You are indeed our son, Evan, and a great
father to Lucas."
From that moment on, their picnic lunch gathering became cheerful as they
enjoyed the delicious food the resort had
prepared. After the picnic lunch, everyone took a rest in their designated
villas.
Tired after traveling and swimming in the morning, Lucas woke up past five
in the afternoon. They went straight for an
early dinner with their entire party.
After dinner, Evan proposed, "The resort prepared a drone show for us.
Let's go check it out."
“A drone show?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, using more than six hundred drones, they are going to light up the
skies," Evan disclosed, i
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" Lucas excitedly said.
The drone show was just a short distance from the restaurant. There was a
huge clearing that opened up to the beach,
and it was there where everybody waited for the main event.
Everyone found their places, circling the vast space where the six hundred
drones were in place. Each of them was
already lit. Lucas was highly amazed.
"I have never seen a drone show before," Shantelle said. "I can't imagine
six hundred drones working together."


Evan laughed as he settled his family right at the very front of the
presentation. He said, "It's pre-programmed. It's not like
every drone is being manned."
"Sounds exciting, Daddy!" Lucas exclaimed.
Soon, with everyone watching the drones, the show began. By batch, the
drones flew up in the night sky. 1
"Wow! It's so cool!" Lucas commented, his eyes sparkling at the lights,
taking shapes.
In the sky, the drones started forming boxes in different colors until they
took the shape of a red rose. Next, an image of a
cupid appeared, holding up an arrow.
Evan stared down at Shantelle as she marveled at the colorful sky. Her
mouth parted in surprise, seeing how the drones
were so synchronized. Shantelle said, "Amazing. I did not know this was
possible!"
From another side of the beach, Erick and Clara were also astounded.
They took videos of how the show went on. William
and Eleanor was doing the same.
The drones made an arrow, and the cupid thrust it into the air. The arrow
appeared to have hit a man's chest, leaving
Everyone chuckled. A frame of a man became evident. The drones then
made hearts around the man.
"So this is a story about a man in love," Shantelle described. One could
make out two love birds formed, pecking with their
beaks, and hearts erupted after their kiss. Shantelle commented, "I don't
know if this show is supposed to be for kids,
Evan."
"I - Um." Evan answered, "I thought it was cute."
"It's cute, Mommy! It's cute!" Lucas claimed. He was smiling from ear to
ear.
At that point, Shantelle also took a video of the drone presentation. She
was absolutely impressed that she intended to
show it to her colleagues. After the pecking birds, a spiral image could be
seen. More and more hearts formed in the sky.


"I guess you could say, whoever this man is, he must be very in love," Evan
stated out of nowhere.
The drones made a diamond next, which appeared to sparkle in the night.
Shantelle then noticed how it took the shape of
a ring. Her mouth fell open, and her heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, she
connected the dots and wondered, 'Could Evan
be?'
Then, she saw how the ring rotated in the sky and moved to a woman's
finger. Fireworks suddenly erupted, but not the
real kind. It was still the drones, simulating fireworks in the sky.
Suddenly, the drones formed words, saying: [I want nothing more than to
be that man for you. I missed my first chance,
but this time I am ready to give you my world. My dearest Shanty, will you
marry me?] 2
Reading the words, Shantelle dropped her phone. Her skin quickly formed
goosebumps. She was utterly surprised.
From afar, Wendell and Sean were clapping their hands, praising Evan for
a well-prepared proposal. It was the same with
Miguel and the nurse.
"Mommy, you'll marry, Daddy?" Lucas asked. Finally, Shantelle's senses
returned to her.
She looked behind her and saw Evan holding a bouquet of roses. He was
down on one knee, saying, "Shanty, I love you
and Lucas more than anything in this world. Will you make me the happiest
man alive and marry me again?"
Shantelle's mouth was still open. She knew it was always in Evan's plan to
marry her, but she earnestly thought the trip to
The beach was only for Lucas. She never expected the proposal, and it
was such a lovely one at that.
She glanced at her parents, and they gave her a nod. She turned to the
Thompsons and saw the hopeful eyes of Erick
and Clara. She peered down at her son; Lucas was the happiest person
around her.
Returning her attention to Evan, she saw the man holding up the same
sapphire ring that he had attempted to give her


during their Paris date.
Evan was Evan, but she did not know why; he looked like a god before her
eyes that night. He was simply in casual
clothes, as they were on the beach, but he looked so handsome. His
presence, his stance, and the way he looked at her
with love tickled her heart.
Still down on one knee, Evan said, "I promise I'll take care of you and
Lucas, and the family we are about to make."
"Marry me, Shanty,“ Evan added.

Chapter 98: Two Rewards
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Lights danced in the night on the private island resort. Drones formed red
hearts above Evan and Shantelle, making them
the center of attention.
While holding an engagement ring up to Shantelle, Evan was nervous. He
said, "Marry me, Shanty."
He appeared to be smiling, but deep inside, his heart was drumming
against his ribcage. Sure, he and Shantelle had
gotten incredibly close as Lucas’ parents and as a couple. However, to
Evan, there was no telling what was going on in
her head.
Over the past weeks, he never expected her to pay him another visit at the
office, but she did. In fact, after her first visit,
She came on three occasions, bringing lunch. Little by little, she was
making efforts in their relationship. Despite that, she


never affirmed her feelings in words.
Last week, when he tried to trick her into marrying him on paper, she may
have hinted she was willing to marry him. Still, it
wasn't a direct indication, making Evan anxious.
Evan gulped as he watched Shantelle look at him. Her eyes landed on the
ring. He could see how her eyes were starting
to water, and he certainly hoped it meant she would say yes. She might say
yes for the sake of Lucas and their future
children, but from Evan's point of view, it had to start from somewhere.
Sooner or later, he will hear those sweet words he
longed to hear.
"Evan," Shantelle finally said. A smile formed on her face when she replied,
"Yes, I will marry you, Evan Thompson." 1
" What?" He could not believe his ears.
Shantelle repeated, "I will marry you, Evan!" i
"Yahoo! Congrats, bro!" Evan could hear Sean give his praises. His friends
recorded everything the moment the drones
went up in the sky.
"Daddy, Mommy said yes!" Lucas helped her father.
Evan let out a very loud sigh. He puffed repeatedly and screamed at the
top of his lungs, "YES!!!!"
He pointed to his friends and said, "She said yes!"
"We heard the first time, Evan!" Wendell said.
He could hear Shantelle and Lucas laughing. Heck, his entire family was
laughing, including Shantelle's parents. He
carried no shame in proclaiming it.
"Evan, my fingers are waiting!" Shantelle said, lifting her left hand.
The man quickly got up. He gave Shantelle the flowers and picked up the
ring. He held her hand, and his cold fingers
placed the ring on her finger.
Unwittingly, tears rolled down Evan's cheek. This was undoubtedly one of
the happiest moments of his life. It was the first
He put an engagement ring on Shantelle's finger. He never did this during
their first marriage.


He pulled her hand closer to him and kissed her knuckles. He especially
pecked on the part where Shantelle wore the
engagement ring. After which, Evan embraced her. He reached for Lucas
and included him in their hug.
"Are you happy, Daddy?” Lucas asked. The boy must have felt it too, since
he cried with his father.
Evan nodded. He kept weeping. He repeatedly heaved while taking it all in
because it all seemed so surreal to him.
Memories of how he waited for this moment came rushing back. He
recalled the pain, the regret, and the years of feeling
alone, all while hating himself. He recounted the day he saw Shantelle
again. Evan never thought he would find happiness
again, but thanks to the heavens, he was given another chance.
"Thank you." He pecked Shantelle's forehead while maintaining to hold her.
"Thank you for accepting me, Shanty. I
promise I won't fail you. You and our children will always be my priority."
Shantelle nodded her head and looked up at him. She said, "I know, Evan. I
honestly feel your sincerity
Out of nowhere, Shantelle frowned. Food servers suddenly appeared,
carrying trays of canapes and drinks. One server
happened to pass by them, setting up a table for her, Evan, and Lucas.
She caught a glimpse of the marmalade canape, and she was sure that
was the source of her displeasure. It had Italian
cheese on top, the kind that stings the nose but delights the mouth.
Another whiff of that expensive cheese, Shantelle heaved. She heaved and
heaved, alarming Evan and Lucas. 1
"Shanty, what's wrong," Evan asked. His brows repeatedly met, trying to
soothe Shantelle.
Shantelle, on the other hand, tried to hold it in. She covered her mouth and
walked back. She made hand gestures, trying
to tell the servers to keep the damn cheese away from her, but to her
dismay, the contents of her stomach came pouring
out. 1


'"Wifey Sadly for Evan, while he got his eyes, his future wife puked all over
his clothes.
***
"Is Mommy okay, Grandma?" Lucas asked, waiting by the living room of
their villa.
"Mommy is okay. I'm sure of it," It was Clara who assured Lucas.
After Shantelle threw up on Evan, they all went to the couple's resort
accommodation. Eleanor aided Shantelle in the
bathroom to get checked. Thankfully, the resort was equipped with a
medical kit for emergency cases.
Evan had showered in another bathroom. He came out of the room, asking,
"Has Shanty come out? She must have eaten
something bad."
He knocked on the main bedroom and asked, "Shanty? Are you okay,
Wifey? ■
"She shouldn't have eaten the tuna," Wendell said from one corner of the
living room.
"I think it was the cheese. Shanty was pointing at it like it had sinned her.
The strange thing is, isn't Shanty a cheese
lover?” Sean sought.
"I don't think it’s the cheese," William said. He calmly crossed his leg while
sitting on the sofa and described, "My daughter
eats the most disgusting smelling cheese, and nothing has happened to
her in the past."
The elders were calm about the situation, merely sitting on the couches,
waiting. It was Evan who was worried as hell. He
kept walking back and forth, waiting for the villa's main bedroom to open. 1
Finally, Shantelle walked out with Eleanor. She changed into a new set of
clothes and appeared to be newly bathed. Her
face was red as she followed behind her mother.
"Shanty, thank God. What happened to you, Wifey?" Evan said,
approaching Shantelle. He cupped her cheek and asked,
"Are you feeling better?"
Shantelle nodded. She smiled weakly and answered, "I'm fine, Evan."


"She is fine, everybody. There is nothing wrong with my daughter,’ Eleanor
reported. She held up two pregnancy tests,
showing two lines, and announcing, "She is just pregnant!"
While everyone stilled, Clara exclaimed, “I knew it! Oh, I'm going to be
carrying a baby soon!"
"I figured it too, seeing William so calm,” Erick said.
"Wait. Wait. Wait," Evan said. He studied Shantelle profoundly and asked,"
You are pregnant?"
"No, we are pregnant," Shantelle corrected. "You are going to have to take
care of me and Lucas from now on."
"You really are pregnant?" Evan asked again. He couldn't believe his ears.
Was he getting two rewards in a night? Shanty
agreed to marry him, and he was finally going to experience how to be a
father from day one!
"You are pregnant. You really are pregnant," Evan repeated. "He said it so
many times; it made everyone in the room
laugh.
"I'm going to be a father!" Evan announced.
"You already are a father!" Shantelle laughed at his reaction.
"Daddy is so silly!" Lucas said.
Evan sucked in a deep breath. He embraced Shantelle tightly in front of
everyone. When he let go, he clarified, "I mean, I
could finally be a father to our new baby from the beginning." He looked at
his friends and parents, saying, “I had missed
many years with Lucas growing up, including when he was in Shanty's
womb."
He glanced down at Lucas and said, "your mommy had told me many
stories about your first kick, how you moved around
her womb, and how she carried you for the first time."
Returning his gaze to everyone, Evan defined, "I thought about it many
times - imagined how it would feel. I thought it was
amazing. How much more, experiencing it myself?"
Evan swore he would cherish every moment.


Chapter 99:I Love You
"Daddy, I'll allow you to cradle me just once,” Lucas said.
Evan laughed at Lucas' offer. He replied, "You are too late, buddy. I have
cradled you far too long. You forget how you had
fell asleep on some of our trips.” He raised his arms into a cradling position,
saying, "Like this!"
"Hah! How many times?" Lucas said. "I hope no one saw. Daddy!"
It was because Evan revealed his yearnings earlier that Lucas offered to be
treated like a baby for that evening only, but as
it turned out, his father had gone ahead and done so in his sleep.
"Did you really, Daddy?" Lucas asked.
Behind them, Shantelle was laughing at their exchange. Eventually, Evan
replied, "Well, not really in a cradle form, but I
had carried you in my arms many times-’
"It was always your daddy who carried you from the car whenever we went
out together, and you were asleep,” Shantelle
revealed to Lucas.
"But since you offered, let me treat you like a baby, anyway," Evan said,
stretching his arms to Lucas. "Come on now,
show your daddy some love."
Lucas pouted. He felt cheated altogether. Still, he could not deny his father
that he climbed into his arms, and Evan began
swaying him from side to side.
"Mommy, what song did you sing to Lucas when he was a baby?" Evan
asked.


Shantelle snorted as she watched the two. She replied, "The usual.
Rock-A- Bye-Baby."
"Okay, here goes nothing," Evan said. "Rock a bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock."
Lucas was laughing so hard, listening to his father sing the song. Shantelle
was at it too, clutching against her stomach,
thoroughly amused by Evan's efforts.
"Enough, Daddy. Enough," Lucas eventually surrendered. "Put me down
now."
When Evan landed Lucas on the bed, the boy said, "I'm officially a big boy."
1
"That you are," Evan said, pinching his cheek. "Thank you for letting me
experience baby Lucas, son."
Lucas chuckled and said, "You are welcome, Daddy. When my brother or
sister is born, we can cradle him or her
together."
"We will, together with your mommy," Evan said. "Are you ready for bed?"
With a yawn, Lucas said, "Yes, I like staying at this resort. I wish we could
stay here forever."
"We will come back here on a long weekend, I promise," Evan swore. He
pecked Lucas' forehead and said, "Goodnight,
Lucas.'
"Night, Daddy," Lucas replied. He turned to Shantelle and said the same."
Goodnight, Mommy."
"Goodnight. Love you, Lucas,” Shantelle said back.
After watching Lucas to bed for a few minutes, the couple went to their
room. As soon as they made it in, Evan embraced
Shantelle from behind.
He kissed her cheek and admitted, "Sometimes, I am jealous of Lucas."
"Ha?" Shantelle turned to him, lifting her brow. "Why?"
"Because." Evan turned Shantelle around. When she was facing him, he
rested his forehead against hers. He revealed,
"Lucas gets to hear you say I love you every day, but I don't."


"Shanty, do you love me already? Because I'm dying to know," Evan said."
Tell me, how do you feel, please? This can't
just be about Lucas and the fact that we are making a baby, right?"
Evan watched as Shantelle flushed. Her mouth parted, but no words left
her lips. Instead, she crashed against him,
nuzzling her face thoroughly onto his chest.
Shantelle wrapped her arms around his frame and the words muffled into
his clothes, "I - you.'
"What?" Evan asked. "Talk to me properly, Shanty. Let me hear those
words
- give me something to be happy about."
"Aren't you happy?" She asked, pulling away. Her face burned while she
was at it.
"I am. I am the happiest man alive right now, but damn. If you say those
words to me and mean it, of course, I will
pleasure you all night long," Evan offered, making Shantelle laugh.
Shantelle grabbed Evan's chin. She said, "Before you pleasure me all night
long, we must ensure my pregnancy is
healthy."
"O-K-A-Y," Evan said. "Then, let's get checked first thing tomorrow.”
Shantelle nodded, saying, "We should. Not only is this baby our first
together - you know, together, together, but this baby
may save Lucas' life."
Evan nodded, then he went right back to his point. He said, "So, Shanty, do
you love me?"
He noticed her reluctance, that he caressed her cheeks with both hands.
Evan pecked her lips and said, "Shanty, I love
you so much. I feel you love me too, but I don't want to assume things. Tell
me how you feel about me, please."
With another kiss on her lips, he said, "I love you, Shanty - so much. Do
you love me?"
Shantelle kissed back. She tightened her hold around Evan and said under
her breath, "I." She gulped and resumed, "I
love you, Evan."


"Wow,” Evan said. His breathing hitched, and tears stung his eyes. "I -1
never thought... it would feel this good."
Evan massaged his chest, saying, "It feels so good, Shanty, to hear you
say those words to me again."
More tears rolled down his cheeks as he leaned over and kissed her lips.
He said, 'I love you so much." He felt a lump in his throat, struggling to
speak. "I love you so much, Shanty."
Shantelle felt it. It was with the way Evan's hands trembled, the way his lips
quivered, and the way tears uncontrollably fell
on his cheeks. It was as though the wave of regret came rushing back to
him that he repeatedly said those words to
assure her of his love.
She could not help but weep with him. Shantelle repeatedly nodded as she
wiped the tears from his face. She said, "I
know. I love you too, Evan. I do."
From where they stood, they kissed. It was immediately needy. Their hands
landed at the back of their necks, their
mouths parted generously, and their tongues danced together.
The intensity of their kiss urged them to lie on the bed. Their hands eagerly
roamed their bodies, and their clothes came
off in no time.
Passionately, the couple made love. Moans and erotic sighs filled the air.
Their bodies were intertwined for an
undetermined time. Evan frequently felt a tear rolling down his cheeks each
time he thought about what
Shantelle had said that night.
When Evan came for the second time inside of her, he relished the
moment, pushing and pushing his length. While on
top, he captured
Shantelle's lips lovingly, and when he pulled away, he softly said, "I love
you. Shanty. This time, I'll forever cherish your
love.’
Shantelle pecked Evan's lower lip. She nibbled it gently and replied, "I love
you too, Evan."


"Oh, fuck,’ Evan hissed.
"What?” Shantelle asked, but her eyes widened, sensing his size grew
bigger inside her. i
Evan gulped and admitted, "Each time you say I love you, I get so hard.
What do I do, Shanty? It's hard again."

Chapter 100: Evan's Alternatives
"I'm not sleepy at all," Evan said while pecking at Shantelle's head.
The couple was lying on their bed, waiting for the time to pass. Shantelle
was resting on Evan's chest, her hand across
her torso. She then glanced at Evan's arm and ran her hand down his
forearm. She said, "Let's get your compression
garment adjusted. I think your upper arm is better. Your forearm needs
more compression."
Hmm. I'll do that after we have your pregnancy checked," Evan
acknowledged. "Do you hate looking at my burns?"
"No!" She looked at him and said, "Of course not, Evan."
Shantelle got up and pecked the most affected part of his forearm. There
were no more open wounds, but there were
slight inflammations. She remarked, "This arm shielded me from the fire.
How could I hate it?"
She returned to his side and pecked his lips. Evan wound up smiling
brightly at her. When she rested back on his chest,
he maintained his smile while watching the ceiling of their resort
accommodation and proclaimed," Tonight is the best
night of my life."
"You mean last night. It already is." Shantelle turned to the wall clock and
said, "Two in the morning." She yawned and
said, "We should get some sleep."


"I'm just so happy. I can't sleep." Evan declared. He could hear Shantelle's
breathing become more steady, and he knew
She was falling asleep fast. He said, "I love you, Shanty."
When she did not answer, he tickled her awake and asked, "Say it back. I
want to hear you say it back."
Shantelle was already exhausted. She frowned and said, "No, I'm not going
to say it back. You are going to get hard
again!"
It was because Evan still had a boner after two rounds of making love. He
said it had something to do with how she said I
I love you. In the end, Shantelle gave him lip service. She would have
wanted them to make love again. However, she
didn't know the condition of her pregnancy just yet.
"I am totally fine with your mouth, Wifey," Evan suggested, making
Shantelle whine.
She smacked him hard in the chest and said, "Evan! That's enough. You
were never like this before."
Between the old Evan and now, which one do you like?" Evan pointed out.
A hiss left Shantelle's lips, and she narrowed her eyes at him. She had to
admit; she loved the new Evan. Sure, the new
Evan had a crazy sex drive, but that also meant he wanted more of her,
which ultimately felt good for Shantelle. Being
filled by Evan sent her to an ocean of pleasure that she could not describe.
"Of course, the new Evan, but, remember, we are having a baby. We need
to take care of the baby and my health too.
You are going to have to make some sacrifices," Shantelle proposed. 'And
that includes holding back if needed. Besides,
there will be a stage in my first trimester when I will feel disgusted with
almost everything - this is based on my
experience, of course. In the coming days, I might not love your dick inside
my mouth."
Evan's eyes widened. He cleared his throat and asked, "So, the first
trimester is three months, right?"


"Yes, but the stage of nausea and vomiting is somewhere between six and
eighteen weeks," Shantelle replied.
The man did the math and thought about his alternatives. He looked down
at Shantelle and proposed, "Well, there's your
breast. I could cum in between those -"
Shantelle laughed. She snorted while she was at it.
Evan, on the other hand, continued to find different parts of her body where
he could get his release, "You can always
help me with your hand. We tried dry humping when you were having your
period. That was amazing too. Last, I could
cum in between your ass. You know I love your ass."
"Well, I'm glad you have that all figured out. As for me, you only need to do
one thing," Shantelle reminded him.
"It is my pleasure to get stuck between your thighs, Wifey," Evan
suggested, resulting in more laughter from Shantelle.
"I'm glad you know me well," Shantelle remarked.
"Of course," Evan assured her.
Soon, Shantelle yawned. She said, "Let's sleep, okay? Don't we need to
leave the resort tomorrow morning?"
"Okay. Okay," Evan replied. He pecked Shantelle's head and said,''
Goodnight, Wifey. I love you.``
"I love you, Evan. Goodnight," Shantelle responded.
"I'm hard again,’ Evan teased.
"I did not hear that. I'm already sleeping," Shantelle said, leaving Evan
chuckling.
***
The next day, everyone departed from the resort right after breakfast. They
left the same way, riding on a yacht. The entire
trip, Lucas slept on Shantelle's chest. Lucas took a last-minute dip on the
beach before leaving, making him tired during
the voyage.
Shantelle was caressing Lucas' head and singing him a song when her
work phone rang.


Her father, William, had to take the call for Shantelle. However, the center
was calling about a chest wall surgery. William
only specialized in heart surgery. He returned the phone to his daughter.
Not wanting to disturb Lucas, Evan had to hold the phone up in Shantelle's
ears. She softly instructed the surgeon on duty
about a patient with a collapsed lung due to internal bleeding.
"Yes, address the bleeding first so he can breathe and check the broken
ribs. By what you are telling me, I think the
patient needs rib alignment through plates," Shantelle softly said,
controlling the volume of her voice.
"You are welcome, Doctor Cheng. Of course. Right, I agree." Finally, when
the call ended, Shantelle sighed. While they
hired tenured thoracic surgeons, it was common for them to seek a second
opinion. As the center's lead surgeon, it was
her job to give them advice.
She turned to Evan, seated next to her, and instructed, "They might call
again or text if they have questions about the
procedure. Let me know if there are any."
Evan nodded and rested back. He then watched as Shantelle massaged
Lucas' back.
An hour later, the heart and lung center sent her a text. Evan quickly
noticed it, and he gave the phone to Shantelle.
Unfortunately, Lucas complained about the movement.
"What did they say? Just open it, Hubby. I'm holding Lucas," Shantelle
suggested.
Evan glanced at Shantelle, asking, "What's your passcode?"
It was as if Shantelle had a realization that her face flushed. She gazed up
at Evan and rethought her decision. However,
Evan had already slid open her phone, and he asked again, "What's the
passcode, Wifey?"
"It's 9021989," she weakly answered.
Evan's eyes widened. A smile easily formed on his face as he unlocked
Shantelle's phone. He read the message for her,
saying, "The operation went well. They are now aligning the patient's ribs."


Shantelle bashfully nodded and replied, "Good to know."
Just then, Shantelle's other phone buzzed. This time, it was her personal
phone, the same one she used in Warlington.
Evan also took it from Shantelle's bag and saw from the preview that it was
Doctor Hale. He said, "Do you want me to
open it too?"
Shantelle nodded.
He used the same passcode, and it opened for him. From then on, Evan's
smile could not be contained. He felt like a
teenage boy, delighting over the fact that Shantelle had used his birth date
to lock her phones.
Evan happily read Doctor Hale's message. "He said he is thinking of
relocating to Rose Hills."
Shantelle faintly answered, "I think that would be a good idea. With me
being pregnant, I could use another senior in the
center. Could you text him back, Hubby?"
Evan did as Shantelle asked. After relaying messages to Doctor Hale for
Shantelle, a thought came through Evan's mind.
Shantelle has had the other phone since Warlington. He leaned in and
asked, "So, when did you change your passcode
to my birthday?"
"Um," Shantelle giggled. She answered, "I don't remember."
Evan kept bugging her about it, but Shantelle acted to fall asleep, shutting
her eyes while laughing inside and listening to
him. She did not give in, leaving Evan curious.
Later that day, Evan and Shantelle went to see the gynecologist
specializing in fertility. The doctor, Tamara Willis, a
a woman in her late forties was thrilled for the couple. She guided them to
the ultrasound room and studied Shantelle's
uterus.
"Congratulations! You are pregnant!" Doctor Tamara turned the screen to
Evan and Shantelle, asking, "Any guesses how
many babies you will have?"


CHAPTER 101Shantelle was lying down in a hospital bed, staring at the monitor. She held
Evan's hand from one side as she counted
two amniotic sacs. She wasn't a gynecologist, but she knew what those
round things meant.
She and Evan were having two babies!
"I'm not sure what we are looking at, Doctor Willis," Evan said. All he saw
were two black circles in a mass of white
background. "But, does that mean two babies?"
"You got it right, Mister Thompson!" The doctor excitedly revealed.
"Congratulations, Doctor Shant. Your son must be very excited to have a
sibling. Later, you will go home to tell him the
better news. Based on the ultrasound, you are already six weeks
pregnant."
"The ovulation medications were very effective. Sometimes, a woman will
have two eggs at once, and this is a good
example of this!" Doctor Willis happily reported.
"Wow." Shantelle felt her heart race. She was apprehensive about carrying
twins but seeing the delight on Evan's face;
her worries were quickly erased.
"Wifey, did you hear that? I'm going to be a father of two," Evan happily
declared.
Shantelle smiled brightly at Evan, saying, "I heard it and saw it!"
After confirming the pregnancy, the doctor let the couple hear the babies'
heartbeats.
Evan especially paid attention to where the doctor was pointing and how
loud the beating of the babies' hearts was. It
made Evan emotional, and so did Shantelle.
Shantelle recalled her first pregnancy, carrying Lucas. She went to the
clinic with her mother that day. Back then, she had
wondered how Evan would feel about having a child. How she wished she
could turn back the time and had called Evan


then. It was too late, though. She could only move on. At least, with their
following children, Evan can stay by her side and
experience how it was to bring a new life into the world.
"It's beautiful," Evan remarked. "It's music to my ears." He looked down at
Shantelle and pecked her hand, saying, "I'm
glad I came with you. I want to be with you in every prenatal."
With a smile, Shantelle replied, "You should. I don't want you to miss a
single ultrasound. Each viewing is different. In the
next ultrasound, you would see their small bodies forming."
"I look forward to it," Evan claimed. He could not help but feel his chest
becoming heavy. He wanted to see the things he
missed during Shantelle's first pregnancy for himself.
Finally, after the ultrasound, Shantelle was given prescriptions and
instructions for the first trimester. They were back at
the clinic, with Shantelle and Evan sitting in from Doctor Willis' tale.
The OB doctor said, "Drink your prenatal vitamins every day. If you are
experiencing nausea, try to avoid difficult-to-digest
food like beef and minimize your fiber intake since you will get so bloated
during the adjustment stage. Get a lot of fluids
and rest. I know you are a doctor, Doctor Shant, but I hope you can
balance things."
Shantelle caressed her belly and answered, "I will." She turned to Evan and
swore, "Evan and I will take care of these
babies."
"Great! Then, your next scheduled visit is next month," the gynecologist
advised.
Before getting dismissed, however, Evan cleared his throat. He asked, "So
Doctor Willis, I'd like to know how healthy is
the pregnancy?"
"Oh, the pregnancy is very healthy. We prepared for it, after all," Doctor
Tamara replied. "The lining in her uterus is perfect.
Since Shantelle is in a healthy condition, there is nothing to worry about the
pregnancy for now. There may be


complications with multiple pregnancies that may arise later, but that is why
we will have regular check-ups to monitor the
pregnancies' progress."
"Being a doctor, Doctor Shant will be able to evaluate her own body as well.
If that is the concern, please call or text me
anytime," Doctor Tamara offered. "In case you feel pelvic pain or have any
discomfort, I can issue you in advance some
medication to maintain a healthy womb, but only take it if you feel there is
any discomfort."
"The side effects of taking in so many hormones can worsen your nausea,"
the doctor explained. "So take it only when
needed."
"Okay, Doc." Evan wiped off the beads of sweat from his forehead. He was
happy about the news, but it did not answer
his other concern. He just needed to put it out there and ask, "But is
pregnancy safe for us to have regular sex?" i
"Oh!" The doctor finally realized, and Tamara eyed the couple. Shantelle
flushed profusely.
"I'm sorry, I should have read between the lines. The common questions of
couples," Doctor Willis said. "How often do you
Have sex?"
Evan replied, "At least twice a day."
"A week," Shantelle contradicted. She was well aware that the average sex
life in couples was around two to three times a
week, but they were way beyond the average, especially after living
together.
Following their reply, Shantelle and Evan frowned at each other, making the
doctor laugh.
"Wow, it's good that you have a healthy sex life," Doctor Tamara remarked.
"To answer your question. Sex will not harm
the pregnancy in general, but while the baby is still developing during the
first trimester, maybe you can tone it down a
little."
Evan cleared his throat and clarified, "Maybe, once a day, doc? Doctor
Willis, you have to understand. We love each other


so much, we can't get enough of each other. I would appreciate it if we
could get a clearer picture here."
The gynecologist laughed and answered, "Yes, once a day should be fine,
but not to worry! It's always oral!"
Doctor Tamara winked.
Evan smirked.
Shantelle became entirely red but was also relieved they could carry on the
way she and Evan wanted each other.
*-*•*
Following the check-up, Evan and Shantelle went to both their respective
offices. They reported for half a day and
returned to their villa late in the evening.
When the couple arrived together, they kissed Lucas goodnight. It was from
within their room that they covered the plans
for their marriage.
While settling in the bed, Shantelle said, "Evan, about the wedding. We
can't have a big one. A simple wedding will do.
Lucas won't be able to attend a big wedding. You know that."
"I was thinking, maybe we can just have it at the courthouse, you know,"
she presented.
"What? No way," Evan refused. "I want it to be special. Although I agree,
we cannot have a crowded wedding. It doesn't
means it cannot be grand."
Evan put a hand on his chest and claimed, "Trust me, I can make it
happen. I'm not Evan Thompson for no reason. You
are going to marry a capable man."
Amused at his claims, Shantelle laughed. She rolled her eyes and replied,"
Okay, if you say so. I'm curious how you are
going to pull it off."
"Is next month okay, Shanty? I want to consider how your baby bump
would be by that time," Evan sought.
Shantelle thought about it and said, "Yes, I think that should still be fine.
Next month then."


The couple was already preparing to sleep when Evan suddenly turned to
Shantelle, his frame covering hers.
With a frown, she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Claiming my once a day," Evan announced, his eyes filled with passion.
Shantelle was puzzled. She thought about last night and said, "Didn't we do
it past midnight, making it still outside the
one-day rule?"
"No, no. We didn't. We had our second round at eleven, and ended a few
minutes before midnight. The third round
doesn't count since you did it with your mouth," Evan said in detail.
Shantelle's face burned. She replied, "Oh, that's right." She laughed and
started feeling his manhood with her leg, saying,
"But you aren't hard enough."
"Say the magic words," Evan suggested.
More giggles left her lips when Shantelle finally said, "I love you, Evan."
The second she said the magic words, she felt his rod, stiffening against
her thigh. The next thing she knew, Evan was
grounding against her, letting her feel his erection.
"Wow," Shantelle remarked. "So effective."
***
Two days passed.
Evan prepared a surprise for Shantelle. He had asked her to get off early
from the heart and lung center to meet her
wedding gown designer at the Thompson Group of Companies' office
building. When Shantelle made it inside the CEO's
office, her mouth fell on the floor, and her skin crawled altogether, seeing
who the designer was.
"Oh, my god!" Shantelle screamed.

CHAPTER 102
Chapter 102: Dream Wedding Gown


When Shantelle entered Evan's office, she was surprised to see a lady.
Before she could react, however, she noticed that
Kaleb Wright was there, Evan's new business partner.
' Wifey! You finally made it!" Evan said. He stood up and introduced, "This
is the designer for your wedding gown."
Shantelle's gaze was fixed on the woman. She had long brown hair, and
she wore expensive clothes, a brand familiar to
her. When the woman turned, Shantelle's mouth fell open, realizing who it
was. She screamed," Oh, my god!"
It was Sarah Kate, her favorite designer.
Shantelle then recalled how Kaleb Wright was Sarah Kate's twin brother.
She knew there was a possibility she would
meet the designer. Still, she never imagined having Sarah Kate make her
wedding gown. It was a dream come true!
The designer smiled at Shantelle and introduced herself. "You must be
Mister Thompson's wife, Doctor Shan't? It's lovely
to meet you. I'm Sarah Kate Ronaldo, designer of Sarah Kate collections
and apparel. I am Kaleb's twin sister."
"Oh, my god! Oh, my god!" Shantelle repeated. She walked hurriedly in
front of the designer and said, "I love you! I love
your dresses, and I love you!"
Sarah Kate became amused at Shantelle's reaction. Her eyes gleamed as
she responded, "I love you too. You are
gorgeous. We have the same eyes."
"Do we?" Shantelle excitedly reacted. "I think you are so beautiful."
"You are beautiful. You and your perfect blonde hair, you remind me of my
mom!" Sarah Kate suggested.
"Your mother must be so pretty," Shantelle remarked.
"You are pretty," Sarah Kate said back.
Shantelle instantly connected with the designer. Sarah Kate was amiable
and down to earth for someone who had
achieved so much. After that thrilling initial meeting, Sarah Kate reviewed a
few sketches with Shantelle at Evan's mini
lounge area.


The two ladies sat on the same couch. Kaleb sat on another sofa next to
his sister. Evan chose to sit on the single couch
next to Shantelle. He maintained his distance from Sarah Kate, keeping his
number one rule.
"Mister Thompson had been so kind to send me your pictures, so I had an
idea what to present. With your body structure,
you should have an off- shoulder top that displays your slender neck, a
gown that will hug your body - at the top of my
head, a mermaid type of wedding gown." The designer took out two
sketches and said, "Tadah!"
The first option was a full lace wedding dress that capped part of her upper
arm. It was an off-shoulder design, just like
Sarah Kate had suggested, but Shantelle felt it was a bit too lacy.
The second design had little lace details, and while it was off-shoulder type,
it had nude-like sleeves going down to the
wrist and the same nude like effect on the back. To Shantelle, it looked
elegant and sexy. It would appear that no cloth
would be covering her back, and only embroidered leaf patterns framed her
body.
"I think I like this one," Shantelle declared. She grabbed the sketch and
showed it to Evan. "This one, Hubby. It's
beautiful."
Evan nodded and said to Sarah Kate, "Okay, let's seal the deal. You agree
to focus only on my wife's wedding gown and
nothing else."
"Yes, sir." Sarah Kate smiled and suggested, "For the right price."
"Money is not an issue with me," Evan claimed.
The designer glanced at Shantelle and reported, "By the way, I forgot to
mention how the dress will be embroidered with
over three hundred thousand gems. So, on that day, you will be a shining
star."
"Wow!" Shantelle exclaimed. Then, she wondered how much a wedding
dress would cost if it had over three hundred
thousand gems, plus being created by a well-known designer.


"Mister Thompson, the dress will be at two million dollars," Sarah Kate
revealed, and with that, Shantelle coughed at the
cost.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. Two million dollars? Do I really need three hundred
thousand gems on my dress, Evan?" Shantelle
complained.
"Shanty, I want the best for our wedding, including the gown you will wear,"
Evan suggested. "My money will mean
nothing if I can't splurge it on the woman I love."
"Well said," Sarah Kate remarked.
Shantelle and Evan briefly debated about it, but Evan was not convinced.
He was determined to give Shantelle a very
extravagant gown. Finally, after reaching an agreement, Evan gave Sarah
Kate the check. Evan and Kaleb went to
another meeting room to discuss the rebranding of the condominium.
When Shantelle and Sarah Kate were alone, the two got to know each
other on a deeper level. Shantelle felt Sarah Kate
was genuine and very likable, and she quickly opened up to her.
"So, I heard that you are pregnant. Congratulations!" The designer said in
an optimistic tone. "And twins! Wow! I have
I always wanted to have twins.
You are so lucky."
"Oh, I took ovulation medication," Shantelle revealed.
"I see," the lady answered. "I probably took those too. I can't remember. I
had problems conceiving."
"So how is it getting married to a famous husband?" Shantelle eagerly
asked. Her favorite designer married a tennis
superstar named Carlos Ronaldo, once ranked number one in the world.
"It is great, but it was difficult at first, in a sense that you get judged whether
you deserve to be with a famous man," Sarah
Kate suggested. "I also had my fair share of mistakes in our early
relationship. Like, I wanted more than just the girlfriend
he would leave behind during his tournaments. It's a really long story, but,
at the end of the day, as long as you love each
other, you make it work."


She winked at Shantelle, adding, "It's all about trust and communication,
and the more you spend time with each other,
the more love grows. I heard Mister Thompson is famous in Rose Hills, but
good for you, you are also a prominent
doctor."
"Thank you, but I am rebuilding my name as of now. A problem somewhat
halted my career growth at the previous
hospital I had worked for," Shantelle revealed. "It still doesn't change the
fact that he is famous amongst the ladies."
"At least you are back on track now," the designer said. "And about women
going after your man, it's a two-way thing. He
needs to push them away. You also need to protect what's yours."
The designer formed her hand into a fist, and she suggested, "You need to
keep your man happy. Don't stir up any
unnecessary argument with your husband. Do not end a day with a
misunderstanding. Talk it out or have sex. That always
works."
Sarah Kate giggled before resuming, "Compliment him. Tell him how much
you love him. And last, don't forget to give him
his daily dose of passionate love."
"You know what I mean." She held Shantelle's hand and said, "Let me
teach you some things I learned from my sister and
mom." 5
In the next few minutes, Shantelle flushed while the designer whispered
tips into her ear. Occasionally, her mouth opened
in shock, yet she felt excitement in her core as she nodded in agreement.
"Damn! That is hot! Oh, wow."
"When you are in your second trimester, your sex drive will go up, really,
really high, and you could apply the things I had
shared with you," Sarah Kate said.
"And about your pregnancy? Don't think it's a hindrance. I'm sure you can
work your way around it. My sister-in-law had
the best of her career, handling cases in court during her pregnancies.
Babies can be a blessing and a good luck charm,"


the designer described.
Shantelle smiled at what Sarah Kate said. She looked at her belly and felt
it, saying, "We -urn, admittedly, decided to have
a child because my son may need a stem cell treatment. However, seeing
Evan is so happy about us getting pregnant
and my son is so over the moon about it, I think this pregnancy will make
us a stronger family. On my part, hearing the
babies' heartbeats during the ultrasound made me feel instantly connected
to them."
"It's amazing how we, mothers, feel about their babies," Shantelle
remarked. "It's like we are one."
"I know exactly how that feels," Sarah Kate said with a smile. "I love my
children more than my life."
The ladies continued to chat, covering their personal lives until they heard
Evan and Kaleb's voices outside the door.
Knowing it was finally time to leave, Sarah Kate embraced Shantelle
saying, "I really like you. I wish you and your
husband, a stronger relationship."
"Me too. I genuinely like you, and thank you for the - urn, tips," Shantelle
laughed.
The designer gave her a thumbs up, saying, "Good luck! Wow him! Haha!"
***
The following day, Evan awoke to the feel of Shantelle's tongue tracing his
nuts up to the tip of his shaft, her hand
massaging his balls.
"Shanty," Evan called, utterly surprised by his wake-up call.
Shantelle looked at him seductively, her eyes filled with passion. She said,"
I love you, Evan, and I love this. I want you."
Shantelle repeated the same process before taking him all in. Her warm
mouth was around his shaft. Inside, Evan felt her
tongue slurping his member. His Wifey was eating him hard while tickling
his rod with her tongue. It felt amazing!
His Wifey had eaten him many times before, but this was different. She was
so into it. The words that left her lips added to


his excitement. How she gently massaged his nuts and teased him, was
just an added bonus.
"Aaahh!" Soon, the sound of Shantelle's work on Evan's manhood echoed
around the room, and the man was ready to
cum in no time.
"I'm cumming, Wifey. I'm cumming," Evan meant to warn her so that he
could release outside her mouth, but she went at it
heartily, not giving him a chance to pull out.
"Aahhh," Evan wound up erupting into Shantelle's mouth. His eyes became
full of desire as Shantelle swallowed it all
down. "Fuck, that was amazing."
After pleasing her man early in the morning, Shantelle climbed over Evan
to kiss his lips. She took her time, tasting his
flavor, and when she let go, she asked, "Did you like that?"
Evan frantically nodded, saying, "I love it." He frowned and asked, "Where where did you learn to tease me like that?"
Shantelle chuckled and said, "Ah, read it on Cosmopolitan."
***
Later in Shantelle's office, she received an email that surprised her. It read:
[Dear Mrs. Thompson,
This is to confirm your lifetime subscription to Cosmopolitan. 4
You may access the monthly issue by creating an account through our
website. Click here to create your account.]
Shantelle laughed hysterically. She knew well how she wound up having
such a subscription!

CHAPTER 103

Chapter 103: Different Approach
"Good morning, fellow doctors. I am Doctor Shant, and I am here to discuss
medicine's new advancement. The Roboticassisted surgery by Lovewell/
Shantelle said in front of a crowd of doctors.


The makers of the robotic surgery, Lovwell, tapped Saint Dominique's Heart
and Lung Center to promote their product.
Since Shantelle had proven its effectiveness, she willingly accepted the
offer. Not only will the center be sponsored with
another robotic surgery system, but Shantelle also wanted to share her
experience in using the same.
"The integration of high-resolution 3D vision, wristed instruments, and
intuitive motion control enable surgeons to
transcend the limitations of conventional surgical technologies," Shantelle
began, her eyes roaming the hotel venue where
The local conference was held. She quickly found Evan behind the crowd,
and she smiled in his direction.
"Three network components comprise the surgical Lovewell system; an
ergonomic surgeon's console, a patient's side cart
with four interactive robotic arms, and a high-definition 3D vision system,"
she continued. Soon after, she noticed how
Evan took a call. It must have been an important one that he exited the
conference room. Thinking of this, she proceeded
with her talk.
The discussion lasted for more than an hour, and Shantelle then had to
present one of her recent surgeries, performing a
bypass using the robotic system. In the video, she explained, "I did not
have to cut the patient's chest to find the
mammary artery, as you can see. Overall, it saved time, minimized blood
loss, and reduced the patient's hospital stay."
The gathering ended after an open discussion where Shantelle and the
makers of the Lovwell robotic system had to
answer doctors' questions. After the conference, Shantelle received word
from her father.
William had been listening to the conference the whole time. When
Shantelle approached him, he revealed, "Good work,
Shanty. Go to the children's hospital now. Evan admitted Lucas."
"What? Did his fever return?" Shantelle asked. Two weeks had gone by
since Evan's proposal. The weather recently had


not been well, and they suspected Lucas to have caught a seasonal flu. He
had a runny nose and a fever two nights back,
but it went away on the third day. Doctor Patel only encouraged admission
if the fever would return, and sadly it had.
Shantelle immediately rushed to the hospital and found Evan and Lucas in
one of the private suites. Her shoulders fell in
relief seeing the father and son, playing a board game.
"Evan, why didn't you tell me? I could have left the conference!" Shantelle
questioned.
The man smiled at Shantelle, directing her to the closet, saying, "Wifey
dear, go wash up and change clothes."
'Right,' Shantelle silently said. It was necessary to keep themselves clean
whenever they were with Lucas, given his
condition.
After Shantelle bathed and changed, she got the answer from Evan. He
said, "I didn't want to ruin your moment. You
looked so great earlier. The doctors were looking at you in awe, you looked
confident and amazing, and I knew you were
looking forward to that sponsorship. Although, I could have just bought
another robotic system if that was what you
wanted."
"Moreover, the exposure was good for you - to get you out there. The
Lovwell company will post your videos on its
website and social media channels. Clients and patients worldwide will
recognize your name as the Doctor representing
Lovwell," Evan said, referring to the company that had invented the robotic
system.
"But Evan
"Wifey, I wanted you to have your moment, and if our son were in danger, I
would stop the conference in a heartbeat.
However, I knew the conference would end soon, and Lucas still needed to
be evaluated," Evan reasoned." Besides, look
at him. Overall, he is fine.'
"Yeah, Mommy, I am fine. My fever is not so high," Lucas claimed.


"What about you, Evan? Why aren't you at the company?" Shantelle
weakly asked as she sat on the chair across from
Lucas.
"I've tapped my Vice President with most of the work, and James is passing
everything to me. I'll work on my laptop from
here," Evan revealed." Let me do the more serious sacrifices here, Shanty.
I've already proven myself, and my company
has many executives to keep it running. On the other hand, you want to
achieve so much more, and that's
understandable."
"Let's not argue about this," Evan proposed.
"I wasn't arguing," Shantelle replied, pouting her lip. She paused and
sighed, "Thanks for attending to Lucas. I thought
you went to the company."
"I will always have Lucas and you as my priority, and then, our babies, of
course," Evan replied with a smile. He then
reported, referring to Lucas," The hospital already collected his blood.
Doctor Patel should be here any minute now. It had
been over an hour."
It did not take long for Lucas' Doctor to knock on their door. Doctor Patel
walked in with his usual smile. His optimism was
so infectious that Shantelle's worries disappeared. He said to Lucas, "Boy,
you have been doing well? Are you eating your
regular vegetables?"
"Yes! So much!" Lucas exclaimed. "I eat a lot of fruits too. Mommy keeps
telling me to eat lots of folates and iron-rich
food!"
Shantelle explained, "I posted charts in his room, which included the kinds
of food he should eat to keep a healthy cell
production."
"Wonderful!" Doctor Patel exclaimed. "It's great to have a doctor for a
mom!"
Lucas laughed and claimed, "The best Mom! And Daddy cooks my
broccoli! ■a


"Does he now? I can't imagine a busy dad like yours cooking," Doctor Patel
remarked.
A few exchanges were made before Doctor Patel revealed the results of
Lucas' recent blood test. He stated, "Looks like
this viral infection he got, dropped his blood count. We tested him last
week, and they were fine.
Now, they have fallen a little below the average, especially the red blood
cells."
"So what do we do now, Doctor Patel? Should we do a transfusion again?"
Evan asked.
I was thinking of having a different approach this time, something more
potent. Doctor Patel turned to Shantelle and
suggested, "Intravenous Immunoglobulin."
Evan turned to Shantelle, and she explained, "Immunoglobulins are
antibodies from the plasma of thousands of healthy
donors. They are made by the immune system of healthy people to fight
infections."
"Doctor Shant, I've shared with you the blood sample results I sent to the
European laboratory. It showed that Lucas' cells
are still growing, only that they are at a slower rate. So, I considered other
factors affecting Lucas' bone marrow, including
having poor antibodies to fight regular infections," the hematologist
explained.
To normal people, one may produce enough antibodies to fight the
common flu, but what if your immune system is not
strong enough? Anemia comes in and can go on if a patient continues to
fight common illnesses weakly. Then, it can lead
to a severe form of anemia," The Doctor said.
"Plus, we have to consider that some viruses out there cause no obvious
symptoms. You could be infected, your body
fights it, and you don't know it, " the Doctor said. "So, this time, we want to
try giving Lucas a boost of the immune system
to give him time and generate more healthy blood cells."


Shantelle nodded the whole time, and after the pediatrician gave his
suggestion, she replied, "Let's go for IV antibodies."
"Good! I'll have Lucas on an IV drip so the antibodies infusion will have no
or minimal side effects," Doctor Patel said. “I'll
schedule it for tonight."
***
Lucas had his antibodies infusion as scheduled. His fever went away
instantly, and he was more active than the last. The
The couple slept in the hospital for two nights, awaiting their son's next
blood test. In between, Shantelle worked during the
day, and Evan stayed at the hospital the whole time, working on his laptop.
When the results finally came in, Doctor Patel reported to the couple,"
Good news, Lucas' blood count went up. This
treatment may work for Lucas in the long term. I recommend having Lucas
on a monthly IVIG infusion until his blood work
is at a healthy level." i
Lucas was discharged immediately on the same day. The couple was
relieved that the antibodies infusion instantly healed
their son from the flu he had acquired. Combined with a healthy diet,
supplements, and close monitoring, they hope it is
the key to helping Lucas produce more healthy blood cells.
While the couple was en-route to the villa, Evan received a call from Keith.
Immediately, he asked, "What happened to
Lucas? Why is there a bill for his insurance of nearly twenty thousand
dollars? Is everything okay? I haven't received the
full report yet. Please don't tell me he went through immunosuppressant
therapy."
Evan felt the worry in Keith's voice. He replied, "Relax, he received an
antibodies infusion. That's why it cost so much."
"Antibodies?" Keith sighed in relief. Evan could tell Keith nearly choked on
his words as he said, "Thank goodness."
Despite everything, Evan was comforted by how Keith cared for his son.
Over the past months, Keith's compassion for
Lucas alleviated their awkwardness. Evan sought, "What about me, Keith?
Do you want to ask how I am?”


Dead air fell upon them. After some time, Keith questioned, "How are you
handling things, Evan? I know it's tough, but
you must be reassuring for Lucas. You will always have my support."
A smile formed on Evan's face. He replied, "Thank you, Keith. I am. I
greatly appreciate your help, and Lucas thanks you
for covering all his medical expenses. Don't forget; the wedding is in
eighteen days. I expect you to be there."
Evan anticipated another pause from Keith, but his friend quickly replied, "I
would not miss it for the world, fucking
watching Evan Thompson cry - which I know you will."
"Haha!" Evan laughed boisterously. He answered, "You are probably right,
but I'll put you in the very back seat of the
venue. Let's see who gets the last laugh."
"No, you won't! Lucas and Shanty will look for me," Keith claimed. "Save
me one dance with Shanty
"No, fucking way," Evan answered outright.
"Oh, come on, Evan. I guess that's a compliment. You still think of me as a
competition," Keith countered.
A hiss left Evan's lips, and he replied, "Fine! Half a song!”

CHAPTER 104
Chapter 104: Meeting An Old Rival
Lucas showed remarkable improvement after his antibodies infusion. His
blood counts went above average in less than a
week following his discharge. The increase in his white blood cells was a
given due to his added antibodies, but
remarkably his red blood cells also increased. Thus, the couple was
hopeful there would be no interruptions to their
wedding.
Ten days before the scheduled nuptials, Evan asked Shantelle about the
yearly thoracic surgeon's congress. The man


became aware of the event because the Lockwood children's hospital was
asked if Evan could sponsor the conference.
The event was happening in Lockwood City.
During his regular visit to Shantelle's office, he asked, "Do you want me to
book you at the annual doctors' summit?"
Shantelle was encoding a patient's profile when Evan raised the event. She
pouted and said, "I declined to go. My nausea
is getting worse, and the wedding is in a few days. I have a lot on my mind
"But this conference is important to you," Evan pointed out. "I remember
you were looking forward to it. It will feature
speakers who are veteran thoracic surgeons from Europe who have
practiced the robotic surgery system for over a year."
Evan was sitting in front of Shantelle's desk. He cleared his throat and
added, "And you are lying about nausea. You have
been dealing with it well with your diet. So it's not a significant hindrance.
Wifey, if you are worried about Lucas, I'll take
care for him. Besides, he is doing better, and aren't you an award this year
due to what happened in Warlington? Wifey,
you need to be out there. I want you to have that limelight."
Shantelle thought about it and decided to go. She said, "Okay. Promise me
you'll take care of Lucas."
"Have I failed you with Lucas?" Evan sought.
Shantelle smiled brightly at Evan. She walked over to him and sat on his
lap, saying, "No, you haven't." She kissed his lips
and flushed, admitting," aside from Lucas, I thought I might miss you. It's
going to be a three-day conference. So I
hesitated to go."
Evan smiled from ear to ear. He kissed Shantelle and littered pecks on her
neck before saying, "I love it when you express
your feelings. I love you, Shanty. How about this? We'll talk every night with
Lucas, and on the last day - during your
awarding, I'll fetch you."
"Sounds like a plan," Shantelle nodded.
***


Two days later, Shantelle arrived in Lockwood City. She merely changed
clothes in her hotel room. Then, she proceeded
to the conference center, where the event was held at the Crown Plaza
Hotel, Lockwood, i
Shantelle met Doctor Hale and a few of her co-doctors in the same field,
including some of her classmates from Medical
School.
Doctor Hale had arrived earlier than Shantelle. He had already settled at a
table with several of his batchmates. Thus,
Shantelle sought an empty seat from the opposite side of the venue. It was
there where she met her previous school rival,
Doctor Millet Hart.
"Oh, Shantelle. It's you. I heard you couldn't make it. What made you
change your mind?" Doctor Hart sought, seeing
Shantelle stands in front of the table.
"Personal reasons," Shantelle replied without giving Millet any attention.
She earnestly wanted to find another seat, but
The other tables were full of men, and she didn't like to be with them,
especially flirtatious doctors.
Doctor Millet Hart always landed second to Shantelle in Medical School.
Shantelle believed Millet was jealous of her. Millet wanted to be the top
surgeon in Warrington Hospital, but after knowing
how Shantelle had connections in the form of Doctor William Scott, Millet
chose to practice in another city.
After Shantelle sat down, Millet whispered into another doctor's ear, and
they laughed. The other doctor was also a
classmate of Shantelle back in Watlington Medical School. It was Doctor
Penelope Landa, one of Millet's groupies.
"Shantelle, Doctor Shant, right?" Another female doctor said. "I'm Doctor
Emma Brown. I'm a pediatric thoracic surgeon at
Lockwood Children's Hospital. I think you and Doctor Hale were very
courageous to go against the manipulation of heart
donors in Warlington. For that, you have my respect."


Shantelle immediately smiled at her, knowing where Emma was working.
She responded, "It's nice to meet you. I hear
many good things about The Lockwood Children's Hospital."
Emma smiled and replied, "It's because of the hospital's owner. He finds
ways to give charity to those who are struggling
financially. So, we often get featured on TV for the miracle we do for the
less fortunate. He is really kind and generous."
Shantelle beamed. She knew this well because Evan owned seventy
percent of the hospital. Wendell, Sean, and Keith
held the rest of the thirty percent. The Lockwood National Park and the
Children's Hospital was Evan's biggest charity
project.
In response to Emma, Shantelle remarked, "I bet he is."
"He is not only rich and generous, but he is very handsome!" Doctor Emma
said, fanning herself. 1
"Wow, I would love to meet him," Shantelle suggested, chuckling at her
own suggestion. Emma didn't seem to know her
as Evan's partner. Either she was too busy to find out about Evan, or she
may have seen the news about her but had
forgotten about it. Last, Shantelle considered that social media news feeds
only relevant information to one's profile. Thus,
the news about Evan and her may have been less important for those
outside Rose Hills, regardless if they were
employees of one of Evan's companies. Emma might not have seen it at
all.
"I believe he sponsored this event, so he might come - might!" Emma
shrugged. "Though, I heard he is married. So, we
better back off and just dream of him from afar. Haha!"
"Oh, that's too bad," Shantelle plainly said, her face burning at the thought
of Evan.
"Gosh, Shantelle. Stop, please. You may have succeeded in your career,
but you are unlucky in love. Aren't you divorced?
Your ex-husband got you pregnant and left you?" Out of nowhere, Doctor
Millet said. "Stop dreaming about quality men
because no one wants a leftover. Haha!"


"Millet, I can't believe you are still upset that I finished at the top of our
class or is this still about how I was awarded the
fellowship training, and you were left out?" Shantelle shut back.
"Oh, this is not about me at all. I'm just saving Doctor Emma from the
second-hand embarrassment of introducing you to
any fine specimen," Doctor Millet said.
Millet leaned closer to Emma and reported, "You see, Doctor Shant here
married too early. After her husband found out
she was pregnant, he left her. She never remarried. Rather, no one wanted
her."
Turning to Shantelle, Millet added, "Must be hard finding a good man when
you are a single mother."
After saying those words to Shantelle, Millet and Penelope laughed. The
other six doctors at their table glanced at
Shantelle with pity.
"Stop that. Divorce happens all the time. It doesn't make you a bad
person," Emma warned, shaking her head. Another
the doctor echoed the same.
"Of course, it only lessens your value," Penelope remarked, resulting in
another laugh from her and Millet.
"It's okay, Emma," Shantelle said. "Penelope and Millet don't know my full
story. It isn't as bad as they say. Don't worry
about it. I'm not affected
"Later, we should go out for a drink," Emma winked at Shantelle and
suggested. "I'll introduce you to our oncologist. He is
also super hot. He was previously divorced, so you can find him relatable
"Oh, no. No," Shantelle chuckled. She revealed, "I am getting married next
week. I don't need a man. In fact, I consider
I am already married. In my heart, I am. Besides, I am pregnant. I can't
drink."
"Oh, my god, Shantelle. Who did you fool?" Millet was ridiculed. "How did
he take it being an instant father? Wait, did you say
Are you pregnant? I bet the only reason he married you was because of the
baby. The poor man got trapped into marrying


you. Haha!"
"I'd sure like to meet your soon-to-be husband, Shantelle!" Millet added
before she and Penelope threw in another set of
giggles.
"Sure, maybe. I'll see to it that you will," Shantelle replied, rolling her eyes.
It wasn't like her to boast, but since she was
taunted, why not flaunt your man?

CHAPTER 105
Chapter 105: The Blue-Velvet Kashmir Sapphire
"Yes, Doctor Shant. Anything you'd like to share," one of the speakers
called, seeing Shantelle raise her hand.
On the second day of the conference, Shantelle remained to amaze the
doctors in her field. She was young, yet she
wisely answered many of her co-surgeon's concerns.
Standing up, she presented, "Choosing a candidate for robotic surgery is
critical. Aside from the patient's age and
condition, I would prefer open surgery if the patient underwent a prior
operation. The patient's scar or adhesions from
Previous surgery can make landmarks and structures more challenging to
determine major veins and arteries. It could
cause significant bleeding during the operation. Nevertheless, we should
have a vascular surgeon on standby in case it
occurs. Lastly, there is no shame in having a second consultant check the
operation."
She smiled and added, "We, as doctors, should help each other save
patients' lives, regardless of our specialty."
While Shantelle impressed other doctors with her logic, knowledge, and
experience, the envy from a few of her batch


mates inflated. It was because they had yet to achieve what Shantelle had.
She was the first in her batch to have landed
in a lead surgeon role. She was the chief surgeon in Warlington, and now,
the lead surgeon at Saint Dominique's Heart
and the Lung Center.
Shantelle evaded Doctor Millet and Doctor Penelope, including some of her
classmates from Warlington Medical School.
She managed to find a seat within Doctor Hale's circle. Still, it did not help
reduce the gossip that revolved around her.
In the evening, all the attendees had dinner at the main restaurant of the
Crown Piazza Hotel, where they all feasted on a
sumptuous buffet.
Shantelle found herself a seat together with Doctor Hale.
Unfortunately, Millet and Penelope and two female doctors from the same
class as Shantelle sat at the table next to them.
Doctor Emma and a few of her colleagues also joined Millet's table.
Emma greeted Shantelle, "Hello, Doctor Shant." Emma introduced another
doctor, saying, "This is Doctor Gina. She is my
assistant surgeon at the Lockwood Children's Hospital."
Shantelle smiled at Emma, including her colleague.
Gina briefly studied Shantelle, and her brows met. She said, "Doctor Shant,
you know... you look so familiar. Have I seen
you before?"
'Not personally,' Shantelle assumed Gina must have seen her in one of the
articles about Evan, but she did not state her
beliefs.
Shantelle merely replied, "Maybe from another conference? It's nice to
meet you, Doctor Gina."
Returning to her meal, Shantelle occasionally chatted with Doctor Hale's
plans to move to Rose Hills. As they were
talking, she heard Millet say from behind her, "Look at my engagement ring.
Jeffrey gave it to me last night! I heard it
costs over a hundred thousand dollars!"


"Oh, my god! It's so beautiful!" Penelope remarked. "He spoils you too
much!"
Doctor Emma said, "Wow, Doctor Jeffrey Stant, as in the known neurologist
in Warlington?"
"I'm jealous of you," Doctor Gina added.
"Yes," Millet answered. "We have been together since medical school." Out
of nowhere, she turned to Shantelle and
pointed out, "You remember Jeffrey, right, Shantelle?"
Shantelle had to turn sideways to accommodate Millet's probing. She did
not know why Millet raised it, but she politely
replied, "Yes, of course. I had met him a few times in Warlington when he
had patients admitted."
Millet smiled at Shantelle, revealing, "Well. He came to see me last night
and proposed at the hotel’s rooftop. Jeffrey will
come again tomorrow and take me home."
A laugh left Millet's lips, and she remembered, "Jeffrey used to like you
during our first year in medical school, Shantelle. Do
you remember? But when he found out you were pregnant, he backed out!
Haha!’
"Months after learning of your pregnancy, he found his way to me. Of
course, my fiance Jeffrey I was the better choice,"
Millet claimed, flaunting her engagement ring. She smiled at Shantelle,
saying, "I'll invite you to our wedding. I don't have
a date yet, but please do come. And don't forget to bring your husband."
Millet giggled at the end, secretly mocking Shantelle.
Next to Shantelle, Doctor Hale was frowning at Millet. He wanted to
interfere, but Shantelle gave him a hand gesture,
cautioning him from intruding. Shantelle only widened her eyes and said,
"I'm happy for you, Millet. I suppose I owe you
the same gesture. You should also come to my wedding. It's happening
next week at Rose Hills."
Shantelle never wanted Jeffrey's attention in the first place. She had shared
a few classes with him during the first year of


medical school. She did not care about him, yet Millet made it sound like he
was important to her.
While everyone was praising Millet for her engagement, one of the
speakers at the conference suddenly walked in with
her husband. They were older couples, both doctors from Europe. The
lady's name was Doctor Winona. They both looked
elegant and had expensive jewelry and accessories clinging to their bodies.
"What's going on here? There seems to be a happy gathering?" Doctor
Winona said with a beaming smile. She later
learned that Millet had just announced her engagement, seeing how Millet
flashed her engagement ring.
Doctor Winona said, "Wow, I know this ring. I happen to be a jewelry
expert. Haha. No, more like a jewelry addict."
The older doctor eagerly examined Millet's ring, saying, "Oh, this is Tiffany
and Company engagement ring. The ring is
roughly around a hundred twenty thousand dollars." Winona smirked and
added, "Doctor Millet, you got yourself a rich
man."
The ladies squeaked in delight for Millet. Many of them remarked how lucky
she was.
Emma said, "Wow, a famous doctor who is rich for a fiance. Nice catch,
Doctor Millet."
Millet giggled. She rolled her eyes and turned to Shantelle, saying, "Too
bad, I can't say the same for Shantelle."
"How did I get involved in this discussion, Millet? Why do you always have
to compare me to you?" Maybe it was her
hormones, but Shantelle's usual calm self could not help but question her
batchmate. She stood up and raised her voice,
her hands up in the air, saying, "I am truly happy for you. Why are you
trying to make it look like I am jealous of you when I
am not -"
"Oh, my god!" Suddenly, Doctor Winona screamed, her eyes rounding
while looking at Shantelle's finger. She pointed at
Shantelle, saying, "Is that - is that -"


Doctor Winona turned to her husband and declared, "Sweetheart, I finally
found The Blue-Velvet Kashmir Sapphire! It's on
Doctor Shant's finger!"
Panic flashed through Shantelle's face. She looked at her engagement ring
with complete bewilderment. Her engagement
ring had a name? She stuttered, "The Blue-Velvet Kashmir Sapphire?"
Doctor Winona grabbed Shantelle's hand. After studying the ring closely,
she cried, "It really is The Blue-Velvet Kashmir
Sapphire!" Tears welled in her eyes as the older doctor glanced at
Shantelle, begging, "Doctor Shant, can I buy your ring,
please? I've always wanted this ring!"
"Oh, but this is my engagement ring. I'm afraid that I can't sell it," Shantelle
said. She smiled reluctantly and suggested,
"I'm sure there are other rings you can buy, Doctor Winona."
From Millet, all the attention was suddenly on Shantelle because of her
engagement ring. Yet, Shantelle had no idea why?
Wasn't her sapphire ring an ordinary one?
Shantelle grumbled inside. Recalling her wedding gown, what were the
chances that her engagement ring cost more than
a million too?
Doctor Winona gave Shantelle puppy eyes. She described, "Oh, Doctor
Shant. I wish it were that easy. The Kashmir
sapphire is the most famous type of sapphire in the world. Newly
discovered ones are extremely rare as the existing
material was discovered well over 100 years ago."
"What you have around your finger is one of the gems that were mined
over a hundred years ago. It's VERY RARE!"
Doctor Winona gasped and said, "And I want it! Name your price. Six
million dollars?"
What?" Shantelle's mouth was on the floor.
"Seven million dollars?" Doctor Winona continued. "Eight? Nine? Ten?"
Shantelle nearly fainted at the offer. Who would have known she was
carrying a ring that could build a mansion?
Meanwhile, the female doctors from the other table became curious and
looked closer at Shantelle's ring, their eyes


rounding, hearing the history of Shantelle's ring. Moreover, they were
shocked at the ring's potential cost!
Millet, on the other hand, was especially brewing hate inside. How could
Shantelle still defeat her over an engagement
ring? Suddenly, her engagement ring appeared to have little value.
***
Heartbeats later, Doctor Winona's begging had been alleviated. Shantelle
promised her to get the right connections in
in order to secure another Kashmir sapphire jewelry. She said, "My
husband will be here tomorrow. You can talk to him
about how he got such a piece. I'm sure he will be more than happy to
share his methods. I'm sorry, I can't sell you this
ring. It's from my husband, and I will forever cherish it."
Sitting next to Shantelle, Doctor Winona sighed. She sadly replied, "I hope
he will help me. I'm curious who is your
husband, dear? How was he able to get this ring?"
"I have no idea myself. He is a veteran in the field of business, and he has
a lot of connections. He most likely got the ring
through his contacts. As to my husband's identity, you will meet him
tomorrow. I promise. He will fetch me after the
conference, and you will have time to ask him about it." She smiled and
quoted with her fingers, "Kashmir sapphire."
"Veteran, huh," Millet remarked. "Your fiance must be old."
"That makes sense. When you have a pretty face, you can get an old rich
man to buy you anything," Penelope supplied.
"You married an older man?" Emma asked.
Shantelle frowned and replied, "He is a little older than me, but not that old.

CHAPTER 106


On day three of the congress, Shantelle did not have any luck. Because
she and Evan spoke late in the evening, debating
about her apparently expensive engagement ring, she woke up late. She
regretfully joined the table of Doctor Millet,
Doctor Penelope, Doctor Emma, and Doctor Gina.
There were new faces at their table, but mostly, her old classmates, which
she did not like. However, she figured she
would have to bear it since it was the last day.
The organizers gathered suggestions for the following year's conference
during the first three hours. They had lunch in the
same hall, and in the afternoon, they proceeded with the awarding.
From her seat, Shantelle was looking at her phone, waiting for a reply from
Evan. The man promised he would be at the
hotel before one in the afternoon. It was already one PM, and there were
no signs of Evan.
"Good afternoon, doctors. Before we proceed with the awarding, I would
like to call on one of our sponsors for this event.
He will be joining us on stage to distribute the certificate and medallion
awards," the host of the gathering announced.
"He is one of the known philanthropists of Lockwood City, who is said to
have saved many lives of young children. He has
given jobs to many workers by maintaining the Lockwood National Park.
Aside from his businesses here in Lockwood, our
sponsor is also the CEO of the Thompson Group of Companies, one of the
rising corporations in the country today," the
the host resumed.
"His companies include a shipping line business, a financial institution, a
healthcare provider, and a real estate
enterprise." With a smile, the host finally introduced, "Please help me
welcome Mister Evan Thompson."
Ultimately, Shantelle understood why her man was not by her side. Evan
did not explain how he was going to have a
grand entrance.


The doors to the conference center opened, and Evan walked in with two
bodyguards to deflect any woman, breaking his
number one rule.
Immediately, all the ladies' mouths fell open upon seeing him.
Evan wasn't only good-looking but also had that mysterious yet dangerous
vibe. He had dark brown eyes, that intense
look, and that poker face he often put on whenever he was in a room full of
women. Notably, Evan had that perfectly
maintained a beard that outlined his chiseled jaws. Aside from that, Evan
was tall, well-built, and had broad shoulders. He
walked confidently in each step, his chin up, establishing his dominance.
"Wow, that's Evan Thompson!" Penelope first remarked. ’Phew!" She
turned to Emma, saying, ’’You are lucky to have a
hot boss."
Emma chuckled, "I know, right? But he is married."
"He is married," Gina acknowledged before turning to Shantelle, her brow
lifting at her, thinking.
"Who is he married to? What a lucky woman!" Millet bitterly remarked, her
brows meeting altogether. As Millet turned to
her colleagues, she caught Shantelle staring at Evan in a dreamlike state.
Millet quickly mouthed to her co-doctors at the table, 'Look at Shantelle!'
Meanwhile, Shantelle smiled at Evan's arrival. Miguel met her gaze, and he
waved at Shantelle. Shantelle smiled and
waved back.
"Oh, look, Shantelle. The bodyguard has the hots for you. You should date
him too!" Millet remarked, encouraging
laughter from her side of the table.
"Stop that!” Emma scolded Millet. "Doctor Shant said she is already getting
married."
While Millet and her crew continued bullying Shantelle, she focused on
Evan. At the end of the day, she would have the
last laugh anyway.
She smiled at how Evan made it to the stage while Andy and Miguel tried to
hold back a female doctor who wanted to get


a picture of him.
"He doesn't let any woman come close to him," Emma reported. "I heard he
is only dedicated to his wife."
There are two sides to the story. I also heard Mister Thompson was
divorced, but he regretted the divorce," Gina said.
It took a little while for Evan to find Shantelle. She smiled at him, and he
smiled back.
"Oh, my god. Did he smile at me?" Emma said, her eyes rounded in
shock." Oh, my god. Oh, my god. He remembers
me."
"I think so," Penelope encouraged.
Gina followed Evan's gaze and could swear he was looking at Shantelle.
She was bemused. She replied to Emma, "I
don't think so, Emma."
Soon Even made it up to the stage. He took the stand and welcomed
everybody, saying, "Good afternoon, doctors. It is
my honor to be with you today and present the prestigious Thoracic
Surgeon Association awards."
For the first time, he granted a smile to everyone, but it was a mere
professional smile. He resumed, "I have added
incentives to the awards, hoping it would inspire you to do better in your
field - saving lives and helping patients in need of
medical care. May you continue to do great so that some of you may be
absorbed into my healthcare businesses soon,
where you will be rewarded for your hard work and loyalty."
After Evan's welcome, the awarding formally began. One by one, the host
called for the doctor awardees.
"For her Scientific Achievement, may we call on Doctor Winona."
"For his service to humanity with dedication and selflessness, the
Outstanding Community Service Award goes to Doctor
Paul Lee."
A few more names were called until Doctor Hale and Shantelle were
ordered to the stage. The host said, "The
Whistleblower Courageous award is given to the doctors for courageously
saying no to evil. The award goes to Doctor


Hale and Doctor Shant."
"Lastly, this year's young excellence award also goes to Doctor Shant for
performing over a hundred successful thoracic
surgeries," the host announced.
Applause and hoots could be heard as Shantelle, and Doctor Hale got up
on stage. From Shantelle's table, Millet and
Penelope rolled their eyes.
In the distribution of the awards, Evan would pass on a check to the host,
and the current thoracic surgeon association
the president would give the prize itself. The doctors did not get close to
Evan, not even an inch.
When the association president gave the golden medallion to Shantelle, he
suggested, "Doctor Shant, two special awards
for you and a gift check from Mister Thompson. What do you have to say
for yourself?"
Shantelle smiled. Her eyes were fixed on her batchmates. She turned to
the president and said, "I simply did the best that
I could to help patients being a doctor, and that includes being a
responsible citizen to promote fairness in the organ donor
list."
Then, she glanced at Evan, expressing, "Thank you, Mister Thompson, for
the prize money, but I'm afraid I will decline to
receive the money. I don't want it."
She bit her lip and then suggested, "I would like another special prize
instead."
Puzzled, the association president asked, "What price did you have in
mind?"
Shantelle looked at her table. She made sure the ladies who taunted her
were looking at the stage. Then, she declared, "I
want... a kiss from Mister Thompson."
The doctors within the conference center gasped in shock. Did Doctor
Shant lose her mind?
From her table, Emma muttered, "She's dead. She is going to lose her job
and her career altogether. Mister Thompson


will never have that."
Millet, on the other hand, suggested, "Shantelle has gone delusional!
Haha!"
Penelope was laughing at Shantelle and her other batchmates from
Watlington Medical School.
Back on the stage, the president of the Thoracic Surgeons Association was
trembling in fear. Beads of sweat formed on
his forehead. He wondered why Doctor Shant was causing him trouble at
the end of the conference. He said, "I'm afraid
that's not possible -"
"Excuse me." Suddenly, they heard Evan's audible voice. Everyone’s gaze
fell on the man as he walked over to Shantelle.
He cleared his throat and asked, "Doctor Shant, for your valiant acts, is my
kiss far worthy as a reward than the money in
your hand?"
Shantelle peered down at the two checks in her hand. They were both fifty
thousand dollars each. She returned her
regard Evan and tore the checks, saying, "I would rather have a kiss, Mister
Thompson. May I?"

CHAPTER 107
From their original plan, Evan and Shantelle would meet outside the
conference hall, and he would sit in with her during
the awarding. The request for him to help present the prizes came at the
last minute.
When Evan arrived, he did not know how his wife would introduce him. He
could confidently claim Shantelle within his
companies and back in Rose Hills, but the conference of doctors was
Shantelle's territory. Thus, when he walked in, he
played it by ear.


The moment Shantelle asked for a kiss, the man was elated. He was so
over the moon that he did not notice how the
Doctors around them questioned Shantelle's actions.
Evan's eyes were fixed on Shantelle. He acted high and mighty, but inside;
his heart was beating fast. To him, it meant
One thing, Shantelle wanted their relationship to be known to her fellow
doctors. Thus, Evan concluded that his Wifey was
proud of him!
"I'm waiting, Mister Thompson," Shantelle said.
Finally, a bright smile formed on Evan's face, and his eyes glistened. He
was about to grant Shantelle her prize when the
the association's president said, "But, Mister Thompson does not let any
woman get close to him."
"Nonsense," Evan interrupted. He looked around and then briefly met the
president's gaze. He announced, "My wife can
ask anything she wants, including a kiss from me."
Without further delay, Evan cupped Shantelle's chin and kissed her lips.
Loud gasps could be heard throughout the venue. Jaws were dropping,
and eyes were bulging. They could not help but
be in awe at the sight before them. Evan was kissing Shantelle
passionately. His eyes were closed as he held her face up
to him, and it was the same for Doctor Shant.
Silence engulfed the entire conference hall. Everyone's heads had one
question. 'What did Mister Thompson say?'
The president of the Thoracic Surgeons Association remained shocked by
the revelation. He muttered, "Wife?"
From the rows of tables, murmurs eventually arose.
"Did he call Doctor Shant his wife?"
"Did I hear it right?"
"They would not kiss that way if they did not know each other."
"And here I am, thinking Doctor Shant had gone mad."
"Oh, my god! Go, Doctor Shant!"
From the far end of the conference hall, back at the same table where
Shantelle sat, Millet's mouth was wide open. She


didn't bother covering her mouth because she simply could not move from
the shock.
"Maybe - maybe we heard it wrong," Penelope stuttered as she
suggested." It couldn't be."
Emma was the same. Her mouth remained glued to the floor, utterly
stunned. She repeated the word in her head, 'Wife.'
She felt ashamed altogether, thinking about introducing Shantelle to her
co-doctors when she was the boss' wife!
Gina, on the other hand, said, "That's it! That was when I saw Doctor
Shant's face. How could I have forgotten? The
Hospital once featured an article about Mister Thompson and his family."
"An article was featured?" Emma finally spoke, glaring at his assistant
surgeon, Gina. "Why didn't you tell me!"
"We were having surgery at that time. You were already in the operating
room, and I was rushing to join you when I saw
the main lobby TV screen flashed the photos," Gina recounted. "It
happened so fast, I forgot about it!”
Hearing Doctor Gina, Millet frowned. All the signs came rushing back, like
how Evan's bodyguard waved at Shantelle, her
freaking expensive engagement ring, and the fact that Evan smiled their
way, but they assumed it was for Emma.
Millet then glowered at Gina before returning to frown at Shantelle on
stage. She commented, "Shantelle must have lied to
him. It has to be that. Why would such an eligible man end up with a
single-mother divorcee? It doesn’t make sense to
me!"
Following Millet's words, a few of Shantelle's batchmates echoed the same.
Penelope, for one, suggested, "So, he is the
man Shantelle is getting married to? And he is the father of the baby she
carries? So he is adopting a child that is not
his?"
"I bet Mister Thompson doesn't know Shantelle's full history," Millet
proposed.


Back at the stage, Evan and Shantelle ultimately pulled away. Shantelle
was blushing like a red tomato while the man was
grinning with delight. When Evan roamed the entire conference hall, he
saw the puzzled expression on everyone's face.
Some showed a hint of disapproval.
Realizing this, he asked the host to give him the microphone. He explained,
"No, Doctor Shant did not randomly ask for a
kiss. It's like what I said earlier; she is my wife."
"We are sorry for the show, but it seems my wife misses me so much that
she asked for a kiss. And that's fine because I
miss her madly too," Evan reasoned. He turned to Shantelle and was
reminded of the two medallions around her neck. He
said, "I am proud of my wife's achievements and honesty. Since Shanty
was young, she had always wanted to be a doctor
- to follow in her father's footsteps. Seeing her live her dreams now and
achieving so much at this early stage of her
career makes me equally gratified."
"So, thank you for recognizing my wife's potential, and may you continue to
support her as she climbs up to the ranks in
the medical field," Evan closed. After his complete revelation, doctors
began to give Shantelle applause.
Doctor Hale, for one, started with a loud clap. "Bravo, Doctor Shant!"
"Congratulations again. Doctor Shant," Doctor Winona said, clapping her
hands.
After Evan's disclosure, Shantelle pecked her man's cheek. Evan stepped
back, and Shantelle took over the stand.
Addressing everyone, she said," Thank you again, fellow doctors. Since I
am already on stage, I would like to take this
opportunity to promote our heart and lung center in Rose Hills."
"Saint Dominique's Heart and Lung Center still needs qualified doctors to
work with us. We need pulmonologists,
gastroenterologists, general surgeons, trauma surgeons, and more. Please
spread the word because, in the next few
years, we aim to be the leading facility for thoracic surgical care and want
the best people on board with us," Shantelle


claimed. She smiled at everyone, saying, "Thank you again, and may you
enjoy the rest of your afternoon."
The association's president followed in taking the stand. He briefly closed
the awarding and the congress in general.
Photos were taken of the awardees on stage. Shantelle and Evan had their
picture together, along with Doctor Hale.
Finally, it was time to return to Shantelle's table. She walked along with
Evan's hand at the small of her back. When she
made it in front of her batchmates, Shantelle introduced, "Evan, these are
some of my fellow- thoracic surgeons, Doctor
Millet."
Turning to Evan, she revealed, "She invited us to her wedding. So I invited
her back."
"Next to her is Doctor Penelope, then Doctor Yna, Doctor Jade," Shantelle
named the doctors individually. "You probably
I know Doctor Emma Brown. She works for the Lockwood Children's
Hospital
"No, sorry. I probably forgot," Evan admitted, and it made Emma shrink to
her seat.
"Oh." Shantelle grimaced. She said, "Please excuse my husband, Doctor
Emma. He meets a lot of people daily due to his
business."
"It's - it's completely understandable," Emma quickly answered.
"Then, this is Doctor Gina. She is Emma's assistant surgeon," Shantelle
said before introducing the rest of the doctors
seated at their table.
"To everyone, ladies, this is my husband, my love, and the father of my
kids. ” Shantelle placed a hand on her belly before
resuming, "Evan Thompson."
There was only silence. Most doctors before them had faces as white as a
ghost, and their mouths helplessly fell on the
floor. Behind Shantelle's head, she smirked at her triumphant win. Her man
was not only dashing but also a noble person,
known for his contributions to society.


The best part was how everyone from this table, maybe even all the
women in the room, wanted Evan, but the man was
hers and hers alone.
"It's good to meet some of Shanty's co-surgeons," Evan politely said. He
felt there was something off. The tension around
they were relatively thick, but soon, he found out why.
When Shantelle was done talking, Millet questioned, trying to say it in a
friendly tone, "Mister Thompson, how nice of you
to marry Shantelle when she is a single mother who had a child from a
previous marriage. I mean, you know that she has
an illegitimate child, right? Most single men would think twice about being
with a divorcee, much more sharing a child's
attention with his real father."
Calmly, Millet indicated, "You must pity Shantelle to offer her marriage and
convenience. You are so kind, Mister
Thompson."
Shantelle pursed her lips. She was trying to make Millet realize there was
no point competing with her, but it seemed like
her former classmate wanted to be punished in Evan's hands.
"WHAT - DID - YOU - SAY?" Evan asked, his tone deafening and stern.

CHAPTER 108
should know about Shantelle's history."
Millet nodded, explaining to Evan, "Shantelle and I, we go to the same
medical school back in Warlington. At first, she
claimed she was single. Then, she ended up getting pregnant!" Millet
described. "Later on, she revealed that she was
previously married."
"How dare you question my wife and my son?" Evan barked. His hand
turned into a fist, and his eyes thinned in irritation.


"Shantelle was married, it's true. I know this because she was married to
me!"
Following Evan's words, the ladies at that table were shocked. They all
realized how deep the history was between
Shantelle and Evan.
"Yes, we were divorced, but it was my mistake. I made a big mistake during
our marriage that Shantelle left Rose Hills,
and regardless if our son, Lucas, was born outside our marriage, he is still
mine, and he carries my last name!" Evan
yelled. "You don't know a thing about our past. What makes you think you
have the right to judge my wife and my son?!"
' And what does it matter if Shantelle was previously married? Even if it was
not me? She is still beautiful, smart, and kind.
How our marriage failed the first time was not her fault," Evan indicated.
"How long have you been belittling my wife?
Since Medical School? You should get disciplined for your lack of morals!"
Millet's mouth fell open. Blood easily drained out of her face,
acknowledging Evan's fury. However, before she could
respond, Evan asked, "From which hospital are you working for? Let's see
if you still have that confidence after I speak to
your medical director. Don't doctors have a code of conduct? Or do the
ethics involved apply only to your patients?"
Penelope smacked her mouth with her hand. She recounted in her head,'
What? Mister Thompson is Shantelle's ex husband? And they are
remarrying?'
It was the same with Millet. She wanted to make Even see through
Shantelle's lesser value because she had been
married before, but as it turned out, he was the ex-husband all along!
Evan began calling out to the association officers, alarming Shantelle's
batchmates. Penelope was the first to bow her
head, saying, "We are sorry, Mister Thompson. We are sorry."
Millet did not express her apology. Her mouth remained parted, yet no
words left her lips. Penelope, along with her other
batchmates had to drag Millet out of the venue to escape Evan's wrath.


When the Thoracic Surgeons Association officers approached Evan, he
relayed what transpired during his exchange with
Shantelle's batchmates. His face was red as he furiously demanded the
doctors be questioned due to poor manners.
However, it was Shantelle who eased Evan. She said," Evan, stop."
"Words don't hurt me. At least now, we have proven a point." Shantelle
pulled Evan to face her. She cupped his face,
saying, "Millet was always using my pregnancy during medical school to
reduce my value, but now that she knows
everything, she can no longer use it to taunt me."
"Besides, I bet after learning about you, she will be scared to death to ever
look down on me again," Shantelle pointed
out. "So, let's not waste our breath on her."
"I just wanted to show her and most of my batchmates who you are and
what you are to me," she added. "Can we let this
go?"
"No," Evan said. "Not without warning, at least." He turned to the
association president and still asked for the details of
Doctor Millet and Doctor Penelope.
After getting the needed information, Evan shifted to Shantelle and said, "I
will ask Attorney Scarlett to demand an
apology letter, along with a contract that requires their commitment to no
longer insult you."
"But Shanty, if I hear them humiliating you again, I swear I won't let them
off!" Evan promised, and Shantelle agreed.
"Yes, Mister powerful." She acknowledged. Seeing that the officers had
disappeared back to their own tables, Shantelle
wrapped her arms around Evan's and said, "Stop being so upset. You don't
look as handsome when you frown."
It was magic, hearing her compliment him. Shantelle's voice and words
instantly calmed Evan's anger. From where they
stood, he held her waist and asked with a smile, "Does my Wifey really
think I am that handsome? Am I more handsome
than Keith?"


Shantelle snorted as she laughed. She replied, "You and Keith are both
handsome men. Your physical attributes are
unique in themselves.’
A frown had already formed on Evan's face. He wanted to be above Keith,
regardless of how they had settled their
differences. Soon, however, Shantelle added, But for me, you are the most
handsome man in the world. More handsome
than Henry Cavill." 2
Evan could not help but laugh. He leaned over and pecked on Shantelle's
lips, saying, "Thank you, Wifey. I love you."
Shantelle bit her lip. She narrowed her eyes at him and replied, ”1 won't
say it back because I don't want to get banged in
the bathroom
"Now, why would I bang you in the bathroom when you have a hotel room
five floors up," Evan suggested with a smirk.
"Say it."
Opening her mouth, she was this close to letting the words out when Emma
called Shantelle's name. "Doctor Shant?"
Shantelle had to excuse herself from Evan, and it was back at the round
table where Emma spoke to her. She said, "I'm
So sorry, Doctor Shant. I even suggested that you date one of our doctors."
With a hand on her chest, she added, "I feel so ashamed. I repeatedly
expressed my admiration for Mister Thompson,
and earlier, when you asked for a kiss from the boss, I honestly thought
your career would end -"
"It's okay. I'm sorry too. I should have introduced myself as Evan's partner,
but I did not." Shantelle shrugged and added,
"Partly because of Millet. I thought it was also better if Evan were here."
"Look, Emma." Shantelle reached for Emma's hand. She said, ’As long as
you know where you stand and do not act on
that attraction, I don't have a problem with you. You probably did not mean
to say those words about me, so let's forget
about it. When I have time, I will visit the Lockwood Children's Hospital with
Evan, and I'll see you then."
***


Little did Shantelle know, Evan had scheduled a visit at the Lockwood
Children's Hospital that afternoon. The man figured
it would only be an hour's tour, and they could still make it to the airport
before nightfall, just in time to take the private
flight back to Rose Hills.
Shantelle was introduced to the medical staff at the hospital. She met the
finest pediatricians in town, including surgeon
residents. Evan called her his wife each time, asking the medical team to
address Shantelle as "The Misses" or Misses
Thompson.
The most memorable experience on that tour was when Shantelle met
some of the patients. Many of the kids knew Evan,
and he knew them back.
When they walked into the corridors of the patients' room, children were
coming out, calling out to Evan. Many of them
were long-term patients who needed special treatment, like chemotherapy
and whatnot.
"Mister Thompson! Mister Thompson, are you here to give us another
teddy?" Said a young girl holding a white stuffed
toy.
Mister Thompson, look! I'm growing my hair!" Another boy came out,
pointing to his head. Clearly, he had undergone
chemotherapy.
"Good afternoon, Mister Thompson. Who is the pretty lady with you?"
Another young boy asked.
Evan put an arm around Shantelle and said to the nearby kids. "Guys, this
is my wife. You can call her Misses Thompson.
She came here to meet all of you! Give you all the gifts!"
Out of nowhere, nurses walked into the hallway, distributing boxes of toys
for all the children. The glee in their faces
immediately brought tears to Shantelle's eyes.
The children immediately ran to Shantelle, giving her a hug or a kiss.
"Thank you, Misses Thompson, you are as kind as Mister Thompson."
"I love my gift, Misses Thompson!"


"I'm so happy! Thank you, Misses Thompson!"
"I love it here! I always get gifts from Mister Thompson and now, Misses
Thompson!"
From the children's respective rooms, Shantelle saw parents crying about
how the children were so happy. One by one,
they all smiled at Shantelle and Evan, expressing their thanks in tears,
words, or a kiss blown into the air.
The entire scene made Shantelle's heart heavy, not because of sadness,
but with contentment.
After touring the hospital, Evan brought Shantelle to a private lounge that
opened up to the Lockwood National Park. It
It was from the lounge balcony that Shantelle let all her tears out. She
turned to Evan and said, "Evan, you did such an
amazing job here, but tell me, honestly, is the hospital earning?
I heard so many charity cases -"
"Without the donations, it only breaks even, but that's the beauty of
hospitals. There will always be people who want to
help, especially children. So I have a team who finds donations specifically
for charity cases. It's a lot of work, I admit, but
I can't say no to these children," Evan said.
Shantelle embraced Evan from the side. She kissed his cheek repeatedly
as he returned the embrace. She said, "I'm so
proud of you, Evan, and for the good things that you do, I love you even
more."
Evan smiled. He hugged her tightly and kissed her back. He said, "Thank
you, Shanty. I love you too - with everything in
me. From this moment on, I want you to be part of this."
With a nod, Shantelle said, "I will. God, I love you so much."
There was a moment of silence before Evan said, "What do I do, Shanty?
You just said I love you. I'm hard -"
With a laugh, Shantelle argued, "We can't have sex here. Are you out of
your mind -"
"I have a private office, two floors up." There was a hint of lust in his voice
when he pointed out, "I haven't been inside you


for three full days. I need you, my Shanty, my Wifey."
Shantelle leaned back and played with his tie. She looked at him and
answered, "I'd like to see your private office, please.
I hope it's soundproof.

CHAPTER 109
Shantelle felt guilty as she made it in the direction of Evan's office. She
repeatedly took deep breaths, trying to compose
herself. It was because her core tingled with excitement, especially with the
thought of Evan licking her clit.
When people glanced their way, she faked an elegant smile, but in truth,
she wanted to rush into the office and slam the
door shut. She wanted to spread her legs and let her man eat her
thoroughly.
Making it to the lift, Evan said, "Almost there, Wifey."
He kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear, "I'm so hard; I can't wait to
be inside of you."
When the elevator doors dinged to a stop, Evan and Shantelle hastily
walked in the office's direction. There were very few
cubicles around and two other offices. From the door signages, she saw
how they were administrative offices.
At the far end was obviously Evan's office. It was the most secluded, and it
faced the Lockwood National Park. When the
a couple entered Evan's private office, Evan locked the door outright. He
checked and rechecked to make sure it was safely


closed.
When Evan turned to Shantelle, she had kicked off her shoes and was
slowly getting out of her clothes. Left with only a
sexy thong to cover her bottom, she seductively sat at his desk and
crossed her legs like a sizzling vixen.
"Fucking hot," Evan remarked. The entire time, as Shantelle stripped
naked, he massaged his rod, feeling its hardness. A
hiss left Evan's lips before asking, "Did you learn that from Cosmopolitan,
Wifey?"
Shantelle laughed. She bit her lip and called Evan with her fingers. She
answered, "Sort of."
"Evan, come here. I want you," she suggested. "I want all of you." 1
After taking off his jacket and shirt, Evan walked towards her and held her
thighs. He forced her legs apart and settled in
between, his hand crawling up to feel the softness of her skin. When he
found her breasts, he cupped them and kneaded
them impatiently. His actions quickly left Shantelle moaning.
Evan kissed her lips and then revealed, "I miss this."
They kissed and kissed until they were making out passionately. Their
mouths were wide open, eating each other's faces
while their hands recklessly roamed each other’s bodies.
"Mmmm." Another erotic sigh left Shantelle’s lips when Evan's fingers
reached her entrance.
Evan dipped two of his fingers lightly into her rose. He felt her wetness and
pulled up his fingers into his mouth. Evan
tasted her flavor. His eyes shut as he declared, "Sweet. I miss this."
"That's so hot," Shantelle remarked. The way Even made her feel like her
love juice was the best thing in the world added
to her desire. She spread her legs wider, and Evan dove in.
Instead of lying on her back, Shantelle stayed sitting up on her man's desk.
She excitedly watched as Evan slid her thong
to the side and licked her bottom folds. She repeated, expressing, "That's
so hot, Evan."


Her stare was resolved on how Evan's eyes were filled with lust, how his
mouth hungrily sucked on her entire peach, and
how he frequently flickered his tongue against her clit.
"Tell me you love it," Evan urged. "Tell me you want me."
"I love it," Shantelle admitted. "I want you - Aaaah!"
Her face burned as Evan thrust his tongue inside her. With how he pleased
her, she could not help but cry out her
pleasure, "Aaahh! Evan!"
Drowned in a sea of pleasure, she repeatedly called Evan's name. She
certainly hoped the office was genuinely
soundproof, for she did not hold back her screams.
Soon Shantelle’s body jerked. Tingles ran all over her body, and her hips
helplessly twitched. She gasped at the feeling of
having orgasmed and closed her eyes to appreciate the moment.
Before opening her eyes, Evan captured her lips. They indulged in sloppy
kisses, moistening their jaws while Shantelle’s
hand reached for his pants. She impatiently unbuckled his belt and found
his stiff rod.
She palmed him before sliding down the floor with Evan's help. Down on
her knees, she drank Evan's manhood. Like she
had been doing recently, she complimented his size, "Evan, you are so big,
so soft, yet so hard. I want you inside of me."
Shantelle allowed the tip of his shaft to poke her cheek from the inside. The
sight of it stirred Evan, especially how his
a mushroom tip formed a shape on her cheek. "Fuck, I love it. I love my
wife, and I love how you eat me, Wifey."
Evan gathered her hair into his palm and watched Shantelle as she bobbed
in between his thighs, his hips moving along
to her motion. Next, Shantelle sucked him well. She did it so fervently that
her cheeks hallowed. Evan groaned in delight,
"Oh, fuck, yeah."
Before he knew it, his skin formed happy bumps, and he erupted into
Shantelle’s mouth. Evan watched in delight as he
pulled out his manhood, his stick glowing in her fluid and Shantelle
swallowing all his cum.


Evan only took a minute to collect himself from having climaxed. When he
glanced back up at Shantelle, she was sitting
back at the table, waiting for him. Her thong was already off.
A smirk formed on his face. He guided Shantelle to lie on her back and
then traced kisses from her chest down her
stomach. He lingered there for a bit, caressing and pecking the small bump
that formed on her belly. He said, "Maybe, we
can add another baby -"
Shantelle laughed. She replied, "Oh, my god. You have no idea how hard it
is to carry two babies, all the more three. Two
is enough, Evan. Besides, I'm already pregnant."
"I'm just saying," Evan said before aligning his length in front of her rose.
He hissed again, appreciating the softness of her
bottom folds. As
Shantelle settled her feet up, he saw her entrance perfectly. ‘So beautiful." i
He slid his manhood in. He was still hard as a rock despite having come
into Shantelle’s mouth.
Evan relished the view, how her pink folds hugged his member, and he
purposely took it out to see how his length
glistened in her love juice." Damn, I love it. You are so wet."
When he gazed up at Shantelle, he saw her flush. He described, "It's so
beautiful to see how you take me in, Wifey Ahhhh. Fuck, yeah. You feel so good."
Evan pushed all the way in. It merited a moan from both of them, but
especially from Evan. He felt her insides sucking him
in. It was warm and wet, tickling every inch of his skin. He was so aroused
that he swore his manhood pulsated inside of
her.
He began to move back and forth, his entire length glowing. He said,
"You're screaming around me, Wifey."
Evan did not know for how long he watched as they became one, but he
loved it. It was so addicting, he could not look
away. Soon, however, that familiar feeling of nearly cumming encouraged
him to pick up the pace.


He held Shantelle’s waist and began to pump faster, his hips loudly
slapping against her flesh.
"Evan! I'm cumming!" Shantelle announced as her frame bounced along
with Evan's movement.
"Together," Evan encouraged, maintaining his pumping.
"Shanty, I love you! Ahhh!" Evan slammed his hips into Shantelle, and he
came again, erupting inside her.
"Evan!" Shantelle screamed her desires as she chased her high. It did not
take long for her to follow after Evan, her body
mildly convulsing that she clamped her legs around Evan's waist.
The two enjoyed a sensual kiss as their frames glowed in sweat. They let
their flavors exchange for an undetermined time
until Evan eventually pulled out.
It appeared to Shantelle that her hubby was in pain when he slowly
removed his manhood inside of her. She watched him
repeatedly take heavy breaths. He asked, "Shanty, since we missed three
days, does the once-a-day rule get... carried
over?"
Shantelle laughed thoroughly. She was at it so hard her stomach hurt. She
replied, "No, Evan. It does not work that way,
but I can." She winked at him and pushed her tongue against the inside of
her cheek. "Later."

CHAPTER 110
Chapter 110: Evan's Riddles


5AM. Rose Hills.
At dawn, the heart and lung center called Shantelle for an emergency
surgery. A stabbed-wound patient was admitted to
Saint Dominique’s Heart and Lung Center, and the surgeon in charge
needed a second consultant.
Shantelle arrived at the emergency room and found a young man groaning
in pain.
"Doctor Shant, the patient has multiple stabbed wounds, and he is losing a
lot of blood," the trauma surgeon reported as
Shantelle arrived. "We have already inserted a tube into the side of his
stomach. Blood is draining out of him-a lot."
The trauma surgeon required Shantelle's help since he suspected the
patient's lung was also injured. He said, "Now, he is
complaining about difficulty breathing while feeling pain in his abdomen."
The trauma surgeon and Shantelle helped study the wounds. Minutes later,
Shantelle found the rightful stab wound.
Pointing to the upper chest, she said, "Here. There is definitely air coming
out of his chest. His lungs might have been
lacerated too. Let's have draining here and get some blood out of his chest
walls."
After the entire trauma team stabilized the patient, they sent him through a
CT scan. Shantelle was in the operating room
with the trauma surgeon in the following hours, exploring the patient's
internal organs and repairing them whenever they
found lacerations.
***
Shantelle arrived at the villa past eight in the evening. It was the most
exhausting operation, to think; she worked with
another surgeon. However, that was always the case with trauma patients.
The CT scan only captured a fraction of the
actual problem, but during the exploration surgery, they found more repairs
to do.
It was another weekend, and she was supposed to spend a day with
Lucas, but she spent an entire day at the hospital.


When she made it into the bedroom hallways, she gasped, hearing
laughter in Lucas' room.
She checked the time and realized it was still early. She muttered. "Oh,
good. Lucas is still awake."
Before entering Lucas' bedroom, she bathed and changed into comfortable
clothes. That evening, she put on her leggings
and wore Evan's shirt.
Finally, when Shantelle walked into Lucas' room, she caught the father and
son, laughing. Her son was at it so hard that
his eyes watered, and his hands were clutching his stomach.
"Can I join the fun?" She asked, surprising Evan and Lucas.
Mommy!" Lucas exclaimed. He got off the bed and ran to Shantelle. He
jumped into her arms and said, "I miss you the
entire day, Mommy! I love you!"
The words of Lucas warmed her heart. They had seen each other last
night, but she knew the time spent wasn't enough.
She pecked him repeatedly on the cheek and replied, "I miss you too,
honey." She settled him on the floor and added, "I
love you more, Lucas."
Evan had that bright smile as he studied Shantelle's clothes. He moved to
Shantelle and kissed her lips. He pressed his
lips against her ear, saying," And I love you in my clothes."
Shantelle felt her ears burn. She wrinkled her nose at her husband and
replied, "I love your shirt."
"Mommy, Mommy!" Lucas called, holding Shantelle's face to him. He
asked, "What two things can you never eat for
breakfast?"
"Oh, are we kidding?" Shantelle asked, and Lucas nodded eagerly.
"Answer, Mommy! Answer!" Lucas encouraged.
Shantelle stared at Evan, silently asking for help, but the man shrugged.
Thus, she replied to her son, "Gosh, I don't know.
There is so much food out there. I don't think there is one that is restricted
to breakfast."
"Give up?" Lucas asked.


"Okay, I give up. What is it?" Shantelle answered, pouting her lips. "What is
it, honey?"
"It's Lunch and Dinner!" Lucas replied before chuckling. 3
In the next few minutes, Lucas gave Shantelle more riddles, and she was
thoroughly entertained. It momentarily erased
her exhaustion. The family of three sat on Lucas' bed as the boy gave each
riddle.
"What kind of room has no doors or windows?" Lucas asked Shantelle.
Shantelle asked back, "What?"
"A mushroom!" Lucas announced.
"What is orange and sounds like a parrot?" Lucas gave another riddle.
Shantelle's eyes widened. She excitedly answered, "Oh, I think I know this!
Carrot!"
"Yey! You got it right, Mommy!" Lucas exclaimed, hugging his mother. After
which, he gave another riddle, "During what
month do people sleep the least?"
Shantelle frowned and fished through her brain. She replied, "Ah,
December because of the holidays?"
"No, Mommy, it's February. It's the shortest month!" Lucas answered, and
he laughed again.
Did your daddy teach you this?" Shantelle asked.
"He did. Daddy gave me a book about jokes and riddles!" Lucas revealed
before going to his bedside table and opening
the drawer. He gave the small book to Shantelle and presented, "Daddy
said laughter is the best medicine!"
Shantelle smiled. She explained to her son, "Laughter is indeed one of the
best medicines. It enhances your intake of
oxygen-rich air. It stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles. It also
increases the endorphins released by your brain.
Endorphins are hormones in your body. It helps relieve pain, reduce stress,
and improve your sense of well-being."
With her palms open, she second, "Thus, your daddy is right. Laughter is
the best medicine!"
"So, let's always laugh and smile!" Lucas declared.


"Let us always!" Shantelle echoed, and she winked at Evan for the lesson
he gave their son.
After a brief family huddle, the couple put Lucas to sleep. They made it to
their bedroom, with Shantelle's steps heavy
against the floor. She quickly climbed onto the bed and rested on her left
side.
"Tired? Stressed?" Evan asked.
Shantelle nodded and replied, "It was a tiring operation, but it's okay. Lucas
' smile made me feel a little better. I just need
some rest."
"Mmmmm," Evan settled next to her and put an arm around her waist. He
rubbed her belly and suggested, "I have a few
more riddles that can relieve stress. Need more endorphins?"
A smile became painted on Shantelle's face. She replied, "What is it?"
"What goes in hard and dry, but comes out soft and wet?" The man asked
with a smirk on his face. 3
Shantelle laughed thoroughly and said, "Hubby, for now, please stop being
green. I could use a real rest, which
endorphins cannot help."
"I'm not being green. You are," Evan suggested. "What goes in hard and
dry, but comes out soft and wet? It's gum, Wifey.
It's true that before we make love, my dick is dry and hard, but when it
comes out, it's still hard!" 2
Shantelle's giggles could not be contained. Thanks to her assumption, their
discussion turned out green after all. She
shifted her frame to Evan and hugged him tightly. She said, "Okay, my bad
for thinking green."
"What's long and hard and full of semen?" Evan said before beaming.
"Evan?" Shantelle warned.
"I swear, I am not being green," Evan objected.
"Okay, what is it?" Shantelle finally asked.
"What's long and hard and full of semen? A submarine," Evan said, leaving
Shantelle laughing so hard again.
Please don't tell me these jokes are in Lucas' book?" Shantelle asked.


No. No. I purposely searched them online to make you smile, Wifey," Evan
said before adding, "What's so easy to get into
but it's so hard to get out?"
Shantelle thought about it, but since the past jokes weren't necessarily
green, she asked, "What is it?"
Evan acted like he was purring, and he suggested, "Inside you. I don't think
I ever want to get out."
"Haha! I can't believe I fell for that! I thought we were not talking green!"
Shantelle said. Her eyes watered in amusement.
"But seriously, I don't want to have sex, Evan. I'm so tired. Thanks for
making me smile, though."
"That's okay, Wifey. Hugging you is enough,” Evan said, tightening his hold
around her. "Rest well because tomorrow, we
will meet with the wedding planner and review every detail of the wedding.
In a few days, you will be Misses Thompson
again."
"Shanty, my love, are you ready to be my wife again?" Evan asked. "There
is no divorce this time."
Shantelle looked up at him and caressed his face. She replied, "Now that
you are ready to be my husband, I am more
then ready to be your wife."
A smile spread on Evan's face as he claimed, "I love you so much."
"Goodnight, Evan. I love you too," she said before
dozing off in his arms.

Chapter 111: The New Home


’Wow, I can't believe this. It's amazing. You did a good job," Shantelle
complimented the wedding planner named Mona.
She came to the villa with her assistant to give her and Evan a rundown of
the wedding flow.
They were settled in Evan's study, with Evan safely standing behind
Shantelle and keeping his distance from Mona.
’Actually, the initial plan was Mister Thompson's idea. I just added a touch
of femininity to it,” Mona revealed. "So, Misses
Thompson, if there are no more objections, shall I proceed with the flower
arrangements? The main interiors within the
The Grand Convention is almost complete. After our meeting, my assistant
and I will be headed there to ensure everything is
in order."
Shantelle looked behind her and smiled at Evan. She remarked, "Well,
planned, hubby."
Evan wanted the wedding at the Royal Grand Convention since it was the
biggest event ballroom in town, offering three
halls with fifteen thousand square feet in space. Evan booked all three
convention halls, two for the guests and one for
only direct family and friends, allowing Lucas his private area.
Returning her attention to the wedding planner, Shantelle said, "Thanks
again, Mona. It looks like we have nothing else to
worry about."
’Of course, I am the best wedding planner in the state. You can only expect
perfection from me," Mona acknowledged.
She got up and extended her hand to Shantelle, and after shaking her
hand, she offered her hand to Evan.
Evan narrowed his eyes, and Mona retreated her hand. She said, "Oh,
sorry. I keep forgetting Mister Thompson's number
one rule."
"Sorry about that," Shantelle apologized.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me. I don’t swing that way,” Mona
chuckled at Evan. She winked at Shantelle, saying,
"Doctor Shant is more of my type."


Shantelle froze, and Evan quickly wrapped an arm around his Wifey,
saying, "Sorry, Mona, my wife is taken... BY ME."
Mona laughed boisterously. She excused herself, saying, "I better get back
to implementing the best wedding of the
century. Excuse me, Mister and Mrs. Thompson. Don't forget to send me
the final guest list! And! Prenuptial pictorials
tomorrow!"
After that long meeting with the wedding planner, Shantelle and Evan
reviewed the guest list. Shantelle saw a familiar
name on Evan's list. She asked, "Your Aunt Ariana and her family are
coming?"
"Yes, well. They are still family, regardless of how distant they are," Evan
replied and then noticed Shantelle's reluctance.
He frowned and asked," What's wrong?"
Shantelle paused, thinking. Then she said anyway, "Your aunt never liked
me. She - um." Her face paled when she
admitted, "She thought I was disgusting to force myself on you. Well, I
supposed she was right
"I'm sorry," Evan said. "I'll make sure she understands I am forcing myself
on you at this wedding."
His reply made Shantelle laugh. She answered, "You don't have to. We will
rarely see your aunt since they live on another
continent."
"I will, and I will invite your classmates from the Medical School too. Your
association president has already helped me
with the addresses. I'll make sure they know who your husband was and
now." Evan claimed.
Going back to the guest list, he also noticed some of Shantelle's relatives
had not been confirmed. He asked, "Your father's
cousin is not going?"
Shantelle pursed her lips. She replied, "I called them. It's just that the first
time we were married, they had a lot of
expectations. They are not coming because they think it will be the same
boring wedding."


"Who says our wedding is going to be boring?" Evan asked.
Another laugh escaped Shantelle. She answered, "Our first wedding was
boring, so when they learned I was getting to the
same man, they were shocked."
Evan shook his head and declared, ’I am going to make them attend -"
Don't," Shantelle objected. "I mean, why would we?"
"I will because I failed you during our first marriage." Evan sat next to
Shantelle and hugged her tightly. He said, "Mother
told me a wedding is a woman's pride, and I failed to give you that grand
wedding during our first marriage. I failed to give
you have that feeling of being a queen amongst the rest, so I will change
everything in our wedding now."
Putting an arm around Shantelle, Evan said, "Please, Shanty. Let me do
this. ■
Shantelle fell silent for a moment. She looked up at him and sighed. After
giving it much thought, she replied, "I don't think
you'll take no for an answer, anyway."
"I won't," Evan admitted. And Shanty, I am sorry that you were judged while
attending medical school. I would have owned
up to Lucas if I had known where you were."
Shantelle embraced Evan from the side. She said, "I'm just glad we can
make up for every wrong we made in the past,
Evan.”
***
After finalizing the guest lists, Evan took Shantelle and Lucas out for a
surprise. They drove an hour from the villa to
another community closer to the Thompsons' residence. It was far from
Evan's company and the heart and lung center,
but the neighborhood had clean streets, good lighting, and attractive
landscaping. Trees were everywhere, shading the
streets and each home. Moreover, each mansion was built several meters
apart, offering privacy.
Shantelle immediately recognized the place. It was a new high-end
residential community in Rose Hills called Green


Valley Heights. But what were they doing there? Turning to Evan, she
asked, "Did you buy a house here?"
"As a matter of fact, I did," Evan confirmed. He held Shantelle's hand and
declared, "With our family growing, the villa
won't be enough. We'll need a decent mansion with at least twelve
bedrooms."
"Twelve bedrooms?" Shantelle objected. "But we'd only need four for us
and two for the maids."
Evan pointed at Miguel and said, "Miguel will be permanently staying with
us until he finds his soul mate."
Miguel, who was driving the car, laughed. He responded, "That's right, Doc.
You are stuck with me for a while."
"Okay. We are lucky to be stuck with you, Miguel," Shantelle chuckled. She
redid the tally, "So, four for us, two for the
maids, and one for Miguel."
Evan coughed. His response muffled into his fist, "I want t - mo - dren." 2
"What?" Shantelle asked with a frown.
"I want two more children," Evan clarified. "I want a big family, just like
Kaleb Wright -"
Shantelle's mouth fell open. She complained, "You have been talking too
much with Kaleb Wright that he's influenced you
over having six kids. You know we only got twins by luck - Oh, my god!"
Her jaws dropped, seeing they were entering a gate with a vast lawn, a
fountain in the middle, and pines fencing the
estate. "Is this the new home? ■
"Love it?" Evan asked. "'This will be our new home."
"Wow! So beautiful!" Exclaimed Lucas. What he loved the most was how
big the lawn was. He declared, "I could run
around here all day!"
Aside from the nature surrounding the house, the mansion looked so
elegant in white and gray shades. It appeared
simple in design, but after inspecting it closely, Shantelle realized it was
made of the finest materials.


Going inside, Shantelle admired the massive glass windows with the
perfect view of the garden. It featured a monumental
staircase going up to the second floor.
Evan guided his family to inspect the first floor. It included the man's office,
a library, a study area for Lucas, a play area,
and three rooms for the staff.
"It will take a few days to furnish the house and have it customized, but in a
month, we can move in here," Evan
described.
Behind the mansion was a huge swimming pool catering to adults and
children. Once they made it to the backyard, Lucas
happily exclaimed," Look, this side is a kiddie pool!"
"I wanna go around there!" Lucas said, pointing to the pines.
"I'll take him," Miguel offered, chasing after Lucas.
While Lucas explored the backyard, Evan showed Shantelle the second
level. It had a living area and nine rooms, plus
the rooms from the first floor, a total of fifteen rooms.
"Wow!" Shantelle gasped upon finding the master bedroom. It had a perfect
view of the lawn from the balcony. "I love it."
"It will be good for Lucas to live here. It offers fresh air and a homey and
nature-loving environment. It's a little farther from
our workplaces, but we can make the sacrifices for Lucas," Evan
suggested.
Shantelle shrugged and said, "And Miguel could always drive me. I can
doze off in the car."
"Exactly," Evan acknowledged. "We can head home together as long as
you take fewer night shifts. And did you see that
international school along the way? Lucas can enroll there when he is a lot
better.”
The house was simply so beautiful that Shantelle could not help but be in
awe. She could imagine waking up to a perfect
view every day and feel absolutely stress-free. She turned to Evan and
repeated, "I LOVE IT!" She embraced Evan
and tipped her toes to peck his lips. "And I love you."


A hiss left Evan's lips. He said, "You know what you said, right, Wifey?"
Shantelle flushed. She replied, "I know exactly what I said. Do you wanna...
bless our new home?"
Lust filled Evan's eyes. He grabbed Shantelle's ass and said, "Rrrrr.
Absolutely."
***
Days passed.
Finally, the day of the wedding has arrived. Over a thousand guests
gathered at the Royal Grand Convention at four in the
afternoon. Each guest who came had their mouths open, their eyes
rounding at the splendid venue of Shantelle and
Evan's wedding.

Chapter 112: The Grand Wedding
The Royal Grand Convention covered forty-five thousand square feet in
size. Convention halls one and two were
connected, accommodating most guests. Convention hall three was strictly
for direct families and close friends only.
Convention hall one was the entrance to the wedding venue. It had rows of
floral arches decorating its path. Aside from
flowers, tree branches with lights popping out of the arches could be seen.
Next to the eye-catching entrance, an LED screen was mounted on the
wall, showing pictures of Evan and Shantelle,
taken from their pre-nuptial photo shoot. Some were a couple images,
while some included Lucas. From time to time, words
of welcome were flashed on the same screen, which read: [Welcome to
Happy Ever After. Evan and Shanty Says I Do to
Forever.)
Opposite to where the photos of the couple were presented, a singer stood
behind a piano, singing romantic ballad songs.


Usherettes guided guests to their designated tables, where they were
promptly served canapes and champagne. Gifts
were collected by the same usherettes and were placed at the selected
tables in each hall.
The wedding followed a theme of white, sapphire, and gold. White wisteria
flowers hang from the ceiling, along with
chandeliers and hanging candlesticks. Glass tables scattered across the
venue, each decorated with centerpieces of
golden flowers, while some had white blooms. Along with the flowers,
candle sticks adorn the tables.
The floor had temporary white tiles. At the center was an elevated path for
the bride to make her bridal walk. Instead of a
carpet, the aisle had blue tiles meant to guide Shantelle to Evan.
Made-up Yoshino Cherry trees were settled precisely on alternate tables,
while some were placed on the sides. Each tree
gleamed with white and blue lights, illuminating the venue.
At the front of each hall a large LED screen had been placed. The said
screens would feature the entire event. On
one side of the convention hall two, was a band playing romantic music on
top of a custom-made stage.
Many of Shantelle’s batch mates from Watlington Medical School attended.
They wanted to see the wedding
for themselves. For one, Doctor Millet Hart would not miss it for the world.
She wanted to see if her fiance, Jeffrey, could
prepare a better wedding. To her dismay, however, she could already see
how it was impossible at first glance. The
The wedding was just too grand.
”Oh, my god. This is so extravagant," Penelope said. While seated in front
of their table, she said to her friends, "I've
never been invited to something this luxurious, ever!"
Whispering to Millet, she pointed out, "They are serving expensive
champagne, Millet. Better enjoy it while it's free!"
"The venue is so big, and everyone is so classy," said another batch mate
of Millet.


"Shantelle is very lucky to meet a powerful man as her husband," Doctor
Jeffrey remarked.
From another table, within convention hall number two, Shantelle’s relatives
settled in their seats and were in awe. They
were a cousin of William, Davy Scott, and his wife, Leila Scott. Their
daughters Lucy and Leah Scott, who were a little
older than Shantelle, also came.
During Shantelle’s first wedding with Evan, they recalled it as a small
gathering, but this time, the celebration was clearly a
grand - a well-thought- of event. On the couple's first wedding, Shantelle’s
relatives expected a fabulous celebration since
Shantelle was marrying the wealthiest man in the city. However, it was
rather dull for their taste. Later, they found out that
Evan was only forced into the wedding.
When served with champagne and canapes, Lucy Scott remarked, "Oh, my
god. Is that Golden Osetra Caviar? These are
so expensive!"
"Yes, ma'am, from the Caspian Sea," the food server said. "Enjoy."
"Oh, my god. How did Evan go all out on this wedding?" Leah Scott asked.
Lucy Scott shrugged and said, "I don't know. I guess we will find out later.
Maybe he realized he loves Shanty?"
"Or Shanty trapped him into marrying him," Leah suggested. "Remember,
they have a child together." i
"But it was Evan who called me to attend the wedding. It didn't sound like
he was forced," Davy Scott said. "How do you
think he gave us accommodation at the finest hotel?"
Shantelle’s relatives were baffled altogether. They were all eager to see
how the couple would act around each other
during the ceremony.
Not too far from them were Evan's distant aunt and her family. Ariana
Thompson-Smith and her husband, Paxton Smith,
attended the wedding out of obligation to Erick's invitation. Seeing how
lavish the wedding was, Ariana said, "I can't


believe how Evan had spent so much for this wedding. Do you think this
was all Evan's plan?"
Her husband cleared his throat and said, "We will get to speak to them
later. So we will find out."
The relatives of Evan and Shantelle did not get to speak with the couple
just yet. The couple was too busy preparing for
the wedding, which was also true for their parents. Only Evan's bodyguards
guided them to their respective hotel
accommodations. It was the hotel that provided their car service. Moreover,
the couple and their direct family minimized
contact with the guests because of Lucas.
"Where is Erick, anyway?" Paxton sought.
Ariana replied, "He said something about keeping distance for now, since
they were securing the health of Evan's son. But
they will see us later in the celebration."
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen, the wedding is about to start," a host
said. He was standing on the stage where the
The band was playing earlier. His face was flashed on all LED screens to
catch everyone's attention. He then explained how
the wedding would go. "The couple will be married behind closed doors at
convention hall number three. This is to secure
the health of their son. Lucas Thompson, the couple's son, has a condition
that makes him susceptible to infection. So I
I hope you understand. We can only see the entire ceremony through the
LED screens."
"Don't worry, though. The couple will visit your tables to have pictures with
the guests," the host added. "And most of the
celebration will be done here in convention hall number two."
It was the first time the couple had to explain Lucas' condition, but it was
necessary due to their wedding set-up. After the
entire flow had been described, the host said, "Welcome to Evan and
Shantelle’s wedding, and may their love for each
others touch your hearts."
The lights within the venue turned utterly dark in the next few minutes.
Guests could hear movements and footsteps, but


were oblivious to what was happening. A few lights were turned on after
some time, dimming the entire convention halls.
Soon, the curtains to the very entrance closed. A light show began, using
moving beams from the stage, some from the
floor and some from the ceiling. The lights danced along with the music for
about two minutes until a single white beam
ultimately focused on the entrance.
Next, everyone could hear instrumental music playing. It started with a
piano, and then the violin followed. More lights lit up,
and acrobats dressed in ballet dresses, hanging from the ceiling, lowered
themselves. Their limbs delicately danced to a
tune as the curtains open.
Jaws were dropping, and skins were crawling at the sight of beautiful
dancing women from above. The dancers have all
aligned above the aisle.
Singers sang to the tune of a timeless and favorite wedding song, Dreams
Come True.
Eventually, when the bride's figure came out of the curtain, it became clear
what the ballerinas were meant to do. As
Shantelle began her bridal walk, the dancers threw blue petals at her while
maintaining their graceful dance above.
~ "Come with me, and we will fly together
To a place, where we can love forever
Take my hand, and we will see tomorrow Only joy, and no more tears or
sorrow"~

CHAPTER 113
Chapter 113: True Love Waits
Shantelle held a bouquet of sapphire-colored roses. Gems and golden
jewelry adorned the flowers. It matched well with


the sapphire gem necklace around her neck and finger. Over her head was
a small golden crown fit for a queen.
She was covered with a veil that sparkled against the dim venue, and the
same could be said with her Sarah Kate
wedding gown, which was beautifully embroidered with over three hundred
thousand white gems, 1
Shantelle had her hair pulled up, flaunting her slender neck and shoulders.
She had light makeup covering her elegant
face. Her gleaming blue eyes were fixed on the LED screen that showed
her bridal walk while blue petals continued to fall
from above.
The spotlight that focused on her slowly faded as more lights across the
venue were turned on. She saw familiar faces;
workmates within the heart and lung center and employees of Evan.
Doctor Shant, you are so beautiful!" A co-doctor said, and Shantelle waved
at her.
There were local media representatives, politicians, and business partners
of Evan, whom she was unfamiliar with.
Despite not knowing them, she received the same praise. Guests were
taking pictures of her like she was the next
superstar. It was so overwhelming. Nevertheless, she smiled and nodded
their way.
Beautiful, Doctor Shant," Doctor Winona called. Shantelle smiled at her.
The senior doctor had been so pleased when
Evan referred her to a contact where Doctor Winona could buy another
piece of the Kashmir Sapphire.
Shantelle was surprised to see her classmates from medical school.
Apparently, they were already tight. She was unaware. They were cheering
for her and smiling like they were her
groupies! Only Millet had a frown on her face.
Everywhere she turned, jaws were dropping. Some were teary-eyed for
her.
She noticed her relatives gawking at her when she made it into convention
hall two. Shantelle smiled, nodding their way.


She certainly hoped they found her wedding entertaining and less boring
now. However, judging by how they had filled
their table with canapes and champagne, she figured they were loving it so
far.
She turned to her left and saw Evan's Aunt Ariana studying her closely. Her
mouth was open in evident shock, her eyes
looking up and down her gleaming gown.
The first song had already ended before the end of convention hall two.
Another instrumental tune echoed across the
halls. She looked up, and a brighter smile became painted on her face. She
saw her father, William, standing in the aisle,
waiting for her. Like her, he had a broad smile, and his eyes glistened in
contentment.
When she locked arms with her father, William said, "This time, it is real.
This time, everything is right." William embraced
Shantelle said, "What a beautiful wedding, Shanty. I am happy for you,
sweetheart. I pray that you and Evan will work
harder to strengthen this marriage."
Indeed, Shantelle felt it. This wedding was far different from the last. It
made a lot of difference now that Evan loved her
back, and even more because Shantelle felt Evan's love was greater than
hers this time around.
Videographers, giving a live feed of her walk, followed her as she and
William turned to the closed doors of convention
hall three.
Next, the videographer from the inside showed how Evan was patiently
waiting for her to enter convention hall three. It
clearly showed on the LED screen to her left.
She smiled, seeing how Evan kept staring at the door. Just then, the
organizers opened the double doors. She walked in,
just in time for a new song to play. It was a song she mainly chose for both
of them: We Both Know by Colbie Caillat.
Shantelle could relate to the song. After the experience of their first
marriage, she and Evan were now working together to


make their relationship strong. Evan corrected his mistakes, and she tried
to be mature about her decisions.
We both know our
Own limitations, that's why we're strong
Now that we spent some time apart
We're leading each other, out of the dark
'Cause we both know" ~
Making it into convention hall three, she didn't need a camera to see how
Evan gasped at the sight of her. He smiled, but
it was evident by how he wiped the corners of his eyes, Shantelle knew she
had blown him away. From where she was,
she saw his mouth, '1 love you. You are so beautiful.'
Attending guests let out their awws. Some were teary-eyed at how Evan
reacted. Of course, to those who know it well,
tears had already streamed down their faces. Erick and Clara had been
wiping their tears the second Shantelle walked in.
It was the same with Eleanor. Shantelle also wept but quickly wiped it away,
knowing how it would ruin her makeup.
To her, Evan also looked ravishing in his custom-made sapphire suit. She
thought it was great that he opened his jacket to
show off his blue vest instead of only wearing a white shirt underneath. His
suit fit him well, emphasizing his broad
shoulders. His trousers hugged his long legs nicely. It flattered her how
Evan also put in an effort to look dashing at their
wedding.
Lucas was sitting at the table with Eleanor. Seeing everyone so emotional,
he felt it too. Whether it was the song or his
grandparents and parents crying, he wound up in tears, happy for Evan
and Shantelle. 1
At another table, the friends who knew Evan's suffering the most cried with
him. Wendell and Sean were both wiping the
corners of their eyes. Keith, on the other hand, was holding it in.
Shantelle's close college friends had also attended. Thanks for that special
event. They shared the same table as Evan’s
friends.


On another table were Evan's VIP guests, Kaleb Wright, his wife, Attorney
Scarlett, and his children. The famous designer
of Shantelle's gown, Sarah Kate, came along with her husband. 6
When William surrendered his daughter to Evan's hand, the music was still
so deafening. Shantelle looked into Evan's
eyes, and it was the same with him. They were both smiling, fascinated
because they had finally arrived on their wedding
day.
While waiting for the song to end, Evan repeated, "I love you."
"I love you too," Shantelle said back.
Love could be seen by how they stared at each other. It reflected on the
massive LED screens in each convention hall.
The wedding has yet to start. Yet, many of their guests concluded that Evan
and Shantelle were very in love.
The officiant gestured for the couple to stand on stage after the song
ended. Evan and Shantelle walked up to another
massive staircase and into a magnificent grandstand featuring chairs for a
king and queen.
"We are gathered here today, in this beautiful, grand setting, to celebrate
the wedding of Evan Thompson and Shantelle
Scott," the officiant began. He gave wise words and advice to the couple
before following into the standard flow of the
ceremony.
The time came when the officiant needed to confirm the couple's intentions.
He asked Evan, "Do you Evan Thompson, of
your own free will, choose to marry
"I do, with all my heart, with all my soul. I want to spend the rest of my life
with Shantelle, the woman I love," Evan said.
"Okay, let me finish first," the officiant teased. "So eager to kiss the bride, I
see.’
Laughter echoed across each convention hall, noticing Evan's impatience.
Shantelle had to smack Evan on the arm,
reminding him of the flow.


Through the LED screen, they all heard him admit, "The faster we sign the
contract, the better. I am very excited about
marrying my wife. And, of course, the kiss too. Who can blame me? My
wife is very beautiful."
The officiant smirked. Then, he said the words very slowly next. The entire
time, he looked at Evan, his eyes narrowing at
him. "Do... you, Evan... Thompson, of... your... own... free will, choose... to.,
marry... Shantelle...
Scott., on this day, to... join... with her... as husband and wife for... all the
days... of your life?"
Laughter again erupted in each convention hall as Evan frowned. After the
officiant said the last line, the man promptly
replied, "I, Evan Thompson, am madly in love with Doctor Shantelle Scott. I
want to spend the rest of my life with her and
our children."
The officiant stared at Evan blankly and replied, "All you need to say is I
do."
"I do," Evan confirmed, and the officiant shook his head in amusement.
Turning to Shantelle, the officiant asked very slowly, "Do... you, Shantelle...
Scott, of... your... own... free will, choose... to.,
marry... Evan... Thompson., on this day, to... join... with him... as husband
and wife for... all the days... of your life?"
Laughter echoed across all the convention halls. Some were at it so hard
that tears welled in the corners of their eyes.
While giggling, Shantelle answered, "I do."
"I have heard that Mister Thompson waited years for our bride to return to
his life. I figured it was fine to keep him waiting
a few minutes longer," the officiant said. He beamed at the couple before
adding, "After all, true love is worth the wait."

CHAPTER 114


Chapter 114: Shanty's Confession
"Shanty, you don’t know the amount of joy I have in me right now, seeing
you in front of me, marrying me again." Evan
paused. He smiled at Shantelle and returned to the paper in his hand. ”l
feel fortunate for the second chance to love and
feel loved. Every day, I thank the heavens for bringing me back to you. I
thank fate for taking me to Warlington and
allowing me the opportunity to make up for all my mistakes."
"Years ago, I lost you, and that was my fault. I am a true testament to the
saying that goes; you never realize how you
love someone until they are gone. I’ve said it many times before, but I’ll say
it again." Evan held the tears that threatened
to fall down his face as he described, "Shanty, I missed you so badly during
your absence, that my heart ached every day.
My life was incomplete without you. My company, wealth, and power grew,
but I was never close to experiencing true
happiness. If I did, through the smiles of others, it was short-lived."
"Having lost you taught me a valuable lesson. I want you to know that my
vow is deeply carved in my heart, one that I will
forever keep and follow through," he proclaimed. It was never easy to think
about the past, but Evan could not deny how it
turned him into a better person for his wife.
Evan reached for Shantelle’s hand and said, "I, Evan Thompson, take you
as my wife. I promise to cherish you in all the
days of my life, to protect you from harm, and to shelter you from any
storm. I swear I can conquer the world as long as
you are with me."
"You are the queen of my heart. I will love you with all of me, and I pledge
to say it every day, as often as I breathe. They
I should also love your imperfections, but to me, you are perfect in every
way. Nevertheless, through your worst days,
I will stay by your side. I promise to be true, to be a faithful husband to you,
and a good father and provider to our
children."


Looking earnestly into her eyes, Evan added, "Shanty, my love, I will give
you only happiness until death do us part. This
is my solemn vow." 2
When it was Shantelle’s turn to give her vow, she sniffed, holding back her
tears. She did not know if she was ready for
her confession, but they were already getting married, and she wanted to
be completely open with Evan.
A tear inevitably rolled down her cheek as she opened the paper in her
hand, she smiled at Evan before starting, "My
dearest Evan. Losing you was the greatest pain in my life that I swore I
would never love again, other than my son. I
caged my heart and turned cold at the thought of love and relationships,
but I never expected to open up again as I did
with you."
"You showed me another side of you that I have never seen before. You
saved my life, literally, without regard for your
safety. You showed Lucas a father's love, one he had longed for. You have
supported me through my recent endeavors,
and through your actions and words, I saw and felt your sincerity. You have
made me happy - happier than I ever
imagined," Shantelle admitted.
"I never thought that love could feel this good. Indeed, dreams do come
true, for I have always dreamed of having a
happy marriage with you. Evan, when I agreed to marry you a little over a
month ago, you asked me if I had fallen in love
with you again." Shantelle sucked in a breath, and seeing Evan attentively
pay attention, she revealed, "The answer is no.
I did not fall in love with you again because the truth is, I had never stopped
loving you. The degree of how I felt for you
might have waned a little when we were apart, but the fact remained that I
loved you then, and I still love you now."
Another tear fell down her cheek when she softly explained, "I simply
locked my heart, knowing no other man could take
your place. I did not know what life would bring me upon meeting you
again, but who would have thought you'd come


back declaring your love for our son and me, then proving it beyond words.
Being with you again reignited those feelings
that had been suppressed all those years."
More tears ran down her face as she said, "Who would have thought it was
all worth it, loving you that long?"
Evan was utterly taken aback by what Shantelle admitted. He felt his chest
congestion and his knees weakening. Evan
wound up hugging Shantelle, and he wept. He remembered the months
after meeting his beloved again and realized how
lucky he was.
Shantelle never gave her heart to anyone. It was only him and him alone.
Had this not been the case, he would have lost
Shantelle for good. Silently, Evan thanked the heavens, the universe, and
the whole galaxy for keeping Shantelle’s love
for him to live.
Many of the visitors could not help but cry. They saw through the LED
screens how the couple wept. They felt the couple's
pain and how Evan and Shantelle valued their second chance at love.
From the table of Evan's friends, Keith nodded his head. This had been his
hunch that Shantelle still secretly loved Evan
all along. Wendell and Sean clapped their hands, genuinely happy for the
couple.
At the table where the couple's parents sat, they all looked at each other,
smiling. The Thompsons were especially happy
with Shantelle’s admission. William and Eleanor simply nodded, having the
same inkling as Keith.
It took minutes for Shantelle and Evan to soothe their emotions. Knowing
that she had to finish her vow, Shantelle sucked
in a breath while Evan's hands went beneath her veil to wipe the wetness
on her face.
"I love you," he said. "I love you so much. Thank you for loving me,
Shanty."
'I love you too,' she mouthed back.


Eventually, the officiant cleared his throat, reminding Shantelle to resume.
She chuckled and went back to her promise.
She read, "Evan, I take you as my husband, and I promise to shower you
with my love, to be more expressive and not
hold back. I promise to value your every gift, no matter how expensive they
may be -"
Laughter echoed across all the convention halls, for it was true. Evan's gifts
to Shantelle would stay within his high
standards. After Shantelle laughed with everyone, she resumed, "I promise
to trust you with all my heart, to be patient as
you learn how to cook for Lucas and me -"
The mood lighted as giggles left everyone's mouths, thanks to Shantelle’s
recent words.
Looking straight into Evan's eyes, Shantelle concluded her vow, saying, "I
promise never to lose our spark. As we grow
our family, I promise to work with you, to be an equal partner in your life,
and to remember the amazing person I married. I
will always love you. This is my solemn vow."
The officiant could tell that it was only a matter of time before Evan would
wind up kissing his wife. Even before they could
put on their wedding bands, Evan had been tugging Shantelle’s veil and
leaning closer to her.
After the couple put on the rings, the officiant sped through his words, "Soby-the-power-vested-in-me
Evan impatiently uncovered Shantelle’s veil, his hand reaching for her face.
"l-now-pronounce-you-husband-and-wife. Mister Thompson, you-may kissyour-bride The officiant sighed, feeling
defeated. He couldn't catch up with Evan. The man was already locking lips
with his wife! 1
The crowd was screaming. A few guests laughed while many clapped
hands at Evan's eagerness to kiss his bride.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome Mister and Misses
Thompson!" The officiant said. "Let's give them a
round of applause!"


Shantelle and Evan were at it, passionately kissing in front of their visitors.
Their eyes watered with glee while their arms
were around each other. The kiss lasted for two minutes, and when they
finally pulled away, they helped wipe each other’s
tears.
The officiant smiled and said, "Your love for each other is infectious. May
others in this venue find love as you have found
in each other."
Following the officiant's words, music played in the background. Again, the
band sang the song of Colbie Cai Hat; We
Both Know.
~ "They all say it
All the ones that made it
Once you find the one you claim it
But you're gonna have to fight" ~
Feeling the song's lyrics all over again, Evan and Shantelle kissed again,
this time gently, their frames swaying with the
music.
Screams roared. More applause erupted.
At the stage, Evan let go of Shantelle’s lips. He whispered in her ear, "My
wife, did you count how many times you said I
love you
"Pfft! Not right now, Evan. We have guests!" Shantelle objected, but Evan
pulled her closer into an embrace. She
suggested, "I just need one hour
"Just? Just one hour! Haha!" She reacted, wrapping her arms around his
neck. She groaned and replied, "Half an hour."
A hiss left Evan's lips, and lust filled his eyes. He negotiated, "Forty
minutes.

CHAPTER 115
Chapter 115: The Wedding Party Entrance


"Oh, here are the bride and groom," the wedding planner, Mona, said. Her
eyebrows lifted, her head shaking in disbelief.
She knew well that the couple had locked themselves in the dressing room
before getting their retouch. This was the first
She arranged a wedding for a couple who were so horny for each other! i
"Time for the party entrance, everyone!" Mona called all the participants’
attention, and Shantelle and Evan both laughed
at how they were about to have their second exercise of the day.
The couple's party entrance was bound to differ due to Lucas' condition.
Only the couple would take part in the show,
along with their close friends and a few celebrity guests invited to the
celebration. Shantelle's and Evan's parents had
already been introduced through the LED screens. It was also true for
Lucas.
"What fucking took you so long, Evan?" Keith barked. If it were not because
they were part of the parade, he would not
have complained.
Wendell just chuckled, and so did Sean.
Shantelle's friends, however, pulled her to the side. Felice said, "Shanty, I
can't believe you had sex in the middle of your
wedding. We have been waiting here for an hour. Your guests are probably
hungry as hell."
"What? I did not!" Shantelle objected, but her face turned bright red.
Celeste, her other friend, rolled her eyes.
Karise chuckled and said, "Unfortunately for you, we can read your face." 1
"Am I that obvious?" She asked, and the three ladies nodded at the same
time.
Getting back in line, two celebrity guests smiled at Shantelle and Evan. It
was Sarah Kate Ronaldo and her husband, the
former tennis superstar, Carlos Ronaldo.
Carlos smiled at the couple and supported them, saying, "It's completely
understandable."
"I am pro to it." Sarah Kate gave the couple a thumbs up. The designer
then whispered to Shantelle's ears and claimed,


"I've had my fair share of sneaking into tennis stadium locker rooms
myself." 2
Shantelle's mouth fell open in shock. She hoped her assumptions were
wrong, but Sarah Kate added, "The quickies are
one of the hottest for me! Do it more often!"
After thinking about it, Shantelle smiled and whispered, "Let's talk about
this thoroughly later."
"I knew it. I should have brought my older sister," Sarah Kate muttered,
leaving Shantelle laughing. During their periodic
chats, the designer had always implied her sister gave the best sex advice.
4
"Okay! Places everyone! Places!" Mona remembered, and everybody lined
up in their respective positions.
Inside convention halls one and two, smoke machines emitted mists as the
music played. In the background, the DJ
played a dance remix. The wedding host announced, "In collaboration with
Sarah Kate Collections and Apparel, please
help us welcome our celebrity guests, friends of our newly wedded couple,
for the evening's party entrance."
The first pair who walked out was Sarah Kate, the famous designer, and
her husband, Carlos. When they both appeared
in front of the guests, modeling for their renowned clothing line, the guests
gasped in astonishment.
"Oh, my god! Is that the former number-one tennis superstar, Carlos
Ronaldo?"
"It's Sarah Kate! My favorite designer!"
Not only were they in the presence of a well-known couple, but they had
the honor of seeing Sarah Kate's new
collections.
The celebrity couple each posed for the guests and gave a slow-motion
turn, flaunting the features of their clothes. Once
in a while, Sarah Kate, and Carlos would smile and wave at visitors.
A few more celebrities modeled for the brand before Keith walked in with
Karise. Like the prior models, they also wore


clothes from Sarah Kate designs. Yet again, the crowd was awed by the
gleaming dresses and uniquely stylish suits.
Much more, they were thrilled to see beautiful faces, especially the CEO of
Prima MedCare.
The rest of Evan's friends followed, and they added spice to the wedding
party entrance. After all, Wendell and Sean were
both good-looking, tall, and well-built men, like Evan and Keith. Sean was
incredibly enthusiastic, dancing and calling out
to the crowd. He was so infectious other visitors danced along with him.
Shantelle's friends received their fair share of hoots and applause,
particularly Karise. She had that alluring look, slender
figure, and gorgeous black hair that bounced as she walked. Moreover, she
wore Sarah Kate's sexiest gown for that night.
1
"Next, ladies and gentlemen. Let's give it up for our newlywed couples,
Mister and Misses Thompson!" The host
announced.
Everyone stood up, clapping their hands as the couple walked in.
Evan and Shantelle were in a new pair of clothes this time. Evan was in a
white tux, while Shantelle was in a sapphire
gown that gleamed with gemstones, opposite from what they wore during
the wedding ceremony.
Shantelle still had that crown over her head. She put her hand on her waist
as she gave a striking pose, her eyes
wandering the surrounding tables.
Meanwhile, Evan gave off that poker face expression as he held up
Shantelle's hand. The way Evan scanned the crowd
made the ladies almost scream. To them, he looked simply dashing.
However, knowing his number one rule, they held
back from showing any signs of interest in Evan.
After that model-like expression, the couple eventually smiled as they
brandished their glamorous attire. They greeted
everyone as a couple, waving their hands and saying hello. The entire time,
Evan held Shantelle's hand or placed it at the
small of her back.


Whenever he would catch a man staring at Shantelle, Evan would hold her
waist tighter and announce, "My beautiful wife!
My wife!” 1
At one of his investors, who was ogling at his wife, the man warned, "Eyes
on me, Mister Rue."
The couple eventually made it to the stage of convention hall two, where all
their friends and celebrity guests awaited
them. After that, the song concluded, and the wedding entrance ended with
a bang!
Party poppers exploded, and confetti flew up in the air. Not only that,
electric fireworks erupted on each side of the aisle,
encouraging more rounds of applause.
When the hoots had calmed, the host announced, "To give the opening
remarks, ladies and gentlemen, the groom, Mister
Evan Thompson."
Evan held Shantelle's hand despite being called alone, taking her with him
to the front. From there, he said, "Thank you
for coming. Before anything else, I would like to thank the famous designer,
Sarah Kate, and her husband for sponsoring
our wedding party entrance. Ladies and
gentlemen, you have just witnessed Sarah Kate's next season designs! So
later on, you can decide which ones to
purchase at her boutique."
Next, the man pointed to the decor, the venue, the models, and the clothes.
He described, "This wedding is my dream for
my wife. Most of this is for her because she deserves the best. The Evan
Thompson you know would not be caught
showing himself off to the crowd, modeling. However, Evan Thompson,
who is Shantelle's husband, is willing to show you
how much he will bend his ego for her, and that's how you find me today,
standing in front of you and expressing my love
for her."
Evan spoke a few more words and named valued visitors. Then, he
suddenly became emotional. He revealed, "You see."


Turning to Shantelle, he put his arm around her before resuming his
speech. "When Shanty and I parted, I told myself that
Once I find her again, I will marry her, and it will be forever next."
He emphasized with his arms stretched, declaring," I will give her the world,
the magnificent wedding, the best wedding
gown, the best pieces of jewelry, the best house, the best of everything,
and, of course, my undivided love and attention. I
didn't know if that would ever happen.
There was a time when I thought it would remain a dream forever." 1
"However, here we are. Apparently, wishes come true, so I gave it all in this
wedding." Evan pulled Shantelle into his arms
and pecked her cheek. He returned to the crowd and declared, "And not
just in this wedding. I
proclaim, being the king of Rose Hills, my wife, Doctor Shant, as the queen!
For I will treat her that way until my very last
breath! And I expect everyone who is here to treat her the same!"
Shantelle laughed her heart out, including her friends. Wendell and Keith
bobbed their heads. Sean was rooting for
Shantelle, saying, "Queen Doctor Shant!"
It was as if Evan gave his vows again, but this time, addressing them to the
crowd. Shantelle tried to dismiss his words,
suggesting to the guests not to take his order seriously. Still, most visitors,
especially his employees, regarded Evan as
the power in Rose Hills. They would never deny the man's wishes.
Closing his welcome remarks, Evan said, "Thank you for joining our
wedding celebration. Let the party begin. Please
enjoy the food, the live band, and the other entertainment we have
prepared for you. It's going to be the best party of the
year!"
***
Dinner was sumptuous. The entire night was filled with entertainment. In
between, Shantelle and Evan roamed the
convention halls to chat and take pictures with their guests. They also
spoke to their relatives in convention hall two.


When the couple met Davy and Laila Scott, plus their daughters, they all
flattered Shantelle. How could they question
Evan's sincerity when his vows were seen through the giant LED screens?
They were fully convinced Shantelle had
bagged a gold mine.
After the Scotts, the couple went to the table of Ariana Thompson-Smith.
Evan's aunt quickly got up from her seat. With all
of Evan's proclamation of love for his wife, there was nothing left to say.
Instead, Ariana embraced Shantelle, saying, "I’m
Sorry about our past, Shantelle, but please don't blame me. I was only
looking out for Evan then."
"No hard feelings at all, Aunt," Shantelle said with a smile. "I understand."
Ariana turned to Evan and said, "I am happy, Evan, that at the end of
everything, you still found your happiness."
Evan embraced her aunt, saying, "Thank you, aunt."
Paxton, Ariana's husband, also had nice words to say. He suggested to
Shantelle, "Come to think of it, for your love for
Evan to remain after a divorce, and I can only imagine what you went
through raising a child without a father, then your
Love is pure and strong. Evan is lucky to have you, Shantelle, and like my
wife, I am sorry for questioning you in the past."
Shantelle never expected Evan's aunt's approval. She didn't care, but she
thanked how Even made it clear to everyone
that he was absolutely not forced into the wedding this time around.
***
Moments later, Shantelle finally had her girl time with her friends. Sarah
Kate and Attorney Scarlett joined in the chat.
"So, what are your plans for the honeymoon?" Sarah Kate asked.

CHAPTER 116


Chapter 116: Marital Advice
"Guys, the key to a spicy marriage is communication," Sarah Kate said to
the girls. "You must tell your man if they hit the
right spot!" As if in bed with her husband, she simulated, "That's it, lick it
right there, gently, faster!
Harder!"
"You have to tease your men and keep the fire burning! And you don't want
just the freaking torch for a fire. You want the
whole inferno!" Kate exclaimed, adding more shrieks around their table.
"Oh, my god! I can't handle this!" Karise screamed. "And here I am, thinking
I was the best in that field!"
'Right,” Shantelle said. "I'm probably still at the torch stage. I can't imagine
what an entire inferno would bring me. Haha!"
Sarah Kate went on and on for minutes. In between, Attorney Scarlett
would give her two cents. When all the tips were
given, the designer took out a paper bag and gave it to Shantelle. She said,
"My other gift to you."
"What?" Shantelle reacted. "You already gave me too much! You let my
girls get a piece of your collection, and so did
Evan's friends."
"Oh, this is nothing," Sarah Kate replied. She said, "I decided to just give it
personally because If I was going to put it at
the gifts table, someone might steal them."
She pointed to the paper bag and suggested, "These babies are like
diamonds. They can save marriages!"
The entire time, Attorney Scarlett was laughing so hard. She said, Trust
her. She knows what she is talking about."
Curiosity got to her that Shantelle took out one product. Her eyes widened
at the sight of an oral-flavored gel.
Another boisterous laugh erupted from their table, and the rest of
Shantelle's friends helped her take out the other
contents in the bag.
*■**


The ladies were screaming and laughing hysterically, and Evan had no
clue. He kept turning to his wife, but she was busy,
flushing like a red tomato while chatting with the designer.
Evan and the boys had moved to the table of his business partner, Kaleb
Wright, and his brother-in-law, Carlos Ronaldo.
His friends, Wendell, Keith, and Sean, were equally curious about what the
girls were talking about.
"They look like they are having lots of fun," Sean remarked.
"They are probably talking about the usual stuff," Kaleb suggested.
"And what is the usual stuff?" Evan asked.
Kaleb and Carlos looked at each other, and they laughed. It was Carlos
who answered, "Marital stuff. Things you do as a
married couple."
Kaleb Wright first looked past the tables and checked on his kids. His
children were walking around, exploring the venue.
All his older sons were looking after his only daughter. When he felt
reassured, he returned his attention to Evan. He
suggested, "You should also get marital advice from us. We are the married
ones, after all."
"So, Doctor Shant is pregnant, right? How far along is she?" Carlos asked."
Is she experiencing nausea and vomiting?"
Evan nodded. He said, "Occasionally, but she controls it by dieting. She
eats less meat and citrus fruits nowadays to ease
her digestion."
"Good. Very good," Kaleb said. "Looks like you had an easy, first trimester."
"I would say so," Carlos nodded.
"Next trimester, though, you need to prepare for it," Kaleb proposed.
Evan's friends gave their undivided attention. Although they were not
married, they had partners of their own.
"What's going to happen during the second trimester?" Evan asked.
"After getting through the nausea stage, comes the hunger stage," Kaleb
revealed. "Your wife will constantly be hungry,
especially since she carries twins. She will need a lot of snacks, and she
will have strange cravings."


"Very strange," Carlos suggested.
"The thing about cravings is, you have to deliver them. Else, Doctor Shant
would be in a bad mood all day long," Kaleb
announced. "You might get that -"
Kaleb quoted with his fingers, saying, "No love for you tonight!" He pointed
at Evan and added, "If you don't get her,
whatever she wants."
Certainly, Evan would not want that. Heck, he only has love once a day,
only to be cut off for a mere craving? No way! The
the man answered, "I will be... ready with all kinds of pregnancy cravings!"
"But Evan, cravings can go from a simple donut at the local pastry shop to
a fruit on another continent," Carlos claimed.
"You can never be too prepared. Still, preparing is good."
"The best part of the second and third trimesters is the sex. Along with food
cravings, there will also be an increase in sex
drive," Kaleb suggested. "As long as... you provide her with all that she
wants in terms of food."
"Just remember," Carlos added. "A pregnant woman will do anything for her
favorite snack."
Aside from the cravings, they covered a few pieces of marital advice.
Carlos said, "Surprise her often. Whether at work or at home, make sure
she would never expect it. It will keep her smiling
all day."
"Be naughty once in a while," Kaleb suggested. "As the marriage ages, you
need to explore other means of making your
my wife is happy."
"Sir, Mister Wright. I look up to you so much. I cannot imagine you being
naughty," Wendell remarked.
"Who? me?" Kaleb laughed. He claimed, "I am the naughtiest amongst my
siblings. How did you think I got six kids, guys?
Come on."
Laughter erupted at their table, especially Carlos. After Mister Wright's self
declaration, more advice followed.
Carlos: "Have regular dates."


Kaleb: "I know you will grow your family, but have alone time with your wife.
■
Carlos: "Try a new hobby together, something you can enjoy during your
dates."
Kaleb: "Have one day without electronics. You'd be surprised what you
would get out of it. Turn off the freaking Wi-Fi and
phone."
***
While Evan and Shantelle were getting marital pieces of advice from their
newly made friends, Lucas was jealous of the
Wright kids. They were having fun, walking around, but his grandma asked
him to stay put.
He sighed in dismay. Miguel was with him, but he wasn't a kid. He wanted
to talk with kids his age. Lucas ate his
vegetable with no life at all. He wished he was already better so he could
meet other children too.
"Lucas, I'll go to the restroom, okay? I'll be right back," Miguel said, and
Lucas nodded.
Not too far, he saw a pretty girl wave at him. He recalled her name was Lily
Rose. She was the only daughter of his
father’s new business partner. He smiled at her. She was charming, and
she had blue eyes like his mommy.
"What are you doing here? Don't you want to play with us?" Lily asked.
"I can't," Lucas said.
"Why not? What's wrong with you?" Lily asked.
"I'm sick," Lucas admitted. "So I can't play. I might get sick if you are sick."
"I'm not sick!” Lily claimed. "Come on, let's play!"
Lucas turned to where his grandma was. Eleanor was dancing with William,
but he knew he would be seen playing with
the Wright kids. Thus, he replied to Lily, "I can't. Grandma will see me. She
will ask me to return to my seat."
Lily pouted her lips. She looked around, and after finding one empty table,
she approached Lucas and said, "Let's hide
over there!"


Lucas, like the child that he was, only wanted a friend, a playmate, but he
had been deprived of meeting other kids
because of his condition. The invitation was so tempting that he gave in.
Together with Lily, they went under the empty table, bringing a plate of food.
It was there that they got to know each other.
"Ah, peace and quiet. My brothers are always following me. It's annoying
sometimes. I'm surprised they missed me for a
whole five minutes. Haha! They will go crazy when they find out I'm gone!"
Lily said.
"Why do they always follow you around?" Lucas asked before biting on a
cookie.
"I don't know! It started with my oldest brother, Liam, and then the rest just
followed," Lily said with a shrug. "Oh, I like that
cookie. Is there more?"
Sadly, that was the only cookie on Lucas' plate. He had broccoli instead.
Having already taken a bite, Lucas broke the
cookie in half and gave the other to Lily. He said, "Here, you can have my
half."
"Thank you, Lucas. You are so nice! You are officially my first boyfriend!"
Lily announced. 1
"Huh?" Lucas asked in shock, his brow lifting. He countered, "I'm too young
to have a girlfriend!"
Lily laughed and said, "No, that's not it. I mean a friend who is a boy!" 1
"Oh." Lucas flushed. He laughed and said, "I'm glad to be your first
boyfriend."
It started with that light conversation until they covered Lucas' illness. It
made Lily sad. She said, "I wish you were better."
She prayed for Lucas, and after that, she suddenly kissed his cheek! 3
"When my mommy is sick, she always asks me to kiss her cheeks.
Sometimes, daddy asks for a kiss too. It works all the
time! Sometimes, my daddy gets better in just seconds!" With a firm nod,
Lily declared, "You'll see! You'll get better in no
time!”


CHAPTER 117
Chapter 117: Friendship Approval
"After this talk, Shantelle might have another set of twins," Karise
suggested. "And so will my friends."
Shantelle's college friends, Felice and Celeste, were already married. Now,
only Karise remained single.
"You all should share your babies with me, guys! I love those cute little
babies," Karise claimed.
"Why don't you make your own?" Felice said.
"Yeah, totally. Why not?" Sarah Kate suggested.
"I agree. Make your own baby," Shantelle echoed, and Celeste did the
same.
"Hello, are you forgetting I am not married? How can I have a baby?"
Karise said.
"In that case, hold that thought," Attorney Scarlett said. "It's not easy to
raise a child on your own."
"Keith, Karise wants a baby!" Celeste loudly announced. 1
Immediately, Karise snapped her head behind her. She found Keith walking
back their way. Her mouth fell to the floor, and
she quickly explained, "I just told them to share their babies, and they insist
that I have a baby of my own!"
Keith had taken a seat next to Karise. He turned to her and asked, "Do you
want a baby?"
"Yes!" Shantelle and her friends said that at the same time.
"Yeah, if I get a sperm donor, and mind you, I will only want quality genes,"
Karise said, turning red altogether.
Karise rarely showed signs of being affected by Keith, but to Shantelle, little
by little, her friend was unknowingly or
secretly having feelings for Keith. It amazed her how they remained "friends
with benefits" until that day.


What was even more surprising to Shantelle was how Keith had not been
rumored with any other socialite or celebrity.
When he had said to her that he was figuring things out with Karise,
Shantelle was unsure if he was serious about it.
However, there may be truth in what he said. Last she heard, Keith had
been sleeping in Karise's apartment three to four
times a week. In her opinion, that was already deep for Keith.
"Lily? Where are you?" A young man's voice echoed in convention hall
three. It was from Attorney Scarlett's first son,
Liam. He turned to Scarlett and announced, "Mommy, I can't find Lily!"
Attorney Scarlett and her husband began to roam the venue, and so did
everyone. Only then did Eleanor reveal, "I can't
find Lucas!"
Just in time, Miguel walked back in from the restroom, and seeing the
commotion, he reasoned, "I took a leak." He looked
around and began calling for Lucas.
Everyone called out the kids' names in the next few minutes.
Shantelle and Evan were in a panic, searching around convention hall
three. Attorney Scarlett was about to propose going
to the other convention halls when they finally heard a little girl's voice,
"Mommy, I'm just here!"
When the adults turned to the source of the voice, they found Lucas
standing next to her. He waved at them and said,
"Sorry, we were just talking." His voice turned frail as he admitted, "Under
the table."
The kids received the biggest scolding of their lives the next minute. Left
and right, their parents asked a series of
questions.
"Why did you do this? You got us all worried," Scarlett asked Lily.
Evan asked Lucas, "Why did you leave your seat without telling anyone?"
"Lucas, you shouldn't be walking around. Who knows if the floor is dirty?
Did you even spray the floor with disinfectant?"
Shantelle pointed out.
"Lily, you know your brothers will get mad," Kaleb said to his daughter.


"That's why!" Lily reasoned. "My brothers are always following me around.
It's no fun! I don't get to make friends with
boys. My girl classmates are also scared of my brothers!"
"I just wanted to make a friend," Lucas stated. "It's been months since I had
a friend my age."
Lucas' constant companions were Miguel, Mrs. Shaw, his private teacher,
and Eleanor. He loved them, but they didn't play
the games he enjoyed, nor were they relatable for his age. Because of this,
he said, "I just want to be friends with Lily.
Can I, dad?"
Evan and Shantelle both looked at each other. Then, they turned to Kaleb
Wright.
Kaleb shrugged and said, "I don't see why not!"
"My brothers will make it difficult for me to have friends," Lily claimed.
Kaleb laughed and swore, ’ Don't worry. I'll speak to your brothers."
Attorney Scarlett approached Lucas and explained, "Lucas, Lily lives with
us in another city. We are happy that you will be
friends with her, but you'll have to chat online most of the time
"That works!" Lucas exclaimed. "Since I'm not allowed out of the house
often, I can have an online friend for now."
Scarlett smiled, and so did the adults that surrounded the two kids. After
some time, Kaleb declared, "That settles it! No
more sneaking around to hide under the tables or wherever. You two will be
friends, and Lucas can call Scarlett or me to
Chat with Lily after school!" 1
“Yey!" The two kids cheered for joy, and they hugged each other.
"I'll finally have a friend!" Lucas exclaimed.
"I'll finally have a boyfriend!" Lily declared. 1
The adults gasped at their claims, especially Lily's. Their reactions,
innocence, and genuine yearning for friendship nearly
brought tears to their eyes.
After receiving approval from their parents, the two kids agreed on their
chat hours.
"I'll call you every after my class," Lily claimed, i


"I'll be waiting. Do you play Roblox? Can we virtually meet there instead?"
Lucas suggested.
"Sure, I love Roblox, but Daddy said I can only play an hour a day," Lily
revealed. "You are in grade two, right? We can
study together, instead! What's your favorite subject?"
Lucas' eyes lit up. He excitedly talked about his favorite subjects, "I love
Science, English, and Math! I wanna be a doctor
someday like mommy, or a businessman like daddy!"
"That's so cool!" Lily remarked. "You wanna be a doctor? I want to be a
race car driver, an athlete, or a police officer! You
can teach me about math because It's not my favorite, and I can teach you
about my favorite subjects! I love English and
PE! My all-time favorite is snack time!" 1
Lucas laughed at Lily's favorite subject and potential career choice while
her parents gasped in shock. Lily's mother,
attorney Scarlett, covered her mouth with her hand while her husband
pointed to her, lifting a brow.
"Well, this is good. Instead of playing cards and video games with your
brothers, you can study with Lucas. Maybe, you'll
change your favorite subject to Math and be a lawyer like your mommy,"
Kaleb Wright said, offering his hand to Lily.
"Come on, let's go back to your brothers."
"But I want to stay with Lucas!" Lily said with a frown.
"I wanna talk to Lily," Lucas begged with puppy eyes.
In the end, the adults agreed to have the two kids spend time together
under the watch of Miguel. The entire time, Lucas
received glares from Lily's brothers, but he wasn't intimidated. He was
under the protection of Kaleb's Wright's "Friendship
Approval."
The wedding party continued with more dances, live shows, expensive
drinks, and a grand display of food. The Wrights
had to call it a night at ten in the evening. Kaleb and Scarlett had to take
Lily away, and the two kids bid goodbye.
"Are you feeling better now, Lucas?" Lily asked.


”Uhuh, I think so, but I would not really know for sure until I get a blood test,
” Lucas revealed.
"Oh, well, in that case, let me give you a double dose!" Lily said before
kissing Lucas' cheek again. "Goodbye, Lucas!" 1
Lucas flushed as he waved at Lily. Meanwhile, the adults surrounding them
were in shock again.
Attorney Scarlett had to explain how she and her husband sometimes
would arrive lifeless at home. They would ask for a
kiss from their princess, and their energy would magically be revived. Of
course, that was all an act. Parents do it all the
time. But who would have thought Lily would apply it to Lucas? She never
kissed her own brothers!
After the Wrights left, another couple was missing.
"Have you seen, Karise?" Shantelle's friend, Felice, asked. "I need to go.
She said she would drive Celeste and me to our
hotel." 2
From their table, Shantelle looked around and realized that Keith was
missing, too. Beside her, Evan said, "I think they
might have left."
"What?" Celeste said. "I can't believe she would leave us hanging."
Shantelle shrugged and said, "I'll ask Miguel to take you guys. The two
might be working on the baby, you know."
Shantelle snorted and laughed. She was simply joking about it. She never
truly considered that Keith was ready to have a
child.
***
At the luxury restroom of the Royal Grand Convention, the door was locked
from the inside. Moans and erotic sighs could
be heard, along with slapping flesh.
Karise was pressed, facing against the wall, while Keith entered her from
behind and had been for minutes. She raised
her arm to reach for Keith's neck and turned, looking him in the eye. She
said, "You are so impulsive today. You are not


even wearing a condom. What has gotten into you? Ah! Fuck, you are so
big."
She felt his size had gone bigger inside of her. Keith already had a thick
girth, but she felt that evening, he was
significantly thicker. Her legs wound up shaking in the succeeding thrusts
he made.
"What were you thinking, asking for a sperm donor when you already have
me," Keith said before pushing hard.
"Aahh!" Karise's entire body shivered, feeling completely filled, her insides
expanding to accommodate Keith's size.
Keith was pumping faster inside her peach, and when he came, he pushed
Karise harder against the wall. His hand
cupped her exposed breast, and his butt-cheeks hallowed. His hips
squirmed behind Karise, relishing the feeling of having
come before finally pulling out.
He flipped Karise to face him and crashed his lips to hers. They made out
fervently in the luxury restroom. After Keith
peeled off Karise, he caressed her cheek and suggested, "Let's continue at
your apartment. This dress you are wearing is
so sexy; I've been thinking about fucking you all night."
Karise was still in a daze, but hearing Keith's suggestion, she shook her
head and fixed her clothes. She said, "Wait -wait.
Wait! Stop, right there."
Karise had gone along with their arrangement for months, but it was harder
to keep things platonic when Keith started
staying over at her apartment. They had sex all the time, but they did
intimate acts too. They would wake up in each
others' arms, bathe, cook breakfast, and have groceries together.
At that point, she needed to know, once and for all, where she stood in his
heart. She sought, "I want to know what this
means right now, Keith. Tell me, who am I to you? And what about Shanty?
How do you feel about her?"


CHAPTER 118
Chapter 118: Keith's Proposal
The question took Keith aback. He knew he was bound to have this talk
with her, but did not have the courage to ask. He
was somewhat relieved that Karise brought it up first. Keith replied, "Karise,
what do you think? I've been practically living
with you and paying for your apartment?"
"That is not the answer to my question, Keith!" Karise said. "I can't read
your mind. Tell me."
' And what about you? Aren’t you going to tell me your stand in this
relationship?" Keith sought. "You haven't said anything
neither."
"You are the man, so you go first," Karise insisted.
With a sigh, Keith shut his eyes for a second. Then, finally, he softly replied,
"Shanty will always have a special place in
my heart because we formed a good bond in Warlington, but that's all we'll
ever be, friends."
"Yes, I wanted to be with her, but it's not the same anymore." He clenched
his jaws and revealed, "I never told anyone
this, but back in Warlington, when Shanty was trapped in the fire, I failed to
save her. When Evan walked in, not caring for
his own life, I saw full determination in his eyes. Honestly, I realized then
that the way I felt for Shanty was no greater than
Evan's. I started acknowledging how I would never win against Evan. I
realized she deserved that; someone who could
love her better."


"When Shanty relocated to Rose Hills with Evan's help, I gave Evan his
blessing. I backed off completely, but it wasn't
until about two months ago that I thoroughly allowed myself to let go. It was
when Shanty and I had that talk," he added.
"Shanty told me to move on completely, and I agreed that I should. So, I... I
opened my eyes."
"There was no one else I could think of moving on to but you." He walked
closer to Karise and stroked her hair as he
described, "You comforted me, you listened to me, and you understood me.
Other women would try to seduce me, but
with you, it started with just... talking, you know."
"You were there for me when I needed a friend. I started looking forward to
seeing you. You made me laugh. You put me
at ease, and I wanted to spend more time with you. Honestly, I don't want
to be intimate with anyone else but you," Keith
said.
Karise narrowed her eyes at him, saying, "Oh, so I should be thankful that
you keep me up most nights."
A chuckle left Keith's lips. He reluctantly replied, "Ah. In a way, yes,
because I've never been a one-woman kind of guy,
going on for months. And we have been doing this thing for some time. I
thought only Shanty could possibly change me
into a better person, but surprisingly, since we started our arrangement, I
haven't slept with other women. I only went out
with you to parties, occasional dinners, and whatnot. Plus, when we,
somewhat became exclusive -"
"We were exclusive?!" Karise asked, bemused.
"Don't play with me, Karise! Did you see other men in the past two
months?! " Keith angrily asked.
"No!" Karise answered. "We have been spending too much time together; I
don't have the time to see other men
"Exactly my point!" Keith said, his voice raised. "That's when we became
somewhat exclusive. Oh, come on, Karise, I am
practically living in your apartment. I have clothes in your closet and have
been paying for your flat for two months. What


Do you think that means?"
"But I want clarity!" Karise objected. "Tell me in words!"
Keith raised his arms, eventually saying, "I want you to be my girlfriend,
okay? In fact, I think we should live together. That
we get to see each other every day. Do things more of a couple should."
Dead air fell upon them. Karise was utterly surprised. Her face burned as
the words left her lips, "Girlfriend? Me?
Couple?"
"Yes," Keith nodded.
"And live with you? You'll live in my apartment?" Karise clarified.
"Actually, I prefer if you move in with me," Keith replied. "I have nothing
against your house, but my penthouse is bigger,
perfect for both of us."
"I'll have my own room?" Karise asked.
"What the hell, Karise? What's the point of living with me if you will have
your room? You'll share my room, of course. It
will be our place!" Keith suggested.
"Our place?" Karise asked. The admission and offer were so overwhelming
to Karise that she doubted if it were true, 'Was
Is this the same playboy CEO, Keith Henderson?'
"Yes, our place," Keith acknowledged. He closed the gap between them,
his eyes looking straight at Karise, and he
cupped her chin. He kissed her lips and revealed, "For days now, I've been
thinking about taking you to my house, but I
haven't been able to ask. Honestly, I was afraid you would say no."
Seeing that she remained silent, he added, "I should tell you that no women
had ever been to my penthouse. You are the
the only girl that I am letting in."
That made Karise's eyes widen, and she bit her lip. If anything, Keith had
learned how her lip biting was a positive sign.
With her arms crawling up to his chest, Karise softly asked, "Keith, tell me,
what exactly do you feel for me?"
Keith studied her face for seconds. He pecked her lips, and after another
second, he replied, "Lately, you are all I think


about. I swear, it's not just sex. I like you a lot, Karise Myers. I ask that we
take a more serious route in this relationship
and you move in with me... So, will you be my girlfriend?"
She gawked at him for seconds, still in disbelief. However, seeing no signs
of doubt in his eyes, she answered, "Okay."
She inhaled deeply and added,” Keith. I'll be your girlfriend."
Karise leaned in and kissed him. They made out for a few seconds before
she admitted, "Keith, I feel the same way. I like
you a lot, and I want to see where this goes."
Keith smiled brightly. He replied, "Thank you, Karise. Thank you for taking a
chance on me. I know I am not the best
boyfriend candidate in the world. I can't promise to be perfect, but I'll work
hard. I am new at this. I never had a real
relationship."
He took her hand and pecked her knuckles, saying, "Try to be patient and
tell me what I am doing wrong."
With a nod, Karise acknowledged. She said, "I know. I am a little scared,
but I know what I'm getting into."
They stood there for some time, just grinning at each other. After a while,
Kieth asked, "So what will it be, girlfriend? Want
to go home to my place tonight?"
Karise bit her lip and seductively replied, "I wanna see your penthouse."
*•**
The next day, Karise woke up, tucked in Keith’s arms, her back facing him.
She smiled at the thought of what they did last
night, but at the same time, she frowned, feeling sore all over her body. She
attempted to face Keith, but he groaned,
pulling her waist tighter to his frame.
"Let's get more sleep," he suggested.
Just then, Karise heard her phone ring. She could only imagine it was her
friends. She had practically abandoned them
last night. Nonetheless, she was certain Shantelle would take care of their
transportation.
"I need to get the phone," she murmured.


A low growl escaped Keith's lips. He reached for Karise's phone from the
bedside table and gave it to her. Then, he
returned to cuddling with her, his lips pecking on her bare back.
"Shanty? Good morning," Karise greeted, answering the mobile.
"Where have you been? I have been calling you all night. The girls said
they went to your apartment at six in the morning,
but you weren't there," Shantelle revealed.
"Oh, my god. They did?" Finally, Karise was completely awake. "Why were
they there?"
"Duh, to say goodbye! Too late, though. They had already left the city.
Miguel drove them to the airport at eight in the
morning," Shantelle replied.
"What time is it?" Karise said before checking on the time. It was already
ten in the morning! "Oh, damn! They are gonna
hate me!"
"Oh, they will. Where are you, anyway? Are you okay?" Shantelle asked,
her voice showing genuine concern.
Karise turned to Keith. He was still asleep, his arm around her. She could
not blame him. They did four rounds at his
penthouse. Plus, the restroom sex, they had a total of five rounds. Keith
was tired as hell. 1
Clearing her throat, Karise bashfully confessed, "Um, I'm at Keith's
penthouse." Then, she whispered, "We sort of
formalized things. Guess who has a new boyfriend?"
Silence followed. Karise could not count how long Shantelle remained
mute. After what felt like forty seconds, Shantelle
said, "What in the world took you guys so long?! I thought you were never
going to name your relationship. Karise, I'm so
happy for you. Don't worry about the girls. Once you tell them you
abandoned them for love, they will understand."
"What kind of supporting words is that, Shanty?" Karise laughed thoroughly
before suggesting, "Let's not talk now. Keith is
sleeping -"
"Who's that? Shanty?" Keith said behind her with his drowsy eyes.


"Oh, my goodness! You are in bed - how nice," Shantelle teased. "Making
babies?"
"Pfft! Let's talk about it later," Karise repeated.
"That's fine with me. Evan and I are leaving for our honeymoon cruise.
Enjoy your baby-making sessions, okay! Haha.
See you in a week!" Shantelle suggested.
"Stop teasing me. Enjoy your honeymoon, and don't forget, bring on the
inferno!" Karise advised.
"Oh, that's the plan," Shantelle replied, laughing out loud before ending the
call.
"What's inferno?" Keith asked.
Karise simply chuckled. She said, "Tell you what, when we get to the right
stage, I'll let you experience inferno."

CHAPTER 119
Chapter 119: Inferno!
~ "So I love when you call unexpected 'Cause I hate when the moment's
expected
On Evan's and Shantelle's first night on their Caribbean cruise, they
attended a sensual dance lesson at a private club
where they swayed to the song, Earned It by The Weekend. It was part of
their honeymoon package, and Evan booked


the VIP hours, where they only shared the dance floor with two other
couples.
They followed simple steps of sensual closeness. Instructors were up on
stage to perform the dance. It involved teasing
touches, hugging, and swaying hips for the female while the men stood
there, appreciating their ladies. There was
occasional lifting, but nothing too dangerous for pregnant women, i
The lights were dimmed. Disco lights flashed from above, setting the mood
as the music continued.
Shantelle, in her red cocktail dress, was heartily following the steps, inciting
her husband. Her ass perfectly grazed over
his groin area. In the next beat, her back landed on Evan's chest, her hand
was thrown backward, her fingers tracing his
gorgeous face and neck.
With another beat, her body turned to face him completely, her legs lifted,
and Evan smirked. The man traced the outline
of her ass and the softness of her outer thigh while his other hand
supported her back.
They kissed briefly as the music resumed, and Evan hissed. He
whispered," I'm so turned on."
The couple ground their hips, following the instructors in front of them.
Shantelle gasped, smelling his expensive perfume
and the bulge beneath his pants. She bit her lip and said, "I think this was
the whole purpose of this honeymoon dance
lesson."
The next part of the routine required Shantelle to open a few buttons of
Evan's black shirt. Her fingers briefly and teasingly
made it inside to feel his bare chest. Evan groaned, and Shantelle could
make out how her husband cursed inside.
Another beat followed, and Shantelle turned her back to Evan. She put a
safe distance between them while her hands
were on her waist, slowly swaying her hips.
Seeing his wife giving him a slow dance utterly stirred his emotions. He had
been hard, so fucking hard, for the past two
songs. When Shantelle returned to him, she gave off that temptress look.


Who knew his wife could look so seductive? He loved this other side of
Shantelle, especially since they were away on
their honeymoon.
They went on, dancing a few more songs until the couple could no longer
hold back their desires. They left the exclusive
club and found themselves at their suite.
"Come here!" The second they entered the room, Evan grabbed Shantelle's
hand and abruptly pulled her into his chest.
She slammed against his solid frame, giggling.
Evan pulled up Shantelle's frame and urged her legs to be wrapped around
his waist. They kissed as he carried her all the
way to the bedroom. He lay her on the sheets before impatiently taking off
his clothes.
When he was completely bare, he was surprised to see his wife standing
beside the bed. Shantelle said, "Lie down,
Evan."
"My wife is up to something," Evan said, hissing.
Shantelle chuckled and repeated her instructions, "Lie down, husband."
Evan lay down on the extra large king bed, all while palming himself. He
was grinning from ear to ear as he made a pillow
out of his arm.
On the other hand, his wife swayed her hips as she made it to the closet.
The cupboard was in Evan's full view, and she
seductively pulled her dress down, revealing her thong.
"Fuck, my wife is so sexy," Evan said. Despite Shantelle growing her baby
bump, her figure remained slender, thanks to
her dieting.
Then she lazily pulled down her thong, purposely showing Evan her crack.
Another hiss left Evan's lips. "So beautiful.
Come to me, now, Wifey. I can't take it any longer."
The man noticed her massaging her own peach, and he groaned. He
thought it was incredibly hot. When she turned
around, he saw her bottom lips glistening. He bit his lip, asking, "What's
that, Wifey?"


Shantelle chuckled and replied, "You'll find out soon."
She raised her hand, exposing a gel-like material on her fingers before
settling between Evan's thighs. Shantelle reached
for his manhood and began massaging him.
"That's cold," Evan remarked. Then he smirked, "But, you know... we don't
need lubricant."
Shantelle chuckled and answered, "No, we don't."
After putting the gel around Evan's size, she spread an excess gel down to
his nuts. The man frowned, but he was
gasping in pleasure. He said, "I like it when you tease me like that."
Shantelle had taken out a strawberry-flavored oral gel. The smell
permeated her nostrils, and she had to take a taste. She
leaned down and started licking his nuts.
"Aaahh, Shanty -1 love you," Evan said, throwing his head back, i
"Mmmm," Shantelle hummed in delight. She loved eating Evan, but with
added flavor, it was more inviting. Shantelle was
licking almost all the gel content around his nuts, making Evan relentlessly
moan, his stick twitching involuntarily.
"Wifey, I love it. What in the world did you put in there?" Evan asked,
chasing his breath.
"You wanna know?" Shantelle asked, her tongue licking off her lips.
When Evan nodded, she slowly climbed up to him. She kissed his lips
before turning around and giving him her peach.
"Oh, yeah," Evan expressed, his eyes full of passion. He first grabbed
Shantelle's two round flesh. Evan adjusted his
frame so he was slightly elevated. He gently bit each of her butt cheeks
and kissed them repeatedly before lying back
down and appreciating his wife's entrance. "God, you are so beautiful."
"And you are so hard," Shantelle said before she began licking off his
member. From the base up to his tip, she traced it
with her tongue.
Evan shut his eyes at the feeling of being teased. Then, when Shantelle ate
him completely, he just had to take a taste at
her.


The man indulged, sucking her entire rose. He pulled away in an instant as
he said, "Strawberry."
"Strawberry," Shantelle echoed. "Aaahhh, Evan!"
In the next few seconds, Evan was eating her heartily. He was sucking her
and sometimes flickering his tongue against
her clit. Shantelle could not help but let her expression turn frail. At some
point, she ground against his mouth, and the
man let his face be buried completely.
"Fuck." Evan did not know how many times he cursed out of excitement. All
the more, when Shantelle returned to eating
his manhood. Knowing what they were both doing to each other added to
the flames of their wanting.
Evan had his fingers clenched on Shantelle's two round-flesh the entire
time. He often smacked her while sometimes
gripping her ass firmly as he held himself from cumming prematurely. That
night, they went on another level. This was the
most sensual thing they had done together, and Evan loved it.
Meanwhile, Shantelle was eagerly drinking him. She was hollowing her
cheeks, sucking him thoroughly, but when Evan
touched her sensitive part, she let go of his shaft with a pop. She sighed in
pleasure before telling him, "Right there, Evan.
Oh, god. That feels amazing. Keep doing that."
In the next few minutes, they were at it, expressing the way they loved the
feeling and the taste of each other. Aside from
pleasing each other with their mouths, their naked bodies were pressed
onto each other. The way their skins created
friction added to their passions.
Evan felt Shantelle's body stiffen. Knowing she was about to reach her
high, he picked up the pace, flickering his tongue
against her clit. It made Shantelle repeatedly moan in satisfaction, and
eventually, her body mildly convulsed.
He felt her skin and observed how she formed goosebumps. He continued
to suck her, extending her orgasm, and that
made her flounder on top of him. She said, "I love it, Evan!"


She returned to bobbing in between his thighs, allowing Evan's stick to go
deeper into her throat.
"Shanty. Fuck! Yeah!" Evan was relishing the feeling of reaching his wife's
throat. He could feel how it tightened around
his tip, which was ready to explode. Holding Shantelle's waist, he thrust up,
helping his wife with her movement.
"I'm cumming," he announced. He counted only seconds, then erupted into
Shantelle's mouth, his hips moving up.
"Aaahhh! Shanty!"
His skin crawled in delight, and his hold on Shantelle tightened. Then,
slowly, he felt her letting go of his manhood. He
said, "Wifey, on top of me.
I love it when you are on top."

CHAPTER 120
Chapter 120: The Perfect Name
Evan had just come, but he was still stiff as a rod. He didn't need any
viagra. All he needed was his wife. Shanty and
Shanty alone was his obsession, addiction, and the only woman who could
satisfy his needs.
He watched as Shantelle seductively raised her ass and gracefully sat on
him. She ground on him, rubbing her dampness
against his member. "Oh, yeah. Damn. I wish I could go on a honeymoon
forever."
Shantelle laughed. She replied, "Well, we can't. There is Lucas, and in six
months, I will be giving birth soon."
Evan reached for her breast. He grabbed it tightly before gently touching
her belly. He remarked, "They are growing. It
doesn't show when you wear loose clothes, but I can see it clearly."


"They will grow incredibly fast starting the second trimester, and I am
already crossing the next trimester," Shantelle
reminded him.
Shantelle was still sitting and grinding on his very thick and hard member.
She bit her lip and said, "Evan, after I give birth
and when I can return to our usual bed activity, I want more of you."
Evan hissed and offered, "You can have all of me."
"As I am yours," Shantelle replied, smiling.
Just as he smirked, she raised herself and held his stick in position. Evan
groaned in pleasure, watching his member go
inside his wife. It was simply the most scenic view that stirred his emotions
thoroughly. He felt his member grow bigger
inside his wife as her rose sucked him in like a wet and soft vacuum. He
wailed again, this time, so much
longer,"Aaaaaah! Aaaaah!"
Shantelle rested her hands on his chest. She first ground on him while his
length was inside of her. She shut her eyes,
feeling his member tickling her inner walls. She also had her fair share of
loud cries. She said to herself, '1 love inferno!'
"Wifey, I can't - enough of this teasing. I'm gonna cum again, and I'm only
allowed inside you once a day!" Evan could not
help but complain, and Shantelle pouted her lip. She chuckled lightly and
began to ride Evan properly, her frame bouncing
over him.
Evan often took control, pressing Shantelle against his frame and thrusting
upward. He loved it that way since he could
kiss her thoroughly and feel her breast against his chest. He could also
hold her ass and spank it anytime he pleased.
When Shantelle took control, Evan was constantly looking at his stick. He
repeatedly hissed at how it glowed in her love
juice. A few times, he tried to pleasure her clit, and his wife would moan.
Sensing his near climax, Evan urged Shantelle to lie down with him. She
first lay on his chest, keeping his stick inside her.
Then he gently settled her on her side. He lifted her right leg and settled it
around his waist. He looped his left leg over her


left leg and began pumping into her in a sticky scissor position.
The couple had recently discovered this position, exploring a few best ones
meant for pregnancy in the first trimester.
Evan thought this was the best since it pressed their bodies together, but
there was no pressure on Shantelle's belly. It
only allowed him to exert force in their groins, which was ideal for him.
At that point, the melodies of their lovemaking were so damp. The sound of
their slapping flesh appeared deafening with
how they focused only on each other. Their erotic screams and moans filled
the suite's air.
"Evan!" Shantelle came first. She clutched onto his chest, her body
trembling in euphoria.
Sensing her orgasm first, Evan sped his pumping. He pushed deeper and
harder, his hand holding her ass tightly, lifting it
to give him more room. With his vigorous thrusting, Evan came in no time.
He smashed his lips into Shantelle's mouth and
tasted her sweet tongue.
The couple remained one, kissing each other for another minute. Evan and
Shantelle landed on their backs when they
pulled away, chasing their breath.
"That was... amazing," Evan claimed.
"Inferno," Shantelle said under her breath. In her head, she thought it was
just a mild scene. She learned more sizzling
lovemaking sessions from the designer, Sarah Kate.
"Wifey? What is inferno?" Evan asked.
"Oh, nothing. Something I read in Cosmopolitan," Shantelle lied and
laughed at the end.
"Looks like that subscription is doing you good," Evan teased.
"Yeah, it did," she said, laughing boisterously.
After their hot first night of honeymoon, the couple bathed and prepared for
sleep. Just as they settled in the bed,
However, Shantelle said, "I'm hungry."
"What? Right now?" Evan said.


"I'm starving," Shantelle confirmed, getting up. "They have twenty-four-hour
in-room dining. Let's have some pasta. I could
use some carbs after what we did."
***
"Shanty, you and Evan should get some sleep," Eleanor said, observing the
time.
"Well, I was hungry, and while I was taking my midnight snack, I thought of
checking on Lucas," Shantelle reasoned. They
were on a cruise, and a
The signal was tough, but the ship had Wi-Fi that allowed them to connect
to their families.
Eleanor and William stayed in the villa with Lucas while the couple was on
their honeymoon. Lucas would stay with Erick
and Clara at the old Thompson House on the weekend.
After showing Shantelle a video of the sleeping Lucas, Eleanor said, "See?
He is fast asleep. He had quite a day! He
played with Lily for half a day."
Shantelle smiled. Before they left, Attorney Scarlett dropped her daughter
since Lily was adamant about playing with
Lucas. It made it easier for Shantelle to leave, knowing Lucas had a friend
to talk to. With Kaleb
Wright's itinerary, their family would remain in Rose Hills for another two
days. Lily would visit Lucas on those same days.
"I'm glad he is fine," Shantelle remarked. "Take care of Lucas, Mom."
"You know, I will." Eleanor smiled at the video camera and said, "Enjoy your
honeymoon, Shanty."
Shantelle was chewing down the last of her pasta when her mother bid
goodbye. She smiled, waving goodbye. It was
Evan who said, "Night, mom!"
After the call with Eleanor, the couple chatted for a few minutes. Shantelle
asked, "How is it doing at the company?"
"It's perfectly fine. Kaleb Wright is very understanding. He is taking care of
the needs for the condo hotel's grand opening


next month," Evan said. "My VP is very effective. James does wonders for
me."
"James is great. He has been so loyal to you," Shantelle pointed out.
"And don't worry about this vacation. It's only a week, and I am meeting the
cruise ship's owner. He is considering selling
the company because his son is mismanaging it," Evan revealed. "We will
be meeting them once we reach Punta Cana.
They are currently taking a vacation on the island."
"Oh. Hitting two birds with one stone?" Shantelle asked.
"Yes," Evan admitted. "Shall we go to sleep?"
Shantelle nodded, and Evan offered to carry his wife in princess style.
"Can I still carry you like this all throughout your pregnancy?" Evan asked.
Shantelle laughed and replied, "No, I'm afraid I will gain weight, plus the
water weight and two babies. I'll be too heavy, but
you can guide me to bed. M
While gently laying her on the bed, Evan pecked her nose and lips. He
said," Then, while I can, I wanna carry you to sleep
every night."
Smiling brightly, Shantelle replied, "I’d like that. I love you, Evan."
A hiss left Evan's lips, and Shantelle laughed boisterously. Shantelle
complained, "Come on, Evan. Are you serious?"
"I got a boner, but I will always hold back for the sake of our babies," Evan
said while lying beside her. He pulled her
closer to him and made Shantelle sleep in his arms. With one last peck on
her cheek, he said, "I love you, Mrs.
Thompson."
He grinned from ear to ear, saying, "Sounds perfect. Shantelle ScottThompson."
"Perfect name," Shantelle echoed before yawning, her eyes closing.
"Stellar," Evan added. "I'm telling you, no other name fits you perfectly."
Shantelle could not help but laugh. She said, "Go to sleep, Evan. I'm
sleepy."
"Carbs did that to you," Evan reasoned, and Shantelle only chuckled.
"Goodnight, Evan," Shantelle said.


Evan watched Shantelle sleep for a few minutes. He could not count the
many times he pecked her cheek. He stroked her
hair repeatedly, still amazed at how Shantelle had returned to his life.
He was about to sleep himself when an idea crept into his head. With
difficulty, he reached for his phone from the bedside
table and called his assistant through a messaging app. James answered
in his sleepy voice. Evan quickly instructed,
"James, first thing in the morning, make new name plates for Shanty. Make
sure she has about ten pieces of her new
name; Doctor Shantelle Scott-Thompson. Have her office name changed
as well as her work email. Get the forms for her
ID changes too. My wife can sign them when we return."
"Yes, sir," James nodded.
"Call the HR at the heart and lung center. Make sure her civil status is
changed," Evan added, i
"Yes, sir," James acknowledged.
Evan brightly smiled. Before their marriage, Evan only claimed to be
married, but now it was for real. Evan could not be
more proud. He added," Of course, make sure to change my status too."
"Gladly, sir!" James said.

CHAPTER 121
Chapter 121: Avenge The Tarts
Cruise Day Three.
"Wifey, I'm sorry. I didn't think they would serve canapes with anchovies."
Evan massaged Shantelle's back. "I had them
take back the compliments. They willingly made you some seafood ramen
for free to soothe your stomach."


The couple was about to start their dinner at the cruise ship's seafood
restaurant when Shantelle took a whiff of the
anchovies' unpleasant smell. She wound up puking in the outer areas of
the restaurant, her frame leaning against the
ship's railings.
After wiping her face with a tissue, Shantelle searched for the restroom,
saying, "TH wash my face, Evan."
"I'll go with you," he offered.
To the ladies' room?" She objected. "It's just six tables away, Hubby. I'll be
fine. I only need a fresh outlook at dinner
before trying it again."
Shantelle took one step and retreated, saying, "If they have those
pineapple tarts from two days ago, I think that would
make me feel better. I loved those."
"Wifey, I already asked. They said they ran out. I'm sorry. However, we
might stumble upon them on our next land tours,"
Evan replied. On day one of the cruise, Shantelle tasted a pineapple tart
and had been asking for it since. "When we do,
I'll buy as many as I can. I promise."
Hearing Evan's reply, Shantelle pouted her lip and walked in the restroom's
direction.
Inside the ladies' room, Shantelle walked in just in time to hear a loud
banging at the last cubicle. Her head turned to the
source of the sound. Next, she heard the moans of a man and a woman!
Shantelle felt utterly disgusted as she heard pants zipping and the woman
giggling. She shook her head as she washed
her hands. While washing her face, the unknown woman came out, rushing
to the door. Shantelle did not bother to look
and focused on freshening up.
"Well, well. If it isn’t Doctor Shant." Shantelle shifted to the last cubicle door
and saw a familiar man, but she could not put
a name to his face. He had a brownish complexion. He was tall and
well-built. Shantelle could not deny the man was
charming with his form, but of course, no one could beat her man.


"Don't you remember me?" The man asked. "You operated on me two
years ago. Allen Banks."
"Oh." Shantelle's mouth formed into a big 0. How could she have forgotten
the man whose girlfriend accused her of being
a mistress?!
"You look beautiful," Allen described. "Damn! I should have pursued you.”
"Please." Shantelle rolled her eyes. She grabbed a paper towel and
remarked, "Cardiologists were more of your thing,
Mister Banks."
"Allen! I knew you were in here!" A woman walked in, and Shantelle
belatedly recalled this woman was Alien's girlfriend,
Bridget something. She could not remember. She recalled how this woman
stalked her for days at Warrington Hospital,
thinking she was Allen's side bitch. "You are fucking another woman behind
my back, aren't you?"
"Wait. Are you still together?" Shantelle could not help but ask. She just
witnessed Allen banging a woman, but apparently,
he was still together with his girlfriend!
"I remember you! It's you, isn't it? He is having an affair with you!" Bridget
cried. "Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"Woah! Woah, leave Doc out of this!" Allen tried to calm his girlfriend, but
soon, Bridget became irrational, screaming and
crying, her fingers trying to scratch Shantelle.
"Careful what you say, miss, because I only came here to wash my face,
then I found your boyfriend in the woman's
restroom! Don't spout untrue accusations!" Shantelle barked. She walked
to the door and claimed, "I am a happily married
woman, and I have nothing to do with Mister Banks!"
Shantelle shut the door hard and found her way to Evan.
"What's going on there?" Evan asked, seeing a woman frantically shouting
from the restroom. She appeared to be
slapping a man's face loudly.
"Where is that woman? I'm going to teach her a lesson!" Bridget screamed,
but unfortunately, she did not find Shantelle.


Security came to usher her and Allen outside the restaurant, for they were
disturbing all the diner's peaceful meals. In the
In the end, the restaurant offered free desserts as an apology.
Seeing Allen and his girlfriend gone, Shantelle shook her head. She
explained everything, including how she was
mistaken for the woman Allen had done in the restroom. She also said,
"That man was my patient before.
I remember now. I put a stent on his blocked artery."
She described, "He was always flirtatious, but I was used to patients like
him. I just ignored him. After the operation, he
sent me flowers and other gifts as thanks. Then his girlfriend assumed he
was cheating on her with me!"
With a frown, she revealed, "Later, the hospital found out Mister Banks was
doing his cardiologist because they did it in
the hospital before he was discharged, but I was repeatedly blamed."
With narrowed eyes, Evan said in irritation, "I'll talk to the restaurant and
schedule a meeting. I want to ensure that man
clears you and the girl sees you have no reason to betray me. Besides, no
one gets to talk to you that way! You are
Miss Thompson."
The truth was, Shantelle did not want to be bothered by them, but she also
considered that Bridget needed to understand
how she had nothing to do with Allen. With a sigh, Shantelle replied, "Okay.
I agree. No one gets to talk to me that way."
Thanks to the ramen, Shantelle felt better. The warm soup, the hint of
saltiness, and the noodles gave her happy
hormones. Their dinner still turned out to be delightful.
After supper, Evan spoke to the restaurant manager. The manager was
apologetic about the earlier commotion and tried
to offer the couple more compensation, such as a free dinner.
Evan realized they were being evasive. He thought they were helping
Mister Banks. He said, "Is Mister Banks a regular
customer? Is that why you don't want me to meet him? I simply want to
clarify the issue."


With a look of defeat, the manager said, "I'll arrange it, Mister Thompson.
I'll update you anytime tomorrow."
***
Before Evan and Shantelle heard from the seafood restaurant manager, the
couple had to get off the cruise ship. The ship
had docked in Punta Cana and was off to meet with the owner of
Caribbean Sales, the cruise ship company.
Hendrick Grant, the company’s president, had been sick for the past year
and entrusted the business to his son, but it was
a failure. His only saving chance was for Evan to buy his cruise lines.
From the port, a private limo welcomed Evan and Shantelle. They were
taken to a luxury resort and guided into the lobby.
They were heading to a meeting room when Shantelle saw the Caribbean
dessert she had longed to have. She said,
referring to the lobby cafe, "Oh, look, they have it in a specialty box!"
Shantelle pointed at the glass display and reminded him, "Those pineapple
tarts I've been yearning for after the first day
of the cruise. Get them for me, Evan, please! Please! Please!"
"Anything for my wife," Evan assured her.
Before Evan could reach the small cafe, a woman had bought the entire
box. Evan tried to ask the resort for more, but
they had already run out.
When the man turned to his wife, he saw sadness in her eyes. He knew
she craved the treat badly. Evan swore, "I'll get
those for you, Wifey."
As Evan ran after the customer who bought the entire box of tart, the hotel
staff guided Shantelle to the meeting room.
She was still alone when she settled in one seat, but the hotel staff had
already begun serving starters and beverages.
After five minutes, another hotel staff member returned with the tart box.
The young man said, "Mister Thompson is still settling the
payment with the woman, Misses Thomspon. He should be here any
minute now."


"Eeeh! I love this!" Shantelle squeaked in delight, seeing the box of
pineapple tarts. She did not care how much Evan paid
forthem. She just wanted them so badly. She impatiently ate one, and she
was in heaven! Shantelle swore she could
finish the entire box.
"Like it, guys?" She was the happiest as she talked to her growing babies.
Shantelle was about to eat another piece when four individuals walked in;
An older man in his late sixties, a middle-aged
man, Bridget and Allen Banks!"
Before Shantelle could process anything, Bridget screamed, "You! What
are you doing here? I can't believe the audacity!
It's not enough that you are trying to steal my boyfriend. You just had to
stalk us, too!"
"Get out!" Bridget screamed. "You cheap whore!"
She marched into Shantelle's seat and pushed the box of pineapple tarts
away. "Take that dirty food with you!"
Shantelle gasped, seeing the treats fly into the air. It played in slow motion
how each piece landed on the floor, some
breaking in the process.
A tear rolled down her cheek, realizing she only had one taste of those
delicious... pineapple tarts. It wasn't fair! She
should at least have three pieces, one for the other twin and one for her!
Evan's efforts played in her head. Her beloved husband had chased after a
woman to buy these precious pineapple tarts,
only to be thrown away by this unreasonably jealous woman! Shantelle
thought she had been jealous of her previous
marriage, but she had never done such a sinister thing - to throw away
some of the world's most remarkable creations!
‘Oh, poor precious pineapple tarts!' she silently remarked. It was as though
darkness had cloaked her that she swore to
avenge the tarts.
While Bridget kept throwing accusations, Shantelle's eyes darkened, and
her hands clenched into fists. Trembling in


anger, she pointed at Bridget and declared, "You will pay for what you did
to my tarts!"
"What? Tarts?" Bridget laughed. She declared, "Woman, trust me when I
say, when I am done with you, you will have
more problems than your tarts!"

CHAPTER 122
Chapter 122: Shanty’s Super Powers
"You try to steal my man, and all you can think of are those tarts?" Bridget
taunted. She was so full of rage she did not
analyze the situation appropriately. She turned to Allen and said, "Were you
meeting her here too? In front of my father?"
Bridget shifted her attention to the older man and revealed, "Father, this
woman is seducing Allen! She is on the cruise
ship - our cruise ship!"
Returning her gaze to Shantelle, she declared, "I should have you thrown
overboard from the cruise ship! Do you know
Who are you messing with? My father owns a cruise ship! I am Bridget
Grant, an heiress to Caribbean Sales!"
"Bridget, what are you saying? Doc and I did not schedule to meet. Maybe
she is here for a reason?" Allen tried to
explain.
"Lady, what brings you here?" The older man calmly sought. "Is it true what
my daughter is saying? You seem to be a fine
lady. You should find your own man to love."
"Another one of your hoes, Allen?" The middle-aged man questioned.


'What? Tongue-tied? I gave you a pass two years ago because I had no
evidence. But this is evidence enough, how were
you in the restroom with my boyfriend last night? How you are on the cruise
ship coincidentally as us-"
"Bridget, enough!" Allen barked. He turned to the older man and said,"
Mister Grant, I swear it is not true
"HAHAHAHA!" Before they could get answers from Shantelle, an ominous
laugh escaped her lips. Shantelle was gentle
and beautiful - a very kind soul, but that day, she appeared to be the
scariest person in the room.
Everyone else felt their skins crawl, their steps retreating at how frightening
she looked.
"Heiress to the Caribbean Sales? You mean sinking sales, right?" Shantelle
corrected, her eyes rounding at Bridget. "You
are so proud of your wealth and using it to bully other people, yet your
influence is no match to mine!"
"Throw me overboard? Let's see who gets to be thrown overboard when I
am through with you!" Shantelle's eyes
tightened. She declared, "I am
Misses Shantelle Thompson, wife of Evan Thompson, and I will make you
suffer for what you did to my tarts!"
Those standing before Shantelle were Hendrick Grant, the owner of the
Caribbean Sales, his son, Hans Grant, his
daughter Bridget and a future son- in-law, Allen. At first, they were taken
aback by Shantelle's revelation.
Eventually, they realized how it made sense. Why would the hotel staff
allow the woman inside the meeting room?
However, they failed to think logically because of Bridget's sudden
aggression.
Hendrick Grant's face paled, realizing what his daughter had done, but
before he could apologize, Bridget said with a
trembling voice, "Nice - nice try, Doctor Shant! Aren't - aren't you a
divorcee?"


Bridget tried to toughen up, but she feared that Shantelle's words were
valid. She added, "I bet you have longed for a rich
man to save you from despair. Naming a powerful man won't help you
"What happened to the tarts?! Who did this?" A man's voice thundered
across the meeting room. The Grants and Allen
snapped their heads in Evan's direction.
Like Shantelle, Evan's eyes widened in horror, seeing the crumbled tarts on
the floor. He just bought the box of tarts for a
thousand dollars! And while money was not an issue for him, the point was,
they were for his pregnant wife!
He chased after an older lady who had initially bought the tarts and used
his fine long legs and expensive shoes against
the pavement. He ran
around the hotel to find the nearest ATM because the lady wanted cash as
payment!
The man did everything so his wife's cravings would be satisfied and he
would continue to receive love. Fear flashed into
Evan's face. Would his wife let him sleep on the couch that night?
Meanwhile, Bridget was stunned to see the tall and handsome man in the
form of Evan. He wore expensive clothes and
had an aura. He had sharp eyes and a chiseled face. Despite the sweat on
his forehead, she thought he was
exceptionally alluring! She wound up gulping at the sight of him, but soon
after, she wondered, 'Why was he asking about
the tarts? Just what was in those tarts? Did they have diamonds?'
"M - Mister Thompson, I can explain," Hendrick Grant said, his hands
raised, hoping it would calm Evan down. "My
My daughter, Bridget, made a mistake. Please forgive her and forgive us."
Only Hendrick knew Evan's face. He recognized him immediately and
connected the dots, thanks to how he reacted to the
tarts!
"Wifey?" Evan asked Shantelle.
Shantelle's gaze turned devilish as she pointed to Bridget. She revealed,"
Husband, it was her? She destroyed all the


tarts. Then she implied that I tried to covet Mister Banks."
"'You again!" Evan angrily called. "Last night, you accused my wife of being
with your boyfriend when she only needed to
wash her face. I was tables away, and she was in and out of the restroom
for five minutes!"
"Much more," Evan closed in, saying, "Why would my wife cheat on me
when she has me?! Does that even make sense
to you?" Evan walked to Allen, asking, "Who is Allen Banks? Is he as
handsome as me? Obviously, not. Is he a multimillionaire like me?"
As Evan berated, Hendrick Grant glowered at his daughter. His son, Hans,
also gave Bridget questioning glares. Allen
was also convinced himself. If he were Shantelle, he would not cheat on
Evan!
"I -1!" Bridget howled in tears. She said, "I thought! I really thought so! I'm
sorry!"
"Sorry, do not cut it!" Evan yelled in Bridget's way. He demanded, "You will
have to pay for those tarts!"
"Mister - Mister Thompson, please. We apologize. I'm sure we can arrange
something," This time, Hans Grant suggested.
"Speak to me!" Shantelle demanded as she returned to her seat. "I hold the
power because I am Misses Thompson!" With
her chin up, she added,"
Evan will do anything I say."
She turned to Evan and said, ‘I don't want to buy the cruise ship! Let them
go bankrupt for all I care! Let them lose the
billions of dollars they have worked for since Bridget has no respect for
me!"
Evan stood behind his wife. He responded, "Anything you say, Shanty."
"Announce to the business world how the Grants have humiliated me, your
wife," Shantelle added. "No one will ever do
business with Caribbean Sales."
"Please, please," Hans started to beg. "We need help. We will lose so
much. We can refund your cruise tickets!"


"We can give you an extended cruise," Hendrick Grant offered. "Or, I can
sell you the company for half the price, don't
leave us hanging. We might lose everything if we don't get help -"
"No!" Shantelle firmly said. "I'm not interested in your offers. It's not just
compensation for how you have wronged me!"
They all turned to Evan in shock, but the man only suggested, "My wife has
the power. I will do anything she says."
In the next few minutes, the Grants started offering other gifts.
"We have a house in the Bahamas. We can give you that."
"Bridget has the latest Ferrari. You can have it!"
"Can we at least have a partnership?"
Bridget, who had been crying for minutes, went down on her knees. The
thought of losing her wealth and status scared
her the most. She begged," Please, I can make a public apology. I can
recommend Doctor Shant to my social circle.
Please help us."
"No," Shantelle firmly said. "It's not the rightful compensation for what your
daughter has done to me!"
The Grants offered more options, but Shantelle rejected them outright.
"Please, Misses Thompson," Hendrick also went down on his knees. His
eyes landed on the crumbled tarts. An idea crept
into his head, and he offered, "I know the store from which the pineapple
tarts are made. I can order a few boxes before
you return to the ship. Will that help?"
Finally, he caught Shantelle's attention. She pretended to be unaffected for
seconds, but soon, she raised her brows and
cleared her throat, saying," First, you must teach your daughter some
manners. She cannot be anywhere near my
husband or me. Second, I will require a public apology from Bridget. Third, I
want four boxes of pineapple tarts before
leaving Punta Cana. Lastly, I want a monthly package of the tarts delivered
to my home before I give birth!"
"If you are amenable to these terms, I will allow my husband to negotiate
with you," Shantelle added, her jaws clenched.


In the following seconds, Hendrick Grant finally understood what made
Misses Thompson mad to the point that she made
they beg on their knees. She was pregnant all along!
Bridget's accusations clearly angered Misses Thompson, but what enraged
her more were the tarts! Of course, it had to
be the tarts!
Hendrick glared at his daughter and reprimanded, "Bridget! How could you
throw away a pregnant woman's food? We got
in all this trouble because of you! Get out! And bring your good-for-nothing
boyfriend with you!"
***
Hours passed. Shantelle got her four boxes of pineapple tarts. She was
happy again. While Evan negotiated with
Hendrick and Hans Grant, she ate an entire box merrily.
In the end, Evan agreed to a partnership instead of a full buy-out. He
concluded he still needed the Grants' experience.
Their only downfall was that Hans, Hendrick's son, needed more marketing
and leadership skills to manage the cruise
line.
Their parties verbally agreed on the next course of action before the couple
returned to the cruise ship at night. In the car,
Evan remarked,"
Wifey, you were so brave earlier. I was so fucking proud of you. You could
potentially run my business!"
Shantelle snorted as she laughed. She revealed, "I only wanted the tarts."
2 "I know," Evan admitted.
"But, I have realized that I have superpowers!" Shantelle announced. "You
should have seen how their bodies trembled in
fear when I said; I am
Misses Shantelle Thompson."
"If someone would look down on me next, I would say, I am Misses
Shantelle Thompson! Buy me a strawberry milkshake!
Make those two!” Shantelle declared. "I could get used to that." 1


Evan laughed. He put his arm around Shantelle and claimed, "Get used to
it, Shanty, because that is your permanent
name."
When Evan glanced at the three remaining boxes of pineapple tarts, he
asked, "Can I have one? They look delicious."
Shantelle bit her lip. She looked down at her sweet tarts before giving off an
awkward smile. She took out one piece and
was about to feed her husband when she pulled her hand back and said,
"Oh, this one looks more delicious."
She bit half of the tart and fed the half to Evan.
The man frowned. As he chewed down half of the tart, he started laughing.
He said, "I thought you loved me, Shanty!"
"Well, loving is sharing, Evan, and what you did is you shared with me and
the twins." Shantelle hugged Evan and said,
"Thank you for loving me, Evan.

CHAPTER 123
Chapter 123: Couple's Advice
During their last night on the cruise, the couple went stargazing on the
ship's upper deck. Evan had booked a private area
of one of the vessel's pool bars, where they enjoyed the view of the sky
from sunset until the stars gleamed at night.
"So beautiful," Shantelle remarked. "It's so different from stargazing on a
cruise ship. It's like, you are moving along with the
sky."
"We should do this again," Evan concluded.
They had sun lounges arranged for them to lie on. Shantelle was resting on
Evan's arms as her eyes were fixed on the
sky. As the ocean breeze brushed her skin, she hugged herself and moved
closer to Evan. The cool air and the sweet
the scent of the sea lulled her to sleep, secured in her husband's arms.
Shantelle did not know how long she dozed off, but she woke up, hearing
her husband calling out to her.


"Shanty! Shanty, look! You can’t miss it!" Evan said. ’’Wake up, Wifey!"
Shantelle fluttered her eyes awake. Turning to her left, she realized that
Evan was no longer beside her.
"Shanty! Come on!" Evan called again.
She realized that Evan was already by the railings, watching the seas. He
said, "Check this out!"
With a frown, she said, "What is so amazing that you had to wake me up
from a good sleep?" As she approached Evan,
He offered his hand and guided her to the railings. It was only from where
she stood that she discovered why the man had
disturbed her sleep. "Oh, my god! Planktons!"
As the water crashed against the ship, it glowed in neon blue. The longer
they lingered by the railings, the view became
thrilling as dolphins appeared out of nowhere. The dolphins were hard to
see in the dark, but the planktons took their
forms, making them easier to recognize.
"Oh, it looks so beautiful!" Shantelle sighed, saying, "Wonders of the sea.
Just amazing!"
She looked at Evan and pecked his cheek, her hand wrapping around his
waist. She claimed, "This had been such an
awesome vacation. Thank you, Evan, for taking me on a cruise."
After spending another half an hour watching the bioluminescence of the
sea, Shantelle and Evan returned to the lower
deck, intending to rest for the night in their suite.
When they made their way through the center lobby, they saw Allen Banks
making out with another woman. The woman
was a blonde like Shantelle, and that's when she recognized this was the
same woman Allen had done in the bathroom
three nights ago.
It reminded the couple how Bridget and Allen were still part of the cruise.
Only Hendrick and his son were taking a
vacation at Punta Cana island.
Next, the scene that Shantelle was afraid of came true. Bridget suddenly
appeared, pulling the woman's hair and calling


her a whore.
"Let's go, Wifey. It's none of our business," Evan suggested. However,
Shantelle could not let it go.
She freed her hand and marched in their direction, with Evan following her.
"Choose Allen, this woman or me?" Shantelle heard Bridget ask Allen.
Allen immediately replied to Bridget, "Of course, you, baby! I love you."
Allen said a few more sweet words to Bridget,
making her look confident in front of the other woman.
While Allen kept praising Bridget, Shantelle intercepted and spat, "Don't
listen to his lies, Bridget. He repeats the same
words, giving you endless promises he cannot keep!"
"Please, Misses Thompson, I know what I am doing. Allen loves me,"
Bridget said. She was about to tell more when
Shantelle slapped her in the face.
Shantelle barked, "Why are you so blind, Bridget? Mister Banks fucks
around at each chance he gets! He has been doing
that to you for years, yet you are still together? The worst part about this is
that you keep blaming the women around you
but not him! Wake up! You are a beautiful woman who studied at a
reputable school. Find yourself a better man!"
She was about to leave with Evan, but Shantelle noticed how Bridget was
still standing there, shocked. Her hand, feeling
her red cheek.
"Arrgh! Come here, Bridget!" Shantelle dragged Bridget with her. With Evan
glaring at Allen. The latter remained in his
stance, watching as the couple left with Bridget.
In another lounge area, the couple settled in the couches with Bridget. For
minutes, Bridget remained silent, just
pondering about what had happened. Shantelle simply waited, drinking
fresh juice and watching Bridget. On the other
Evan sat next to his wife, observing.
After what felt like forever, Bridget looked up at Shantelle and said, "No one
has ever done that to me."


"I'm sorry if I slapped you, but you needed a wake-up call," Shantelle
pointed out.
Tears stained Bridget's face as she revealed, "No one has ever told me the
truth in that way." She looked down and
admitted, "My friends kept telling me that I should fight for Allen and make
every whore he sleeps with realize who they
we're messing with, but you are the only one who said." She sniffed and
added, "You said I deserve someone better."
"No one has ever looked at it that way," Bridget added.
Shantelle and Evan looked at each other. Eventually, Shantelle said, "Then,
they are not your true friends because true
friends would not want you to keep suffering the same way over and over
again."
"Value yourself, Bridget. Wake up and realize how Mister Banks will only
keep hurting you," Shantelle suggested.
"Having misunderstandings in relationships is one thing, but having a
manwhore for a boyfriend is another story. I'm sorry,
but I don't think your boyfriend will ever be faithful to you," Evan remarked.
"I -1 don't know how." Bridget sucked in a breath, saying, "I'm so in love
with Allen. I don't know if I can survive not being
with him."
Shantelle moved closer to Bridget and proposed, "What is it that you do,
Bridget? Divert your energy into something more
meaningful."
She turned to Evan before redirecting her gaze to Bridget. She did not
expound in detail, but she explained, "I should tell
you, I was once like you I mean, not exactly, but I was once hurt. However, at some point, I stopped
hurting myself. You see, when you keep
exposing yourself to those that cause you pain, you will lose your
confidence and love for yourself."
"Instead, find yourself. Why not chase your dreams? Become the person
you had always wanted to be? What is it? A


model? A singer?" Shantelle proposed, "Love yourself first, and everything
else will follow. You'll see. Furthermore, if you'll
always let Allen think that he can have his way and you'll forgive him, he
won't change. Although, I think Allen is a
hopeless case."
The couple gave Bridget advice that would keep her thinking overnight
before their ship would dock. Aside from Bridget, it
gave Evan some things to ponder about.
When Shantelle and Evan lay on their beds that night, the man asked,"
Shanty, is that how it was for you? You needed
to leave Rose Hills to find yourself?"
Shantelle fell silent. She turned to Evan and admitted, "I lost my confidence
in the later part of our first marriage,
especially after our divorce. I barely recognized myself. Leaving wasn't
entirely my idea. It was Dad's, but to answer your
question, I think, yes, leaving was good for me."
"You would have been my greatest hindrance to achieving my medical
degree in such a short time. If we did not split and I
pursued medicine while married, I would have taken my time and become
your perfect- imaged wife while studying. I
would still be in my residency today," Shantelle described. "The parting was
painful, I know, but it changed me into a
stronger person and paved the way for me to achieve my dreams faster."
"And you wouldn't have realized how you loved me," Shantelle pointed.
She hugged Evan and yawned, saying, "I think by
now we know that good things came out from my leaving."
"I'm sorry again, Shanty, but you are right," Evan agreed. "I'm just glad I
found you again."
"Someone once told me, if you love something, set it free. If it comes back,
it's yours," Shantelle said. "I believe,
wholeheartedly, that the advice given was true."
***
Getting off at the port, Evan and Shantelle were welcomed by a private car.
The driver was loading their luggage onto the


back when the couple noticed how Bridget had disembarked at the same
time. She rushed, pulling her red luggage, and a
The driver helped her with her things.
Allen was running behind her, begging, Baby, please. I love you. Don't
leave me here."
"Get your own fucking flight home, Allen! Better yet, get your whore to buy
you a flight home! You are not coming with
me!" Bridget said back to Allen, and the driver, plus the cruise's security,
helped push Allen away.
From where Shantelle was standing, she saw Bridget nod at her, and she
smiled. Bridget mouthed, 'Thank you.'
Shantelle simply mouthed back, 'Welcome.'
"I'm glad she learned her lesson. If she hadn't, I might reconsider canceling
the partnership agreement with her father,"
Evan said. "Allen would have added to the issues of the Grants if they
married."
Shantelle chuckled and said, "I think she thought about it well."
"That must have been some slap you gave her," Evan suggested.
"Oh, it was nothing. Some superpower I picked up after becoming Misses
Thompson," Shantelle said teasingly before
giggling into the car.

Chapter 124: Priority Lane


Following their honeymoon vacation, Shantelle and Evan brought Lucas to
the hospital for his regular laboratory tests. So
far, Lucas has not shown any drop in blood count. There was little increase,
but not enough to allow him to be in public.
Lucas still had the same arrangements; staying indoors; homeschooling;
and a weekly blood test.
Evan and Shantelle returned to their busy lives in the coming days and
followed the same routine. Shantelle's belly was
starting to grow, and along with it, her cravings began to grow as well.
One morning, while Shantelle accepted consults for surgery, one patient
walked in with a sandwich. The patient said,
"Doc, I'm sorry, I am so hungry. I hope you don't mind if I eat while we talk."
Shantelle did not see any problem with her request. She nodded and
allowed the consultation to proceed. The patient had
lung cancer. She was a habitual smoker that developed a tumor in her early
forties.
"Removing your affected lung will still work," Shantelle spoke, describing
the procedure. "It will stop the cancer from
spreading through the other parts of your lungs and, of course, to your
body."
As she discussed the surgery, she saw how the avocado spread was
seeping out of the sandwich. It just made Shantelle
utterly jealous. She just had to ask, "Excuse me, but what sandwich is that,
and where did you get that?"
"Oh, Doc, you haven't tried these? This is the famous steak sandwich at
the Blue Cafe, down the street. They made a
spread out of mashed avocados." The woman practically parted the bread
for Shantelle to see. "They mix it with tomatoes
and onions and have a bit of lemon and then the steak, which is the
ultimate heaven. You should really try it."
"I will definitely try it!" Shantelle claimed.
Through Andy, Evan had sent her some chicken meal for lunch, but after
seeing the sandwich, she just could not let it go.


Heck, she could not get it out of her head! Her mouth drooled just at the
thought of it. So instead of eating her lunch, she
asked Andy to drive her to the Blue Cafe, wanting to get a piece of that
avocado sandwich.
Shantelle was already fifteen weeks pregnant, and her baby bump was
already somewhat evident because she had twins.
Plus, she wore a dress that allowed her belly to show.
When Shantelle walked in, she was horrified, seeing the cue to the
counters. There were two lines, one for each cashier.
In each line, about twenty people were standing! Were they all after the
sandwich? It looked like it, seeing how each
The assisted customer had the famous sandwich in their hand.
She looked around and discovered there was no priority lane. The seniors
were standing in the same lane as the other
regular customers. How was it possible?
She asked the last person in line, "Excuse me, don't they have a priority
lane?"
The guy simply shrugged and offered, "You can go ahead of me, but I can't
say the same for the others."
Shantelle shook her head and tried to ask louder, hoping her voice would
reach the cashiers or anyone in charge, "Excuse
me, don't you have a priority lane?"
It was as if the cafe staff were deaf. They could not hear Shantelle, or they
were too busy to care. She asked the same
thing twice, but still, no one attended to her. Most customers also turned a
blind eye because they had been lining up for
almost an hour.
While Shantelle understood how it must have been so tiring to wait, the
truth remained that each establishment should
have priority lanes. She considered asking Andy to come out of the car and
let him wait to buy the sandwich, but it
annoyed her. Doesn't every store follow the same government-imposed
guideline?
She said, "Pregnant women here, priority must be given."


Crickets. All Shantelle heard were crickets. What else could she do now?
She saw no other option but to use her
superpowers. She sucked a breath and loudly announced, "Excuse me! I
am Doctor Shantelle Thompson, wife of Evan
Thompson!"
Her voice echoed loudly across the cafe. Suddenly everything stilled
around her. Heads were turning her way.
'Huh, finally got your attention now, eh,' Shantelle said silently before
explaining, "I am pregnant. There should be a
priority lane for pregnant women, seniors, and persons with disability. How
is it that no one is listening to me?"
"She's Doctor Shant from the news!"
"That's Mister Thompson's wife!"
"Miss Thompson? She is so pretty in person!"
Murmurs could be heard throughout the cafe, and instantly, the crowd gave
way to her, their hands guiding her to the
counters.
"Please go ahead, Misses Thompson," many customers said, smiling at her
like she was a god.
Shantelle walked to the front and said to the counter, "You should have a
priority lane."
"Yes, Miss Thompson. We apologize. We usually let the seniors and
pregnant woman take their orders first, but
because we were so busy, we did not notice any come in," the cashier said,
bowing at Shantelle.
The cafe manager also stepped out, apologizing to Shantelle about the
incident.
Before taking her order, Shantelle urged the seniors to go first. There were
only two seniors ahead of her. Only then did
She ordered the famous sandwich.
Shantelle happily got her takeaway, but before leaving, she reminded the
cafe manager, "Don't forget, you should have
someone looking out for the priority lane. You try to be pregnant and see if
you can wait an hour standing here."


"Yes, Miss Thompson. It won’t happen again. I promise," the manager
swore.
When Shantelle returned to her office, she had the most orgasmic lunch of
her entire life. She absolutely loved the
avocado and steak sandwich! What a treat! While disappointed with Cafe
Blue, she knew she was bound to walk back
into the cafe and order another sandwich in the middle of the week.
***
Two days passed, and Shantelle's fears came true. She craved the
sandwich. The image of the steak and avocado
spread oozing out of the toasted wheat bread simply lingered in her head.
Shantelle asked Andy to drive her to the Blue Caffe once again. When she
entered, it was the same scenario. People
were waiting in line. To her surprise, the cafe had already established a
priority lane. There was a third counter with a
huge priority lane label.
She happily lined up at the said counter. The cashier, who was in the same
line, recognized her immediately. "Oh, it's
Miss Thompson! Miss Thompson is here!"
It was as if everyone was in a panic at her presence, including the
customers. They were all smiling at her, some waving
their hands.
"Miss Thompson, right this way, please!" The manager called out of
nowhere, urging her to another side of the cafe.
Shantelle reluctantly followed the manager to the farthest end of the cafe
counter. To her shock, she saw a label on the
countertop, which read: Misses Thompson Priority Lane. 3
Her mouth nearly fell on the floor as she questioned in her head, 'Since
when did I have my own priority lane?'
She had to admit being Evan’s wife has its benefits. 'Damn.*
Shantelle laughed her heart out. She said, "This is unnecessary." She
snorted and kept laughing, but soon, she took back
her words, "But you can keep that there until I give birth."
***


A month came, and Shantelle and Evan were driving to the hospital. It was
the day of their twin's gender reveal.
Evan was nervous. He asked, "What do you think they will be? A girl? Or a
girl?"
What? You want a girl?" Shantelle asked.
I want Princess Shantys," Evan happily replied.

CHAPTER 125
Chapter 125: Gender Reveal
"Mommy, I wish I could come with you. I want to see my brothers!" Lucas
said while chasing after Shantelle and Evan in
the driveway. The young man heard it was the day to learn the twins'
gender.
"I'm sorry, honey, but you know kids aren't allowed in the hospital, even
before you get sick," Shantelle said to Lucas. He
pecked his cheek and suggested, "But don't you have a video call with Lily
later? She must be looking forward to that.”
Since it was a weekend, Lucas and Lily would have longer chat hours. It
was always something Lucas looked forward to
every day.
"Oh, right! Then, I'm not sad anymore!" Lucas said.
"And guess who's coming to play with you today?" Evan asked, his eyes
briefly wandering the massive lawn of their new
mansion.
It had been two weeks since they moved into their new home. Lucas
enjoyed it, but having Miguel as his constant
physical playmate wasn't enough. Only Lily kept Lucas from declaring
complete boredom, staying in such a big house and


being an only child.
"I'll have a playmate?" Lucas asked.
"Your uncle Keith and Aunt Karise will visit you. They should be here in a
few minutes," Evan revealed. He ran his fingers
through Lucas' hair and announced, "And they have gifts for you."
"I miss Uncle Keith!" Lucas declared. He turned to Shantelle and said, "
Okay, Mommy. I'm okay now. Don't worry. Don't
forget to show me a video of the babies. I want to show them to Lily!"
After saying goodbye to Lucas, the couple rode in the car, with Andy driving
them to the hospital. As they were on the
road, Evan asked, "What do you think they will be? A girl? Or a girl?"
"What? You want a girl?" Shantelle asked, surprised.
"I want Princess Shantys," Evan happily replied.
"Girls would really be nice. A boy can be really too energetic, at least with
my experience with Lucas," Shantelle
described. With a hand on her chest, she added, "But as long as they are
ours, Evan, they will bring us so much joy,
regardless of their gender."
"You are right, Wifey." While putting an arm around Shantelle's shoulder, he
declared, "This time, I won't miss a single
milestone."
***
"They are moving a lot," Evan remarked, seeing the ultrasound at nineteen
weeks. As he put his hand on his chest, Evan
could not control his smile. He said, "I never thought I'd feel this emotion.
It's so beautiful, watching life inside your womb,
Shanty."
Evan held Shantelle's hand and said, "I'm glad I came."
It brought tears to his eyes, seeing the twins' form. Through the 3D
ultrasound, he saw their faces, noses, lips, and fingers
appear in perfect shape. He was especially delighted at how their limbs
moved.
Lying on the hospital bed, Shantelle was equally in tears, observing the
screen. All thanks to the pineapple tarts, the twins


were very active that day.
One of the twins was holding his legs, and Evan could clearly see the boy's
sex. Seeing a penis dangling between, Evan
sucked in a breath and announced, "I wanted girls, but clearly, this little guy
is a boy!"
Evan was happy regardless, especially since Lucas wanted a brother. He
claimed, "The next will definitely be a girl. If not,
I'll just keep working on it."
Shantelle smacked him on the arm, warning him, "Let me give birth first,
Evan! Stop thinking about having another one!"
"His heartbeat is great, too," the doctor complimented. "Shall we go to the
next baby?"
"Yes," Evan and Shantelle said at the same time.
It took longer to identify the next baby's gender. The second baby mainly
showed the back and legs were clamped
together. The doctor had to navigate the ultrasound probe, sometimes
tickling the second twin with the same probe. After
Some time, eventually, the baby gave in.
Shantelle's eyes widened, and Evan's mouth fell open.
"Congratulations!" The doctor announced. "It's a -" 2
***
The following weekend, the couple hosted a small gathering at their new
home, inviting close friends and family. They
meant to announce the twins' gender.
Evan's close friends were there, including James, his assistant. The
Thompsons were also present, eager for the gender
revelation. Shantelle invited Karise, and of course, her parents were
present too.
The entire party had a picnic lunch on the massive lawn. When the main
dishes were done, Mrs. Shaw and Miguel
brought out trays of cupcakes. They were distributed to each guest.
"So, depending on the color of your cupcake filling, that will indicate the
baby's gender," Shantelle announced while
waiting for everyone to have a piece.


"They will be boys, man. He'll be part of the boys' team!" Sean claimed,
making everyone chuckle.
"I don't know. I was pretty happy with Shanty," William remarked and
winked at Shantelle.
"Aww, Dad. Thank you," Shantelle said. "I love you and Mom."
Evan had his mouth zipped the entire time. He reminded his friends, "If they
are boys, you know what to give them. You
must learn what to buy for special occasions if they are girls."
Sean, Wendell, and Keith laughed. Evan was the most affluent man in the
city, but he was also adamant about taking
advantage of his friend's wealth. Fortunately for Evan, his friends didn't
mind knowing how Evan would give back when it
It was their turn to have kids.
"Does everyone have a cupcake?" Shantelle asked.
"I have!" Mrs. Shaw said, raising two cupcakes.
"And I have too!" Miguel held a tray of cupcakes, saying, "I'm betting all
these have blue fillings."
"No! I want a girl!" Evan's mother declared. "It's going to be pink!"
"I want a girl too," Erick said. "Evan was a handful, young baby."
Giggles could be heard around them. Lucas was also laughing at how his
grandfather described Evan. Lucas was the last
to say, "I want brothers!"
"Okay, then! Let's take a bite, shall we?" Shantelle said.
"On the count of three, everyone," Evan proposed, raising his own piece of
the white frosted cupcakes. "Three, two, one!"
Each of them had a bite. Evan and Shantelle also took a bite, but instead of
checking the filling, they observed their
family's and friends' reactions.
"It's a boy!" Lucas exclaimed, showing off his blue-filled cupcake.
"No! It's a girl!" Karise said, flaunting her cupcake. "I have a pink filling."
"I have pink filling too. It tastes great," Sean remarked.
"I have blue," Keith said, looking back at his cupcake and comparing it to
Karise's.
"Mine is blue too," Wendell revealed.


"I have pink!" Clara announced.
"I have pink too!" Eleanor announced.
Lucas looked at his cupcake and his mother's cupcake. Seeing the
difference in filling color, he sought, "Two fillings? So
it's both?"
"Wait!" James, Evan's assistant, caught everyone's attention. He
questioned, "So it's a girl and a boy?"
They all stared at the couple while Evan and Shantelle nodded
simultaneously. Evan said, "I'll have my princess!"
"And Lucas gets his brother!" Shantelle revealed.
"I love it!" Clara exclaimed. She and Eleanor clasped hands, cheering for
when they could play with a doll with a princess.
"Ahhh!" Karise screamed. "I'm so happy for you, Shanty! You'll have a
princess to look after!"
Karise approached and embraced Shantelle tightly and said, "I'm so happy
for you, Evan and Lucas." Then, she
whispered, "And I’m so jealous."
"Now, guys. Since you know our babies' gender, please be ready with your
gifts. We will have a baby shower when she
reaches eight months," Evan suggested. "Your gifts must be no less than
two thousand dollars!"
Everyone laughed. Out of nowhere, Keith challenged, "When Karise and I
have ours, I’m going to ask for a payback,
Evan! You'll need to give our child a five-thousand-dollar gift!"
While Karise turned tomato red, Evan and his friends stilled. On the other
hand, Shantelle's eyes widened in shock. No
one knew how seriously
Karise and Keith had gone deep with their relationship, to the point that
they were planning to have a child together.
After seconds of dead air, Shantelle broke the silence, saying, "I'm looking
forward to it!"
"Yeah," Evan claimed. "Tell you what, Keith, if you and Karise have a child
together, I'll buy him a car outright!"
***


Following the sweet revelation of the babies' genders, Evan and his friends
gathered on the patio to catch up. Shantelle
and Karise also had their own table where they could chat.
While the boys talked about the current financial status of Rose Hills,
Shantelle covered her friend's romantic life. She
asked Karise, "So, how is it living with Keith?"
Karise smiled and answered, "It's been wonderful - so wonderful that it
scares me if it's true." She leaned closer to
Shantelle, whispering, "I think he is serious about the baby. And while I love
the idea, I still don't know if it's best,
considering how early we are in the relationship. He is not controlling at all.
I'm kinda worried, but at the same time, I don't
mind having such a good-looking guy as a sperm donor."
Shantelle laughed. She commented, "The great-looking guy is your
boyfriend, Karise. He isn't just a sperm donor. You
should talk to him about it."
"Did he say what would happen if you got pregnant?" Shantelle asked.
"He just said the usual." Quoting with her fingers, Karise simulated how
Keith would say it. 'Til take care of you and the
baby, of course."
"I don't know - I'm scared to ask, but either way, I'd be happy to have a
child. I'm the only one in our group with no child.
I'd really like to experience that," Karise said.
"Yes, but Karise, bringing a baby into this world without clarity if he or she
will have a father will affect the child's
confidence. You know this about Lucas. The child will always crave a
father's love," Shantelle pointed out." Have that talk
with Keith."
Karise pursed her lips, thinking. After some time, she replied, "I'll have that
talk with him soon."
Later, a car entered the estate. The vehicle was visible from the patio,
alerting everybody. Keith said, "Aha! My surprise for
you all have arrived!


CHAPTER 126
Chapter 126: New Craving
Everyone had clips on their noses. They breathed through their mouths as
the maids served the fruit Keith had brought
from Maui. Apparently, the car that drove in carried Keith's surprise.
Evan especially pinched his nose stronger before saying, "Durian. Your
special surprise for us is Durian?"
Keith pointed to Shantelle, saying, "Shanty loves durian. She and Karise
had a durian feast during her residency in
Warlington."
Evan's friends, including Karise and James, were in front of the long table
on the patio, ready to eat the exotic fruit. Keith
had challenged everyone to have a taste and get five hundred dollars as a
reward. Lucas, James, and Sean were
instantly drawn to the idea. Wendell participated in the challenge itself.
Evan was ready to throw away the durian, hating the smell, but Shantelle
said, "Surprisingly, I'm not at all disgusted by the
smell!"
"Me too, Mommy! It's not bad for me," Lucas eagerly said.
Shantelle knew how smelly the exotic fruit was. Still, she always had a
great experience eating durian; she was willing to
test the waters with her pregnant nose. To her surprise, the fruit's smell
comforted her. She happily declared, "So fruity
and sweet!"
Everyone watched as Shantelle took the first bite, Karise and Lucas
followed. Keith took the next bite, and Sean had a
taste. In the end, despite having clips on their noses, they all agreed that
durian tastes terrific! Only Evan remained
unconvinced and did not have a single bite.
***
Hours later.
"Shanty? Where are you?" Evan called as he walked down the stairs at
night. The couple had already rested in bed, but


After only an hour of sleeping, Evan noticed that Shantelle was missing.
"Here!" Shantelle yelled from the kitchen. "Evan? Have you seen the durian
I kept in the fridge? I can't find it! I'm getting
frustrated!"
Evan grimaced as he walked into the kitchen. He scratched his head and
admitted, "Wifey? The durian? Haven't you had
enough?"
"No, I want more!" Shantelle said. "I can't stop thinking about it. I think it's
my new craving - your babies' craving!"
The man gulped, hearing the word 'craving.' He thought about lying but
knew no good could come out of deceit. Evan
cleared his throat and admitted, "I urn -1 threw them away."
"You what?!" Dead air fell upon them, and Shantelle froze in her stance.
She wondered how she would get any sleep after
all that thinking about durian?!
"There were only two pieces left, making the fridge smell so disgusting." His
knees trembled as he confessed, "I figured I
throw it out, and you would not mind. I'm sorry, Wifey."
Shantelle remained still. She tried to control her emotions but could not get
over the fact that her husband threw away her
newfound craving. Her mind and her heart were yearning for the fruit.
Eventually, she wept and said, "Did you not learn
anything from the pineapple tarts?"
"I did not think you were craving it. You just tasted it again today," Evan
reasoned. "I'm sorry, Wifey."
"Now what?" Shantelle pointed to her growing belly and suggested, "Think
about your children. One of them, or maybe
both wanted the Durian."
"See that?" Shantelle said, still referring to her belly. "You made them cry!"
"Wifey, I don't see anything other than my upset wife," Evan answered.
"I am upset because your babies are crying inside. They want the durian!"
She put her hands on her waist and declared,
"You will not get inside me tomorrow! No love!"


'No love.’ Evan gasped. How could he have underestimated the durian?
Realizing his mistake, he called James
immediately and ordered a durian fruit to be delivered to the mansion.
Sadly for Evan, James could not find any durian fruit, especially at that
time. In the morning, Evan summoned Andy and
James called each supermarket to find a durian. Still, to his dismay, there
weren't any. It wasn't the right season for
durians to be flown from Hawaii.
Before noon, Evan looked at the clock. In a few hours, he was going home
and wasn't getting any love for that night.
Would he allow it? No! He was going to work hard for his love. Evan
marched out of his office and ordered his assistant,
"Get a private flight to Maui now! Let's harvest durian fruits!"
Evan and James flew out of Rose Hills in the next hour. They met with the
farm owner in Maui, who guided them in the
farm's direction. On the plantation, Evan and James went from different
trees, searching for ripe durians. Each time they
found one, Evan personally caught the fruit as it was picked by one of the
farmer's men.
James took the video of Evan catching the durian. In that video, Evan was
still in his expensive suit. He effectively caught
each fruit as a sack cloaked around it. He said to the video, "See this,
Wifey? I did this all for you. Don't be upset now. I'm
coming back with lots of durians!" 1
Before leaving Maui, Evan sent the video to Shantelle, hoping she was no
longer upset.
***
Hours later, Evan and James arrived in Rose Hills. They were on the road
when Shantelle called his mobile. She said,
"Evan, I'm sorry I missed your calls. I had two operations today. I just got
home. Miguel told me you were out to find
durians?"
"Didn't you get the video I sent you?" Evan asked. "Don't worry about the
durians, Wifey


"Evan, I'm sorry about the durian. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe
it was my hormones, I don't know," Shantelle
explained.
"It's okay, Wifey, because as for the durian Evan excitedly explained, but
before he could announce how he had flown all
on the way to Maui for the exotic fruit, his wife cut him off.
"Oh, don’t worry about the durian, Hubby. I don’t want them anymore,"
Shantelle said.
"What?" Evan's mouth fell open. He frowned, asking, "Um... excuse me,
Wifey?"
"I don't want it anymore. Besides, didn't you say it was hard to get?"
Shantelle's tone of voice suddenly shifted to being
happy as she revealed," Doctor Chen gave me persimmons today, and I
loved them! This is my new craving. I think I'll
I want persimmons for the next few weeks!"
Evan's mouth fell open. He said, "But - but the durian -"
"Forget the durian, Evan. You were right. They do smell bad. Your babies
want persimmons now," Shantelle insisted.
"Come home soon."
The man ran his hand over his face again and again. He realized he might
have overdone the way he pampered his wife.
Still, he was beyond relieved that the house would not smell of durian. He
turned to James, who was exhausted from their
last-minute trip. He asked, "Do you like durian?"
"Ah, yes, Sir. After all the adventures today, I love them now!' James
expressed.
"Then you can have all the durians. My wife wants persimmons now," Evan
informed, and James reluctantly yet, happily
accepted.
So instead of going to the mansion first, Evan and the driver dropped off
James at his apartment, and only then did the
man returns home.
When Evan arrived, he saw Shantelle squeaking in excitement at the door.
The moment he stepped out, Shantelle


embraced him, saying, ’I saw the video. I saw the video. Where are they?
Where are my Durians?"
"Durians?" Evan asked, his heart drumming against his ribcage, his brow
lifting.
"Yes, my internet must have been so bad at the hospital. I did not see your
video. Where is the durian?" Shantelle
repeated.
"I thought you didn't want them anymore?" Evan asked.
"Pfft! I only said that because I don't want you to put in too much effort. I
was afraid you'd fly all the way to Maui just to get
the durian, but-," She pouted her lips and said, "As it turned out, you really
did."
With gleaming eyes, she asked, "So? Where are my durians?" She
pressed her lips against Evan's ear and revealed, "Did
you know that durians are natural aphrodisiacs? Prepare to have a good
night tonight, Hubby."
Evan was ready to have a heart attack at that point. He gently peeled
himself from Shantelle, saying, "Oh, the durians?
Let me get them from James."
"James? Why are the durians with James?" Shantelle asked.
"I asked him to wash them thoroughly," Evan claimed. Raising his palms,
he requested, "Aphrodisiac? Hold that thought,
Wifey. I'll be right back."
***
At James' apartment, he had cut open one durian and placed the fruit flesh
on a plate. He was at his dining table, ready to
dig in.
He scooped the fruit with his hand and held one piece in front of his mouth.
He smiled and said, "I had a tiring day. I could
use a sweet treat right now."
Before he knew it, his boss was loudly banging on the door. From where he
was, he could clearly hear Evan scream,
"Don't you dare touch that durian, James! Don't eat a single one of them!
Open the door now!"


CHAPTER 127
Chapter 127: New Revelation
Two months passed.
At twenty-seven weeks, Shantelle's stomach looked like she was about to
give birth. However, since she had twins, it was
normal for her belly to grow like a watermelon at that point.
Shantelle struggled as she exited the car with Evan, her hand carrying her
tummy's weight. She sighed and said, "Remind
Why did we come here?"
"To support your friend, Karise," Evan responded before chuckling. He
winked at his wife and added, "If it were up to me,
I'd rather cuddle with you, naked in bed."
"Pfft!" Brushing off her husband's naughty thoughts, she said, "Right.
Karise. n
Shantelle would rather be at home too, resting on that fine weekend.
However, it was a special day for Karise and a big
move for Keith.
Keith was going to introduce Karise to his parents, and Shantelle had to
show her friend her support. Evan was doing the
same for Keith. He was thrilled that Keith was seriously moving on from
Shantelle.
That day was Keith's father's birthday, Mister Charles Henderson. Since his
retirement, Charles Henderson and his wife,
Helen has been traveling around the world, leaving the business in Keith's
care. However, to celebrate his seventieth
birthday, Charles and his wife returned to be with family and friends.
As the couple walked into the Hendersons' mansion, Evan put his arm
around Shantelle's waist. Only a few guests were
invited, and they all settled behind the house, where a long table had been
set up, facing the swimming pool.


Shantelle saw Karise sitting on one side. She and Evan settled next to her.
"This is it!" Shantelle said to Karise.
From afar, the couple saw Keith chatting with relatives, but not long before,
he approached the table, greeting, "Evan,
Shantelle, thank you for coming. Dad is expecting you, Evan."
Sitting next to Karise, Keith asked, "Babe, you ready?"
Karise put a hand over her chest and replied, "Babe, I'm nervous."
Keith chuckled and pecked her cheek. He assured her, "Don't be. You look
gorgeous and sexy as hell - oh, there they
are."
From the corner of Keith's eyes, he saw his parents walk out of the house.
Much to his dismay, they were with Larry
Mitchel, one of the owners of Channel 5, a local TV network. Next to Larry
was Lola Mitchel, his daughter.
It made Keith uneasy because Lola was one of the girls he casually dated
and dumped after three days a year ago. He
had that strange feeling that something was off.
Before he could think of an answer, Sean and Wendell arrived. Keith and
his group of friends were immediately immersed
in a conversation.
Soon, Keith's parents settled in their seats, and to Keith’s shock, the
Mitchells occupied the seats opposite to them. Lola
was especially giving him a flirtatious grin.
"Evan, nice to see you, young man. I am so proud of what you have
become, and Shantelle, who would have known you
and Evan would get back together," Charles Henderson said. He turned to
Keith and remarked," I guess things aren't
meant to be."
He directed his attention to Shantelle, saying, "With us, I mean."
Shantelle and Evan had an inkling of what Keith's father meant but simply
evaded the topic. Evan said, "Keeping our
friendship. That was meant to be. M
The man put his arm around his wife, saying, ”We prefer not bringing up
our difficult past, Uncle Charles. Happy birthday


and may you have more birthdays to come."
"I'll try my best," Charles acknowledged.
After Charles and his wife greeted all the visitors, Keith's father announced,
"Thank you for coming to my birthday. Aside
from this special occasion, my wife and I want to make an announcement."
He advised Keith to stand up, and Charles resumed, "My son, the CEO of
Prima MedCare is engaged to Larry Mitchell's
daughter, Lola Mitchell!"
Shantelle's mouth fell open while Evan grimaced.
To those who did not know Karise, they clapped their hands, happy for
Keith. However, half of the surrounding people
still, especially Karise. She has yet to be formally introduced, yet Keith's
father was already making a statement by
giving Keith a socialite as a fiance!
"There is a mistake here, Dad," Keith immediately said. He turned to
everyone at the table and corrected, "There is a
mistake because Miss Mitchell is not my girlfriend."
Keith ignored the frowns of the Mitchels and held Karise, urging her to
stand with him instead. To everyone, he introduced,
"This is Karise Myers, and she is my girlfriend. I've been linked to many
women, but only Karise has made me consider
settling down. I would rather marry her than any other woman out there."
Keith gave an apologetic look and added, "My father may have
misunderstood who my girlfriend is."
"There is no mistake because I will never allow a nobody into our family!"
Charles said in anger, startling everyone at the
table.
Shantelle, for one, felt her skin crawl in anger. She was the first who
reacted," Excuse me, but Karise is my friend. She is a
well-respected analytical chemist at Hues Pharmaceuticals. She has an
admirable job and a good family background.
How could you call her a nobody?"
Charles must not have known about Karise's connection with Shantelle
since he leaned back at the revelation. After a


Second, Charles replied," This is not about you, Shantelle, but about
keeping the family's wealth and prestige intact!"
"Which reputable and wealthy family does she come from?" Charles turned
to Keith and suggested, "Whereas Lola here
is the daughter of Larry Mitchell. She is more suited to be with you, son
"But I don't love her, Dad. I love Karise!" Keith countered. "And you cannot
force me to be with someone else. Do you
forget that I am now the company's CEO and have been for years? The
company board of directors acknowledges me,
and I hold forty percent of the company’s shares."
"I am your father. Do not defy me!" Charles said, shocked by Keith's reply.
"If you go on with this path, Uncle Charles, Mister Mitchell, you will make an
enemy out of me," Finally, Evan said. He
calmly got up and held his wife's hand. He pointed to the two older men
and said, "You are only upsetting my wife!"
"Keith is not marrying Lola. He will instead marry Karise!" Evan demanded."
If you push what you want, I will cut ties with
Prima MedCare and Channel 5!"
"Let's go." Evan wasted no time and addressed his friends. "I think we are
all done here. Let's go to my house and have
dinner there instead! We will celebrate Charles' birthday elsewhere."
The man purposely called Keith's father by his first name, utterly angered
by his attempt to control Keith.
"You will support Keith, Evan? Is that it? You should know that he betrayed
you for Shantelle. He paid off the investigator
you hired to look for
Shantelle! That's how you never found her, because your investigator never
searched!" Charles declared, his voice
strengthening by the second. "You should not support Keith's madness
over this woman because he is not someone
worthy of your friendship and protection!"
Charles laughed at Keith. He said, "Sorry, son, but you left me with no
choice. Evan won’t support you now. With Evan as
your enemy, the board of directors will kick you out in no time!" 3


"What can you do? You simply need to dump that lowborn and be with
Lola, " Charles said. "What do you say, Keith?"
While Charles tried to intimidate his son, Keith's gaze was fixed on Evan.
Keith said, "Evan. Evan, I'm sorry, but that's over
now. It's all in the past. It was when Doctor Scott warned me about not
telling you where Shantelle was - please, let's
forget about it!"
Charles smiled, seeing Evan suck in a deep breath, the man's nose flaring
angrily.
Shantelle, on the other hand, was stunned at the new revelation. She had
heard about how Keith held out on her location,
but this was the first time she learned about the investigator. 2
Sensing the air around them turn rigid, Shantelle shifted to her husband,
grabbing his face. She whispered, "It's enough.
Let's not go back to that, Evan."
Wendell and Sean were also afraid of the new revelation that surfaced.
Heck, they were done with this drama. They were
all back at the boys' club. They all wondered if Evan would give in and stir
another fight with Keith. Evan's jaws clenched.
He glanced at Keith and said, "Keith-

CHAPTER 128
Chapter 128: Water Under The Bridge
"Keith! What are you waiting for? Let's leave this house!" Evan ordered. He
carefully guided his wife away from her seat.
When he noticed Keith's puzzled expression, he repeated, "Let's go, Keith!"
"Evan, did you not hear me? Keith betrayed you!" Charles reminded me.
"He made sure you suffered all those years, not
seeing Shantelle! You should punish him! Ban him from your businesses
and your connections!"
Charles glowered at Keith, saying, "He isn't a friend to you and he doesn't
deserve your support i
"Enough!" Evan barked. "I know everything! I know every inch of Keith's
betrayal!"


Silence fell upon the room as soon as Evan admitted it. He said, "But I
forgave him! Everything that Keith did to keep
Shantelle and me apart, I forgave him!"
"It's water under the bridge! You are trying to stir up a long-buried problem!"
Evan said. "I will repeat it; it was meant for us
to keep our friendship.”
"Wendell, Sean!" Evan called. "Let's go!"
Reality hit Wendell. Evan wasn't going to pick a fight with Keith. Thus, he
glanced at Charles Henderson and said, "Uncle,
think about your decision because even I will support Keith."
"And so will I," Sean said.
Keith was still standing there with Karise. Shantelle had to call her friend to
join them. Eventually, they all made it outside
the Hendersons' mansion and drove to Evan's home with heavy hearts.
***
Evan's kitchen staff was not prepared for the unexpected dinner, resulting
in the couple ordering Chinese food for
everyone.
"Hey, hey! What does an easter bunny order from a Chinese Restaurant?"
Sean asked. He had been trying to lighten the
mood since their arrival by throwing jokes. "Come on, Karise!”
Forcing a smile, Karise asked, "What is it?"
"Chop Suey!" Sean said before laughing altogether, 1
"That was a good one," Wendell said.
"It was a very good one," Shantelle remarked. She turned to her friend and
stated, "It made Karise smile."
"Look, Karise. Don't worry about it. Uncle Charles had always been
indifferent. He and Keith hadn't always had the best
relationship, so Keith would never listen to Uncle Charles. For once, I am
thankful that Keith is stubborn that way,"
Wendell said. "Moreover, in our age and prime, Uncle Charles has nothing
to hold Keith back. Besides, didn't you hear
what he said earlier?"


"Fuck man, I never heard Keith say the L word," Sean commented before
taking another bite of his spicy ribs. He glanced
at Karise, and after
chewing his food, Sean added, "I believe that this is it for Keith. So, trust
him."
"I have never supported Keith with his womanizing ways, but with his
relationship with you, I support him all the way. This
time around, Keith is changing," Wendell expressed.
"I can say the same thing, Karise," Shantelle said, reaching for her friend's
hand and gripping it.
With a sigh, Karise replied, "Thank you, guys. Thank you for your
reassuring words." At that point, she cried. Karise put
down her food and embraced Shantelle. She revealed, "I felt so little in front
of Keith's father, honestly. I have never been
looked down in that way, much more being called a lowborn!"
Shantelle and Karise embraced each other longer. Sean even joined in the
hug. When Karise felt better, she turned to the
direction outside the dining area and said, "Wonder if Evan and Keith talked
it out."
***
At the mansion's patio, Evan and Keith were conversing earnestly. The
man asked, "What else do I have to know, Keith?
Are there any more surprises? Do tell because this is the only chance I'll
give you. If I find out something new again, I
I don't know if I'll be able to hold back from punching you!"
The truth was, the news of Keith paying off the private investigator was new
to him, but he made it appear to Charles that
he already knew. He did not want Charles to use that information between
him and Keith.
"That's it, Evan! I swear that's it! And that was a long time ago - fuck, I had
forgotten about it," Keith admitted. "Please,
Evan, forgive me for it. I'm not going to be in your way with Shanty, and I've
proven that -"


"Keith, we have never had a detailed talk about the past. We simply
accepted how things were and coped." Evan groaned
as he leaned back in his seat. He took a deep breath and said, "Promise
me, Keith. That's it."
"That's it!" Keith swore. "There is nothing else that you should know. I
regretted all that, Evan. Everything
"Keith, I just don't want us to be enemies." Evan pointed with his hand,
saying, "I want you to be happy because I have a
selfish reason to make you happy. If you are happy with Karise, then I am
comforted that you will never be my rival with
Shanty."
"Should I get mad at you? I am damn mad right now, but It isn't worth it,
and I won't let it affect me. We have worked hard
to get back to our peaceful relationship - it's so tiring to get mad over the
same thing," Evan added. "All I want is for us to
move on from the past completely."
Keith nodded approvingly. He responded, "I'm with you on that." He heaved
with tears brimming in his eyes. He stood up
and extended his hand to Evan, saying, "Thank you, Evan, for everything."
Evan also stood up. He shook Keith's hand and said, "Be happy and be
firm with your decision. I will support you in every
way."
The man offered an embrace, which surprised Keith altogether. However,
he happily accepted the hug, saying, "Thank
you for supporting me, Evan. Never in a million years, despite what I have
done to you, did I ever imagine you would still
have my back. So thank you for forgiving me." 1
Pulling away, Evan patted Keith's back. He said, "Now, talk to Karise. She
feels awful about what happened today."
***
After that talk with Evan, Keith and Karise walked around the vast lawn of
the mansion. It was from there that Karise
expressed, "I'm scared."
Keith held Karise's hand and answered, "Don't be."


"Your father is right, you know. I do not come from wealth. I'm not like
Shanty and your past flings," Karise pointed out.
"And yet, you are the one I am with," Keith said. He urged Karise to face
him, and he cupped her face. He said, "Did you
not hear what I said, Karise? Earlier, I said I love you. I don't know when it
happened, but it just happened. I will choose
you over my parents."
Karise gasped. She heard him for the first time, and that was quite a shock
to her. They had never said those words to
each other before. She honestly did not know what to believe.
She looked him in the eye, asking, "'Are you sure about this, Keith? I don't
want to be a reason for your family to be torn
apart
"My father should have thought about that before looking down on you."
Keith hugged Karise, saying, "I need you, Karise.
You changed me into a better person. Every day, I look forward to going
home early because of you. You made me feel
things that I thought weren't possible. I will fight for us. Promise me you'll
stand by my side."
Karise wound up in tears. She embraced Keith and delighted in his scent.
She did not know for how long they remained in
each other's hold, but soon, she softly replied, "I will fight for what we have
because I can't imagine a day without waking
next to you. I love you too."
"Wait, you love me, babe?" Keith faintly asked.
"Of course, silly. I would not stick around if I did not!" Karise frowned as she
replied.
Keith's smile stretched across his face. He said, "It's just that you never
said it."
"You never said it too!" Karise reasoned.
"I guess we are the same. We've been trying to figure out how you feel
about me, and I was too,” Keith said. He leaned
over and sealed her lips with a kiss. He said, "I love you, babe."
"I love you too," Karise replied again.


In the front yard of Evan's and Shantelle's home, Karise and Keith made
out, relishing in their flavors, following their
confessions. They were at it so intensely that their desires became
inflamed.
Grabbing Karise’s behind, Keith said, "I fucking want you right now."
"We should," Karise gasped, saying, "We should go home."
"I don't know if I can hold it," Keith revealed. He looked around and said,"
Car."
"What?" Karise asked.
"In my car!" Keith said, grabbing her hand. "Come on, babe."
They both hurried to the side of the driveway where Keith's car was parked.
Keith went in first, and Karise immediately
straddled his lap.
When Keith fished under Karise's skirt, his eyes narrowed. His girlfriend
wasn't wearing any underwear!
A hiss left Keith's lips, and lust engulfed him. He said, "Babe, let's rock the
car."

CHAPTER 129
Chapter 129: Rock The Car
Keith adjusted his seat, pushing it back to give themselves a better room.
As soon as Karise hopped in with him, she
straddled his lap. Next, her lips crashed into his, and they readily indulged
in a passionate kiss, their tongues intertwined
in no time.


"Move your hips, babe," Keith instructed while pushing down her weight
against his groin. "Feel that? I'm so hard on you."
"Mmmm," Karise moaned into his mouth while grinding on him. She could
feel that tingling sensation, her entrance getting
wet as she kept feeling the bulge beneath his pants.
With a hand behind her neck, Keith pushed his tongue deeper into her
throat, giving him more of Karise's taste. He
enjoyed sucking her tongue and biting her lip while feeling her breasts.
Karise wore a v-neck cocktail dress, making it easy for Keith to insert his
hand and cup her breast. He repeatedly
kneaded a bosom, often playing with her nipple, and the sensation sent
chills down Karise's spine.
Along with their erotic sighs, the smacking sound of their kisses echoed
throughout the space of Keith's sports car.
Karise's humping speed, adding fuel to their flames.
Wanting more of her breast, Keith let go of her lips. He littered kisses down
her neck, not hesitating to leave marks on her
skin. He licked the entire length of her neck, going down to her chest.
Karise gasped in excitement, but when Keith
suckled her breast, she cried in pleasure, "Babe, I love it."
Karise's eyes turned frail, watching Keith flicking his tongue against her
pinkish nipple, often sucking it thoroughly.
Keith rolled down her dress. He threw her bra to the next seat, and, in the
next few seconds; he lingered on her chest,
eating her heartily until her nipples were damn hard.
When Keith was done with her breasts, he fished beneath her skirt and felt
her bottom. He was surprised to find his
girlfriend wearing no underwear. He squinted at her, his eyes filled with lust
as he said, "Babe, you are so fucking naughty.
Let's rock the car."
"Not until I eat you," Karise suggested.
She hopped off him and settled in the other seat. She unzipped Keith's
pants. When his length became free of his clothes,
Karise's slender fingers held his girth, and just before putting it inside her
mouth, she smiled and reached for his lips.


After a kiss, she remarked, "So hard, Babe."
"Babe, I'm always hard for you," Keith said. Cupping her chin, he ordered,"
Now, have that beautiful lips of yours around
me.”
"Aahh!” Keith moaned loudly as he watched Karise bob in between his
legs.
Keith momentarily switched the lights inside the car because he could not
resist but watch.
It was challenging to move around the car, but Karise made it possible to
eat him while she sometimes turned sideways,
letting his tip poke his inner cheek. Each time Keith got a perfect view, he
hissed, and his mouth would part to let out an
erotic cry.
When Karise felt she got him perfectly lubed, she turned the lights back off
and sat on him slowly.
That very moment, as she gradually let his hard rod enter her, they both
moaned in delight. Karise felt utterly filled,
whereas Keith felt warm and wet, sucking him in.
"Fuck, I love it. I love being inside of you," Keith remarked.
Karise ground on him, sensing how his size touched her inner walls. Then,
she rocked his world.
Up and down, Karise bounced on top of Keith. That wet-smacking sound of
their flesh echoed within the small confines of
Keith's car.
"Babe, you are so beautiful," Keith remarked. His eyes had already
adjusted to the night, and he could make out Karise's
sexy figure, her breasts bouncing along as she continued to ride him.
A hiss left Keith's lips as he traced her form. He cupped her breasts, felt her
waist, and grabbed her behind. He could not
get enough of her. Who would have thought that a simple arrangement of
convenience would bring him so much
excitement and satisfaction?
Outside, Keith's car was humping along with the way they were making
love. Keith sometimes looked past the windows of


his car in case any of his friends would come looking for them.
There was an added thrill of having sex in Evan's driveway, knowing the
place was not theirs from the start.
"Aah! Keith!" When Karise called his name, Keith felt her arms. She had
bumps forming and knew she was already
cumming.
He held her waist and aided her with the pumping. He thrust upward, going
in and out of her, saying, "Together, Babe Aahh!"
Keith erupted inside Karise's womb. While Karise trembled in his arms from
the high they had just arrived in, Keith's body
floundered in ecstasy. He could feel his member twitching inside Karise; he
pushed and pushed, holding down her weight
so that he would leave everything inside her.
Cupping her face, Keith begged for a kiss.
They made out for a minute before Keith said, "Babe, do you feel that? I'm
still working hard. I think we better excuse ourselves
from our friends and head home."
Karise straightened her stance. She ground against him and replied, "You
are still hard." She moved up and down, feeling
Keith twitched inside of her." Ah, that feels so good. How long can you
last?"
In the next few minutes, the car went humping again.
***
"Karise? Keith? Where are you?" Shantelle called, walking out of the
driveway. "Didn't they say they would have a walk on
the lawn?"
From her line of sight, she saw no one. She was about to return inside
when she noticed Keith's car was moving
erratically. She narrowed her eyes, trying to look through the tinted glass
window, and could make out a frame, hopping in
the driver's seat.
"Oh, my god! My girl is so naughty! At least, that means Keith appeased
her, " Shantelle remarked. "But car sex? Damn!


I'll be sure to try that." 3
Shantelle returned to their group, reporting how Karise and Keith were still
talking it out. She said, "They are settling it
uniquely."
***
After Keith and Karise had their car experience, they returned to the group
to fill their stomachs. They left the mansion at
the same time as Wendell and Sean.
Finally, when the couple was alone in the driveway, Shantelle seductively
walked over to her husband and embraced him.
She suggested, "Hubby, wanna try car sex?"
"Huh?" The man was shocked. Her wife was suddenly interested in
exploring another sexual environment. "Wifey, where
Is this coming from?"
Shantelle grabbed Evan's arm and replied, "I caught Keith and Karise
having sex in the car. Let's go!" i
At first, they tried Evan's sports car, but when the man hopped in, they
realized there wasn't any space to accommodate
Shantelle and her belly.
They moved to the family's Audi limo. Evan settled in one seat, and
Shantelle tried climbing over him. Sadly, though, her
my belly was in the way. The couple could barely kiss without discomfort.
"Do me from behind," Shantelle suggested, and she quickly turned to the
opposite seat, flaunting her ass. Evan kissed her
butt cheeks, but later on, Shantelle complained, "I feel my weight is too
heavy. I might stumble in this position. Let's try the
SUV and do it in the back seat."
"Okay, Wifey," Evan acknowledged.
They moved to the SUV, where Shantelle could lie on her back. However, it
required Evan to maneuver her legs since he
could not spread them apart, with the backseat blocking one side.
"Ouch! Evan, you're pinning my leg on my stomach!" Shantelle complained
before suggesting, "Let's try reverse cowgirl."


"That's hot, Wifey," Evan said before sitting down and aiding his wife on top
of him. Finally, they reached penetration.
Shantelle carried her weight, going up and down on Evan. Moans began to
leave their lips, but after only two minutes,
Shantelle slammed her back against Evan. She sighed and cried, "I'm too
heavy. I can't carry my weight and the babies!"
She groaned and suggested, "I give up. Let's go to the room where it's
more comfortable."
Evan laughed. He leaned Shantelle to the side and kissed her lips. He
proposed, "Don't worry, Wifey. After you give birth,
we will try every place where you want to make love. I promise."

CHAPTER 130
Chapter 130: Keith's Big Gun
Two weeks had passed since the incident at the Hendersons' mansion.
Keith walked into a meeting room at Prima
MedCare. It was a session requested by his father, Charles.
Keith shook his head, knowing the reasons for the meeting. Unfortunately
for Keith, his father still held authority, owning
ten percent of the company shares. Charles still had the right to express
and suggest anything related to the company.
The worst part was how his father knew every shareholder, being the
previous CEO.
"Good morning," Keith said while taking his seat. "Before I address this
meeting, I have someone here to join us."
Evan walked into the room, surprising the board members.
"What is Evan doing here?" Charles asked with a frown. 1
Edward, Keith's assistant, entered and distributed Evan's new acquisition of
Prima MedCare's shares. It was a five
percent share from another investor absent that day.
"As you can see, Mrs. Chow sold all her rights to Evan. Mister Thompson,
the CEO of the Thompson Group of


Companies will now be our business partner," Keith announced.
The board of directors and shareholders became pleased. If Evan was part
of the company, there could only be growth to
I look forward to it.
A triumphant look became painted on Keith's face, seeing his father
resentful. With Evan as a shareholder, his business
partners would side with him instead of his father.
After Evan sat next to him, Keith asked, "So, May I know what this meeting
is all about?"
Charles stood up first. He said, "Everyone is here today because of the
news of your relationship. We are worried about
your girlfriend's reputation and that of yours."
He walked up to Keith and handed him a file. When Keith opened it, he saw
it was research done about Karise.
Charles said, "The woman you are dating does not belong to our circle. You
have to remember how perception is also
important. Because we mostly earn as a corporate insurance provider, we
deal with CEOs and executives. What will
people say if you marry Karise? Can she blend in into your important
events, such as charity gatherings or club meetings?
How many languages does she speak? She will only be cast aside.
Notable people will think of her as a gold digger."
"During her college years, she waited tables at a local bar at night - who
knows if she only served food or provided other
services? She has had five failed relationships, which meant one thing,
Keith, the woman is used
"And what about me, Dad? I probably went out with over fifty women since
high school," Keith pointed out. "I guess I'm
pretty used to, but that's really besides the point. I don't care about her past
like she doesn't care about mine! I love her,
and I will want only Karise!"
"And how does waiting tables make her a gold digger?" Keith contested.
Charles bitterly replied, hearing his son counter his words, "Don't you think
I know? You let her live in your penthouse! You


bought an expensive
diamond ring! You have never spent so much for a woman before. I won't
attend your wedding if you marry Karise, nor will
the board members!"
"Of course, I will spend it on the woman I love, Dad! Don’t you?" Keith
looked at the board members and asked, "Don't you
gift your wives with the most expensive jewelry? But it does not make them
a gold digger!" 1
"I'm not finished yet!" Charles declared. "Look at those last photos of her at
the club. She is a party girl, Keith, not the kind
of the woman you should take home as a wife!"
"Find someone like Shantelle! How about Lola Mitchell? She is a fine
woman, and your unity could further strengthen our
business," Charles suggested, and a few board members echoed the
same.
"Keith, if you marry Lola Mitchell, all the employees of their TV network will
purchase insurance claims from us." One
board member suggested." Imagine, three hundred employees!"
"I have over two thousand employees, from Rose Hills to other cities," Evan
interrupted. "All of them are using Prima
MedCare as their insurance."
Everyone proudly smiled, but they trembled in fear at Evan's following
words. "If you insist that Keith marry Lola, or any
other women that had miserably failed to straighten out my friend here, I
will find another insurance company!"
"However, if you leave Keith alone with his personal life, I will enlighten the
Wright Diamond Corporation to potentially use
Prima MedCare as their employees' primary medical insurance," Evan
proposed. "And that, my friends, is like winning the
lottery!"
The shareholders' eyes gleamed upon hearing the news. If the biggest
corporation in the country were to use Prima
MedCare, they would all be settled for life!
"The Wright Diamond Corporation in Braeton?" Charles asked, bemused.


"The new Diamond Hotel here in Rose Hills is a partnership between me
and Kaleb Wright, the CEO of the Diamond
Hotels," Evan revealed. "So
what will it be, ladies and gentlemen? Are you siding with Charles, or are
you siding with Keith and me?"
Murmurs echoed across the conference room. Charles tried to win every
one but failed to convince the business partners.
"Charles," Evan said. "Nice research you have done about Karise. A Party
girl? Who hasn't been there? If I dig well
enough, I bet I would find more scandalous pictures of Lola Mitchell."
"Why dislike Karise? Because she does not come from a wealthy family?
That's social discrimination! Do you know that
you could be sued for that?" Evan asked. "Since Karise is my wife's friend, I
will hire her the best lawyer - II
With nose flaring, Charles questioned, "Why are you like this, Evan? Don't
you hate Keith one bit for all the wrong that he
did -"
"Again, Keith and I are over that matter. You can't use that against us,"
Evan clarified. "You'll just die trying."
"Back to Keith." Evan pointed at Charles, contending, "You used to argue
with Keith because you disliked his serial dating
ways. Well, aren't you happy how that has all stopped?"
Evan turned to the board of directors, saying, "Aren't you all pleased that
your CEO has not been featured in the headlines
again? Aren’t you all tired of reading about Prima MedCare's notorious
playboy CEO out with the new Hollywood Starlet?"
Keith utterly disliked how Evan recounted his past, but he understood
where his friend was going with his words. Keith
explained his personal life, "I have never thought of settling down until my
girlfriend. Yes, she isn't a known socialite in the
city, but I love Karise, and she keeps me right on track. So please, let's stop
this nonsense! We are all wasting our time
over something that will not affect the company!"


"Prima MedCare has established its name over the years thanks to my
efforts. If it grew to a billion-dollar company like it
is now, despite my womanizing reputation, it certainly would not be affected
if I wed an ordinary girl," Keith added.
He stood up and asked with conviction, "If any of you try to interfere with
my personal life, I will leave Prima MedCare and
build my own insurance company! So the greater question is, do you still
want me as your CEO?!“
While the board of directors listened to Keith’s solemn announcement,
Evan gave them a threatening look. He was silently
declaring war on them should they choose to answer incorrectly.
"We want you as our CEO, Keith. We are sorry we entertained your father's
request," an executive said.
"We apologize, Mister Thompson, Keith. You are right. We wasted our time
on something irrelevant. It won't happen
again," a shareholder expressed, and the rest echoed the same.
Keith knew his father would use the shareholders and board members to
sway him against being with Karise. Thus, that
One day, he prepared for his big gun, and that was Evan. With their
combined efforts, the shareholders and board of directors
apologized and conceded to Keith.
On the other hand, Charles failed to achieve his goal that day.
***
Half an hour later, Evan and Keith were alone in the meeting room.
Evan took the chance to ask his friend, "So you bought an engagement
ring?"
"Yeah," Keith replied.
"When?" Evan asked.
"A month ago," Keith replied.
"Are you planning to give it to her?" Evan asked.
Keith formed beads of sweat on his forehead. He replied, "I've been
thinking about it, but I -1 fucking don't know how. The
The thought of following your proposal ideas makes me nervous. I thought
I'd wait a little longer since it might be too early for
her."


"Plus, I'm not good at being really romantic," Keith admitted.
"It doesn't have to be romantic, Keith. Just do it however you feel like it.
You know her the best," Evan suggested.
"And you know what's great if you get married? Your father can't insist that
you marry another socialite; I mean, how can
you get married if you are already married?"
"Just do it!" The man added. "The sooner, the better." "Okay. Okay," Keith
acknowledged. "Do you mind practicing with
me, though?"


Chapter 131: Proposal Practice With Evan
Within the meeting room of Prima MedCare, Evan and Keith were in a
serious conversation about the plan to propose to
Karise.
"What if Karise says no?" Keith asked.
"Then, try again. Shanty did not say yes the first time I proposed," Evan
admitted. "Besides, why would she say no? Why
have that doubt?"
"Because I still need to assess her thoughts about getting married,
considering I just admitted I loved her. Honestly, I'm
worried I am rushing her," Keith reasoned.
"I think the length of your relationship doesn't matter. What matters most is
that you are ready, not just with feelings, but in
general - mentally, emotionally, and financially. Are you ready, Keith?" Evan
asked, i
"As a man? I have everything I need to raise a family. I have been ready for
some time. I want a family with Karise," Keith
admitted.
"Great! Then assess how Karise feels about it," Evan said. The man
checked the time and then returned his regard to
Keith. He said, "Now, go on, Keith. I don't have all day. Propose."
"Okay," Keith said. "So, I'm considering surprising her, and she'll be
shocked to find the ring. Then I'll get it from her and
propose."
"I like where this is going. Go ahead. Get down on one knee," Evan
ordered.
Keith pretended to hold up a diamond ring. He went down on one knee and
looked at Evan. Keith was about to propose
when he saw Evan's stern face. He said, "You are not helping, Evan.
Pretend to be Karise in shock!"
Evan's mouth fell on the floor. He groaned as he covered his mouth with his
palms, just like any girl would. He asked,


"Shock enough?"
Shaking his head, Keith said, "Close enough."
Keith cleared his throat and looked at Evan. He said, "Karise, babe.”
He puffed his cheeks and forced a smile, looking at Evan and trying his
best to imagine Karise. He reached for Evan's
hand and was ready to say sweet words when the man pushed his hand
away.
"What the hell, Keith? Since when did we hold hands?" Evan objected.
"You are supposed to be Karise, Evan! Dammit!" Keith countered.
"Oh, right. But it's so fucking weird." Evan looked around and found a stick
pointer. He grabbed it and, instead, let Keith
hold it. He instructed," Imagine that it is Karise's hand."
With a sigh, Keith held the pointer stick and visualized Karise's hand. It
didn't help, though. All he could see was a stick.
Keith looked at Evan. He asked, "I think your hand is better, man -"
"I'm going to punch your face!" Evan warned.
"In that case, the stick will do." Keith settled for the pointer stick. He held
the tip with his thumb and forefinger. He said,
"Karise, Babe, I love your sense of adventure. You always push me to try
new things, getting me out of my comfort zone."
He went on and on with his experiences with Karise, like how she let him
try street food for the first time in his life and
when they went shopping downtown, wearing average clothes.
Evan yawned. Three minutes had passed with Keith summarizing his socalled adventures with his girlfriend. The man
barked, "I feel like I'm already part of your trip downtown. Just highlight the
best ones, will you? It's a proposal, not a
summary of your love story!" 1
"I just want her to know that I value those times," Keith pointed out.
"But it's too long, Keith. You don't want Karise falling asleep during your
proposal. Make it short and sweet," Evan
suggested.
"Fine!" Keith cussed. He re-did his proposal and finally said, "Evan, will you
marry me?" 2


"You mean, Karise," Evan corrected.
"Haha! Fuck. It's just that I am looking at you," Keith reasoned.
"I know I can make guys turn gay, but I swear, Keith, I never imagined you'd
have the hots for me," Evan shot back. 3
"Fuck off, Evan! Now, say yes already!" Keith asked. 1
"Fucking yes, now get on with your life!" Evan barked. "You put the ring on
her finger and give her a sweet hug. Kiss and
End the proposal! All that matters is where, and when you will propose!"
"Thank you, Evan. You helped me a lot," Keith suggested. "When I have
the date and place, can we have a final
practice?"
Evan's face turned gloomy, and Keith laughed boisterously. Keith said, "It's
okay, Evan. I was just testing how far you
would go to help me. I at least appreciate the initial help." 1
***
Karise had a frown on her face. She told Keith that she had a bad day at
work, and he left, saying he needed to get
something from the office.
She kept switching the TV channels from the living room of Keith's
penthouse, ready to kill the remote control should Keith
takes longer than an hour. Eventually, the door to the penthouse opened,
and Keith walked in with a hooded jacket. He
marched to the living room, walking backward.
"What are you doing?" Karise asked.
"Walking backward," Keith responded, his hood sliding down, showing off
his dirty blond hair. When he finally turned, he
held two milkshakes and said, "Tada!"
"Milkshake!" Karise was almost in tears, seeing her favorite milkshake."
Awww. I can't believe you drove out for my
favorite milkshake!"
She got up and hugged Keith. She kissed him on each cheek before
pecking at his lips. "God, I love you."
"Love me enough to marry me?" Keith asked with a teasing grin.


He noticed Karise stilled as she remained to embrace him, her hazel
colored eyes looking at him intensely, her mouth wide
open.
"Um." Karise remained to study his face. She replied, "If you keep buying
me my milkshake, I'll marry you any day."
"Ah!" Keith said, and his earlier racing heart became at ease. He thought,'
Maybe, I should propose with a milkshake?'
Karise loved the milkshake from Bartho Street, the same MilkShake House
she, Shantelle, and her college friends often
hung out at, during their free time in college. She loved the blends so much
that she brought Keith there for their first
friendly date.
Keith and Karise enjoyed their milkshake in the living room while watching
a TV show for the next few minutes. As they
relished their drink, Karise took pictures of them both. Keith used the time
to continue assessing Karise's feelings about
formally tying the knot.
"The photos look great. We should keep those so we can show them to our
future kids, everything, from vacations, special
occasions, the wedding, honeymoon," Keith suggested.
He turned to Karise and saw her eyes widen. Her face turned incredibly red
as she replied, "Yeah, I mean. Keeping
memories are good."
Keith could get a feel of how Karise became uneasy. He wasn't sure if it
was in a good way or bad. Soon, however, Karise
asked, "How many kids do you want, Mister Henderson?"
"Three. I want at least three kids," Keith answered, pulling Karise to sit on
his lap. "What about you, Misses Henderson?
How many kids do you want?"
"Miss Henderson?" Karise laughed before sipping on her milkshake.
"What? You don’t like my last name?" Keith tested the waters. "I think it fits
you well."
Karise put down the shake. She wrapped her arms around his neck and
replied, "Karise Henderson? Well." She beamed
and added, "As long as Mister Henderson keeps buying me milkshakes."


She giggled before crashing her lips into his, tasting the drink in his mouth."
Ooh. Chocolate mint. Love it."
With a milkshake involved, Keith saw a bigger potential of getting a yes.
Hence, he included it in this proposal plan.
***
The next day, Keith got a call from Karise while at the office. She said,"
Babe! Guess what? I got promoted!"
Karise and her team had been working on a new drug for months. It had
recently been approved, and because of her
efforts, she got promoted to a senior scientist position.
Keith finally found the best opportunity, and with the milkshake in mind, he
suggested, "Babe, let's celebrate that this
weekend. How about having dinner at the Milkshake House? Let's invite
some of our friends and your family."
"Love the milkshake!" Karise exclaimed. "Great idea, Babe!"

Chapter 132: Milkshake Proposal
Karise was surprised to find the Milkshake House closed for their gathering.
It wasn't necessary. The place was still big
enough to accommodate their party, plus the store's walk-in customers.
Karise thought it was over the top. However, she
I also appreciated the privacy.
She noticed lavish changes to the decors, but then again, it had that
colossal banner congratulating her for the promotion


that she thought was only fair.
The Milkshake house had a homey environment. There were long couches
on the side with cupcakes and candy throw
pillows. Most of the center tables were white squares, but for that occasion,
they were groped to accommodate six guests
each.
Karise's family arrived first. Her father and younger brother had huge grins,
which she thought was strange. Some of her
office mates came, and they acted like the usual, except they were taken
aback after knowing she was dating Keith
Henderson!
"You lucky, bitch! You did not say anything!" One of her office mates teased
me.
"Well, now you know. My Babe is Keith Henderson. And no, he is the lucky
one," Karise confidently claimed.
Keith, who was behind her, acknowledged, "I am the lucky one. It's nice to
meet Karise's office mates."
Soon, Keith's friends arrived, together with Evan and Shantelle. They all
congratulated Karise, and then dinner began.
Karise was in her zone, and Keith loved it. She was comfortable being
around her friends and family, chatting about work
and old times. He became convinced he had made the right decision to
propose, with important people in Karise's life.
When dinner was over, Keith suggested a milkshake toast. Cafe staff
served varied flavors of their famous milkshakes,
depending on the guests' request.
"Thank you all for coming. Today is a celebration of Karise's promotion.
She has worked hard over the past few months,
creating a new drug to help address heart conditions." Keith turned to
Karise and said, "Babe, you deserve the promotion,
and I wish you more career advancement in the future."
Keith raised his milkshake and added, "I love you, and this is for you!
Cheers!"


"Thanks, Babe. I love you," Karise acknowledged, also raising her
milkshake.
"Cheers!" Everyone echoed.
Each of the guests enjoyed their shake. Keith was especially eying as
Karise finished her own shake. It was because he
had instructed the cafe owner to put the two-million-dollar engagement ring
inside Karise's milkshake.
"God! I miss this milkshake!" From one side of the table, Shantelle claimed,
"Hubby, this is my new craving! The babies
love it!”
"Should I buy the Milkshake House, Wifey?" Evan asked. His words
encourage laughter around the cafe.
"Wow, the flavor is rich!" Sean remarked.
"Always loved the milkshake here. This is your first?" Wendell sought.
While the remarks about the milkshakes came flying, Keith remained glued
to Karise's drink. Since it was served straight
from the kitchen, Karise could scoop out the shake instead of sipping it
from a straw.
"Loving the shake, Babe?" Keith asked. He was seated in front of Karise
the whole time.
"Love it, Babe. Thanks for today," Karise replied. She leaned closer and
warranted a kiss, which Keith granted.
Seconds went by with Karise nearly emptying her shake, and Keith began
to worry. 'Where is the engagement ring?!'
Keith kept leaning closer, looking at Karise's shake, but there were no signs
of the ring!
"Babe, you barely touched your shake!" Karise pointed out. "If you wanted
the vanilla shake, you should have ordered the
same flavor as mine."
"Um." Suddenly, Keith's heart raced. There was little left of Karise's shake
that made him nervous.
Unable to hold back, he grabbed her milkshake glass, saying, "Wait, Babe.
Wait."


Keith shook the glass and scooped the remaining contents of the shake,
but there was no ring! He was horrified! He said,
"Oh, my god!” He returned his attention to Karise with eyes rounding. He
said, "Babe, I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry? And why are you looking at my empty glass like that?"
Karise asked.
Beads of sweat formed on Keith's forehead. "Oh, shit!"
Evan, Sean, and Wendell stared at him with worry.
"Everything okay, Keith?" Evan asked.
"Keith?!" Finally, Karise asked, her voice raising. "You are scaring me.
What happened?"
"Babe, did you feel anything? Something hard as you drank your shake?"
Keith asked.
"You are not making sense, Keith? No, I felt nothing hard,” Karise replied,
utterly bemused.
Sucking in a deep breath, Keith announced, his voice breaking in and out
of anxiety, "Babe, you - you might have just
swallowed an eighteen-carat engagement ring!"
Silence fell upon them, following Keith's revelation.
Karise's eyes widened, and her gaze landed on her glass. She gulped and
said, "You were planning to propose?"
"Yes!" Keith said, his hand running down his face.
"And you put the ring in my shake?" Karise asked.
"Yes, Babe. I did not think you'd empty it all down!" Keith said. "It was... a
huge rock. You should have been able to feel it."
Keith was nearly in tears when he revealed, "Babe, I bought that, especially
for you. It's a two-million-dollar engagement
ring."
"Ahhhh!" Karise screamed. "What should I do? What should I do?"
Turning to Shantelle, Karise asked, "Shanty, I need surgery now! My hopes
of becoming Misses Henderson lies in your
hands!" 2
"Let's go to the hospital! Dad! Take me to the hospital!" Karise called her
father! 1


Most of those who were present also panicked, but Shantelle only laughed.
In fact, she snorted out of amusement.
"Shanty! This isn't funny. I have a two-million-dollar ring on my stomach
somewhere! Please tell me the ring will be safe!
How can Keith propose now?" Karise said, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Help me get it out!"
"It's okay. You can poop it out later, maybe a day or two! Then Keith can
propose again! Haha!" Shantelle revealed. "Just
watched your strain bowel." 3
"Ahhhh! That is not at all amusing!" Karise screamed again. She turned to
Keith and said, "Babe, why did you put it in my
shake? You should have just given it to me as normal people do!"
"I'm sorry, Babe." Keith was losing hope. His proposal plan became a total
failure.
When he thought about taking Karise to the hospital for an x-ray, the
kitchen staff interrupted. A young man said, "Mister
Henderson. We are sorry." He gave the velvet box to Keith and said, "We
forgot to put the ring inside the shake!"
Dead air followed.
Everyone's shoulders fell, relieved that Karise had not apparently
consumed the ring with the shake.
Keith nearly fainted. He was thankful the kitchen staff forgot to follow
through on his instructions. He accepted the velvet
box and opened it.
There it was, the eighteen-carat diamond ring, gleaming in that heartshaped cut. He took out the ring and let out a sigh.
He kneeled on one knee, and then the cafe staff frantically let another
backdrop fall from the ceiling.
It was a well-decorated backdrop that read: [Karise, will you marry me?]
"Karise, Babe. With you, life is never dull. Today is an example of it."
laughter echoed from the observers. 1
Keith smiled and resumed, "I love your sense of adventure and how you
push me to try new things. I want to wake up next
to you every day of my life. Will you make me the happiest man alive and
marry me?" Keith gulped and added, "I promise


to maintain safety precautions in drinking milkshakes next time." 1
Laughter echoed throughout the cafe as Keith released himself from the
stress of nearly losing the engagement ring. He
briefly laughed with his friends before turning to Karise and awaiting her
reply.
"Babe, please," Keith said.
"Babe, I'll marry you," Karise replied, teary-eyed.
Keith happily put on the ring on Karise. He got up and embraced her tightly.
Following a kiss, he asked, "Let's get
married."
"Huh?" Karise asked, puzzled.

Chapter 133: Instantly Married
Monday came, and the marriage happened, 1
Karise could not believe what she was looking at when she entered the
courthouse the following work week. It was a
marriage certificate, and Keith had already signed his name on the
contract. Karise's name had also been printed into the
same document. All she needed was to affix her signature.
"Babe? Do you need help signing the contract?" Keith asked behind her.
He offered his hand, guiding her where to sign.
"Right here, Babe. Right here. Let me help you."
"I just want to make sure that no one is forced into this marriage," the judge
said, glaring at Keith.
"No. No." Karise realized her mistake, and she beamed at the judge. "I'm all
in on this marriage."
She signed the contract and happily announced, "There! I'm married!" 1
"Congratulations!" Behind Karise and Keith, Shantelle exclaimed. Keith's
friends, including Karise's family, were also there
to stand as their witnesses. 1


Shantelle was the first to come to the front and hug Karise. She said, "I'm
so happy for you. Miss Henderson. I can't
wait for the actual wedding!"
Keith was adamant about having the formal contract signed first. It was
meant to stop his father from pestering him about
marrying someone else. However, Keith and Karise had agreed to have an
official wedding in a month.
"Congratulations, Keith,” Evan said, extending his hand to his friend. "You
are now officially a married man."
"Whoever imagined Keith to get married before us, eh!" Sean exclaimed,
hugging Keith.
"Makes me wonder why you aren't married yet," Keith said to his friend. "I
could say the same thing for Wendell!"
There was an awkward silence coming from Wendell and Evan. Shantelle
also raised her brow.
"Am I missing something?" Keith asked. "Clearly, I am. Wendell?"
"Salome and I are a bit shaky," Wendell admitted. "She has been off lately."
"You should have married her. You have been together for five years," Keith
declared. He supported Wendell's long-time
relationship with Salome, although he never liked her. He was pretty sure
Sean and Evan didn't like her too.
"I hope you sort things out with her," Shantelle said, patting Wendell's back.
"Congratulations, son, Karise," Mister Myers said, hugging Karise. After
letting go of his daughter, Mister Myers said to
Keith, "Take care of my daughter now. After my wife died, she was the only
woman in our family."
"I will definitely treasure Karise, Sir," Keith acknowledged.
"Call me Dad," Karise's father suggested. He hugged Keith, and after
pulling away, he excused himself to get back home.
After the marriage contract signing, everyone left, heading back to their
businesses or work.
***
Days passed again.


It has been nearly two months since the Diamond Hotel Rose Hills had its
grand opening. Since then, the condominium hotel
has been fully booked. All businessmen and tourists who flew into Rose
Hills preferred the new hotel.
Sales were up, and with the famous designer boutique, Sarah Kate,
transferring to the same hotel building, the property
showed promising success. Nearly every upper-class local wanted dinner
at the hotel's main restaurant or coffee at the
rooftop bar.
Because the new Diamond Hotel was so well received, Evan and Kaleb
Wright wanted to celebrate it through a small
outing between their families. At first, Evan and Shantelle hesitated
because of Lucas. However, their young man was so
excited about seeing Lily. The couple could not deny their son the
opportunity.
Instead of depriving Lucas of a chance to go outdoors, Evan arranged
camping for the two families. It was set next to
town, on a private lakehouse, the same favorite camping site of the Scots
and the Thompsons.
The Wrights and the Thompsons were on the road for two hours in each of
their respective luxury camper vans.
Everyone could see the bright blue sky from their vehicle's windows. It was
dotted with fluffy clouds. Soon, their vans
became covered with the shade of trees as their party turned into a narrow
road, leading to the lake.
The place was entirely surrounded by trees, mostly pines, giving the air that
nice scent of nature.
"I love it! I love it here, Daddy!" Lucas exclaimed, watching the scenery
from the van.
"I can take you for a walk up there, buddy! I can carry you over my
shoulders!" Miguel exclaimed, pointing to the other
side of the lake.
Shantelle and Evan smiled at Miguel's offer. They could tell Lucas was
really growing on Miguel. Aside from Lily, Miguel


was technically Lucas' next best friend.
"Yeah, Uncle Miguel! You, me, Daddy, and Mommy should go!" Lucas
exclaimed. "We will bring Lily too!"
"Oh, no!" Shantelle laughed from her seat. She said, "I can't, honey. I can't
carry your siblings out there. You, Daddy,
Uncle Miguel, and Lily can go."
"Sorry, Mommy, I forgot!" Lucas said.
It did not take long for them to arrive at the lakehouse. It was a gorgeous
red-roofed house that sat in front of the lake.
The kids immediately got off their vehicles, running around and getting
together to watch the lake from the docking station.
Shantelle got off the van with Evan's help. As soon as she set foot on the
ground, Attorney Scarlett approached her,
saying, "None of the kids are sick, and I asked them to double the dose of
vitamin C, so Lucas is good."
With a hand on her chest, Shantelle sighed in relief, saying, "Thank you for
being so considerate."
"Of course! Anything for Lucas," Attorney Scarlett acknowledged.
The men, including the hired drivers for their camper vans and the Wrights'
security team, aided in settling things in the
ten-bedroom lakehouse. Kaleb Wright's eldest son followed along, assisting
his father with their bags.
Shantelle and Scarlett observed the other kids from a nearby picnic table.
"Not too close to the lake without an adult, guys! No one can swim after you
if you fall!" Scarlett called. Turning to her
youngest sons, she warned," Kayden, Kristoff, get back!"
Calling her older children, Scarlett ordered, "Lewis, Levin, please watch
your younger brothers."
"I don't know how you do it!" Shantelle exclaimed.
Attorney Scarlett turned to Shantelle, saying, "To have so many kids? You
just have to have lots of sex!"
Shantelle laughed boisterously. She admitted, "Oh, don't worry. I'm not
depriving myself of that good thing, but I mean,
how do you manage all five boys and a girl!"


"It's tough, but with enough help, we get to manage," Scarlett said. The
attorney gave Scarlett some tips, including hiring a
good nanny.
While the ladies' were chatting, the attorney's kids were running around
roughly by the grounds, dirtying their clothes. The
older kids had to help their brothers get a change of attire. Lewis said to his
mother, "Mom, we are going to change into
something more comfortable."
"Good idea, baby! Take care of your brothers," Attorney Scarlett said.
With the other boys gone, only Lily and Lucas were walking around.
Eventually, the two decided to rest on the other picnic
table, close to Shantelle and Scarlett.
Lily began to talk to Lucas about her friends at school, and while she did,
the two moms paid attention. The young girl
said, "My girl friends at school said that when we are older, we should have
our own rings. But my friends like pink! Ewww!
My brothers don't wear pink, so I never wear anything pink."
With a frown, she corrected, "But sometimes, Mommy forces me to wear
pink and a dress."
"Girls have to have a ring?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, like a diamond ring!" Lily revealed. "My mommy has a big yellow
ring on her finger. Didn't you see?"
"I think my Mommy has blue," Lucas revealed.
"I love blue!" Lily said. "My brothers wear blue all the time! When I grow up
and meet my special person - because, only
the special person gives that ring, you know. I want that special person to
give me a blue ring! I don't want a pink ring."
"But how will your special person know?" Lucas asked. "You are going to
have to tell him."
"Right," Lily said, "well, you know what I like."
"Mmmmm." Lucas contemplated. He rested his chin on his fist, thinking.
Moments later, he offered, "I know, Lily. I could be
your special person! I'll make sure to buy you a blue ring!"
"Really? You'd do that for me?" Lily asked, her eyes wining with glee!
"Of course, you are my best friend!" Lucas proudly said.


"Yay!" Lily exclaimed.
The two kids hugged each other, cheering for their own decision before
they returned to observe the nature around them.
Behind Lily and Lucas, Shantelle and Scarlett froze in their seats, their
mouths parting. Eventually, though, they both
giggled. Scarlett said," Awww, that was just about the sweetest proposal
ever!"
"Haha! I know, right? So pure and innocent! I wish I had recorded that!"
Shantelle remarked.
"If these two will ever end up together, I will definitely tell them about
today's story," Scarlett suggested.
"And I'll remind Lucas of the blue engagement ring. Haha!" Shantelle
declared.
The two mothers looked at each other before laughing again. "God, what if
it does happen?" Shantelle asked.

Chapter 134: Lucas' Plan
"Ouch!" Shantelle suddenly cried in pain. She was holding her stomach as
she sat up from the bed at night. 1
She and her family were still at the lakehouse. They were supposed to
return to Rose Hills that afternoon, but because the
kids were exhausted from either playing, swimming, or hiking, Evan and
Kaleb agreed to postpone their return for
tomorrow.
"Oh, babies, you sure woke up, Mommy!" Shantelle said while massaging
her stomach.
Evan also awoke. He readily climbed next to his wife, asking, "What's
wrong, Shanty?"


"One of them kicked my rib!" Shantelle couldn't decide whether to laugh or
cry. At thirty-one weeks, she was happy that
her twins were active, but now that they were growing inside her fast, they
were starting to give her discomfort. "It's so
painful, Evan, and it came all so sudden!"
"What? When? How come I missed it again!" Evan groaned. He had
already felt the twins move lately, but he wanted
more.
"Well, they are pretty awake right now! Seems like they know their daddy is
available to talk." With a smile, Shantelle
adjusted her position. She said, "I can't lie down, Hubby. I think I should
sleep upright more often now. The space is
probably too cramped for them if I lie down."
Evan put several pillows on Shantelle's back, helping her get more
elevation. After she was comfortable, the man eagerly
lay next to her, his hand fishing under Shantell's top and landing on her
stomach. "Babies, it's Daddy - Oh! They kicked!
Or at least one of them!"
Instead of lying down, Evan sat on the bed and pulled Shantelle's top up,
exposing her belly. He caressed her stomach,
saying, "Come on, guys. Let Daddy feel you some more."
When another kick hit Evan's palm, he exclaimed, "Aha! They love me!"
Evan kissed Shantelle's belly. He said, "Daddy loves you! And Mommy too.
Say hi to Daddy - yes! There it is again!"
Her husband was smiling from ear to ear, incredibly happy with the
experience. Seeing Evan in that way utterly amused
her. To think, a few minutes ago, she was fast asleep.
"Why don't you sing for them, Evan? Babies love to hear songs," Shantelle
suggested.
"What should I sing?" Evan asked.
"You could sing Hush Little Baby," Shantelle suggested. She instructed
Evan to search for the song online, and Evan
played the music on top of Shantelle's belly.


Indeed, the twins loved the song. There were more movements after
playing the music. Evan sang along to the tune,
following the lyrics played on the video, "Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird
With a frown, Evan cut himself, remarking, "Honestly, the mockingbird isn't
even the best bird singer out there. Why did it
have to be a mockingbird?"
"I don't know. It's probably just the perfect match to the rhymes." Shantelle
laughed. She replied, "It doesn't matter. It's a
nursery rhyme. Just sing it!"
"Oh, but Shanty, my kids shouldn't settle for anything less!" Evan claimed.
He whispered to Shantelle's belly, saying, "If
Daddy is going to buy you something, I will buy you the best!" He turned off
the video and sang, changing the lyrics of the
song, "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Daddy's going to hire John
Legend to sing you a song -" 1
Shantelle laughed her heart out. She snorted while she was at it. Indeed. If
given a chance, Evan would hire a famous
singer to sing for the twins.
"What? You like Calum Scott instead?" Evan said, smiling. He went on
singing the song. "And if John Legend has a sore
throat, Daddy's gonna buy you a gold mine. And if that mine runs out of
gold, Daddy's going to buy you a bullet train." i
Really? A bullet train?" Shantelle questioned, still maintaining a laugh.
"They are my kids. They can only experience the best!" Evan claimed
before resuming the song. "Besides, that's much
better than a cart and bull! II
Funny enough, the twins kept moving in Shantelle's belly. They reacted
more when Evan would kiss her stomach and
make humorous sounds, whatever the man could think of.
Evan delighted in the twin's activity in Shantelle's womb. When he noticed
they had reduced their movements, he fetched
the body butter and spread it evenly on Shantelle's chest. Yet again, he
kissed her belly goodnight and said, "I love you,


babies."
He arranged more pillows on Shantelle's side, and seeing her yawn, he
kissed her forehead, saying, "Goodnight, Wifey. I
I love you. Thank you for letting me have this experience."
Before completely dozing off, Shantelle touched Evan's athletic face. She
admired his intense gaze before saying, "I love
you too, Hubby. You deserve to enjoy fatherhood from the very start.
Goodnight."
***
While Shantelle and Evan returned to sleep, in one room, several small
flashlights were on, lighting up the space.
All the young boys were still, apparently, awake. Only Lily was fast asleep
in her room.
"Lucas, if you and Lily will be best friends and you get to hang out with us
often, then that means you must join our
brotherhood," Lewis proposed. He turned to their eldest brother, confirming,
"Right, Liam?"
Lucas turned to Liam with a question mark on his face. Liam replied, "It's
just our dad's basic rules, and we turned it into
our brotherhood oath. My cousins and I swore the same too."
"Okay, then, I think it's fine," Lucas replied, nodding his head.
"First, you must swear allegiance to the Wright Brotherhood. We will be
your family. And thus, your family will come first in
anything! Family is important," Levin said to Lucas, and he nodded.
"Second, like our daddy said, we must learn how to share, like toys or food,
" Kristoff said.
"And we should not be jealous of each other because we are all brothers,"
Liam added. "We must have each other's back
and protect each other, especially Lily since she is a girl."
"Yeah!" Lewis echoed. He said to Lucas, "Since you are best friends with
Lily, and she seems to trust you more about her
girl thing, you must promise to keep her safe."
"I promise!" Lucas swore.


"You must treat her like your sister, just like we do," Liam added."
Remember your responsibility to Lily. I will hold you
accountable for that!"
"Of course, I'm her special best friend!" Lucas claimed.
"Good, now that we got that settled, let's seal the deal with a brotherhood
hug!" Liam encouraged. He and his brothers
leaned back, then raised their right hand, forming it into a fist, saying,
"Hiya!"
"Hiya!" Lucas promptly followed their actions before they all wound up in a
group hug!
After the brotherhood oath taking, Lucas said, "you guys are the best!"
Liam smirked at Lucas. He said, "Nah, we are like this because our family
is the best! You should come to Braeton and
meet our cousins."
"And my grandma," Lewis said. "She is the best!" 1
"Hmmm." Lucas thought. "Is it far?"
"An hour plane ride," Levin replied. "Easy peasy."
"Easy peasy! When I get better, I can ride a private plane daily. I can go to
school in Braeton!" Lucas claimed. "Lily and I
will be in the same class!" 2
***
The next day, everyone returned to Rose Hills. The Wrights flew back to
Braeton, whereas the couple, Miguel and Lucas,
went home to the mansion.
Like any pregnant woman with a growing belly, Shantelle immediately felt
the need to relieve her bladder. Evan guided her
to the first-floor restroom. She went in, but after a second, she screamed,
"Evan! Evan! Take me to the hospital, now!"
Chapter 135: Baby Names
"It's going to be okay, Wifey," Evan tried to reassure his wife. They were on
the road to the hospital as soon as Evan
called Shantelle's doctor.
Earlier, when Shantelle relieved her bladder, she noticed blood on her
underwear. It was light, but it sent her panicking.


"The doctor said we have the safest twin pregnancy," Evan reminded.
Shantelle nodded. Each baby had their own placenta and amniotic sac,
unlike in some twin pregnancies. Still, she could
not help but worry since she had been feeling mild pain in her cervix area.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Shantelle was rushed to the ultrasound room
for an evaluation.
The doctor carefully studied Shantelle's womb. As the doctor spoke,
Shantelle and Evan paid close attention to the
monitor. "The fluid is fine. The cervix is closed. Actually, there is nothing to
worry about. You said that you felt pain?"
"Just mild whenever the babies move, or at least one of them," Shantelle
replied.
Pointing to the monitor, the doctor revealed, "You see this? The baby boy's
feet are right at your cervix. This could be our
kicker, and he might be pushing a little blood out to escape the cervix, but
it's still closed."
The doctor smiled and said to the couple, "In terms of the babies, they are
safe and doing great."
Relief washed over the couple, and they took deep breaths upon hearing
the news. So apparently, it was simply because
The twins were so active. The doctor asked, "Did you take progesterone,
just in case?"
"Yes, doctor. I just wanted to be sure," Shantelle said.
"That's fine, Doctor Shant. Safety first," the OB doctor said. "From earlier's
check-up, though, it shows that your blood
pressure is going up, and that's normal because the blood flow increases to
the babies. I'll prescribe medications for it to
be controlled, but considering that we are going into the last one or two
months into the pregnancy, maybe Doctor Shant
can I take an early maternity leave to rest?"
"You don't need to be on bed rest. That might even depress you, but sleep
more and have time for third-trimester
exercises that can help reduce your blood pressure," the OB doctor added.
"Absolutely!" Evan replied first. He didn't want his wife to risk it.


Shantelle, on the other hand, paused for a moment. However, after
recalling how Doctor Hale had joined their team at the
heart and lung center, she agreed. "Yes, I can."
***
Over the next few weeks, Shantelle stayed home. Lucas was over the
moon about it since he could spend time with his
mother and his unborn siblings.
One afternoon, after Lucas' home-schooling, he and Lily chatted online in
the pool area. It was where Shantelle had yoga
at the same time.
After Shantelle finished her yoga routine, she rested on one outdoor sofa,
and Lucas walked over to join her. Lucas said,
"Mommy, have you named my brother and sister yet?"
"Your daddy and I have covered a few names, but nothing is definite. Why?
Do you and Lily have any name
suggestions?" Shantelle asked while raising her blouse and applying some
lotion on her belly.
Lucas placed his tablet on the table, and from the screen, Lily spoke. "Aunt
Shanty, I want the baby girl to be named Lacy.
It's cute."
"Hmmm," Shantelle thought about it. Then, she proposed, "I was thinking of
Amelia, but how about we combine them?
Amelia Lace?"
"Yeah, that's nice too," Lily confirmed.
"At first, I wanted Samuel for my brother," Lucas said. "Sam for short."
"But my grandma is Sam! And she's a girl!" Lily contested. "I don't wanna
get confused."
While Lucas shrugged, Shantelle chuckled. She said, "Your daddy wanted
Marcus."
"Wait, Mommy. I'll check from your phone." Lucas did some research on
Shantelle's phone. After some time, he said, "I
read that the name Marcus is related to Mars, the God of War. I also found
another Marcus name,


Marcus Antonius. It means highly praiseworthy. We can name him Marcus
Anton."
"Names are duly noted, guys. I like your suggestions," Shantelle said with a
wink.
Lucas smiled. Then, he wondered, "Mommy, since Daddy wasn't there to
help you with my name, how did you name me
Lucas?"
"Hmmm." Shantelle's smile reached her ears. She admitted, "At first, I
thought you were my lucky charm, but after doing
After some reading, I learned that Lucas also meant a bringer of light."
"When I was pregnant with you, I was going through a tough time. That was
when your daddy and I separated," she
revealed. "So I thought the name was a perfect fit. Not only did you bring
me luck, but you gave me so much happiness.
You were the light that brought me out from the sad times."
"Plus, in a way, you brought me back to your daddy!" Shantelle added.
Raising her arms, Shantelle asked, "Come here, baby. Let me baby you
one last time before the real babies come out."
"Ewww... Mommy, I'm not a baby anymore, but." With a sigh, Lucas said,
'TH give you one last chance."
Lucas hugged Shantelle tightly. He kissed her on the cheek, saying, "I love
you, Mommy."
"I love you too, Aunt Shanty!" Lily said on the video call, giggling.
"Lucas and I love you too, Lily!" Shantelle said back.
"Durian delivery!" Miguel came out of nowhere, carrying a box of durians all
the way from Maui.
"Durian!" Lucas exclaimed.
***
"Evan, the pineapple tarts have not yet arrived. And how come there are
only four durians? It's not gonna last a week,
Evan," Shantelle said on the phone. Then she whispered, "You know Lucas
eats them too, right?"
The man was in his office, finishing up work, when Shantelle suddenly
called about the fruit delivery. He replied, "Sorry,


Wifey. There weren't that many ripe ones this time, and I promised to give
James three pieces of the fruit."
"Oh, okay," Shantelle said. "Then, I guess. I'm not going to be that horny
tonight. Bye, Hubby." i
Evan's face formed a complete frown. How could he forget about the durian
being their fruit aphrodisiac? Not that he
needed any, but clearly, his wife was making it an excuse to get more.
He ended the call and decided to take back the durians from his assistant.
He went outside the CEO's office to look for
James, only to be told he was in the pantry.
He raced to the pantry, worried that James might have eaten the durians.
Fortunately for him, James had only sliced two
of the fruit open and had packed the fruit flesh in containers. One of the
fruits was still intact.
Speedily, Evan grabbed the unopened durian. He said, "Shanty wants
more. I'll take this back."
His eyes landed on the transparent food container with the durian flesh. He
was about to negotiate for the said fruit when
James objected beforehand, "No, Sir. I don't want these."
"Why?" Evan sought, his eyes narrowing at James.
"I was so excited to eat them that I opened up the durians without washing
my hands." James described, "Before I came
to the pantry, I took a leak." 1
James brushed off Evan with his hand, saying, "It's not safe for the
Misses." 1
Dead air fell upon them. The temperature in the pantry dropped. Evan's
eyes became hooded as he studied James' face.
He was trying to assess if James was lying. 'Is he trying to get away with
the durian? He wouldn't dare. ’ 1
After a second, the man said, "Fine, you can have your durian. Call the
farmer from Maui and schedule the next delivery
soon. And follow up on the pineapple tarts from Hendrick Grant. It's two
days late.”
"Yes, sir!" James said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Thank you for
the durian, sir!"


"Then!" Evan added. "Tell HR to release a memo. All employees who do
not wash their hands, coming from the
the bathroom will be given a written warning! It's for health and sanitary
purposes!" 2
James coughed, choking on his own saliva. He replied, "Yes, Mister
Thompson. Sorry again." 1

Chapter 136: Water Broke
Thirty-six weeks into her pregnancy, Shantelle decided to personally buy
dresses for when she would give birth. Evan
wanted to buy the clothes on the weekend, but Shantelle was too excited.
With Andy, she and Karise went to the New
South Mall right after work hours. Karise came along, saying she didn't feel
like going home since Keith was still stuck in a
meeting. Evan was the same, having an extended discussion with The
Caribbean Sales executives.
Shantelle was choosing between two nursing dresses at the department
store when she noticed Karise heave. She asked
her friend, "What's wrong with you?" i
"I haven’t been feeling well lately,’ Karise admitted.
With brows meeting, Shantelle studied her friend. Karise heaved again at
the smell of one item near her. Shantelle
suggested, "Are you... pregnant?"
The two friends looked at each other before their eyes widened. Shantelle
said, "You could be pregnant! Oh, my god! You
should get yourself checked! n
"Let's quickly buy a pregnancy test after this," Shantelle advised.


"Ah, but how can we make it quick?" Karise said, her eyes directed at the
long line of customers at the cashier.
Shantelle smiled and confidently said, "Oh, don't worry about that. I know
exactly what to do."
Sucking in a deep breath, Shantelle called, "Excuse me! Doctor Shantelle
Thompson here! Wife of Evan Thompson!"
Heads were snapping their way. People were looking at her like she was
the next hot celebrity!
Shantelle arched her back, showing off her big belly, and raised the clothes
she meant to buy. With a proud smile, she
asked, "Hi, I'm Misses Thompson. Can anyone help me with this, please?"
'TH help you, Misses Thompson!" Some customers willingly offered their
aid, but the store's staff was also quick to aid
Shantelle.
"Miss Thompson, my husband works for your company. Mister Thompson
always gives all his employees a yearly raise.
Your husband is so generous. Let me help you," said a woman.
"It's okay, ma'am. I am the store manager. I can help Misses Thompson," a
lady in the store uniform said.
Shantelle and Karise waited not more than two minutes and were done with
the payment. That was how effective
Shantelle's new power was. It was better than the priority lane. 4
As they left the department store, the ladies could only giggle at how
Shantelle had an automatic express lane wherever
she went. Karise remarked, "I bet that will still work even after you give
birth."
"I'll try not to abuse it, though," Shantelle said before passing on the
shopping bags to Andy.
After shopping, Shantelle and Andy rested at a nearby cafe to rest while
Karise left to buy pregnancy test kits.
Minutes passed, and Shantelle saw Karise coming back. She was looking
utterly excited, her hands waving at Shantelle
from afar. Karise was about to walk in when a familiar girl approached
Karise and grabbed her by the arm.


The girl was wearing a sexy and branded dress. Shantelle immediately
recognized the girl as Lola Mitchell, the same girl
whom Keith's father proposed to him to marry, i
"I smell trouble," Shantelle said before joining her friend.
***
Earlier at the mall's restroom, Karise's eyes widened, seeing two lines on
the first pregnancy test. She redid the test with
another brand. It still turned out positive. Knowing Keith was in a meeting,
she merely sent him a text: [Babe, I'm pregnant!
I'm at the New South Mall with Shanty! Hurry, catch up!]
She sent him a picture of two pregnancy tests before leaving the ladies'
room and returning to the cafe where Shantelle
and Andy awaited.
Karise was about to enter the cafe when a woman suddenly grabbed her
arm. The woman was pretty, but her perfume
had that strong scent that Karise didn't like. Immediately, she gave a
disgusting sneer.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think that Keith will keep you
as his fucktoy for long? You'll see, you are just
the flavor of the month!" The woman said.
Suddenly, Karise recalled that this woman was Lola Mitchell. Karise still
grimaced at Lola's smell, but she quickly said,
"Oh, hi, Lola. For your information, we have been seeing each other for
over a year. I'm sorry to burst your bubbles, but
I'm not just Keith's flavor of the month!"
"I'm sure you, on the other hand, experienced being a flavor of the week,"
Karise added.
Okay, she lied about that. Technically, she and Keith were friends with
benefits much longer, but Lola didn't have to know
that.
"I'm telling you, one day, Keith will get tired of you," Lola bitterly said.
Karise laughed. She replied, "Then it's a risk I’m willing to take. I'll enjoy it
while it lasts."


She was giggling inside, seeing how her answer frustrated Lola more. In
truth, though, she wholeheartedly believed her
husband would never leave her.
"I know women like you - a gold digger," Lola said. "You won’t ever have
the pleasure of marrying Keith because his family
will never approve of you!"
"Fortunately for me, I won't be marrying his dad or his mom," Karise
responded. "Excuse me -"
Karise saw how Shantelle was coming to her aid. She was about to enter
the cafe when Lola insisted on insulting her.
Lola said, "My father and Keith's father have already agreed to marry us.
You might as well stay away from Keith. You
won't be able to stop it from happening because the truth is, only the rich
can marry into the rich! You are nothing but a
woman of poor class! You will never be Miss Henderson."
'That's it!' Karise concluded in her head. She fished for her marriage license
copy and shoved it into Lola's face. She said,
"I already am! Misses Henderson, Lola! And I'm not sure about what class
you are talking about. You sure come from a
poor breed, judging by your behavior."
After accidentally taking a whiff of Lola's perfume again, she leaned back
with a grimace. Karise warned, 'And don't come
any closer to me! I feel like puking from your perfume!"
Karise observed how Lola gasped, shocked at the paper she was holding.
Lola gulped, studying the copy. Then she
concluded, "This is fake! It's fake! " She grabbed Karise's arm again and
pulled her closer. Lola claimed, "You faked this Ahhhhh! You bitch!"
Karise puked all over Lola. She coughed, tasting acid in her mouth, and her
eyes watered in tears.
Lola was about to slap Karise when Shantelle walked out. She warned,"
Don't you dare touch my friend
"Or what? Your husband isn't here to protect you!" Lola shot back, clearly
responding out of rage from being vomited at.


Shantelle sneered at Lola's claims. She called everyone's attention to
prove Lola wrong. "Everyone, Doctor Shantelle
Thompson here! Wife of Evan Thompson. This woman is harassing my
friend and me!"
Like earlier, people's heads were turning their way, and people were
looking at Lola with disgust! Andy also followed
Shantelle, warning Lola about causing any trouble.
"But - but," Lola pointed to Karise, saying, "She threw up on me!!!!"
"That's because I am pregnant, and your perfume irritated me! I warned
you, but you kept coming at me. It's your fault!
You were begging to be a puke bowl!" Karise barked.
"Get lost, Miss Mitchel, before I sue you for harassing a pregnant woman!"
Shantelle warned before approaching Karise
and keeping her distance from Lola.
"Are you okay, Misses Thompson?" One woman said before glaring at Lola.
"Lady, don't you think of hurting Mister
Thompson's wife!"
"Such a shameful woman, harassing two pregnant women!" Another
woman remarked.
"You deserve to have vomit all over your dress!" An older man said.
The people crowded around Lola, trying to make her realize she had
caused her own misery. But instead of an
acknowledgment, Lola glared at Shantelle and Karise, her hands balled
into fists.
Shantelle could see how Lola was about to act irrationally. Lola fumed
towards them, but suddenly, she slipped on the
floor! "Ahhhh!"
It was because Shantelle's water broke, spreading all over the floor. Andy
and Karise quickly guided Shantelle to safety
before Lola could fall next to Shantelle.
"Oh, my god, the water broke," Shantelle remarked, her eyes rounding.
"Oh, my god! Even the babies hate Lola!" Karise commented.
While Andy and Evan, altering the man about how Shantelle's water broke,
the two ladies laughed at Karise's remark, i


"Don't say that. The babies don't hate anyone," Shantelle corrected her
friend. "Let's go to the hospital and get these
babies out!"
As Shantelle and Karise left with Andy, passersby cleared the way for her,
sending her love and best wishes for her
delivery.
"Miss Thompson is about to give birth. Give way, please!"
"Have a safe delivery, Misses Thompson!"
"My prayers are with you, Misses Thompson!"
***
Behind Shantelle and Karise, Lola was baffled, crying at her wretched
state. She had been puked on! Her ass landed on
the floor and practically bathed in amniotic fluid, yet no one cared for her.
The passersby still gave her a filthy look. She
questioned in silence, 'Just what power did Shantelle have over the entire
town of Rose Hills?'

Chapter 137: Ever Ready Evan
"Mother?" Evan asked, seeing Clara inside his office. "What brings you
here?
"Oh, I needed James' help with my ATM," Clara replied. "He said you
wouldn't mind that he left to go to the bank."
"Of course, Mother. You didn't even have to come by. I could have Evan
still, hearing Andy's call. It only meant the call
was about his wife.
"Andy? What? Okay. I'll be headed to the hospital now," Evan nervously
said. He turned to his mother and revealed,
"Mother. Shanty is giving birth."


"Oh, my! I'm going to see my grandchildren!" Clara was teary-eyed, filled
with excitement. She said, "I want to come with
you! I want to see the babies. Have Howard fetch your father, and we can
meet him at the hospital!"
Evan and Clara immediately left for the hospital. While a company driver
was behind the wheel, the mother and son
discussed in the backseat of Evan's Audi.
"You must be patient," Clara said. "Shanty will be experiencing the most
significant pain of her life. It isn't emotional, but
the very painful process of delivering the babies, and she has to go through
it twice!"
"Evan! If she blames you, let her! If she tells you she won't have babies
again, just let her say anything she wants
because I tell you, it is excruciating to give birth," Clara described. "You feel
like your hips are going to break, your ass
tearing, and that pain will remain active until both babies are out!" 3
"She will scream at you. She may even curse!" Clara warned. "But you
must endure everything. Soothe her. Just keep
saying sorry, and don't worry. She won't really mean what she says
because it's just the pain clouding her reason."
"Thank you, mother, for the advice," Evan acknowledged. "I'll be ready. I've
been ready for a while. Whatever Shanty will
throw it at me, I will take it like a man and keep telling her I love her."
Clara nodded, saying, "I'm very proud of you, son!"
The truth was, Evan had been ready for weeks. He had done his research.
While watching Shantelle sleep at night, Evan often watched actual birth
documentaries. Aside from mentally preparing
Evan rehearsed breathing exercises with Shantelle to help reduce the pain
during delivery. He had also mastered
a few massage techniques with Shantelle over the past few days.
The man wanted to be prepared entirely, a perfect husband for when
Shantelle would give birth. He was going to support
her through and through. He would not cower away when his wife would
start yelling at him. No way!


While in the car, he imagined pacifying his wife as she yelled at him. It
played like a movie in his head, and in that
hypothetical scene, he repeatedly expressed his love for Shantelle.
***
Arriving at the hospital, Evan and Clara were dropped off in the driveway.
As soon as they stepped into the hospital lobby,
They saw Keith entering the same facility.
"Evan!" Keith called.
"Keith," Evan said. He quickly announced, "Shanty is giving birth!"
"Karise is pregnant!" Keith said at the same time.
"Karise is pregnant?" Evan asked next.
"Yes, she is, but I'll tell you about it later. Today is about you and Shanty,"
Keith suggested.
"Let's go find them," Evan said.
"Two good news in a day!" Keith claimed. A smile became painted on his
face as he walked with Evan in the lift's
direction.
Clara heard their conversation. While Evan chuckled, she acknowledged,"
Two good news in a day."
When Evan's party arrived at the delivery room where Shantelle had been
kept, Karise was already waiting outside the
door. She said to Evan, "They are preparing her. I’m afraid only one could
go in with her."
That was Evan's cue to get scrubbed.
Karise, on the other hand, turned to Keith and happily announced, "Babe,
I'm pregnant!"
While Keith and Karise hugged each other, Evan changed into a scrub suit
and found his way to Shantelle.
The moment he saw his wife, Shantelle smiled at him. She said, "Evan, the
babies are coming out."
He kissed her lips and caressed her face, saying, "You are so beautiful. I
can't wait to see them. I love you then, and I love
you more for the sacrifices that you make and what you are about to go
through."


"Aww. Thanks, Evan. I love you too," Shantelle replied before asking for
another kiss.
Noticing how the medical staff was busy preparing for Shantelle's delivery,
Evan readied himself.
At first, he observed his wife. Shantelle occasionally groaned and adjusted
her frame. Now and then, she complained
about how painful her hips were. Then again, she had been whining about
the same for the past three months since the
babies had gotten bigger in her stomach.
He wondered, 'Has labor kicked in? Is Shanty holding back?'
Evan glanced at the medical team again and noticed they were already
pulling up her hospital gown, checking her pubic
area. He returned his attention to Shantelle and held his hand. He said,
"Shanty, how are you feeling now? Is the pain
kicking in? I want you to know that I am ready for this. You don't need to
keep the pain to yourself."
"You can scream at me, say anything you like, and I will be patiently sitting
here and taking as much discomfort away from
you, in any way I can," Evan revealed. "I won't get mad, I promise."
"Hmm?" Shantelle reacted.
"You can call me whatever names you like, and I won't mind. You can
declare war, and I will understand. Shanty, I love
you so much, Wifey. I can take anything you throw at me, so let it all out,"
Evan said. "You don't have to hold back."
"I'll massage your back. I'll have the breathing exercises with you, and I'll
even grunt with you as you push the babies out,"
Evan declared.
The man noticed the nurses smile at him. Shantelle, on the other hand,
giggled. He felt Shantelle's hand on his face. She
laughed and revealed, "I get it now, Hubby. I am happy to know that you
are ready for that scene. However, that's not
going to happen."
"What? What do you mean, Wifey?" Evan asked.


"Remember my last check-up with the OB doctor? Our son has not
changed his position. They did an ultrasound earlier,
and the situation is the same. I was given a choice of whether to try a
normal delivery, but chances are, I might still go
through an operation if our boy doesn't flip during labor. So I decided on a
C-section." With a nod, Shantelle clarified,"
They are going to cut me open. It's the safest way to deliver them both. And
while I am starting to feel the pain, my doctor
won't wait until I go into full labor."
Evan stilled. All that research and emotional preparation would not be of
good use after all!
"So, you won't be - urn, screaming, calling me names, cussing at me?"
Evan asked, his frame leaning back, his brow
lifting. "You won't need my comfort or hold my hand?"
A laugh escaped Shantelle's lips, and a few of the medical staff also
giggled. If that wasn't enough, Evan cleared his
throat and added, "I -1 wanted to be that perfect husband who can keep it
together when his wife gives birth."
Yet again, Shantelle chuckled. She said, "Don't worry, Hubby. I may not cry
in pain later, but you'll get your chance to help
i care for the twins, especially since my recovery will take longer than those
who give birth vaginally."
"You'll still get to play that role of a perfect husband, and you must follow
through," Shantelle assured him.
Before Evan could answer, the doctors came in. The anesthesiologist
began inserting Shantelle's epidural, and the
operation started in the next few minutes.
In each step of the operation, Evan chatted with his wife. It became
Shantelle's good distraction from the actual scene,
down her body. Soon, the doctor announced, "First baby out! Baby girl
Thompson!"
"Wahh! Wahh!" The loud cry was music to Evan's ears.
His head snapped in the direction of the baby. His heart swelled with pride,
seeing the healthy girl crying and her limbs
moving.


He could not fathom how he was feeling. Evan struggled to breathe, and
his chest felt like it was congested. Tears stung
his eyes as he impatiently observed how his daughter was being cleaned.
Before he knew it, the nurses placed the baby
in Shantelle's chest.
"Shanty, she is so beautiful," Evan remarked. Tears continued to fall down
his cheek as he asked, "Can I touch her?"
Shantelle nodded and said, "Yes, you can hold her too."
After Shantelle had given her baby girl warmth, she urged Evan to take
their daughter. With the help of a nurse, Evan
finally held his first baby in his arms. He kept sniffing his tears away,
saying, "So beautiful. My baby is so beautiful." i
Evan's smile was from ear to ear as he planned his gaze from Shantelle to
his daughter. He caressed the baby's head and
said, "Hi baby, it's Daddy!"
More tears rolled down his cheek as he reiterated, "It's Daddy."
"Please, can you take a picture of my husband holding the babies?"
Shantelle asked the medical staff, and Evan obliged.
It was a perfect memory that deserved to be captured, after all.
"The next baby is out! Baby Boy Thompson!" The doctor announced, and a
loud cry followed, just like earlier.
"Woah! What a loud cry there, buddy!" Evan exclaimed, turning to where
their son was being cleaned. "Shanty, did you
hear that?" i
"Yes, I heard," Shantelle acknowledged, her smile stretched wider at Evan's
every reaction.
Evan recognized how his excitement must have been so evident that all the
medical staff kept giggling at his reactions,
but he did not care. He was on cloud nine with joy.
Like earlier, their son rested on Shantelle's chest for a moment, and then
they allowed Evan to hold the second twin.
Holding the two babies in his arms, Evan approached his wife. He looked at
Shantelle with gleaming eyes, whispering,


"Thank you, Shanty. I love you so much. Today, another dream of mine
came true."

Chapter 138: Lucas Wants More
"Evan? You had the babies roomed in?" Eleanor asked the second she
entered Shantelle's room.
Shantelle was still in the recovery room when William and Eleanor arrived.
They were surprised to see the babies already
in the private room with Clara and Erick.
"I couldn't leave them in the care of others," Evan reasoned. He was sitting
on one sofa, watching as his parents delighted
in taking turns, holding the twins.
Keith and Karise, who had their share of holding the babies, excused
themselves for the evening, allowing the
Thompsons and the Scotts to relish their moments with the twins.
"Eleanor." Clara was holding the baby girl. She said, "Look at this! Our
princess has arrived! Meet Amelia Lace."
"And I'm holding Marcus Anton right here!" Erick said with a proud smile. "I
wish I could wake him." 1
"Well, it's pretty hard to wake up a newborn when their stomachs are full,"
Eleanor said before she asked for her turn with
the new princess." Newborns will be sleeping a lot during the first month."
William also did the same, holding the newborn baby boy. After enjoying
fifteen minutes of carrying his grandson, William
asked, "Have they collected the placenta cord blood?"
Evan replied, "The Children's Hospital had already collected them. They
will be matching it to Lucas' blood tomorrow. I'm
going to have to take Lucas there."
"I hope it will be a match," Eleanor said.


"I hope so too," Evan replied.
Both sides of the grandparents alternately took care of the twins for over an
hour. Later, the hospital informed Evan that
Shantelle was ready to move to her room.
Eleanor decided to stay behind and help look after the twins with Evan.
As he promised, Evan played the role of an excellent father. He learned
everything from Eleanor, from feeding to carrying,
burping, and changing their diapers. He had no complaints but wished he
could do it simultaneously when the twins cried
together.
Evan could not sleep a wink. He was too worried that the babies would fall
off from their pediatric medical crib. In the
middle of the night, Shantelle awoke, and after seeing Evan still watchful,
she chuckled and remarked," I'd like to see you
keep at it for another month. Don't worry. They are still newborns. They
won't jump out from there. Take a rest."
Shantelle pointed her head in her mother's direction, saying, "Mom is
resting."
The man laughed. After checking that the twins were sleeping like a rock,
he joined Shantelle on the bed. He lay next to
her, his head resting on his arm. He asked, "How long will you be lying
down like this?"
'Til try to get up tomorrow, but after two days, I should be able to walk. You
have to help me with that, though," Shantelle
replied.
Evan began combing Shantelle's hair with his fingers. He said, "You look so
beautiful, Shanty."
She chuckled and cuddled with him. She said, "You don't have to flatter me.
I know I just came from a C-section, and I
won't be any prettier until I can get up and take a bath."
"To me, you are the most beautiful woman in the world, regardless of your
state. What made you even more gorgeous is
how you gave me two wonderful children. You made me so happy that I
want to eat you right now, " Evan teased.


Another laugh escaped Shantelle's lips. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at
his dark orbs. She said, "I'm bleeding down
there. Not to mention, I have a urine catheter inside me. I'm afraid you
won't be eating me for two full months."
"Two months?" Evan nearly raised his voice. He recounted in his head
before asking, "Didn't the doctor say around four
weeks?"
Shantelle shook her head. She corrected, "It's four to six weeks or a little
longer. That is the timeframe for when the cervix
will close. Regardless if I had a C-section or normal delivery, the waiting
time is the same."
With a sigh, Evan said, "I can wait two months."
"You can wait two months," Shantelle reminded. "You had no sex for eight
years. What are another two months!"
"Yeah, I mean. There's always your mouth, right Wifey?" Evan said, and
Shantelle burst out laughing, 1
"Wifey, let's have another honeymoon when the time comes," Evan
suggested.
"Let us," Shantelle agreed.
"Where do you want to go?" Evan asked.
"Anywhere, just somewhere we can have time for ourselves alone - maybe
a private island all to ourselves? That would
be nice," Shantelle suggested.
"Got it, Wifey! I'll buy you an island," Evan claimed, i
***
Shantelle and the babies stayed in the hospital for another three days. In
between, Evan brought Lucas for blood
matching.
It took only a day for The Children's Hospital to confirm how the twins' cord
blood matched Lucas'. The news brought joy
to Shantelle and Evan, knowing Lucas could use his siblings' cord blood to
help him grow healthier cells. They still hoped
he didn't have to, but at least they were now prepared for the worst.
For now, the cord blood cells were being isolated and prepped for culturing,
a way to self-replicate in a bone marrow


environment. Lucas didn't need the transplant just yet. He was doing fine
with the interventions being given to him.
When Shantelle and Evan finally came home with the twins, Lucas was the
first to meet them at the driveway of their
mansion. He was jumping for joy, his hands up, ready to carry his siblings.
They had pictures taken with Lucas holding each baby and learning how to
care for them.
After Lucas' initial welcome, Shantelle taught Lucas how to thaw frozen
breast milk in the nursery. She said, "You won't be
able to carry your siblings without help just yet, but you could at least help
Mommy and Daddy prepare their milk if I am
not ready to breastfeed them."
Shantelle winked at Lucas, revealing, "Mommy will be home in the next
three months while I continue to take my maternity
leave."
"What is maternity leave, Mommy?" Lucas asked.
Shantelle was feeding Amelia when her son inquired. She looked up at him
and said, "It's when mommies who give birth
rest from work."
"Oh," Lucas answered.
"Daddy will also be on leave, but since he is the CEO, he will still be
technically working from his study," Shantelle
revealed. "So most of the time, it's going to be you, me, and the babies."
"Plus, Mrs. Shaw? Uncle Miguel and grandma Eleanor?" Lucas suggested.
"Yes, them too," Shantelle acknowledged while chuckling.
"Mommy, I'm so happy to have a younger brother and sister. I'll have
playmates. I'll be their older brother. Lily and I will
watch over them as
Liam watches over his siblings," Lucas declared, referring to the oldest son
of Kaleb Wright, Lily's oldest brother. "I think
Liam is great, taking care of five siblings."
"I also want to be like him," Lucas added. "So, I need three more siblings,
Mommy, okay?"


Shantelle nearly fainted at that request, but seeing Lucas' eagerness, she
laughed, saying, "I will think about it."

Chapter 139: Getting Married Next
The music resonated across the open garden of the Diamond Hotel, Rose
Hills. Everybody stood up to welcome the
bride.
Shantelle took a video from her seat of how her best friend, Karise, was
walking from afar, her head up, her smile
reaching her ears. She waved at Karise, and her friend waved back.
The wedding started with an intimate garden ceremony behind the hotel.
As the sun was setting, LED candles lighted the
aisle. Petals gathered on each side, where rows of seats were positioned.
More than twenty floral arches stood in the same aisle, adding refinement
as Karise took her special walk. Unlike
Shantelle's wedding, Keith's and Karise's only had around five hundred
guests. Only a few from Keith's family showed up,
which was already expected.
Mostly, the visitors were from Karise's side of the family, co-workers, and
employees of Keith. Of course, Keith's best
Friends and their families were also present.
The Thompsons and William Scott celebrated with them. Only Lucas
stayed home with Eleanor and Miguel. Naturally, the
twins stayed home since they were not allowed outside yet.
Sean's entire family was present. Wendell's parents and his brother's fiance
also attended the gathering.
Karise had an off-shoulder gown, patterned with lace and adorned with
gleaming pearls. Her skirt had several layers of
chiffon fabric. It flowed freely, following an A-line cut, only that the back
stretched further, creating a stunning tale.
She had her hair down, perfectly formed into soft curls. They were
accented by gleaming purple hairpins. Her hairstyle


went well with her drop earrings and grand necklace.
When Karise's father held her arm, she looked straight at the front, where
Keith was clearly the proudest.
Shantelle knew there were videographers around, but she wanted her own
video, one that she could share with Lucas.
She recorded the right
moment as Keith gasped upon seeing Karise. Obviously, he had
underestimated how Karise would look in her gown.
Keith wound up hugging Karise, encouraging laughter in the air. They both
were giggling, flirting right in front of the crowd.
They whispered to each other, and the guests could only speculate what
they had covered before the ceremony.
From his seat, Evan had to say, "Get a room! We will wait for you back
here! No rush!"
Eventually, Karise and Keith let go of their embrace, Thanks to Evan.
***
Following the garden ceremony, all the guests entered the hotel, where the
next part of the celebration would take place.
An hour break allowed the visitors to indulge in some snacks.
Shantelle and Evan were chatting with their friends. Wendell came alone,
since he and his girlfriend, Salome, were having
problems. Sean was with his girlfriend, named Brooklyn. Then, there were
Felice and Celeste.
Milan Gray, the fiance of Wendell's brother, approached as their group
talked about the earlier ceremony. She said,
"Wendell, I am heading home. Your older brother still isn't here, and your
father is starting to ask why. I came here as
Rowan's plus one, but he still isn't here. Last time I checked, he was still at
your house, reading his email, but I'm just...
upset, and I don't want to deal with it."
Evan and Sean fell silent. If anything, they felt sorry for Milan. Wendell's
older brother, Rowan, had clearly been ignoring
his fiance. Shantelle and the girls, on the other hand, were mere
spectators.


After Wendell's father retired as the city prosecutor, their family ventured
into the manpower business, partly owned by
Milan's parents, the Grays. So when Rowan and Milan started dating,
Wendell's brother was automatically awarded the
president seat of the company. Thus, Wendell knew how important it was
for his brother to keep a healthy relationship
with Milan.
Hearing her future sister-in-law being upset, Wendell offered, "I'll check on
my brother at home. Relax! Enjoy the
celebration."
'Til come with you," Milan said.
"You know what? Shanty and I will come with you," Evan offered. The man
figured he could talk some sense into
Wendell's older brother. With
Shantelle with them, she can soothe Milan in a quick girl talk.
Thus, instead of waiting for an hour for Keith's and Karise's wedding
celebration to start, the party of four left for Wendell's
home.
Wendell's family, the Francos, were very family group-oriented, so much so
that despite being old, Wendell and Rowan
remained living in their mansion with their parents.
It took only half an hour to arrive. When Wendell and his group walked into
the house, the maids gave Wendell strange
looks. They were shocked to find him there at that time.
Still, Wendell ignored the odd stares. He and Evan went straight to the
study where they expected Rowan to be. On the
on the other hand, Shantelle kept interviewing Milan while they waited in
the living room.
When Wendell did not find his brother inside the study, he inquired from
one maid, "Where is Rowan?"
The maid formed beads of sweat. At first, she gave Wendell a run-around,
but eventually, Evan interfered, saying, "We
i don't have all day! Where is Rowan?"
"The maid glanced at the living room where Milan and Shantelle sat. She
shook her head and admitted, "He is... in his


room." The maid looked down, softly adding, "With Miss Salome." i
Dead air fell upon them. Evan froze in shock. Not that it was strange for
acquaintances to be together, but did it have to be
in the bedroom?
At the same time, Wendell paled. He wondered, 'Just what is this maid
implying? My girlfriend and my older brother?'
Without another word, Wendell ran upstairs, racing toward his brother's
room. Evan ran after Wendell. The man said,
"Maybe, she misunderstood."
"The maid did not suggest anything, Evan!" Wendell shot back.
As soon as they were nearer to the wing where Rowan's room was located,
Wendell signaled Evan to keep his mouth
shut. When Wendell stood by his brother's bedroom, he pressed his ear
against the door to get a feel of what was
happening inside.
He could hear a woman's moans and the bed squeaking. Wendell's heart
raced, angered by what could be happening
inside. He certainly hoped the maid was wrong and that his girlfriend,
Salome, wasn't playing with his older brother in the
room.
Adrenaline kicked in, and Wendell kicked the door! The door swung open,
and right before his eyes, he saw his girlfriend,
Salome, totally bare and still on top of his naked older brother.
"What the fuck is the meaning of this, Rowan? What the hell?!" Wendell
asked. "You are my fucking brother! Aren't you
supposed to be getting married to Milan?"
Rowan and Salome quickly peeled off from each other, but it was too late.
Before they could even get dressed, Milan
appeared in that doorway in shock.
Ultimately, Wendell's family, the Francos, all returned home due to the
incident at their house. They were no longer able to
join the wedding celebration of Keith and Karise.
While Wendell's family tried to resolve their internal matters, Shantelle and
Evan returned to the party, both dumbfounded.


In the car, Shantelle said, "You know what, I never liked Salome for
Wendell. She is too high maintenance. I hope Wendell breaks up with her."
i
"I will punch him in the face if he doesn't," Evan said.
"Poor Milan, though. That must have been heartbreaking," Shantelle said."
That short talk with her was enough to tell me
She is a very nice girl. Too bad she fell in love with the wrong person."
Evan cleared his throat and said, "Or the wrong brother?"
***
Evan and Shantelle momentarily forgot their friend's predicament. Instead,
they genuinely celebrated Keith's and Karise's
wedding party.
Since Shantelle was bump-free, she danced with Evan on the dance floor
with the newly wedded couple. She and Evan
drank wine, participated in the games, and offered speeches to their close
friends.
Shantelle was the first one to speak. She said, "To my best friend, Karise, I
could not be happier that another good friend
is in your care. Call it fate. Maybe things happen for a reason, that you both
found each other while getting entangled
with mine and Evan's endeavors. And so, here you are, married and
incredibly in love."
She smiled brightly and added, "I wish you all the best, and from everything
that we have been through and overcame, I
know we will be best friends for life."
Sean spoke next. He told about the happy times, living the life of a
bachelor, and how he never expected Keith to get
hitched first. He said," Now you left me unmarried. I pray that Karise will
toss the bouquet to my girlfriend so I can join you
and Evan into married life!" 1
Laughter filled the air, following Sean's words. It took a while for everyone
to soothe their amusement, but soon, Evan
stood up. He said, "Keith, I am probably the most relieved person in this
banquet to know you are already married, and


only a few of us will understand why. I am glad we did not let our trials
break our friendship, for here you are now,
completely not my problem anymore, but Karise's."
The Thompsons and William laughed thoroughly in their seats. Sean was
also at it, laughing his heart out. Shantelle's
Friends were the same, cracking up. Most of their guests did not know
about Keith and Evan's history, but it did not stop
them from laughing with them.
***
Moments later, the party ended. At ten in the evening, the friends were still
in front of the table, chatting and drinking. Only
Karise had a liquor ban.
Suddenly, Wendell arrived, looking utterly lost.
"Wendell? I heard what happened," Keith said, standing up. He offered a
hug saying, "Forget, Salome, man, and, please,
get the fucking out of your house so you won't see your brother anymore -"
"I'm getting married," Wendell announced, cutting off Keith's words.

Chapter 140: Wendell's Comfort

Earlier at the Francos' home, the two families involved were yelling, trying
to figure out how to resolve the matter.
It was because Milan and Wendell's brother were set to be married in less
than two months. Everything had already been
paid for, and Wendell's father, a former politician, felt it was a shame to
cancel the wedding.
"I will not marry Rowan! Not after what he did to me! No way!" Milan spat,
her eyes swollen from all the crying she had
done in the past hour. "I'd
rather die!"


Wendell's girlfriend had been kicked out of the house, and the Francos
declared Salome banned from ever entering their
estate. Of course, just before leaving, Wendell broke up with her
completely.
"Darling, please," Rowan, Wendell's brother, begged Milan. "Salome, she she seduced me!"
"How long has this been going on?” Milan sought. "When I saw Salome at
your office, it wasn't a coincidence, wasn't it?
And she wasn't there to look for Wendell, right? Why would she be in your
office in the first place? How foolish of me to
believe you!"
"What?!" Wendell barked. He realized that was why Salome had been
distant from him. If his math was correct, this had
been going on even before Keith had proposed to Karise!
Anger surged inside Wendell. He said to his brother, "You have been
fucking all this time? Tell me, how long?"
Wendell noticed how his brother was frantically opening his phone as if
trying to delete something. He abruptly grabbed
Rowan's mobile and saw the communication between him and Salome. He
glowered at his brother and said, "You have
been fucking for around six months! You have fooled us that long?"
"Oh, shut up, Wendell! It's your fault! You could not keep your woman in
control! She seduced me, and I could not help but
be tempted!" Rowan explained. "She was a good fuck. How am I supposed
to say no to that?" 1
"Enough!" Milan screamed. Referring to Rowan, she said, "If you really
loved me, you would not have been tempted. And
cheat on me with your brother's girlfriend? How despicable can you be?
Don’t you care for
Wendell? I am not marrying you! That's final!"
Milan's father, who held fifty percent of the company shares, pointed at
Rowan, saying, "I expect your resignation
tomorrow!" He turned to
Wendell's father suggested, "Let us cut our partnership from here on!"


"No! No, please," Rowan begged. "It was a mistake! It won't happen again."
Wendell's father also begged. He said, "This is not a good idea. We put all
our money into the company we built together.
Plus, the company is still fairly new. If you break ties with us, you will also
suffer major losses. What if - what if Wendell
marry Milan instead?"
"Oh, Wendell is my good boy," Mrs. Franco declared. "You wouldn't have
the same problems with him. I swear."
Wendell was shocked by his parent's proposal. His brother was going
frantic, saying he didn't deserve Milan because
Rowan was the overachiever between him and Wendell. He was also
claimed to be the more good-looking son.
"This is ridiculous!" Rowan remarked. "Wendell is nothing compared to me.
He glanced at Milan, saying, "Darling, don't
listen to my parents. I promise I won't do it again!"
Rowan kneeled before his fiance, but Milan did not blink. Instead, she fixed
her gaze on Wendell. Eventually, Milan
responded, "I'm fine to marry
Wendell."
"No! This can't be!" Rowan became hysterical, but Milan only glanced at
Wendell before exiting the mansion.
Only the parents of both parties remained. Milan's father concluded, "Then,
it's settled. Milan will marry Wendell. I expect
Wendell to learn the ropes of running the company. I can no longer trust
Rowan. If he cannot be faithful to my daughter,
he is not worth trusting millions of dollars either!"
***
Sitting in front of the round table, Wendell and all his friends, including
Shantelle’s friends and Sean's girlfriend, were
silent after listening to his tale.
Shantelle was the first to clear her throat and said, "I don't know if marrying
for the sake of saving the company is a good
idea, though."


"I think Milan just said that out of spite," Sean proposed. "She'll change her
mind."
"But her parents might not. I'm telling you, Mister Gray was ready for the
next world war with us!" Wendell revealed.
"On a side note, I think Milan is a good person. Maybe, it's not such a bad
idea? She is a lot better than Salome - no
offense, man," Keith said, referring to Wendell.
"I don't know," Wendell said. "All I know right now is how I could use a good
sleep."
Peering at Keith, he revealed, "And about your suggestion, I had my bags
packed. I need a place to crash while I find my
own home. I was thinking of staying in this hotel, but I don't want to be
alone just yet." His first choice was Evan, of
course. He said, "Can I stay with you and Shanty, Evan?"
"Absolutely! Lucas would love to have you," Evan said. "I can reserve the
Diamond Hotel penthouse for you should the
tenant terminate his
contract. No guarantees the lessee will leave, though."
"That's fine, Evan. I would love the penthouse should it become available,"
Wendell weakley replied.
"We'd love to have you, Wendell." Shantelle smiled and commented,"
Lucas would be ecstatic, but that would also mean
he would be asking you to buy him gifts. You know that, right?"
"I don't mind at all. I love the little guy," Wendell said with a smile. "Thank
you."
***
That same night, Wendell repeatedly tossed and turned in bed, but no
matter what he did, his heart ached, and he
couldn't sleep a wink.
He tried exercising. He walked around the guest room, trying to tire himself.
Wendell did push-ups, crunches, and ran in
place. At three in the morning, he was still wide awake.
The memory of his girlfriend grinding on his older brother repeatedly made
his chest feel heavy. He didn't want to cry, but


He came close thanks to that image of Salome and Rowan together.
He needed someone to talk to, but who? Lucas was asleep. Evan and
Shantelle were also tired from the wedding
celebration, and Wendell was sure they had utterly dozed off.
Who could possibly still be awake right now and relate to his pain?
Suddenly, Wendell recalled Milan. He returned to bed and contemplated.
After almost five minutes, he decided to give
Milan a call.
It took five rings before Milan finally answered. She said, "Wendell? You
couldn't sleep?"
Wendell could hear Milan sniffing her tears away. It was clear how she had
been crying. He sat up and replied, "No, I
could not sleep. I'm so upset about Salome -"
"Why, Wendell? Why did your brother do this to me? Am I not good enough
for him?" Milan suddenly sought. She sobbed
against the phone, and
Wendell felt her pain.
"I'm sorry, Milan. I think you are a great person. My friends think you are an
amazing person too, and Rowan was lucky to
have you. I wish I had all the answers, but all I can say is that... you aren't
alone," Wendell said. "You can talk to me."
Milan kept crying over the phone, and Wendell could only listen. It hurt him
more to know his brother caused their misery.
He remained silent for some time, but after sensing how Milan desperately
needed someone to comfort her, he
suggested, "Can I go to your place? And talk?"
"S-sure," Milan weakly answered. "I supposed I need a real person instead
of a pillow."
Wendell changed into a sweatshirt and jeans. He drove nearly an hour to
the Grays' estate and found Milan sitting by the
porch of their home. When he got out of the car, Milan broke down in tears
and just hugged him tightly.
It was in his arms, by the villa's veranda, that Wendell soothed Milan. He
repeatedly massaged her back, stroked her hair,


and apologized for his brother's actions. He said, "My brother doesn't
deserve you, Milan. Don't waste your tears on him."
Wendell never hated his brother, but Rowan crossed the line. He earnestly
thought that Milan was better off without
Rowan.
Soon, the sun shone on them. Wendell and Milan were now on the porch,
talking. Rather than covering their failed
relationships, they spoke of their interests and hobbies.
"You like boxing?" Milan asked in surprise. "That's how you got all
muscled? n
Wendell laughed. He replied, "Yeah, Evan, Keith, Sean, and I used to
kickbox in high school. That was how we got
together in the first place. Now with work, it's just a form of relieving stress
or exercise for us." He turned to Milan and
said, "You should try it. It is a great way to let out any aggression."
"Like picture out your brother every time I punch?" Milan asked.
Yet again, Wendell laughed. He was at it so heartily that the dimple on his
right cheek became evident. He said, "Yeah,
That's one way to look at it."
"You should picture Salome too!" Milan suggested.
Wendell shook his head. He said, "Nah. I'm angry at her, but I don't hurt
girls. Physically or emotionally."
His response got Milan staring at him for seconds. He asked, "What?"
Milan shook her head. She softly said, "Nothing. I'm sorry about suggesting
to marry you, by the way. I just wanted to
anger your brother
"I know," Wendell acknowledged.
"I'll talk to my parents about it," She promised. "Just give them time to cool
down first."
"No rush," Wendell replied.

Chapter 141: Move On Together

"Good noon!" Shantelle greeted with a smile. "| heard you
went out at dawn?"

Wendell walked into the dining area, all freshly bathed,
passed noon. He greeted Evan’s family, "Good morning."
1

Shantelle and Evan were present, along with Lucas. The
twins were asleep in the nursery with their caregivers.
The couple was still on parental leave. Although Even
occasionally worked in the study, he was at least at home,
helping

Shantelle takes care of the twins as a priority.

It was the day after Keith’s and Karise's wedding. The
newlyweds were out of the country for their honeymoon.
Wendell

had temporarily moved in with Evan and Shantelle until
finding his own place to stay.

"Uncle Wendell!" Lucas jumped off his seat and ran to hug
Wendell. "Are you going to come with us to the hospital?"
Wendell gave a wary look at Evan. The man was sipping
his coffee, and after putting his cup down, he explained,
"Lucas

has his weekly check-up with Doctor Patel. If you haven't
yet become your company's president, you are welcome
to join."

Shaking his head, Wendell revealed, "Not yet. | asked
Milan to help me with another two days of rest. | could use
some

time off."

He sat next to Lucas and said, "| would love to come with
you to the hospital."

"Yay! It will be fun! You, me, daddy, mommy, and uncle
Miguel!" Lucas exclaimed.

Shantelle snorted, laughing. She described, "We will be
fully occupying Doctor Patel’s office."

"Now, it's time to eat your broccoli because if you don't, |
will eat them!" Wendell teased.

"No way! It's my broccoli, Uncle Wendell! You can eat
sausages!" Lucas retorted, encouraging giggles in the air.
It was a merry lunch gathering in Evan and Shantelle's
home. After their meals, they all left for The Children's
Hospital. It

it was from Doctor Patel's clinic that they received an
update about the twin's cord blood cell culturing. With
Wendell there,

The doctor had to thoroughly explain the process. Wendell
was genuinely curious about how Lucas would receive his
future treatment.

"In reality, the cord blood cells from Lucas’ siblings are just
two-eighth of his needs. That is why the same collected
blood

cells needed to be cultured in a marrow-like environment
to self-regenerate. Although it is potent, we want it to have
better

chances of curing the anemia. The plan is to let the cells
grow first while we have time. Besides, Lucas' blood
counts are

hanging in there with the added protection we are giving
him," Doctor Patel explained. "He may also even get
better on

his own."

"If Lucas can fight this one on his own, then well and good,
but if his blood count starts to drop again, we will proceed
with

the stem cell treatment,” the doctor added.

Wendell raked his fingers through his hair and said, "I see.
It's just that | wish | could take Lucas out, Doc."

"Me too," Lucas said, looking down at his hands.

"You can go out, but with health measures, and you need
to choose your crowd. You can only go out with those that
truly

care for your health," the doctor advised. He smiled at
Evan and suggested, "I'm sure your parents can figure it
out."

In the evening, Wendell and Evan took their places inside
the mansion's study. Wendell was studying his brothers’
work.

The Grays had demanded his brother’s resignation earlier,
and Wendell only had one week to assume the president
position.

Before Rowan ruined his relationship with Milan, Wendell
only acted as a Recruitment Director for G&F Manpower
International Service. He was the one working hard to
attract applicants and fill in clients’ employment demands.
All his

the only brother ever did was give him directives.

On the side, Wendell has invested in stock markets since
college. He also subsidized two of Evan's businesses; The
Lockwood Children's Hospital and the shipping lines. He
likewise had shares in Sean's accounting firm. That was
where

Wendell got most of his income. In truth, he did well for
himself without getting involved in his family's manpower
business. Still, being part of the Francos, he owed it to his
parents to offer aid.

Two hours into being in front of his laptop, Wendell
received a video message. Milan sent him a recording of
her punching

a boxing bag, and his brother's face was attached to it.
Wendell chuckled and replied: [Nice work, but you are
doing it all wrong. You need to bend your legs a little, and
you need

to close your fists harder]

Milan: [Well, don't blame me. The coach here at the gym
taught me what | know]

Wendell: [You need to close your hand tighter as if your
life depended on it. Imagine you are holding an extremely
valuable locket, given by your mother's grandma's
husband, who made it and died protecting it.]

Milan: [What? (Laugh emoji) That's one way to put it.
Better yet, I'll imagine | am crushing Rowan's balls.]

A laugh escaped Wendell's lips. It came so naturally that
Evan caught his attention. The man asked, "Who are you
chatting with?"

"Oh, Milan," Wendell admitted. He proceeded to give his
reply to Milan: [ One of these days, I'll show you. Screw
the

gym's coach. He doesn't know what he is doing.]

Milan: [Excuse me, | don't screw! I'll take the most of what
he can show me now.]

Wendell: [It's good that you don't screw strangers. You
should only share that with your special someone. One of
these

days, | promise I'll show you how to box.]

Milan: [You know what? Now that | think about it, it's
probably because | can’t screw up. That's why your
brother cheated on

me.]

Wendell: [I'm not following.]

Minutes came and went. Milan never replied. Wendell tried
to call Milan, worried he might have said something to hurt
her

feelings, but still, she did not pick up.

Thus, Wendell found himself driving to the Grays' mansion
after dinner. Milan's father was pleased to see him, and
Wendell could tell, he was assuming that they were
moving forward with the marriage.

"Wait for her by the pool. Do you want coffee or a drink?"
Mister Gray asked.

"Water is fine, Mister Gray," Wendell replied. "Thank you."
"She'll be right down in a minute," Milan's father assured
Wendell.

After half an hour, Milan came down to the pool area. She
had a freshly washed face, but her eyes were puffed,
suggesting she had recently cried again.

"Milan, did | say something to offend you?" Wendell asked.
"You never answered my call."

Glancing back at the house, Milan clearly was checking if
her father was nearby. After confirming he was gone, she
said,

"Let's take a walk in the gardens."

They went around in circles in the next few minutes, with
Milan remaining silent. After some time, she revealed, "|
couldn't

make love with your brother. In fact, | had never really
done it, technically."

"Recalling how Rowan ended up having sex with Salome,
| imagine that's why he cheated on me," Milan suggested.
"|

have a moderate case of vaginal agenesis." i

"Vaginal agenesis?" Wendell repeated his brow lifting.

"It means my, you know." Milan quoted with her fingers,
saying, "Cat."

"Cat?" Wendell was sent laughing at her term. He teased,
"How old are you again?"

"Shut up! | am younger than you by two years, and while |
am old enough to marry, | try to be less vulgar with my
words. |

i am a self-declared near-saint. So, yeah, my cat is
underdeveloped. It's too narrow; a male's organ can't get
through

without me howling in pain and bleeding. | found out about
this when Rowan tried to do it with me. He was supposed
to be

my first and last, so | gave in. | wound up bleeding on the
entire bed," Milan revealed.

"Woah!" Wendell's mouth fell to the ground. He asked, "So
you can't have sex, ever?"

"| can, and | have been doing exercises. | have been
performing self treatment - don't ask me how. | won't tell
you," Milan

admitted. "God, it's strange of me to talk about this with
you. I'm not even sure why I'm telling you this.”

"It was either self-dilation or getting surgery, but | preferred
not to take the surgery. The noninvasive treatment takes
longer, and | reckoned that was why Rowan gave up.”
With a long sigh, Milan added, "Now | know how
incomplete | was

to him."

There was a long silence before Wendell spoke. He said,
"No. It shouldn't be the reason to cheat. | mean, there are
other

ways to address his needs.

And you did say you were getting dilated."

"So | guess it was me, talking about screwing that
triggered everything. | am sorry about that," Wendell said.
Milan giggled and said, "I think... | started it by twisting the
meaning of screw."

"Yeah, | mean, | never said screw, screw," Wendell
reasoned, quoting with his fingers and chuckling. "But | am
relieved

you aren't upset with me."

"| am sorry to hear about your condition, but on the bright
side, you are getting treatment for it. Plus, you were not
entirely

able to give yourself to my fucking brother," Wendell said.
"Yeah, me t00," Milan said.

Dead air fell upon them as they continued to walk around
the garden. Soon Milan asked, "Wonder how long until this
pain

goes away? | hate thinking about Rowan, but sometimes
he creeps into my head."

"| understand. When | woke up today, | also thought about
when Salome and | started dating," Wendell replied. "She
used

to be nice, you know.

Salome changed over time. | tried to influence her, to
change her back to who she once was, but | guess you
can't change

someone who doesn't see a problem with their actions."
"It's also possible that Salome never changed. She only
revealed her true self," Milan suggested.

Wendell sighed. He massaged the back of his neck and
replied, "I don't know, but from here on, I'm moving on,
and you

should too."

"We should move on together," Milan remarked.

Wendell smiled. His dimple showed as he replied, "Yeah."
Realizing her words may be interpreted differently, Milan
corrected, "l mean, not in that way. You know both of us,
moving

on from our past relationships!”

Wendell laughed and said, "lI know what you mean. No
need to be so defensive."

Chapter 142: The Godparent Vows

"We have a problem," Shantelle said to Evan. "The twin's
evening shift caregiver got sick, and you know we can't let
any

infection gets in the house. Remember that Mrs. Shaw
and Tessie took their days off?"

Pouting her lips, Shantelle revealed, "They won't be back
until tomorrow morning. The morning shift caregiver can't
extend

any longer. She said no one is taking her son to school.”
Evan immediately got up from his seat and walked toward
his wife. He said, "Go ahead and take your rest. It's my
turn to

watch the twins."

But | thought you said you were working on something
important?” Shantelle revealed. "Il was thinking of calling
mom."

"At this hour? It's almost midnight, Wifey. No, let me take
care of them. | can handle it. I'll ask James to finish my
work,"

Evan said before making the necessary phone call to his
assistant.

He pecked Shantelle's cheek and said, "Come on."

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Shantelle asked.

"I'm a super dad," Evan claimed.

"Okay, why don't we divide and conquer,” Shantelle
suggested. "You take twelve to three. I'll take four to six."
Evan rejected the idea, but Shantelle insisted. She said,
"We both should at least get some sleep.”

Then, as if having a lightbulb moment, she searched the
study and asked," Wendell took his rest?"

"No, he went to see Milan," Evan revealed.

"Oh," Shantelle said.

"A big oh," Evan suggested.

Evan guided his wife to the master bedroom for her
well-deserved rest. Then, he went to the nursery and
dismissed the

day-shift caregiver.

Looking at the twins sleeping in their respective cribs,
Evan smiled. He might actually have a not-so-difficult
night. The

a man moved one lazy boy chair and rested in between
the cribs. He pulled out his phone and took pictures of
Amelia and

Marcus.

Evan leaned back and admired the photos, including those
he had previously taken with his wife. Just then, Amelia
started crying. He carried his little girl and tried to soothe
her, but eventually, he caught the scent of her dirty diaper.

"Oh, is that what | think it is? Is that why my baby is
crying?" Evan asked.

As Amelia cried, Evan lay on the diaper changer area,
gently removing her overalls and cleaning her off. Amelia
was

crying so hard that in the next few seconds, Marcus cried
too.

"Oh, no," Evan declared.

The man quickly carried Amelia and walked towards
Marcus' crib. He scooped his son into his arm, then
cradled both of

his twins. He hummed a soft melody of a known nursery
rhyme, which aided the babies to sleep.

Soon both twins were fast asleep, relieving Evan. He
placed them back in their cribs one by one and alternately
patted

their frames. However, when Evan sat back in his seat,
Marcus cried again.

Knowing Amelia would wake up soon, he hurriedly carried
his son. It was at that moment that he realized Marcus’
overall

was wet. Evan quickly fetched a new diaper from a large
storage box inside the closet.

When he removed Marcus' clothes, he saw the little guy's
thing poking out of his diaper. Evan chuckled and said,
"How

did that get out of there?"

Nonetheless, the diaper was also wet. Thus, Evan still
changed his son. When he was done, Evan put him to
sleep.

Evan returned to the chair and attempted to shut his eyes.
Only fifteen minutes passed, and Marcus cried again. His
son

had a dirty diaper, and Evan changed him again. As he
did, he remarked, "My goodness, we need unlimited
diapers."

After cleaning Marcus, Evan slept an hour before Amilia
asked for milk. It was evident by the way she was making
a

sucking motion.

The man realized how he missed thawing Shantelle’s
pumped milk. Therefore, he opted to prepare powdered
milk for his

daughter.

Unfortunately, Amelia did not like her milk. She went crying
and crying until Marcus awoke!

"Argh. I'm so messed up." Evan was this close to waking
up Miguel when Wendell arrived.

"Need help, friend?" Wendell asked. He was chuckling at
how Evan was carrying both twins and swaying his body
to

soothe them. "You look great dancing."

"Oh, shut up, and please get me some milk," Evan
suggested. "The caregiver got sick, so I'm all alone to let
Wifey take a

rest."

"On the second fridge downstairs, thaw two bottles. Just
hold the frozen milk under lukewarm running water," The
man

instructed.

It took a while, but Wendell ultimately returned with the
ordered milk. Just then, Marcus was also asking for milk,
crying

and making that sucking motion.

"I'm in trouble," Evan pleaded. He turned to Wendell and
said, "l could use a free hand."

Let me wash first," Wendell said.

Thankfully the twins were still tiny at that point. Evan
managed to carry Amelia. He placed Marcus in a stroller
while

feeding his daughter. His feet gently rocked the stroller.
"| suppose long legs have their advantages. Haha!"
Wendell returned, teasing Evan.

"Will you please, just help me," Evan begged. "Pick up
Marcus and feed him n

"Are you out of your mind? | don't know how to feed a
baby!" Wendell complained.

Evan groaned. He let Amelia finish her bottle first and
instructed his friend, "Let her burp."

"How?" Wendell asked.

"Like this." Evan showed Wendell how to carry Amelia
over his shoulder. He said, "Then gently tap her back to
help her

with the process."

Thanks to Wendell around, Evan managed the twins’
feeding. However, as soon as Marcus finished his bottle,
Amelia

farted. 2

"Oh, no," Wendell said. "Man, | am not cleaning shit." 2
"Hey!" Evan barked. "That's your goddaughter you are
talking about? What happened, for better or for worse?"
Wendell laughed thoroughly. He responded, "That's
marriage, Evan. There aren't no vows to being a
godparent -"

Pointing at Wendell, Evan retorted, "Well, I'm going to
change that. From now on, my kids' godparents will have
vows!

You'll need to swear on for better or for shit." 2

It could not be helped. Wendell wound up laughing his
heart out that Ameilia cried. He had to give the baby girl a
dance

while wrinkling his nose at the smell of her dirty diaper. He
said, "Fine, I'll learn to change the diaper, but you must
show

how first."

Finally, when Marcus finished his bottle, the two friends
switched babies. While Wendell carried Marcus, Evan
showed his

friend how to change Amelia's diaper.

"First, you need to be prepared for all possible scenarios,"
Evan described.

"You make it sound like it's war, Evan," Wendell remarked.
The man smirked. He said, "If there is anything | learned
over the past week, babies urinate after they poop. So you
need

to be ready for that surprise. You put a new diaper under
the old one, and only then will you open and start cleaning
Amelia."

Evan efficiently changed his daughter, and when he pulled
out Amelia's old diaper, she urinated. The man said, "See
that?"

Damn, so we need to change her again?" Wendell sought.
"Yeah," Evan answered. "| seriously need a diaper
subscription."

When Amelia already had a new nappy, Evan put her to
sleep. Marcus had been resting on Wandell's chest. When
the

the man suggested putting the baby down, Marcus cried.
They checked his diaper, and indeed, it was dirty.

"So, how many times do babies poop," Wendell asked.
"For now, | think, almost every after they feed," Evan
admitted. "| think this is while they are still newborns."

Damn. You do need a diaper subscription," Wendell
suggested.

Wendell did end up helping Evan change Marcus’ diaper,
but after that, the man suggested, "You should get some
rest. |

i can take it from here. Thanks for the help."

"How often do they feed?" Wendell asked.

Every two hours,” Evan revealed.

"So you are going to need milk again in two hours?"
Wendell sought.

"In an hour. We have spent an hour changing diapers and
cradling them,” Evan pointed out.

"Damn! | might as well thaw the milk!" Wendell declared
before going to the kitchen. After about ten minutes, he
was back

with a new milk set.

Instead of sleeping in the guestroom, Wendell rested on
the beanbag found in one corner.

Evan was half asleep, but noticing how Wendell was still
around, he asked," Aren’t you going to the guest room?"
Nah, it's forty minutes to feeding time, meaning an hour
and a half to pooping time, changing diaper time, and
cradling

time. | thought I'd stick around. For better or for shit,
remember?" Wendell said. 1

Evan laughed. He said, "Glad | have you, man."

Chapter 143: Getting Familiar

"Thanks for doing this, Evan," Wendell said before he and
Evan walked into the building office of the G&F Manpower
International Service.

That day was Wendell's official appointment. Evan came
with him because his older brother, Rowan, was
increasing

skepticism about his ability to take the presidency seat.
What better way to impress all their employees and
executives than to parade his connection with the
wealthiest man in

Rose Hills?

As they walked along the halls, going from the first to the
second floor of the office building, people were gaping at
them.

Many mouths were down on the floor, shocked to know
their new president had such a powerful backing.
Moreover, Evan and Wendell looked incredibly dashing in
their custom- made suits. The two friends shared similar
features. They had dark hair and were both tall, with broad
shoulders and lean bodies.

As for their distinct attributes, Wendell had more beard
than Evan. Wendell had light-brown-colored eyes
compared to

Evan’s intense, dark-brown orbs. Evan had a more
slender, oval-shaped face, whereas Wendell had more
cheeks and a

diamond-shaped face. Evan had straight hair, while
Wendell had soft curls on top.

When Wendell finally made it to his office floor, Milan was
already waiting with her father, the company's current
CEO.

Wendell’s father was also there to support him.

Wendell could see how Milan's father was pleased to see
Evan Thompson. He was smiling, nodding in approval.
Then, he

turned to his daughter and nodded again.

Following Mister Gray's gaze, Wendell noticed Milan had
cut her hair, and she wore spectacles too. He recalled how
Rowan used to remind her to wear contact lenses instead.
He smiled, thinking she looked great with shorter hair and
with glasses on. Wendell thought it was rather refreshing.
'Wait? He stopped, realizing he was admiring his brother's
ex-girlfriend.

Wendell shifted his gaze to Mister Gray. He greeted him
and the rest of the executives who stood behind him.
After all, introductions had been made, Evan excused
himself to return to his wife and kids. He wished Wendell
all the

best and suggested that he supported his friend's new
career path.

When Evan left, Wendell entered his office. Mister Gray
also followed, together with Milan and Wendell's father.
With the door closed behind them, Mister Gray told
Wendell, "Milan did not take an active part in the company,
merely

referring clients and helping me with my work. However,
with you taking this role on such short notice, | made Milan
your

executive assistant.”

"You both can work together," Mister Gray presented. He
glanced at Wendell and warned, "But mind you, know your
place. Remember who Milan is to me."

"Of course, Mister Gray. | understand," Wendell
acknowledged.

"| want us to talk about the wedding soon,” Mister Gray
proposed. He turned to his daughter and said, "Remember
to

make the changes with the wedding coordinator."

"Um." Milan gulped. She reluctantly said, "Dad, about the
wedding. You see, Wendell and |

"Are you having cold feet, Wendell? Are you going to be
like your brother, a man of no word? Tell me! | will gladly
cancel

our partnership and return your shares!" From being calm,
Mister Gray became agitated. "Do you think | have
forgotten

how your brother has underestimated me and humiliated
my family?"

"Wendell?!" Behind Mister Gray, Wendell's father glared at
him. He mouthed, 'Fix this now!

Mister Gray, please calm down," Wendell asked. He didn't
know why, but instead of canceling the wedding altogether,
he

proposed, "Milan and | simply think we should wait and get
to know each other first -"

"You both know each other for a year now," Mister Gray
rebutted.

"Yes, but not close enough," Wendell replied. "We were
simply considering moving the wedding date back - yeah,
that's

right. Isn't that right, Milan?"

Milan repeatedly nodded, saying, "Yes, Dad. We just need
more time to - to accept things - to make the changes
and-"

Turning to Wendell, she added," And get comfortable
"Then get to know each other fast!" Mister Gray
responded. "I'm not yet convinced about moving the
wedding. Talk to me

about it next week!"

Without saying another word, Mister Gray turned on his
heel and left Wendell's office.

After that conversation with Milan's father, Wendell agreed
to let everything cool down first. It was clear to him and
Milan

that Mister Gray was still upset about Rowan's betrayal.
Instead, Milan secretly worked with the wedding
coordinator to

postpone the wedding so the suppliers could still have
time to resell or cater to other events.

In the next two weeks, Milan and Wendell worked
together. They saw each other for ten hours a day. They
ate lunch and

dinner at the same time.

Their faces were in front of each other nearly six hours a
day. With their work set-up, they were definitely becoming
more

familiar with each other. Wendell had already discovered
much about Milan, including how she loved Shiba toys. He
learned that she spent five years of her life co founding a
non-government organization that supported children with
disability. Wendell became familiar with her facial
expressions when she was mad or tired, but lied about it in
front of him.

Despite her father's wealth, what amazed him was how
grounded she was.

One evening, as they were having a late dinner at the
office, Milan described a trip on the safari with her family.
"Right in front of our villa, there was a family of elephants
that drank from a pool of water - it was crazy amazing!"
Her

eyes gleamed as she told about the adventure.

Wendell thought she had terrific sugar-gray-colored eyes
and one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen. He
concluded his brother was a loser for trading sex with
Salome for Milan.

They were still covering her Tanzanian trip when Milan's
alarm rang. She frantically got up and said, "Oh, my god! |
totally

forgot! | have to leave. | have discovered a new addiction.
As she collected the empty food boxes, she said, "It has
been my perfect distraction from thinking about Rowan."

"That sounds interesting. What is it?" Wendell asked.
Milan paused and bit her lip. She said, "You wanna try it?"
"A twenty-four-hour arcade?" Wendell asked, his eyes
bulging in front of a claw machine.

"I'm not particularly into the rest of the arcade." Milan
pouted her lips and said, "l just want my Shiba stuffed
toys. The

the challenge of getting the toy is a perfect distraction. Try
it!"

A claw crane or claw machine was an arcade game known
as a merchandiser. One has to direct the crane in the
correct

position and drop it at the right time to get the desired
stuffed toy.

Milan chose her own machine, saying, "My eyes are on
the Shiba stuffed toys. You can put your energy into the
paw

patrol toys." She winked at him and said, "If you win, | will
treat you to dinner next. The person with the most toys
wins the

game!"

Wendell pulled up his sleeves and declared, "Easy."
Laughter escaped her lips, and she responded, "Let's see
about that!"

Again and again, Milan and Wendell attempted to catch
their toy, but it proved more complicated than it looked.
They

i spent an hour trying to get a single toy, but none of them
got one. Still, Milan didn’t give up.

"Why are we still at this if we aren't winning?" Wendell
asked.

"It's not about winning. It's about the thrill and addressing
the frustration of not winning," Milan said as she fixed her
gaze

on her targeted toy.

"And to get even more frustrated after not winning,"
Wendell added.

"I'm still unresolved," Milan said after she made another
attempt.

Another half an hour later, they still failed to get a toy.
Wendell eventually proposed, "Let's work together.”
"Sure." Pointing with her head, Milan referred to her crane
machine, saying, "Shiba toy."

Wendell was behind the console, and Milan was on the
lookout.

"Yeah, that is the right spot. Drop it! Drop it!" Milan eagerly
commanded.

Wendell dropped the crane, and he felt his heart beating
fast next. His eyes widened in anticipation as the crane's
claw

played in his head in slow motion. The claw hugged the
Shiba toy and finally carried the darn toy with it!

"Oh, my god!" Milan exclaimed. Tears stung her eyes with
joy. "We got it!"

"Fucking, yeah! We won!" Wendell exclaimed, giving an
uppercut punch. Thinking back at how hard he and Milan
worked

together, he felt like he had won the lottery.

"We did it!" Milan said with joy. She was jumping for joy as
Wendell picked up the toy.

"We won!" Wendell declared ecstatically, and because of
their excitement, he and Milan hugged each other.
Wendell spun

her around while Milan raised her arms in delight, still
screaming at their win.

When they pulled away, they realized they might have
overreacted with their win. The surrounding people stared
at them,

thinking they probably had lost their minds. They were
screaming and jumping for joy like they had hit a casino
jackpot

when, in fact, they only won one Shiba stuffed toy.
"Haha!" Milan laughed heartily. Her eyes thinned in
amusement. She said," This was the silliest thing | had
ever done, but

| enjoyed it!"

Wendell was at it too, laughing. He said, "lI don't care what
they think. From here on, this should be our thing."

When Milan gave him a puzzled look, Wendell corrected,
"You know, a friendly thing. Our friendly thing."

Milan laughed. Her face turned red as she acknowledged,
"Yeah, of course!"

Chapter 144: Locked Inside

Hey guys, | have a visitor," Wendell announced as he
walked back into the mansion with Milan. "Milan is joining
us for

boxing training."

Shantelle grinned in amusement while Evan gave Wendell
that 'We have a lot to talk about’ look.

"Wendell told me about the requirements, and | swear |
am as healthy as a horse," Milan declared. "I hope it's fine
that |

join your weekend routine?"

"Absolutely!" Shantelle replied. "Only the boys, Evan,
Wendell, and my son, are doing the real exercises,
though. Since |

had a C-section with the twins, | can only do some walking
for now, but of course, you are welcome to visit."

She marched over to Milan, putting an arm around her,
saying, "We are happy to have you. In fact, while Wendell
is still

living with us, you are welcome to join us every weekend."
As she guided Milan to the back of the house, she turned
to Wendell and winked at him.

Wendell was surprised. He mouthed to Shantelle, 'l don't
know what you are talking about?’

Let's go, Wendell," Evan called. "Let's get started.”

Daddy, | am ready!" Lucas announced, running down the
stairs.

At the back of the mansion, Evan had a mini-gym. It had
several cardio machines, weights, and boxing equipment
that

would allow him and his wife to work out conveniently
without leaving the house.

While Shantelle simply walked on a treadmill, Evan led the
group with some stretching routine. After which, they
formed

groups of their own.

Evan taught Lucas the basics of boxing while Wendell
reviewed what Milan had learned. In only half an hour,
Lucas was

throwing punches and excitedly exclaiming while he was
at it.

"Hiya! Hiya!" Lucas loudly said with each punch he made
against the boxing bag.

"Good job, Lucas!" Shantelle remarked.

Wendell and Milan also praised Lucas. Milan said, "Lucas
is a natural! | need to catch up.”

With a laugh, Wendell remarked, "you definitely do. Your
club coach taught you the basics, but he never followed
through

on whether you were taking the right stance.”

He directed Milan to another section of the gym and
suggested, "Come on, let me show you."

Wendell got into position. He said, "Keep your feet under
your shoulders and turn towards your target. Put your
nondominant foot in front of you and point it at a thirty-five
to forty-five-degree angle toward your target. Plant your
dominant

foot behind you like this."

Line yourself up with your target so you're comfortable, but
keep your back foot open. Throwing power comes from
the

lower body, not the upper body, so you must get into a
strong stance before throwing any punch." Wendell
simulated a

punch, grunting with every thrust. "Hiya! Hiya!"

On the other hand, Milan tried her best to focus on
Wendell's instructions. However, she was thoroughly
distracted. Her

eyes could not move away from his well-defined biceps,
his broad chest that formed beneath his workout clothes,
how his

eyes looked intense at his every punch, and how a few of
his curls fell into his eyes.

"Got it?" Wendell asked.

'Oh, my god! What did he say again?’ Milan tried to hide
her shame. Clearing her throat, she said, "l am usually a
fast

learner, but I'd really appreciate it if you showed me
again."

But - but before you do that, let me just -" She cut herself
off and did what she had been itching to do for the past
few

minutes. With her fingers, she tucked a few strands of
Wendell's hair behind his ear.

After which, she caught herself staring into Wendell's
light-brown eyes. It was as if time stilled, and both were
looking at

each other. Eventually, Wendell chuckled and said, "It's
going to fall either way, you know that, right?"

Right," Milan managed to hear that part, at least. She
shrugged and answered, "I don't know. | just had the urge
to do

that."

Following that awkward moment, Wendell returned to
giving instructions. He helped position Milan's body by
guiding her

arms and legs, their skins touching in the process.

Soon, Milan took a shot at it. With Wendell's guidance, she
was able to throw stronger punches.

At that point, Lucas and Evan were already done.
Shantelle also excused herself, saying, "My babies are
calling. We will

check with you guys later! Take your time."

In the next few minutes, only Wendell and Milan remained
in Evan's mini gym. After working on her punches,
Wendell

suddenly proposed, "Are you tired? Do you want to try
kicking?"

"Um." Milan thought about it and said, "Sure, why not. Just
a few tries."

Yet again, Wendell flaunted his skills. The way he posed
and kicked his leg up in the air made Milan gasp. After
showing

Milan a few techniques, Wendell said, "Your turn."

"What? Already? | haven't learned enough!" She rebutted,
but in the end, Wendell got her in a ready stance while
holding

her by the waist.

"Start with a fighting stance," He ordered.

"So when you give a front kick, you lean back like this,"
Wendell guided her frame while holding her arms and
letting her

rest on his chest. "Let's try it this time. Extend your leg
straight out for a strong kick."

Milan kept pushing, and each time she tried, Wendell was
there to guide her in her stance. On her last attempt, she
may

having overdone it, she completely slipped backward and
fell on Wendell's back!

Wendell wound up on the floor with Milan. He groaned in
pain, saying, "You are a small woman, but you sure are
heavy!"

Milan laughed thoroughly. She tried to move away but was
somewhat confused since she was between Wendell's
long

legs. She said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

On her subsequent attempt to roll off Wendell, the door to
the gym opened. It was Shantelle. Seeing Milan lying on
top of

Wendell, she said, "Oh, my god. I'm sorry! Carry on!"
They heard a loud click, suggesting Shantelle locked the
door from the outside. She loudly said, "Take all the time
you

need, guys!”

Wendell and Milan laughed at how Shantelle
misunderstood. Just when they thought locking them
inside was the worst

thing Shantelle could do, the latter ran back to the door
and suggested, "And, oh, try not to scream. The gym isn't
fully

soundproof, as you can tell! Bye!"

No, they couldn't open the doors from the inside. Milan
and Wendell were stuck in the mini-gym for another hour,
chatting

and laughing about their predicament.

When Shantelle finally returned, she asked, "You guys
done? If not, | can come back tomorrow!"

"No!" Both Wendell and Milan replied at the same time.
"Oh, so you are not done?!" Shantelle clarified.

"No!" Milan cried out before letting out another set of
shrieks.

"No, Shanty. It's not it," Wendell tried to reason. However,
the next he heard was Shantelle walking away. How will
he be

able to get Shantelle to unlock the door then?

"Just holler when you are done!" She yelled.

In a panic, Wendell reacted, "We're done! We are done,
Shanty! Open the door!"

Chapter 145: Like Brothers

The lights were nearly out at the Diamond Hotel, Rose
Hills rooftop. Two people were standing in the middle.
Electric

candles formed hearts to light up the couple's
surroundings.

Above them, the stars were sparkling, and the moon was
bright.

Sean was kneeling in front of his girlfriend, officially
proposing. Holding up an engagement ring, he asked,
"Will you marry

me, Brooklyn?"

"Yes, I'll marry you, Sean," Brooklyn said.

Suddenly, the surrounding lights were switched on.
Applauses could be heard, and cheers roared.
"Congratulations!"

"Finally, Sean is getting married!" Keith screamed.
Around Sean and his girlfriend, his friends and family
supported him with his proposal.

Evan and Shantelle were present. After spending a month
away for their honeymoon, Keith and Karise came.
Wendell

attended Milan as friends. Of course, Shantelle had a
hand in it too. She was the one who kept pushing Wendell
to

invite Milan.

After Sean had put on Brooklyn's ring, everybody settled in
tables. Food was served. Keith and Evan began to catch
up,

especially talking about Keith's father and the Mitchels.
After the incident at the mall where Lola had agitated
Karise and even dared to charge at Shantelle, Evan had
Larry

Mitchel investigated. Channel 5, the same main business
of the Mitchels, had apparently been evading taxes. Evan
turned in the pieces of evidence to the Federal Internal
Revenue Service, and from then on, the Mitchels were
shaken.

They finally received the message from Evan, loud and
clear.

"| think by now, they know not to mess with us," Evan
concluded.

"Good. | have also asked for a restraining order against
Lola. | hope she no longer tries anything stupid,” Keith
responded.

Next to Evan and Keith, Shantelle and Karise were
catching up. Karise ordered caramel popcorn, and they
were warm,

right in front of the table. Karise said, "I have been craving
for popcorn lately, so much that | want to go to the movies
and

enjoy them there."

Caressing her growing belly, Karise suggested, "My baby
wants them. What can | do?"

Shantelle chuckled and replied, "Don't | know those lines.
"Babe, we should go to the movies later," Karise
suggested. "Popcorn and movies go so well together."
Babe, it's late. Isn't the scenery and being with friends
entertaining enough? " Keith sought. "We can go to the
movies

tomorrow, okay?"

Karise pouted her lips, but just when she thought she
wouldn't have enough entertainment to go along with her
popcorn,

She and Shantelle noticed Wendell and Milan giggling on
another side of their table. Karise and Shantelle began to
eavesdrop on their conversations.

"Salome kept calling me, but | ignored her calls. She
texted me, saying I'll never find someone like her again."
Wendell

reported to Milan. "| texted her back, saying, that's exactly
what | was aiming for."

Milan chuckled and replied, "Rowan texted me just now.
He suggested that he had the most wonderful dream. He
said we

were back together. | laughed so hard after | replied, oh,
god, what a nightmare!"

Wendell chuckled. He said, "That was a good one!"
Milan's phone beeped, and she handed Wendell her
phone, saying, "See! It's Rowan again! He says he misses
me."

Let me reply to my brother if you don't mind," Wendell
offered. As he typed, he said the same words, "The
person you are

trying to reach it is not possible."

They both giggled. Then, another beep came in, and
Wendell typed on the phone again, saying, "Unsubscribe."
"Haha! He is so pissed off now!" Milan said back, her eyes
gleaming as she laughed with Wendell in the subsequent
texts

he gave to Rowan.

Behind them, Shantelle and Karise looked at each other,
giving varied expressions. Karise opened her popcorn and
softly

said, "Well, this is amusing."

"| tell you, it's entertaining enough - the way they seem to
be in their own world," Shantelle suggested while keeping
her

tone down.

Karise began to eat her popcorn, saying, "Aww. So cute.
I'm blushing with them! I've never seen this side of
Wendell."

"Well, that's because when he was with Salome, she often
created drama," Shantelle remarked. "And you know what,
Milan's father might have also seen this t00."

Extending her hand and pointing at the two, Shantelle
added, "This scene right here - because Mister Gray
eventually

agreed to delay their wedding."

"Uff, so they are still technically engaged," Karise said.

"As per their parents, yes, but as you can see, they seem
to have no problem with it. They have been spending a lot
of

time together," Shantelle revealed. She turned to Karise
and asked, "Give me some of that. A lovable scene like
this

requires popcorn.” i

Karise chuckled and remarked, "Yup. This is
movie-enough for me. Love them!"

Shantelle smiled. She chewed one popcorn, and after
swallowing it, she replied, "| love them too."

Days came and went. While Wendell and Milan's
closeness was blooming and, Marco and Amelia were
growing,

Shantelle and Evan faced one of their fears. Lucas got
sick, and his fever went up to 39.5 C.

The couple did not know why or how. They had strictly
implemented health protocol at home, but still, their son
caught an

infection.

Eleanor and William had to temporarily move into their
home while Lucas was admitted to the hospital. They
supervised

the care of the twins.

Lucas’ blood count went down drastically, and he had to
receive a blood transfusion. He also received another
dose of

immunoglobulin through IV, allowing him to fight his
infection.

After ten days in the hospital, Lucas' fever finally subsided
following his antibodies infusion. Evan and Shantelle
finally had

a decent rest. They both cuddled on a small sofa next to
Lucas' hospital bed. From there, Shantelle said, "I'm sorry,
Evan,

that Lucas turned out to be this way."

"Why are you sorry? It isn't your fault that Lucas got sick,"
Evan replied. He pecked Shantelle's forehead and said,
"Trials

are given for us to overcome, and | know, together, we will
get through this."

"I don't know if we can still push through with our plans to
go on a trip if Lucas doesn't feel better," Shantelle said.
"Then, we won't. Lucas comes first as much as | want to
eat you like crazy. | can just... eat you like a baby," Evan
said.

Shantelle laughed. She asked, "How does that work? Eat
me like a baby."

Hugging Shantelle tightly, he said, "It means I'll have to
tame it down while we do it in the comforts of our own
bedroom.”

While the couple was at the hospital, Wendell received a
call from Mrs. Scott. Eleanor had asked a big favor from
him,

and Wendell readily agreed, knowing the family's
predicament. Unfortunately, it meant canceling the dinner
she had

planned with Milan.

When Milan walked into his office, already carrying her
bag. She revealed," I'm ready."

"Milan, I'm afraid, plans have changed," Wendell revealed.
"I'm sorry, we can't go for a special dinner."

"Oh," Milan said while looking down at the floor.

The disappointment was so evident in how Milan frowned
that Wendell felt he had let her down. He then proposed,
"It's

not because of anything trivial, | swear, but if you are up to
it, | hope you can join me instead.”

"What is it?" Milan asked.

"It involves a threesome. With you around, it will become a
foursome," Wendell suggested, shocking Milan altogether.
"You are Kidding, right?" Milan asked.

A chuckle escaped Wendell’s lips. He said, "Want to find
out?"

Two hours later, Milan found herself in a room where she
and Wendell were involved in a so-called foursome.

She was holding little Amelia, letting the baby burp against
her chest. To help care for the twins, she had to bathe in

Wendell's bathroom, wearing his oversize shirt and cycling
shorts. Milan said, "This was your idea of a foursome?"
She

laughed, adding, "For a second, you got me all worried."
In his pajamas, Wendell was feeding Marcus. He was
sitting next to Milan when she remarked about having a
foursome.

He smirked and replied,”

And yet, you came. You came despite your dirty mind.” i

Milan laughed but soon hushed when little Amelia acted to
cry. She said, "l was eighty percent hopeful; it wasn't
naughty

at all.”

"Which means twenty percent of you was hoping to get
naughty with me," Wendell proposed, leaving Milan to
laugh

again.

"Stop that, please," Milan said. Her eyes watered in
amusement.

For the record, though, by definition, foursome means a
group of four people. It doesn't have to mean naughty,"
Wendell

said.

Milan smiled. She answered, "Yeah, this doesn't even
come close to being naughty." she leaned back on the
lazy-boy

chair she settled in and commented, "| think it’s great... the
way you, Evan, and Doctor Shant have this closeness."
"You and Evan must be really tight," Milan suggested.
Wendell fell back on his seat. He turned to Milan and
suggested, "We are like brothers. Despite him, getting
married and

having a family, we are part of his life, and | intend to keep
it that way even after we get married."

Milan turned to her with a red face. Only then did Wendell
realize what he had said. His mouth fell open, and he said,
"|

mean -1 don't know why | said that. It's just that your
father keeps talking about it. agh!"

Instead of objecting, however, Milan just maintained her
smile. She didn't object, nor did she give any approving
remarks.

Chapter 146: There For Evan and Shanty

"Hey! Glad you are back, Lucas!" Wendell exclaimed,
seeing Lucas exit the car with Shantelle.

"Uncle, Wendell! Mommy and Daddy said you have a
surprise for me?" Lucas asked. The boy had a bright
smile, but

While he was glad, Wendell observed how he was paler
than the last.

Still focusing on being an optimist, Wendell replied to
Lucas, "Of course! | have surprises for you!"

Last night, Evan called Wendell with several demands.
The man requested that Wendell buy a guitar, a drum set
and to

bring a horse. It was all meant to make Lucas happy.
Wendell had to take an entire day's leave from work to
meet these demands. James was too busy dealing with
the

company on Evan's behalf. Thankfully, Milan supported
him with that day's mission, and Mister Gray agreed.
"Hey, Lucas!" Milan called. She was riding on a black
horse, saying, "I'll be your riding instructor this afternoon!"
Referring to the horse, she said, "Meet Midnight!"
"Wow!" Lucas' eyes sparkled. He jumped in his place. "Is
he mine? Is He mine, Daddy? Is he mine, Mommy?" He
nearly

cried, repeating his line of questioning, just utterly
surprised at seeing a horse in their estate.

"Uh, well, not for now, Lucas," Shantelle replied.

It was Evan who explained it to his son. He leveled with
Lucas, saying, "Son, I'm working on buying Midnight, but
there are

things to consider that need time." Evan's eyes studied the
surroundings and described, "He needs a proper home.
Maybe, we can buy another residence that can
accommodate animals. The mansion isn't the right place
for Midnight to

live in."

"You understand, right?" Evan asked, and Lucas nodded.
The community did not allow animals other than dogs and
cats. However, more than that fact, there was also a
chance

that Lucas could get another infection from the horse.
Thus, Shantelle and Evan agreed to limit Lucas’ playtime
with the

horse.

"Okay, Daddy. | understand," Lucas acknowledged.

"But there is more to be happy about!" Wendell exclaimed.
"Guess who has a new guitar and a drumset? Who is
going to

be a superstar?”

"Me?" Lucas excitedly clarified.

No, me!" Wendell claimed, and after Lucas frowned, he
took it back, saying, "Of course, you! | can no longer rock
my

head like you do, buddy!"

Wendell gave Lucas a headbang, and the boy followed.
"Yeah! Finally, | can be a rockstar too!" Lucas said.
Everyone laughed. From behind Lucas, Shantelle
mouthed to Wendell,” Thank you.' She did the same with
Milan before

Lucas took his very first ride on a horse.

** <e

In the evening, after Lucas had dinner, he went straight to
his room to chat with Lily.

From the dining area, Shantelle revealed to Wendell and
Milan, "His blood count did not go up. The antibodies only
prevented them from dropping drastically."

"That's why he looked paler," Wendell remarked.

"Yes," Shantelle admitted. "For now, though, his doctor
wants to observe how he will do in the next few days. He
is

scheduled for another blood transfusion next week. We
will see from there."

Shantelle turned to Milan and said, "Thank you, Milan, for
joining Wendell in taking care of the twins. That time, my
parents were just super tired and could use a good rest."
"No problem at all," Milan said. "| enjoyed my time with
Wendell -1 mean, the twins."

Shantelle chuckled. Milan's slip of the tongue opened up
to a lighter conversation instead of dwelling on Lucas’
situation.

Evan wound up saying, "I'm sure it was both."

"Well, of course. It's always fun hanging around Wendell,"
Milan acknowledged, and Wendell smirked.

He reached for Milan's hand, and they both held hands
under the table.

*k%k

Days came and went.

Lucas had another blood test done. To Evan and
Shantelle's dismay, Lucas ' blood count dropped again.
The boy had to

stay in the hospital for a few hours to complete his
transfusion, this time receiving blood from another donor
instead of

Evan's.

It became clear to the couple that they were no longer
fighting the infection but, instead, the root cause of the
anemia.

Lucas's immune system was attacking his blood cells,
especially any donor cells. If that wasn't worse enough,
Lucas’

the teacher failed to recognize how she caught the flu.
After only three weeks of being out of the hospital, Lucas
got sick

again, and his home tutor was to blame.

At first, the couple tried to treat the flu at home, but Lucas’
fever worsened on the second day. Lucas was again
admitted

to the hospital. During the admission, the couple learned
that Lucas' blood count had decreased from the last. Aside
from

getting treatment for his symptoms, Lucas immediately
had another blood transfusion, i

*k%k

While Shantelle, Evan, and Lucas were at the hospital,
back at the couple's home, Wendell and Milan wound up
taking

care of the twins again. Like the last, Milan wore Wendell's
clothes because everything came unexpectedly.
Shantelle's parents had left to attend a medical
convention. Clara and Erick were also sick with flu.

In the nursery, Milan was tickling baby Amelia after she
fed. The baby girl smiled at her. Milan said, "What a cute
baby you

are. Love your mommy's milk? And you like being taken
care of by Aunt Milan?"

She flushed, calling herself their aunt. She thought she
was pushing herself into their lives when she only offered
her help

to Wendell this time.

That day was their company's anniversary party, but she
dropped everything to help Wendell. On the other hand,
Wendell

dropped the party for the twin's care.

Of course, the caregivers were present, but Milan
acknowledged that there should be at least one person
with authority to

look after the mansion - to make decisions in an
emergency. This time, it was Wendell. Even Miguel, Lucas’
bodyguard,

became the couple's runner at the hospital.

"Hey, late dinner is ready," Wendell said at the door to the
nursery room.

Mrs. Shaw followed and offered, "I'll take care of Amelia.
Tessie will look after Marcus."

"Okay," Milan said. "Let me burp her first - Ooops!"
Amelia threw up a little milk after burping in Milan's chest.
Mrs. Shaw readily took the baby girl from Milan, saying,
"That's

okay. It happens. Best to get some new shirts from
Wendell."

"And after dinner, you two should get some rest too. We
should be fine, and if we need any help with the twins, we
won't

be ashamed to knock on Wendell's door," Mrs. Shaw said.
"Oh, no. No." Millan corrected her burning face. "We are
not together that way. We won't be sharing a room."

No?" Mrs. Shaw asked, utterly puzzled. "But aren't you
both engaged?"

"It's more complicated than that," Wendell reasoned.
"What makes it complicated? You obviously have feelings
for each other. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here - Milan
helping

you and you, bringing Milan here, and letting her wear
your shirt, Wendell?" Mrs. Shaw said, leaving the two
speechless

for seconds. 2

When Wendell tried to open his mouth, Mrs. Shaw quickly
said, "Oh, excuses. Excuses. Just eat your dinner and
figure it

out soon. Don't take too long, though, Wendell. Someone
else might confess his love for Milan!"

Thanks to Mrs. Shaw, Wendell and Milan were awfully
awkward as they walked to the room. They were both
silent,

averting each others' gazes.

Milan changed her shirt in Wendell's bathroom. When she
stepped out, Wendell stood in front of her, and now,
leaving her

completely nervous, her heart drumming against her
ribcage. She thought, "Thanks a lot Mrs. Shaw, the
psychic!

For seconds, Milan just stood there waiting. Soon, Wendell
spoke, "Milan, instead of partying at the company's
anniversary, | would rather be here to help Evan. He is my
best friend, and he and Shantelle have it rough now. It's
not

that | don't care for my own happiness, but how can | be
happy seeing Evan and Shanty in misery? Are you willing
to

accept that part about me? Because Lucas’ condition is
not going away that easily. For now, | will be there to help
them.”

Milan's eyes lit up. She bit her lip, thinking, 'VWas that
somewhat a confession?’

She studied Wendell for seconds, and seeing how serious
he was, Milan nodded and grabbed the opportunity. She
replied, "Instead of drinking booze and partying with girls,
you preferred to care for your godchildren, and | think
that's

What's great about you? In fact, that's what | like about
you the most."

Milan gathered all her courage and added, "That tells a lot
about your faithfulness and dedication. | know where you
stand

and how much you value your friendship with Evan and
your closeness with their family. | see that nearly every
day. |

i came here with you because | support you. | won't stand
in your way, but I'd be glad if | could stay by your side." 1
Wendell let out a sigh. He raked his fingers through his
hair and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Milan shyly replied. "I love helping care for
the twins and Lucas, anyway. They are great kids."
Immediately, Wendell exhaled profoundly. He said, "I - I'm
glad you feel that way, Milan." He inched closer and
smiled,

saying, "Then, there is no need for me to drag this

Before Milan knew it, Wendell put both his hands on her
face. He caressed her cheeks gently and leaned in for a
kiss. 1

Sparks flew, and moans readily left their lip”

Chapter 147: Dilated

After spending so much time with Milan, Wendell realized
how amazing she was. More than her good looks, he
loved her

personality, innocence, and how she made him laugh.
Wendell especially liked that she was willing to give her
time and

help Evan and Shantelle, despite not knowing them the
way he did.

She was great with Lucas and easily mastered caring for
the twins. Milan was friendly and effortlessly connected
with

Shantelle and Karise. What could Wendell say? Milan
would be the perfect girlfriend, fitting right into their boys'
club like

Karise and Shantelle quickly did.

Was this fate or what? If his brother had not slept with his
ex-girlfriend, Wendell would not have had the chance to
get

close to Milan. Somehow, he thanked the heavens for his
brother's mistakes.

It had not been long since Wendell started to have feelings
for Milan, but he also had second thoughts. With Lucas’
condition, he knew he would offer Even more help. He
wasn't going to abandon his friend.

Recalling his experience with Salome, she was a very
demanding girlfriend. She disliked how he often spent time
with the

boys rather than being with her. Yet, when being invited to
his circle, Salome repeatedly refused. With Milan,
however, she

blended in just perfectly.

In little ways, he would show her how he felt for her. He
had held her hand a few times, and she would not refuse
him.

They had gone out for special dinners and spent a few
nights at the arcade, just having fun. They would spend
long hours

at his office. While they covered a lot of work, they also
talked about trivial yet amusing things.

For Wendell, the best moments were when Milan shared
her time, caring for the people he cared about too.

Earlier, when Mrs. Shaw suggested they both had feelings
for each other, Wendell could not shake off his excitement.
The

the plan was to wait it out, at least when Lucas was better.
While Lucas was sick, he could not go all out, but how
could he wait now?

If they had mutual feelings, he needed to burn the flames
and not let them die. He liked Milan too much to let her slip
through his fingers. Thus, he confessed in a way that he
also expressed his current wishes. Much to Wendell's
surprise,

Milan not only liked him back, but she also understood
him. The best part was how willing she was to help him in
his goal

of helping Evan.

Wendell was beyond elated. He closed the gap between
them and kissed Milan's lips. The moment Wendell felt the
softness of her lips, he sensed electricity run through his
body. When he tasted her flavor, he moaned into her
mouth, his

arm unwittingly circling her waist and pulling her against
his chest.

He loved it! Just by that mere kiss, she sent him to another
level of euphoria.

Wendell noticed how Milan closed her eyes. She was
responding to the same kisses with passion. Her actions
utterly

made him hard beneath his pants. Sadly, knowing her
well, he knew he wouldn't get any and would respect her
wishes

too.

He lifted her weight and let go of the kiss, saying, "I'm not
so hungry anymore."

Milan only chuckled and traced his face. She replied, "I'm
not hungry, either. m

That was Wendell's cue to keep eating her. He lay her on
the bed and settled next to her. He cupped her chin and
then

began kissing her all over again.

They were so into the kiss, with Milan occasionally feeling
his erection against her thigh. Their legs began to
intertwine,

and their hands touched each other's faces. Soon,
Wendell stroked Milan's thigh. She gasped, as if
shuddering from that

skin contact. Her eyes turned dreamy, and her hands
moved to Wendell's chest.

Wendell and Milan kissed again, and she started stroking

his arm while they were at it.

Soon, Wendell's hand went inside her shirt. He remarked,
"Your skin is so soft."

Milan did not react. Instead, she simply returned to kissing
him.

Eventually, Wendell made it all the way to her breast. He
cupped her covered bosom and kneaded them gently.
Milan

moaned and squirmed.

At that point, Wendell could no longer hold himself. He
went under her bra and touched her bare breast. He let go
of their

kisses to say, "Il want to feel more of you."

He reached for her back and unhooked her bra. He
climbed on top of her and helped her off the shirt. When
his eyes

landed on her chest, he puffed his cheeks and declared,
"Right now, | am the luckiest man to see these beauties."
Milan did not have oversized breasts, but her nipples were
pink and perky. As Wendell marveled at her, she bit her lip
and

allowed him to see more of her.

Wendell returned to kissing her, but this time, he played
with her nipple, rolling it in between his fingers.

"Mmmm," Milan released an erotic sigh when Wendell
sucked on her breast. She shut her eyes, and her back
arched.

Her legs spread wider for Wendell as he ate her mounts. 1
Their desires were at their peaks, both gasping and
moaning erotically. Wendell was this close to getting past
her

abdomen when all of a sudden, Milan's stomach growled.

Wendell stopped. He looked at her, asking in silence.
She said, "I'm not hungry. Let's not stop."

Wendell littered kisses on her belly. He gripped the
waistband of her shorts, ready to pull it down, when
Milan's stomach

growled again.

"| swear, | am not hungry!" Milan claimed.

At that point, Wendell laughed. He climbed back up to her
and kissed her lips. He said, "Let's stop and eat. Besides,
it will

be a struggle to hold back, knowing we can't even go all
the way."

He kissed her again, saying, "And | don't know if you are
ready."

Milan lay there, taking deep breaths. She was slightly
disappointed that she didn't get an orgasm, but at the
same time,

she was relieved that Wendell understood her situation.
She said, "Wow, you are so different from Rowan."

"I'm not my brother," Wendell said while offering his hand
to her.

"I know. | just can’t help but compare. You are so much
better,” Milan said." I'm sorry."

"| think it's understandable. | compared you to Salome just
earlier," Wendell said while helping her into the shirt.
"And?" Milan asked.

Wendell smiled. He embraced Milan, saying, "I think we
will get along just fine."

Milan hugged him back, answering, "| think so t00."

Miss Milan Gray, will you be my girlfriend?" Wendell
asked.

Milan pulled away from the hold with a flushed face. She
replied, "I'd love to be your girlfriend, although we kinda
are

engaged.” i

A laugh escaped Wendell's lips. He said, "We are, aren't
we?"

After an intense make-out session, Wendell and Milan had
their late dinner. They checked on the twins then after and
let

The caregivers take their personal breaks before returning
to Wendell's room.

Instead of Milan sleeping in another guest room, they
cuddled in the same bed that night. Because they were
spooning

together and Wendell's arm was practically across her
chest, he had a boner again. Thinking about Milan's
condition, he

asked, "So, Milan. | know you said you can't have sex yet,
and | won't ever rush you -"

"Depends on the size. What's your size?" She asked.
"Um. Large?" Wendell replied.

"Hmm. How many inches?" Milan sought.

"Six and a half, | think," Wendell replied.

Milan turned to Wendell, flushing. She replied, "Um...1
thought you were bigger, but now it's great."

"Are you mocking my size?1' Wendell asked, his eyes
narrowing at her.

She giggled and revealed, "No, it's just that | am dilated for
a large-size male organ. | had practiced it for two weeks
straight. If you were bigger, we'd have to wait another few
months."

Wendell's mouth fell open, and his member became stiffer
than a rod.' Fuck, why did she have to admit that?’

She traced his chest with her finger and proposed, "You
know what that means? You are the perfect size for me.
You just

have to do me, really slow... So it won't hurt?"

Dead air fell upon them. It took seconds for Wendell to
recover. He said," No, | think what needs to be done is to
get you...

extremely wet." "Extremely wet?" Milan lifted her brow.
She asked, "How?"

Chapter 148: So Tight

Wendell's mouth nearly fell off the bed. He lifted his brow,
asking, "You mean, no man has ever tasted you down
there?"

When his eyes traveled to her groin area, Milan
understood. She gulped and replied, "At best, a play with a
finger, but no -

not taste - Wendell?"

Wendell got up to turn back the lights on. He climbed up
the bed and abruptly tugged on the waistband of her
shorts. He

pulled it down and took it off along with her underwear.
Seeing her bare, a hiss left his lips." Beautiful."

Looking back up at Milan, she turned tomato red.

He crawled above her and sealed her lips with a kiss. As
he did, he said under his breath, "You are so beautiful."
While savored in each other's flavor, Wendell reached
under her shirt and began massaging her breasts. He
tugged on

the base of her shirt and pulled it up, removing it
completely.

She didn't wear any bra to sleep, so her bosoms were
accessible to him. Like earlier, he sucked her mounts
heartily,

twirling his tongue around her nipples before diving in to
latch like a baby. 2

As Wendell held her breast with one hand, the other
began to rub her clit. Milan began to moan and writhe
beneath him,

her legs giving away and her face burning.

"Wendell," softly, she called his name. "It feels different."
"How different?" Wendell asked, briefly letting go of her
breast and quickly returning to eat it.

"It's not like you are trying to stab my - my cat," Milan said.
She giggled at the way she described her previous
experience

with Rowan.

A laugh escaped Wendell's lips. He sat up and took off his
shirt. He spread her legs apart and answered, "Gentle is
the

best way to make you very wet." 1

He touched her clit with two fingers and said, "Right here."
Giving that feather-weight circling motion, he added, "With
the

right amount of pressure."

"Aaahhh!" Milan threw her head back, her body
relentlessly making waves as Wendell fondled her clit. She
did not even

realize how her hips were twitching in delight.

Milan closed her eyes, relishing the moment, but soon,
Wendell stopped. She frowned and looked between her
thighs. To

to her shock, he was inching closer to her peach. She was
about to oppose, but before she knew it, she felt his warm
tongue

sucking her entire core. "Aaaaah... Wendell!"

She jerked at that very sensation. It utterly caught her by
surprise! Milan wound up touching herself, reaching for
Wendell's curls and tugging on his hair. Her hips
repeatedly raised, wanting more of his tongue against her
core. "| want

more. | want more - aaaahh!"

Milan mildly convulsed at having reached climax. Her gaze
turned frail, and her skin formed happy goosebumps all
over.

She noticed how Wendell checked her entrance. He
dipped two of his fingers and inserted them inside her.
Another moan escaped her lips. She noted, "It feels so
good."

"You are so wet already,” Wendell revealed. He raised his
fingers and showed her how they gleamed in her love
juice.

Milan gasped, and a sense of contentment engulfed her.
Next, she noticed Wendell taking off his pajamas. Her
eyes

became hooded, watching him as he palmed himself.

He lined up his large male organ into her rose and slowly
penetrated her. 1

"Aaaaah!" Milan sighed in desire. "You are so hard,
Wendell."

Fuck. And you are so tight!" Wendell remarked. Despite
going halfway in, he clearly understood what she meant by
being

narrow. He felt the muscles around her core hugging his
little man down there. Thankfully, she was wet enough for
him to

glide in with ease.

"Relax, Milan. Relax. Let me take care of you," he urged.
"I'm a little nervous," she admitted.

Wendell pulled out and kissed her again. He returned to
touching her, and playing with her breasts while rubbing
her clit.

When Milan surrendered to that feeling of euphoria,
Wendell sat back up and entered her again.

Milan was wetter than earlier, and that encouraged
Wendell to keep pushing. He said, "Tell me if you feel
pain.”

"Very little pain, mostly ticklish and filled," Milan confessed.
"It - it feels great.”

Her words made Wendell smile. He lowered his frame to
kiss her again, his member still halfway in. He was
pumping in

and out, but not thoroughly pushing all the way. Soon,
however, his wanting grew bigger. He asked," Can | try
pushing

deeper?"

Milan nodded, saying, "Be gentle."

While still on top of her, he slowly pushed his manhood in.
As he did, he studied her face. When she would frown, he
would pause and evaluate the situation. Wendell would
return to kissing her again, sucking her breasts, and
touching any

part of her body. When he felt she was damper again, he'd
push again until he finally reached her ends.

"Aaaah! Damn, Milan! You are so tight. | fucking love it,"
Wendell said." How do you feel?"

"l -1 don't want you to stop," she said, her chest heaving in
excitement. "It feels amazing. Keep moving, Wendell."
Wendell felt like the floodgates had opened. He began to
move to and fro without wavering. In each second that
passed,

Milan was becoming more and more relaxed, her love
juice further soaking Wendell's stick.

Soon he unknowingly picked up the pace. Wendell was
pumping faster, yet Milan kept moaning in pleasure.
Understanding how Milan was no longer uncomfortable
doing the deed, Wendell sat up, but not before pecking her
on the

lips. He held her waist and said, "Il want to do it a little
faster."

Milan only nodded.

In the next few minutes, Wendell thrust back and forth with
a bit of strength, their flesh slapping. Again and again, he
wailed in desire, complimenting how tight Milan was. His
body glowed in sweat, his butt cheek hollowing deeper
with

every push.

On the other hand, Milan was rebounding on Wendell's
bed, her breast bouncing with her. As Wendell made love
to her,

her eyes never left his torso. She marveled at his muscles
and mainly feasted on his well-shaped abs.

While Milan was lusting over his body, she gasped, feeling
a more thrilling sensation between her legs. "Wendell, | -
Aaaaah!"

She came, unable to hold the desire that spread through
her body. She mildly convulsed and begged for a kiss.
Wendell leaned down, and they relished in an open mouth
kiss.

"Ah! Ah! Aaah!" Milan's face burned while she screamed.
Wendell pushed and pushed into her pulsating core, and
she

quickly drowned in a sea of pleasure.

"I'm cumming," Wendell warned. He frantically sat up and
pulled out just in time! As Wendell moaned in ecstasy, his
brows

met. He ejaculated, right on top of Milan's rose, his semen
dripping into her crack. "Fuck, that was hot."

After making love, Wendell and Milan took their shower.
They kissed and groped each other until arousal hit them
again.

They had a repeat in the bathroom with Milan bent over
and Wendell pumping from behind.

Only after their second round did the two manage to get
some sleep.

At dawn, Milan woke up and went to the bathroom.

Feeling thirsty, she went to the kitchen to grab a glass of
water. When

she came up, she noticed the twins were crying.

Milan went to the nursery and helped Mrs. Shaw and the
other caregiver. They ran out of milk, so Milan rushed back
to

the kitchen to get another frozen breast milk. Knowing how
the twins would change their diapers soon, she prepared
the

diaper changing area with two sets of nappies.

Milan offered to help, but Mrs. Shaw insisted they could
handle the twins.

It was as if Mrs. Shaw knew that Milan needed to return to
Wendell. She even winked at her before she left the
nursery.

Back in Wendell's room, Milan considered resting for
another hour before whipping up some breakfast.
However, just as

she climbed under the sheets, she noticed something hard
and long poking the blanket. She took a peek and realized
it

was Wendell's shaft. He was awfully hard at five in the
morning.

They had slept naked last night, so his manhood was free
to reveal itself. For minutes, she studied his member,
biting her

lip at the memory of last night. She could not get over how
it felt so good that she decided to get some in the morning
as a

great breakfast.

Milan grabbed his stick, and gave it a little palming before
putting

Wendell's rod into her mouth.

"Aaah, Milan!" Wendell called. He looked down and found
her sucking him heartily.

She let go of his length with a pop, saying, "Good morning.
Want breakfast?" "| like that kind of breakfast, yeah,"
Wendell

said before Milan got up and rode his stick.

Chapter 149: Years Back

Wendell threw his head back, enjoying how Milan was
eating him. He felt some teeth, but he didn't mind. It further

exhilarated him, knowing his girlfriend was such a cute
amateur. Still, he gave a gentle reminder, saying,

Milan, don't bite my dick off. We still need it once we want
to have our own family."

Milan's eyes widened. Her heart fluttered when Wendell
mentioned making a family. She let go of his rod, saying,
"Sorry."

She giggled and asked, "Like this?"

This time, she did her best to cover her teeth while giving
him lip service.

"Yeah, fuck. Like that," Wendell sighed. He lifted his head,
watching as Milan moistened his manhood. To him, she
looked

so beautiful, cautiously sucking him.

His eyes remained glued to how her thin lips were
perfectly wrapped around his rod. A hissed left his lips,
and he said,

"Fuck, | still can't believe you are mine. Get up here, and
let's do this together."

"Together?" Milan asked.

A smirk formed on Wendell's face as Milan crawled up to
him. He rested his hand behind her neck and kissed her
passionately. When he pulled away, he said, "Yes,
together. Take off your clothes."

After getting naked, Wendell guided her to the proper
position, saying," Give me your ass. Eat me while | eat
you."

Milan gasped. Her eyes blinked, and her face burned. She
replied, "Oh? | guess that's fair."

"Sweetheart, I'm all about fairness and equality," Wendell
teased. His words made Milan roll her eyes, but she did as
he

instructed either way.

Milan was nervous and excited at the same time. Before
she lowered herself to please Wendell, she felt his hot
breath

against her entrance, sending chills down her spine.
When she sensed his tongue pleasing her, her breathing
hitched. He wasn't just licking her, he was lathering his
tongue

across her crack, and she thought she would go crazy in a
minute or two from pleasure.

Milan relished the moment. She closed her eyes, her hips
unknowingly grinding against his mouth. She thought,
"Wow.'

She did not know how long she sat on his face, enjoying
Wendell's work, but soon he called her attention, saying,
"Hey,

What happened to fairness and equality?"

Milan moaned. Under her breath, she objected, "Oh, |
thought that was your thing."

She laughed, realizing she was being selfish. Who could
blame her? She had been missing out on all these great
emotions, being intimate with a man and much more with
someone she had grown to like so much.

Leaning down, she studied Wendell's pulsating rod. Milan
grabbed his member and returned the favor, sucking him
with

affection. Remembering Wendell's earlier instructions, she
tried her hardest not to bite him.

Milan's eyes turned dreamy at the thought of their erotic
position. All the more, the feel of Wendell's tongue sent
her into a

galaxy of delight.

The two went at it in the next few minutes, pleasing each
other. Their slurping tongues echoed across the room, and
moans escaped their lips continually.

With the way they were stimulating each other, it did not
take long for them to reach another level of high.

Milan came first. Her body mildly convulsed. Yet despite
having cum,

Wendell still ate her hungrily, further inflaming her desire.
She was so lost in that feeling of having orgasmed that
she

rolled off Wendell, evidently in dreamland.

She was still letting it all sink in when Wendell
maneuvered his way around her. The next thing she knew,
he was

checking her wetness. He said, "I'm going in now."

Milan nodded, saying, "lI want all of you, Wendell."
Pleased by her words, Wendell kissed her. After which, he
said, "You can have all of me, but to be fair, | want all of
you

too."

Milan simply chuckled, watching him settle in between her
legs. He entered her, and he rocked her world. She was
sent

screaming and crying in pleasure, and she never held
back.

Soon their bodies glowed in sweat. Their frames were
intertwined as they rolled from side to side in the bed,
making love.

They were constantly kissing, touching, and grabbing each
other skin, all while Wendell took control of the pumping
motion.

"God, you are so tight, Milan. | don't know if | could pull
out,” Wendell remarked.

Recognizing his climax, Wendell grunted as he sat up. He
shut his eyes like it was the most challenging thing to do.
Subsequently, Wendell pulled out, using every bit of his
sanity. Yet again, he exploded at her entrance.

After letting all his soldiers out, Wendell lay beside Milan
and pulled her in his arms. He said, "I fucking love this. |
hope |

can wake up next to you every day. When the penthouse
to the Diamond Hotel becomes available, will you move in
with

me?"

Milan still. She turned to face him and said, "You'll have to
ask my father about that."

Wendell hummed. He knew exactly that the old man Gray
wanted to make it happen. He smiled and pecked her lips,
saying, "I'll talk to your father when we get back to work."
Nestled in each other's arms and utterly elated, sleep was
nowhere near forthem. Worse, Milan's phone rang passed
Six

in the morning. When Milan saw it was Rowan, she
canceled the call. A text from Rowan followed. He said:
[Fine, we can

break up, but can you at least talk to your father about
giving me back the presidency seat?] i

As Milan read the text from Rowan, Wendell caught a
glimpse of it. Milan remarked, "Jerk."

She ignored the text and put it back on the bedside table.
Wendell asked, "I have always wondered how you and my
brother got together."

Milan fell hushed for a second. She replied, "Well, it
started when | met him at the Mayor's masquerade ball
years back.

Dad was invited to invest in Rose Hills, and | think that
was when your father and him connected on another
level."

A masquerade ball. | think | remember that. | was there,”
Wendell said.

"You were there?" Milan asked, bemused.

"Yeah, my whole family was there," Wendell replied.
#HHIFLASHBACK: YEARS BACK AT THE MASQUERADE
BAL L#HE

Milan wasn't into parties, especially those that required her
to wear a mask. Behind her disguise, she rolled her eyes
at

how some guests were flaunting their costly clothes.
Seeing her father occupied, she grabbed a glass of
sparkling wine

and walked to an empty balcony.

The gathering was held at Rose Hill's social hall, where
several balconies were available for visitors to use.

Milan drank her wine when her heel got stuck between the
tiles! As she struggled to free herself, she broke her heel
altogether.

"Great!" She exclaimed. If that was not any worse, she
shattered the wine glass on the floor after it slipped from
her hand.

"Let me get that," a gentleman offered, walking into the
balcony and picking up the broken pieces of glass. He was
tall,

with dark hair, and his mask covered his entire face. When
the man cleared the floor, he said, "Be careful next time."

1

"Thank you," Milan said.

Then, the same man noticed how Milan was limping. Milan
revealed, "Il broke my heel. It got stuck in between the tiles
earlier.”

The man studied her feet, but because they were beneath
her dress, he said, "You want me to check?"

"No, it's fine. | will head back to the hotel,” Milan replied.
"With one heel and one without?" the man said. A chuckle
escaped his lips before he offered, "Don't worry, | don't
bite, nor

Am | hitting on you? | have a thing for heels."

Milan wound up laughing at his suggestion. She didn't
know why but she found the man to be a good person.
After the man studied her shoes, he said, "There is only
one solution | could think of that would allow you to walk
out of

Here without being judged -1 mean, there are a lot of
reasons why a beautiful woman would end up limping. A
broken heel

is the last thing people would think about."

Next, the man broke Milan's other heel and kept it. He took
out some cash from his wallet and said, "Til pay for the
heels. |

did break it anyway."

Milan laughed. She said, "Keep the heels, mister. That's a
reward for helping me walk out tonight without being
judged."

That night, she briefly chatted with that unknown man on
the balcony, getting a feel of his excellent character.
Eventually,

However, she had to leave.

"| won't be able to guide you out," the man pointed to an
exit and said, "But that's the closest exit. Take care."
"Thank you, mister Milan said, indirectly asking for his
name.

Just as the man gave his name, her father called her
attention. It distracted her from getting his identity. All she
got was

how the man said, "...Franco. | am the former prosecutor's

»

son.

At the same time, the man's attention was called by
another. Milan never got the name, but he made an
impression on

her. The memory of that masked man lingered in her head
in the following months until her father announced his plan
to

relocate to Rose Hills and establish a business.

Milan met Rowan in one of her father's meetings with Mr.
Franco. Recalling the last name and how Rowan was the
former

prosecutor's son, she approached Rowan one day and
said, "Rowan, | believe we have met before. Remember
about a

a year ago; you helped me with my broken heels?"
Rowan was utterly puzzled. He said, "Refresh my memory,
gorgeous.”

Milan giggled and narrated how it all happened. After
which, she said, "| thought you were such a nice person
for helping

me out."

A smirk formed on Rowan's face, and he said, "I'm sorry.
It's been a while. | must have forgotten, but yes, now that
you

| remember helping an angel like you back then. How
about we talk about it? Do you want to go out for

dinner?"

##H END OF FLASHBACK/HHE

*k%k

"And that's how it all started!" Milan said. "We got to know
each other. He seemed different from when | met him, but
| am

not a very difficult person to please. | always try to see the
good in others."

Wendell fell silent. He sat up, raking his fingers through his
hair.

Milan caressed his back, asking, "What's wrong?"

Instead of an answer, Wendell crawled on top of her and
sealed her lips with a kiss. He was so hungry for her that
they

wound up making love again and sending Milan into
heaven.

After that talk, Milan asked, "Wow! What has gotten into
you? You were so fired up?”

As Wendell chased his breath, he said, "Nothing. | simply
think you were meant to be mine."

Chapter 150: My Milan

"Lucas is sad," Evan said on the phone. "I think the
primary reason was Lily's family is on vacation, and she is
out of

reach." 2

Wendell called Even after arriving at his office. It had been
almost a week since Lucas was admitted to the hospital
again.

Shantelle's mother returned a few days ago. Thus,
Wendell and Milan got a break from overseeing the twins'
care.

"Whatever you do, Evan, don't make him feel inadequate
because of his disease," Wendell proposed. He sighed
and said,

"| wish | were there."

"Thank you, man. Shanty and | are trying to be cheerful,
despite his blood count going down. Visitors are limited,
though.

Last night, Keith and Karise tried to visit, but the hospital
did not agree, given his condition. He only saw them
through the

door window. | lied and told him Keith and Karise had a
cold," Evan revealed.

Put me on video call then," Wendell suggested.

Wendell and Lucas chatted through a video call in the next
few minutes. They talked about anything under the sun,
with

Wendell repeatedly tries to make Lucas smile.

"I have great news for you," Wendell said. "Your Aunt
Milan is my girlfriend now. She is officially your Aunt."

That got Lucas confused. Instead, he asked, "Does that
mean you and Aunt Milan are getting married?"

"Oh, my god! Did | hear that right?" From the background,
Wendell could hear Shantelle exclaim. "You and Milan
should

get married now."

She wasn't anywhere in the video frame, but Wendell was
familiar with her voice. Just as Shantelle said those words,
Mister Gray walked in, overhearing their conversation.
"You and Milan are like the perfect couple. I'm glad that
you are together for real! | always knew you had
developed

feelings for each other," Shantelle added.

She went on and on, making Wendell uncomfortable since
Milan's father was standing right in front of his table. If that
wasn't enough, Shantelle took over the video call and
asked, "By the way, you need to tame it down when you
do it. Mrs.

Shaw said something about hearing moans 4

"Bye, Shanty!" Wendell said, ending the call. Beads of
sweat formed on his forehead.

Mister Gray narrowed his eyes at Wendell. He asked,
"When are you going to marry my daughter? Are you
going to keep

moving it back until | die?"

Sometimes, Wendell thought Milan's father was
humorous. It had only been a few weeks since the original
date of

Rowan's and Milan's wedding. He was exaggerating how
long he had been waiting.

"Um - Mister Gray." Wendell got up and replied, "l am
going to buy an engagement ring at my first opportunity.
It's just that

It has been extremely busy lately with Evan's son getting
sick."

"Mmmrn," Mister Gray said and nodded approvingly.
"Good."

Mister Gray," Wendell said. "I have been meaning to talk
to you."

"You should because you don't invite my daughter to live
with you without marrying her," Mister Gray said.

"Right," Wendell said. He scratched his head, realizing
Milan had already told him their plans. Though in this day
and age,

it was common for

couples to live together before tying the knot, the Grays
were a traditional family.

Did you already have sex with my daughter, Wendell?"
Mister Gray asked, and the temperature around the room
dropped.

Wendell became tongue- tied. "Then all the more that you
should marry my daughter!"

Mister Gray," Wendell said. "If we hold an actual wedding
ceremony soon, Evan and his family might not make it. As
a

family friend, | am sure you know how the Thompsons are
very dear to us. | was hoping you would agree if Milan and
marry on paper first."

Moreover, Milan and | haven't begun rescheduling the
wedding," Wendell said. "We need more time."

"Hmmm." Mister Gray said. Wendell knew that Milan's
father sympathized with Evan. That was how he was
allowed to

work from home occasionally. He knew Mister Gray would
consider his request.

"Get that ring, give my daughter a face - do you know that
after her wedding got canceled, she became the talk of
her

friends back in our old hometown? And the mayor? Those
we asked to be sponsors are looking down at the kind of
union

The Francos and the Grays have formed. | could say the
same thing to the potential clients who thought our
company had

a strong collaboration," Mister Gray pointed out. "I don't
care that this union has turned out to be a marriage of

convenience, but -"

"It Wendell coughed against his fist before revealing. "It
isn't just a marriage of convenience. | wholeheartedly like
your

daughter. | would not ask her to move in with me if my
feelings for her are superficial."

A smile formed on Mister Gray’s face, but he quickly took it
back, acting to be stern. He said, "Then, | will agree on the
marriage on paper, as long as Milan is fine with that. Have
you talked to her about it?"

"No, not really," Wendell said. The truth was, he wasn't
sure if Milan would agree to the marriage at all. "But I'll
bring it up

with her tonight."

"Good. Then, I'll be on my way," Mister Gray said. 1

In another office, Wendell did not know that Rowan, his
older brother, went to see Mister Gray. Milan's father
questioned,

"What are you doing here, Rowan?"

"| want to ask for forgiveness. | won't stop until | get it,"
Rowan said." Please give me back my position, and | will
work

hard to win back Milan's love." i

"You are not getting back your position, and you won't win
Milan's love because she and Wendell are together,”
Mister

Gray said, shocking Rowan.

Hearing the news, Rowan marched out of the room and
charged at Wendell's office. Rowan kicked the door open,
his

voice loud and clear as he questioned his brother's honor,
"How could you? | get when you were forced to marry
Milan,

but being in a relationship with her? You knew she was my
fiance -"

"Ex-fiance!" Wendell shot back. "And so what? | can't help
what | feel about her. Besides, who did the betrayal first?
You

were the one who had been having extra fuck relationship
with Salome -"

"Wendell, if this is about Salome, I'm done with her, okay!
Just give me back my Milan," Rowan begged.

"Your Milan? You mean my Milan!" Wendell claimed.
"Don't you think | don't know how you lied about meeting
her at the

masquerade ball? You claimed to be me when it was | who
helped her with her heels that time. Milan only let you in
because she thought you were me!" 3

"Even if she developed feelings for you, the point is, you
deceived her, and you continued to do so when you
started

fucking Salome!" Wendell added.

Before Rowan could say another word, Mister Gray yelled
behind them," Rowan! Get out of here! You are no longer
welcome to this company!"

Wendell's office became surrounded by people, staring
and eavesdropping on their exchange. After Mister Gray
ordered

the guards to escort Rowan out, the office floor became
cleared of employees, and only Milan was left staring at
Wendell

blankly.

Heartbeats later, Wendell's office door had been fixed.
Wendell and Milan were silent inside the room.
Eventually, Milan said, "So, it was you? You were the one
at the masquerade ball?"

In Wendell's seat, he cleared his throat and admitted,
"Yes, it was me. | was the former prosecutor's son who
pretended to

be obsessed with heels to offer you help."

Milan was restless for the next few minutes. She was
moving back and forth in her seat, thinking. She recounted
how

Wendell reacted when she told him about the masquerade
ball. It was no wonder he made love to her again. She
asked,

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was over and done with, and | didn't want either of us to
be frustrated with the past," Wendell said.

"It all makes sense now how Rowan was so different from
what | expected! " At first, she laughed at it, but soon, it
angered her. She spat, "All that time was wasted on the
wrong man!" 1

Milan went on and on, letting out her feelings about
Rowan's deception, but eventually, she saw it from
Wendell's point of

view. She said, "That's right. You are right."

A tear rolled down Milan's face as she walked towards
Wendell. She sat on his lap and embraced him tightly. She
claimed, "You were meant for me, and | was meant for
you."

Before Wendell could speak, Milan crashed her lips to his,
her hands unbuttoning his shirt. She said, "I want you now

"What?" Wendell asked in a panic.

Now! | want you!" Milan claimed before carelessly kissing
Wendell again.

Their emotions were high, their hands turning restless,
and their breathing became labored. Milan had nearly
unclothed

Wendell when his office doors opened. They heard Mister
Gray clear his throat, and they both stilled in fear.

Next time, you lock the doors. Wendell, remember what
we talked about," Milan’s father said before locking the
door

behind them. 1

Dead air fell upon them. It was not until a few seconds had
passed that Wendell managed to speak, "You know,
Sometimes, | think your father secretly likes me."

Milan chuckled and answered, "Now that | think about it,
he does seem to like you."

Walking into the elevator hallway, Mister Gray smiled
brightly. Who would have thought that Wendell and Milan
would end

up together?

While his daughter was in a relationship with Rowan, he
had come to know Wendell. Mister Franco had always
praised

Rowan for his career achievements, but they always
referred to Wendell as their good son.

Mister Gray saw it daily when Wendell worked for the
company. Wendell was respectful, a good boss, and
hard-working.

He was also very faithful to his girlfriend, whom Mister
Gray thought did not deserve Wendell.

Aside from that, he learned that Wendell had smart
investments. In fact, he was more prosperous than his
older brother,

but he never bragged.

Many times he wished his daughter was with Wendell
instead. He always thought that Rowan was arrogant and
too full of

himself. His fears came true when Rowan cheated on his
daughter. Worse, Rowan did it with Wendell's girlfriend!
He was prepared to go to war, but when Mister Franco
suggested that Wendell take Rowan's place instead, he
agreed.

He allowed Milan and Wendell to spend more time
together, hoping they would grow to like each other.
Thankfully,

everything turned out well, and he may get the better son-
in-law after all.

The elevator doors dinged open, and Mister Gray
maintained his smile as he walked in. He said, "I hope I'll
have

grandchildren soon."

Chapter 151: Complete Isolation

Shantelle cried in the bathroom as she took a shower.
After she checked herself in the mirror, her heart felt
heavy.

Evan walked in and said, "Wifey, we already talked about
this."

The man wiped the tears on her cheeks and said, "Wash
your face, Wifey."

Shantelle nodded, and as she cleaned her face again,
Evan stood behind her. When she turned to Evan, he held
her face

and said, "My wife, smile for Lucas. Make him feel like this
is just a walk in the park. Then, you might want to put on a
little

makeup. He will know that you cried."

She nodded and spent a few more minutes in the
bathroom.

After Shantelle changed her clothes, she went to where
Evan and Lucas were.

In the living room of their home, Lucas kissed Marcus’
cheek as Mrs. Shaw held the baby. Lucas said, "I'm going
to miss

you, Marcus. Thank you for your blood. | love you." 1
Evan held Amelia, and Lucas did the same, pecking his
sibling. He said," I'm going to miss you too, baby Amelia. |
love

you." i

At that point, all the adults were already wearing masks,
including Shantelle and Evan. Wendell stretched his arms
for

Lucas, saying, "And hug your uncle! I'll miss you, buddy,
but don't worry. We made your new home as fun as
possible.”

Milan, who had stayed overnight at the couple's home,
also hugged Lucas. After letting go, Lucas said, "Aunt
Milan,

Advance happy birthday. | have a gift for you later, but |
won't be there when you open it."

"We will call you, buddy. At least you can see when your
aunt opens the gift, " Wendell said with a wink, and Lucas’
nodded.

All of Lucas' grandparents also arrived, but before offering
the boy a hug, they changed clothes and disinfected, just
to

ensure Lucas won’t get any more infection. After putting
on their own masks, the grandparents alternately hugged
Lucas

and pecked his head. It was the safest place to kiss him.
Lucas was no longer allowed a peck on the cheek.

Karise and Keith also came; just like Lucas’ grandparents,
they had to change, disinfect, and wear masks to hold
Lucas.

Sean was the last to arrive, and he gave Lucas a warm
hug. Sean said, "I'm going to give you a gift every week."

"I'm going to give you a gift every week t00," Keith
claimed.

"And me too!" Clara added, and the rest followed.

Lucas laughed and replied, "Okay, let's schedule it.
Mondays will be Uncle Wendell, Tuesdays will be Uncle
Keith,

Wednesdays will be Uncle Sean..."

He went on and on, making a mental list. Ultimately, each
day, he would receive a gift. Lucas' way of scheduling the
gift giving created laughter in the air that the adults
momentarily forgot the reason for that small gathering.
"And we will call you every day too. You won't see it now,
but we will be on your TV screen," Keith revealed.

"But Daddy is going to be with me,” Lucas said while
reaching for Evan's arm.

"Yes, he will, but if he takes a rest in between and you
don't want to disturb your daddy, we - all your uncles will
be one

call away," Keith said. Leaning back, he asked, "So, who is
the strongest little man | know?"

"Me!" Lucas claimed.

"Remember that always because your siblings gave their
blood to you so you can be better," Keith reminded. 1

After everyone said their goodbyes, it was time for Lucas
to leave with his parents. Knowing full well it would be
months

before seeing them again; the young man gave one last
wave at his support group before hopping into the car.
Lucas’ blood count continued to go down without a blood
transfusion. It became clear to the couple that Lucas
would be

blood transfusion was reliant from then on, and they
couldn't have that. Lucas would constantly live a life
locked in a room,

without having to see the world.

Thus, Evan and Shantelle proceeded with the stem cell
treatment option. However, to make the treatment a
success,

Lucas needed to be placed in an isolated facility that could
protect him from infection.

Lucas's unique isolation facility was prepared for
admission at the Rose Hills Children's Hospital. The unit
consisted of

three rooms.

It had an anti-room before reaching the patient's quarters.
The room had a negative airflow chamber, lower than the
usual

air pressure. This prevents any contained air from flowing
into other parts of the unit. The same room served as an
entrance for doctors and nurses, including registered
visitors. It also had a huge glass window where round
nurses could

observe Lucas without entering his isolation room.

The middle room was designed to be the patient's space,
where Lucas would stay for the entire part of his
treatment. It

was a spacious room with a bed and a sofa bed for a
family member or visitor. Initially, the hospital did not allow
a family

member to stay overnight. However, Evan had arranged
for him or Shantelle to stay with Lucas, alternately taking
turns.

This would mean that for the first two months of Lucas’
treatment, Evan would remain with his son. He was not
allowed to

leave to avoid contaminating any bacteria or viruses that
could compromise Lucas. Shantelle would follow next.
Miguel

would serve as their runner for whatever Lucas and Evan
would need in the hospital.

Only two visitations were allowed weekly, which was the
reason for Shantelle's tears. She would miss her son, but
she

knew complete isolation was for the best.

A week before, they let Lucas choose who he wanted to
be with during the first two months of his treatment, and
being the

Daddy's boy, he chose Evan. That also worked out for
them since Evan could work anywhere with a laptop, but
Shantelle

had to be physically present for emergency surgery.
Lucas would be admitted for a minimum of four months.
He may stay longer depending on how fast he can rebuild
his

immune system.

The third room of Lucas' isolation unit, was a doffing area
where Evan and other visitors could change before
attending to

Lucas.

On Lucas’ first day, his parents were allowed inside the
unit. When they entered, Lucas Jaws dropped. "My drum
set! And

my guitar! Woah, what a huge TV!"

"The TV is already connected to the internet, and your
laptop is already here, along with your tablet," Evan
described. He

turned on the TV and said, "Same at home; you can just
give your voice command.”

"In cases where you are tired from your treatment, and
you just want to lie down," Shantelle added.

"Hey g-0-0-g-l-e, call Uncle Sean in messenger!" Evan
demonstrated, and the TV searched for the right app and
called

Sean.

Sean was immediately on a voice call, and he chatted with
Lucas briefly." Hey, buddy! Loving your new room!"

"I love it! It's like I'm on vacation!" Lucas claimed.

"That's one way to put it, yeah!" Sean replied. "Fighting!"
"Fighting!" Lucas said back with a cheerful smile.

After the call, Lucas turned to the left-side corner of the
space. He saw an arcade machine. He asked, "Is that
what | think

it is?"

"Yes, it's a dance revolution machine!" Evan revealed.
"This is a gift from your Uncle Keith."

"Exercise is good therapy, too," Shantelle said. "So when
you have the energy, you can dance with Daddy!"

"It's cool! | think I'm going to have fun here!" Lucas
claimed.

The couple chuckled. Shantelle leveled with Lucas and
said, "That's good. You should think happy thoughts only.
Your

treatment may include some discomfort, but they are
meant to cure you. Remember what the saying says?"
"There is always a rainbow after the rain!" Lucas declared.
"That's right! Just like, there is calm after the storm,"
Shantelle added. She made a mess of Lucas' hair and
said, "You are

the strongest boy | know. And remember, it isn't about the
muscles!”

"Mind over body!" Lucas finished for his mommy.

"Good boy!" Shantelle embraced Lucas tightly. Tears stung
her eyes, but Evan quickly wiped them with his thumb.
The man mouthed, 'Don't cry in front of him." 1

"Okay, now that we are good! Let's get your things in
place,” Shantelle said.

In the next two hours, Lucas underwent several blood
tests in preparation for his first treatment stage. At seven
o'clock, a

the nurse paged in, "Doctor Shant, visiting hours are over."
It was another emotional goodbye for Shantelle, but she
held her tears this time. She hugged Evan, and they
indulged in a

passionate kiss.

The man said, "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Evan. I'll see you on the video call,"
Shantelle replied.

Whispering to her ear, Evan added, "We are going to get
through this, and Lucas will, too, because we have all the
resources we need. Plus, we are all here to give Lucas his
strength."

Shantelle nodded. She said, "I'm glad that we are in this
together. | love you.

Pulling away, Evan answered, "I love you too. Have fun
with the boys."

Shantelle chuckled. She answered, "I'll try."

Kissing Lucas on his head, she said, "My brave boy. Think
of your siblings every day. Think of mommy every day. |
love

you."

"I love you, Mommy. Goodbye!" Lucas said. "I'll miss you!"
Shantelle had a heavy heart, leaving the children's
hospital that day, but at least, for that night, she wasn't
going home

straight to feel the emptiness.

She would attend dinner with the Grays and the Francos
for Milan's advanced birthday party. It was purposely made
in

advance because Wendell had a surprise for Milan.

Chapter 152: Unboxing Lucas’ Gift

Wendell and his friends crowded around Shantelle outside
the venue of Milan's party. It was because she howled in
tears

when she arrived.

Wendell had to fetch her from the car because no matter
how Miguel urged her to join the party, her heart felt like it
was

being squeezed by a hand.

"We all want to be there for him, Shanty," Wendell said.
"But he needs his isolation, right?"

Shantelle nodded and replied, "Yes, he does."

Karise quickly got a handkerchief and wiped the tears on
Shantelle's face. She hugged Shantelle and said, "It's
okay. You

can cry it out. We are all here for you."

From Keith to Sean and Brooklyn, they gave Shantelle a
comforting hug. Milan was the last to embrace Shantelle.
She

said, "Even if | had only known Lucas for a short time, |
know he will survive this."

"This is supposed to be your happy night. I'm sorry,"
Shantelle said to Milan.

"That's okay. | understand," Milan replied. She smiled and
added, "lI would also be in tears if | were in your shoes."

"I'm so glad | have you guys. Since | won't see Evan often,
| need those bear hugs," Shantelle said.

"You are free to bear hug us anytime, Shanty," Sean said,
embracing her again.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Shantelle said, "Thank you,
guys. | love you all. We better join the gathering. It would
be a

strange party without the celebrant.”

The intimate party was held at the Diamond Hotel Rose
Hills. Milan's

a family was there, a few executives at the company and
the Francos were also present. Only Rowan did not attend
the

celebration, which was understandable since he wasn't
invited in the first place.

Throughout the event, Shantelle and those around her
table were in a video conference with Evan and Lucas.
Shantelle

had a tablet for everyone to chat with her husband and
son.

"What are you eating there, Lucas? That looks yummy!"
Keith said, leaning onto the tablet's view.

"It's broccoli, Uncle Keith. Earlier, the hospital gave me
pork, but | wanted vegetables. Mommy said | should eat
more so |

can be healthy!" Lucas said.

"The hospital cook whipped him some broccoli," Evan said
behind Lucas before laughing.

"So the hospital has a twenty-four-hour cook?" Karise
asked.

"They do," Evan replied. "All the food here is." He quoted
with his fingers, saying, "organic."

"Hey Lucas, do you want some cake?" Sean asked.

"No. No. Only when I'm okay," Lucas replied. "Mommy
said to eat vegetable proteins for now."

"So you won't have desserts?" Sean asked.

"My fridge is filled with my favorite yogurts," Lucas said.
"They are also protein."

As Lucas chatted with Evan's friends and their partners,
Shantelle kept throwing thanks at them. She often
mouthed her

appreciation or showed it by putting a hand on her chest.

Soon, the moment their group had been waiting for
arrived. A host announced that Milan would be opening
gifts for her

birthday. At first,

Milan refused. She said, "I'm not a kid anymore. We don't
have to open gifts!"

"Well, | want Milan to open my gift," Karise said.

"Mine too," Shantelle added.

Milan's father also encouraged her that she was left with
no choice but to choose from the wrapped items on the gift
table.

After Milan opened ten gifts, the host announced, "Next, a
little boy requested that you open his gift."

The monitor behind Milan lit and showed Lucas on the
colossal LED screen. Lucas cheerfully greeted everyone,
"Happy

Birthday, Aunt Milan."

To the other guests, he said, "Hello. My name is Lucas. I'm
in a hospital for my treatment. | could not be there to show

Aunt Milan is my gift, so my dad and | are on a video call
instead!”

"Hi Lucas, I'm excited to open your present!" Milan said
after turning around.

"Well, here it is, Aunt Milan!" Lucas said, pointing with his
hand.

Hotel staff readily brought up a lifesize gift, covered in a
toy store wrapper. Milan's mouth fell on the floor. She
reacted, "I

have a toy for my gift?"

Lucas giggled and answered, "Yes, it's your favorite." 1
"My favorite?" Milan echoed.

Milan excitedly unwrapped the gift. She perspired as she
removed the wrapper since the box was so big. However,
after

opening the box, it had another present inside, also
covered in a toy shop wrapper!

She turned to Lucas and saw the boy giggling. From the
table where Wendell sat, they were also laughing. On
stage,

Milan said, "I think Lucas wants me to exercise."
Laughter echoed across the conference room while Milan
opened the second box. To her shock, it contained another
wrapped box. At that point, shrieks filled the air since
Milan kept unboxing gifts. She had already opened seven
empty

boxes when Milan commented, "| feel like | am running a
marathon."

She turned to Lucas and asked, "Lucas, did you wrap all
these?"

Lucas laughed boisterously. Tears welled in his eyes in
amusement before he responded, "Uncle Wendell helped
me."

Milan shot Wendell an angry glare, making Keith and Sean
tease.

"Oh, no, Wendell. You are in trouble," Keith said.

"Big trouble," Sean added.

Milan went on, unboxing another three more until she
finally held a gift that could fit in her hand. She chased her
breath,

saying, "Lucas, this should be a special gift to be secured
by so many boxes."

The Grays were already smiling from ear to ear as Milan
started to open the present. Wendell secretly took hiding
while

the rest of their table fell silent in anticipation.

Finally, the red wrapper was on the floor. Milan wiped the
sweat off her forehead before opening the small box. She
was

still smiling, but soon enough, she stilled, recognizing a
velvet box. She bit her lip before nervously lifting the
velvet box.

Her expression said it all. She was clearly starting to doubt
whose gift it came from.

"Open it!" Karise urged.

"Open it!" Brooklyn followed.

Milan searched for Wendell, but he was away from the
table. Still, her instincts told her to open the jewelry box.
"Open it, Aunt Milan! You will love it!" Behind her, Lucas
urged.

She turned to Lucas before finally facing the audience and
opening the velvet box. She gasped, but she grimaced as
soon

as the box flipped open.

The box was empty. Yet again, Milan's jaws dropped, but
as soon as that happened, everyone said, "Surprise!"
Lucas' voice was thunderous that Milan shifted her frame.
Just as she turned, indoor fireworks erupted!

Wendell was down on his knee, right in front of her. Milan
did not know when or how, but he was there, holding up
an

expensive-looking diamond ring and hugging a huge
Shiba stuffed toy. Wendell was smiling, but everyone could
tell that

He was nervous too. He said, "Milan, the law of love
knows no bounds of space and time. Getting married is
not about age

or the right time. It's about finding the perfect person. To
me, you are the perfect person. Will you marry me,
Milan?"

Milan was utterly taken aback. They had discussed
arranging the marriage, and while all that was set for
them, she never

expected Wendell to still give her a proposal, which every
girl dreamed about.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She nearly kneeled with
Wendell as she said, "Yes. Yes, | will."

Wendell had to hold her up and hug her in place. She
cried in his chest for an undetermined time before she
looked up

and requested a kiss.

Wendell kissed her repeatedly. He also scattered a few
pecks on her face. He said, "I love you, Milan." 1

Looking into his eyes, Milan smiled brightly and answered,
"I love you too, Wendell." i

Milan's party resumed with entertainment and drinks. She
was the happiest girl in the room.

At one table, Mister Gray was the merriest father, seeing
Milan genuinely delighted. He saw it in the sparkle in
Milan's

eyes, her smile, how she flushed, and how she constantly
hugged Wendell. Mister Gray especially loved that Milan
was

well received by Wendell's circle.

He envisioned his daughter having a wonderful family.
Then, he checked his phone and searched in g-0-0-g-l-e:
How to

have grandkids fast, very fast. 2

Mister Gray was smiling from ear to ear as the page
loaded. However, he quickly frowned because there wasn't
any

search result.

Chapter 153: Evan Can Be Funny

"lI now pronounce you husband and wife," the judge said
after Wendell and Milan signed the marriage contract at
the

courthouse. 1

Milan was smiling. Wendell was over the moon. They were
officially husband and wife. Next was for them to follow
through their promise to Milan's father, and that would be
the official wedding.

Sean, Karise, Keith, and Shantelle were able to make it to
their courthouse wedding. They all wished them well for
their

married life and the next adventure, living together.

Evan was able to secure the penthouse for Wendell at the
Diamond Hotel Rose Hills, and the newly wedded couple
was

moving in that very afternoon. Now that they were married,
Mister Gray had given his blessing to let Milan live with
Wendell.

After greeting the newlyweds, Shantelle excused herself,
saying, "Wendell, Milan. | have to leave. | have surgery in
a few

hours."

"| understand, Shanty. By the way, where are you planning
the wedding in six months? That should be okay with
Lucas,

right?" Wendell asked.

"Oh, Wendell, you don't have to change your wedding date
because of us, or Lucas," Shantelle replied.

"l insist. | want you and Evan to be there. | especially want
my boy, Lucas, to be there," Wendell said.

Behind Wendell, Milan also echoed, saying, "I'm on the
same boat as him."

Letting out a sigh, Shantelle replied, "Okay, fine. If you
insist. You are really great to consider us for your wedding.
| just

i love you guys."

Shantelle hugged them both, and Sean cleared his throat
from behind them. He said, "Now, | am feeling guilty."
This was because Sean's wedding was happening in a
month, regardless of Lucas’ situation.

"Oh, don't be," Shantelle scolded. "Brooklyn's family are
the ones planning the wedding. You can't disappoint your
future

in-laws. Besides, | don't want you guys to hold back your
life for us."

"Yes, and technically, we aren't," Wendell corrected. "This
wedding came crashing in, you know that, right? We need
time

to prepare, and it best to schedule it at the right time when
you and Evan would be worry-free."

"Again, | think that's sweet of you, Wendell, but we can
discuss this another time. | really need to go," Shantelle
said

before bidding goodbye and blowing Karise a kiss.

"Hey, long night?" Shantelle asked Evan on the phone.
"How is he doing with his first dose?"

She was preparing for the operation and decided to give
her husband a call since he did not pick up early in the
morning.

"More like | was worried for nothing that | kept awake all
night," Evan said." So far, Lucas has been tolerating it
well. He is

i'm sleeping now. Let's give him his rest and wake him up
later.”

"But Doctor Patel cautioned that tomorrow's medication
will be tough," Evan added.

"Right," Shantelle replied. She fell silent for seconds,
thinking. She nearly cried in her seat as she warned her
husband,

"You better give him strength, Evan. You better."

"Of course | will, Wifey. Better me than you. Who is the
crybaby between the two of us,” Evan teased.

Shantelle wound up letting out a laugh. She said, "Oh,
please."

"I love my son. You know that. If | could take any pain and
discomfort away, | would, even if it meant I'd have to be
the one

to endure,” Evan answered.

"Maybe | should go there tomorrow after the second set of
medication has been infused," Shantelle proposed. "lI can
help

comfort him."

"No, don't. You'll end up crying, and that's a guarantee. I'll
tell you when it's best to visit,” Evan proposed. "You will
violate

the visitation agreement.

Remember what Doctor Patel said? He will have you
kicked out of the room to ensure Lucas won't get any
infection."

Lucas’ doctor was very stern with the isolation procedure.
He had said many times that often, the treatment was not
the

cause of death for some of his patients that passed away,
but acquiring infection did. If not for the patient's emotional
needs, he would order no visitors completely.

Recalling Doctor Patel’s reminders, Shantelle sighed and
replied,

"Fine. Tell him | love him. | love him so much.”

To prepare Lucas for his cord blood transplant, he had to
undergo chemotherapy, killing whatever was left of his
bone

marrow so it would not reject the new cells.

If they proceeded with the treatment without
chemotherapy, Lucas' immune system would fight the
newly introduced

blood. It would ultimately fail and cause more damage
than good. However, before achieving the transplant,
Lucas would

have to endure the side effects of the chemotherapy
drugs.

"We will call you later after your surgery, okay?" Evan
promised. "Il love you and know that Lucas loves you. He
will be

strong for us."

Later that afternoon, at the Children's Hospital, Lucas’
doctor visited him.

He wore a hospital gown and a mask to ensure Lucas
won't catch any infection from him. He gave Lucas a book
about

bone marrow transplants and said, "Do you know this
already?"

"It's my first time seeing the book Doctor Patel, but
Mommy has told me about it," Lucas replied.

"Very good. Bone marrow is almost the same as the cord
blood transplant you will receive in two weeks," Doctor
Patel

said before explaining the chemotherapy treatment. He
then asked, "Do you know what are some side effects of
chemotherapy?"

"I'll lose my hair," Lucas replied. "But that's okay because
that would make me like a baby." He laughed and
described,

"My twin siblings don't have hair yet."

His doctor laughed and added, "And it's okay for boys to
have no hair."

"Yeah!" Lucas answered.

"Aside from losing hair, you will have fever and chills. You
might experience nausea, vomiting, and headaches too.
You

must inform your daddy how you feel so we can give you
added medication for the symptoms, okay?" The doctor
told

Lucas, and he nodded.

The doctor spent a little more time connecting with Lucas,
reassuring him about the process. After evaluating that
Lucas

was ready for the next phase of the treatment, he ordered
the succeeding chemotherapy drugs to be administered.
Everything was okay at first, but the drug took its toll in the
wee hours. At three in the morning, Lucas started having
headaches and feeling uneasy to the point that he
vomited. He was in so much discomfort that he cried and
screamed.

"Daddy, it's so painful. | tried to sleep it off, but it's painful!"
Lucas admitted, sitting up and stretching his arms to his
father.

"I'm sorry, Daddy.

I'm sorry. Lucas is not brave." 3

"No. No. Baby, Lucas is brave," Evan was quick to hush
him down. Rubbing his back. "You are brave to fight this."

"Daddy, can you make the pain disappear, please!" Lucas
begged. Tears flooded his cheeks as he slammed his
head

against Evan's chest. 5

The nurse hurriedly came in to give more medication,
helping Lucas with the pain. Aside from that, he had a very
high

fever, which Evan had to monitor until dawn came in.

The man was this close to calling his wife, but he held
back, knowing how Shantelle would probably break down.
Eventually, the pain somewhat reduced, which allowed
Lucas to hush his tears. He ultimately let Evan go to lie in
bed.

After watching Lucas just lay there, forcing to shut his
eyes, Evan went to get a glass of water for himself. Evan
stood by

the table where a pitcher had been prepared whenever
Lucas wanted a drink. The man turned his back on his son
SO

Lucas didn't see. He didn't like to show his weakness, but
no father could bear to see his child in pain. The man
eventually

cried, and his chest congested. However, as soon as he
realized this, he sniffed his tears away, alerting Lucas. i
"Daddy, are you crying?" Lucas asked.

Panic struck Evan. So much for the rule of not crying in
front of their son! As a solution, Evan took the glass of
water and

splashed it on his face!

He turned to Lucas, as if sniffing the water that soaked him
from face down to his shirt. He said, "I was feeling a little
hot,

kiddo. What? Daddy crying? No way!"

Lucas chuckled. He said, "It's not hot, Daddy. You are
funny."

"| should have you know, your daddy has a funny side
too," Evan said before winking at Lucas. "Let me just
change into

dry clothes. Love you, Lucas.”

"Love you too, Daddy. Thanks for hugging me earlier,"
Lucas said.

"Son, once we get out of here, | swear | will baby you for
another two years, " Evan claimed.

"No, Daddy!" Lucas objected. "I'm not a baby!"

Chapter 154: New Hairstyle
Days came and went.

Lucas had his bad and good days, undergoing
chemotherapy, but despite the side effects of the drugs, he
withstood it all.

The good news was he had not caught any infection
during the process. His isolation was perfectly well
followed, allowing

continuity in his treatment.

With everything going smoothly, Doctor Patel confirmed
the cord blood transfer in two days.

The family was happy. Lucas was excited. Having that
cord blood transplant meant they were halfway closer to
achieving

their goal.

While Evan stayed with Lucas, James, his assistant, did a
lot of work for him. In the past ten days, he traveled across
the

state, went to Russia, and manned up to support his boss
in Evan's trying times. However, there were matters that
James

felt he was not empowered to question, like finances.
Especially since Evan's Chief Finance Officer, Griffin
Hernan, was

adamant about being on top of it.

Griffin Hernan was Erick Thompson's apprentice when he
was running the company, but he was only given the CFO
position since Evan, the next heir, naturally took over the
CEO seat.

During one of the man's video conferences with James,
Evan saw how stressed his assistant had become. James
said,

"It's just like the numbers are not adding up, Sir, especially
with the financial entity, but Mister Hernan is saying
otherwise.

| can't overrule him." 1

"And by the way, Sir, the Lockwood Children's Hospital
would like to get an update on when the new isolation
rooms

would be renovated," James reported.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Evan groaned. He
glanced at Lucas, who had been trying to follow a drum
routine on

TV. He said, "Son, can you call your Uncle Keith?"
"Sure, Daddy!" Lucas turned to the TV and instructed,
"Hey, g-0-0-g-l-e, call Uncle Keith in messenger!"

The messenger rang, and Keith answered in seconds,
"Hey, Lucas, boy! How are you doing?"

"Hi, Uncle Keith. I'm doing better today. The last chemo
wasn't so bad." Lucas stood in front of the TV. He took a
full turn

and said, "See, I'm okay."

"Good to see. | miss you, Buddy!" Keith said, winking.
"Your aunt Karise is having a baby girl, by the way!"

"Yay! She can be playmates with Amelia!" Lucas
concluded.

Keith nodded and said, "She will be."

"Dad wants to talk to you," Lucas revealed before
returning to practice on his drums.

"Hey Evan, how is isolation going," Keith said. "| see you
growing your beard. Tsk. Tsk. Careful now, Shanty might
find

another man."

"She won't! She loves my beard!" Evan declared before
shaking his head. He then asked, "Keith, can you please
check

on the Lockwood Children's Hospital? My hands are tied.”
Of course, man. Send me the details, and I'll be on it. Do
you want me to check on the financial service office too?"
Keith

replied.

Evan nodded, saying, "Yeah, that would be great. Thanks,
Keith."

After calling Keith, Evan informed his CFO that he would
hire an external accountant to look into the finances.
Mister

Hernan was tongue-tied and followed Evan's orders, for
the man’s directive was definite. Then, he called his other
best

friend, Sean. He asked, "Sean, | need you. Please look
into my company's accounts. Coordinate with my CFO."
"Gladly, Evan. Any other weight | can take off your
shoulder?" Sean asked.

Evan smiled and answered, 'Nah. I'm just glad you are all
there for us.

Thanks, Sean. And I'm sorry, | won’t be able to attend your
wedding. | don't think Shanty will be, either. We have the
cord

blood transplant scheduled on the day of your wedding."
"Evan, it's a shame, but | understand. Lucas first,” Sean
said.

Running a company by merely monitoring it virtually was
tough, but Evan had no choice. His son needed him more,
and

he would not have it any other way. He was simply glad,
he had people to rely on, from James to his friends.

The day Evan, Shantelle, and Lucas had been waiting for
finally arrived. It was the day of the transplant.

While Sean was getting married to Brooklyn, Lucas' doctor
and nurses were preparing for the transfusion. Shantelle
used

two of her visitation rights, requesting the hospital she
could stay overnight. Doctor Patel agreed, provided that
Shantelle

thoroughly disinfect.

The twins momentarily had to be left in the care of their
grandparents, to make it even, both the Scotts and the
Thompson

had one baby each under their supervision.

"This is it, Lucas," Doctor Patel said. "Your life-saving
transplant. Are you excited?"

Lucas nodded, saying, "| am excited. I'm going to get
better soon."

"Do you know how many stem cells are in here?" Doctor
Patel asked while shaking the bags of blood.

"No, how many?" Lucas sought excitedly.

"Two hundred fifty billion cells," Doctor Patel replied. "And
the best way to care for them is to keep smiling, being
strong,

and eating healthy."

"| definitely will, Doctor!" Lucas claimed and smiled
brighter for the doctor.

Doctor Patel stayed in the isolation unit for some time,
observing how Lucas was taking in the blood. Like him,
Evan and

Shantelle watched as every drop of blood flowed into
Lucas’ veins.

The transplant was given via transfusion, where the cells
would eventually find their way to the bone and begin
making

new ones.

"No reactions so far." Doctor Patel said. "In the next few
weeks, we will monitor if the transplant is working and if
the cells

are growing. Lucas will have a regular blood test for that.
While we have passed through this stage of Lucas’
treatment, |

cannot express enough the importance of strictly following
the isolation procedure and keeping Lucas away from
potential

infection."

"Lucas will still stay in the hospital while he is growing
more and more cells. After the transplant, he is still
susceptible to

getting an infection since he technically has no immune
system," the doctor reminded.

"We understand, Doctor Patel. Thank you," Shantelle
confirmed.

In the days that followed, Shantelle and Evan did
everything. Every day, Evan personally cleaned the areas
Lucas often

touched. He didn't even risk letting nurse aids to help with
the cleaning.

Whenever Shantelle came to visit, she would bathe from
the unit's doffing area and wear ironed clothes Evan had
prepared for her. She would thoroughly wash her hands,
rub herself with alcohol, and wear two layers of masks.

At every meal, Evan would clean off his son's utensils,
strictly watch as Lucas avoids touching his face, and
repeatedly

urge his son to wash his hands.

They did not care if they were close to paranoia, but they
did what they had to do to protect their son.

Soon another effect of continuous chemotherapy came.
Lucas began losing his hair.

One day, Lucas woke Evan showing him how his hair was
falling off. He said, "Look, Daddy. I'm going to be bald."
Bald but still handsome," Evan replied while sitting on
Lucas’ hospital bed and observing how his son's hair was
falling off.

Then, he sucked in a deep breath, saying, "lI have a great
idea. Let's surprise your mom."

On Shantelle's next visitation, she first saw Lucas
completely bald. She said, "Awww. You're still looking
handsome, Lucas."

She hugged her son and rubbed his head. She smiled and
said, "Don't worry, it's going to grow back."

"Where is Daddy?" Shantelle asked.

"In the bathroom, Mommy," Lucas replied.

Soon, Evan stepped out. He had a wide grin as he
showed off his new hairstyle.

"Oh, my god!" Shantelle laughed. Her eyes watered in
amusement. Her husband just shaved his hair off! 1

Lucas laughed hard with his Mommy. He said, "Daddy and
| are the same, Mommy!"

"How do | look, Wifey? Hot or hotter?" Evan teased.
Shantelle could not help but cry, but they were tears of joy
this time because Evan made Lucas feel nothing was
wrong

with losing his hair.

She hugged Evan. Pulling down her mask, she kissed him
and his head too.

She responded, "I think you are the hottest today." She
cupped his face, saying, "I love you so much."

Embracing Shantelle back, Evan responded, "Il love you
too."

In the next few minutes, Shantelle took pictures of Evan
and Lucas. She sent them to the boys, and they each
called

Lucas after an hour. Wendell was the first to initiate a
video call, and they were shocked to see how he had also
shaved

his head!

"This is a new style," Wendell said, flaunting his head on
camera. Behind him, Milan was laughing her heart out. i
Next, Keith called, joining the video call. Like Wendell, he
also shaved his head. He said, "The hell, how did Wendell
get

the same idea as me?" 3

"| am faster. Accept it, Keith," Wendell said, winking at
Lucas.

Lucas, Evan, and Shantelle were laughing in their seats.
Lucas was wildly entertained at how his uncles had
shaved their

heads for him.

"Do you think Sean will shave his head?" Keith asked.
"He is on his honeymoon! He probably didn't notice!"
Wendell said.

To their shock, however, after half an hour of checking with
Lucas, Sean called, and like the others, he had his head
shaved too! 2

"Damn! I'm late for the party!" Sean exclaimed, seeing
how he was the last to join the conference call and that his
friends

had also shaved their heads.

At the end of that entertaining video call, the friends took
snapshots of each frame, showing how they all sacrificed
their

hair for Lucas. It was a very touching moment, one that
Evan and Shantelle swore they would cherish for life. 2
When Evan's friends were done chatting, Shantelle asked,
"Should | shave my head too?"

No!" Both Lucas and Evan said at the same time.

Chapter 155: Road To Getting Better

Everyone was holding their breath.

Nearly two months into isolation, Doctor Patel came in to
report the recent blood work done on Lucas. In
anticipation of

the news, there was complete silence.

Doctor Patel announced, '‘Based on the recent blood test,
the new cells are growing! We are on the road to getting
better!"

3

Immediately, Shantelle broke down in tears. Even Lucas
cried because he knew it meant good news. Evan could
not also

hold it in. Tears also welled in the corners of his eyes as
he turned to embrace his wife.

"Is it something to celebrate? Yes! It means Lucas' body is
not rejecting his sibling's blood, and the same transplanted
cells did not react

defensively either. That is the best part about cord blood
cells. They are naive and do not fight being introduced to
foreign

bone marrow," Doctor Patel added.

Shantelle knew this to be true. If they had searched for
bone marrow from an older donor, the same donor blood
could

potentially create abnormal antibodies. This was a
common problem when introduced to a foreign host. It was
the same

story for transplant patients - one could reject a new
organ.

"Are the worst days over? In my experience, itis. | am
confident with our chosen path, from going with cord blood
to

growing them before the transplant."

"However," Doctor Patel raised his hand. "We must remain
observant. The observation stage will continue until his
first

a year after his transplant. For now, isolation is still
required. Let's let those cells grow in bigger numbers so
that Lucas will

have his protection - those white blood cells that will serve
as his immune system."

"When everything goes smoothly, and his numbers
continue to grow in two weeks, we can start allowing him
to tour the

same hospital floor. He can play with other kids on the
isolation floor and use the small playroom. We will slowly
introduce

him to the outside world so he can build new antibodies,"
Lucas’ doctor added.

Doctor Patel smiled, looking at the family. Tears also stung
his eyes, seeing their happiness. He said, "l am happy for
your

family, Doctor Shant, Mister Thompson. May Lucas
continue to show more progress."

He turned to Lucas and added, "And to Lucas, thank you
for being brave and following what | tell you and what your
parents tell you. | know it was boring here, but you did not
complain, and | love that about you."

"Thank you, Doctor Patel. Thank you so much." Shantelle
could not help but offer a hug to Lucas' oncologist. He may
have been strict in Lucas' isolation, but it proved effective
because Lucas did not acquire any infection within the
isolation

unit.

After Doctor Patel left, Evan and Shantelle hugged Lucas.
The three cried with joy in the next few minutes, howling in
tears from the news. As they called their friends and
family, they continued to weep.

Clara was overjoyed. Eleanor cried. Erick could not be
more proud of his son's sacrifices for Lucas, while William
said,

"We chose the best doctor and, Shanty, thanks to your
husband for having the means to get Lucas through this."
As usual, they called Lucas’ grandparents through an
online conference call. On the screen, they could see
William wiping

the corners of his eyes from his office. He said, "Evan,
thank you for being a provider for Lucas."

Evan smiled proudly at his father-in-law. He said, "I would
give the world to my children.”

To celebrate the good news, Evan ordered a special lunch
for Lucas. She and Shantelle were having a sumptuous
meal

when Sean called his mobile. Evan was still putting food
into his mouth, and seeing his friend call, he dismissed it,
saying,

"Later, Sean."

He meant to call Sean after their meal but forgot about it
as they resumed their intimate feast.

In the afternoon, the couple spent an hour talking about
their plans when Lucas would be out of the hospital. They
also

had the chance to be on a video call with Kaleb Wright and
his family. Lily was especially thrilled to know that Lucas’
new

cells were growing.

At three in the afternoon, Shantelle's work phone rang.
Evan was the first to notice. He said, "Tell them you can't.
Let's

enjoy this moment with our son."

Shantelle paused and thought about it. Then she agreed.
She did not want to disappoint her son now that there was
progress in his health. She answered the call and was
immediately informed of an emergency surgery. On the
phone, the

The ER nurse said, "It's a trauma patient from a car crash
accident. We suspect internal bleeding and damage to the
lungs -"

"Please get in touch with Doctor Hale or Doctor Chen. |
can't make it," Shantelle informed.

"Oh, but Doctor Hale is here, Doctor Shant. He said you'd
want to take this patient," the nurse reported. "He is in
terrible

shape."

Shantelle frowned. Her skin formed goosebumps as she
asked, "Who is the patient?"

"Mister Sean Ross," the nurse replied. 2

Shantelle's mouth fell on the floor. She was quick to say,
"I'll be there." She called Miguel and instructed, "Miguel
prepare

the car. | am heading to the heart and lung center!"
"Wifey? What's going on? | thought we agreed you'd stay
for Lucas?" Evan sought.

Shantelle had to be very careful not to worry her son.
Thus, she approached Evan and whispered in his ear,
"Sean was

admitted to the heart and lung center. He was involved in
a car crash and is bleeding. They want me in because he
is not

in good condition."

Evan stilled, but Shantelle still moved her feet. She bid
goodbye to Lucas, saying there was an emergency.

When Evan returned to his senses, he chased after his
wife in the doffing area, saying, "Whatever happens, save
him,

Shanty! Save him."

"I will. | have to go, Evan," Shantelle said.

At Saint Dominique Heart and Lung Center operating
room one, Sean had an open chest surgery. Shantelle and
a group

surgeons performed an exploration operation, finding
damages to his chest cavity and organs. He was losing so
much

blood that they did not have the time to use the robotic
surgery on him or perform a CT scan, i

"His blood pressure is dropping,” the anesthesiologist
reported before giving Sean another medication.

"Sean, just a little bit more. I'm almost done," Shantelle
said as she navigated through his chest wall, right above
his lung,

where most of the bleeding was happening. It was a major
vein closer to the heart which was punctured due to the
shattered window glass of his car.

Shantelle was sewing the origin of the bleeding while
Doctor Hale put pressure on the veins.

"Clear the blood," Shantelle instructed her assistant
surgeon. After suctioning the blood that pooled on Sean's
chest walls,

they noticed more blood coming out. They realized there
was another source of the bleeding.

"His blood pressure is still dropping,” the anesthesiologist
announced.

Shantelle was already panicking, but knowing that
wouldn't help, she and Doctor Hale worked hand in hand,
trying to find

the other source. As they did, Shantelle kept speaking to
Sean, "Please, don't give up on me, Sean. Just a little bit
more."

While that was happening, Sean's blood pressure
continued to decline despite being given added medication
and a blood

transfusion. By the time Shantelle found the last source of
the bleeding, the worst thing had happened. Sean's heart
slowed down. 2

Shantelle massaged Sean's heart, but that did not work.
They had to shock his heart, and only then did it return to
a

normal rhythm. More blood transfusions followed.

The operation turned out to be a success. Shantelle and
her team stopped the bleeding, repaired his damaged
organs,

and revived Sean's heart, but due to so much blood loss,
he went into a coma.

A day after Sean's surgery, Evan and Shantelle finally
switched places at the Children's Hospital. Evan came to
see Sean

as soon as he left Lucas’ side.

Sean was in the ICU, fully intubated and hooked to various
machines. Evan met Sean's wife at the hospital, and she
gave

him a moment. Before leaving, Brooklyn said, "Evan, | just
thought you should know that he was very adamant about
speaking to you the other day. Sean was at your office to
look at some documents. We were supposed to meet, but
he

insisted on staying at the office longer for you to call him
back. Whatever it was, it must have been really important.”
[

When Evan sat next to his unconscious friend, he felt
guilty altogether for missing his call. That was the only
time Evan

checked his voicemail and realized Sean had left him two
messages. He played both voicemails.

Voicemail one from Sean: "Evan, | need to talk to you. It's
important. Call me when you are not busy."

Voicemail two from Sean: "| just left your office building,
man. | could not stand how your CFO was glaring at me. If
looks

could kill, I could have died. Evan, | thought you should
know someone is stealing money from your company. |
brought

the folder with me - what the -" i

The next thing Evan heard was the sound of Sean's car
crashing, Evan's skin crawled. His jaws clenched.

Chapter 156: Evan's Guilt

The first thing that Ever did was go to the police station.
Wendell met him there, and with their family's influence,
they got

approval from the chief of police to secure documents
within Sean's car.

Although Sean's BMW was severely hit in the front, most
of his belongings in the trunk and back were still intact.
The

Police were waiting for Sean's family to get them, but
instead, Evan and Wendell came for his things.

The two friends were walking down from the second floor
of the police station when they saw Evan's CFO speaking
with a

police officer in the receiving area.

"Mister Ross has taken essential documents from the
company since we hired him as our external accountant.
We need

the documents are bad. | was wondering if maybe he left it
in his car," Evan's CFO, Griffin Hernan, said to the police.
Somehow, Evan had an inkling. He raised his voice as he
answered on behalf of the police officer, "I have it!"

When Griffin turned to Evan, his face paled, and his mouth
fell open. He said, "Evan, | -1 thought you were still in
isolation

with your son -"

"| left isolation because | wanted to know what happened
to Sean!" Evan spat. He glowered at Griffin, saying, "You
know,

Sean had called me before the accident. He said
something about you being upset about how he was
looking into the

books. Why?"

"Oh, Evan, please. You know that | have this obsession
with the order of things. | do not want any important
documents

misplaced," Griffin reasoned.

Despite Mister Hernan's words, Evan doubted him now. At
the back of Evan's head, he feared he was trying to find
someone to blame for Sean's situation. However, his
CFO's actions utterly raised his suspicion.

"I'll keep these documents,” Evan coldly replied. "And
don't call me Evan. You may be older than me, and an
apprentice of

my father, but | am still your boss."

"Y - yes, Mister Thompson," Griffin Hernan said before
reluctantly leaving the police station.

Evan could not let it go. Because of the heaviness in his
heart, he urged Wendell to help him get the surveillance
videos

from the traffic lights where Sean met an accident.

They were immediately assigned an investigator to look
into Sean's case. In the meantime, the two friends looked
into the

book of accounts of Evan's company, specifically his
financial business.

"Coffee?" Milan entered Evan's study and placed two cups
down at the table. One for him and one for Wendell.
"Thanks, Milan," Evan said.

Wendell winked at her, saying, "Enjoy a night's rest without
me. Evan and | will be busy the entire night."

Milan chuckled and replied, "I'll check on the twins. Mrs.
Shaw could use a break."

For that night, Evan requested Wendell and Milan to stay
overnight at the mansion, and they were happy to do so
since

they missed the babies. Although, Wendell would do more
reading than caring for the twins.

Evan and Wendell went through the documents one by
one, and at two in the morning, they found an entry that
shouldn't

be there.

"For the past year, your financial entity has been moving
ten thousand dollars to TriCopy monthly," Wendell pointed
out.

"It's not a big amount and could easily fall in your
miscellaneous expenses, but this is the missing piece of
the puzzle."

"That's a local company in Lockwood that invested in us
for the stock market," Evan revealed. He returned to the
latest

money transfers and said with a frown, "but last month,
there was a transfer of two hundred thousand?" i
"Exactly when you were out in isolation," Wendell
remarked.

After going through several files stored on their company's
online drive, Evan discovered that the contract for TriCopy
had

ended over a year ago and that they had pulled out their
investment. So why were they still sending capital gains to
TriCopy? Sadly, Evan could not cover all the money
transfers. He had to distribute the financial responsibility,
and that

was the job of his Chief Financial Officer. Evan usually
approved all transfers beyond fifty thousand dollars. Griffin
Hernan

did anything below that.

"Guess who approved the transfer?” Wendell said.

"The only one who could approve transfers while | am
away," Evan said, groaning. "Fuck."

The man compared previous years' transfers and realized,
"The account number is different. It's fucking different!”
"Hey, don't blame yourself," Wendell said. "It's a big
company to manage, especially since you handle a group
of

companies. After this, you must consider breaking down
your companies rather than putting it all on your shoulder."
Evan felt his chest congestion. He remarked, "That would
have been something Sean would say."

Wendell nodded, replying, "Il agree."

* oR %

The next day, everything came to light.

The authorities returned with the traffic surveillance, and it
was clear how a truck had purposely crashed into Sean's
car.

After hitting the car's hood, the same truck retreated and
slammed it again into Sean's vehicle. It created more
damage to

Sean's car. 1

The traffic enforcers reported how the pickup truck driver
claimed to have lost control of his breaks, but how could
he still

reverse, pause, and gas up again? Then came another
guestion, what urged the unknown driver to crash his truck
into

Sean's vehicle?

A background check on the driver later revealed how he
was related to Griffin Hernan. It did not take a genius to
put two

and two together.

Wendell and Evan were at the police station, finding out
how everything was pointing to the CFO. Evan was fuming
inside

in front of the table and repeatedly ran his hands over his
head. He looked at his friend and asked," Can your father
still

Help me with the warrant of arrest? | want it now - now,
now, now!"

With a nod, Wendell answered, "I'll give him a call.”

*k%k

Somehow, Griffin Hernan must have gotten a hint. He did
not report for work that day, and his mobile was
unreachable.

When the police searched his home, Mister Hernan and
his wife were missing.

Connecting with the town's mayor, Evan ordered
checkpoints at every exit. He called the local TV network
and alerted

them of his CFO's embezzlement and how he was fleeing
the city. At the same time, Griffin's face was aired on TV.
Airlines were also warned against taking Griffin and his
wife as their passengers.

At twelve midnight, when Evan still had no word where his
CFO had gone, he announced to the entire city how he
was

giving a one-million-dollar reward to whoever could point
out where Griffin was hiding. Everything was shared with
the

local TV network and the company's social media page.
With how Evan went all out for Griffin's search, the CFO
was eventually found at dawn. A motel staff reported
Mister

Hernan and his wife checked in on one of their rooms
using fake IDs.

Griffin Hernan and his wife were locked up the next day,
and their assets were frozen.

At eight in the morning, Evan went to see Griffin in jail. He
said, "If you had money problems - if you needed money, |
would have given it to you in a heartbeat. All you needed
to do was ask. Did you know | had a two-million- dollar
plan for

your retirement, Griffin?"

Evan was gritting his teeth and clenching his hands. His
lips trembled as he added, "Never mind the
embezzlement, but

you tried to kill my friend! And for that, you will suffer! You
have not only lost your pension but also incriminated your
wife!

The driver - your distant relative? He will grow old in jail!"
"No, please, Evan. Please forgive me. | got greedy. |
thought it was just a little money, and you would not even
notice,"

Griffin said, begging. "And the car accident? I'm sorry. |
was afraid I'd lose it all!"

"Again, it's not about the money, but the life you had tried
to take away!" Evan shot back. "Suffer the consequences
of

your actions because | will never forgive you!"

Evan no longer dwelled inside the police station. He went
straight to see Sean next.

Inside the ICU, Evan could not help but feel emotional. He
blamed himself for Sean's predicament. Oh, how he
wished

Now he did not ask Sean to check on the company's
finances while he was in isolation with Lucas.

How would Lucas feel then if his son ever found out too?
He held Sean's hand and gripped it tightly. He said, "Man,
I'm sorry. Had | known this would happen, | would just let
you

enjoy your new married life. Fuck. | feel so responsible."
"Please wake up, Sean. Because if you don't, | might hate
myself

for a long time," Evan said.

Chapter 157: Brooklyn's Decision

"That's it, Lucas. Lift the ball like that," a physical therapist
said. ‘Bend your knee. Good job! Now let's have the other
knee."

The therapist guided Lucas into position and instructed,
"Now lift the ball."

It was common for post-chemotherapy patients to feel
fatigued in the months following their treatment. Lucas’
young heart

wasn't an exception. To help him regain his energy, Doctor
Patel recommended that Lucas have regular sessions with
a

physical therapist.

Lucas was already performing stretching exercises when
the therapist said to Shantelle, "Doctor Shant. You may
opt to

bring in a camcorder next to master Lucas’ routine, plus
the massages. This will be helpful when you get home.
You or a

caregiver for Lucas can resume his therapy."

"Oh, that's a great idea. Although, we wouldn't mind hiring
you instead," Shantelle replied.

The therapist laughed. She said, "Yeah, that's an option. |
have been meaning to take a break from doing oncology
therapy."

"You know, I've always thought you look familiar,"
Shantelle said. "Have we met before?"

"We have." The therapist seemed shy before admitting.
"My family used to work for Ross'. Sean Ross and | were
good

friends. | met you twice when you were married to Mister
Thompson."

"Oh, wait. Let me remember. | think your name was a
candy," Shantelle said while fishing through her brain. "|
knew you

looked so familiar."

The therapist laughed in between, but Shantelle eventually
recalled,” Reese! That's it!"

"Yes, Reese Kennedy," the therapist replied. "Anyway, |
better go. I'm running late for the next patient

"Do you know about Sean, though?" Shantelle asked. She
wasn't sure if Reese and Sean were still in touch. Since
she

returned to Rose Hills, Sean was already with Brooklyn
and had not been mentioning any other female friends. 1
"Ah, no. Actually, | was out of town for several years. | just
returned and have been so busy since. | didn't get a
chance to

reconnect with the Ross family," Reese replied.

"Mommy, are you talking about Uncle Sean? Why hasn't
he called me? It's been six days, | think," Lucas
complained. "Let

i call him."

Shantelle tried to hold Lucas back from calling Sean, but
failed. She didn't know how to break the bad news to her
son.

Evan had insisted it would not be good for Lucas.
Fortunately, Sean's messenger kept ringing.

"Maybe your Uncle Sean is busy, Lucas," Shantelle
explained. "Let's give him some time to call you, okay?"
After Lucas agreed, Shantelle guided the therapist out of
the isolation room and into the anti-room. It was from there
that

She told Reese about Sean's condition.

At the heart and lung center ICU, Keith and Evan were
outside waiting for feedback from the doctors.

"How long have you been here?" Evan asked.

"An hour ago. When Doctor Hale and two other surgeons
walked in, give or take, around twenty minutes, they hadn't
allowed anyone inside Sean's unit, " Keith said while
peeking through the ICU doors.

"Did Brooklyn come?" Evan asked.

"| think she got occupied at the company with Sean gone,"
Keith said. "Only

Sean's parents are here."

Keith pointed to the waiting area of the ICU, where both of
Sean's parents were sitting down.

Sean and Brooklyn were both accountants. Together they
ran their own accounting firm, The Balance Point
Accounting

Firm. It was their joint venture as a couple and now as
husband and wife.

"| feel bad," Evan admitted. "Now Brooklyn is under a lot of
stress t00."

The man leaned into Keith, revealing, "Brooklyn has been
giving me the silent treatment since she found out it was
my

CFO who did this to Sean."

Keith rubbed Evan's back. He said, "She will get over it. In
time. What's important now to help Sean -"

"Mister and Misses Ross?" A nurse suddenly interrupted
their exchange. She said, "You are needed inside your
son's

room."

Because Evan and Keith were not direct family members,
they lingered outside the ICU for another half an hour.
Minutes

Later, Doctor Hale came out with the other doctors. They
were smiling at each other, and when Evan and Doctor
Hale

locked eyes, the same doctor smiled brightly at Evan. He
said, "Sean is awake."

Relief washed over Evan, and he gave Keith a manly hug.
Then he turned to Doctor Hale. The doctor reported, "We
had

sedated him for now because he woke up in the middle of
our assessment and was probably shocked by everything

attached to him. He was choking on his breathing tube,
and his heartbeat went up. He is breathing on his own,
thank god.

We plan to remove his ventilator tomorrow morning. If
everything goes well, he should be moved to a regular
room in the

afternoon the next day."

"But Evan, Sean still has a long way to go. We did not
operate on his knee injury yet, because our priority was to
stop his

internal bleeding. At this stage, he still needs a lot of
support,” Doctor Hale said, and the man nodded, i

After that chat with Doctor Hale, Keith and Evan visited
Sean while still sleeping. Evan, for one, hugged Sean
tightly

before leaving his friend to rest.

It wasn't until the next day that Evan and his friends finally
got together with Sean in his private room.

Sean was still weak. He could barely move his body and
constantly groaned in pain each time he attempted to
move. All

three walked in, catching Brooklyn and helping Sean drink
some water.

Faintly, Sean asked, "Who the fuck are you guys? You
look like monks who decided to grow hair - oh, wait. | am
also

semi-bald?"

Wendell, Evan, and Keith laughed thoroughly. They
worked around Sean's bed and found a part of him to
embrace.

"Ouch. It's fucking painful! Keith, my chest might open up!”
Sean complained, but his friends remained laughing
anyway.

"Okay, guys. Give me some space. | can't breathe," Sean
complained, and eventually, all three grown men gave him
some distance. "| just want to know one thing, did you
guys cry for me?"

"He did!" Wendell said, pointing to Keith. Evan said the
same, but he pointed to Wendell. Whereas Keith pointed
to Evan.

No one admitted to crying, but the truth was, they had a
share of weeping out of worry for Sean.

Understanding what happened, Sean laughed. Despite
struggling to move, he said, "I'm glad you all cried for me. |
guess

you really are true friends."

They all chatted about the things Sean had missed,
including a regular chat with Lucas. Sean had decided to
give the little

boy a call, but not through a video call. At least Lucas
knew he was fine.

When evening came, Evan had to leave. He said, "My
mother-in-law should be going home anytime now. | best
get home

and see the twins. By the way, about your knee, Keith and
| are looking for the best orthopedic surgeon to take a look
at it

"Yes, | mean, the one looking at you right now is good, but
we want you to have the best," Keith remarked. "I'll cover
the

insurance!"

"And I'll take care of the expenses," Evan said.

"| think you should take care of the expenses, Evan,”
Brooklyn said. "Wasn't this your company's fault to begin
with?" 1

Because of that remark, Evan asked for time alone with
Brooklyn. Outside Sean's hospital room, Evan said to her,
"So |

take it you are mad at me. You know it's not my fault,
right? But | get it. My company is somewhat responsible,
but I'm

trying to compensate for it. I'll pay the hospital fees and
find the best doctor to operate on Sean's right knee."

It was because Sean's knees were dislocated due to the
accident. Apart from his chest surgery, he still needed
knee

surgery.

Brooklyn nodded and replied, "Do that. Pay for the bills,
but as for his subsequent treatment, we can take it from
here."

Looking away, Brooklyn said, "I think, Evan, it’s high time
Sean stays away from you, Keith, and Wendell. Look at
how it

only got him in trouble?" i

"Brooklyn, what has gotten into you

"What has gotten into me? Evan, you will never
understand because you weren't the one who cried all
night long while

under pressure with the company, Sean and | were both
supposed to run,” Brooklyn described. "For a long time, |
was

patient with your -"

Quoting with her fingers, she said, "Boys club. But now, |
seriously think you, Wendell, and Keith have to grow up
and

start living with your families instead of involving one
another, especially you, Evan! What? Wendell is helping
care for

your kids? Sean has to call Lucas every day? And don't
you

forget about how he shaved his head?!" i

"What's going to be next, Evan? How long will Sean live
under your supreme command?" Sucking in a deep
breath. She

added, "I'm sorry, but now, | will have to insist that your
bond be tamed. Your involvement in his life is preventing
him from

spreading his wings."

Chapter 158: May Go Home

Text from Sean: [The ghost is clear. My mom is on her way
and would love to have breakfast with you guys.] 2

Text from Andy: [I just saw your friend's wife get in the car,
Mister Thompson.]

Those were Evan's cues. He and Wendell were in his car,
parked beneath the heart and lung center, waiting for
Brooklyn

to leave for work. Keith was in his car, also waiting.
Knowing that Brooklyn had already left, the three
proceeded to Sean's private room.

Sean's hospital stay was extended for another week. He
had several tests done to ensure there were no other
injuries

they needed to worry about it. When everything else was
cleared, Sean underwent a knee surgery, but he went with
the

the doctor is already treating him instead of looking for
someone new.

Brooklyn thought she had made Sean follow her request
to avoid Evan and his other friends. In truth, however,
Sean's

best friends only waited to ride it out until Brooklyn cooled
down. On that day, they visited Sean early in the morning
without Brooklyn's knowledge.

As soon as the three friends entered Sean's room, they
shared a brotherly hug. They even called Lucas from the
room,

admitting that Sean was in the hospital.

"Hey, what's that long face, buddy? Your uncle Sean is
fine. Now that the doctors fixed my knee, | just need to
exercise

my muscles and legs so | can walk again," Sean said on
the phone to Lucas. 1

"Now, enough about me. How about you, huh? | heard that
your blood counts went up!" Sean asked.

Lucas nodded and said, "Yes, Doctor Patel said | am
doing great. And that's because | have my siblings’ blood.
They

helped me a lot."

"Wow!" Sean remarked. "I think you are getting close,
Lucas."

"Yes, I've been eating lots of vegetables," Lucas added.
"You should have more vegetables too, uncle."

"I sure will," Sean replied.

"Anyway, Uncle. If you need help with your exercise, my
therapist is a big help," Lucas said. "I'll tell her later to
teach you

a few exercises."

After a short pause, Lucas said, "I have to go, Uncle.
Breakfast is here."

"Bye, Sean and Wendell. Hubby, take care at work. Love
you!" Shantelle said, sitting next to Lucas.

It was after the video call that Evan remembered Lucas’
physical therapist. He was about to tell Sean when Mrs.
Ross

walked in the door, saying," Boys, let's have breakfast
together."

Instead of telling Sean about Reese, Evan's mind shifted
to helping Mrs. Ross prepare the dining area. Wendell,
Keith,

and Evan returned to Sean's side since he still could not
walk. They ate breakfast together, throwing jokes on the
side.

"How does a frog feel with a broken foot?" Sean asked
with a smirk.

"What?" Keith asked.

"Unhappy. Bahahaha!" Sean burst into a set of laughter.
Evan himself felt his stomach in pain from laughing again.
Keith was the same.

"Now, that's funny!” Wendell said to Sean.

"You boys haven't changed one bit," Sean’s mother said.
"You have grown old, but you can still crack jokes." She
winked

at them and said, "That's great because more than just the
laughter, it's how together you can be in times like these
that

make a difference."

"Let me get your plates so you can have your last-minute
chitchat," Mrs. Ross offered.

It was precisely what Sean's mother had said. Evan, Keith,
and Wendell relished the time together with Sean that
early

morning. When the clock turned eight, they bid their
goodbyes, saying they needed to get to work. However,
before

leaving, Sean called, "Hey, guys!"

Sean moved to the bedside table and pulled out a pack of
opened Reese's chocolates. He asked, "By the way,
thanks for

the peanut butter cup treat. Who sent these? This came
two days ago with a note telling me to get well soon." 1

The three friends looked at each other. Evan said, "I didn't
send you those."

"| didn't either,” Keith said.

"Honestly, | had forgotten how you used to be addicted to
Reese's chocolates,” Wendell proposed.

"Then, who sent these?" Sean asked, utterly puzzled.
The three friends shrugged. Sean was left to wonder but
relished his treat otherwise. 1

Days went by fast. Sean was discharged from the heart
and lung center three days after the knee surgery. He
continued

to recuperate in his new home with Brooklyn. He still could
not walk and required the assistance of a caregiver. It
would

take at least six weeks for him to recover from the surgery
itself, with a few exercises required.

As for Lucas, he passed his isolation with flying colors,
and his blood count continued to go up. He finally
experienced

interaction with other children on the isolation floor. He still
wore a mask and often practiced health protocols like
washing

hands and often disinfecting.

On the fourth month of being admitted to the Children's
Hospital, Doctor Patel relaxed Lucas's isolation, slowly
exposing

Lucas to the outside world. While occupying the isolation
unit, he was eventually allowed weekly controlled visitors.
Aside

From that, two parents were now permitted to stay
overnight to watch Lucas.

Eleanor and William came to see Lucas in the first week of
the fourth month. The second the young boy saw his
grandparents, his eyes watered.

"Grandma! Grandpa! | miss you so much!" He was already
free of all IV medications, and thus, he rushed to embrace
his

grandparents.

"Oh, my boy! | miss my baby Lucas," Eleanor said. Her
eyes were swollen because she had been crying from the
car ride

up to that point. She kissed Lucas on his forehead, saying,
"I miss you so much! | love you so much."

"| love you too, Grandma," Lucas said. He turned to reach
for William, who had also been crying. He held his hand
and

said, "Grandpa, | miss you."

William joined in the embrace, hugging Lucas. Behind
them, Shantelle's eyes were watering while Evan took
deep

breaths, trying to hold back his tears. Their howls were
unending as William and Eleanor shared a good two hours
with

Lucas, eating snacks, chatting, and taking pictures.

The scene was the same in the second week. It was Clara
and Erick's turn to visit Lucas. Like the last, everyone was
in

tears with their reunion, and Lucas felt loved all over
again.

In the third week, Keith and Karise visited Lucas. Wendell
and Milan took their turn in the fourth week. They were
trying

to schedule Sean and Brooklyn to visit next, but before
they could even bring it up, Sean declined, saying he
wasn’t in

good shape. They were unsure if it was Brooklyn or Sean,
but Evan also knew how his friend had been complaining
about

the swelling on his knee.

After exactly four months of staying in the Children's
Hospital, Doctor Patel came in one morning with a big grin
on his

face. Only Shantelle was around since Evan was at work.
"Good morning, Doctor Shant," Doctor Patel said. "I have
good news."

"What is it, Doctor?" Shantelle asked, her smile reaching
her ears. The truth was she had become so close with the

nurses and doctors in the hospital that she already had a
clue about Lucas’ blood count.

"Oh, what's the thrill in this? | think you already know!"
Doctor Patel said.

Tears stung Shantelle's eyes. She said, "Yes, | know."
"Lucas' blood count is at normal range. Tomorrow, Lucas
may go home. I'll give you a long list of discharge
instructions for

you to follow." Doctor Patel pointed to Lucas and declared,
"And you may.... already kiss your son on the cheek." 1
Shantelle broke down in tears. She was crying so much
that her tears stained her blouse. She hugged Lucas
outright,

kissing his cheek and saying, "Thank you, Lucas, for being
brave. We are finally going home." 1

Like his mommy, Lucas was also crying. He hugged
Shantelle tight and said, "Mommy, I'm a strong boy."
"Yes, you are," Shantelle said. "And | love you for that."
Inside the CEQ's office of The Thompson Group of
Companies, Evan had just sent an email to a client. His
phone

suddenly rang, and he picked it up, seeing it was his wife
calling.

"Wifey?" Evan asked.

"Doctor Patel gave Lucas his discharge order. He's going
home tomorrow!"

Shantelle said on the other line. 1

At the news, Evan gasped. He was filled with emotions
that needed to be let out. He was relieved, but he felt like
crying.

He needed someone to share the moment. 1

He marched outside the office, and the first person he saw
was James. Evan did not think twice. Despite James being
surrounded by other secretaries, he embraced his
assistant. He said, "Thank you, James, for being someone
| can rely on

during our difficult times. Lucas is finally being discharged
from the hospital. For your loyalty, | will give you a hundred
grand bonus for this year!"

When Evan pulled away, he was still smiling, but he saw
James' forehead formed beads of sweat. He said, "What a
relief,

Sir. For a moment there, | thought you had changed
preferences. Hahaha." 5

The man frowned. He answered, "I'll take back the
hundred grand.”

Chapter 159: Lucas' Surprise

Lucas was hopping in his seat the second he saw the
twins carried by his grandmothers. He said, "l wanna go
outside! |

i wanna go outside!"

"Relax, Lucas. I'm pulling over!" Miguel said while driving
the car.

Evan, Shantelle, and Lucas drove to their home first. A
moving truck followed, carrying Lucas's entertainment set,
the

same one he had at the hospital; his drum set and guitar.
Lucas donated his colossal TV for the children's
entertainment room on the isolation floor of Rose Hills
Children's

Hospital. Evan willingly agreed, knowing Lucas felt
connected to the children on the same floor. It was Lucas’
way of

giving back.

When Miguel pulled over, Evan opened the door for
Lucas, and the boy ran in tears to hug his siblings.
"Amelia. | miss

you so much! | love you, baby!"

Turning to Shantelle, Lucas remarked, "She is so big now,
Mommy!"

"You should check out Marcus," Evan remarked.

"Wow! Marcus is so chubby!" Lucas exclaimed, making
everyone laugh.

"Marcus drinks a lot of milk, Lucas," Eleanor said.
"Welcome home, my boy," William said, offering his arms
to Lucas. "I miss you every day."

To his grandpa William, Lucas embraced and kissed his
cheeks. He said, "I miss you too, grandpa."

Erick was already teary-eyed, seeing Lucas. He requested
the next hug, saying, "I'm so glad you have had your
treatment

Lucas, and finally, we can have our regular gathering."
Now that Lucas’ blood counts were normal, he received
kisses on the cheeks from all his grandparents. Mrs. Shaw
was

the same, embracing Lucas tightly and pecking his cheek.
Everyone at home missed him terribly.

For the rest of the afternoon, Lucas spent time with his
siblings, playing with them at the nursery. On the other
hand, Evan

and Shantelle prepared for their evening gathering.

At seven o'clock sharp, visitors arrived. Keith and Karise
were the first, and yet again, Lucas was showered with
love,

from gifts to kisses and words of praise.

Milan and Wendell soon arrived, carrying a huge present.
When Lucas received the box, he read the card, "To the
bravest

kid on the block, Lucas Thompson! Yay!"

Their group had assembled at a long table by the patio,
serving as their evening dining area. Lucas chatted about
his

adventures at the hospital, including other children, but
soon he recognized someone missing.

He looked around, his neck stretching to the driveway, and
asked, "Where is Uncle Sean?"

"Ah, he is still having pain from his knee injury." Shantelle
looked at Evan as if asking for permission. She resumed,
"We

are not sure if he could make it."

Changing the topic, Shantelle revealed, "But we have a
great surprise for you!"

"What is it?" Lucas asked.

Evan checked his watch and said, "Well, your Uncle
James should be bringing his next gift. He should be here
any minute

now."

Lucas's gaze extended as the food was served on the long
table. He often got up to peek through the driveway. It
made

The adults laughed, but soon, a limo entered the gates
and parked at the driveway. Lucas became extra excited,
but as much

as he wanted to see his surprise from the patio, Evan
warned, "Lucas, take your seat and wait. Your gift surprise
will be

coming through the living room area."

"Okay, Daddy," Lucas said before pouting her lips. 1

The entire time Lucas waited, Shantelle studied her son.
She smiled and anticipated her son's joyful reaction.
Eventually,

They heard footsteps coming from the living room and little
feet running.

"Lucas!" It was Lily. Scarlett Wright flew all the way from
Braeton and brought her daughter to see Lucas. It was her
way

of bringing a smile to Lucas' face and also to Lily's.
Scarlett also had an important matter to discuss with
Shantelle. 2

"Lily!" Lucas screamed with bright eyes. 2

The two ran to each other, and Shantelle swore; it played
in slow motion in her head. It was as though Lily and
Lucas

never chatted with each other online. They hugged each
other tightly, both hopping in their stance and teary-eyed. 1
"| miss you, Lucas!" Lily exclaimed.

"I miss you too, Lily. Thanks for coming!" Lucas said.

"I'm going to teach you how to play the drums!" Lucas
offered.

"I'd love that!" Lily said.

The two continued to chat right in front of the adults,
entertaining everyone.

"Those two are just so cute," Milan remarked.

"They are, aren't they?" Shantelle also commented.
Suddenly, Lucas and Lily were ready to leave and work on
their itinerary. Scarlett held them back and said, "Before
you

learn to play drums and play with Lucas’ siblings, you
need to eat dinner."

The kids groaned, encouraging giggles around them.
Their party began to indulge in mouthwatering food.
James, who had dropped off Scarlett and Lily, also joined
the special

welcome celebration. Everyone relished their meal and
failed to notice a car had arrived.

Moments later, a familiar voice came through, "Having fun
without me? That's not good." 1

Everyone's head snapped in the direction of the voice.
They were all shocked to find Sean!

"Uncle Sean!" Lucas exclaimed, his eyes rounded in
delight. 1

"I'm so glad you can make it, Sean!" Evan said. He stood
up and approached Sean.

A male caregiver was pushing Sean. He was still in a
wheelchair, unable to walk properly. When Evan stood
before his

friend, he leaned down and hugged Sean. He said,
"Damn, since you left the heart and lung center, | haven't
seen you."

Keith and Wendell also approached to offer Sean a hug.
Lucas was the next to embrace Sean. He said, "Uncle,
Sean. |

i really miss you! You have forgotten our daily calls."

A hiss left Sean's lips. He caressed Lucas’ head and said,
"Uncle Sean is still not well. I'm sorry, Lucas, but we can
spend

more time together when | get better."

Shantelle also got up to embrace Sean. Milan did the
same, but Karise only blew him a kiss. She said, "Sean, |
love you,

but I'm getting too heavy to keep getting up."

A laugh escaped Sean's lips as his caregiver found him a
vacant space in front of the table. He said, "That's fine. I'l
be

glad to sit in front of you, Karise."

"Where is Brooklyn?" Karise asked.

There was a short pause coming from Evan, Keith, and
Wendell. Their eyes looked elsewhere as if evading the
topic.

Soon, however, Sean replied, "Ah, Brooklyn is still at the
firm. She has a lot of work to do."

Sean cleared his throat to defend his wife, "I could barely
help her out at the firm, so she is taking a lot of work."

"Oh," Karise said. "Isn't that why you guys hire more
people?"

At that point, Shantelle glared at Karise, but she did not
see anything wrong with her question.

"Haha." Sean groaned. He replied, "My wife is an
accountant. Do you know that most accountants are
thrifty? Brooklyn is

very good with holding money, maybe... a little too good?"
"And here comes the monster cake!" Evan purposely
shifted everyone's attention as the cook brought a giant,
moist

chocolate cake covered in chocolate ganache.

"Woah!" Lucas and Lily said at the same time.

As the cook served the cake on the table, he described,
"The cake can be paired with vanilla ice cream."

"Yay!" Lucas and Lily exclaimed together.

The children's delight and excitement brought happiness
to everyone's eyes that they had all forgotten about Sean's
situation. While the rest started with their dessert, Sean
and his caregiver ate their meals.

Later in the evening, after Evan and Shantelle's parents
had left, the men gathered to catch up. Milan, Shantelle,
Karise,

and Scarlett formed a group of their own. Lily and Lucas
went straight to the nursery to play with the twins.

The men went to the pool area to enjoy some drinks. It
was from there that Sean suddenly broke down in tears. 1
It shocked Evan, Wendell, and Keith. Sean was the most
playful in their group, the funniest, and the one with the
happiest

disposition. They had never seen their friend break down
in such a way.

When Sean leaned back, he revealed, "Two days ago, the
doctor told me that | should be able to start walking by
now,

even in small steps."

"He fucking said that he did everything he could, and now
it was up to me to strengthen my muscles," Sean said.
"But until

Now, my knee is still feeling like shit."

"What makes things worse is that Brooklyn and | have
been fighting so much since we lived together," Sean
gasped and

revealed, "Then, after realizing how | wasn't getting any
better, she said -"

Sean swallowed air down his throat before revealing, "She
said she wants a fucking divorce. She said this was not
the

marriage | promised her."

Chapter 160: Brooklyn's Request

#HHE FLASHBACK: TWO DAYS BACK ###

The drive home from the hospital was completely silent.
Brooklyn was behind the wheel, often sighing in dismay
and tears

welling in her eyes. It was clear to Sean that the doctor's
assessment of his progress disappointed her.

Sean's day shift caregiver, Pete, was giving him a worried
look. He immediately said, "Mister Ross. I'm sorry, but |
have

things to do tonight. | can't do overtime."

It no longer surprised Sean. When he hired the caregiver,
the young man was eager to render overtime, but when
Pete

often caught him and

Brooklyn fighting in the past few days, he started to
decline to stay longer.

With Pete heading home early, there would be a three
hour gap for the next caregiver. Worse, Pete was off the
next day.

This meant that Brooklyn would have to sacrifice more of
her time to attend to Sean, and lately, that had been the
source

of their quarrels. If that wasn't enough, they sometimes
argued about his old friends too.

Brooklyn felt utterly stressed about their situation.
Because Sean had to go to the hospital for daily therapy,
and his body

was still recuperating from two surgeries, he could only
offer a few hours of his time for work.

His wife especially disliked it if Sean could not clean
himself in the bathroom, and this was especially true
during the first

week since his discharge. 3

Aside from that, there was so much maintenance that
Sean had to do, like cleaning his wound regularly, applying
the

medication, and monitoring his vitals.

Sean had suggested they hire a new senior accountant to
help cover for his absence, but at the same time, Brooklyn
was

keeping the expenses tight. She didn't think it was
necessary. She also had the same opinion about hiring a
third

caregiver for Sean.

There was a moment when Brooklyn suggested that Sean
stay with his parents, but he disagreed. They were
husband

and wife, and they should live together. In fact, they were
supposed to be in their honeymoon stage, but they were
far

from it. Moreover, what will his parents think of his wife?
That she was returning him to them? Sean was worried
about

what his parents might think of Brooklyn. That was how
much he loved her.

When they arrived at their villa, Pete helped Sean to his
room. He prepared Sean's medication and assisted him
into his

shower wheelchair. Then the caregiver left. Sean could tell
Pete was afraid of the upcoming confrontation between
Brooklyn and him.

The newly married couple did not have maids staying with
them overnight. It wasn't necessary yet for them since they
did

not have kids. Thus, they were alone. Brooklyn was mainly
on her own to help Sean.

Sean started to undress. He tried to put on his knee
shower cast cover, but it proved difficult. When he asked
for

With Brooklyn's help, she did it in silence. Then she
suggested, "Maybe you are not trying enough to get better,
Sean. You

i need to tolerate the pain, you know."

"It is painful,” Sean said. "I'm thinking of seeing another
doctor -"

"And get another operation? Take another what? Two or
maybe three months to get better? How long will | be
taking care

do you like this?" Brooklyn asked.

Brooklyn, | did not want this to happen to me," Sean said.
She fell silent again, and after covering Sean's knee, she
said, "Take a shower by yourself. | have things to do."
Brooklyn was in front of her laptop again, working inside
their room.

Sean was left with no choice but to shower on his own.
Thankfully, with a waterproofed wheelchair, and a
telephone

shower, he managed on his own. However, getting into a
new set of clothes was another story. He asked for
Brooklyn's

help again, and she did, but not before rolling her eyes.
Because Sean's medication made him nauseous, he
rested for an hour.

Hours passed. Sean awoke to Brooklyn screaming on the
phone.

"What do you mean you can't come? Did Pete put you up
to this? Fine! You are fired!" Brooklyn said to the night shift
caretaker. She turned to Sean and said, "Pete probably
said something to Jake, and now he is not coming too! I'm
going

to fire Pete." 1

When Sean realized who his wife was talking to, he said,
"You fired Jake, and now you want to fire Pete. You don't
even

want to take care of me -"

"| am your wife and business partner, Sean, not your maid!
This is not what | imagined when | married you! | wasn't
supposed to clean your shit or assist you in the shower.
Did you forget how my father treated me like a princess?
You

promised to do the same like you have been doing for
years!

| was your pampered girlfriend, and | loved it!" Brooklyn
said. "It was fine to take care of you during the first few
days, but

It's been weeks! And you forget about the company too?
I'm doing everything! Don't you think | have suffered
enough? |

barely sleep because | am running the company now 1
"Because you refuse to hire another accountant!" Sean
pointed out.

"That's an additional expense!" Brooklyn shot back. "We
need to maximize our profit!"

"At the expense of our time? Our happiness? My
happiness?" Sean asked.

"We need it. | need it because | fucking need you,
Brooklyn. | need you to help me. My chest wound still
hurts. Remember

how did | have chest surgery? My knee is still in pain.”
Sean's eyes watered, pleaded. "Baby, | could use your
love - a hug from

my wife. | really miss you, Brooklyn. What happened

to you? What happened to us?"

"Didn't we just give our vows? What happened through
thick and thin, in sickness and health, huh?" Sean sought.
"How can we make love when you can't even get it up,
thanks to your medication!" Brooklyn pointed out. 1
"Honestly, | did not think we would be in this situation after
our honeymoon!" Brooklyn said as she cried, "| love you,
Sean, but I'm not strong enough to withstand this. You
heard what the doctor said. What if - what if you can never
walk

normally again? Am | supposed to push you in a
wheelchair all my life?"

"It's only been five weeks. | need more time, maybe
another operation," Sean proposed. "Besides, once my
chest is fully

healed, my other leg is still fine. Worst-case scenario, I'd
still be able to walk with crutches. | don't think it's that
bad."

"Crutches? Really? | married Sean Ross, one of the
hottest men in the city, and just when | became his wife,
he will be

walking with me in crutches?" It was as if Brooklyn
calculated in her head how much more she needed to
endure. After

thinking about it, she said. "lI don't know, Sean. Maybe I'm
not cut out for this. Life has always been easy for me."
"What are you saying?" Sean asked.

"I'm saying | want a divorce," Brooklyn replied. 2

##H END OF FLASHBACK ###

Back at the boy's circle, Sean had his head down and
elbows on his knees.

"Give Brooklyn what she wants," Keith suggested. "She is
only making you unwell. You aren't getting any better
because

you are emotionally drained too!" i

"| thought Brooklyn was nice, but | guess things can
change when you get married,” Wendell remarked. "Thank
god Milan

didn't change."

"Or she didn't expect for better or worse to really happen,”
Keith said." And she couldn't handle it."

"I don't know if | can do it," Sean responded. "l love her so
much. She was my dream girl."

Evan studied his friend and recognized his words. Sean
was madly in love with Brooklyn to the point that he
spoiled her

with everything. Sean loved his wife so much that Evan
didn't bother to look out for signs of how much Brooklyn
truly felt

about Sean.

She always said she loved him all the time, but now, with
how things unfolded, it made Even think back, "When did
Brooklyn ever sacrificed for Sean? How did she prove her
love to him?"

Other than buying Sean gifts, Evan could not recall a
specific scenario.

Evan sighed and proposed, "Go back to your parents’
house and think about it properly. | agree with Keith. You
need to be

emotionally stable to get better. You can't be motivated to
get better if your wife doesn't fully support you. Let's find
you a

new doctor. Get a home therapist for your exercises,
rather than traveling to the hospital daily. Since this was
my former

It's the CFO's fault, I'll hire a physical therapist for you."
"A home therapist?" Sean asked.

"Yes, your old friend, Reese Kennedy," Evan revealed.
"She is back in town." 4 ***

Meanwhile, at the girl's group, Scarlett asked Shantelle,
"So what are you planning to do now that Lucas is getting
better?"

Shantelle took a deep breath. She said, "First and
foremost, | want to have sex! Lots of it!" 2
"Go, girl!" Karise supported.

Milan laughed her heart out.

Chapter 161: Inferno 02

"How is he?" Evan asked Keith on the phone.

"He is pretty upset. He couldn't accept it," Keith replied. "I
took him out of there and drove him to his parent's house.
His

parents had no clue Sean and Brooklyn were having
problems."

Two days had passed since Sean revealed what had
happened between him and Brooklyn. At first, Sean
wanted to give

their relationship one last try. However, Brooklyn had not
been in their matrimonial home since Sean returned from
Lucas’

welcome home party.

That day Keith shared how Pete, the caregiver, called him
because he found Sean in the bathroom, stuck in his chair
because his knee was rather painful and he could not
reach his shampoo. Sean was in the bathroom for two
hours until

Pete finally arrived. Sean no longer had a night shift
caregiver since Brooklyn fired him. 2

"Fuck, | wish | was there," Evan groaned.

"Hey, I'll take care of Sean. Your family needs this
vacation. You all deserve it," Keith replied. "I'll talk to him. |
hate that he

is so in love with that bitch, but eventually, he will realize
he deserves better."

"Send my love to Lucas," Keith said.

The man took a deep breath and replied, "I will."

Evan's family was already on a private plane headed to
the Caribbean, where they would go on a one-week
vacation.

Hendrick Grant, Evan's recent business partner for the
Caribbean Sales, arranged an island vacation home for
their

holiday.

It was a two-island property, where the main island had a
family house with a huge pool, built right in front of the
beach

and could accommodate twelve people.

On the connected island, it was a couple's retreat. It was
meant for Evan and Shantelle to stay in whenever they
wanted

privacy.

Both sides of the family were on the trip; Shantelle's
parents and Evan's. Of course, the caregivers were with
them,

Miguel, and so were the twins.

After a four-hour-long flight, they arrived at the airport,
where they, yet again, took a private luxury speedboat ride
to the

remote island.

Everyone rested in their respective rooms during the first
two hours of docking, including Evan and Shantelle. Upon
getting up, they all enjoyed a happy meal together. Only
then did Evan and Shantelle leave for the couple's retreat.
Their accommodation was a massive villa with an infinity
pool. It was a tinted glass house with only curtains and
blinds

covering their ocean view. It had a fireplace, an enormous
bathroom with a jacuzzi, and a huge bed. Mirrors were all
around them, all life-size.

Once they made it into the master bedroom, Evan said
mischievously, "So wifey, bath together, or you go first?"
"You go first. | have a surprise for you," Shantelle replied
before chuckling." Go!"

The couple took turns taking a bath. Evan went in first,
and then Shantelle. When Shantelle came out of the
bathroom,

She wore a robe over her body and held a purple bottle in
her hand.

"Whatever that is, | like it already,” Evan said. He was lying
in bed, butt naked, already making himself hard.

Shantelle struck a pose. She held the bottle and said, "It's
a reward for helping Lucas get through the most difficult
time in

his life."

Evan was already hissing, utterly stirred by the
imagination, but when Shantelle dropped her robe on the
floor, the man

groaned. He remarked," Fuck. | want that. | wanna fucking
hold you now."

A chuckle left Shantelle's lips before she took a complete
turn and showed her husband everything. She wore
bandage

underwear that formed straps around her ass and breasts
but did not cover her private parts. Instead, the straps
made

Shantelle's breasts are bigger and firmer. The same could
be said of her two-round flesh. The best part was how
Shantelle

was utterly smooth down there, almost without a trace of
her golden pubic curls.

When Shantelle approached Evan, the man quickly
reached for her core. He played it with his fingers and
said, "I'm going

to do so hard, you won't be able to walk in the morning."

Shantelle was spreading oil to Evan's chest when she
challenged, "Walk the talk, Mister Thompson. Walk the
talk."

"Oh, I'll do more than that," Evan assured her. "I'm going
to run the talk." i

A laughter escaped Shantelle's lips as she sat on him. She
said, "First, let me tease you."

Shantelle lowered herself. While they were skin to skin,
she kissed him, and as she lay on top of him, the man
gripped her

ass. Then, she began to rub herself against him.

"Fuck," Evan gasped. He sensed his wife's soft skin,
creating friction. Her full breast was against his chest, her
legs

intertwined with his, and her abdomen pressed against his
manhood. He also appreciated the oil's scent, a lavender
and

almond mix.

"I love it," Evan admitted. He held her face, parted her
mouth wider, and then crashed his lips to hers,
encouraging a

sloppier kiss.

Their heads quickly moved from side to side. Their eyes
closed as they indulge in that open, tongue-involved kiss.
The

the man loved how the oil around his body lubricated
Shantelle's movement. She was gliding up and down, and
she rubbed

him in the right places with his guidance.

When Shantelle sat up, she buried his manhood between
her bottom lips. She didn't allow penetration, merely
massaging

his rod with her peach and putting her weight on it.

The man cursed again. His eyes narrowed at how his
mushroom tip peaked between him and his wife. He
especially

relished the view of Shantelle rocking her lips and adding
glow to his shaft.

"I'm going crazy. | love you so much. Shanty," Evan
remarked before his arm extended to play with her clit.
Soon, Evan flipped her sideways and kneaded her breast.
His hands were so unforgiving that her breast milk
squeezed

out.

"Evan!" Shantelle complained, but the man leaned down
and instead sucked the milk into his mouth.

The twins will have to learn to share with their daddy,"
Evan proposed before fully latching onto her breast, i
From then on, it was Shantelle's turn to cry in pleasure,
"Aaah! Evan. | miss this so much.”

She shut her eyes as Evan alternately sucked on her
breasts and littered kisses on her neck. He left kiss marks,
and his

hands constantly gripped her every fold.

It did not take long for Evan to massage her clit. Following
a loud moan, Shantelle's eyes widened, and her gaze
became

fixed above. She was shocked to find a mirror mounted on
the ceiling!

"There is a mirror above us," Shantelle faintly said.

The man replied, "I know."

Shantelle's mouth fell open. As she watched her husband
spread her legs and lower himself, she became further
aroused.

She eyed herself in that bondage underwear and thought
she looked incredibly hot. However, what was even more
compelling was how Evan ate her fully down there.

Next, Shantelle studied Evan's back. She realized how her
husband had gained more muscles than the last. Recalling
how he had more time to work out during isolation, she
was even more impressed with Evan.

His back looked incredibly sexy. His ass was firm, and
Shantelle imagined it hallowing as he would thrust into her
next.

The idea excited her that she thought Evan's tongue was
doing a far better job in the next few seconds.

Shantelle was raising her hips, trying to point Evan in the
right direction.” There, that's it, Hubby - Aaaah!"

She grabbed her breasts as Evan continued to flicker his
tongue against her clit, sometimes sucking her rose
thoroughly.

"Aaaah! Evan!" Shantelle eventually came, her insides
pulsating.

Evan promptly crawled up to her. He held down her knees
as he lined up his erected member. Just before he entered
her,

he declared, "Get ready for a long night, Wifey - Aaaah!
Fuck! You are so wet!"

Shantelle also moaned with her husband. His member
filled her thoroughly and reached her ends. She couldn't
help but

close her eyes again. When she fluttered them open, Evan
was ready to pounce on her hard, judging by the fire in his
eyes.

In the succeeding minutes, moans filled the air as Evan
pumped in and out of Shantelle. He didn't hold back. He
went at it

as hard as possible, leaving Shantelle wailing in desire.
The slapping sound of their flesh was so apparent that it
became the only music to their ears. Everything around
them

was hushed compared to that wet, erotic smacking
melody.

Shantelle's gaze landed on the mirror above. She watched
as Evan persistently thrust back and forth. When Evan
would

sit up a few times, she could see his length penetrating
her. It was how she imagined it earlier, only better. Her
legs were

wide open, and Evan was doing her good.

Evan was kissing her neck as she observed herself getting
fornicated by the love of her life. She wanted it to last
longer,

but she knew Evan was nearly done. She felt it in the way
his skin formed bumps and the way he panted.

Thus, she relished the moment and concentrated.
"Aaaah!" Shantelle came with Evan.

Evan pushed and pushed, biting her neck as he warmed
her inner walls with his semen.

Shantelle was still drowned in a sea of pleasure when she
felt Evan pull out of her. He gently rolled her to lie on her
chest

and said, "Round one of six."

She bit her lip. Her body was still shaking from climaxing,
and Evan was already lifting her ass. The next thing she
felt was

Evan's hard rod enters her from behind. "Mmmmm."

Over four hours passed, and the couple was still at it. This
time, Evan brought Shantelle to the bathroom, where
full-size

mirrors could be found.

Shantelle was facing the mirror, her left leg on a chair as
Evan thrust behind her. They were already in their sixth
round. 1

"Watch me fuck you," Evan said.

The way it sounded dirty added excitement in Shantelle's
core that more love juice gushed out of her. Shantelle was
creaming Evan's rod. She was so close to the mirror that
she could see her bottom lips beautifully wrapped around
Evan's

member, thrusting in and out.

Evan encouraged her to cum some more, and she did,
right in time, as

Evan pushed hard and came inside her again.

"Aaaah! Evan!"

"Aaaah! Shanty, | love you!"

The couple kissed before Evan pulled out. They delighted
at the view of Shantelle's rose, dripping with Evan's cum.
Shantelle leaned on Evan's back. She said, "| want more.
"Not now, though. | mean later," she added.

Chapter 162: Stuck Together

That same day when Evan's family was away on vacation,
Wendell was invited into the CEO office of G&F Manpower
International Service.

"Drink up," Mister Gray said to Wendell. "It's Asian ginseng
brewed into tea. It's perfect for your health."

Wendell finished the tea right away. It was just the right
temperature. After putting his cup down, Mister Gray
smiled. His

eyes narrowed at the teapot on the right side of his table,
and he said, "Drink some more."

He poured another cup to Wendell and urged, "Drink up.”
Seeing Wendell's doubt, Mister Gray said, "| am not
planning to kill you. You are my daughter's husband.”

"Of course not, father," Wendell said before consuming the
tea again. Between drinking, Mister Gray asked for
progress

about their new client, and Wendell delivered.

Wendell spent about an hour in his father-in-law's office,
reporting about work and finishing the tea. He felt so full at
that

point. When he was done, Wendell excused himself to go
to the restroom and relieve his bladder. Then he resumed
working.

Minutes later, Wendell felt hot. His body was inflamed, and
his manhood kept getting an erection! It did not help that
Milan

kept entering his office, delivering documents and whatnot,
in her mini-skirt and a blouse that he could easily rip off. 1
After work, he and Milan drove to their penthouse in a
rush. He was moving so fast that Milan feared there was
something

wrong.

"Why are you driving so fast?" Milan asked. "Calm down,
will you?"

"Milan, | don't know what's wrong with me, but all | could
think of is getting stuck between your legs and buried
inside

you!" Wendell announced. "We need to get home now!"
"Oh," Milan said, biting her lip. "We didn't have to get
home for that! Haha!"

When Wendell arrived at the Rose Hills Diamond Hotel
driveway, he let the valet park his car. He grabbed Milan's
wrist

and hurriedly walked with her to the lift.

The second they entered the elevators, Wendell crashed
his lips to Milan's. He hungrily ate her lips and thrust his
tongue

inside her mouth. They indulged in a senseless kiss,
despite having cameras on the lift. The two only let go
when the

elevators dinged.

Their hair was in a mess. They were panting like they had
just come from a marathon. The other hotel guests
strangely

eyed them. Milan and Wendell were left to giggle.

When they finally reached the penthouse floor, Milan
entered the password to their home. Wendell kept hurrying
her up,

"Faster, gorgeous, or I'll do you right here."

"Are you out of your mind?" She laughed. "While | like the
enthusiasm, | never imagined being an exhibitionist!"

The second they entered the penthouse, Wendell
slammed Milan into the hallway wall. He crashed his lips
to hers and

tore off her blouse! He pulled up her mini skirt, and with
one pull, he ripped her thong apart!

He kneeled and spread her legs and began pleasuring
Milan.

"Oh, god, Wendell! Whatever happened to you, | hope it
happens again!" Milan declared. Her husband was not
only

sucking her thoroughly, but he was also pushing his
tongue inside her entrance. It utterly sent her to a galaxy
of pleasure

that she came in no time.

"You taste so good," Wendell remarked. He kept drinking
her as his hands moved up to cup her breasts.

Milan was still trembling from having orgasmed, yet her
husband was still not done yet. He ate her heartily until
another

the climax came, and from then on, he suddenly carried
her to the living room. He pulled down his pants and sat
on the

couch. Wendell let his wife take control.

She held his rod and sucked on him with the same
enthusiasm as he did with her, her cheeks hollowing as
she went up

and down against his length. She let go, saying, "I think
you are kinda bigger."

"What are you talking about, Milan? I'm the same person,”
Wendell suggested.

Milan shrugged and returned to pleasing Wendell. After
seconds of tasting him, Wendell said, "| want you on top."
She happily agreed. Milan climbed up on top of him and
slowly glided his manhood into her. As soon as his full size
entered her, she closed her eyes, saying, "You feel so
big."

"No, you are tighter," Wendell said.

Shortly Milan started going up and down, his manhood
occupying every space inside her. She swore Wendell was
bigger,

or could her organ condition have forced her to tighten a
little? Milan was unsure, but she was so wet; it didn't
matter.

They were still able to make love and enjoy the moment.
"I'm coming. I'm coming," Wendell had to announce. This
was because every time they made love, he constantly
struggled to pull out. That was how good it felt to be inside
his wife and how tight she was.

"Gorgeous, get up!" Wendell warned.

"Okay," Milan said, relishing the feeling. "One more. One
more -" She tried to get up but realized she couldn't.
They were in a panic. Wendell tried to push his wife up,
but it seemed he was stuck!

"Aaaaahh!" It couldn't be helped. Wendell came inside
Milan, and while he was in dreamland after having come
inside of

her for the first time, he worried that she wasn't ready to
have a child.

"Oh." Milan clamped her legs, her hips still swaying back
and forth. She said, "Oh, that feels so good - so warm."
She was chasing her breath when she locked eyes with
Wendell. She tried to get up, but her inner walls tightened
around

Wendell. She bit her lip and said, "lI guess it's meant to
be?" i

Wendell cupped her face. He said, "| mean, we are
married, and we are officially having a ceremony in less
than two

months."

Milan nodded. She felt Wendell's manhood pulsating
inside her and swore she would faint from all the
excitement. She

leaned in to kiss his lips and said, "Yeah, why not have
children? Besides, we are way old enough." 4

Wendell smiled. He sealed her lips with a kiss, and they
made out for an undetermined time. While getting stuck
together,

They cuddled and talked about their plans and hopes.
"| want two kids," Wendell said. "A girl and a boy." i

"| think that's great," Milan remarked. "The penthouse is
nice, but we should get a real house with a playground
and a

pool.”

Wendell smiled and kissed her lips. He said, "Soon. When
you get pregnant, let's hunt for a house together."

It took a while, but soon Wendell's size finally shrunk.
They showered together, and Wendell got horny again.
They made

love, got stuck, and Wendell came inside her again. 1

*k%k

Back at the CEO's office of the G&F Manpower
International Service,

Mister Gray was smiling as he gazed at the empty teapot.
After a month of researching and inquiring about
traditional

Chinese and Korean herbal medicine, he finally found a
suitable solution to having grandkids fast.

"Screw g-0-0-g-I-e. A Chinese monk knows better!" Mister
Gray swore.

His solution? It was a mix of several Asian ginseng and
herbal plant that helped improve sexual performance,
increase

sperm count, and increase male organ size. One part of
the ingredient had an instantaneous effect of getting
arousal.

Wendell and Milan had been married for months, but his
daughter was still not pregnant. He was resolved to make
it

happened, so he took matters into his own hands!

He muttered, "Sorry, Milan and Wendell, but sometimes, a
grandpa has to do what he must to meet his grandkids
faster.”

The next day, Mister Gray invited Wendell over for another
tea time.

Chapter 163: Reese

At thirty-eight weeks, Karise decided to take her maternity
leave. She urged her husband to do the same because
she

was ready to pop anytime. She thought it would have been
an excellent opportunity to spend with her best friend,
Shantelle, but she was still away for a holiday.

Lying on the bed, she caught her husband, Keith, walking
out of the bathroom, flaunting his sexy frame. He only had
a

towel wrapped around his waist and was headed to the
closet.

"Babe?" She bit her lip and suggested, "How about my
morning delight?" 1

Keith chuckled and said, "I have to get Reese and drive
her to Sean’s place, but why not? Sean can wait." 1

He climbed to the bed and captured her lips, his hand
automatically searching for her underwear. He pulled it
down and

tossed it on the floor, saying, "I can't wait until you get rid
of these crazy large panties."

Karise laughed and said, "We'll need it for the second
baby."

"Nah," Kieth said. "We will just buy a new set." 1

After taking off Karise's clothes, he removed his towel and
urged his wife to give him some love. Karise quickly
grabbed

his manhood and ate him, her eyes looking at Keith's
expression.

"Fuck, Babe. | think you are getting better at this every
day," Keith remarked while caressing her face. He hissed
as Karise

slurped her tongue around his member from inside her
mouth.

Karise's eyes gleamed, seeing how his mouth parted and
how often his brows met. She could tell he loved the way
she

suckled on him. She let go of his manhood with a pop.
She licked him from the base of his length, going up to his
mushroom tip.

Her actions made Keith say, "Hmmm. | love it, Babe."
Next, Karise was at it, bobbing in between his legs with
eagerness. That wet, slurping melody became deafening
in her

ears. She noticed how Keith repeatedly moaned and
called Karise's name until he grabbed her hair and urged
her to eat

him deeper.

It was Karise's cue that her husband was nearing orgasm.
She picked up the pace and let his tip touch the back of
her

throat, her hand holding his length up and palming him
too.

"Aaaah! Fuck!" Keith moaned. He threw his head back
and closed his eyes.

When Keith gazed back at her, Karise swallowed all his
cum. She licked her lips and said, "My turn."

"Give me your ass," Keith instructed.

Karise seductively turned. She supported herself with all of
her fours and lifted her ass. She warned, "Gentle now. The
last

| nearly fell off the bed."

"It's fucking hard, but you know | try," Keith responded.
First, Keith leaned down and pleasured her core. He
returned the favor and used his expert tongue, and
flickered it on her

clit.

Karise loved it when Keith stimulated her with his tongue.
She loved that wet yet warm sensation, with just that
proper

pressure against her clit. It allowed her to be on the edge,
waiting until the final moment would come.

"Aaah! Babe!" Minutes into Keith's work, Karise trembled
in excitement. She came rather sooner than she hoped to

prolong her bliss. But what can she do? Her husband was
so good at eating her?

She turned around and found Keith palming himself,
hissing at the view of her ass. He grabbed one bottom
cheek and

used his mushroom tip to test her wetness. He glided his
member from her clit, going up to her entrance.

"Aaaaah! Babe, you are killing me!" Karise complained. At
that point, she wanted his extra large size inside her. "Put
it in,

now - Aahhhh!"

Behind Karise, Keith had pushed his member all the way
in, and from then on, he didn't stop. Back and forth, he
thrust his

rod into her core, her love juice graciously milking around
his girth.

"Yes, Babe, you are milking all over me," Keith remarked.
His eyes were fixed on his length, appreciating it's glow
from

Karise's love juice.

That wet smacking sound of their flesh resonated across
the room, along with how Keith sometimes spanked
Karise's

ass. Soon, Keith felt the near conclusion. He warned his
wife, "Babe, get ready.”

He noticed how Karise strengthened her hold on the side
of the bed and the sheets, and she spread her knees more
apart

so she wouldn't fall.

Seeing that, Keith sped his pumping. He held on to her
hips and finally gave one and two hard pushes, his head
leaning

back as he wailed in

satisfaction. "Oh, fuck that was so good, Babe -"

Suddenly, Keith realized that his wife had more than the
usual orgasm. His legs were wet, and so were the sheets!
While

Karise turned to see what was going on, Keith said, "Was
the sex that good for you to cum that much? m

For a second, Karise paused and studied the bed with
Keith. Soon, the realization hit her. She said, "Babe, | think
that's

not cum -1 mean, | came, but that's not cum!"

It took another second for both of them to act on what was
happening. They rushed out of bed, bathed, and prepared
for

their trip to the hospital. While heading out of the
penthouse, Keith rang Reese, and she quickly picked up.
He said,

"Reese, my wife is about to give birth. Do you mind going
to Ross' estate on your own?" i

* oR %

While Karise was preparing for labor, at the Ross’ estate,
Sean's eyes flinched, sensing how the sunlight had hit his
eyes.

When he sat up, he realized the curtains were already
open.

For the past two days since Keith had brought him home,
he had been sulking in his room, sleeping off the pang in
his

chest. Despite his friends’ constant encouragement, he
barely ate and wasn't interested in doing anything.
Yesterday, when Evan called him to report how Reese
agreed to help with his treatment, he put up a face and
pretended

He was fine. He didn't ruin Evan's vacation, for they
deserved a good rest. Deep inside, he was still miserable
because

Brooklyn left him when he needed her the most, i

Turning to his bedside table, he saw two packs of Reese's
Chocolates. He thought it was odd that one of his favorite
childhood chocolate appeared out of nowhere when
Reese was back.

Still, it made him smile. He reached for one and opened it.
He ate it and felt the fleeting pleasure of the sweet treat.
Suddenly, the door to his room opened. Reese walked in,
shocking Sean.

He leaned back, saying, "Reese?"

"Who else would it be? Didn't Even tell you that he hired
me to help you? Your mom let me in. It feels strange since
it's

been a while, but she just... let me in like old times,"
Reese said. She smiled and said, "Surprise, I'm back!"
With a sigh, she suggested, "You need to shower because
we are going to see the Orthopedic Surgeon from Braeton.
He

is the best in his field, and I've worked with some of his
patients in the past. Evan arranged for him to visit Rose
Hills for

your convenience. So you will be his VIP patient while he
is here. | know he will find a solution for your knee
problem, and

after that, I'll be here to help you recover." i

Sean was still settled, sitting on his bed. Despite hearing
what Reese said, he replied, "You look different?”

It was because the Reese he knew always tied her hair
behind her back. She was a bit of a tomboy, the Reese in
front of

he had her golden hair down, and the tips were slightly
permed. There wasn't a difference in how Reese dressed,
except

Now the colors of her overalls were lighter and matched
her skin perfectly. To him, the oddest difference was how
she

formed her brows and wore light makeup.

"Um, yeah, one day, | realized | was a pretty girl," Reese
replied before a chuckle escaped her lips. "Why are we
talking

about me?"

Changing the topic, Reese leaned forward to level with
Sean and said," First, I'm sorry about Brooklyn."

Reese held his hand and suggested, "| know how much
you love her and will do anything for her, but can you try to
forget

her and focus on you - to get better."

"Thank you, Reese," Sean said. "I'll try harder."

"You are welcome," Reese replied with a smile.

Sean looked at his side table and asked, "You gave the
chocolates?"

She nodded.

"That means you gave the pack of Reese's chocolates at
the hospital?" Sean sought.

Reese gasped. Then she explained, "Yes, | went to see
you at night, but | saw Brooklyn. | wasn't sure how she
would

react to me being there, so | asked the nurse to deliver
them to you. | happen to know one of the round nurses
there."

Sean faked a smile. He said, "Thanks for the chocolates,
Reese." After a pause, he remarked, "lI never really
understood

why you and Brooklyn didn't get along."
His words seemed to have affected Reese, for he saw her
stilled, her mouth parted, but no words left her lips.

Chapter 164: Reese's Revelation

"Hurry up, Sean! Look at my girl!" Keith proudly called,
seeing Sean and Reese go to the nursery area of the
hospital.

Sean had just come from his evaluation by the new doctor.
When he learned that Karise had given birth, he went to
see

his friend. Fortunately, Karise delivered at the same
hospital where Sean had his re-evaluation.

He was in his wheelchair while Reese pushed him. Since
Reese was around, Sean requested Pete take a later shift.
He

needed more help with bathing and changing into his
clothes.

"| can barely see the viewing area," Sean complained.
"Oh, let me help you," Reese quickly offered assistance.
"You can put your arm around me."

Sean looked at Keith because he was taller and more
prominent. His male best friend should have offered help,
but Keith

merely gave a smug look.

Thus, Sean accepted Reese's help. 2

"Woah, you are strong," he remarked, surprised at how
Reese carried his weight.

Reese chuckled while putting her arm around Sean. She
answered, "Most adult patients need support during
therapy, so |

got used to it. You know, same with my dad."

Sean recalled Reese’s father had Parkinson's disease.
They spent so much on therapy that Reese decided to
study

physical therapy as a second course. He then realized
how she was right. From her father to her subsequent
patients, she

had gained all that strength by helping others.

For a moment, he smiled at Reese, but since she wasn't
looking at him, instead peering at Keith's daughter, he also
glanced at the new baby.

"Aww, cute little girl," Sean remarked. His heart became so
joyful that he momentarily forgot the pain caused by
Brooklyn.

"She looks so much like Karise. Black hair, really pointed
nose.”

"I'm so happy for you, man," Sean remarked. "Do you
already have a name for her?"

"We went for Kamila," Keith revealed. "It was her choice."
"| like the name," Sean declared. He took his phone out
and took a picture, saying, "Hey, baby Kamila. It's your
uncle

Sean."

While Sean observed baby Kamila, he noticed how Reese
looked intensely at him. Next, he heard her say, "This is a
different side of you that | don't know. You love kids?"
"Well, my cousin started to have kids, Evan's son and his
twins. That's how | started liking kids," Sean said before
realizing something. "It was... something Brooklyn, and |
couldn't agree on. | wanted to have kids right away, but
she

didn't."

"Well, I'm glad you didn't," Keith said.

Sean returned his attention to Reese and noticed how she
was in deep thought. She was looking at baby Kamila, but
she

appeared distant. 1

In Karise's private room, Sean shared the doctor's
findings. Wendell and Milan had arrived, so Sean thought
it was the

perfect plan to update his friends. He said, "Doctor Phil
said the surgery was done properly. So, | got several labs
done

earlier. They took an aspirate from my joints, had some
blood tests, etc. It's either | have a low-grade infection that
causes

the pain, or | have an allergy to my knee implant. Once
tests are back, the doctor will decide what to do next."

But how are you finding the new doctor?" Wendell asked.
"Oh, he is good. He has no reluctance in his words and is
very reassuring," Sean replied.

Behind him, Reese defended the doctor. She said, "Before
moving back here, my mom and | lived in Braeton for a
year. |

i worked at the best hospital there; half of my patients
were from Doctor Phil. They all had

faster recovery periods and had many good things to say
about him. That was why | told Evan about Doctor Phil. He
is the

best orthopedic surgeon in the country.” 1

"Well, | am so glad you are back,” Wendell said to Reese.
"| think Reese came just in time to help an old friend,"
Karise remarked. From her hospital bed, she said to
Reese, "It's

Nice meeting you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Karise. Doctor Shant has
spoken a lot about you, " Reese replied. She turned to
Milan and said,

"It's nice to meet you too, Milan."

"I'm happy to know you too, Reese," Milan replied.

Their party continued to chat for minutes longer until it was
almost five in the afternoon. Karise was tired, so everyone
went home to rest.

When Sean and Reese arrived at the Ross’ estate, rain
poured down heavily, and there was barely any road
visibility.

Pete couldn't leave his apartment yet, and Reese couldn't
leave the mansion either.

So instead, the two old friends chatted like old times.
While Sean was in the living room, Reese went to the
kitchen and

fetched two pieces of

Sean's favorite treat. Upon her return, she gave everything
to Sean. She wasn't a Reese's chocolate lover. Only Sean
was

i'm addicted to it.

They were reclining in their respective sofas when Sean
said, "You know it's funny how I like Reese's chocolates,
and you

turned out to be my friend. m

"Well, we became friends because my dad was your
family driver, and my mom became your mother's personal
assistant.

My name had nothing to do with it. In fact, you were happy
that | was the Reese who didn't steal your Reese!" She
pointed out, and Sean wound up chuckling.

"By the way, Mrs. Chandler, our neighbor still thinks you
killed her cat," Sean remarked. "She asked me about it
every

fucking day when | drive out of the house."

Reese laughed. Mrs. Chandler, from across the street,
saw her with a blouse that had a cat print on it, and it
looked so

similar to the woman's pet. One day Mrs. Chandler
accused her of killing her old cat. Later, Reese learned
that the old

the lady had a mental illness. Since then, Reese no longer
bothered to argue with her. She even tried to buy Mrs.
Chandler a

new cat, but she only wanted the old one, which had long
died.

"I'm glad her children are taking care of her. | should go
and see her one of these days," Reese replied.

"You are crazy," Sean remarked, shaking his head.

"No. We shouldn't think that. It's bad enough that she has
a mental condition. Instead, we should show her
kindness,"

Reese suggested.

Just then, Reese's phone rang. She took the call privately,
walking to the entrance hallway. Despite her being there,
Sean

could hear some of her words.

"It's raining - tell her I'll be home soon," Reese said.

When Reese sat back down, she settled her phone on the
coffee table and drank her hot beverage.

From there, Sean asked. "Your mom must be worried."
"No, not really," Reese replied. "lI am a full fledged adult in
my early thirties."

"Right," Sean acknowledged. "So tell me, why aren't you
married yet?"

As soon as Sean asked those questions, Reese's phone
rang again. The caller ID suggested it was her mother, but
the

the image showed a picture of a little girl with azure eyes.
Sean quickly saw Reese panicking. She picked up her
phone and took the call in private again. This time, Sean
noticed

how she was more discrete with her words. He could hear
nothing from the entrance hallway.

When Reese returned. She appeared tense.

Seeing her that way, he asked, "Who is the girl?"

No one," Reese replied.

"Really?" Sean asked. "Why are you acting strange?"
Reese froze. She sucked in a deep breath and leaned
back. Sean didn't know how many times Reese heaved,
clearly

thinking.

After almost a minute of giving him varied expressions,
she revealed," Sean, | have a daughter."

"You have a daughter?" Sean repeated.

"Yes, | have a daughter,” Reese replied. "That girl you saw
on the phone earlier is my daughter.”

"So, you have a husband? Boyfriend? Ex?" Sean asked,
utterly shocked.

Reese shook her head and replied, "No. My daughter was
in an accident. | can’t introduce her to her father, at least
not now,

because her father didn't know that we did it, you know."

"Who the hell is your daughter's father? And why wouldn't
he remember having sex!" Sean was utterly angry that his
voice

echoed across the living room space. "Tell me, and | will
hunt him down." 2

Reese wound up teary-eyed. She laughed and cried, but
mostly weeping at Sean's reaction. It took a moment, but
eventually, she faintly replied, "It's funny of you to say that
because -"

"I'm sorry | am late, Mister Ross! The rain was pretty bad,
but it's all good now. | managed to drive my way here."
Pete,

Sean's caregiver finally arrived, interrupting their
conversation.

Sean turned to Reese and saw her wiping her tears. She
said, "l should go.

I'll see you in two days when the results are out."

Chapter 165: Brooklyn's Reasons

Before Sean and Reese could have that talk again,
Brooklyn’s lawyer arrived with divorce papers. It should
have bothered

Sean, but his mind was elsewhere, thanks to Reese’s
revelation. Sean was earnestly worried for his friend.
He was very protective of Reese in the past, especially
after her father passed away. Sean made it a point to
make her

smile and distract her from grieving. He often invited her to
parties and events. Sean even dragged Reese along to
some

of his nights out with Brooklyn.

Back then, he was still wooing Brooklyn. Sean had clearly
explained to Brooklyn Reese’s situation and how she
needed a

friend. The way Sean saw it, Brooklyn didn't mind, or at
least, he thought she didn't.

Now, Sean realized everything had changed after bringing
Reese along the third time. Then, when Sean and
Brooklyn got

together, Reese evaded Brooklyn altogether. Two months
later, her family left town. 1

Sean scoffed at the divorce agreement draft, seeing how
Brooklyn wanted all rights to Balance Point Accounting
Firm.

She wanted the villa too!

"Really, Brooklyn?" Sean said. "I paid for the villa!”

Sean leaned back in his seat, shaking his head,
wondering, "What happened to you, Brooklyn? What
happened to us?" 3

*k%k

Another day passed. Sean and Reese were on their way
to see Doctor Phil at the hospital. In the car, Sean said,
"We

i need to finish that talk."

"What talk?" Reese asked.

"About your daughter? | swear I'm going to find your
daughter's father and strangle him with my bare hands,”
Sean said.

Reese chuckled and replied, "I don’t think that's possible."
Sean kept pestering Reese, but all the same, she found
ways to change the topic. When they finally arrived at the
hospital Reese gave up and suggested, "Tell you what, |
will talk to you about it once we sort out your knee
problems."

"What? We don't even know how long it will be," Sean
protested.

Silence fell upon Reese. As she pushed Sean's
wheelchair, she belatedly answered, "Just give me time.
It's not easy for me to talk about it."

When they arrived at Doctor Phil's shared clinic, the doctor
wasted no time explaining, "You are sensitive to metal. So
the

solution? We need to

replace your implants with

Oxinium. Oxinium does not cause any metal allergy. It is
highly durable and resistant to wear

and tear. | take it you are an active person, Mister Ross.
Thus, this is the best solution for you."

"Shall we go with this option?" Doctor Phil said.

Sean had many other questions and concerns, but Reese
was familiar with them and found confidence in the
procedure.

Ultimately, he agreed.

The doctor said, "Very well. I'll order the implant, and while
we do that, let's get you ready for the operation. You need
to

take antibiotics before we have the surgery. Is next week
okay?"

"Next week is perfect,” Sean replied.

Sean was feeling optimistic now. Finally, there was a
solution to his knee pains. He was just about to propose a
celebration with Reese when his phone rang. It was from
the office, specifically from his assistant.

Brookyn and Sean shared the same assistant, Drew. Drew
didn't bother him for work whenever Brooklyn was in the
office,

for the assistant knew he was still recovering from his
operations. So why was he calling now?

"Drew?" Sean asked. "Is Brooklyn not there?"

"Oh, Sir. She is here alright." Drew paused before blurting
out like a machine gun, "Sir, | can't take it anymore. If you
are

not coming back, I'm going to quit! | heard about Miss
Brooklyn asking for the divorce and the rights to the
accounting

firm, and | am losing my mind. | thought you

should know this."

Drew ended the call. Next, the assistant sent Sean a link.
He said through text: [Forgive me for spying on your wife,
but |

couldn't take it anymore. The entire company might turn a
blind eye, but | won't! Boss, you should know this has
been

going on for almost a month now.]

It puzzled him at first, but knowing Drew had always had
good intentions, he clicked the URL. It led to a shared file
where

a video was saved.

Sean played the video and was shocked to see Brooklyn
and his Finance Director making out inside his office! The
video

went on, lasting for minutes longer. It did not take a genius
where it might lead, but Sean bore it.

Behind him, Reese was watching the exact same thing.
She was holding her breath, her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, my

god. Stop watching now! Stop! m

"No! | want to fucking see!" Sean objected.

They were at the hospital parking area when it all
happened. A few eyes were on them, curious at what they
were

seemingly arguing about, but

Sean did not bat an eye for them. His attention was
focused on the video.

The recording continued, capturing Brooklyn having sex
with his Finance Director, Aaron.

Aaron was Brooklyn's friend whom she had employed in
their accounting firm. Sean knew they were close, but he
never

imagined they could be intimate! Many questions rang in
his head. He silently asked, "When this all started? Had
they

been cheating behind his back all along? Why?!

Sean could not accept it. He was far better looking than
Aaron, and he was more affluent. Why would Brooklyn
cheat on

him with Aaron?

Next, in the video, Brooklyn and Aaron came. Aaron
spanked her ass, saying, "You miss a good fuck, right?"
"So much. Sean couldn't get it up, thanks to his
medications," Brooklyn said while putting on her bra.
"You know we used to fuck around before you dated Sean.
We didn't have to stop,” Aaron suggested.

"Yeah, well, Sean was a better fuck than you, so | didn't
need you. Besides, he is richer, and his mother is a little
conventional. If he finds out we were fucking, he might not
have dated me at all," Brooklyn said before turning to
Aaron.

"But now everything is different."

"| hate to say this, but I'm glad Sean met an accident,"
Aaron teased.

"Oh, whatever. Just help me transfer company funds to my
account, okay? | feel he won't let go of the company that
easily," Brooklyn said. "We should at least transfer funds
and make him believe that he didn't lose anything should
he

decide to keep his shares or sell them."

In the video, a knock on the door interrupted the
conversation between Brooklyn and Aaron, and the
recording ended

there.

Drew sent another text, saying: [This video was taken last
week. | only had the courage to send this to you today.
Now,

they are at it again, locking the doors.]

Sean was so enraged that he ordered the driver to take
him to the accounting firm!

"Keith, you need to go to the accounting firm? Sean is
losing it? What is he going to do? Start a fight with Aaron?
He has

an injured knee and is healing

from a chest operation - No!" Sean was trying to take
Reese's phone, but she refused. "Keith, just please go
there!"

They were now inside the car, arguing. Reese could not
convince the driver to return home. The poor driver was
puzzled

about whose order to follow, but since Sean was the boss,
he drove in the firm's direction.

Because Reese was against the confrontation, the driver
was the one who took Sean to the lobby and into the lift.
Reese

painfully followed behind Sean.

When Sean reached his office floor, he went straight to
locate Brooklyn. Drew quickly found Sean and followed
behind

him. Sean tried to unlock his office door with his
fingerprint, but it did not open! They were not yet divorced,
and Brooklyn

dared to change the locks!

Turning to Drew, he ordered, "Kick the door open. Now."
"That's the boss' orders!" Drew announced before gladly
kicking the door down!

There it was. Sean found Brooklyn in an awkward state.
She and Aaron may have noticed the commotion outside
the

door that they stopped whatever they were doing, but it
was clear they were fooling around.

Aaron's pants were still unzipped.

Brooklyn was caught lifting up her underwear.

Sean forced himself up, and he miraculously did. He was
moving towards Aaron, hopping with only one leg, until
Reese

came up behind him and held him back.

Aaron was about to leave, but Keith appeared out of
nowhere and punched him in the face!

"You bastard! Sean gave you a job, and this is how you
repay him?" Keith barked as he continued to ruin Aaron’s
face.

Meanwhile, Brooklyn tried to escape when Sean asked,
"So you cheated on me. That's why you wanted a
divorce?"

Sean kept pestering her for an answer that finally Brooklyn
spat, "No! When will you ever get it into your head? It
started

when | thought you might die! | hated Evan because he
was the root of all this, and | could not help hating your
other

friends too! Because of what happened to you, | started
working my ass off and getting all the pressure. Aaron was
the

only one | could turn to, and he took care of my needs."
"Then, when you got out of the hospital, you were confined
in a wheelchair, and we couldn't even have sex! Worse,
you

hardly let me sleep because you wanted help with the pain
or aid to go to the bathroom! | hated it!" Brooklyn
reasoned.

"Yes, | had an affair with Aaron, but that was far from it. |
overheard your doctor chatting with a resident after your
last

check-up. The resident said you might be one of those
cases to get his leg amputated! That was the main reason!
| could

never survive having a husband | would have to take care
of for the rest of my life!" Brooklyn added.

She turned to find Reese. Brooklyn scoffed, saying, "Wow,
Reese, you are back? Well, since you liked Sean so much,
you

can have him! You don't have to hide your feelings
anymore because | won't care! | mean, who wants a
disabled

husband?" 2

Later at the Ross’ residence, Keith narrated everything to
Claudia Ross while Sean sat in the living room with
Reese.

Sean’s gaze lingered on Reese for a long time, but she
was silent, her arms folded against her chest, sitting
across from

him. Despite what happened earlier, Sean took the
opportunity to ask, "You used to like me?"

Chapter 166: When It All Started

Sean saw Reese's face turn red. She stiffened. Her hand
was on the armrest. Her feet appeared to be preparing to
flee.

Thankfully, she changed her mind about avoiding this
discussion. Reese cleared her throat and said, "Um. Well.
It's a long

story.”

He raised a brow and suggested, "Il love long stories."
Reese chuckled and faintly replied, "God, | supposed this
has to come out anyway." She sucked in a deep breath
before

admitting, "Yes. | used to like you, but don't worry. That
was years ago, and | got over it. It won't affect the way |
work with

you, being your therapist."

"I'm not concerned about that," Sean said.

"Why - why didn't you tell me? And how come Brooklyn
knew but not me?" Sean asked.

"Oh. You don't tell your friend that you love them, Sean.
There is always a risk of losing the friendship," Reese
suggested.

"Besides, | didn't tell her either. | guess she figured it out.”
"Wait, you loved me?" Sean asked, making Reese flush
deeper.

The next few seconds were the most awkward. Sean
struggled to react to her confession. One thing was clear.
He didn't

hate it. In fact, it flattered him fully.

After falling silent, Reese ultimately said, "I -1 tried telling
you. But at the same time, | did not have that confidence."
Looking down, she admitted, "Yes, | fell in love with you. |
started to have feelings for you the day you stayed with
me at

my father's grave. Rain or shine, you were there to comfort
me, and | wondered what if there were more than just
friendship between us."

"But my realization came too late because you were
already taking an interest in Brooklyn," Reese admitted.
"You wonder

why we did not get along? Well, it's because she shoved
the truth in my face.”

#HHIFLASHBACK: YEARS BACK #i##

It was a night out with the boys and Brooklyn, as Sean
called it. Reese came with him, wearing a jacket over her
tank top,

and as usual, she was in jeans. Reese didn't care. She
was just uncomfortable wearing dresses.

He brought her to the private club where he met Wendell
and Keith, but mostly, he spent time with Brooklyn.

Reese said hello to the boys. She thought they were
always nice, especially Wendell. Sean had another friend
named

Evan, but he missed many gatherings after he and his wife
broke up.

"Look, Brooklyn and her friends are here too. Let's go and
join them," Sean said, dragging Reese by the hand. "|
know

you feel guilty, but your dad wouldn't want you to be so
sad.”

Eventually, they made their way to Brooklyn's table. She
would have a special seat reserved for Sean whenever
they met.

Sean and Brooklyn had known each other after working as
external accountants for a top law firm in the city. Reese
knew

Sean had developed a crush on Brooklyn, and she could
not blame her friend.

Brooklyn was a perfect doll, cute, and knew how to dress
up. She came from a good family, but they were not as
affluent

as the Rosses or any of Sean's friends.

Reese could not deny how Brooklyn was also very sweet.
So far, after knowing her for a few months, she only had
good

vibes about Sean's potential girlfriend.

"Sean, stay here with me," Brook urged, tapping on the
seat next to her. She directed her gaze to Reese and
displayed a

concerned look. She stood up and hugged Reese, stating,
"God, Reese, you look like you haven't slept at all.”

"Poor darling." Brooklyn encouraged Reese to take the
seat on the other side of her, saying, "Stay close to me. I'll
keep

you company, just like the last time."

Brooklyn turned to Sean, and Reese saw how he smiled at
the way she treated her. Reese was also smiling,
appreciating

her welcome. 1

"Thanks for bringing her over, Sean," Brooklyn said. "She
sure needs a lot of cheering up."

Brooklyn often went out with three friends, Aaron, Curtis,
and Anna. As the night progressed, they kept talking to
Reese,

encouraging her to enjoy the time.

Aaron said, "People have different ways of coping. You
don't need to feel bad about being out. No one can judge
you

when you are in pain.”

"Yes, absolutely,” Anna added.

They had always been so kind to Reese since she met all
three of them on another occasion, and because of that
welcoming experience, she willingly came with Sean to
these gatherings where Brooklyn and her friends were
present.

Half an hour into their chat and a little drink here and
there, Aaron and Curtis went dancing with the girls on the
dance

floor. Sean was called back into Wendell's group. He
asked Reese to come with her, but Brooklyn said," She
can stay. We

will take care of her, isn't that right, Anna?"

"Absolutely," Anna assured Sean.

Sean turned to Reese and asked, "Do you want something
to eat? I'll tell the servers to get you some nachos, okay?
Your

favorite kind."

He winked at Reese, and it made her giggle. She said,
"Fine. Nachos."

Sean called one server and ordered Reese's nachos
before going to Wendell. He said, "I'll be back, Reese!"

Reese's eyes gleamed, and she couldn't help but smile
from ear to ear, noticing Sean's efforts to make her forget
the pain

of losing her dad.

Soon, her nachos arrived, and Reese was about to dig in
when suddenly, Brooklyn said, "I know the kind of person
you

are, Reese. You are trying to get Sean's sympathy to win
his love."

"| can tell you like him. You probably are in love with him,
aren't you?" Brooklyn added. "What? Can't talk? It's
obvious

how you look at him with adoration. That isn't a look you
give to a friend. It disgusts me that someone like you, a
driver's

daughter, would have such high ambitions! Don't you know
your place? You wouldn't be able to afford a ticket to this
club

without Sean."

Brooklyn and Anna laughed. Brooklyn eyed Reese and
described, "Look at you! Look at your clothes! | bet you
bought

them at Walmart!"

"Eighty percent off!" Anna added before laughing
hysterically at Reese. "So cheap.”

At that point, Reese cried because she did buy her clothes
at Walmart. She felt so little in front of them and wondered
how

someone so sweet could turn evil in just a snap of a finger.
Reese's chest felt heavy as she faintly replied to Brooklyn,
"|

wasn't going to interfere. Anyone has a right to admire a
person.” i

"Awww, look. She is in tears now," Anna said before
laughing.

"Look. Let's be honest. You will never be someone that will
meet Sean's standards. Let's cut this crap and stop
coming to

our dates!" Brooklyn said. "I don't want a third wheel, okay,
especially someone who has a big crush on Sean!"

"Is this even a date? Sean didn't tell me it was," Reese
reasoned while sniffing her tears away.

"Well, the plan had changed all thanks to you. When Sean
told me you were coming, | invited my other friends
because |

didn't want to ruin my night with you yapping about the
memories of your dad!" Brooklyn explained. 1

"So, now that things are clear. | hope | won't see you again
the next time Sean and | are supposed to go out because
when that happens again, you will regret it!" Brooklyn
warned. "And don't you even think of telling Sean
because, between

the two of us, he will choose me over you - a hundred
fucking percent!"

"If that's not reason enough for you to shut your mouth,
you should know that my dad has connections to the
Department

of Labor. I'll make sure your mother struggles to get your
dad's pension," Brooklyn closed. "So, are we good?" 2
#HHE END OF FLASHBACK #5

"So, that's when it all started," Reese revealed, her face
red and her hand repeatedly massaging the back of her
neck. "l

didn't say anything because | feared you seriously liked
her. | wasn't going to be that friend that ruined your
happiness,

Sean."

Reese didn't think Brooklyn's words would still hurt her at
present, but they did. A tear fell down her cheek, and she
quickly wiped it. She added, "And | wasn't sure how
cunning she was. She could easily turn the tables around,
and we'd

end up struggling to get my dad's pension when we had so
many bills to pay."

"| decided to keep it to myself and just try to avoid her, you
know," Reese continued. "But then, one day, on Keith's
birthday, you insisted that | come along. You practically
dragged me out of my house, carried me over your

shoulders, and brought me to the party where everything
went wrong."

"At Keith's party? What - what do you mean, Reese?"
Sean asked.

"Well, Brooklyn went all out on me," Reese answered.
Sean gasped. He clenched his jaws while looking at
Reese. His tone became stern as he asked, "WHAT. DID.
SHE. DO?"

Chapter 167: A Blur

Sean was angry beyond words. Behind Brooklyn's sweet
facade was a monster!

Reese was his friend. He wasn't bothered that she wasn't
rich and didn't wear branded clothes. What gave Brooklyn
the

right to look down on her?

In the past, When Reese started to reject the idea of
hanging out with him and Brooklyn, she said she didn't
want to

bother their dates. When that wasn't enough to convince
him, Reese said she didn't feel comfortable going out with
him

because she didn't have luxury clothes and did not fit in.
When he bought her clothes, Reese suggested that she
felt

awkward around Brooklyn, yet, she denied being hurt or
bullied.

Whenever he would ask Brooklyn why Reese wasn't
comfortable with her, she'd cry and throw back the
question. Back

when Brooklyn would say, "I don't know. You have seen
me with her. | have been so nice to Reese. Why wouldn't
she be

comfortable with me? Please bring her over next. I'll show
you. She'll have a great time with me."

Guilt washed over him thoroughly. He married a two-faced
woman who was rather good at hiding her true colors, i
At this point, there was no need to question Reese's
words. He believed her, especially seeing Brooklyn in her
true nature.

At the end of her story, Reese revealed how it all turned
worst during Keith's birthday party. She described,
"Brooklyn went

all out on me."

"Went all out on her?' Many things went through his mind,
and he could not help but be angered. His jaws clenched
as he

asked, "WHAT. DID. SHE. DO? n

"She." Reese gasped. After she looked down at the floor,
she said, "Sean, I'm not sure if | am ready to tell you this
because what | will tell you will shock you."

"It will change everything that you had believed in the past
five years since | left," Reese said.

"| don't have any reason to doubt you," Sean said. "| would
believe your word against Brooklyn a hundred percent.
Please, tell me."

Sucking in a deep breath, Reese said, "Sean, she and
Aaron. They - they spiked my drink."

#HHE FLASHBACK: YEARS BACK, DURING KEITH'S
BIRTHDAY PARTY ##

Keith's party was held at one of his private homes, outside
of town, right in front of the beach. All guests would have
to

drive another two hours to the event location and back.
The VIP guests, however, had accommodations prepared
by Keith

at the same house.

Since Sean had fetched Reese from her house, she rode
with him, sitting at the back of Sean's sports car while
Brooklyn

sat in front with Sean.

As usual, Brooklyn was extra friendly during the drive, but
Reese noticed how she was texting on her phone
constantly.

"Is it okay if | invite Aaron and Anna? They could drive
themselves," Brooklyn asked Sean.

"That's no problem, but all rooms have already been
assigned. There won’t be any extra room for them," Sean
proposed.

"There are hotels nearby, though."

"That's fine," Brooklyn said. She smiled at Sean, saying,
"So that means | will stay with you?"

"Um. You and Reese will each have your room," Sean
replied. "Usually, the boys and | get drunk on Keith's
birthday in the

same room. Haha. | would take Reese with me, but she
doesn't hold her drink well."

"Oh," Brooklyn said.

Only Reese saw through Brooklyn's dismay.

How Sean suggested he would take her instead of
Brooklyn to the boys' special get-together probably irked
her more,

making Reese worry. Of course, the truth was, it was a
closed-door session with the boys. Reese knew this well.
Sean

was only making up an excuse not to bring Brooklyn with
him.

When they arrived, they were first guided to their
designated rooms. After which, they went to the beach
area where the

party was.

The celebration went well. Instead of hanging out with
Brooklyn and her friends, Reese stayed with the boys.
Same as

usual, Wendell was there and Keith. Evan said hi and
hello, then he left to sulk.

Every girl was jealous of her that night, but she would
rather have that than be in the snake's lair, Brooklyn's
side.

Then came a time when Sean walked with Brooklyn to the
beach. Keith was busy talking to all his guests. Wendell
was

there for her for the most part. He prepared light drinks for
Reese, knowing she couldn't take hard beverages. She
was

already getting a little into the mood, swaying in her seat
as the music started.

Eventually, Wendell invited her to dance, but she didn't
want to. Reese let Wendell go on his own while she
watched

everything happen. Aaron approached her, bringing a
bottle of Sola juice out of nowhere. He said, "It's my peace
offering

on behalf of Brooklyn and Anna. I'm sorry about what they
did. | wish | was there to defend you. Please forgive
Brooklyn.

She loves Sean and wants to spend more time with him."
He opened the bottle and offered, "Here, let me pour you a
drink."

"So, a Sola juice will solve everything," Reese sarcastically
said.

Aaron laughed and replied, "No, but | was hoping my kind
gesture would."

He sat in front of her, and even when Keith returned, he
remained to greet the celebrant and exchange a few
words

before leaving the table. Reese drank nearly half of the
Sola juice since it did not have alcohol. She figured it was
okay.

Later on, she felt like dancing. Keith danced with her
briefly, but when Aaron came up behind Keith, Reese
agreed to

dance with him.

Aaron was already holding half of Reese's Sola juice. He
said, "Hey, finish your juice! Then, I'll get you another
one."

Reese didn't know why, but she felt more energetic yet
warm inside. She looked at the juice and concluded she
could use

a cold drink. She grabbed the bottle and was about to
finish it when Sean seized it and drank it all himself. After
which, he

said, "It's just juice? | was worried Aaron was getting you
drunk!" 2

He turned to Reese, asking, "How come you look tipsy
and drunk?"

"Me?" Reese said, feeling her face burn. "l don't know."
She turned to the table and realized that Wendell had
given her

punches. She said, "Wendell gave me a mixed drink."

"Ah, that's probably why. Damn, Wendell. | told him to give
you only a few," Sean muttered. "Anyway, come here. If
you

are going to dance, you must do it right!"

As Sean pulled her away, she saw Aaron's jaw drop on the
ground and Brooklyn scolding him. However, Sean merely
focused on her.

Reese and Sean were dancing on one side of the party for
the next few minutes, near the boy's table. They were
drinking

a little while at it. Reese did not hold back since Sean
passed her the drinks, and she trusted him. However, as
time

passed, she was feeling stranger by the minute.

She was getting more aggressive, holding Sean and even
putting her arms around his neck. They were grinding and
had

their faces inches apart, both

flushed from getting alcohol in their system.

"Hey, you two! Get a room!" Behind them, Wendell called
out.

"| swear, this is the fucking new love team," Keith
remarked.

"Shut up, man! Brooklyn is glaring at us," Wendell said.

Because of the remarks behind them, Sean decided to call
it a night. He carried Reese into the house. As he did,
Reese

was only focused on Sean. She kept saying, "Il love you. |
love you."

Reese still recalled voices trying to sway Sean against
bringing her into the house.

"| can carry her, man!" A familiar voice said.

"Get the fucking away from her. She is my guest!" Sean
answered.

"Sean, let Aaron carry her. Why don't you spend the night
with me?" A woman's voice proposed.

"Sean, where did you go?!"

"| think he took a right turn!”

"Let's go find him!"

The next thing Reese heard were Sean's footsteps,
navigating through the hallways and a door slamming.
Still, in that state, Reese kept saying, "I love you."

Soon, she fell on the sheets, with the weight of a man on
top of her. In the following minutes, she felt warm lips
against

hers, her hands getting restless, and moans filling the air.
The rest was a complete blur.

In the morning, Reese woke up with a bad headache. She
groaned and turned to her surroundings but realized she
was

in someone's room. This was a different one assigned to
her.

Moments later, she realized she was completely naked
and sleeping with a man!

She abruptly turned to find out who it was and saw it was
Sean. "Oh, damn.

Oh, my god, what happened?" 1

She fished inside her brain and tried to remember
everything. She only drank a few alcoholic drinks, so it
shouldn't have

made her forget what had transpired last night. However,
no matter how she tried to think about it, she could only
remember Sean taking her into the house. She saw
flashes of her admitting her feelings, and could account for
moments

of her aggressively holding Sean.

'But how in the world did Sean and | wound up in bed like
this?' She asked herself. 'Did we have sex?"

Clearly, something happened to them. Reese looked
under the sheets; sure enough, he was completely naked
too! Sure,

she had often imagined being in bed with Sean, but not in
this way.

At that point, she panicked. She searched for her clothes
and put them on.

Just as she was thinking of what to do, there was a knock
on the door. She hurriedly opened it, and as soon as she
did, a

slap went across her face.

"How dare you! How dare you do it with my boyfriend?!"
Brooklyn spat.

"l -1 don't know what happened!" Reese tried to explain.
"You know what happened? Sean was so drunk last night,
and you used it to your advantage! Do you know what he
would do if he found out you took advantage of his
drunken state?" Brooklyn said. "He will hate you. You were
never the

girl he wanted in the first place!”

Brooklyn Glowered at Reese, saying, "But I'll help you!
Leave! | won't tell Sean a word -"

"But he'll remember," Reese said.

"He won't! All he will remember is waking up next to me!"
Brooklyn said." This is my last warning, Reese. Stay away
from

Sean!" 1

Hours later, Reese met Sean for an early dinner at the
same house. Reese was so embarrassed that she did not
know

how to face him. Fear crept into her heart that maybe she
had truly taken advantage of Sean, and he would hate her.

When Sean approached her, however, he asked, "Um.
Hey, last night, | remember you were too drunk. | think |
was darn

drunk too. | remember carrying you - you were taking
crazy-"

"Yes, Sean. She was spouting nonsense, but all drunk
people do," Brooklyn interrupted, saying, "You brought her
to her

and then came back to the party. Then you invited me to
your room, and we had the night of our lives!" 1

Brooklyn turned to Reese, declaring, "Guess what,
Reese? Sean and | are officially together! | mean, he
should because

he has to take responsibility for taking my V!"

She chuckled and added, "Isn't that right, Baby?"

"Um." Sean scratched his head. His face turned red as he
said, "Yeah, Reese. We - we decided to date exclusively."
Come on, let's have dinner, Sean," Brooklyn said, pulling
him by the hand.

Sean, however, asked for a minute. He turned to Reese
and questioned again, "Are you sure there is nothing you
should

tell me, though?"

Tears welled in Reese's eyes, but she faked her response,
saying, "No! | am so happy for you guys that I'm in tears."
#HHE END OF FLASHBACK #5

Chapter 168: How Old Is Your Daughter?

#HHE FLASHBACK: SEAN'S POV ###

Sean woke up, completely tired, and with a pang in his
head. He groaned, turned to the other side, and saw
Brooklyn

smiling.

"Hey, Baby. Great night last night," Brooklyn remarked.
‘Great night last night?' Sean asked in silence. His brows
met, thinking back to what had happened.

Sean recalled dancing with Reese, grinding, and hitting on
her. He thought that was very strange of him. Sean had
high

respect for Reese. He cared about her and loved her
company, but why was he acting that way last night?

Next, Sean wondered why he was with Brooklyn. His last
recollection was taking Reese into the house since she
was

drunk. He saw flashes of him kissing Reese, but he wasn't
sure if it was real. The next was all a blur to him.

He remembered drinking, but he had a high tolerance for
alcohol. The number of drinks he consumed should not
have

made him forget what happened.

The flashes in his head made more sense if he was with
Reese. However, Brooklyn convinced him entirely. She
said,

"Sean, Reese got so drunk that she called you Aaron. |
think she has a thing for Aaron and confessed her love to
you by

mistake! Haha! It was so funny! Anyway, you brought her
to her room and returned to the party to get me."

She gave him a flirtatious smile, saying, "And then you
took my virginity. | didn't want to give my first to anyone,
but | think

you are someone special, so that's okay."

Brooklyn kissed Sean and said, "I love you, Sean."

Sean paused, still shocked by everything. He only reacted
when Brooklyn said, "Aren't you going to ask me to be
your

girlfriend officially? We already did it, and everyone knows
we are casually seeing each other."

Clearing his throat, Sean said, "Um. Yeah. | guess. |
mean, | like you a lot, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn smiled and concluded, "Then, it's official. You
and | are together."

##H END OF FLASHBACK: SEAN'S POV ###

Hearing it all from Reese's side, Sean was silent, his
mouth hanging open in shock, his hand repeatedly
massaging his

temples.

As he was taking it all in, Reese asked, "Sean, do you
believe me? Please tell me you believe me."

Her words made Sean look at her. He replied, "Reese, of
course, | believe you. I'm sorry. | admit | did not remember,
but |

felt it was strange. And while | thought about asking you in
the coming days after Keith's party, but n

"Brooklyn kept seeing you in the next few days," Reese
interrupted. "Il saw you were enjoying her company, and
then one

evening, | was invited for a special dinner at your house
where you had introduced Brooklyn to your parents as
your

girlfriend."

"That night, | wanted to tell you everything. | was
convinced | should, but | saw you smiling and laughing -
your parents

liking Brooklyn." Reese said as tears welled in her eyes. "I
-1 couldn't be that person to ruin everything for you, Sean.
couldn't. Moreover, you don't remember a thing, either.
The person who you woke up next to was Brooklyn and
not me.

Honestly, | was afraid of looking desperate too."

"The day after that dinner, Brooklyn secretly went to my
house, threatening me about my dad’s pension. So when
my

mother received dad's pension in the later days, we paid
the bills and left town." Reese described. "My mom wanted
a

new life without having to remember the pain of losing dad
so much, and | needed to be away."

"| did not know how my drink was spiked until | met Anna
again when working in Washington a year ago. My patient
was

her grandmother," Reese revealed. "She must have felt
guilty that she told me everything."

"She said that Aaron had spiked my juice. | drank nearly
half of the juice, so | got hit. Plus, | was drinking a little, but
you,

Sean. You drank more than half of the Sola juice," Reese
revealed.

"When | learned about this from Anna, | was devastated
again. | thought about coming back and telling you. Then,
it was

as if life was bringing me home. Anna's grandmother
referred me to another client here in Rose Hills. The pay
was

excellent, and so | took it. Mom was also okay to return.
When the patient got better and no longer needed my
service

daily, | took part- time jobs at Rose Hills. That's how | met
Doctor Shant," Reese added. "And now, | am, in front of
you,

telling you about Brooklyn."

Sean was so overwhelmed by the truth that he only
focused on the fact that something had happened
between him and

Reese. He did not think beyond it.

Repeatedly, he asked for forgiveness. Sean wanted to talk
more about the past when his father arrived at the house.
It

distracted Sean from his conversation with Reese.

"| heard what happened at the accounting firm! Sean, take
out all our investments. | don't want a partnership with
Brooklyn's family!" Sean's father, Sherwin Ross, declared.

"Dad, | want to deal with this later. Reese and | are still
talking," Sean reasoned.

"Is it more important than the firm? Sean, that's our
investment, and Wendell is in it too! We need to address
this ASAP!"

Sherwin turned to Reeese, saying, "You don't mind, do
you, Reese? It's imperative." i

Reese stood up, still with a flushed face. She answered,
"Of course, Uncle Sherwin." She bashfully turned to Sean,
saying, "I'll see you tomorrow or the next day whenever
you are ready for pre-surgery therapy."

Sean's mind was a mess. He turned to Reese, thinking he
was missing something, but couldn't put a finger on it. He
said,

"But

"I'll take her home, Sean. | already called Wendell, and he
is coming over. Since he is one of your investors, it's best
to

discuss your decisions with him. He will be bringing his
lawyer to help with the plans,” Keith said.

Glancing at Reese one last time, Sean felt unresolved, but
because his father was adamant about having a meeting,
he

allowed her to leave.

*k%k

"I'm okay with this," Wendell said, seeing the final draft of
their demand letter to Brooklyn and her family. He turned
to

Sean, who appeared absentminded, and said, "Sean, I'm
okay to lose the accounting firm. We can put our money

elsewhere. | don't want anything to do with Brooklyn. Let
her take the firm, but we are taking all our money."

Sean nodded and said, "I'm sorry, Wendell."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Wendell said, i

Their party finalized their course of action at midnight.
After that meeting, Sean had the chance to speak to
Wendell about

Brooklyn and what happened five years ago.

They were at the driveway, exchanging words, when
Wendell said, "Fuck, | knew it was off. When you said you
wound up

having sex with Brooklyn, | was like, really? Because, all
the while, we all thought you had sex with

Reese! And spiking the drinks? That all made sense! It
also made sense you brought her to your room since it
was closer

to the back entrance.”

"It's one shocking news to another!" Wendell said. "What
will be the next surprise, huh? Maybe you have a child
with

Reese? Haha!"

Wendell said it as a joke, but it gave Sean a realization.
Sean immediately felt his chest heavy. He knew he was
missing something, and that was it; Reese's daughter! He
cursed,

"Damn! Of course! Fuck me!"

"| wouldn't dare!" Wendell said. 2

Sean turned to Wendell and ordered, "Take me to Reese's
house! Now!"

The two friends were on the road in the next hour. While
Wendell was driving, Sean filled him in.

"Reese has a daughter?!" Wendell said. "You must be the
father!"

"I don't know, but I'd like to know for sure," Sean said.
"How old is she? If she is four, that means she is yours!"
Wendell suggested. 1

"I'm going to ask!" It took a while to go from one street to
another and find Reese's house. Reese and her mother
rented a

bungalow in a humble community further from where Sean
lived.

Wendell helped Sean at the door, pushing his wheelchair.
Without caring about the time, Sean knocked on it again
and

again. Soon, Reese opened the door. She narrowed her
eyes at Sean, asking, "Sean? What are you doing here?"
2

Finding Wendell, she asked, "Wendell?"

"I'll give you guys a moment," Wendell said, retreating to
the car.

Reese returned her attention to Sean. She asked, "Sean,
what time is it? You should be resting?"

"| want to know... How old is your daughter?" Sean asked
while taking deep breaths.

Reese ended up chuckling, but tears stung her eyes as
she did. She challenged him, "Oh, come on, Sean. You
can do

better than that."

"Okay," Sean said. He cleared his throat and asked, "Am |
your daughter's father?"

Reese was in her pajamas. Against the cold wind, she
hugged herself and leaned against the door. She sucked
in a deep

breath before crying. Faintly, she admitted, "Yes, Sean.
She is your daughter.”

Chapter 169: Are You My Daddy?

"Yes, Sean. She is your daughter.”

Sean gasped. He threw his head back with his eyes
closed, thinking how hard it must have been for Reese to
raise a child

since she left Rose Hills. He recalled how she had
mentioned she struggled to get regular jobs, which was
how she went

into private practice instead. The pay was good, according
to her, but the benefits weren't. She had to cover her
insurance

and other government-mandated contributions.

He forced himself up, pushing with his arms and one leg.
"What are you doing? Be careful," Reese had to support
his weight, offering her arm.

As soon as Sean managed to get up, he embraced Reese
tightly, saying," I'm very sorry, Reese. I'm very sorry for
everything." i

He further tightened his hold around her, and with that, he
noticed how she sniffed. Sean said, "Let me make it up to
you,

please. To you and... our daughter." 1

Sean held her for over a minute. When he pulled away, he
asked, "What's - what's her name?"

There was very little light at the doorstep of Reese's
humble home, but Sean could see how her face turned a
shade

darker as she shyly revealed their daughter's name. She
said, "Shauna. Her name is Shauna." 1

"Ah!" He couldn't help but have that smug look on his face.
It was evident that his daughter was named after him. That
granted him a punch in the stomach from Reese, and he
wound up chuckling. He grabbed Reese's arm and said,
"Sorry, |

could not help but feel proud of having my daughter
named after me."

"Can | see her?" He immediately asked.

Reese hesitated for a moment, saying, "She is sleeping."
"| can still see her in her sleep,” Sean suggested.

It took a second before Reese answered, "Okay." 1

Sean first signaled Wendell to wait for him before joining
Reese in the house. They walked into the bedroom
hallways and

entered a small room that belonged to his daughter.

The second he saw her, Sean smiled. Reese had blonde
hair, and so did he, but the shade of his hair was more
sandy.

Shauna definitely had sandy blonde hair like him.

She was holding a stuffed toy tightly against her chest as
she lay on her left side. Sean thought; Shauna looked so
pretty

in her sleep.

Reese pushed Sean's wheelchair closer to Shauna's bed
while she took the other side. From that moment on, Sean
silently studied the little girl.

"So, she's four," Sean said.

Reese nodded.

"Where does she go to school here?" Sean asked.

"At the public school," Reese replied.

Sean acknowledged, saying, "It's fine, but next year, can
we move her?"

"| don't know, Sean. She is used to that simple life," Reese
reported, but not before blushing.

"She's still young. She can adjust,” Sean said. "Besides,
Kindergarten is still pretty simple."

Reese sighed and replied, "l guess. I'm sorry. | did not
want to impose -"

"There is no imposing," Sean assured her. "She is my
responsibility too, being my daughter.”

"If you want a paternity test, we could go tomorrow,"
Reese suggested. "| think it's best, especially in telling
your parents

about Shauna. Besides, during that time, at Keith's
birthday party, | woke up next to you but did not remember
the act.”

With a short pause, she added, "Though she takes a lot
from you. You almost have the same eyes, except her's is
more

sky blue."

Sean kept staring at Shauna and smiled. He was looking
at her long lashes, cute nose, thin lips, and little hands.
Just the

sight of her warmed his heart.

A part of him felt he would be greatly disappointed if this
cute little girl wasn't his, but he also recognized that Reese
was

right. Clarity was necessary at that point. He gulped and
replied, "Okay. Let's go first thing in the morning."

Sean spent another fifteen minutes simply watching
Shauna, but knowing that Wendell was waiting for him, he
bid

goodbye.

At the door, he gave Reese one last hug, saying, "Thank
you, Reese, for telling me this. | promise things will be
different

from now on."

Sean made a few phone calls in the morning, and he only
had to focus on the paternity test for the rest of his time.
The

lawyers were still going to communicate with Brooklyn's
party, and they were sure it would take a few days before
they

would respond.

For now, though, Sean had ordered all accounts to be
frozen. He was the primary signatory for all the firm’s bank
accounts, so the financial institutions readily complied.
Brooklyn would not be able to take any money out.

With the family driver, he fetched Reese and Shauna at
the house. He met Reese's mother, who cried at first sight
of him.

Misses Kenedy hugged him tightly, saying she was
thankful that he would take the paternity test.

Next, he saw Shauna walking out of her room in leggings
and a pink top. She had a double ponytail and two pink
bows on

each side. Her azurecolored eyes gazed into his blue
orbs, and Sean swore his heart skipped a beat.

It was far different, with her fully awake and looking
straight at him. She smiled at him before tears welled in
her eyes. She

asked, "Are you, my daddy?”

Sean could not also help but feel emotional. Who
wouldn’t? His daughter was looking for a father. After
briefly glancing at

Reese, he nodded and said, "Yes, | am."

Shauna ran to him. Sean was still in his wheelchair but
leaned down to embrace the little girl. He carried her and
settled

her on his lap, and from there, Shauna cried more. Her
breathing became labored as she asked, "| knew | had a
daddy! |

knew it!"

Sean looked at Reese, asking for an explanation, but she
only mouthed,’ Later.

He understood. For now, getting the paternity test done
was more important.

The Heart and Lung Center was accredited to perform a
paternity test, and their laboratory was the safest place in
Sean's

view. It was there where Sean and his daughter had their
samples taken side by side. Since Evan and Shantelle half
owned the center, he could request an express test. The
results would be out in the evening of that same day
instead of

waiting twenty-four hours.

They were in and out of the facility in half an hour. In the
afternoon, Sean took their daughter to school with Reese.
While

waiting, he stayed with the Kennedys, catching up with
their lives.

Sean had a one-on-one talk with Reese's mother as they
had coffee in the dining area of their home. She said,
"Reese

did not know she was pregnant until we moved to Buffalo.
She was already three months pregnant when her
symptoms

became apparent.”

Reese's mother said, "At first, she wouldn't tell me who the
father was, but when Shauna came out and how Reese
named her, immediately | knew. | knew. That was the only
time Reese told me about everything, including Brooklyn's
threats."

Shaking her head, she added, "lI thought Brooklyn was
only jealous of Reese's closeness to you, but apparently,
there

was more to it. Still, we decided to live a peaceful life by
staying away from you." i

"| hated what happened to my daughter, Sean, and at
some point, | also hated you for not knowing what you
both had

done. Although, Reese repeatedly told me that you
seemed to have no recollection at all." After drinking her
coffee, she

later revealed, "It was only last year when we found out
the truth. Reese must have told you."

Sean nodded.

"Our lives went on with the idea of reaching out to you at
the back of our heads, but we never really had the
courage,”

Misses Kenedy said. "While | believed you are a good
person, Sean, we didn't know how safe it was to go
against

Brooklyn."

Letting out a loud sigh, she added, "I thank the heavens
that Brooklyn is now out of the picture, and finally, Reese
was

able to tell you the truth.”

She reached for Sean's hand and requested, "Please, do
right by Shauna. She is an adorable girl. She deserves to
have

a father."

"l will, Aunt," Sean swore. He reached for Misses
Kenedy's hand and held it tightly. "I swear, | will."

After the chat with Misses Kenedy, Sean and Reese left to
fetch their daughter from school. Afterward, he treated
them to

an early dinner at a nearby restaurant. Only then did they
proceed to The Heart and Lung Center for the paternity
results.

With Evan's orders, Sean and Reese were guided to
Shantelle's office, where they could open the results.
Holding the envelope in his hand, Sean asked Reese, "Do
you want to open it first?"

Reese shook her head, inhaling. She said, "I'd rather you
open it and read it for both of us."

Sean was feeling his heart race. He cleared his throat
while slowly opening the envelope. He lazily unfolded the
paper

and skipped the various jargon, focusing only on the
results.

His skin crawled. A tear fell on his cheek as he read, "The
alleged father cannot be excluded as the biological father
of the

tested child. Based on the analysis above, the probability
of paternity is 99.99999999%."

Chapter 170: Meeting The Grandparents & Uncles

The next day, Sherwin and Claudia Ross sat in the living
room, waiting for their special guests, as their son, Sean,
had

suggested.

The suspense was killing them, but eventually, they saw
Reese walk in with her mother. Smiles formed on Sean's
parents’

faces, seeing an old friend.

"Audrey," Claudia called, teary-eyed. She stood up, eager
to embrace Reese's mother, but her steps were halted,
seeing

Sean enter with a little girl riding on his lap.

"Oh, hello, baby. You look lovely," Claudia said to Shauna.
Shauna chuckled. She turned to her father. When Sean
winked at Shauna, she shifted to Claudia, responding, "Hi,
grandma.”

"Oh, grandma? Very respectful little girl," Sean's mother
remarked. Then her eyes landed on Reese, and the latter
flushed

utterly.

Claudia glanced at her husband, and seeing his puzzled
expression, they peered in Sean's direction, asking
simultaneously, "What's going on?"

"First, Reese has something to tell you," Sean reported.
In the next few minutes, they all settle in their seats,
talking about the past, specifically the night when Shauna
was made.

At the end of Reese's tale, Sean gave the DNA test to his
parents, saying, "Shauna is my daughter, Mom, Dad. She
is

your granddaughter. I'm sorry | did not tell you sooner. We
wanted the paternity test out of the way first."

It could not be helped. Mouths fell on the floor. Claudia
kept staring back and forth at Shauna and Sean, unable to
control

her emotions. She was shocked and happy
simultaneously because Sean was already in his
midthirties, and they weren't

getting any younger, yet they still had no grandkids. They
were hoping to have grandkids from Brooklyn, but she
turned out to be a total fake!

Next, they observed how Shauna held onto Sean tightly.
She hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.
As a

response, Sean pecked Shauna's head, and that sight
alone tickled Claudia's heart.

"Go on, sweetie. Say hello to your grandma and grandpa,"
Sean urged his daughter.

Sean's father was still silent the entire time. He was
massaging his chest from all the revelation. Shauna
smiled genuinely,

saying, "Grandpa, it's nice to meet you. | always wanted a
grandpa.”

Of course, how could Sherwin forget that Shauna's
maternal grandfather had died? Reese's father was not
only his driver

but a good friend, a listener who stuck with him until health
prevented him from working.

Memories of his old friendship flashed in Sherwin's head,
how he cried at his driver's wake. After struggling to
speak,

eventually, he said, "Oh, poor little girl. If your other
grandpa met you, he would be over the moon."

Sherwin called Shauna, saying, "Come here and hug your
grandpa. | will gladly play the role of two grandfathers."
"This is real, right? This is real?" Sean's mother clarified.

Reese nodded eagerly. Audrey also expressed, "It's very
real, Claudia. | have helped raise her for four years. | know
how

much she took a lot from Sean."

On the other hand, Sean said, "It's real, mom. More than
just the paternity test. | could feel it within my bones."
Claudia embraced Shauna next. She relished the moment,
feeling the little girl in her arms, and wound up pecking her
cheek. As she savored her scent, Claudia claimed, "Me
too. | feel it. She belongs to our family." She briefly let go
to cup

Shauna's face, asking, "Call me grandma again, baby."
"Grandma Claudia," Shauna happily followed. "I have two
grandmas! Yay!"

"Oh, what beautiful eyes!" Sean's mother complimented. If
anything, bluecolored eyes ran in her side of the family.
Her

husband had green-colored eyes.

After that initial revelation, they all found time to talk about
what went on in their lives, how Shauna grew up, how the
Kenedys moved from one city to another, and their
struggles to meet ends.

As they continued to chat, they let Shauna draw and paint.
Reese had purposely brought art materials, knowing it
would

be a long talk with the Ross family.

Occasionally, Shauna would come up to her father and
show her artwork." Daddy, look. This is me, you, and
mommy!"

"Oh, beautiful, Sweetie, you are a natural," Sean praised.
"Why don't you draw grandma and grandpa too."

"I'd love to!" Shauna cheerfully said.

There were moments when Reese felt awkward. Still,
everyone knew that Shauna was innocent - unaware of
the actual

relationship between her parents. What Claudia and
Sherwin clearly saw, however, were Sean's smiles and
Shauna

affecting him positively.

After hours of talking it all out, Sean's father said, "Reese,
we are sorry that this has happened to you. We completely
believe you."

"Thank you, Uncle," Reese said.

"We are glad you listened to our side," Reese's mother
added.

"Yes, of course. After all that happened with Sean and
Brooklyn, | have been convinced that my son married a
devil!"

Claudia remarked. "It no longer surprised me that she did
all that in the past!"

"Brooklyn was really something. She had us all convinced
that she was a good person," Sherwin described. "Now
that her

true colors are out, her parents won't talk to us. All they
wanted was to get alimony!" 2

"Son, now that this is all out, are you prepared to face
Brooklyn and truly let her go?" Sherwin asked.

"Of course, Dad." Sean turned to Reese, and from a
distance, he glanced at Shauna. He firmly said, "| have
every reason

to move on. Brooklyn is not going to get any mercy from
me." 2

"But before that," Reese gently reminded. "Sean needs to
prepare for surgery.”

Sean's father nodded approvingly. Claudia turned to her
husband with a smile and said, "I think Reese's return
came at

the right moment. We are surprised with a granddaughter,
and Reese will be here to help Sean recover."

"We thank you, Reese, for returning and giving Sean
something to look forward to. You have no idea how
broken he was

when Keith brought him home," Sean's mother revealed.
Sherwin nodded, saying, "This just proves that not all
storms come to disrupt your life but to clear your path."
"| could not agree more, Dad," Sean echoed, smiling at
the end of his words.

*k%k

In the evening, Sean strangely had more energy.

After discovering his allergic reaction to his metal knee
implant, Sean had added medications. It usually made him
more

tired in the afternoon. However, that night, he was game to
have a gathering with his friends.

Evan and Shantelle had finally arrived from their vacation.
After learning that Sean had a daughter, they urged him to
visit

their mansion.

Sean brought Reese and Shauna with him. Before dinner
started, they were all rounding up at Shauna, making a
comparison.

"Nice to meet you, Shauna," Lucas said, greeting his new
friend.

"Definitely, Sean's hair and eyes," Karise remarked.

"Her lips are more of Reese's," Shantelle gave her two
cents.

"I'd say eighty percent, Sean," Keith concluded. "lI know
Sean best."

"Couldn't agree more," Wendell said.

"Shauna, who do you think you look like?" Milan asked.
The little girl turned from side to side, studying both her
parents. After seconds of thinking about it, she declared,
"Daddy!"

2

"Ouch," Reese said, wincing. "l raised her for four years.
What a traitor."

Everyone laughed. Shantelle also shared, "| know how
you feel, Reese because when Evan and | met again, my
son was

all daddy, daddy, daddy! At some point, | felt jealous but
seeing them together just melted my heart. Our children
know

their fathers, and their longing grows their bonds."

"Wait. Wait. Is this a deja vu of Evan and Shanty?" Keith
said. "So maybe Reese and Sean will end up together like
| had

predicted on my birthday five years ago!"

Dead air fell upon them. Reese turned tomato red. Karise
spanked her husband's arm.

Sean did not react. He simply studied Reese's reaction.
Evan broke the silence, walking in with gifts in his hands.
He declared, "And here are my gifts to my goddaughters!"
Karise was quick to pass on her baby to Keith. She
clapped and shrieked excitedly as Evan gave her a
massive paper

bag of baby gifts.

Evan also presented Shauna with two paper bags, and the
little girl's eyes lit up. She happily opened her gifts. The
first

bag had accessories that she instantly liked. The second
paper bag had a beautiful unicorn backpack with rainbow
colors

and glitter.

As Shauna studied the bag, she tilted her head from side
to side. Then, she said, "This is the same bag, Mommy!
It's the

same bag from the store!"

Shauna was still clinging to her father. She jumped on
Sean's lap, saying, "Il love it! | wanted this because Jeana
has this!"

Reese explained that Jeana was Shauna's classmate and
how she had seen the bag at the mall and had been
asking

about it since.

Shauna kept at it, crying her excitement when suddenly,
she stopped. She pouted her lips and returned the unicorn
backpack to the paper bag. She raised it in Evan's
direction, explaining, "lI can't have this. Mommy said we
can't afford

expensive things. Can we have food instead, Uncle?" 6
Silence fell upon them. Shantelle nearly cried at the little
girl's worry.

"Shauna, you don't have to worry because your daddy will
buy your groceries. Uncle Evan will buy you all the
expensive

things you want! For | -" Evan raised his arms, declaring, "|
am the wealthiest man in the city!" 5

He pointed to Shauna and said, "Ask anything from Uncle
Evan, and you shall receive."

"Don't go shy on my Daddy," Lucas encouraged, giggling
at his father's claims.

"Go ahead, ask for anything," Shantelle said.

"Do you want roller shoes? Every kid loves them," Karise
encouraged.

"What about a barbie house," Shantelle added.

"Or a playhouse," Wendell proposed.

Their group gave Shauna more and more ideas until Evan
offered, "You want a car? I'll give you a car!"

Shauna gasped, her mouth rounding. She said, "I can't
drive!" 1

"I'll give you a driver!" Evan announced, and at that point,
everyone started laughing. 2

Shauna hugged her unicorn backpack and said, "I'm
happy with this. Thank you, Uncle. A car is too much for
me."

It was already passed ten in the evening when Sean drove
Reese and Shauna back to their home. Before Reese got
off

the car, Sean held her wrist. He declared, "Tomorrow, | am
moving you and Shauna to the Diamond Hotel. There is a
three-bedroom unit readily available for you to move into.
A shopping agent will buy all your groceries. A hotel driver
will

take you and Shauna wherever you need to go until | find
a permanent one for you." 2

"Accept my offer because it's not only what Shauna
deserves and what you deserve for caring for her all these
years. |

want to do it for you both," Sean said.

Reese gulped. She repeatedly took deep breaths,
contemplating. After looking at her daughter, she
answered, "Okay,

Sean. Thank you. | appreciate it."

Chapter 171: Condoms

Brooklyn gritted her teeth, watching the video of her and
Aaron, fooling around in Sean's office. She thought the
incident

when Sean caught them red-handed was the only time he
had found out, but no, apparently, he had a recording!
She angrily turned to Sean and his lawyers. Evan,
Wendell, and Keith were with him too. They were in full
force in facing

her with the divorce settlement and in canceling the
business partnership between the Ross family and one of
the firm's shareholders, Wendell Franco.

The meeting happened in one of the accounting firm’s
conference rooms. They had been in a heated discussion
for half

an hour before Sean's party presented the video of
Brooklyn's infidelity.

"Stop it! Stop it, | said!" She warned, her voice raised, and
her nose flared as she pointed to the monitor. "How dare
you

take a private video of me

"You were fucking in my office. | have every right to have a
surveillance camera in there," Sean reasoned with a
shrug.

Brooklyn's father, Bernard, also attended the settlement
meeting. He questioned the video, saying, "That video is
probably

fake."

"We are willing to have the video evaluated for
authenticity. However, you should know that several
witnesses from the

firm had come forward with Brooklyn and Aaron's affair,"
Sean proposed.

"| was witness to that. | was there when it happened,”
Keith said.

"If you disagree with our terms, we will gladly expose
Brooklyn for her cheating ways to the public and how she
tried to

steal from the company. The firm will lose clients, and its
trust rating will go down," Wendell added. "Il will lose my
money,

sure, but that also means you will lose your money too! |
can still live with the loss, but can you?"

"If you continue to claim alimony for the divorce, | will sue
for adultery,” Sean added. "Not only has Aaron lost his job,
but

he will also be locked up along with you, Brooklyn."

But we are already divorcing," Brooklyn argued.

"We haven't now, have we? Because you wanted more
money, you would not settle the divorce without getting my
house

and at least ten percent of my company shares. That is
how hungry you are for money," Sean pointed out.

"If you continue to pursue this, Bernard, you are also going
against me. Do you want me to announce a business ban
against you and your family?" Evan threatened, referring
to Brooklyn's father. "Tell your daughter to stop dreaming.
She

was the one who asked for the divorce in the first place.
She shouldn't be brave enough to ask for alimony or any
of

Sean's properties!"

Following Evan's warning, Brooklyn's lawyers privately
pulled her and her father out to discuss thoroughly.

After some time, they returned with a definitive agreement.

"My client has agreed to an uncontested divorce. She has
also agreed not to get any alimony and the withdrawal of
investments from the Rosses and Mister Franco, provided
the following," the lawyers began to list their demands,
saying,

"That there will be no leak about the affair of our client,
within the firm and outside, and that the Thompson Group
of

Companies will not impose a business ban against the
firm, or any businesses belonging to our client's family."
Sean looked at his friends, and with all of them nodding,
he agreed. The divorce agreement had ultimately been
signed.

The investments belonging to Sean and his family had
been returned as a check, including that of Wendell's.
Sean then

gave all rights of the firm to Brooklyn without hesitation.
Two days before Sean's surgery, he was free of Brooklyn
in the paper. Still, it will be official once the court has
finalized

the divorce.

*k%k

"When will the divorce be granted?" Sean asked Wendell.
"My dad said he had talked to the judge. It would take
about a month at the very least," Wendell responded.
"Most divorce

proceedings last up to a year, but for an

uncontested one, a month is the fastest. Don't worry. I'll be
on top of it."

"| swear after the divorce has been approved, she is going
to go down," Sean suggested.

The friends discussed the rest of their plans in Evan's
office. It appeared as though Brooklyn was easily off the
hook, but it

was only phase one of their plans. Brooklyn first needed to
agree to an uncontested divorce with no alimony to avoid
delaying the process. However, once the judge had
granted the divorce, they would go all out on her.

They all had refreshments in the sitting area of the man's
office when Evan asked his friend, "Has Anna agreed to
cooperate?"

Sean nodded, saying, "Yes, she has."

"And the Department of Labor? Have they gotten back to
us about our request?” Sean sought.

Sean had seen in the books how Brooklyn had named him
as the approver of an audit for the Department of Labor.
However, that was impossible because he was in a coma
back then. He thought it was utterly fishy that he
requested an

investigation.

Evan nodded and replied, "They will get back to us in a
week. H

"Let's worry about that later. What's important is your
surgery," Keith proposed. Turning to Sean, he inquired,
"Are you

ready for it?"

Sean nodded. He replied, "Yes, Reese has been preparing
me for the operation so | can get back in shape faster. If it
all

turns right, | can finally walk normally again in a week." 1
"Again, I'm really sorry about this, Sean," Evan said. "You
would not have needed the surgery if not for my CFO."
"Yes, well, if not for what happened to me, Brooklyn would
not have shown her true self," Sean replied. "I think it
would

have been more devastating if we were married for a year
or two and | learned about her schemes. Then, it would be
tougher to leave the marriage."

All heads were nodding at that point.

Suddenly, Evan went to his desk. He pulled a document
from his drawer, saying, "lI know that meeting your
daughter is

motivation enough for you to get better, but perhaps this
will encourage you further."

Out of nowhere, Evan kneeled in front of Sean. He shook
his head, saying, "| swear this was Shanty's idea, but she
thought it was fun and would cheer you up, so here it
goes." i

"What the hell are you doing, man?" Sean asked, utterly
puzzled.

"Are you divorcing Shanty for Sean?" Wendell asked
before throwing into a set of laughter. i

"| swear since Evan got back with Shanty, he has turned
comedic,” Keith said.

"| don't know, man. You had comedic episodes too?
Remember your milkshake proposal?" Wendell reminded
Keith.

Evan was still down on his knee, handing the document to
Sean. As his friends were speculating his actions, he
said,"

Mister Sean Ross

"Fuck, Evan has gone mad!" Sean declared.

Wendell covered his eyes, saying, "| don't know what he is
doing, man."

"My good friend, Mister Sean Ross, will you make me the
happiest CEO on earth by accepting to be my CFO, for
better or

for worst, till death do us part?" Evan ultimately said, and
that was when his friends broke into a set of a boisterous
laughs. 1

"Fuck! | thought Evan had really lost it!" Sean exclaimed. i
"Invest your family's money in me, and let's take care of it
together," Evan said, referring to the investment Sean
withdrew from his firm. "So, will you, Sean, accept my
offer?"

"Take it, man!" Keith said, laughing his heart out. "It's a
business and job marriage." i

"Reminds me of the grandparent vows," Wendell
remarked. i

Evan's tone of voice turned serious. He revealed, "The
truth is, | need you more. | need someone | can trust to
help me

run my group of companies, Sean. If only | could invite
Keith and Wendell in, but they have their own companies.
Now

that you are free, | thought this was the perfect time to
invite you."

Sean's laughter changed into a smile as he held the
document. He read it briefly, and after flipping from one
page to

another, he replied, "Yes, Evan. I'll be your CFO."”’

"And he said, Yes!" Evan said, getting up and clapping his
hands loudly. "I am now the happiest CEO on earth!" 2
Laughter once again filled the air of Evan's office, but soon
it hushed as Sean said, "Thank you, Evan." He turned to
his

friends and said, "You guys are like condoms."

"What? What the hell, Sean?" Wendell sought.

"Friends are like condoms. We protect each other when
things get hard," Sean said before laughing. 1

"Now that's the Sean | know," Keith said before chuckling."
That was a good one."

"Sean is back," Evan declared.

"Sean is back," Wendell echoed.

"Welcome back, Sean," Evan said, extending his hand to
him, "My new CFO.

Chapter 172: Daddy's Kiss

Outside the operating room of the Heart and Lung Center,
Sean's parents awaited the news of his surgery. Reese
was

also present, showing her support. Wendell, Evan, and
Keith had visited earlier but left to care for their families.
After two hours, Doctor Phil stepped out with a smile. He
reported, "The operation is a success. We have replaced
his

implants successfully with no complications." i

A sigh of relief left Claudia's lips; the same could be said
for Sean's father. Everyone thanked the good doctor.
Sean's operation was supposed to be scheduled early in
the day, but Doctor Phil's flight got delayed from Braeton.
The

surgery was moved to five in the afternoon, leaving the
Rosses' exhausted. Seeing Claudia yawn, Reese offered,
"| can

stay overnight with Sean, Aunt. Please, don't tire yourself."
[

Claudia and Sherwin looked at each other before
agreeing. Sherwin suggested, "I think Sean would like
that. Thank you,

Reese. We are glad you are back." i

Reese lingered outside the recovery room for an hour.
After discovering Sean was stable, she went to the private
room to

wait. It was already ten in the evening when Sean was
brought to his room. He was still half asleep but managed
to send

a smile in Reese’s way before dozing off thoroughly.

*k%k

When morning came, Sean awoke to find Reese sleeping
on the couch beside the hospital bed. Last night, when he
was

moved to the private room, he thought Reese was only
staying for a while, and his parents would return, but as it
turned

out, she watched him overnight.

Reese had declined Evan's payment to help him with his
therapy. Thus, he knew Reese was not there for work, and
he

was happy about it. Sean called, "Hey, you stayed
overnight."

Reese woke up and smiled at him. She said, "Good
morning."

"How am 1? Can | sit up?" He asked.

"Yes, you can," Reese replied. She sat next to Sean and
pulled him up with her hand.

As soon as he sat up, Sean embraced Reese tightly. He
said, "Thank you for being here for me." i

He held her firmly, savoring her scent. Reese must have
felt uncomfortable about it since she had to gently push
him

away, saying, "Of course, that’s what friends are for."
"R-I-G-H-T," Sean replied, his eyes hooded as he let her
go.

"I'll get you some water. You are already allowed fluids,"
Reese offered. "You must be thirsty."

After Reese gave him a glass of water, she checked the
time, saying, "Oh, it's already eight. Shauna should be up.
She

had been calling me nonstop since last night. She was
very worried since | did not come home."

"Let's call her," Sean proposed.

It had been five days since Reese and Shauna had moved
into the Diamond Hotel Rose Hills with Misses Kenedy.
Sean had instead been visiting them at the condo daily. It
was from the unit where he had his therapy with Reese.
Being at the condo most days allowed Sean to get to know
his daughter further. He learned about her favorite food,
toys,

hobbies, and mannerisms. At the same time, he witnessed
how Reese cared for and disciplined their daughter.
Shauna often begged him to stay overnight, but he did not
want to trouble Reese with his condition. He preferred to
bathe

and change, with Pete helping him at home.

Before Sean was admitted to the hospital, Shauna
expressed how she would miss him dearly, which further
warmed his

heart. Sean loved the fact that he had a daughter who was
so sweet and loving. He was incredibly thankful that
Shauna

had a good mother that raised her well.

"Hi, Shauna. Look, Daddy is awake!" Reese said on the
video call. She was holding her phone up, finding Sean.
"Daddy! Daddy! Did the doctor fix your knee?" Shauna
asked. "Can you walk now, Daddy?"

Sean took the phone and said, "Sweetie, we are still
waiting for the doctor to give us the go signal. I'll stay in
bed for now,

and your mommy will help exercise my legs."

"When will you be home, Daddy? Will you live with us
when you are all better?" Shauna eagerly asked.
"Ummm." Sean massaged his chin, his eyes panning to
Reese. He caught her, averting her gaze as he replied, "I'll
visit

often."

Shauna pouted her lips. She said, "Visit? Don't daddies,
mommies, and babies live together?”

That wasn't the first time Shauna asked. Sean has
previously reasoned his knee condition for requiring the
caregiver's

help at the mansion as an excuse, which was valid at the
same time.

There was a very long stretch of silence which both Reese
nor Sean could not reply to. Eventually, Sean answered,"
Soon, baby. Soon."

Reese gave him a puzzled look, but Sean dismissed it and
merely focused on Shauna. However, because of that
promise, the little girl began identifying things she and
Sean would do.

"Then, Daddy will play tea time with my friends and me at
school, watch me sing in school, and talk to teacher in
school.

Daddy will take me to the playground and push me on the
swing," Shauna went on and on.

Sean was game on to the plan. He recalled Evan's
enthusiasm and finally understood how it felt. It didn’t
seem

troublesome at all. In fact, the idea of making it up to his
daughter excited him.

"I'll be there, Sweetie. Daddy will be there for all of that,"
Sean promised.

"Yay!" Shauna exclaimed.

"Even the tea party?" Reese asked while chuckling. 2

"As long as | don't dress up," Sean said. "l will join the little
girls'tea party." 2

The chat seemed endless between the father and
daughter, but soon, Shauna had to bathe and eat
breakfast. She asked,

"Daddy, will Mommy be back to bring me to school?"
Sean turned to Reese and saw a nod. Reese explained,”
Aunt Claudia said she would be here before eleven."

"Yes, sweetie, Mommy will be home by lunchtime, just in
time to take you to your class," Sean replied.

"Then, can Mommy bring Daddy's kiss for me?" Shauna
asked. 2

Sean was confused. He glanced at Reese, who was bright
red. Reese said, "Mommy will kiss you for Daddy."

"No! | want Mommy to bring Daddy's kiss for me!" Shauna
insisted. Then she described, "The same when grandma
got

sick, remember? Grandma sent me a kiss through you,
Mommy."

Shauna explained it adequately to her father, "Daddy, you
have to kiss Mommy, and Mommy will give me your kiss."
"Ohhhh!" Sean audibly said. His mouth perfectly rounding,
his brows lifted in amusement at the idea. "Okay, I'll send
a

kiss through Mommy."

Sean immediately turned to Reese. He was shrugging
simultaneously, his eyes turning to their daughter, saying,"
I'm just

sending Shauna a kiss."

He saw how she hesitated but eventually obliged, seeing
how Shauna was waiting for the kiss to be passed on.
When

Reese leaned down, Sean pecked her cheek. He smiled,
pulling away, saying to his daughter, "Daddy's kiss is
coming to

you after lunch, sweetie."

"Yay! Okay, Daddy! I'm going to eat now!” Shauna said,
waving her hand goodbye on the video call.

As soon as the call ended, Doctor Phil walked in on cue.
He greeted Sean and checked on his leg. He described,"
Looking good so far. Very good."

He looked straight into Sean's eye and said, Now, let's get
you up."

"What?” Sean was shocked, and so was Reese.

"Let's get you up! | promised to make you walk, and | will,"
Doctor Phil repeated.

Reese and the resident doctor helped Sean off the bed.
Sean supported himself first with his other foot, lifting his
other

knee.

"You still have your morphine so that you won't have that
much discomfort, but at least we can test your new knee,"
The

doctor said.

Sean still had a knee brace on. It was automatically put on
him after the surgery. He slowly stepped on his other foot,
and

to his shock, he could tolerate it!

It was as if time had stopped for Sean. His heart raced in
delight.

There was still discomfort, but it wasn’t the same as before
the surgery. Sean certainly wasn't expecting to be able to
put a

little weight on his leg that early!

"Oh, my god!" Reese exclaimed, utterly surprised. Her
eyes watered with joy! "This is amazing!"

"Wow!" Sean remarked. After two months of being unable
to get up properly, he was more confident that walking
would

happen soon.

"Am | amazing or what?" The doctor said.

Sean did not know what came over him. He was so
overwhelmed that he immediately hugged Reese, and she
hugged

him back. He was swaying her around, utterly on cloud
nine.

"| can stand!" He said.

Reese chuckled and replied, "I can see that!"

Sean was so over the moon that he cupped Reese's face
with his hands and pecked her lips! "Thank you, Reese!" 2
Immediately, Reese stilled.

The doctor did not know their relationship, and nor did the
resident. They simply advised on when the next visit will
be and

excused themselves.

When Sean and Reese were all alone, silence fell upon
them. They took deep breaths before Sean looked at
Reese,

suggesting, "Um. That was another kiss for Shauna. From
me to Shauna." 1

"Oh," Reese replied. "| see."

Chapter 173: Fall

"Let's get your legs straight,” Reese instructed while
putting a leather pillow below Sean's heel. He was lying
flat on a

yoga mat as he straightened his leg and occasionally lifted
it.

Each time Sean raised his leg, he grunted. "Why do | feel
like

| am lifting weights?"

Reese chuckled and said, "That's what every after-surgery
patient says."

"Phase one is ensuring your knee doesn't heal in a bent
position." Reese lay on her yoga mat, showing Sean the
next

step. She said, "Next, you tighten the muscles on your
thighs now and then, like this. And don't worry about your
knee

brace because they are adjustable.”

"Got it!" Sean said. "You make it sound better. The last
therapist who helped me was so grumpy."

Reese chuckled. She said, "We should be strict about the
therapy. It's all about getting your strength back."

After a set of exercises, they concluded their session that
afternoon.

A week had passed since Sean was discharged from the
hospital, and he was building his leg strength, hoping to
walk

without limping and feeling weak. Yes, he was walking, far
better progress than his first surgery, where his discomfort
grew stronger weekly. It wasn't perfect yet, but he could
see the progress day by day.

Like before, he preferred having his exercises at the
condo, where he could spend time with Shauna before
and after her

class. He only worked during the night, checking on
Evan's company. Sean has yet to work full-time for Evan
but was

already reviewing some meaningful financial reports.

"We are done. Good job today," Reese declared.

"This weekend, mom wanted Shauna to stay with us if
that's okay with you," Sean proposed. "Just one night."
"Admittedly, | am not used to having my daughter away
from me, but | can't be selfish. You deserve more than one
night.

How about you take her on a Friday, and I'll bring her
home on Sunday evening? We will have our weekend
therapy at

your house instead," Reese proposed while squatting on
her yoga mat.

"Really? That's great!" Sean sat up, saying, "Thanks,
Reese."

"This is a great idea. | could use some time off," Misses
Kenedy said, overhearing their conversation. She walked
passed

them, reminding, "You better hurry. Shauna is about to get
off from school.”

Reese first got up. Sean raised his arm, saying, "Help me
up.”

She grabbed Sean's hand and pulled him with her might.
However, Sean's pull was far stronger. Reese fell on top of
him,

her head bumping on his chest. 4

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry," Sean said while keeping her frame
from falling off him. "You okay?"

Reese looked up at him with a flushed face. Their eyes
were locked for a second before she frantically got up and
rushed

to her room.

"Reese? Reese?" Sean called, sitting up.

"| need to use the bathroom!" Reese reasoned, speaking
loudly behind her door.

Weekend came. Reese arrived at the Ross' mansion for
Sean's regular therapy.

Shauna stayed overnight with the Rosses and was still
asleep. Claudia said to Reese upon arriving, "Shauna and
Sean

did a marathon of cartoon movies last night. Sean should
be taking a bath now, but he is taking longer. Why don't
you

check on him."

"Um. Okay," Rese reluctantly agreed.

She made her way to Sean's room and knocked before
entering. When she called for him, he answered from the
bathroom, saying, "Hey, Reese. Do you mind lending me a
hand?"

Reese carefully walked into the bathroom and found Sean
in the bathtub. The surface of the water formed bubbles.
Immediately, she shook her head, saying, "Didn't | tell you
not to have these kinds of baths yet?"

"Well, | wanted to smell good during our session," Sean
reasoned, making Reese laugh.

"Why do you want to smell good when we are just going to
sweat?" She questioned but gave her hand, either way.
"Be

careful - wait, are you naked."

"Ah, no. | bathe in my boxers," Sean swore. "l usually do."
1

"Oh, good," Reese acknowledged, utterly relieved.

As Sean got up, she tried to look away. His arm was
already around her. Reese maintained to avert her gaze
from him as

Sean stepped one foot on the floor from the bathtub.

Adjusting to his weight, Reese moved her feet, but she
didn't realize the floor was wet that she slipped. Sean held
her

from falling, but as a result, he leaned back on the
bathtub, his other hand holding to the tub handrail.

They both fell back on the tub, with Reese on top of Sean.
2

"Oh, my god!" Reese exclaimed when she felt she was
completely drenched. "Il am all wet now!"

In the end, Reese wore Sean’s shirt and training shorts.
She only got a new pair of shorts after Claudia found one
that

would fit Reese from her closet.

On the following weekend, Shauna was with the Rosses
again. Like the last, Reese went to the mansion for Sean's
therapy. Sean was walking better. He could bend his knee
with ease, and he could extend it without pain. The only
thing

he couldn't do was run, but Sean knew he was getting
there.

Sean was cycling on a bike machine at the family gym
with Shauna cheering him on.

"Go, daddy! Go!" Shauna said.
"You can try to go faster," Reese encouraged.

Sean sped his cycles, allowing more flexibility to his knee.
The more he went at it, the more he felt like he could run a
mile

soon. He felt so achieved at the end of his exercise that he
treated his daughter to a wheelchair ride.

It was because Shauna missed the times when she rode
on Sean’s lap that they went around the house, riding the
wheelchair, with Sean pushing the wheels with his hands.
Later on, they tried a different trick. Shauna wanted to
push her daddy and see where her strength would lead
Sean.

"Daddy, I'm strong!" Shauna exclaimed while pushing
Sean through the pavement path of the mansion’s
backyard. As

they were at it, Reese and Claudia were chatting up
ahead.

"Careful, Mommy and Grandma are in front of us," Sean
warned, but unfortunately, the little girl did not hear his
words.

She pushed in the same direction.

Reese was unable to avoid the unforeseen impact. She
fell on Sean's lap while he was still in the wheelchair.

"Oh, god! You scared me, Sean!" Reese exclaimed.
"Sorry, Mommy, that was my fault,” Shauna apologized
behind them.

Because it was Shauna's doing, Reese simply laughed it
out.

She turned to Sean and said unwittingly, "Why do | always
fall for you?"

When Sean beamed at her words, she took it back,
saying, "| mean, to you - oh, my god!" At that point, she
covered her

face and said, "| have completely forgotten my
prepositions!"

Sean laughed while putting an arm around Reese. He
teased, "I think you remember them just fine."

The succeeding week, Sean felt more accomplished. He
started working from Evan's office, walking on both feet.
And

when the weekend came, he was able to brisk walk and
run a few meters. Reese and Shauna ran with him around
the

mansion. 1

After exercising, he changed into a white shirt and shorts,
just like they all agreed. Because that day, they were going
to

paint each other.

Reese had prepared a large canvas where they would
paint with their hands, but it was a given that the paint
could go

anywhere else, from their shirts to their shorts or faces.
Under their feet was a large tarp that could protect the
grass from any paint stain.

Soon, Sean, Reese, and Shauna enjoyed painting the
canvas with their hands. After this, Sean teased his
daughter by

painting on her shirt. Shauna happily smudged red colors
on his shirt too.

Unexpectedly, Shauna challenged, "Paint fight, daddy!"
"What?" Sean asked, but before he knew it, his daughter
threw paint at him.

"No! | wanted Shauna's hands on my shirt - Ahh! Sean!"
Reese just got splashed by paint. It went across her shirt
and

some on her face. When she realized Shauna's handprint
had been covered with yellow, she pointed at Sean,
saying,

"You'll pay for that!"

From then on, the paint fight was official. The three were
all throwing paint at each other, filling the tarp with colors.
When Sean kept splashing paint at Reese, she fought
back, advancing her steps as she held a small bucket of
paint with

her left hand and a brush with her right hand.

While all this was happening, Sean protected his eyes by
covering them with his arm. In the process of evading, he
stepped on a pool of paint and slipped, falling on top of
Reese. Thankfully, beneath them was soft grass. The only
pain

Reese felt was the weight above her.

"Ouch, Sean!" She chuckled. "You are so heavy."

On the side, Shauna laughed hard, saying, "Does this
mean Daddy won?"

With paint all over his face, Sean chuckled with his
daughter and Reese. He fixed his blue-colored eyes on
Reese's

lightbrown orbs and teased, "I guess, this time around; |
fell for you -1 mean to you."

"Shut up!" Reese laughed, slapping his face with her
bluish hand and pushing him away. "Get off me."

Sean held her tighter, saying, "I don't want to."

The next day, Sean was at his office when his lawyer
called." Mister Ross, the divorce has been approved.
Congratulations, you are a free man."

A smile formed on Sean's face, knowing what he was
supposed to do next.

Chapter 174: A Night Of Justice

Gravity Ventures was Evan's financial company. It worked
as an investment enterprise, opening opportunities for
small

companies and private individuals to grow their funds with
minimum risk. Gravity Ventures would invest pooled
money in

assets based on specific management objectives. Most of
the time, they are placed in stock markets.

Rose Hills has never been Gravity Ventures' biggest
market. It bloomed in cities like Lockwood, Hamlin, and, as
of

recently, Braeton. However, that year, Evan chose to
widen Rose Hills' knowledge about investment companies.
He

meant to do this by sponsoring a private party, inviting all
wealthy families of Rose Hills, politicians, executives from
different companies, and the media.

Evan purposely invited Brooklyn, the new CEO of Balance
Point Accounting Firm. Her entire family had also been
invited.

He did not think it would work, but fortunately for him and
his friends, Brooklyn was desperate to strengthen the
firm's

influence after her divorce from Sean. It was clear with
how she and her father quickly mingled into the crowd,
introducing

themselves and the services they offered.

The party was held at the Diamond Hotel Rose Hills grand
ballroom. There were over two hundred guests dressed in
luxury evening wear. Everyone was merrily drinking wine
and eating canapes when the host announced that the
formal

program would begin.

As Evan walked up on stage, visitors settled in their seats
to welcome everybody. As always, Evan looked dashing in
his

custom-made suit. His intense dark brown eyes made him
appear more intimidating. He said, "Gravity Ventures,
being

under the Thompson Group of Companies, wishes to
invite more business partners, and that's why you are all
here today,

for | consider each one of you as potential partners. To
understand fully what Gravity Ventures is all about, allow
me to

show you in this brief presentation."

Next, a thirty-minute video of the company's goals and
achievements was presented through the LED screen. It
featured

successful clients who had doubled their money since
their investments, and that all the more enlightened the
guests.

After the video presentation, Evan returned to the podium
and announced, "Now, we are aiming for bigger and better
business, starting with getting one of the best accountants
on board with me as my new CFO. Yes, that's right. The
Thompson Group of Companies has a new CFO. He has
probably worked with some of you, auditing your business
or

personal expenses." 1 "Before separating from Balance
Point Accounting Firm, he was the city's most sought-after
external accountant." Evan smiled. "And | am pleased to
announce that he has finally joined my company."

Evan began to highlight Sean's achievements, for he was
the official auditor of the city hall. He said, "Remember the
missing funds from the governor's office? My friend, Sean
Ross, traced it down to the former governor's wife's plastic
surgery." "It was the same for me. Sean was the same
person

who caught my previous CFO stealing from my company,
but he isn't just about having a good eye. Recently, Sean
has

opened my eyes to potential assets that were gaining fast
in the stock market." Evan went on and on, praising his
friend.

Then he added, "With him on board, you can be assured
that your money is safe, the company is safe, and all
financial

reports are identified, recorded, measured, and
communicated." "It was a loss for Balance Point
Accounting Firm but a big

win for me," Evan said, smiling from ear to ear.

The crowd chuckled, clapping their hands at Evan, but
Brooklyn was frowning profusely at one table. She had just
walked

around, introducing the firm that she now solely earned,
and now, Evan was slowly discrediting her company.
Brooklyn was certainly glad she was here. That way, she
could sway the guests to use their service. She was
confident

that the party would land her a client or two, and all she
had to do was to use her so-called innocent charms.
Evan's

words will have minimal effect on them.

"Please help me welcome my friend and the new CFO of
the Thompson Group of Companies, Mister Sean Ross!"
Evan

said on stage.

Everyone stood up to welcome Sean. Evan purposedly
delayed his entrance, for everything about that night was
part of

their plan.

The doors to the grand ballroom opened, and Sean
walked in, standing tall with his smile reaching his ears.
His eyes were

gleaming as he waved at familiar faces.

From her seat, Brooklyn's mouth fell on the floor, seeing
Sean stand up. She also witnessed him take a few steps
forward,

meaning Sean was walking!

Brooklyn gasped. She was about to approach Sean when
Evan further added, "And tonight, Sean came with his
date,

Reese Kenedy!"

Behind Sean, Reese walked in a white backless evening
gown, capturing everyone's attention. Next, Brooklyn saw
Sean's

eyes glistening as he stretched his arm to her. He took
Reese's hand and had that look of fulfillment.

‘No, this can't be happening.’ Brooklyn muttered in her
head. Although she perfectly recalled giving Sean away to
Reese,

she certainly didn't expect him to walk again. Didn’t the
doctor say he could lose his leg?

Brooklyn could only watch in envy as Sean walked hand in
hand with Reese. She glowered at how Sean brought
Reese

to the table where Keith, Wendell, and Shantelle were. Her
nose flared, wondering, 'Has Reese taken my place?’
After giving it much thought, she decided against it,
concluding, 'No, Sean is very in love with me." A smile
formed on

Brooklyn's face, saying, 'He is probably doing this to make
me jealous.’

Sean came up on stage to give his promise, an oath to
look after everyone's investments, that and the Thompson
Group

of Companies’ book of accounts.

Following Sean's speech, dinner was served. Some
guests skipped the meal altogether to speak with an agent
who could

represent them with their investments.

While all this was happening, Brooklyn found the courage
to approach Sean at his table. Despite being in front of
Sean's

friends, she called, "Sean! Sean! You are walking, my god!
I'm so happy!"

Sean turned to Brooklyn, saying, "Yes, Reese helped me
walk.

"Oh," Brooklyn reacted, her eyes briefly finding Reese. "So
that's why she is your date - to repay her efforts."
"Brooklyn.

What do you need?" Sean sought.

"| want to talk. | can't believe we got a divorce, but now
you can walk!" Brooklyn said.

Her words made Sean angry, but he masked it, knowing
what would come. He clenched his jaws and said, "lI don't
have

time to talk right now, Brooklyn, but you should stay for the
rest of the party, and perhaps, we will have that talk."

Brooklyn took it as a sign that Sean still loved her. She
thought he must have worked hard to walk again to get
back to

her. Now that he could walk, Brooklyn was considering the
possibility of getting back with Sean, especially since he
was

now the CFO of the biggest company in Rose Hills. Thus,
she and her parents lingered until the end of the gathering.
Hours later.

Half of the visitors immediately signed for an investment.
Half promised to give some thought. It was good enough
for

Sean and Evan, but that night was also meant for justice.
While Brooklyn was waiting to have a moment with Sean,
she noticed how people were suddenly staring at her,
especially

her father. They were gasping and murmuring.

"Oh, my god! They stole money!" "The Balance Point
Accounting Firm covered for it." "No wonder Sean Ross
left the firm

and divorced her." "What's going on?" Brooklyn asked.
She then realized how everyone was staring at their
phones.

Brooklyn quickly checked her social media feeds and saw
an article featuring her father. It read: [Director of Rose
Hill's

Department of Labor embezzled five hundred thousand
dollars with the help of The Balance Point Accounting
Firm.]

Proof of fake receipts, check issuance, and deposits were
posted along with the article, with the specific report
reaching

thousands of views. The news also featured how the audit
of the Department of Labor was said to be approved and
performed by Sean Ross while he was in a coma.
Immediately, Brooklyn's face paled. Her heart raced! She
gasped, covering her mouth, realizing that Sean had found
out!

When Sean was in a coma, Brooklyn pinned the audit on
Sean because she honestly thought he would die!

She looked up to see eyes on her and on her father. She
turned to Sean and caught him, lifting his chin at her.
Brooklyn

finally recognized that Sean was out to get revenge!

"Oh, god, Dad!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "We need to leave -"
"Director Bernard," A police officer had entered the
ballroom.

He presented an arrest warrant, saying, "You are under
arrest for misuse of government funds."

If that wasn't enough, a lawyer walked to Brooklyn,
handing her a lawsuit. He said, "This is a civil case against
you, filed

by Reese Kenedy and Sean Ross. My clients request
damages amounting to five million dollars of compensation
for

drugging them at the Henderson Beachhouse five years
ago."

A loud gasp escaped Brooklyn's lips. Her eyes widened in
horror as she wondered, "How did they know?"

The next scene could not be more satisfying to Sean and
Reese. Not only them but everyone in the grand ballroom
watched as Brooklyn and her father were escorted out by
police officers.

*k%k

"Now that Brooklyn and her father have been arrested,”
Shantelle said. "Evan and | have an announcement to
make." "What is it?" Karise sought.

An hour had passed after the epic arrest, and Evan and
his friends were back in their circle, celebrating.

"| know, you are pregnant," Sean suggested.

"What? No!" Shantelle objected.

"Not yet," Evan said with a smirk, and that granted a
punch in his arm. He put his arm around Shantelle, saying,
"Don't

hurt me, Wifey, unless you want to make amends tonight."
"So what's the announcement?" Keith sought.

"Lucas' blood count continued to go up!" Shantelle
squeaked. Tears welled in Shantelle's eyes as she
claimed," This is it

for us!"

They all raised their glasses and drank to the good news.
Only Milan did not drink. When Shantelle noticed this, she
asked, "Milan, are you pregnant?"

Wendell proudly smiled. Next to him, Milan replied, "Yes!
Imagine, just two weeks before our wedding, | found out |
am

pregnant!" i "Oh, my god! What great news!" Karise
exclaimed, and everyone followed. The girls especially
gave Milan a

hug. Evan and his friends offered a toast to the last
daddy-to-be in their circle, i "I have good news too!" Sean
said,

shocking everyone.

"What? Reese is already pregnant?" Shantelle asked.
"No. No," Reese corrected. She laughed at being
mistaken to be pregnant. "Today was just an act. Sean
and | are just

friends." "Well, all relationships start with friendship,"
Wendell proposed. "But what is the good news, Sean?" "|
got the

judge's approval for Shauna's name change. My daughter
is officially a Ross!" Sean proudly said. i

Except for Milan, they drank to another good news, happy
for Sean. After that, Evan asked, "So whose name do you
want

to change to a Ross next, Sean?" i

Sean laughed. He turned to Reese and caught her face
burning.

Chapter 175: Third Wedding

"This is it, man. "Sure, you are already married, but this is
the day when you will hold your breath and remind
yourself why

you tied the knot in the first place," Evan reminded,
tapping a hand on Wendell's shoulder. Being Wendell's
best man, he

said, "Enjoy this day, for this, is about you and Milan."
"Thanks, Evan," Wendell replied. He sucked in a deep
breath and

said, "| don't know why | am nervous when we are already
married, but | guess she will blow me away."

Evan chuckled and said, "I'm sure she will."

The two had already walked to the front of the Cathedral,
waiting for Milan to walk through the door. They all turned
to the

rest of their friends who had settled in their seats and saw
smiles and several thumbs up.

Shantelle was there, sitting with Lucas. It was the first time
they let Lucas out in public since his isolation, and the boy
was

beyond happy to witness his uncle's wedding. i

Keith and Karise came with their baby Kamila. Sean also
came with Shauna and Reese.

Wendell was the happiest, seeing everyone that mattered
to him were present during his wedding day. His brother,
Rowan, even attended. Recently, his brother had begun to
accept his fate, and they no longer fought about Milan.
The grand Cathedral of Rose Hills was filled with guests.
The rows of benches were decorated with pine leaves,
cones,

and twigs. The floral blooms at the center of the aisle were
primarily white. It went well with the pine leaves and the
small

wooden flower stand.

The Cathedral's rustic look perfectly matched Milan's and
Wendell's winter wedding theme. With little touches of fake
snow and greens, it gave the ideal setting for the
ceremony.

Soon, the double doors to the Cathedral opened. The
music shifted to a familiar tune of "Unconditionally" by
Katie Perry.

Milan's frame finally came into their view. She wore a tube
dress with a ballroom-cut skirt. Her gleaming veil covered
her,

but Wendell could see her beautiful face and that sweet
smile he had longed to see for the past three hours.
Wendell's heart fluttered, and he did not know why but
from that moment on, he couldn't stop himself from smiling
continuously. The music seemed louder in his ears as if
nothing else mattered.

Unconditional, unconditionally

| will love you unconditionally

There is no fear now

Let go and just be free

| will love you unconditionally" -

The usual upbeat music was purposely rearranged and
slowed down to fit the bridal walk. It allowed everyone to
be

immersed in the lyrics, especially the wedded couple.

Wendell kept staring at Milan, hoping she would see
through his feelings by how he looked at her with
adoration. He

couldn't wait for her to make it upfront, complete the
ceremony, and let everyone know she was his.

On the other hand, Milan was utterly emotional walking
down the aisle, especially after her father met her midway
to send

her off.

Mister Gray was teary-eyed as soon as he locked arms
with his daughter. He said, "Milan, | want you to return
home."

"What?" Milan was shocked. "What are you talking about,
dad? I'm already married. This is just the ceremony.
Technically, you already gave me away -" "But it's lonely!"
Mister Gray quickly objected. "You should give me
grandkids,

but I will take you back since that is not happening. Let's
stop this now while -" i "Dad!" Milan chuckled. She
smacked her

father in the arm and revealed, "| am pregnant.” "What?"
Mister Gray was shocked. Too surprised that he had his
hand

covering his mouth. "Since when?" i "Two weeks ago. We
meant to surprise you today, but since you are giving me a

drama during my wedding march, | will tell you now. | am
four weeks pregnant. So you can see your grandchild in
eight to

nine months." "Oh!" Mister Gray was happy, but then he
realized something. "Wait, there is only one child? Why
didn't you

have twins?" i "Dad, twins are rare," Milan said. She
chuckled and proposed, "If you want more grandkids, wait
another

two or three years." i "Come on. Dad. We are almost at the
front," Milan said.

For now, Mister Gray was satisfied. One grandchild was
enough to make him over the moon. Although, he wished
that

Milan had twins, just like Evan and Shantelle.

The wedding ceremony began with Wendell and Milan
often smiling at each other. The entire time, Wendell
repeatedly

mouthed | love you to Milan, and it was captured by the
videographers and flashed on the LED screens.

How they looked at each other was full of love, inspiring
the guests. Nearly everyone was beaming at their
reaction.

Soon, the exchange of wedding bands arrived. Milan and
Wendell faced each other in front of the crowd.

"Milan, my gorgeous wife," Wendell said while holding her
hand and the ring meant for her. "I give you this ring as a
sign

of my love. With all that | have, | am honored to call you
my wife from now until forever."

When it was time for Milan to give her husband's ring, she
said, "Wendell, | give you this ring as a sign of my faithful
devotion. | will always love you, cherish you, and honor
the vows spoken here today."

After the officiant said a few words, he concluded the
wedding, saying, "By the power vested in me, | pronounce
you

husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Hoots, claps, and screams followed after Wendell and
Milan kissed before the gathering. Wendell then surprised
Milan by

turning her to the side and dipping her frame. Giggles left
their lips before Wendell kissed her again in that wedding
pose.

"Congratulations!" Sean screamed. "Happy for you, man."
"Another honeymoon is in order!" Karise described, and
Keith

echoed the same.

"We are all happy for both of you," Evan remarked.

*k%k

Wendell's wedding party was filled with laughter, and it
was all thanks to Sean. The celebration was held in the
garden

areas of the Diamond Hotel, Rose Hills, where the place
was converted into a winter-themed wedding venue.

At first, Sean had proposed a synchronized dance for all of
them, but because of their busy schedule, there was just
not

enough time to practice. Thus, on Wendell's behalf, Sean
decided that each sponsor or anyone part of the
entourage

would give their own t-i-k-t-0-k dance during the entrance.

Evan hated it, but everyone else loved the idea. It was fun
and allowed them to rehearse their routine at their
convenience.

Mister Gray was in on it with glee. After all, he had just
learned that he would soon be a grandfather. He and his
wife

danced to the tune of "Wellerman."

With hands in their pocket, he and his wife were merrily
moving their legs, kicking their feet, and swaying their
hips.

More t-i-k-t-0-k dances followed, but the notable ones
were the dances of Wendell's friends. Keith and Karise
danced to

the tune of "Wait A Minute."

At that point, screams of excitement echoed across the
venue, seeing Keith and Karise fluidly move their bodies.
The

couple was into dancing. After all, they both loved going to
clubs before getting hitched.

Next to dance were Evan, Shantelle, and Lucas. The
young man did not want to miss on all the fun; thus, he
also danced

with his parents to the tune of "I See You Lookin' At My
PIC." -"Lights, camera, action.

| see you lookin' at my PIC"-

Again, Evan hated it. He hated it so much that he barely
moved. How could he enjoy it? It was the second most
challenging song to dance. Only Shantelle was game on
the dance, and so was Lucas. However, the great CEO's
reaction was priceless and more entertaining than the
dance.

Praises roared, especially for Lucas. Of course, those who
knew the young man were happy for him being finally out
in

public.

The group that earned the most applause, however, was
Sean's. He and Reese danced with Shauna, and they
were all in

synch as they swayed their hips to the music of "Ting Ting
Tang Tang.”

Sean was the most playful of all. He allowed the song to
play back the longest, partly to celebrate his capable legs.
Reese

and Shauna happily danced along with him.

When the newly wedded couple walked in, they gave the
entire routine, dancing to the song "Shut Up And Dance
With

Me."

As the couple danced, they called on the others to join in.
Some sang, some danced, and it helped that the band
played

so loudly, yet beautifully, that everyone was in the mood.
When Wendell and Milan reached the frontmost part of the
venue, everyone sang with them.

- "This woman is my destiny

She said oh oh oh

Shut up and dance with me"-

Sparks erupted in the early night sky as fireworks
exploded to begin Wendell and Milan's wedding party.
After the explosive wedding entrance, everyone settled in
their seats. Mister Gray happened to overhear a
conversation

behind him.

Shantelle and her fertility doctor met at the venue.

Apparently, the same doctor was a family friend of the
Francos. The fertility doctor said, "Doctor Shant. It's been
a while. |

am so happy | helped you and Mister Thompson have
twins." "Tsk. Tsk. If only Milan and Wendell had gone to
see a

fertility doctor. | would have twin grandkids soon,’ Mister
Gray said in his head. He continued to eavesdrop on their
conversation until he heard something that caught his
attention.

"You would never believe what happened to one of my
recent patients," The Fertility doctor said. "She got
pregnant again

after she was already pregnant!" "Oh, my god. | heard
about this, but | know this is a rare case, " Shantelle
remarked.

"It's called superfetation,” said the doctor. "And yes, it is
rare because hormone changes typically prevent a female
body

from continuing to ovulate once a person is pregnant.
However, in my patient's case, she still ovulated, and the
couple continued to have sex, and viola! Another baby
was

made!" "It was hard, in a sense, that she required regular
monitoring since the babies were a month apart from age,
but

overall, the babies were fine after birth," the fertility doctor
revealed.

Mister Gray's eyes narrowed. He had a mischievous smile
as his eyes searched for his beloved son-in-law. He
muttered,

"Superfetation."

Chapter 176: Draw The Line

The Wedding party was already over. While the band was
still at it, playing music, everyone formed their groups and
gathered at tables for the afterparty chat.

Lucas was at a table with Shauna, chatting with Lily on his
tablet.

At the far end, Mister Gray was having a serious
conversation with Wendell. He said, "Son, we should
continue our

regular tea time even when you and Milan are on your
honeymoon." 1

"Should we, Father?" Wendell asked, utterly puzzled.
"Wouldn't that be complicated?"

The truth was Wendell was starting to doubt the tea. It
couldn't be a coincidence that he was extra horny every
after tea

time, but at the same time, he didn't see any reason for
Mister Gray to do that. What kind of father-in-law would
want to

make their son-in-law horny? 2

Mister Gray gave Wendell a pack of mixed herbs, saying,
"These are already dried. You can ask the resort you are
staying

at to lend you a tea maker."

He lifted a finger, highlighting, "During our tea time, | must
see you mix it. That way, | know you are doing it right. Tea
time

is critical. Not only will this make you healthier, but it will
also strengthen our bond between father and son-in-law."
3

Wendell wasn't sure about the bonding part because,
every after tea-time, Mister Gray often sent him off, saying,
"Go to

my daughter now."

Then again, Mister Gray was so difficult to read. Wendell
was just happy that his father-in-law liked him for Milan.
Thus, he

agreed to tea time during his two-week-long vacation with
Milan. If he gets horny, it won't make a difference.
Besides,

Milan's doctor already said it was safe to continue

having sex while she was pregnant.

"Come on, let's dance some more." On the dance floor,
Sean was still at it. He pulled Reese closer and said, "The
song is

great.”

Reese may wear boyish clothes back in the day, but
dancing was one thing she also liked. Thus, she gave in to
his

request.

They were laughing and chatting. Sean asked about
Reese's new patient when suddenly, two ladies walked up
behind

them. They were both tall and gorgeous and came from
elite families, judging by how they carried themselves and
their

clothes.

"Sean, remember us? It's Tiffany and Erin from high
school?" A girl with caramel hair said.

"Oh, yeah. Hi ladies," Sean replied with a smile. He had to
stop dancing with Reese. "Can | help you with anything?"

"We heard about what happened to you and your wife,
and we just want to say; we are so sorry to hear about it,"
Tiffany

said. "| had always thought you were a great person. It
was shocking how your ex-wife asked for divorce just like
that!"

"Exactly," Erin said. "If you ever wanna hang out, we are
free."

"We spend most of our time at the Luxury Lawn Tennis
Club. You should unwind and play some sports to get your
mind

off things," Tiffany suggested.

"We remembered you played tennis at some point," Erin
said.

"Actually, | am part of the tennis club. It's just been a while
since | showed up there. | bought a lifetime membership,"
Sean

revealed.

"Oh." Both ladies said simultaneously, and flirtatious
smiles formed on their faces.

"Excuse me, Sean. I'll check on Shauna," Reese said,
trying to leave. She couldn't relate to Sean's highschool
classmates

and figured to find her daughter instead.

"No, you don't have to just yet," Sean said, holding her
wrist. "Let's go back to dancing."

"| can dance with you, Sean," Tiffany offered.

"We can dance together and chat about old times," Erin
presented.

"| need to go to the restroom anyway, Sean. Why don’t
you enjoy your time with old friends," Reese politely
suggested

before walking away.

Sean watched as Reese went to see Shauna. He turned
back to the ladies and said, "I'm sorry, ladies, but as you
can

see, | was dancing with Reese. You shouldn't have to
interrupted us -"

"Sean, let's have our pictures taken, all of us from high
school," out of nowhere, Wendell proposed. Tiffany and
Erin

eagerly encouraged the picture-taking since they were in
the same group.

There were nearly twenty of them who posed for the
picture. Only Evan did not join because five girls were in
the group,

and he stood by his number one rule.

After the picture was taken, some of their high school
classmates left. Sean glanced at the table where Shauna
was.

When he approached his daughter, she said, "Mommy is
in the restroom.”

Since Reese was in the ladies’ room, Sean sent off his
parents. Claudia and Sherwin were ready to leave, but
Sean’ still

wanted to spend time with Reese and Shauna.

When Sean returned to the ballroom, his daughter was
gone. He walked up to his friends. It was Milan who said,
"|

thought Reese was with you. She suddenly came back
and left with Shauna. She said she was tired and wanted
to rest."

Sean excused himself to go to the condo where his family
lived. He rang the doorbell several times, and Reese only
opened it after five minutes.

"Sorry, | was in the bathroom," Reese said with a smile."
texted you."

"Oh, well. | was hoping you'd still stay and have fun?"
Sean asked. "It's a weekend tomorrow. Come on."

Reese smiled, saying, "Sorry, I'm really tired, Sean. Are
you taking Shauna home with you tomorrow? | have a
patient to

see in the morning. You can fetch her while Mom is here."
"Hey," Sean stepped closer, holding Reese's wrist. He
asked, "Anything wrong?"

Reese simply maintained her smile. She rested her head
against the doorframe, saying, "I'm sleepy. Can you tell
everyone I'm sorry | left? | want to get some rest."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," Sean reluctantly replied
before requesting a hug. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Reese said back with a smile.

*k%k

Earlier that night, Reese was in the restroom when she
heard five distinct female voices chatting.

"Can you believe it? Sean is now single."

"Yeah, well, he got divorced just like me."

"Is he with that girl?"

"No, | don't think so. | heard about this from my dad. Sean
and that girl, Reese, filed a civil case against his ex-wife.
Long

story, but basically, his ex- wife had drugged them years
back, and they ended up having a child together. | think
the

original plan was to have the girl sleep with someone else,
but it failed, and she slept with Sean. Don't ask me the
details

because | don't know."

"So | think Sean is only being nice to her because of what
his ex-wife put them through."

"| also heard she was his physical therapist.”

"I'm telling you, Sean is just grateful to that girl. They
aren’t together. Or he is being nice to her because they
have a

daughter.”

"You are just trying to convince yourself to get a shot at
him."

"Why not? Sean is hot and now the only single one in their
group -1 really need to pee

"I'm taking this cubicle!"

Reese next heard the girls scrambling into the cubicles
where only four were in that ladies’ bathroom. One girl
knocked on

Reese, asking, "Are you done there?"

She tried to wait, but the longer she lingered, the more
whoever was outside speculated on what she was doing.
Thus,

she opened the cubicle door and met eyes with Tiffany.
"Oh, it's you," Tiffany said with a sneer.

Reese did not say a word. She merely washed her hands
and left to fetch her daughter.

After five years of not seeing Sean, Reese still had
feelings for him. Spending time with him only grew those
feelings, but

what if Sean was trying to get close to her out of debt? 1
She couldn't help but consider their words because while
Sean had been extra sweet, almost like her boyfriend
when he

acted around her, they

never really talked about what they were. At the same
time, she understood how Sean had just come out of a
divorce and

may not want to get into a labeled relationship yet.

After their therapy sessions had lessened, they were still
constantly together, having dinners at the condo and going
out

with Shauna like a real family.

Sure, they were friends in the past, and hugging was
something they had done to comfort each other as friends,
but lately,

his hold felt rousing, and he struggled to pull away
constantly. It was as if he never wanted to let go.

Aside from that, Sean was more flirtatious with her.
Whenever he caught her flushing, it was as if he knew it
was because

of him. Often, he would look at her intensely, like he
wanted her to melt under his gaze. To Reese, Sean liked
her, and

they had a mutual understanding.

She labeled it as friendship in front of Sean's pals because
she did not want to assume things. Sean didn't react,
either.

Considering all this, Reese decided it was time to draw the
line. Besides, seeing the scene earlier, she realized that
girls

were flocking over him, and they weren't just any women.
These were women from the wealthiest families in the city.
How

can she ever compete with them?

Chapter 177: Let's Talk

Reese pursed her lips, reading the note on the bouquet
sent to her at work. The flowers came from Sean, and the
message read: [| can't believe you are so busy. What
about my therapy too? :-(I miss you, Reese. | hope you
will come

with Shauna this weekend to the mansion. I'll have a guest
room ready for you. | have something important to talk to
you

about]

"What did he want to talk about?’ She wondered silently as
she stood by the hospital receiving area.

Weeks had passed since Reese decided to focus on work.
She avoided going with Shauna on her time with Sean and
made herself busy.

Since Shauna had a driver to bring her to school and Sean
practically provided for them, Reese decided to take
permanent work at the children's hospital while still
accepting private patients.

It was last Friday when Reese last saw Sean. He came to
the condo to fetch Shauna for their weekend overnight
stay. In

the days that followed, Sean had left for Lockwood with
Evan, which gave her more time for herself.

Sean and Evan returned to Rose Hills the other day,
where she had therapy with a new patient. So, they didn't
see each

other last night either. She thought it probably triggered
the flowers.

In the previous weeks, Sean waited for her at the condo
every night, and they still chatted. They were still friends.
That

part had not changed, but she did not want to be in a
situation where her feelings for him would grow, and she
would

expect more from him.

There was that safe distance between them where she
had drawn the line. Often, she dodged Sean's hold and set
the

time for when he would leave. On top of that, she
minimized replying to Sean's texts or calls, only answering
essential

guestions relevant to their daughter.

In response to the flowers he sent, Reese sent him a text,
saying: [Thank you for the flowers. You didn't have to.]

For the rest of her day at work, Reese helped gather the
children on the isolation floor, where a special guest gave
them

an inspirational talk. To her surprise, the special guest was
a famous athlete, and professional sprinter, Oscar
Bennett.

The athlete had one knee amputated due to childhood
cancer found on his knee. Reese remembered this
because

Oscar's family lived in the same neighborhood as her
when she was in high school. At that time, he was a big
inspiration

to Rose Hills for getting into sports despite having a
prosthetic leg.

Along with the kids at Rose Hills Children's Hospital,
Reese enjoyed the moving talk the athlete gave. He also
taught the

kids the basics of running sprints.

It was already six in the evening when the event ended.
Then the athlete treated the kids to a specially made
dinner.

Reese distributed meals to the children and the parents
who attended the activity when Oscar Bennett approached
her.

He said, "I don't know why, but your name sounds so
familiar, and | think | have seen you before too."

The athlete's approach startled Reese. She laughed and
replied, "We used to live in the same neighborhood.”
"Really?" Oscar said. They exchanged pleasantries and
wound up chatting more.

Oscar and Reese sat at one table together, enjoying every
minute of their conversation. Suddenly, Oscar said, "|
barely

get to come home since I've gone pro, so | want to be
upfront with you and say this."

He scratched his head, looking shy, when he asked, "Can
| ask you out for dinner this Friday? | have been observing
you

for the last three hours, and | thought you were such a
nice person to care for these kids. Aside from that, | think
you are

gorgeous. | thought it a shame to let this moment pass
me. So here | am, taking the chance."

Reese was flattered beyond words. The kids around her
teased her, and so did her co-employees. They urged her
to say

yes, which made her agree in the end, "Sure, a friendly
date."

"That's a start," said the athlete.

* oR %

Friday came.

"Daddy!" Shauna exclaimed, seeing Sean enter the door
to the condo. He carried a bouquet of flowers he meant to
give

Reese, and while spinning his daughter around, his eyes
searched through the home.

"Where is your mommy?" Sean asked.

"She went out, Daddy?" Shauna replied.

Sean looked down at the flowers in his hand with regret.
Just when he thought it was finally the right time to have
that talk

with Reese, it felt to him that she was avoiding him, and
he didn't like it.

"Where is your grandma?" Sean asked. He settled
Shauna on the sofa, and after learning that Misses
Kenedy was in the

kitchen, he went to find her.

"Good evening, Aunt Audrey. Where is Reese?" Sean
asked.

"Oh, she is out on a date." Misses Kenedy sighed, saying,
"| figured it's just about the time that she find a good man
for

herself, so | encouraged her to.

"<1

Hearing that, Sean's mouth fell on the floor. His heart
raced, and his hands felt icy cold. He took a deep breath
and asked,

"What - what about me?" "What do you mean, Sean?
What about you?" Audrey, Reese's mother, reacted.

Sean coughed against his fist, saying, "Me for Reese?"
"Well, | don't know, Sean. I've never really understood
your relationship. You act like a couple, but maybe
because you are

playing the role of being parents to Shauna. Last night, |
asked Reese once and for all, and she said you are just
friends. |

was going to stop her going out on a date with that famous
athlete, but after hearing her out, | allowed her," Misses
Kenedy revealed.

Sean took a full turn, panicking. His hair had already
grown since he last shaved them for Lucas. He thoroughly
raked his

fingers through them before gripping his hair tightly. He
groaned and said, "Dammit, Sean!"

He turned to Reese's mother and asked, "Where? Where
are they having dinner? And which famous athlete?”

"| don't remember the guy. All | know is that they were
going to have dinner at the Tavolata," Misses Kenedy
replied, and

in the next few minutes, Sean left with Shauna.

An hour later, the father and daughter had dinner at the
famous Italian Restaurant in Rose Hills.

While Shauna was eating her pasta, Sean's eyes were
narrowed at six tables away. He wondered if he had made
the right

decision to give himself time. 1

Sean studied Reese's date intensely. He swore the man
looked familiar but couldn't remember who he was. The
guy

looked very athletic, with tan skin and well-defined
muscles. He was handsome, making Sean completely
guestion his

own good looks.

As he was in deep thought, his daughter asked, "Daddy?
Why are we spying on Mommy? And who is that man she
is

with?"

"Ah. Shhh," Sean said to his daughter. "We aren't spying
on your mommy. | did not know she was having dinner
here. It's

just a coincidence."

"Do you like your food, sweetie?" Sean asked. He picked
up a piece of chicken fillet and placed it on Shauna's plate,
saying, "Here, have some protein, baby."

"Okay, Daddy," Shauna replied. "Yeah, | like my food."
Sean was bout to return, observing Reese, when his
blue-colored eyes locked with hers. Reese was standing a
meter

away, with her date behind her.

"Sean?" Reese asked. Her mouth was wide open in
shock.

"Oh, hey, Reese," Sean said awkwardly. His heart
galloped at being found out.

"Mommy!" Shauna exclaimed. She stood up and hugged
Reese.

"Oh, so this is your daughter?” The man behind Reese
said.

Reese turned tomato red as she admitted, "Yes, she is."
She turned to Sean, clearly about to introduce him, when
Shauna

did it for her.

"This is my daddy," Shauna said.

"Oh!" There was a big o, formed on the man's lips. The
athlete chuckled and said, "I get it now."

The man patted Shauna's head, saying, "Il think your
daddy is jealous."

Before Sean could say anything, a young boy approached
Reese's date and asked for an autograph. Only then did
Sean

recognize the man. It was Oscar Bennett, the athlete
known to break the record for joining regular competitions
despite

being disabled.

Sean's envy disappeared. He stood up and extended his
hand to Oscar, saying, "I can't believe | failed to recognize
you.

It's nice to meet you in the flesh, Oscar. You are doing
amazing out there, a great inspiration to people. H

Instead of leaving, Oscar and Reese chatted at the same
table with Sean. Sean felt Oscar may have sensed a need
for

his exit later on. The athlete suggested getting ready for a
flight the next day.

Sean watched as Oscar said goodbye to Reese. He said,
"I don't know if I'll have another special dinner with you
next

time, Reese." He turned to Sean, chuckling, "Maybe not, |
guess. But either way, it was lovely to meet you."

Oscar shook Sean's hand again, saying, "Take care of
Reese. She is a really great gal."

When Oscar left, Sean saw Reese flushing in her seat. He
proposed, "Let's go to the mansion and talk."

Chapter 178: Sean's Reasons

"| can't, and | shouldn't be staying overnight at your place,
Sean," Reese calmly said. "Have time with Shauna and
bring

her back on Sunday evening. =

"| want you to come with us. | miss you so much, Reese,"
Sean requested.” Let's talk at home."

For minutes, they argued in front of Sean's car. Their
voices were down, and they tried putting on fake facial
expressions

to hide them from their daughter. However, Shauna saw
through them. She asked, "Mommy? Why don't you want
to come

with us? Don't you love me anymore? We are supposed to
be a family. You didn't go last time and don't wanna go
again?"

Shauna wept. It dawned on Reese that in her effort to
avoid Sean, her little girl had begun questioning the family
she had.

Reese hugged Shauna as she said, "I'm sorry, baby. I'm
sorry. | love you. | love you so much.”

She pecked her cheek and swore, "I'll go, okay?"

"And we will play together just like before? You, me, and
daddy?" Shauna asked.

Tears welled in Reese's eyes as she nodded. She replied,
"Yes, baby. Your daddy and | will spend time with you
together.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive mommy."

Soon Shauna's emotions settled down, and they were on
the road to the Rosses' estate. Sean didn't bother to drop
by the

condo for Reese's

clothes. He only said, "You have clothes to wear at home."
Upon arriving at the mansion, Reese helped her daughter
shower and change into pajamas. She promised to be
back

after bathing herself.

After entering her guest room, Reese opened the closet,
and true enough, she found shorts that fit her well, but
there

wasn't any top except for Sean's shirt! Reese grumbled as
she put on Sean's shirt and returned to Shauna’s room. To
her

surprise, Sean was already there. Her daughter shocked
her by requesting, "I want to sleep with mommy and
daddy."

Reese froze in her stance. She stuttered as she said, "But,
Shauna, it isn't like that between your daddy and me?"
"Why?" The little girl asked. Reese's words triggered
Shauna to be teary- eyed once more. She asked, "Why
can't we be

a normal family?"

"Mommy and | will put you to sleep, sweetie. Don't worry,"
Sean called Reese over, mouthing, 'Let's put her to sleep
first.'

Shauna’s emotional well-being came first. Reese took the
other side of the bed and kissed her daughter goodnight.
As

she patted her daughter's leg the entire time, she avoided
Sean's gaze.

On the other hand, the little girl held Sean's arm the entire
time, but her leg made a pillow out of Reese's thigh.
Reese sang Shauna's favorite bedtime song. Moments
later, Shauna dozed off while Reese's eyes also fell
helplessly,

surrendering to exhaustion.

'Wow,' Reese thought in her head. She had just had the
best sleep in her life. Not only was she resting on an
expensive

mattress, but this masculine scent engulfing her gave her
a sense of comfort.

She felt fingers tracing her cheek, and she wound up
clutching against a cotton fabric, feeling hard chest against
her

knuckles.

'Wait -what? Is this a man's chest?!" Her eyes fluttered,
and her brown orbs landed on Sean's gaze. She was so
close to

him that she thought she would die of embarrassment!

Not only was she sleeping in his arm, but she was holding
on to his shirt, her legs tangled with his.

"Oh my god!" Reese tried to flee, but Sean held her down.
"Relax, we fell asleep. When | woke up, Shauna was
gone, and you were sleeping like a rock on my arm," Sean
said.

"Shauna only returned to say she was having breakfast
with mom. | told her to have breakfast without us. It looked
to me

like you were exhausted, and you could use a good rest. It
"My arm is numbed, but | didn't want you to be disturbed,
so | did not wake you," Sean said. Yet again, Sean
caressed her

cheek, saying, "Stay with me. Let's talk."

Instantly, Reese felt like crying. All those times of trying to
erase this man from her heart, a single night melted her
walls.

She pouted her trembling lips and crashed into his chest.
She voiced, "Why is it so hard to avoid you?"

She felt his hand massage her back as he asked, "Why
are you avoiding me, Reese? | don't want you to avoid
me."

Reese pulled away with red eyes, saying, "Because | can't
keep having these feelings for you when | don't know what
you

want from me!"
"Ah, so this is what it's all about,” Sean softly said. He
hugged her tightly and said, "I'm sorry, Reese. It's my fault

"| thought that maybe you were being so sweet out of
gratitude, but Sean, | want you to know that | never ask
you to repay

my help. You don't need to - " Reese's words were cut off
by Sean's thumb pressing against her finger.

"Ssshhh," Sean said. In his bedroom voice, he explained,
"| acknowledge how much | owe you, Reese, but I've
always

known that you are the kind to expect nothing in return.”
Finally, he pulled his arm out of her head. He cupped her
face, and as his thumbs wiped the tears away, he
reasoned, "At

first, | did not know what it was. Whether it was because |
was hurt and needed company, or whether

it was gratitude or the fact that | am simply comfortable
around you, | just wanted to be with you. We were friends
then,

and it was easy for me to open up to you, and have fun
with you. Then, there is Shauna."

"She was that connection that brought us closer. The
times we spent together allowed me to see what a great
mother you

are to her and what a wife you would be when the right
time comes," Sean said. "Aside from

seeing how well you treat her, there was this longing in my
heart to give our daughter the complete family she wished
for."

"But you don't have to do that for Shauna. When she gets
older, she will understand," Reese objected.

"Let me finish," Sean softly said. "Since | learned about
Shauna, we have spent so much time together. That
allowed me

more time to evaluate how | felt about you."

"It didn't take long for me to realize how much | like you -1
like you, Reese, more than just a friend," Sean confessed.
He

closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers,
pulling her tightly against his frame. "But it was happening
so fast,

at the wrong time - in a sense that | had just come from a
divorce and had a lawsuit against Brooklyn's family. | didn't
want

to rush my conclusion.”

"| thought the best | could do was show you how | felt.
Yes, | didn't confront you with my feelings, but you and
Shauna

were the apples of my eye. | didn’t care about anything but
you and our daughter. The rest of my free time was with
you

and with you alone. Surely, that counted for something.
And as days went by, those feelings grew stronger. When
you

started avoiding me, | thought | felt incomplete, feeling
miserable for not seeing you," Sean explained. "When |
went to

Lockwood, | thought | could use professional advice. | saw
a psychologist.”

"You went to see a psychologist? Why?" Reese asked.
"Because | wanted someone - a professional to help me
explain why | have these strong feelings for you, despite
having

come from a traumatic

divorce," Sean said.

He sighed and pointed out, "You have to admit, Brooklyn
was pretty traumatic. At some point, | even wondered...
what if

you and | were together, and | ended up being disabled for
real from another accident. And funny how you end up
dating a

man with one leg, yet, you didn't seem to be bothered
about it."

"It was just a friendly date, and you should know that
disabled persons have great spirits. They are better at
overcoming

obstacles. If you had lost your leg, | would still help you,"
Reese sniffed her tears away, smacking his arm.

"I know, | know you would." Sean acknowledged. "I'm glad
| went after your dinner date to destroy Oscar's hopes.
Although I really like the guy, | like myself more for you -
Ouch!"

Reese punched his arm with the side of her fist, making
him groan.

There was an awkward silence between them, and it
stretched for seconds. Reese eventually asked, "So what
did the

psychologist say?"

"The psychologist said there are three main reasons
someone could easily recover from a failed relationship.
He

suggested that | belong to the third category which is...
finding my perfect match," Sean explained.

Sean looked Reese in the eye and said, "The doctor said
that sometimes the right person would come along at a
very

interesting time, which can be right after a breakup. When
it comes to love, there are no rules. There's no set time for
when people should be fully healed or when they should
be allowed to fall in love again. Everyone processes failed

relationships in their own way and fall in love in their own
time. Just because someone fell in love right away doesn't
mean

that they cheated, didn't love their ex, or that their last
relationship wasn't meaningful to them. It solely means
they found

their perfect match soon after a breakup."

"Reese, | was so relieved because | have been thinking
how perfect you are

for me. I'm sorry | didn't tell you my intentions outright, but
| hope you'll forgive me for wanting to think things through
before clearly speaking to you about it," Sean added.

He held her hand and pecked her knuckles, saying,
"Reese, | like you like crazy. | can't stop thinking about
you. You are

beautiful, so kind in nature, and the mother of my child.
You made me feel excited again about life. | feel like I'm in
heaven

when | hold you like this. It would be a lie if | told you

| never had wet dreams of you because | did, for quite
some time now." 1

Reese squinted at him, but that didn't hold him back from
asking, "Reese, | want you to be mine. Will you be my
Girlfriend?"

Chapter 179: Together

"Reese?" Sean asked, holding her hand tightly. "Answer
me."

Reese was blinking her eyes while looking at him. She
couldn't respond because his every word made her happy.
Sean sought, "Did you hear me? Let me show you how |
feel."

Before she knew it, his lips were on hers, and his hand
rested behind her neck, pulling her closer to him.

Sean was kissing her. He repeatedly brushed his lips
against her before nibbling on her bottom lip.

She unwittingly moaned into his lips, her hand rested on
his chest, and she could feel his heart thumping loudly.
"Reese," Sean parted her mouth and asked, "Tell me you
want me the same way."

She was still out of breath, utterly overwhelmed. Her face
flushed as she looked at Sean. Her hand clenched against
his

shirt, and as a response, she pulled him for another kiss.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sean's lips curved
upward. He kissed her again but pulled away briefly to say,
"I'm

going to assume that's a yes." 3

From that point on, they indulged in a hot kiss. This time,
Sean's kisses were deeper and more demanding. His
frame

hovered over her, and his hand started to get restless,
finding its way beneath her shirt.

To Reese, the sound of their smacking lips was deafening.
His touch sent tingles down her spine that she didn't
realize

how she raised her leg and tangled it with Sean's.
"Aah!" Reese gasped, and Sean cursed the second his
hand cupped her breast. He said, "| have to say, this is
lovely."

He smiled and returned to kissing her again, his hand
kneading her breast.

Reese felt the butterflies in her stomach going wild. She
swore her core was having a mix of tingling sensations.
Next, Reese felt Sean's hand tugging her shirt up. Her
heart raced, but just before Sean could remove her top,
the door to

the room opened.

Shauna walked in, saying, "Daddy, grandma said she
wants to have breakfast with you and Mommy."

Sean, who was earlier eating Reese's face, had jumped
off her in a panic. He was smiling from ear to ear as he
crawled

up behind Reese, saying," Okay, sweetie. Mommy and |
will be there."

"Okay, Daddy," Shauna ran down.

After Shauna left, Reese covered her face. Sean urged
her to get up. He was chuckling at her reaction, saying,
"Come on,

let's go. You are so cute when you do that.”

He uncovered her face and combed her hair with his
fingers, saying," Ready?"

After seeing her nod, Sean kissed her lips and held her
hand as they walked out. Later, they reached the dining
area and

settled in front of Sean's mother.

"Something looks different between the two of you,"
Claudia said before smirking. "Anything to share?"

Reese could feel her face burning. Thank goodness it was
Sean who answered, "Reese and | are together, mom." 1
"Oh?" Claudia had that big smile on her face. She was
equally blushing after hearing the news. "I am so happy!" i
Sean's mother screamed, saying, "lI knew you would end
up together!”

"You guys may have had a rough start, but I'm glad things
turned out well in the end," Claudia commented. She got

up

and hugged Reese. She pecked her cheek, saying,
"Welcome to the family, Reese - well, you were always
welcome then,

but this time, it's different." 1

"Thank you, Aunt," Reese bashfully said, her face still red
from blushing.

Claudia also hugged Sean, saying, "I'm glad you figured
things out, son. Take care of Reese and Shauna." i

"I will, mom," Sean replied. 1

When Claudia sat back, she said, "Before Sean and
Brooklyn became a couple, | thought you would get
together."

Glancing at Reese, she added, "Sean was constantly
worried about you, and he was very protective of you.
After your

father died, you were always the first person he called. It
wasn't Brooklyn. It was you. You probably would have
ended up

together if Brooklyn did not drug you."

"| remember when you left, Reese. Sean was so uneasy in
the days that followed. He considered seeing you and
Audrey,

but | don't know what happened next - Oh, | remember
Brooklyn got sick. She was admitted to the hospital, and
Sean

watched her," Claudia said before shrugging." Remember
that, Sean?"

Sean nodded with a frown.

"| remember that, particularly because Sean wasn't home
for a week. The weird part was how Brooklyn's
laboratories

turned out okay, and the doctors simply concluded it was a
viral infection," Claudia said.

After Claudia's words, Sean was silent. In fact, he ate in
silence with Reese for the next few minutes. He only
spoke again

when he noticed Reese barely touched her food. He said,
"Eat up, Reese. You are going to lose weight."

Reese and Sean went shopping with Shauna for the rest
of the morning at the nearest mall. They swam at the
mansion

pool in the afternoon and had an early dinner.

In the evening, Sean insisted that Reese sleep with him in
his room. He carried Reese over his shoulders in the
hallways

while Reese complained," | don't want to sleep in your
room. What will your parents think of me?"

"Oh, Reese. We are already old enough to make these
decisions. If that's what you are worried about, I'll move
out of

here and buy a new home for us," Sean proposed.

Reese fell silent at his suggestion. When he lay her on the
bed, she said,” No hurry in that."

"Sorry. | know." Sean replied. "I'll take a shower first."
When Sean turned his back on her, she asked, "So, is it
true what your mom said? You wanted to see me after |
left?"

Sean had already taken his shirt off. He sucked in a deep
breath and revealed, "Yeah." He recalled, "Il remember
missing

you. | wanted to see you. | think | had planned on getting
you a job back home, but Brooklyn got sick, and that idea
slipped away."

Walking to the bed, Sean lay next to Reese. He thought
back about that particular time and the days before that.
Sean recounted the moments when he and Reese would
spend time together, alone. After her father died, they'd
spent

hours talking about simple things, which was gratifying.
Every day spent with Reese made him smile. He recalled
how she

often spoke of Reese to his friends and even Brooklyn.
He remained to rest on his back, looking at the ceiling, his
arm around her waist and pulling her closer. He said, "I
was

very protective of you back then, weren't |?"

Reese lay beside Sean and admitted, "Yes, you were."
She turned to him and asked, "Do you think Brooklyn
faked her

hospitalization so you couldn't go?"

A hiss left Sean's lips when he replied, "I think it's
possible.”

He turned to Reese and caressed her face. He said, "I
wish | could turn back time, but | can't. Thinking about it
now, |

think mom was right. | had feelings for you then, but |
didn't have the time to foster them with Brooklyn around."
Reese gasped. She looked Sean in the eye and studied
his face. She was teary-eyed when she replied, "Sean, |
wish |

could turn back time and confess how | felt, but | can't. We
can't."

Sean nodded. He pecked her forehead and lips, saying,
"Let's make the most of our time now."

Capturing her lips again, they shared a fervent kiss.
Everything escalated very quickly as Sean's hands
massaged her

breast. Reese, on the other hand, traced his bare back.
Eventually, Reese pulled away, feeling nervous. She
asked, "Can - can we just cuddle in bed? | don't know if |
am ready

for sex. | never had sex -1 mean, | had with you, but | don't
even remember it."

Sean wondered about that all the time too and had been
dreaming of making love with Reese. He thought it was
unfair

that they had done the deed, yet he had no memory of it.
While Sean wanted to be intimate with Reese, he
respected

Reese's wishes. He said, "Of course. | love cuddling with
you."

Reese and Sean slept in the same bed that night, hugging
each other. They

didn't make love, but Sean felt he had the best sleep.
Days passed.

Sean received a call from the lawyers. Brooklyn wanted a
settlement, saying she had information to trade for a lower
compensation on the civil case. During that meeting, Sean
brought Reese with him.

They met at the law firm Sean had employed. Brooklyn
was out on bail, so she was available to meet at the same
office.

"What is it that you want to trade, Brooklyn?" Sean asked
in his seat.

They were in a room with only Brooklyn, Sean, and
Reese. Brooklyn had requested a private talk with the
couple.

"We don't have enough money, and we have to deal with
the lawsuit from the Department of Labor. | am asking for
a

trade. Information for a lower compensation amount - for
the drugging incident case," Brooklyn said.

"Whatever you have to say, | am not interested," Sean
said.

"So am |," Reese echoed.

"Well," Brooklyn said. "For your peace of mind, you might
want to know everything, and for that info, | will still pay
two

million dollars. Considering how rich you are, Sean, it isn't
bad at all.”

They argued about it, but ultimately, Brooklyn convinced
them that what she had to say was important in their
newfound

relationship. Sean and Reese agreed since money wasn't
really the main issue. The truth was more important.
Brooklyn narrated, "Aaron was supposed to sleep with
Reese, but that failed. | always reiterated how you simply
feel

friendly about her - it's basic psychology to get you off your
real feelings. The day you decided to go after Reese and
convince her to return, | faked my illness and paid the
doctor."

She went on and on, admitting to the many occasions she
tried to manipulate Sean. She also shared incidents that
Sean

had no recollection of, "The first time we had sex, you
were slightly drunk from the club. It was the best sex | had,
but

when you came, you called Reese's name! | realized how
subconsciously, you thought you were being intimate with
Reese!"

Brooklyn snapped at Reese, saying, "lI swear | hate you so
much!"

She laughed. Brooklyn turned to Sean, who was shocked
by her tale, and said, "When you woke up, | said you were
screaming my name. | saw your puzzled face, but you still
accepted my story since | was the one you had sex with
for real

that time."

"The next sex we had wasn't exceptionally interesting
compared to when you thought | was Reese, so a few
nights, I'd get

you so drunk. So that's how | got the best fucks of my life
because | was fucking you, and the entire time, you were
calling

me Reese. You don't remember calling Reese's name
every morning, and I'd tell you how you were screaming
my name.

Haha! I'm so pathetic, | know, but a girl has got to do
everything to keep her man, and that's what | did."
Brooklyn

revealed.

"Over time, though, you forgot about Reese, so our
relationship improved. | didn't need to keep offering you
drinks on

weekends anymore,” Brooklyn sighed.

After Brooklyn's admittance, silence fell upon them. Reese
got up and left without a word.

Sean was already regretting meeting Brooklyn for the
settlement. He wondered what was going through Reese's
mind.

Was she upset? What does she think of him now?

Reese demanded that Sean book a private room at the
Diamond Hotel, and he didn't know why. When they
entered the

room, Reese suddenly grabbed Sean's tie, and they both
fell on the bed. She kissed him

ferociously and declared, "I want to know what it feels like.
Make love to me, but | want you sober.”

Chapter 180: Claiming Sean

One thing was evident to Reese. Sean longed for her in
the past, and Brooklyn took advantage of it. Claudia's
words had

already convinced her that Sean cared for her deeply, but
now, Brooklyn's admittance made her realize the weight of
how

Sean may have felt for her back then.

While it hurt to think of Sean being intimate with another
woman, the revelation was also a confidence booster for
Reese.

Because in that story, Sean was calling her name and not
Brooklyn! She had so many what-ifs in her head, but the
bottom

line, she recognized that if she had only told Sean how
she felt for him years back, they may have ended up
together.

The words played in Reese's head. Brooklyn had the best
sex of her life while Sean thought of her. How unfair was
that?

Thus, after Sean had chased after her from the law office,
she hopped into his car, ordering, "Book a room at the
Diamond

Hotel. We need to settle things privately."

She said nothing for the rest of the drive, her jaws
clenching. Sean kept trying to cool her down, but he didn't
understand

what upset her. His words did not lighten her mood.

From the lift to the room, she sped her steps. She kicked
off her shoes when they entered their suite and pulled
Sean by

his tie. She rolled over him and kissed him madly the
second they fell on the bed! She didn't know what she was
doing.

She knew her kisses were sloppy, but she didn't care! All
she knew was that she wanted to replace every trace of
Brooklyn from Sean's mouth, and she meant to do the
same with his manhood!

Reese tore off his shirt, and his buttons plucked out. They
helped each other get naked next, and when they were
bare,

Reese challenged Sean, " Sean, do | have to get you
drunk to give me the night of my life?"

For the first time since his divorce from Brooklyn, Sean
was thankful to her. Reese had become so Brazen all of a
sudden!

He hissed and replied, "Fuck no, because it's you."
Reese was already lying in bed. Sean immediately spread
her legs and said, "| promise you, Reese. I'll pleasure you
endlessly and not just tonight for the rest of our lives."
"Aaahh!" The second Sean sucked on her core; an erotic
moan left Reese's lips. This was the first time they went
passed

second base.

Immediately, Reese was gratified. Her breathing hitched,
and her toes curled. She felt embarrassed but knew she
had to

overcome her shyness. Reese needed to claim what was
rightfully hers, and that was Sean!

Meanwhile, Sean was eating her peach. He repeatedly
sucked on her clit, and fondled it with the use of his
tongue. He

said, "Fuck, I've been thinking about this for weeks." 1
Sean especially liked how her entrance was so pink. He
thought Reese had a beautiful rose. It looked to him like a
tiny

paper slit with almost no hint of labia. He remarked, "God,
it's so beautiful. | can't believe | already came inside you
before."

He couldn't help but wack himself while pleasing Reese
because he was aroused. Since they officially got together,
he

had gotten his daily boner without release, hoping one day
he'd let it all out at the right time.

Sean maintained to please Reese. He kept flicking his
tongue up and down until he noticed her hips twitch.
Reese moaned loudly, and Sean saw her face turn red at
having orgasmed. Under her breath, she said, "Wow."
"Oh, that's only part one, Reese," Sean suggested. As he
sat up, he grabbed her legs and aided her in a kneeling
stance

on the floor. He asked, "Do you want to try me?"

Reese's mouth hung open. Her eye widened at Sean's
member. She muttered, "This thing fits me?"

She held his length and tried to put it in her mouth, but her
eyes became watery. She gagged after trying to take it all
in.

Sean said, "That's okay. We'll work on that."

However, because Reese was determined to remove
every trace of Brooklyn, she at least licked him good, and
Sean

guided her, "From my nuts.

X

"Oh, god. Fuck. | feel like I'm losing my mind," Sean said.
Briefly, he shut his eyes, delighting at the feel of her
tongue

going around his rod. When he felt he was so hard, he
suggested, "Give me your ass."

Sean guided Reese on her fours on the bed while he
remained standing on the floor. He pecked and bit each of
her two

round flesh before diving to give her slit another lick.
When Reese moaned, he said, "Finally, I'm going to have
you."

Sean let his tip rub against Reese's crack. When he heard
another moan leave Reese's lips, he maintained the
back-andforth motion, stimulating her clit again.

"l thought we were going to do it," Reese turned to him
and asked. "What are you doing?"

"| want you to have another orgasm,” Sean admitted.
Thus, he went at it, merely rubbing his length against her
crack.

Each minute, the glow on his member became more
evident, to the point that Reese's love juice was milking
him.

"Sean!" Reese called his name a few times. Her legs were
trembling when she reached climax again, just by the
mere

rubbing of his stick.

"I'm going in now - Aaahh. Fuck, Reese. You feel so
good," Sean moaned the second he entered her. He held
her waist

as he slowly pushed his manhood in. "So tight."

Because Sean made Reese climax twice, it was easier for
him to penetrate. He moved back and forth while
spreading her

ass cheek apart, watching his hard work. He remarked,
"Reese, you are so beautiful.”

Her hole simply sucked him in. It gently yet firmly wrapped
around his length and warmed it from her insides.

Sean began to move to and fro. He grabbed her arms and
pulled her against his chest so she rested her back on
him. As

he moved his hips, he urged her to face him and savored
her lips.

They kissed passionately while he did Reese from behind.
He maintained to hold her against his chest, his hands
massaging her breasts.

Reese, on the other hand, was sensing her insides getting
filled. She had earlier noticed how her peach stretched to
accommodate Sean's size. As he thrust to and fro inside
her, she felt her walls pulse against his rod, and it felt so
damn

good.

For her, the best part was how she could still kiss him. In
the same position, Sean's other hand played with her clit,
and

that was even more surprising to her that Reese moaned
again. She couldn't believe such euphoria existed! She
was

getting stimulated while making love, and with the man of
her dreams at that!

With how Sean was multi-tasking, Reese came in no time!
Reese mildly convulsed at having come, and while that
was happening, she returned standing on all fours. Once
she

settled down, Sean made love with her intensely.

Sean picked up the pace, thrusting as fast as he could. He
was at it so heartily that only the slapping of their flesh
echoed

across the room in the next minutes.

"Fuck, Reese! | love it!" Sean expressed. "| want to make
love to you every day!"

To and fro, Sean moved his hips. Eventually, his breathing
became labored, and his mouth fell open, recognizing the
near

conclusion. He warned, "I'm cumming, Reese. I'm
cumming. Turn around.”

He quickly flipped Reese over to lie on her back. He
spread her legs apart, and he helped himself. His load
erupted,

mostly around Reese's rose, but some still shot up to her
chest. "Aaaahh! Reese!"

"Fuck, | came a lot," Sean remarked while shaking off the
last of his cum." That was amazing."

Sean lay next to Reese and kissed her lovingly. He didn't
let her go until their lips turned nub, and his manhood
stiffened

again. They were spooning in bed when Sean poked her
entrance from behind and entered her.

Reese gasped at the feeling of getting filled again. Her
eyes narrowed, knowing they were about to make love
again, but

before that, Sean proposed, "How does... all night sound?"
[

"What's your highest record with that bitch?" Reese asked.
"Reese," Sean said, feeling guilty. "Let's not talk about -"
"Tell me!" Reese demanded.

"Um. Four," Sean admitted.

"Then, | want five rounds," Reese claimed. She sucked in
a breath and added, "| think."

Chapter 181: Pink And Blue

"Every morning, waking up next to you is just heaven,
Sean said, pulling Reese against his chest, his hand
crawling

down her thighs.

A laugh escaped Reese's lips. Her face burned as she
said, "We are late! Get your lazy ass up!"

"I'm not lazy. | want to make love to you one last time
before getting up!" Sean reasoned.

In the end, they made love again before heading off to the
shower.

Over two months had passed since Reese and Sean were
officially together. Things couldn't get any better.

Reese was more confident about their relationship,
claiming to be the rightful partner for Sean. On the other
hand, Sean

had never been happier. He had a beautiful girlfriend who
loved him earnestly and had a daughter with her too. He
was

only missing the wedding ring and the official | DOs.

Now and then, Sean would stay with them in the condo,
but there were also nights when Reese would stay at the
Ross'

mansion with Sean.

That day, they were rushing to attend Milan's, and
Wendell's gender reveal party. It was a celebration
organized by Evan

and Shantelle, a payback for all the times Wendell and
Milan took care of the twins.

After finding Shauna in the living room, all dressed up.
They took the lift down Diamond Hotel One-Carat
conference

room, where the event was held.

"There you are, guys!" Shantelle called them over to their
table.

Lucas was there, and his siblings were in a stroller, settled
at another table with Miguel and the caregivers. Baby
Kamila

was also present with her nanny. Shauna readily joined
Lucas for a chat.

Reese sat next to Shantelle, while Sean joined the boys
up front. Turning to Shantelle, Reese asked, "So they don't
have

any idea?"

Shantelle smiled brightly and replied, "No. They don't. The
OB doctor is my friend, and she kept it from them from the
last

ultrasound, telling them about our organized party."
Beside Shantelle, Karise asked, "But you know?"

"No. | don't either." Shantelle pointed to the other table
where the OB doctor waved at her. She replied, "Only
Doctor Tan

knows. She bought the powder cannon.”

Evan, Sean, Kieth, and Wendell chatted at the front with
Milan. In their circle, Wendell said, "I'm stoked! | have a
feeling

I'm going to have a girl."

"Really? | think | am having a boy!" Milan expressed.
"Your tummy is huge for one baby, though," Keith
commented.

"I know, right," Milan answered. She chuckled and
suggested, "during our first check-up, the doctor said she
thinks it's

only one baby, although, in the second and third
ultrasound, the doctor kept it from us."

Milan squinted at Evan, saying, "Thanks to Shanty and
Evan."

Evan only laughed. He suggested, "Shanty's idea. I'm
going to be surprised myself."

The party started with their lunch meals and a few games,
but eventually, the time came for when the baby's gender
would be revealed.

Milan and Wendell walked up the stage, both carrying a
powder cannon. Their OB doctor suggested, "Your baby's
gender

will be revealed through the cannon! I'm excited for you!"
"Okay, any guesses?" Milan asked the crowd. It was only
a small group composed of friends and family. They all
roared

their guesses!

"Girl!" Shantelle screamed.

"Boy!" Lucas said.

"Girl, like me!" Shauna said.

Next to Reese, Sean screamed, "Girl!"

"Oh, come on. More boys club!" Evan objected while
putting an arm around his wife. "Boy!"

Wendell's family also screamed their wishes, but they
mostly wanted boys. Milan's family, however, had a mix of
both.

Mister Gray said, "| wish it were both!"

Laughter filled the air before Wendell and Milan returned
their attention to their powder cannon. They counted
together,

"Four, three, two, one -"

The powder cannon erupted. Wendell's side of the powder
was pink, while Milan's side was blue.

Everyone's mouth fell on the floor, their eyes rounding.
From the side, the OB doctor laughed and explained, "I
suspected

you had a twin, but | only confirmed it during the second
ultrasound when the heartbeats were clearer!
Congratulations!

You have a boy and a girl!"

"Aaahhhh!" Milan screamed. Her eyes watered as she
turned to her husband. She jumped at him while Wendell
readily

carried her weight.

Wendell and Milan took a full turn, kissing in front of
everyone.

"We are having two babies!" Milan exclaimed.

"And we already know how to take care of twins!" Wendell
remarked.

In one corner, Mister Gray was shocked. He cleared his
throat and asked," Wait, did Milan get pregnant again? |
mean,

got pregnant while pregnant?"

"Ah, no, Mister Gray. Milan was initially pregnant with
twins, but it was difficult to determine at first because they
shared

the same amniotic sac. Also, your daughter came to me in
the early stage of her pregnancy,” the OB Doctor
explained.

Suddenly, Mister Gray screamed. His roar was the
loudest, and tears filled his face. He said, "Thank you.
Thank you,

Wendell and Milan, for making me and your mother

happy!"

In front of the guests, Mister and Misses Gray embraced
Wendell and Milan, celebrating the coming grandkids.
Later,

Wendell's parents embraced them too.

Behind the scene, at the table where Wendell's friends sat,
Keith kept hissing. He frowned profusely and said, "I can't
believe it. I'll be so behind. Wendell has two kids now."
While everyone laughed, Karise smacked her husband's
chest, saying, "It's not a contest, babe, and besides, It has
not

been a year since | gave birth. Let's give each other some
break."

"| am totally ready to have another child," Sean
proclaimed. A smirk formed on his face before looking at
Reese and

kissing her cheek. Reese, on the other hand, lifted a brow
at him.

"You guys are lucky since Shauna is old enough," Karise
stated.

"Put a ring on it, Sean," Shantelle proposed.

"Yeah, man, where is that ring you bought last week?"
Evan spilled, and Sean let out a low growl.

"The hell, Evan?' Sean mouthed before shifting to Reese.
His head formed beads of sweat while he denied it,
saying, "We

happen to be in a jewelry store a few days back."

"Oh," Reese only nodded.

To help save Sean from the situation, Evan turned to his
wife, asking,"

Speaking of contest, we should keep at it, Wifey, while we
are still winning three against two. We can have as many
kids

as we want. | am rich enough. It

"So boastful," Sean said.

"| know. Thank goodness Evan is generous," Keith
remarked.

Shantelle laughed and said to her husband, "We aren't
really controlling. Milan isn't getting pregnant again just
yet. We

have time."

That was true. Shantelle and Evan weren't holding back,
but she had not been pregnant. Nonetheless, they were
happy

with the time they had.

Whenever they were free, they would play with their kids.
Since Lucas had been allowed to go out in public, they
had

taken him to the beach nearly every week, which he
thoroughly enjoyed.

Lucas’ doctor still did not recommend him to go to a
regular school, only in a controlled group of home
learners, but as

long as his progress continued for another eight months,
then everything would be completely normal.

Their group was merrily chatting, with Wendell and Milan
joining them next, when Attorney Scarlett walked in with
Lily.

Lily immediately joined Lucas’ table while Scarlett walked
to Evan and Shantelle. She was chasing her breath when
she

said, "Evan, Shanty, we have an important matter to
discuss. | know | came in a bad time, but | also felt
responsible for

not relaying this message."

"You flew all the way from Braeton?" Shantelle asked.

Scarlett nodded and sighed deeply, saying, "Documents
and videos were sent to my office, and given the urgency, |
flew

over in a heartbeat."

It was in another room where Evan and Shantelle further
discussed what Attorney Scarlett came there for. She
presented

all the documents and said, "Frank Morgan and his family
are finally no longer appealing the court's decision about
the

assault and attempted murder case against him and
offered to compensate for damages. They are willing to
give ten

million dollars in total, with one condition."

"What is it?" Shantelle asked.

Scarlett took out her laptop and inserted a USB drive. She
played one video and said, "They sent several videos
including

ct scans, MRI scans, etc.

Basically, Frank Morgan was caught in a fight in prison. He
was drugged and got overdosed. He had been in and out
of

consciousness. What | am trying to say is, he is dying."
"With this in mind, they wanted Frank's heart transplanted
to Briana West. And given that Briana has had a failed
surgery

and now living off a mechanical heart, they wanted Doctor
Shant to perform the surgery, increasing Briana's chances
of

survival."

"No!" Evan said outright. "This is not even about money.
My wife is not saving the people who tried to harm her in
the

past! That's not going to happen!"

Turning to Shantelle, Evan saw the apprehension on her
face. He said, "No, Shanty. No."

"| just thought that maybe, in doing this, the hate would
stop," Shantelle responded. "I don't also want to keep
hating.

There were good and bad in what happened. The good
part was how it brought me to you."

Chapter 182: Time To Forgive

"Why did you agree?" Briana softly asked Shantelle. "You
did not even take the full amount offered."

Days had passed since Frank Morgan's family presented
an offer to Shantelle. Briana was now at the heart and lung
center, and so was Frank's unconscious body. The only
thing that kept Frank alive was the machine attached to
him.

It took a lot of convincing Evan, but ultimately, he gave in,
provided that the operation took place at their homecourt
and

that the Morgans and the Wests would sign a contract,
agreeing never to cause any trouble for their family,
including that

of the Wrights. Their party gladly agreed.

Briana had undergone several tests and qualified for a
heart transplant. Frank Morgan's heart wasn’t affected, so
it was

allowed for the operation.

When Briana asked her the question, Shantelle evaluated
her and her mechanical heart. Shantelle stepped back and

looked Briana in the eye, saying, "Because | am a doctor.
It is my duty to save lives. Moreover, | don't want any more
bad

blood between our families."

Pulling a chair, Shantelle sat before Briana, saying,
"Promise me, after the operation, and if it is successful,
you will live a

fruitful and meaningful life. Don't cheat your way to
whatever you wish for. I'm sure you have learned by now
that there is

no shortcut to happiness. You always have to follow a
path."

Briana was still serving her two-year sentence for the
organ manipulation case, and so were her parents, but
she was

ordered on hospital arrest instead because of her medical
condition. The prison did not have the facility to keep her
alive if

her mechanical heart malfunctioned.

Briana nodded repeatedly. She replied, "I know that now."
"| could also ask you the same thing. Why did you choose
me as your doctor, given our history," Shantelle asked.
"Because | know you are the best out there - in the
country, at least," Briana answered. "And given that | will
get Frank's

heart, | want to have better success in living so | can have
a piece of Frank with me for years to come."

"Very well," Shantelle softly acknowledged. "You should
see Mister Morgan later on. Your operation is scheduled
for five in

the morning tomorrow. We are turning off his life support at
three. I'm sorry you'd have to lose him."

"It - it wasn't your fault. The person who attacked him was
one of his previous workers," Briana revealed.

"| should go. Take some rest. Warlington Prison allowed
your parents to visit you for one day, so you'll see them
tomorrow," Shantelle glanced at the machine behind
Briana and reminded her, "Don't forget to charge your
heart."

Briana smiled and answered, "| won't. | need to be alive
for tomorrow.

Thank you, Doctor Shant."

x_xg*

The next day, Shantelle was in the operating room,
transplanting a new heart in Briana.

It took around four hours for Shantelle to complete the
procedure. As soon as they tested the new heart, it beat.
Applause could be heard inside the operating room.
Shantelle stayed and monitored Briana's condition for
another half an

hour. After which, she ordered, "Time to close her up.
Good job, everybody."

"Good job, Doctor Shant!"

"Another success Doctor Shant!"

After getting off her scrub suit, Shantelle left the operating
room, finding her husband. After learning that the Wests
would

be around, he made sure to be present after the surgery.

She hugged her husband first before turning to the Wests,
who had their heads down at her presence. She said, "The
operation was a success. In the next twenty-four hours,
Briana will be under observation in the ICU."

"Thank you, Doctor Shant," Briana's mother said. "And we
are sorry about the past.”

"Remember my wife's kindness," Evan said.

"Thank you. Thank you so much! We will abide by the
terms of our agreement,” Mister West said.

Warlington Police escorted them in getting there. They
were only going to see Briana for that day before they
would return

to Warlington Prison again. It was a pain, but it was a
privilege given to them, and they were happy for the
government's

grant. Of course, if not for their influence, they would not
have had the opportunity.

*k%k

Evan and Shantelle had lunch together after the operation.
Shantelle only returned to the Heart and Lung Center to
check

Briana's condition. She meant to head home and take a
good nap. She had been at the hospital since two in the
morning,

preparing for the transplant.

Walking down the halls, she bumped into an unexpected
acquaintance; Keith's father, Charles Henderson, and his
wife,

Helen.

The last time Shantelle saw Keith's father was last year,
during his birthday. It shocked her thoroughly to see Mister
Henderson so thin. He was in a wheelchair, struggling to
breathe, and was being pushed by a nurse. His wife was
walking

next to him.

The Herdersons looked at Shantelle in shock but quickly
evaded her.

Shantelle watched as Keith's parents walked to the lobby.
Just as she was about to turn around, Misses Henderson
called

for her.

"Shantelle. Please, can you give me a moment?" Keith's
mother said. She held Shantelle's hand and asked, "Can
you tell

me if Keith is okay? | heard Karise gave birth. | tried to
check Karise's social media page but couldn't see her
private

photos. Do you have a picture of the baby?"

Quickly, Shantelle reached for her phone and showed her
a picture of baby Kamila. She said, "Her name is Kamila.
She is

so beautiful."

The sight of the picture made Helen Henderson cry. She
said, "It's been so long. | guess we will never get to see
our

granddaughter." Looking at Shantelle, she asked, "Can |
borrow your phone?"

When Shantelle agreed, Keith's mother showed the
picture to her husband. He also became teary-eyed.
Shantelle walked

behind them and offered, "I have several pictures of Keith
and Karise t00."

Shantelle navigated on her phone and showed them to
Keith's parents.

Smiles formed on their faces, and Charles looked like he
didn't want to let go. Eventually, he handed the phone to
Shantelle, thanking her for her time.

"Charles? Is that it? Aren't we going to try to talk to Keith?"
Helen Henderson asked. However, Keith's father only
suggested they leave, saying no word.

It was clear to Shantelle how Keith's father was full of
pride.

Still, their actions piqued Shantelle's interest. Curiosity got
to her that she saw nearly all the doctors at the heart and
lung

center. Finally, she met their top oncologist, Doctor Dultz.
The excellent doctor revealed, “Mister Charles Henderson
has

stage four lung cancer, Doctor Shant. His lymph nodes are
swollen all over. He could barely breathe."

Shantelle's mouth fell open. She realized that was why
Keith's father looked so weak. She stammered as she
asked,

"What's the prognosis?"

"He has about six months to a year to live, at most,"
Doctor Dutlz said. "We are going for treatments, but in
case, | told

him to prepare for it. It depends on how his body responds
to chemotherapy, but it's hard. His cancer cells are
growing at

a much faster rate."

Without giving it another thought, Shantelle called Miguel,
and he drove her to Keith's office.

Half an hour later, Shantelle was on the top floor of Prima
MedCare. When she entered Keith's office, she said, "I
saw

your parents earlier. Keith, | -1 think you need to talk to
your father."

"Why this all of a sudden?" Keith asked. He pushed his
laptop away, saying, "Until my father learns to respect my
wife, |

am not talking to him."

"| think he regrets it," Shantelle suggested. "Earlier, he
looked at Kamila's pictures and seemed happy.”
Shantelle saw Keith freeze in his seat. He cleared his
throat and asked, "He did that?" After a second, he said,
"Well, if he

regrets it, he isn't showing it. | haven't changed my
number, Shanty, yet he hasn't called me since."

"He should learn to swallow his pride and ask for Karise's
forgiveness," Keith retorted. "And why are you taking his
side? |

thought we are friends, Shanty."

Shantelle sat before Keith, saying, "Because he may not
live long enough to learn how to swallow his pride, Keith.
Are you

going to be as prideful as your father?"

"What do you mean, Shanty?" Keith asked.

"Your father has stage four lung cancer. He will take
treatment, but it's hard to tell if his body will respond to
chemotherapy

- you know about cancer, Keith," Shantelle said. "Eat your
pride and talk to your father while he still lives. It's time to

forgive him."

Chapter 183: Another Chance

Karise let out a heavy sigh as soon as they arrived at the
Hendersons' mansion gates. She felt Keith’s hand gripping
hers,

and he said, "Relax."

As they drove into the driveway, Keith asked, "Do you
want to come back another day?"

"No! No way. It's about time we talked it out with your
parents, Keith." Karise turned to Kamila, who was sleeping
soundly

in the backseat of the car. She said, "We shouldn't delay
this any longer."

"Thank you, Babe. | know how hard this is for you, and |
can sense you are nervous, but whatever happens, | hope
you

will be extra patient there," Keith suggested.

Karise smiled at her husband, saying, "Babe, | don't care if
your father kicks me out of the house. | will support you
and

even beg your father's approval so that you can have time
with him... Though, | certainly hope he won't."

Keith leaned in and kissed Karise's lips, saying, "Thanks,
Babe. That's why | love you."

After getting off the car, they walked into the house and
settled in the living room, where they waited. A maid went
to

inform Keith's parents of their arrival.

The next thing they knew, Helen came rushing from one
hallway on the first floor. The moment she turned up
before

Karise and Keith, Helen gasped. She stuttered, "Keith, it's
you!"

Before Keith, Helen appeared to be confused. She
retreated her steps, calling to her husband, "Charles! It's
Keith and

Karise!"

Keith and Karise were up on their feet. Karise was holding
Kamila the entire time when finally, Charles appeared
before

them. He was being pushed in a wheelchair, his eyes
widening, clearly in shock.

"Dad," Keith called, his brows meeting, seeing his father's
state. Kamila was already four months old, meaning he
had not

seen Charles in a year. Keith thought about his father, yes,
especially his mother.

After he and Karise married, he secretly asked about them
through the maids and their family driver. However,
recently,

he had failed to check on them. Thus, seeing Charles in
such a pitiful state crushed his heart.

Helen quickly approached Keith and embraced him. She
cried as she revealed, "lI missed you so much, Keith. So
much."

Helen stained Keith's suit, and it felt to him like, his mother
never wanted to let go. She said, "I'm sorry. Keith, we are
sorry! Please forgive us! You came here to forgive us,
right? You do?"

Keith knew his mother struggled with which side to take,
but ultimately, she did nothing to oppose Charles. That
further

contributed to his disappointment toward Helen. However,
hearing her asking for forgiveness now, moved him.

He swallowed air down his throat to keep himself from
crying. His hands trembled as he returned his mother's
hug. He

faintly said, "Mom. It's been a while."

"Too long. Too long," Helen answered. She looked up at
Keith with eyes puffed. She cupped his face and said,
"Thank you

for coming here."

Keith's mother turned to Karise and said, "And thank you,
Karise, for allowing us this chance. And my
granddaughter! My

granddaughter!”

Helen was too emotional that Keith had to calm her down.
He hugged her again, saying, "We aren't going anywhere,
Mom. You can have all the time with Kamila. Don't worry."
Keith's mother cried against his chest. She only soothed
after a maid had brought her water.

While all this was happening, Keith saw how the nurse
had pushed his father into the patio. His father was
teary-eyed, but

he said no words.

"Charles! Charles!" Helen called. "Our son is here. Where
are you going?"

The nurse stopped, but Charles was heaving and pointed
toward the patio. The nurse had no choice but to guide
Keith's

father, saying, "Il think Mister Henderson needs more air."
Meanwhile, Helen turned to Karise and Kamila. She said,
"Karise, she is so beautiful." Lifting her hands, she asked,
"Can

|?"

"Of course," Karise said, handing baby Kamila to her
grandmother.

"Aw!” As soon as Kamila smiled at her, tears stung her
eyes again. Helen said, "She is so beautiful." Helen looked
at

Karise and returned to Keith, saying, "Shantelle is right.
Kamila does look more like Karise."

Smiling at Karise, Helen suggested, "You know what they
say if the baby looks more like you? It means Keith loves
you

more."

A laughter escaped Helen's lips, and so did Karise. Keith
smiled at his mother's suggestion, but his eyes readily
went

back to the patio's direction.

Helen focused on Keith and asked, "Talk to him. Please,
Keith. Your father regrets it, | promise you. He just doesn't
know

how to admit it."

Keith did not know why, but he felt it too. If his father was
still upset about him, he would have turned him away
outright.

Charles would have given him a death glare if he couldn't
speak, but instead, he saw his father holding back his
tears. His

father had never cried before him, not once.

He marched toward his father. He asked the nurse to give
them a moment and pulled a chair beside Charles.

There was dead air, and it stretched to over a minute.
Keith and Charles simply looked at the garden before
them. After

some time, Charles weakly asked, "Are you happy with
your life, Keith?"

"| am, Dad. | am very happy," Keith replied. "Karise and
Kamila mean everything to me -1 mean, | was happy until
learned you are ill."

"Shantelle must have told you, huh? So, you came here
because you feel sorry for your old man?" Charles asked.
While

his words were curt, his voice broke in and out, and he
sniffed. Tears fell on his cheek, and he quickly wiped them.
"No, Dad. | did not come here because | felt sorry for you.
| came because | felt sorry for us. You have a son, and |
have a

father, but we wasted time brewing hate when we could
have been a family. We should never have fought over my
choice

of wife, Dad, because | am my own person," Keith
justified.

"Yes, we disagreed on many things, but at the end of the
day, you are still my father. You and Mom raised me the
best way

you could and provided for my needs." Keith gasped,
describing, "I recognized that you and Mom gave me life. |
wouldn't

be where | am today without you. What kind of a son
would | be if | did not come here and try to fix things with
you?"

"I'm sorry | did not come any sooner," Keith said. "| should
have kept trying - m

"No." Charles broke down in tears. He covered his eyes
with his hand, gasping. "lt was my fault. It never was
yours."

Charles heaved and heaved, and his lips trembled as he
continued, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, son."

Immediately, Keith reached for Charles’ hand and held it,
saying, "l forgive you, Dad, and | want you to know that
Karise

has already forgiven you. All she wants is for me to have
this time with you and Kamila to meet you."

"Please give Karise a chance. She is a great person. She
loves me very much and our daughter. Once you get to
know

her, you will understand why | fell in love with her," Keith
begged.

Because Charles continued to cry uncontrollably, and his
breathing became labored, Keith massaged his father's
back.

He tried to soothe him the best way he could. The nurse
had to assess Charles, but eventually, he settled his
emotions,

confessing, "Actually, son, | know."

"You leave the office and go straight home to your wife
and child. When you are on a business trip, you mostly
take your

wife with you, and you only go out to parties with the same
friends, Evan, Sean, and Wendell, plus their wives, |
presumed. You even take time to go for your daughter's
monthly check-up." Charles inhaled, saying, "You did
better than

me because | was not that attentive when you were a
baby.”

"| asked myself, how did my son become a better father
than me?' Charles questioned. "Something must have
changed in

him that made him a better man."

Looking at Keith, Charles said, "You must be very
contented with your family to put them first."

Keith leaned back. A smile formed on his face despite
being teary-eyed. He asked, "You stalked me, Dad?"
"For sometime now," Charles admitted. "When | found out
| had cancer, | parked in front of your penthouse building
nearly

every day. | didn't even tell your mom until she caught me
one day. Your mom? She was waiting for Karise to arrive
too!

We were both stalking you!"

"| was hoping you'd see me across the street one day, but
that never happened. Whenever you walk out of your
penthouse building or the car, you always had that smile of
contentment on your face, walking with your wife, that you
never bothered to look elsewhere," Charles revealed.
"When | learned | was terminally ill, many regrets crashed
down on me. My biggest regret is how | made you despise
me.

| did not know how to approach you, knowing everything
was my fault. | was afraid. Your mom was also afraid," Yet
again,

Charles wept, but Keith kneeled before him and embraced
him.

Charles wound up howling louder, pulling Keith tightly into
his frame, saying, "Forgive me, son. Please, forgive me."
"Yes, Dad. Yes," Keith answered, now also sobbing. "Let's
forget about everything."

"Thank you, son," Charles said. "I could never thank you
enough for giving me another chance."

The father and son remained in the same embrace for an
undetermined time until tears dried on their faces. When
Keith

pulled away, he asked, "Do you want to meet Kamila?"
Charles nodded, saying, "I'd love to hold her."

Chapter 184: Charles' Wishes

The Hendersons had a pleasant evening, with Keith's
parents getting to know Karise. They asked about her
work, her

family, and her friends. They also inquired about how she
managed her time. They were surprised how she only
hired one

nanny when Keith could get her two at the very least.

"| like my time with Kamila," Karise replied. She turned to
the stroller where her baby was sleeping and added, "It
makes

me feel complete knowing | attended to her needs, even if
it's just a few hours a day. So on one weekend, just like
now, |

give the nanny her time off."

"And | like how Kamila can recognize me." Karise's eyes
gleamed as she described, "When she smiles at Keith and
me,

it's like she knows we are her parents!"

"And she'd blabber endlessly when we are around her,
and Keith - oh, you should see Keith trying to make her
laugh,”

Karise fished for her phone, finding those videos and
showing them to Charles and Helen.

Helen and Charles smiled, seeing another side of Keith. In
that video, Keith was making faces and weird sounds
while

Kamila laughed genuinely at her father.

It made Helen teary-eyed again. She said, "Wow, | can't
believe this is my son." Glancing at Keith, she declared,
"I'm

proud of you, Keith, and what you have become - a good
father."

Just then, Kamila woke up. Karise and Keith both got up,
working together. Keith went to the living room to make
milk

while Karise carried the baby, soothing her.

When Keith returned, he already had a milk bottle, and
Karise smiled at him, saying, "Thanks, Babe." 1

Keith winked at Karise, replying, "Welcome, Babe." i
Both Helen and Charles looked at each other with
approving nods. It wasn't just that. They saw how Keith
had offered to

help Karise clean off Kamila after she had a dirty diaper.
He did things that their previously indulged son had never
done

before.

After dinner, Karise, Keith, and his parents returned to the
living room, resuming their chat.

Charles was smiling, watching Kamila in his arms. She
was sleeping again after feeding and changing diapers.
Charles

said, "It's been a long time since | held a baby."

When Kamila yawned, her hand stretched out, gripping
Charles' thumb.

"Oh, will you look at that?" Helen said. "Amazing. Keep
holding her and let her feel you."

"I think she knows it's her grandpa,” Karise suggested,
and her words made Charles smile approvingly.

"Now, this is our movie," Helen proposed. "Watching my
grandchild sleep." She got up and said, “Let me get some
tea for

all of us.”

After returning with hot tea, they began to cover Charles’
illness. At the same time, Kamila remained in her
grandfather's

hold.

"When did you find out about the cancer, Dad?" Keith
asked.

"Three months ago. At first, | was in denial." Charles
admitted.

"You know how your dad can be stubborn,” Helen
remarked, shaking her head.

"My long-time physician never suspected it. We all thought
it was a chronic cough, so we were referred to another
doctor

and told it was stage four cancer. | refused to believe it,
even when | was already getting weaker and had lost so
much

weight," Charles disclosed.

"We resorted to natural medication, but | only got sicker,
and | could not walk normally anymore. We asked for a
second

opinion and then a third, but the findings were the same. |
learned that cancer had spread to my spine too, so | could
not

walk properly. | had started with chemo with another
doctor, but the kind of drug given to me just made me sick
to my gut.

| could not stand it. | felt | would die with the drug and not
cancer. | stopped and looked for another doctor." Charles
sighed, saying, "Finally, my nurse convinced me to see the
oncologist at the heart and lung center."

"I didn't want to go there because | knew | would have an
encounter with Shantelle, but in the end, | had no choice.
Doctor

Dultz was said to be the best oncologist, especially for
lung cancer." He shook his head and conveyed, "He
explained that

cancer has already spread. It would have helped if the
cancer was still contained in my lungs and the affected
lung could

be removed, but in my case, it has already reached
nearby lymph nodes, other organs, and, like | said, my
spine.”

"So, the only solution is chemotherapy, and Doctor Dultz
suggested a combination of immunotherapy. Instead of the
same

drugs | had tried, we will try another chemo drug - an oral
one," Charles revealed. He became emotional again as he
said,

"Doctor Dultz suggested | do isolation, but knowing there
is a low probability of surviving, either way, | would rather
spend

time with your mom."

"Then, let's have your chemo at home, Dad. That can be
done. Let's have three nurses for you so someone can
help you

round the clock, strictly implement health protocol in the
house, and a caregiver too," Keith suggested. "| also know
how

tough stage four cancer can be. We have patients under
our medical coverage, so | know what to expect, but

Keith sucked a deep breath, feeling heaviness in his chest
as he resumed,’ We have all the resources we need. Let's
use

it, and hopefully, you'll live longer than the doctor's
prognosis or, who knows, miracles can happen, and you'll
survive

through this!"

"If anything, believing in the treatment and believing in
yourself can help, Dad." With me, Karise, and Kamila now
around

you, have more strength to fight this," Keith asked.
"Please, Dad. | love you -" i

It shocked Charles the most. He wept again, hearing Keith
say those words.

Keith embraced his father while Kamila remained in his
arms. He said, ’ Kamila also loves you. Look at how she is
holding

on to you." 1

'What would motivate you, Dad?" Karise asked. ' Name it,
and we will try to give it to you!"

"Done!" Keith said. "We can stay here every weekend, but
of course, Dad, if we get sick, we must stay away too."

"Really? | love that idea!" Helen exclaimed.

"| understand,” Charles acknowledged. "That idea of
seeing my granddaughter often pleases me."

"For today, can you and Karise stay with us? It's a
weekend, after all," Charles asked.

"Done! In fact, we will stay longer so | can hire more
nurses and a caregiver for you." Keith said with no
hesitation.

"Remember, Dad, anything you ask!"

"You are all that | need, son," Charles said. "You, your
mom, Karise and Kamila.” He put his hand on his chest,
repeatedly

tapping it. "Having you around gives me strength." 1
Keith and Karise stayed for three nights at the
Hendersons' mansion.

Charles and Helen had the most beautiful time with
Kamila, i

Helen often washed her. Charles fed her and put her to
sleep often. The grandparents were so engrossed. At the
same

time, Keith implemented the home treatment plan,
coordinating with Doctor Dultz.

Keith informed his parents on the fourth night of their stay that they were returning to the penthouse. At dinner, he said,

"Mom, Dad, you are all settled for the home chemotherapy treatment. From here on, we will be visiting every weekend."

"Thank you, Keith. We enjoyed having you with us," Helen said.

Charles also smiled, saying, "Very much."

"So before we leave, Dad. | just want to make sure | have
covered all your wishes. Anything else to help you become
more motivated?" Keith asked.

Charles laughed. He proposed, "lI don't know if you can
add one more grandchild. I'd love to wait for that. Haha!" 1
Helen laughed, but she nodded approvingly with her eyes
rounding.

Keith laughed his heart out, turning to his wife. Karise, on
the other hand, flushed.

"I'm just joking. No pressure on Karise," Charles said.
Although, that would be really nice."

Chapter 185: Girls' Night Out?

"Hey!" Shantelle said, offering a hug to Karise. "Tired?1
"Exhausted/1 Karise replied. She pressed her lips to
Shantelle’s

ears and said, And it doesn't help that Keith keeps me up all night."

A laugh escaped Shantelle’s lips. She revealed, "I think he is serious about having another child."

"How has it been going with your father-in-law?” Shantelle asked.

"He is better these days. He is happier at home, where he can see Kamila often/ Karise replied.

It has been a few months since Keith and his father
reconnected. The first three months seemed easy, but
Charles

eventually caught an infection since his immune system was compromised due to chemotherapy.

Charles Henderson ended up staying at Saint Dominique Heart and Lung Center for two weeks. Since Helen wasn't emotionally stable enough to support her husband alone, Keith and Karise took turns staying overnight at the hospital. At at the same time, one remained home to look after Kamila. If it weren't for Shantelle’s proposal; to combine Charles’ treatment with Intravenous immune globulin, Keith's father might have stayed longer in the hospital. Still, after Charles’ admission, there was a lot of home care needed that Keith and Karise lived in the Hendersons' mansion most days.

"But enough about me!" Karise declared, seeing Reese
arrive. "Today is a relaxation day for the girls!"

"Hi, guys!" Reese said, waving her hand. "I'm so excited. |
could really use a full body massage!"

Shantelle laughed. She remarked, "The hospital's been
busy?"

"More and more patients need therapy every day," Reese replied.

"Looks like you need a bear hug too!" Shantelle said,
offering a hug to Reese. 1

"| need a bear hug too!" Suddenly, they heard Milan call
from the driveway. A driver had dropped her off for the
girl's weekend together.

When Milan walked up to the girls, she revealed, "| have
been feeling so heavy, with all mixed emotions about my panties

not fitting my ass, and | can't even reach for my favorite snack. | swear this relaxation is just what | need!"

The girls laughed, and they all shared a hug outside the
biggest garden spa in the city.

"Here's to the girl's day at the spa!" Karise proclaimed,
raising her fist in the air. After the girls echoed the same, they all went in for their scheduled treatments.

Booking a group spa room, they had facial treatments,
body scrubs, pedicures, and manicures. Reese had an
extra body

massaged, as she had initially planned. While they were lying on their backs, Karise suggested,” Ladies, let's remember our full Brazilian wax. We gotta have that!"

"Amen!" Shantelle said.

"What's a Brazilian wax?" Reese asked.

"Oh, my god! You haven't had Brazilian wax?! Karise
exclaimed. "I'm telling you, Reese, after a Brazilian wax,
you will get pregnant!”

"Something tells me | need a Brazilian wax," Reese
concluded.

The ladies laughed as the therapists rubbed exfoliating
scrubs on their bodies. Reese's therapist said, "Don't
Worry, miss.

I'll give you the best Brazilian wax. I'll also prepare a
special bath for you so your flower will smell the best
tonight.”

"| think | want that too," Shantelle said, encouraging more giggles from the room.

"Count me in!" Milan claimed. "Although Wendell won't
lose control.”

"Nah, Wendell won't lose control," Karise remarked. "He is Mister Control." ***

The girls spent half a day getting pampered, and after
having the most beautiful milk bath, they all prepped up for a special dinner.

Reese was changing into the dress she had brought when Karise stepped in front of her and said, "I think your dress is lovely, but tonight, you need to be gorgeous."

"Because you just had a full Brazilian wax and had the
best bath ever! You need to be in a knock-out dress and go home to Sean in that!" Karise paused, saying, "After dinner, of course."

"And he'll go crazy," Shantelle remarked.

Lifting her brow, Reese said, "Well, then, I'll just wear that after dinner

"No!" All the girls said that at the same time.

"Wear that now. There is no changing area to where we
will have dinner," Milan reasoned.

Reese agreed and wore a sexy red dress that looked
brand new. The strange thing was how Karise had a dress size that fit her well. Karise was taller and thinner, but her dress was simply the right fit. Reese couldn't help but ask, "Did you buy this for me?"

"Um. Um," Karise was searching for the words. Ultimately, she said, "| was grabbing the dress really quickly that | did not

realize | bought the wrong size. Since we were going for our first girls’ night out, | remembered you, and thought it would fit you well!”

"Thanks, Karise! You are lovely/ Reese said.

Karise smiled from ear to ear and hugged Reese, saying,
"Of course, our husbands are best friends, so we should all be best friends too."

As Karise pulled away from the embrace, Reese flushed, saying, "We aren't married yet."

"Oh, don't worry, you'll be soon enough," Karise proposed. It's bound to happen, right? | heard Sean was scouting for a villa for you guys to live in."

"Yeah, he did/ Reese weakly replied. She was about to
say more but shut her mouth, remarking, "I haven't seen it,
though. Maybe he is still buying furniture. | don't know.
"I'm sure he is preparing for your perfect home," Milan
remarked.

"Miguel's here to pick us up! Let's go, ladies!" Shantelle
said. "Let's enjoy the night!

"| am loving girls’ night already," Reese commented as
they exited the VIP changing area of the spa.

Miguel brought Evan's Audi Limo for their ride. Once the ladies hopped in, Miguel turned to them, handing them a red blindfold. He said, 'Dinner is going to be a surprise!"
"What? | thought Shantelle planned the dinner?" Reese
asked.

"| did. | told Miguel to surprise us with the best dinner
place," Shantelle said while accepting the blindfold. She passed it

on to Karise and the other girls, saying, "Cover your eyes and no peeking!"

In the next hour, the limo arrived at a private estate. The ladies remained blindfolded as Miguel helped guide them off the vehicle. The girls were led by exceptional escorts. Miguel offered to guide Reese, saying, "Let me walk you, Misses Ross/

"I'm - we are not married," Reese corrected.

"Oh, it looked like it to me," Miguel replied.

"Oops! No peeking! Miguel warned because Reese
attempted to see through the space between her eyes and nose.

"Who is walking the others?" Reese said.

In front of her, she heard Karise say, "I'm being walked by a lovely gentleman. | can tell he is sexy, and | might cheat on my husband

"Don't say that!" Reese said. ’Keith's crazy about you!"

"| was just joking," Karise took back her words, chuckling. Reese could hear the girls laughing their hearts out. She was utterly intrigued that she came close to removing the cover over her eyes.

However, as soon as she reached for the blindfold, Miguel said, "We are here. Right this way, Misses Ross. You just need

to stand right here."

"Where are the others?" Reese inquired.

Reese noticed Miguel step away, but the girls no longer responded to her.

Out of nowhere, instrumental music began to play in the background. Reese was perplexed. Next, she heard the
familiar lyrics of the song by Jason Derulo.

Reese began to turn frantically from side to side. She
called the girls, but they weren't answering. The only
sound that the sweet song kept ringing.

When she could no longer hold it, she removed her
blindfold, only to find Sean kneeling before her. She was apparently

standing on a lawn, surrounded by rose petals, taking the shape of a heart. Candles were lit up everywhere, and an the audience was taking pictures of them from afar.

Evan, Keith, and Wendell were here. Sean's parents were here, and so was her mother. They were taking a video of what clearly was a proposal!

Reese's face turned red. She looked sideways and saw a home that was unfamiliar to her. Then, she fixed her gaze on Sean, who had nothing but a smile on his face.

He took her breath away, and the only thing she could do was cry.

The music faded out, and he held the microphone up,
singing the song of the lyrics in a slow beat, "A hundred and five is

the number that comes to my head. When | think of all the years, | wanna be with you

Wake up every morning with you in my bed. That's
precisely what | plan to do."

"Reese, my beautiful gal, my lost love, and my daughter'snmother. | love you more than | can describe. | have everything |

need, and you are the next person to complete me." Sean held up a beautiful yellow diamond ring, saying, Marry me, and in this house we stand in tonight, we will live and grow our family." 1

"Oh, god. | didn't expect this." Reese was crying helplessly. She turned to the girls and said, "Well played.’
1

Then, she looked at the ring and responded to Sean, "It's beautiful. Of course, I'll marry you, Sean. | love you so much. | love you so much." i

Applause could be heard next as Sean put on the ring. He got up from his kneeling stance and embraced Reese
tightly.

Tears welled in his eyes as he said, "I love you so much,
Reese. Thank you for coming back to my life."

Chapter 186



Chapter 186: Where is Everybody?

"Shanty, hey! The bill? The spa told me you used your
card. I'm sorry about that. They should have billed me for it." Sean asked.

"You don't have to. | was happy to pay for it. We had such a great time. Think of it as Evan took care of the bill," Shantelle said, referring to the spa treatments they received.

They were all walking into the house, preparing for dinner, when Sean approached Shanty.

Evan was walking next to his wife. He also offered, 'Til
take care of it, Sean, n

"No. No. My proposal idea, so | have to pay. Come on,
guys!" Sean insisted.

With that, Shantelle fished from her purse and handed
Sean the bill, saying, "If you insist, but no rush on the
payment.

You can transfer the amount to Evan."

Being the accountant that he is, Sean studied the bill while walking through the living room with the others. He quickly

spotted a familiar treatment that made him excited. He
approached Shantelle again, asking for private time.
Shantelle had to excuse herself from Evan, and in one
corner of the living room, she entertained Sean's probing. He asked, "Did.” He scratched his neck. His face flushed as he asked, "Did Reese get a B-wax?"

A smirk formed on Shantelle's face. She said, " Yeah, she got a full Brazillian wax, which looked so beautiful."

A hiss escaped Sean's lips. He said, "Fuck."

"Yeah, | can see that happening soon," Shantelle teased. Sean turned away, saying, "Reese and | will be late for dinner."

"Sure, understandable," Shantelle replied.

"Sean, where are we going? We have guests?" Reese
asked while Sean hurriedly dragged her to the stairs,
going to the villa's second floor.

"Sean? What has gotten into you?" Reese asked.

"| need to see something!" Sean declared. The moment
they entered the main bedroom, he pushed Reese against the door and smiled. He kissed her lips, his hands cupping her face before they glided down to grab her breasts, then fished under her skirt.

"Sean - Oh, Sean. Why are we doing - Aaaah!" Reese's
face flushed the moment he felt her bear peach.

"I'm dead," Sean declared. "| want you now."

He tore off her underwear and went down on her. As soon as he saw her naked rose, a hiss left his lips. He raised her leg, rested it above his shoulder, and licked her madly.

Moans echoed across the room as Sean heartily ate her. Reese's body waved in pleasure, her hips grinding against his tongue.

She got naked, pulled the red dress over her shoulders,
and massaged her breast. For minutes, Sean went at it,
savoring

her taste. Repeatedly, he remarked, "You taste so good,
Reese. And fuck, you look so beautiful."

With how Sean was eating her eagerly, Reese came in no
time! Her hips twitched, and her skin formed happy
goosebumps.

Knowing his fiance had come, Sean got up and unbuckled
his belt. He palmed himself and asked, "Reese, | want
your

mouth around me."

Reese kneeled and grabbed his manhood. It was her turn
to please him, bobbing in between his thighs.

Sean was so stiff; his length would bounce back everytime
Reese let go of his rod. Reese remarked, "You are so
hard."

When Sean felt he was at his peak, he grabbed Reese's
hand and turned her to face the door. He held her leg up with

one hand while his other guided his member inside her
rose.

"Aaaah!" Sean moaned loudly as soon as he felt her cave
sucking him in. He then began thrusting, slamming his
hips

against Reese's butt cheek.

The sounds of their lovemaking filled the air in the next
few minutes. Sean repeatedly grabbed her breast, kissed
her

shoulder blades, and sometimes left kiss marks on her
neck. He was so thrilled that when he came, he pushed
hard into

her wombed, his body mildly convulsing. "Fuck, Reese. |
love getting buried inside you."

Sean pushed and pushed, his hips squirming against
Reese's entrance. As he did, he guided Reese to turn to
him and

kissed her enthusiastically.

After kissing passionately for almost a minute, they
dressed and fixed themselves. Only then did they return to
the dining

area of their new home, where chefs had already begun to
serve food.

Sean and Reese settled in their seats with eyes on them,
especially their friends. Keith and Karise, for one, were
chuckling. Wendell was shaking his head while Milan
winked at Reese.

Suddenly, Sean asked, "Where are Evan and Shanty?"
From the new villa's extensive parking area, one red car
was shaking. No one was around, but the car's engine
was on.

Inside the vehicle, soft moans could be heard, and they
came from Shantelle. She straddled Evan in the front seat,
feeling

his size, "God, why do | feel like you are getting bigger
every time - Ahh!"

Evan smacked her bare ass, saying, "I don't know, Wifey.
You just make me hornier every time."

He grabbed the back of her neck and warranted a kiss.
They made out as Shantelle moved up and down on him.
"Fuck, Shanty, you feel so good always," Evan said.
"Please get pregnant already."

"Shhh." Shantelle ground her hips, letting his length feel
her inner walls. She answered, "Come what may, Hubby.
Come

what may. Let's not hurry. It will come."

It was because Evan overheard how they had Brazilian
wax that he had earlier fingered his wife beneath the
dining table.

As a result, Shantelle wanted to have car sex!

Car sex had always been on their agenda, but it had
slipped her mind when Lucas was in isolation. Now that
they were in

someone's home, Shantelle felt it was the perfect time to
achieve this bucket list!

Evan was still in his clothes. He only had his manhood out
of his trousers, while Shantelle's dress was on the other
car

seat. She was completely bare, riding her husband.
"Aaaah." Shantelle threw her head back, sensing how
Evan's shaft reached her very ends. When Evan cupped
her

breast, she gasped. When her husband sucked her
bosom, she moved her hips up and down again.

She looked down and noticed Evan licking her nipple. He
bit the pinkish bud lightly, saying, "Fuck, | love you so
much.

Let's have another honeymoon."

A chuckle left Shantelle's lips. She leaned down and
kissed him again, saying, "Every day is a honeymoon with
you. | love

you so much, Evan."

"I'm cumming," Evan warned.

Seeing her husband's brows meeting, Shantelle chased
her high. She concentrated on the feel of Evan's extra
large

member and orgasmed with him. They both shuddered
into each other's arms next, their hands feeling their
frames, with

Evan especially sucking on her breast as he erupted
inside her.

"Fuck, that was hot," Evan remarked. "We should do this
often.”

"At your office parking lot next," Shantelle proposed.

"At the center's parking lot, too," Evan said.

Shantelle chuckled and proposed, "We better get back.
They are probably thinking we are having sex."

"What? Why on earth would they think that?" Evan said,
shaking his head, but a mischievous grin quickly reflected
on his

face.

On the other hand, Shantelle laughed her heart out while
getting off him.

When Shantelle and Evan returned to the dining area,
everyone had already started their meals. They settled in
their

seats as if nothing had happened. Then, Shantelle noticed
her best friend was missing. She asked, "Where are Keith
and

Karise?"

Shantelle's eyes were widening. She already had these
naughty thoughts that Reese and Milan laughed at her.
Later,

however, Sean revealed," Karise was feeling unwell. They
are in the restroom.”

"Oh." The look of dismay was apparent on Shantelle's face
that Milan and Reese laughed again. Wendell and Sean
laughed with them too.

Shantelle thanked the heavens that Sean's parents did not have a clue and were busy looking out for Shauna at one end of the table.

Moments later, they heard Keith scream, "Sean! Help!
Someone prepare the car for me!"

Evan, Sean, and Wendell dropped everything. Shantelle
also stood up and rushed to find Keith. They found him
carrying

Karise. She was unconscious in Keith's arms.

"I'm taking her to the hospital!" Keith announced.

"I'm driving you," Evan offered.

Heartbeats later, Sean, Evan, and Shantelle were waiting
outside the hospital's Emergency Room.

Reese, Wendell, and Milan stayed behind Sean's villa,
waiting for feedback.

In front of the double doors, Shantelle walked back and
forth, worried sick. What concerned her the most was how they settled for the nearest hospital, which wasn't exactly the best. She said, "We should have gone to the heart and lung center."

"If it's alarming, we will move her," Evan proposed.

"What a day!" Sean remarked, his brows meeting.
Moments later, Keith stepped out of the emergency room,
smiling from ear to ear.

"What are you smiling about?" Shantelle asked.

"Karise is pregnant!" Keith announced.

"Ahh! Karise is pregnant!" Shantelle screamed. She was
jumping for joy and hugging Keith.

"What a day!" This time, Sean was laughing at the good
news.

Evan was relieved for Keith.

Keith and Karise went straight home after being cleared by
the hospital. The rest returned to Sean's villa, hoping to
pick

up where they had left off at the party. However, when they
arrived, another couple was missing.

Only Reese was there, waiting for them. Evan asked,
"Where are Wendell and Milan?"

Chapter 187: More Godchildren

"Aahh! So Beautiful! She has dark hair.” Shantelle
exclaimed while holding the newly born baby girl in her
arms. She was

settled on the hospital room's private suite sofa, a few
meters away from Milan.’

"They both have dark hair," Evan remarked. He was sitting
next to Wendell while the latter carried his son. i

"Did you keep their cord blood?" Shantelle asked.

"| did. After Lucas' experience, we had fully signed for cord
blood banking," Milan confirmed.

"| think that's great/ Shantelle answered with a wink. "We'll
never know it's needed, and you have two."

Apparently, Wendell and Milan suddenly left during Sean's
proposal party because Milan had abdominal discomfort
then.

She didn't give birth that night, but the twins were at risk of
coming out early. Thus, Milan was on complete bedrest at
the

hospital for a month until she gave birth.

Evan and Shantelle were their first visitor. The man had
called Lucas from home and showed him the babies.
Lucas’ eyes

were gleaming on the video call. He said, "Wow! More and
more playmates for me!’

"More like brothers and sisters to look out for, son/ Evan
corrected, encouraging laughter in their room, especially
from

Shantelle.

"Oh, poor Lucas. Your daddy is only joking." From her
hospital bed, Milan suggested.

"No, I'm not kidding, Lucas." Evan insisted. "You are the
eldest, so you get to watch them grow.’

"I don't mind, Aunt Milan/ Lucas said. 'I'll be the big
brother."

"Have you named them already?" Evan asked.

"I named them Daddy," Lucas revealed. 'Uncle Wendell
promised me that | could.’

"It better be good, son," Evan said.

"The girl would be Maxine, and the boy is John Adams/
Lucas said, his brows raised again and again in
amusement.

"See? Nice, right?’

"Are you sure you guys are okay with Lucas picking the
names?" Shantelle asked.

"Maxine had always been on my mind," Milan revealed.
"And | think John Adams is a cool name," Wendell
suggested. "l think Lucas is good with choosing names.’
"Aw, you guys." Shantelle mouthed, 'Are you sure?"
"We love Lucas' suggestions!" Milan and Wendell said
simultaneously, making Lucas jump for joy!

When the video call ended, Shantelle could not help but
say, "Thank you for making Lucas feel important. Thank
you for

treating him like he is your own too -"

"And not just Lucas, of course," Evan said. "| could say the
same thing for Amelia and Marcus."

"And for that, we love you. At any time, we are willing to
watch for the twins as you did during our trying times,"
Shantelle

suggested.

"We will remember that,’ Wendell said. "And | won't be shy
about it/

Evan and Shantelle also waited long enough for their other
friends to visit. Keith and Karise eventually came after
going

for prenatal. Reese and Sean arrived last.

They took pictures as a group, and Karise eagerly
uploaded them to her social media, tagging everyone. She
captioned: |

Congratulations to Milan and Wendell! And congratulations
to us for having more godchildren! When you have friends
this

tight, you'll have endless goddaughters and godsons you
will cherish for life. Love these guys!]

*k%k

After Milan gave birth, each couple became busy with their
respective lives.

Keith and Karise cared for their coming baby while
regularly visiting Charles and Helen at home. The news of
having

another grandchild thrilled Charles, making him more
optimistic.

Sean and Reese prepared for their wedding.

Naturally, Milan and Wendell had begun their sleepless
nights, taking care of their new loved ones, John Adams
and

Maxine.

On the other hand, Shantelle and Evan were working hard
to have another child. Things had been great for the power
couple. Lucas’ health continued to get better. In fact, the
doctor had already given their son a go signal to study in a
regular school.

Their twins, Marcus and Amelia, were so joyful and

playful. They were full of life and the couple's stress
reliever when

they returned home tired from work.

The plan was to take it slow. Come what may, as Shantelle
would say; however, as days and weeks passed, Evan
and

Shantelle had still not fallen pregnant. It felt strange to
them to think they had gone on with unprotected sex for so
long.

One evening, as the couple lay in bed at night, Shantelle
said, "Maybe, we weren't supposed to get pregnant again.
Maybe, we got pregnant initially because we were doing it
for Lucas.”

Evan pulled Shantelle against his chest. He pecked her
lips, the tip of her nose, and her forehead, saying, "While |
want to

have another child, | am very satisfied with our family. So
whether we have another child or not, | am good.’
"Besides, | have five godchildren now. That's enough to
keep my mind busy.” Looking down at his wife, he asked,"
Shanty,

you'll need to remind me of their birthdays. | might forget.
Sean and Reese will still have another child, making it six
or

more. Plus ours, that's a lot/

"Pfft Shantelle laughed. She said, "What if our friends
have more kids! Oh, my god! | can't imagine our future
gatherings!

It's going to be like a kids' camp?’

"It's going to be entertaining," Evan remarked. "But going
back to us -"

Evan crawled down to Shantelle's tummy. He pecked it,
saying, "To heavens above, may you bless me and Shanty,
another child because | want another baby girl who looks
like my pretty wife.””’

"Amen/ Shantelle closed.

The couple kissed and wished the same as they went to
sleep that night.

Days before Sean's wedding, Evan was working in his
office when Shantelle walked in the door. She was smiling
brightly

and quickly shut the door behind her.

"Wifey?" Evan asked. "lI thought you had an operation
today?"

"| did. It was easy," Shantelle said. She found herself in
Evan's lap and wrapped her arms around his neck,
saying," Let's

celebrate.’

Lifting his brow, the man asked, 'Celebrate? Why? How?’
Shantelle began to unbuckle his belt, and Evan was
smiling from ear to ear. Whatever it was, he was getting a
prize.

Next, Shantelle found herself between his legs and
beneath his table. She began palming him. Finally, she
revealed, I'm

pregnant.”

"What did you say? - Aaaah. Yeah/ Evan gasped. "Wifey,
are you -"

Shantelle had earlier put his manhood inside her mouth,
sucking him earnestly. She let go with a pop, confirming, "I
am

six weeks pregnant! And the baby already has a
heartbeat."

"What?’ Evan said, but before he could ask more, she
returned to eating him. "Fuck, Wifey. That's great news. |
get a

blowjob on top of the good news too."

"Aaaah!" Evan leaned his head back. He was moaning
and relishing the feel of his wife's mouth around his shaft
when the

door to his office suddenly opened.

'Fuck!" Evan cursed in his head. In his office, only James
and Sean knew the passcode to his door. James would
always

knock and wait a few minutes prior to entering, but not
Sean.

"Hey, Evan. | need to go. I'm meeting Reese for the cake
tasting," Sean said while putting documents on Evan's
desk.

Evan promptly moved closer to his table, hiding his wife.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his heart
raced. Beneath the table, he also noticed his wife
panicking.

"You, okay, man?" Sean asked, lifting his brow.

"I'm fine. | am -1 am constipated,” Evan reasoned.

Well, get some prune juice, man!" Sean suggested before
saying goodbye again. 'I'm on leave tomorrow. Remember
that!’

[

"Sure! Sure. Hurry up and leave, Sean! Reese is waiting
for you and fucking lock the door behind you! Tell James
not to

come in!" Evan instructed.

Sean gave him a salute. He pulled the door open and
froze in his stance. Then he said, "Bye, Evan. Bye,
Shanty!" 1

"Fuck you, Sean!" Evan barked. 'Get that hell out of here!"
"Obviously, man. You are the one getting it! | recognize
those heels anywhere!" Sean acted to close the door,
saying,

"Enjoy!

Chapter 188: The Fourth Wedding

"Wow, this is nice. It’s like a walk down memory lane,”
Shantelle commented, seeing photos of Sean and Reese
during

their younger years." They were really that close, huh?"
The photos were mounted on curtains hanging from steel
frames, creating a tunnel to pass through. The elegant
tunnel

contained pictures of Reese and Sean from when they
were young and their recent pre-nuptial photos.

All guests had passed through the tunnel before making
their way to their seats.

"Yes, they were close," Evan replied. He pointed to one
photo of Reese where she was smiling at the camera
innocently

while Sean used his fingers to make horns for her. Sean
was smirking in Reese's way, but what caught their
attention was

how his eyes were sparkling in amusement.

"And he was always happy with her," Keith said behind
them, walking with his wife.

"Uncle Sean loves Aunt Reese very much," Lucas
remarked. Being the bearer of the rings, he was also part
of the

entourage.

"He does," Evan admitted.

"| like their pre-nuptial photos," Milan said from behind.

"And It's nice that Shauna was part of it," Wendell
remarked, seeing more family pictures ahead.

"Of course, because Shauna was part of their love story,"
Karise said.

The friends were lining up for the entourage march. While
waiting, Keith made an announcement. He said, "By the
way,

we had an early gender detection.”

Milan and Shantelle gasped.

"A girl?" Milan asked.

"Hopefully, a boy!" Shantelle suggested.

Keith hugged Karise from behind. He pecked her cheek,
and the two discussed who should break the news until
finally,

Keith said, "We are... having another girl!" 1

"Oh, my god! Two girls now!" Shantelle exclaimed. "You
need to get pregnant again!"

"Yeah, you definitely need a boy," Milan said, chuckling.
Wendell and Evan agreed firmly. Evan said, "Yeah, add
more motivation for Uncle Charles."

"It's time to start!" Suddenly, the wedding coordinator
called their attention. Everyone found their place and
marched to a

piece of instrumental music.

Sean's and Reese's wedding was held at the Grand
Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel, accommodating over five
hundred

guests.

It followed a green, orange, and gold color theme.
Beautiful orange blooms could be seen anywhere, paired
with golden

twigs and different shades of leaves. On the venue's sides
were bonsai orange trees placed in pots. The same kind of
fruit

was also part of each table's centerpieces.

The stage was made at the very center of the venue,
elevated only by three feet, with steps around it for the
groom or

bride to use. Thus, when the entourage reached the
center, they found their tables and waited.

*k%k

Sean was already standing on the stage. He saw his
parents sending him love, his mother blowing him a kiss,
and his

father nodded and gave him a thumbs up.

He turned to his friends and saw how they were all glad for
them, making him smile from ear to ear. Eventually, the
music

around the venue changed, urging him to turn to the other
side.

At the far end of the venue were two massive LED
screens. It flashed a photo of Reese and Sean, their
foreheads resting

against each other. In that same picture, their eyes were
closed, and their smiles were prominent.

Below their photos were their names. It read: [Happy Ever
After. Sean and Reese]

The music around the venue strengthened, and a
woman's voice sang the song's lyrics. It was "How Long
Will | Love You"

by Ellie Goulding.

The LED screens suddenly split open, revealing Reese to
the crowd.

Awws and oohs could be heard, recognizing her wedding
entrance was different. As the LED screens continued to
slide

open, Reese had her head down, her gleaming veil
covering her face.

In front of her was Shauna, throwing rose petals on the
floor. Like her mommy, she was also extra pretty and was
smiling

brightly.

Seeing his daughter, Sean could not help but feel
contented, knowing that they would officially be a family in
a few

minutes.

~" How long will | love you?

As long as stars are above you

And longer ifl can" ~

Sean returned his attention to Reese. When she lifted her
face, Sean felt teary-eyed. Not only was Reese so
beautiful in

her wedding gown, but he also sensed the song's lyrics
and knew it was the same for Reese.

After finally finding his soulmate, he swore in his heart that
he would love her for as long as it took. That was how they
agreed on this wedding song. It was a promise of love until
the very end.

Finally, when Reese arrived at the center stage, Sean held
her hand. He wiped the corners of his eyes before looking
at

her. He said, "l love you."

Reese had also wept a little. She smiled, mouthing, 'l love
you too.’

The wedding ceremony resumed, and after they said their
| DOs, Reese and Sean graced everyone with a hot and
long

kiss. The crowd called for it.

"A five-minute kiss!" One of Sean's cousins said.

"Keep at it, man! Keep at it! | support this!" Keith
encouraged.

"Why don't we go home and return tomorrow?" Evan
teased, but that did not affect the newly wedded couple.

Sean and Reese had no care in the world. They kissed
and took breaks as they pleased, then returned to eating
their

faces again.

Each time it looked like they were done kissing, the
officiant was ready to affirm the end of the ceremony, but
no, the kiss

lasted for seven minutes.

When they were finally done, their lips were swollen, and
their smiles were unending. Sean finally gave the officiant
the

signal.

It was because Sean wanted the kiss before the official
announcement, which the officiant followed. When Sean
raised

Reese's hand, the officiant said, "Let US welcome Mister
and Misses Ross!"

Sean's wedding had the best entertainment, for dances
and songs were part of his interests. He and Reese
danced

during their party entrance, and in the middle of the event,
they sang in front of the crowd. They both could sing a
tune

very well.

In that particular song number, Reese and Sean were
hidden amongst the crowd, changed into new clothes. No
one

noticed them come in since they had turned off the lights,
and they were especially seated in designated chairs
between

tables.

So when the music played, everyone was looking out for
Reese and Sean. Out of nowhere, Reese stood up,
removing a

golden headdress. Wearing a golden gown, she sang, "|
found myself dreaming in silver and gold.

Like a scene from a movie that every broken heart knows.
It was a song by Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend,
entitled "Like I'm Gonna Lose You."

Everyone was in awe of Reese. Not only was she stunning
and down to earth, but she was talented as well. Those
who

thought so simply of her were quite impressed.

Reese dramatically walked through the crowd, holding a
microphone, and a camera followed behind her. Her
expressions

and every angle were flashed through the widescreen.

"In the blink of an eye, just a whisper of smoke. You could
lose everything. The truth is you never know." Sean sang,
popping out from his parent's table, where he had hidden
and sang the song's lyrics.

The song continued until Reese and Sean met at the
center stage. They sang their hearts out, looking at each
other with

love and adoration, holding each other's hands.

"I'm gonna love you (oh) like I'm gonna lose you." By the
time the song ended, Sean and Reese's foreheads rested
together, and with smiles, they said at the same time, "To
forever."

The particular number granted loud applause. Guests
stood from their seats, clapping their hands. Many visitors
gave

praise.

"You are lucky to have each other!"

"We are proud of you!" Keith called from afar.

Others merely blew them a kiss, but that was enough to
hint they were happy with the couple's wedding.

Hours passed, and the wedding party concluded. Like
every wedding, the good friends gathered around and
talked about

plans or covered the funny moments at the event. The
children were at another table with their grandparents and
nannies.

"What a fun wedding," Milan complimented.

"Yes, it's so Sean," Wendell added.

Evan, in particular, was commending the event, saying, "I
think Sean's wedding came close to mine and Shanty's. I'll
give

him that."

"Oh, Evan. It's not a competition. It was about you making
up for the heartache you gave me. That's why you gave
me a

grand wedding," Shantelle pointed out.

"Ouch, Wifey. Why do you have to remind me," Evan
groaned, but Shantelle only laughed.

"Good point there, Shanty," Karise remarked, chuckling.
While they were chatting, Reese and Sean found their way
to their group. As soon as they stood behind them, Sean
reported, "We have great news."

"Aside from your wedding?" Keith asked.

Reese and Sean looked at each other before revealing
together, "We are pregnant!" 1

"Seven weeks," Reese revealed.

"Oh, my god! I'm so happy for you!" Shantelle said. She
stood up and hugged Reese, adding, "We are pregnant
simultaneously!”

"Love it! Reese is prego, Shanty is prego and I'm prego!"
Karise danced in her seat, encouraging laughter in their
group. 1

Wendell turned to Milan with a baffled expression as if
wanting to fight the odds.

Milan laughed. She shook her head and said, "No. We
haven't even passed the sleepless nights yet. No."
Another set of laughter erupted at their table. Wendell
hugged his wife, saying, "I'm only joking, gorgeous. |
agree. We

should take a break and enjoy our time with our twins."

Chapter 189: Lucas Giving Back

Evan smiled, seeing the honeymoon photos Sean had
sent him. He read his friend's text: [Thank you, man. We
love it!)

He had gifted Sean a honeymoon package at the
Caribean Sales. That was why Sean made an effort to
send him

pictures as gratitude. The man texted back, saying: [Enjoy
you two.)

The man was inside his twin's nursery when Sean sent
him messages. He put his phone on the dresser and
turned to his

twins. He announced, "Okay, it's time for a bath."
Shantelle was holding Amelia in the sofa bed, chuckling.
She encouraged Evan, saying, Go, Daddy!"

Behind Shantelle, Lucas laughed, adding, "Go, Daddy! |
have their clothes!"

Marcus was walking around, stacking toys in one comer of
the nursery. He was so busy, he did not notice Evan creep
up

behind him and carrying his weight.

The twins, Amelia and Marcus, were already over a year
old and were very energetic. Getting them into a bath was
a

challenge, all the more putting them into their clothes.
Once in a while, Shantelle and Evan try to do their
parental duties without the caregivers or the maids. While
it felt like a

marathon, it was fulfilling.

"You are the first to take a bath, buddy!” Evan declared
while holding Marcus.

Lucas helped remove Marcus’ clothes and walked with
Evan into the bathroom, where a portable tub had already
been

prepared.

Evan took the demanding role since Shantelle was
pregnant. He didn't want her to have an accident while
bathing the

twins.

While Evan bathed Marcus, Lucas entertained his baby
brother with bath toys. Marcus, on the other hand, kept
blabbing

and giggling. Sometimes he would splash Evan with water
and Lucas too.

"You love bathing, don't you, Marcus?" Evan asked.

"Bat!" Marcus yelled. 'Dadada!”

"And you love it when Daddy gives you a bath, right
baby?” Evan asked while he quickly lathered soap around
Marcus

and cleaned him off. Next, he drained the mini tub's soapy
water and rinsed Marcus thoroughly.

Lucas was ready with the towel, holding it up, saying, "I
can carry Marcus, Daddy."

"Ah." While Lucas was tall, Evan did not want to take any
chances. He said, "When you are ten years old, Lucas."
Lucas groaned but followed Evan back to the nursery to
help dry Marcus.

Next, Evan raised Marcus, and Lucas inserted his baby
brother's diaper pants. Evan winked at Lucas, saying,
‘Good

brother, Lucas."

After Lucas and Evan help each other put on Marcus’
pajamas, the man bathed Amelia next. Lucas assisted him
thoroughly until Amelia was fully clothed in her pajamas.
Finally, when it was time to put the twins to sleep, they
gathered in the nursery's sitting area, where they settled
on a sofa

bed. It was Shantelle's time to do her task, and she told a
story to the twins.

Amelia was often in Shantelle's arms, paying attention to
her mother. She often reached for the book and bit a
stuffed toy

that she carried around with her.

Marcus was simply restless. Still, Evan tried his best to
return Marcus near to Shantelle. The couple wanted the
twins to

get used to bedtime stories at an early age so they would
grow to like reading books.

Lucas was in the same room the entire time, listening to
Shantelle or often helping Evan chase after Marcus.

By the time the story ended, Amelia was already sleepy.
Shantelle let Amelia drink her evening milk and sang a
song for her baby girl. Amelia fell asleep in no time.

As for Marcus, he was another story. He kept running
around, asking his daddy to carry him constantly and
wiggling his

body to go back down again.

"Let him walk around. He will get tired eventually,”
Shantelle suggested.

"I'll follow him around, Daddy. You can sit down and rest,’
Lucas offered. And so, for the next few minutes, Shantelle
and

Evan merely watched Lucas as he ensured Marcus wasn't
bumping into corners or putting toys into his mouth.

When they saw Marcus let out a yawn, Shantelle took over
and carried Marcus in her arms. Like how she made
Amelia

fall asleep, Shantelle sang to her boy and gave him his
evening milk.

Evan wanted to pat Marcus to bed, and Shantelle let him.
The man lingered by Marcus’ crib and rubbed his back. He
caressed Marcus’ hair, knowing his son liked to be
comforted

that way to sleep. Evan thought his son was adorable, and
he couldn't help but stare at him.

Marcus was still half asleep at that point. Evan did not
know why or what force made him look Marcus in the eye
and

continue to admire him. Suddenly, Marcus' gaze landed on
him, and his eyes opened brighter. Alas, Marcus smiled at
him,

saying, "Dada!"

Evan's son was awake again!

"Why is he awake?’ Shantelle asked.

Evan had carried Marcus, mildly swaying him to sleep. He
turned to Shantelle, admitting, "I -1.1 looked him in the
eye."

"Oh, Evan. You know this already. Never look at a sleepy
baby in the eye!" Shantelle reminded.

Evan mouthed, "Il know. | -1 was just admiring his
cuteness, and | ended up looking at his eyes, and then, he
looked

back. Bam! He was awake again."

Behind them, Lucas chuckled. He proposed, "Let's work
together. Mommy, Daddy. Sometimes, with Misses Shaw,
we

pretend to be asleep next to Marcus.”

Lucas pointed to the sofa bed. It was a kind that could be
pulled out into a full-size bed.

Shantelle carried Marcus while Evan set up the sofa bed.
They all lay on the sofa bed with Marus in the middle.

Lucas pretended to be asleep, and so did Evan. Shantelle
hummed Marcus a song, patting him on the leg and
sometimes

rubbing his back.

Marcus tried to play with his parents at first, smiling and
smacking their faces, but when Evan and Shantelle did not
react,

he yawned and lay beside his mother. Finally, Marcus fell
asleep.

When Shantelle had rested Marcus in the crib, Lucas
said," We did it! We did it together. Mommy, Daddy!"
"Thank you, Lucas, for being a good brother to your
siblings. And thank you for helping Mommy and Daddy,"
Evan said.”

We love you for being a loving brother and a helpful son to
us."

Lucas smiled at Evan. He answered, "You are welcome,
Daddy. | love my siblings and wanted to give back to you
and

Mommy."

Hearing Lucas' words, Evan leaned back. He asked, "Give
back to us?"

Lucas nodded. By that time, Shantelle had already
returned to where they sat. He said, "Yes, Daddy, Mommy.
For the

times you cared for me when | was sick. You made me
feel strong, and you were never tired."

Lucas raised his arms, showing his biceps. He claimed,
'So now that Lucas is strong, | will help care for my
siblings so

Mommy and Daddy won't be exhausted!" 2

Evan was stunned. He felt his chest become heavy,
realizing his son's efforts in giving back to them.

In front of them, Shantelle wept. She immediately kissed
Lucas' cheek, saying, "Son, you don't need to give back to
us.

We cared for you because we love you, but thank you for
considering us too. Your daddy and | love you so much."
"I love you too, Mommy and Daddy!" Lucas said before
hugging his parents.

*k%k

Evan and Shantelle settled in bed smiling, clearly moved
by Lucas’ words.

The man kissed his wife and hugged her as they spooned
in bed. Evan said, "Thank you for a wonderful son, my
wife, for

raising him to be a good and loving boy. Thank you for my
beautiful children and one more coming. I'm so lucky to
have

you.’

Shantelle turned to Evan and kissed his lips. She replied,”
Lucas is who he is also because of you. You may have
been

late in becoming his father, but you showed him what it's
like to be a responsible and loving father."

"No matter how old and tall Lucas will grow upto be, |
know that he will always look up to his dad, and that's you,
Evan,”

She added.

"Thank you. Shanty. | love it when you make me feel
special when it comes to the kids," Evan admitted.
"Because of that,

I'll eat you."

Shantelle wasn't expecting to get eaten that night, but she
claimed it as a bonus. Naturally, they both made love too.
After being intimate, they returned to cuddling in bed.

Shantelle faced her husband, saying, "You know what else
made your children special? They got your genes. That's
why

they are so adorable.’

Evan smirked. He asked, "Did you want me to eat you
again?"

A laugh escaped Shantelle's lips. She said, "Yeah, but let's
reserve that for the morning."

Evan chuckled. He declared, "You didn't have to flatter me.
Wifey. I'll eat you in as much as you want because | love
you,

and | am simply addicted to your taste.’

The couple laughed again, complementing each other until
they finally recognized the near sleep. After giving
Shantelle

one last peck for the night, Evan whispered, ‘Goodnight,
my beautiful wife.” "Goodnight, Evan, my hottie husband,"
Shantelle answered before closing her eyes.

Chapter 190: Girl Or Boy?

"Pediatric surgery? But didn't you study everything,
though?" Evan asked Shantelle after learning she wanted
todo a

fellowship with a Pedia Cardio surgeon.

"I did, but | mostly trained with surgeons who operate on
adults,” Shantelle replied. "So when Doctor Patel
proposed it, |

agreed. There are only two pediatric cardio surgeons here
in Rose Hills, and the city could use another one."

On a Saturday morning, the couple was on the road to see
Shantelle's OB doctor when Evan caught Shantelle
studying

surgeries on children. She had several videos saved on
her phone, sent by another doctor.

Shantelle was already four months pregnant, and that day
was their big gender reveal. They were also meeting Sean
and

Reese, for they will have the same procedure. Then, when
Karise learned they were seeing the doctorthat day, she
also

moved her prenatal check up.

"| have to hand it to you, Wifey. You have a lot on your
plate. Not just the studying but teaching too," Evan
remarked. It

was because the local university had invited Shantelle to
teach a few subjects in medicine. It was the same
university that

her father, William, co-founded before leaving Rose Hills.
Shantelle has agreed to teach two surgery classes so far.
"Teaching is the best way to learn, in the sense that it is
experiential, and you get to hear many sides from the
students. |

like how they bring up surgical scenarios that force me to
research and think of possibilities myself," Shantelle
revealed.

"That and a lot more."

"Your father is retiring," Evan said.

Shantelle was still watching the videos when Evan
reminded her. She smiled and said, Doctor Hale can take
over dad's

position, Evan. I'm still not ready to run an entire hospital. |
don't mind running the thoracic surgical team, but not
everybody."

"l understand, Wifey. We are here," Evan said, turning left
to the hospital driveway.

"Oh, my god, Reese, I'm so glad we went for a checkup
together," Shantelle expressed, sitting beside Reese.

Evan and Sean shook hands before taking seats next to
their wives. Just as they settled down, Karise walked into
the

clinic. She was by herself since Keith was out of town.
The ladies squeaked at seeing each other. Karise sat next
to Sean and revealed, "I told Milan we were all having a
checkup. She is coming over."

Reese and Shantelle's mouths fell open. Shantelle asked,
"Milan is pregnant?”

"No." Karise laughed and said, "She is only having a pap
smear. | think they are serious about resting for a while."
The ladies did not necessarily have the same doctors, but
the same clinic had two known obstetricians and
gynecologists

working together. It was Shantelle who had referred the
girls to the same clinic.

"Misses Ross, you are up next," a secretary announced.
"| hope we are going to have a boy," Sean said. "Little
Sean."

"What? What about me? Shauna already takes a lot from
you. It's time for a little Reese, regardless if the baby is a
boy or

girl," Reese pointed out.

"Okay. Okay, good," Sean said, surrendering to his wife's
words. "What | mean is a boy. | want a boy."

Sean put an arm around Reese, saying, "You are getting
feisty, eh?"

"That's what happens when you spoil your wife," Karise
replied.

"But he should," Shantelle added.

"Of course, wives must be spoiled," Karise affirmed.
Reese walked into the ultrasound room when Milan
arrived. Milan greeted Sean and Reese before waiting with
the rest of

the crew.

As they were seated, Milan announced, “Guys, my dad
wants to retire. Guess who will be the next CEO of our
company?”

"Wow! Of course, it can only be Wendell!" Evan said.
"Where is he, by the way?"

"At the office. Weekend work. Taking in the Wright
Diamond Corporation as a client made him busy, but Dad
was so

pleased with Wendell that he declared he was set for life
and ready to retire!" Milan revealed, granting chuckles in
their

party. "The appointment ceremony will be in two months.
Please be there."

"We won't miss it," Shantelle confirmed.

"Glad I'm not yet due then," Karise said while resting her
hand on her six- month old belly.

After a few minutes, Sean and Reese came out, both
wearing huge grins. Evan said, "Looks like you both got
what you

want."

"Well, | have yet to determine if our son will look like me,
but Sean got what he wanted!" Reese revealed.

"We are having a boy!" Sean disclosed. 1

Evan gave Sean a high-five. The man said, "Happy for
you, Sean. Many more to come.”

Sean chuckled, saying, "I hope so, but we are not rushing.
Not like you and Shanty."

"We weren't planning on rushing. I'm just too rich. | need
more Kids,” Evan said before smirking.

Everyone laughed at his suggestion, including two other
couples who came for their consultation. Shantelle
punched Evan

in the arm, saying," What kind of reasoning is that?"
"Okay, truth be told, I'm simply crazy about my wife, and |
can't help but want more children with her," Evan admitted.
"Everyone agrees to that?"

"Agree!" Sean confirmed.

"We all agree," Reese echoed. "Now, | think it's your turn.
What will it be? A boy or a girl?"

"A girl," Evan claimed.

"| hope so too. That would mean we will have two girls and
two boys," Shantelle said.

Evan and Shantelle were called in next. The rest lingered
in the waiting area, making their predictions. Out of
nowhere,

they heard Evan scream from inside the ultrasound room,
"Yes™

Laughter filled the air by the sofas. Karise concluded, "I
think that means the baby is a girl."

The couple confirmed with their friends when Evan and
Shantelle were done with their consultation, both loudly
saying,

"We are having a girl!" 1

"Congratulations!" Reese greeted while Karise hugged
Shantelle.

"Looks like we both got what we want, Evan! How about
we celebrate?" Sean proposed.

After Karise's and Milan's consultations, they went to the
Diamond Hotel for a lunch buffet. Wendell drove over to
join their

group.

Since Keith was the only one missing, they called him for
a video call. Keith was at Warlington, reviewing the claims
in the

city. He was supposed to return a day before, but the
weather turned out bad in Warlington, and even the private
jets were

not allowed to leave. That was how Karise went to the
hospital alone, leaving Kamila in Helen's care.

"Too bad, Keith. You are missing on the great lunch,"
Wendell said.

"I'm stuck out here, and | think it will be for another day or
two before the weather clears out," Keith reported on the
phone. "Will someone please take care of my wife?"
"Pfft!" Karise laughed. It wasn't like she needed someone
to look after her. She just did not like having a driver to
follow

her around. She had more freedom simply being dropped
off or riding an Uber.

"| am doing just fine, Babe," Karise claimed. "And your
daughter is doing well too. She is very active in my
tummy."

"We'll take care of her," Sean assured Keith. "Reese and |
will take her home."

"Thanks, Sean. Owe you one," Keith said.

After the video call with Keith, the friends continued to
have a delicious meal. They were already finishing up
dessert

when Karise received another call. It was from Keith's
mother, Helen.

Everyone slowly noticed how Karise stilled on the phone.
She kept nodding, saying, "I'll be there. No - no. Stay with
Dad

at the hospital. The maids will look after Kamila, and I'll be
there in half an hour."

When Karise was done, she looked at her friends,
revealing, "Keith's father got admitted to the Heart and
Lung Center."

She gulped and added, "They said... Dad has
pneumonia.”

She got up in a panic, saying, "I need to go. | better check
on Keith's parents and then Kamila

"We'll check on Uncle Charles," Evan offered. "Shanty was
planning to head to the center and visit patients anyway."
Shantelle repeatedly nodded, saying, "Take care of Kamila
first, and don't worry. We will update you about Uncle
Charles

on the phone. No need to rush.”

Karise was immediately teary-eyed. Being pregnant and
Keith out of town, she was panicking. She sucked in a
breath,

saying, "l love you guys.

Seriously. I'm glad | married Keith because marrying Keith
meant having you as friends."

Reese and Milan especially hugged Karise. After getting
Soothed, Reese and Sean left with Karise to Henderson's
mansion while Shantelle and Evan prepared to leave for
the Heart and Lung Center.

"Wait. Wait. What about US? There must be something we
could do?" Wendell asked.

Evan thought profoundly and said, "Well, for starters, you
could... pay the bill? Mister soon to be CEO."

Milan chuckled while Wendell shook his head, saying,
"Go, go, go. I'll take care of the bill. Update me later."

"No, seriously. Go home to your twins. They are still young
and need their parents. Since you gave Lucas the honor of
naming your twins." Evan and Shantelle looked at each
other, smiling. The man turned to Wendell, declaring,
"We'd love it

if you would name our next daughter.”

Chapter 191: Charles’ Last Request

"Wow, she is just so beautiful! This time, she has Keith's
features," Shantelle said, pinching Karise's new baby girl.
"I'm

glad | came here."

"I'm glad you did," Karise said the same. "| miss you and
everybody."

Shantelle smiled at her friend, saying, "We talk a lot, but
yes, | miss you too. We have all been busy."

Months had passed since Shantelle and her friends had
gathered.

Following the day Charles was admitted to the heart and
lung center, it had not been the same for Keith and Karise.
Charles had been in and out of the hospital since, from
infection and, recently, liver and kidney failure. Keith's
father

underwent intensive chemotherapy because his cancer
cells were aggressive. Still, as a result, it affected his other
organs, especially his liver.

Sean and Reese were Keith's constant aid with Kamila,
and that was because proximity allowed them to quickly
rush to

their villa. There were nights when Keith and Karise would
leave for the hospital in the wee hours, bringing Kamila
and her

nanny to Sean and Reese. That day, they had the same
arrangement. At least Reese's mother was constantly
home,

regardless if Sean and Reese were out for work.

Keith tried not to involve his wife whenever his father was
rushed to the hospital, but at the same time, he needed
his wife

emotionally. He could not help but also want his wife with
him.

Coincidentally, Shantelle had earlier observed a pediatric
surgery. It was part of her training so she could better
perform

pediatric surgeries. So when she learned that Karise had
given birth at the same hospital, she visited her friend. 1
Karise was in the care of Mister Myers, her father. Keith
was at the heart and lung center, aiding his parents.
"What is her name?" Shantelle asked while looking at the
newborn baby.

"Keith and | - we don't know if we'll have another child. So
we wanted to name her after her grandfather," Karise said.
"Charlene." 3

"Uncle Charles and Helen," Shantelle remarked. "Good
choice."

Karise became teary-eyed, saying, "Yeah." She wiped the
corners of her eyes, adding, "It's been hard, Shanty. It's
been

especially hard for Keith. | mean, | know how he feels. |
was so heartbroken when my mom passed away. Can you
really

be ready to lose a parent? No one can be truly prepared
for it."

"I know. | don't know what I'd do if that happened to me.
You were strong and made Keith stronger because you
have

experienced the same pain," Shantelle acknowledged.
She walked over to Karise and sat on her hospital bed.
She held

her hand and said, "Be strong for your husband. He is
going to need it."

Shantelle gave Charlene to her other grandpa. She
hugged Karise tightly until she received a call for
emergency surgery.

She pulled away reluctantly, reporting, "I have to go to the
heart and lung center. Take care. Love you."

"Thanks for coming," Karise replied. "l love you t00."
While Shntelle had left for work, Keith had arrived to see
his wife. Karise's father left for the night, and the couple
had a

silent dinner. Keith was constantly looking distantly, his
mind drifting away.

They temporarily asked the nursery to look after Charlene,
for Keith was depleted. They were happy with their baby
girl's

arrival, but Charles's condition drained them emotionally.

On the hospital bed, Keith cuddled with Karise, his hand
tightening around her waist. He repeatedly pecked her
shoulder

and weakly revealed, "Dad wants to go home. He said he
has had enough. He wants to die in his home and

Keith broke down in tears. He sniffed as he resumed, "He
said he wants to see his new grandchild before he dies.
His

doctor thinks it's best too."

Karise turned to her husband and wiped his tears.
Although she was crying too, she replied, "I'm sorry,
Keith."

"Babe, Dad and | didn't always get along, and it sucks that
we wasted time apart, even before he got cancer," Keith
said.

"I will never let that happen to us - our children.”

Karise nodded approvingly, saying, "We learn the hard
way."

Hugging her husband, Karise said, "Your dad has been
struggling with his treatment too. And with cancer
spreading, he is

going to be in a lot of pain - Il

"I know. And | understand his wishes," Keith admitted. He
hugged his wife tighter, saying, "Babe, | don't know what
I'd do

without you, Kamila, and our new baby. Thank you for
being there for me. You tried to give me strength even
when you

were carrying our child."

"| love you forthat - for your sacrifices and selflessness,"
Keith pointed out.

"It's because | love you. Your family is mine too. And your
troubles are mine. Your pain is also mine to bear. You
don't

need to thank me, but love me as | love you," Karise
replied. 1

Karise and Keith slept with heavy hearts that night but
were also relieved to have each other. The following
morning, Keith

hurriedly processed Karise's discharge. They went to fetch
Kamila from Sean's house and headed home to the
Hendersons' mansion.

It was already in the evening when Charles was brought
home. He was still in his wheelchair, but this time, he had
several

tubes attached to him. He had a urine catheter, an oxygen
tank behind his wheelchair, and a nasal cannula.

Charles tried to look more energetic, but it was clear that
his health was in a poor state. Helen, who had walked
behind

her, also tried to put up a strong facade, but her eyes were
sad.

The first thing Charles asked was to see his grandkids. In
the living room, he said, "Babies, where -where are they?"
"Here! We are here!" Karise said, rushing out with
Charlene. A nanny brought Kamila and settled her on
Charles’ lap.

Charles immediately pecked Kamila's cheek, saying, "I
miss you, Kamila, and | will miss you when | am gone."
Kamila hugged Charles, but eventually, the one-year-old
became restless and started touching Charles’ attached
tube.

Keith had to take her away, and Karise presented their
new baby.

Handing Charles the newborn, Karise revealed, "Dad,
meet Charlene."

"Charlene, as in Charles and me?" Helen asked. This
time, there was a noticeable gleam in her eyes. "Why,
thank you.

Thank you so much."

"Do you love the name, Charles?" Helen asked.

Charles nodded. He tried his best to give the most
pleasing smile, being over the moon about having a child
named after

him. He repeatedly wept, thanking Keith and Karise for
thinking of him. He said, "Then, you will never forget me."
"Of course, Dad, and we will tell Charlene where she got
her name," Keith promised.

Charles had spent an hour watching the babies, even as
they slept. In the following days, he did the same,
constantly

asking for time with his grandkids. He had also requested
Keith to take a leave from the company and asked his son
to

care for him.

In his current state, Charles could no longer eat solid food.
His only nutrition was through a milk formula given via
nasogastric tube. It was a tube inserted through the nose,
throat, esophagus, and stomach.

Despite having little experience in this field, Keith took it
upon himself to learn how to feed his father occasionally. It
was

one of those moments when he felt he could prove he was
there for him, even during his last few days.

Keith and Helen took turns wiping his skin, combing his
hair, and sometimes, simply lying, watching Charles sleep.
Almost two weeks had passed since Charles was brought
home. He asked specifically to hold his grandkids before
they

rested for the night. After he had held Charlene and
Kamila, he called for Keith and Karise into his room.

First, speaking to Karise, Charles begged, "Please, take
care of my wife."

Karise nodded, holding Charles’ hand. She said, "I will
love her like how | loved my mother."

Charles turned to Keith and said, "Son, | can rest now,
knowing you loved me. And | know that you have a wife
that will

help you - support you."

His voice broke in and out, partly because he struggled to
breathe. His voice was barely audible as he asked, "Don't
don't make the same mistakes that | did. | expect you to
be better than me.”

"Keith, | am good. | am happy now. You can let me go,"
Charles asked.

Keith cried. He kneeled in front of his father for a very long
time. It was hard for him to acknowledge, but eventually,
he

assured his father, "I will be a good father to my children,
and Karise and | will take care of mom. It's okay, Dad. You
can

rest. Thank you for trying your best." 1

That night, he hugged his father and rested beside him,
along with the caregivers. At dawn, Charles's blood
pressure kept

dropping. He appeared not himself and did not respond to
anyone around him.

When morning came, Charles gave his last breath,
provoking tears in the Hendrson's mansion.

CHAPTER 192

: The Funeral

Keith closed his eyes, sensing his friend's warm embrace.
His voice was weak as he said, "Thanks, Evan, for
coming." "Of

course, man! What kind of a friend would | be if | didn't
come here," Evan said. He patted Keith's back, proposing,
"Shanty

and | are here for you. Il

The next to embrace Keith was Shantelle. She gave
encouragement and said, "At least Uncle Charles got to
see

Charlene before resting. He must have been happy during
his last few days."

Upon letting go, Keith nodded, acknowledging, "He was.
And | knew how he held on longer for Charlene.”

"Uncle Keith, I'm sorry for your loss," Lucas said with
woeful eyes.

Keith ran his fingers through Lucas' hair and answered,
"Thank you for being here, Lucas boy. You made your
uncle

happy. Now go to your aunt and make her happy as well.
Then, grandma Helen too."

Behind Evan and Shantelle, Erick Thompson and Clara
approached Keith. William and Eleanor also came to pay
respects. They offered Keith an embrace. Erick, for one,
expressed, "I'm glad you patched things up with Charles,
Keith.

At least you won't have regrets in his passing.”

"|." Keith gulped air down his throat and replied, "I can't
say, | don't, but | am thankful | had time with him."

When it was time for William to hug Keith, he said, "I don't
have any wise words to say. We all have our own way of
dealing with grief, Keith. Just remember, life goes on, and
you still have a family that loves you."

It really wasn't like Keith to be emotional, but he couldn't
help but feel teary- eyed. He sucked in a breath and
answered,

"Appreciate your wise words, Uncle."

It was the day of Charles' funeral, and Keith's friends and
relatives arrived one by one. Wendell and his wife turned
up.

Like Evan and Shantelle, Milan and Wendell embraced
him. There were fewer words but more warmth, which
consoled

him.

When Sean arrived, he came with his entire family,
including his parents. Keith was closest to Sean and had a
good time

with the Rosses during his younger years.

Their presence gave him added ease. Sean's father,
Sherwin, offered," Keith, you have a father in me. | always
considered you a son since you and Sean were like
brothers."

As each minute passed, more and more words of wisdom
and reassurance were offered to Keith, and seeing how
his

friends’ wives were flocking over Karise, he knew his wife
was also receiving the same comfort. To his right, his
mother,

Helen, was being soothed by Karise's father. If anyone,
Mister Myers knew what it felt like to lose a partner, having
lost his

wife many years ago.

The memorial service was held at Rose Hills' grand
chapel, where nearly half the seats were filled with
mourning guests.

Soon, the ceremony began.

A priest welcomed everybody, reminding them of the
reason fortheir gathering. Then, Keith was called to the
front to say a

few words.

It wasn't easy for Keith, but he was the best representation
of his father. Standing at the podium, he smiled, holding
back

his tears. He said," Anyone who knew my father knows he
was stern and vocal about his opinions. He had ways of
getting

what he wanted, which can be intimidating. Was it bad?
Looking back, | think I learned to be tough because of him.
guess you could say each parent has his way of teaching
their children discipline.”

"| am not proud to say that my dad and | didn't get along
well. He pushed me too hard that | became rebellious in
my little

ways. But because he pushed me that way, | also had the
fire to prove him wrong. | managed his company and
owned it,"

Keith described.

"When | became the CEO of his company, | scoffed, telling
my father at the back of my head; See, Dad? I'm not Evan,
but

| made it. Oh, yeah. He compared me a lot to Evan. He
thought my charms didn't help in business, but it landed
me more

clients than my fingers could count." Keith paused,
chuckling at that memory. The audience also laughed with
him.

He looked at his paper before glancing at the crowd. He
resumed, "| wish | was wiser then and knew this day would
come

because | would have appreciated his efforts, regardless
of his methods."

"If our relationship were stronger then, maybe, we didn't
drift apart like we did," Keith claimed. "Sadly, that
realization

came rather late, but let me share what | have learned
now. | regretted not having that tight relationship with my
father.

Both my father and | had wrongs and rights, but now, |
wish | had worked harder to get his approval on things |
stubbornly

felt were important to me. Misunderstandings might have
been easily resolved, and | might have experienced
happier

days with him."

"To my friends and relatives whose parents still live, |
implore you to love and spend time with your parents
because time

is too precious to waste it on grudges and
misunderstandings. Time can also be like a thief in the
night, taking away those

moments that should be filled with happy memories," Keith
resumed, already sniffing his tears away. "I felt deprived,
but

I'm still glad my father and | patched things up before he
passed away. At least | had nearly a year with him, and |
will

forever cherish those days."

"Allow me to show you those treasured days when my
family was the happiest," Keith said before pointing to an
LED

screen on the left side of the chapel.

The screen flashed pictures of Charles. It started when he
was young and married his wife, Helen. The following
images

were of Charles, carrying baby Keith in his arms.

Kieth was sitting beside his wife when he saw his baby
pictures. He smiled, acknowledging how his father truly
loved him.

More photos were shown on the screen, and the next
were images of Charles, Helen, and Keith in the younger
years of

their family. Keith recalled how his father began to become
very busy when he was in high school, already starting the
insurance company. However, it was not until Keith was in
college that their business took off.

The subsequent photos showed his father's business
achievements and vacations with Helen. Finally, the
images shifted

to when Keith and Charles made amends.

There was a photo of Charles, his smile reaching his ears,
as he lifted Kamila above his head. There were dinner
pictures

of them as an entire family with Karise, and in the later
part, Charles wept at the sight of Charlene.

In the last part, a video of Charles was shown instead of a
picture. He was already weak but had both Kamila and
Charlene in his arms. He said, ‘It's not about how long |
live, but having these precious moments."

Charles’ voice was barely audible that whoever made the
video transcribed his words.

Then the slide show presented Charles's best photo, and
that was on the day of his wedding with Helen. The
presentation

ended with many guests weeping and smiling at the same
time.

It was Helen who stood up in front of the crowd next. She

said, "Yes, he said those exact words to me because life
had

taken US into several turns. Sometimes, they were faulty,
but what mattered to Charles most was how he had his
family

with him in the end. He said he was happy, which was
enough comfort for me to let him go."

"Charles, wherever you are now, we will forever miss you.
Be at peace. Be happy," Helen concluded. "I love you."
Because they had a very touching memorial ceremony, it
became easier for Keith to watch his father's coffin be
buried

beneath the ground.

Following the touching service, everyone drove to the
memorial garden, where a tent had been set up for the
burial.

The last words were said before Charles's coffin was
settled into the pit. Keith stood before the excavated
ground and

carried Kamila while Karise hugged him tightly. Baby
Charlene was with Helen the entire time.

When the earth slowly covered the coffin, Keith said to
Kamila, "Say bye to grandpa.”

"Baba!" Kamila said. She smiled and gave her grandpa a
flying kiss.

By the time Charles's coffin was fully covered, the guests
slowly left. Keith's family remained to sit on their chairs,
taking it

all in.

Keith remained standing right where his father was buried.
He did not know if he could move just yet, but eventually,
he

felt hands massaging his shoulder blades.

He turned to find Sean, and next, Evan joined in. Wendell
followed. Keith's friends simply stood there. They did not
utter a

word at first, but ultimately, Sean asked, "Anything we can
do to make you feel better, man?"

"No, man. I'm good," Keith replied.

"I mean, | could kiss you," Sean suggested, and the other
guys chuckled.

"You know what, Sean. | think I'll take you up on that offer,"
Keith teased, and Sean's eyes rounded.

Wendell and Evan laughed, but eventually, Keith said,
"Kidding. I'm glad you all are here. | couldn't ask for more."

CHAPTER 193

: Some Never Change

"Welcome to the company,” Evan said with a smirk, seeing
Keith walk into his office.

Somehow, he knew his friend would be coming over that
he had already set up a table next to his. Evan said, "|
hope you

are okay with using only Wifi. Setting up a LAN cable
takes a while."

"Wifi is good," Keith answered while getting into place.
More than two weeks had gone by since Charles passed
away. Keith had to return to work. However, the CEO
office of

Prima MedCare reminded him so much of his father. It
was fine for Keith to return home to the

Hendersons' mansion. As needed, he let himself cry, but
work was work. Keith needed a better place to get him to
concentrate, and that was how he wound up in Evan's
office for the past two days.

Evan allowed his friend to deal with his grief. To Evan, it
was okay as long as Keith wasn't directing his grief the
wrong

way.

"Everything okay at home?" Evan asked.

Keith had just opened his laptop. He smiled at Evan,
saying, "Yes. We are slowly accepting things. | think we
are going to

stay at the old mansion permanently. It will help US with
Mom." 1

"Yeah, | think that's also great. Aunt Helen won't feel so
alone," Evan commented.

"Karise is still on leave, and | think she will try to get an
extended vacation - maternity plus bereavement.” He
leaned back,

adding, "I didn't realize we were all exhausted with
everything."

"Hmm. Sean and | could still check on Prima MedCare if
you needed more rest," Evan offered.

Over the past few weeks, Evan and Sean had periodically
visited Keith's company, keeping tabs on the operation. It
abled

Keith to still focus on his father, and when Charles died, it
allowed him to mourn without feeling the pressure of the
board

of directors.

Keith glanced at Evan and assured him, "I'm good, Evan.
Don't worry about me. Every day, | feel better, and my little
girl is

starting to communicate, lifting the weight off my chest."
"Charlene?" Evan clarified.

"Yeah, she is awake often now. She has the same eyes as
me. | feel like I'm looking at myself when | look at her. Do
you

know what's strange?

Whenever | take her to Dad's room, she often smiles and
looks around," Keith revealed. "Do you believe in angels?"
Keith shook his head and said, "You must think | am
crazy."

"| don't know what happens to US in the afterlife, but |
think that before we die, we may affect people's lives that
a part of

US will always remain. It could be that Charlene recalled
her grandpa. | don't know," Evan suggested.

Keith simply smiled and added, "Then, | guess, as my little
girls grow up, I'll just tell them about their grandpa.”
"That's an even better idea," Evan said.

The two friends returned to work after their short chat.
Sean would join them now and then. However, since Evan
did not

have a table for Sean, he would return to his private space
for work.

In the aftertoon, Keith's assistant dropped by to give
documents to his boss, and it was during that time when
Evan

received a relevant call.

Evan picked up the phone and answered reluctantly. It
was from a correctional officer he had employed and paid
yearly to

get an update about one particular hazard in his life.
"Yes?" Evan asked.

"Sir, we just wanted you to know that Nicole Lively has
been released from prison," the man said on the other line.
Immediately, Evan felt chills down his spine. He didn't
even realize that Nicole had already served her complete
sentence.

Sure, Evan did not want to keep hate in his heart, but this
woman was different. To him, this woman ruined many of
his

chances to be with his now wife.

"Where is she headed now?" Evan asked in a chilly tone.
"Her father picked her up earlier, Sir," the prison guard
said. "She said something about going to Switzerland. |
stood on

guard at the gates when she left."

"Nicole mentioned something about seeing a doctor in
Zurich. Doctor Collete, something. It was a bit hard to
pronounce,

but it sounded like Cavendish?" The correctional officer
described. "I'm sorry, Sir."

"TH have the airport guard spot them. Thank you for the
update," Evan responded.

After ending the call, he immediately searched for the
doctor's name.

There was no match for Doctor Collete Cavendish, but he
did find someone closer enough.

"Dr. Colette Camenisch," Evan read. "Is the leading
board-certified plastic surgeon in Switzerland. She
pioneered vaginal

cosmetic surgery, vaginal rejuvenation, and -"

Evan's heart raced, reading the last part, "is said to be the
best doctor of choice for facial reconstructive surgery."

For seconds, Evan froze in his seat. Many scenarios
played in his head. After many years, he concluded,
Nicole had not

changed at all. He wondered where the Campbells got
their funds when he had done everything to destroy their
businesses and connections. They should have only
enough to feed their stomachs and nothing else. They
should have

nothing to carry out any schemes.

However, that was the least important part. Why was
Nicole going to see a plastic surgeon?

Evan got up from his seat, gritting his teeth. His friend
might have noticed his reactions instantly that Keith asked,
"What

has gotten into you?"

"What has gotten into me? Nicole Lively is out from prison,
and it looks like she is heading for another facial surgery,”
Evan answered.

He dialed a number of an old private detective assigned to
look after the Campbells. Evan ordered, "I need to know
how

the Campbells have money to go to Switzerland. Trace
everything. We missed something -somehow." ***

In the next twenty-four hours, Evan tightened his security
around his family. He warned his friends that Nicole was
out of

prison. Rose Hills were locked from entry to Nicole Lively
or Melody Campbell and anyone who looked like her,
including

any family members.

After another day, Evan received the report he needed.
The investigator came to his office, revealing documents.
He said,

"Nicole Lively met Jessica Turner in prison. She was the
one who gave her money."

"What do we do, Sir?" The investigator said.

"Ruin them completely. They will not get another chance to
destroy my family!" Evan declared. While Evan did not
have

solid proof they were out to get him, he concluded it. Why
would two people who were after him work with each
other?

Evan thought that some people never learn and they
never change. They did not deserve a second chance.

After that meeting with the private investigator, Evan
commissioned more people to look into the Turners and to
catch

Nicole Lively red-handed for whatever plans she may
have.

Security remained tight in the next few weeks for Evan
and his family, but finally, the schemes surfaced over the
news.

Nicole Lively and her father, Thomas Cambell, were
captured in Zurich, trying to persuade a plastic surgeon to
copy

Doctor Shantelle Scott's face. Videos over the internet of
the plastic surgeon speaking through an interview. She
said, "I

told her that no doctor can entirely copy a person's face.
We can keep operating on her face, but her bones won't
change,

and a lot more. However, she is asking me to help her
commit fraud! | did not want to do it! Miss Lively got so
upset with

me that she attacked me! That woman is a killer! She
should have been locked up in jail completely!" 1

There was more to the news. Aside from the attack on the
plastic surgeon, Nicole Lively assumed Shantelle's
identity. She

had fake IDs under

Shantelle's name and already had advance tickets booked
under the same name, returning to Rose Hills in a few
months.

More revelations followed when Jessica Turner was linked
to the scheme.

Pieces of evidence were presented, including money
transfers and witnesses who surrendered. Jessica's old
assistant

had been forced into the ploy with her job on the line.
There was a deeper plan in place. Jessica wanted
revenge against Evan, while Nicole simply wanted Evan.
An attempt to

change Nicole's face was only an initial objective.

Nicole and her father were deported back to the country
and locked up in a maximum prison facility. At the same
time,

Jessica had another criminal case to deal with. It was fair
to say that Evan would never let Nicole and Jessica out of
prison. 1

However, to make his point loud and clear, the man
personally went to see Nicole and Jessica in prison. In
front of them,

he said, "Attempted Murder this time, huh?"

Turning to Jessica, the man added, "And conspiracy to
commit a crime? Tsk. Tsk."

Evan leaned against the glass window, where visitors
could only remain. He said, "I'll ensure you never get out
of here.

You and Jessica will rot in jail for whatever plans you
have."

"So it was you - you ruined all our plans," Nicole retorted.

"Evan, please. It wasn't my fault. It was Nicole. She
convinced me to help her!" Jessica pleaded.

"I'm telling you now. | will have eyes on you while you are
in prison. | will catch every crime you commit inside and
forever

keep filing lawsuit after lawsuit." He grunted before
declaring, "You will live here forever, so get used to it!"

A week after the cases against Nicole and Jessica were
finalized, Evan rested for an entire day at their home.
One evening, he was lying in bed with his wife. Evan said,
"| had to do what | had to do, Wifey. Sometimes, we have
to

learn to be cruel. They weren't going to change, Shanty.
They weren't. | needed to protect you and our kids. | even
had

the entire Turners under surveillance. Still, so far, | think
only Jessica executed the plan.”

"| understand. Let's continue to live fruitfully, but still, be
mindful of our enemies," Shantelle said. Turning to her
husband,

Shantelle said, "Thank you for protecting me and your
children, Evan.”

CHAPTER 194

: Birthing Journey

A baby's loud cry echoed inside the room. Doctor Patel
measured the crying newborn's weight on a scale and
announced,

"Six point four pounds."

"Wow. She is so gorgeous," Evan commended before
kissing his wife.

Shantelle had given birth to their second baby girl at six in
the morning. Her name was Amara Shane, as
recommended

by Wendell and Milan. Since Shantelle delivered vaginally,
they kept their baby inside the room following the
pediatrician's

inspection.

To Shantelle, there was no need to leave her child's care
at the nursery since she could already get up. The painful
part of

giving birth was already over.

"She has a beautiful heartbeat, Doctor Shant," the
pediatrician said while listening to Amara's chest. "She is
So angry at

me."

Referring to Amara, Doctor Patel said, "Don't take it on
me, little girl. | wasn't the one who took you out! I'm the
one who

will make sure you grow big and healthy!"

Doctor Patel laughed while resuming his evaluation.
Because of the bond Evan and Shatnelle had formed with
Lucas’

hematologist pediatrician, they requested the same doctor
to be their new baby's physician. 1

Amara was sucking her fingers when Doctor Patel
checked her head. She cried louder, making the doctor
say, "I'm almost

done, little one. She wants her mommy."

"I think she wants her daddy," Evan claimed.

Doctor Patel chuckled. As he wrapped Amara in her
swaddle blanket, he said, "Not when she is sucking her
hand. She

wants Mommy."

Evan groaned, amusing the doctor. Doctor Patel rested
Amara in

Shantelle's arms, saying, "Congratulations to your baby
girl. Did you save her blood cord?"

"We did," Shantelle nodded. "We'll never know, and if we
don't get to use it, we will donate them.”

"Well done," Doctor Patel acknowledged. "The nurses will
check her sucking reflex in the next few hours. Rest her
well,

skin to skin. Kangaroo care has a range of benefits. It can
regulate a baby's heartbeat and breathing. As a result,
their

weight gain is better."

"Thank you, Doctor," Shantelle responded. Then the
pediatrician left.

In the next few minutes, Shantelle let Amara feed from her
breasts. She had kangaroo care with her, relishing that
warmth

until she recognized the need to pass her daughter to her
eager husband. 1

Evan took over and rested Amara on his bare chest,
covering her with a small blanket to keep her warm. 1

Shantelle mesmerized for a minute, watching her husband
and their new bundle of joy. Her eyes gleamed, especially
delighted at how their newborn held on to Evan's finger.
Eventually, she thought of Lucas and called him. She
knew her

son was so excited about his new sibling.

In preparation for her delivery, their children stayed at the
Scotts' mansion. Thus, Lucas, Amelia, and Marcus were in
good

care while Shantelle and Evan were at the hospital.
"Mommy, is that Amara Shane?" Lucas asked. "| used to
think Amelia looked like Mom, but Amara is Mommy's
copy."

Shantelle chuckled. She said, "Her face will still change.
We will find out when she is older."

"| wanna hold her too," Lucas said on the video call.

"Tomorrow, buddy. We will be home tomorrow," Evan
answered.

While talking to Lucas, Shantelle noticed the notification
on her phone. It was a message from Sean which read:
[Reese is

giving birth. We are on our way to the hospital]

"Oh, my god!" Shantelle exclaimed, shocking Evan and
startling little Amara too.

"Wifey?" Evan complained.

Shantelle laughed. She pecked her baby girl's head and
said to her husband, "Reese is giving birth! Wait, let me
read the

entire message."

Sean: [Her water broke, and she's in pain. | don't know if
you can read this, but we are driving to the hospital now. |
guess

we will see each other.]

"Yeah, she is giving birth. Our children will have the same
birthday!" Shantelle exclaimed. 2

"I'd like to know how Sean reacts to Reese giving birth,"
Evan said with a smirk.

"You didn't warn him?" Shantelle asked.

"No! Let him experience it firsthand," Evan said, chuckling.
"Besides, | just experienced it myself. You had a C-section
the

last time. Keith didn't warn me either."

"Wow, Mommy. Aunt Reese is having her baby too?"
Lucas asked. He was still online with them, and Shantelle
acknowledged it.

Lucas was screaming with excitement. He said, "Amazing!
It's like having a twin! Amara and Aunt Reese's baby will
have

the same birthday! They will have parties together, go to
school together -"

"They will do a lot together," Shantelle happily confirmed.

The family covered many possibilities, extending their
cheerful conversation. Eventually, another text came in,
and

Shantelle read it.

Sean: [This is it. We are at the hospital]

"We are here," Sean said while the driver pulled up at the
hospital's emergency room. Mom is here too. Thank
goodness.”

Sean was excited and nervous at the same time. It was
his first to be on this birthing journey with his wife. He
heard it was

painful for Reese but did not know what else to expect
except being a supportive husband, regardless of
whatever words

his wife would throw at him.

Claudia, Sean's mother, arrived earlier to aid the couple.
While they were getting settled, Sean had to process the
admission. Claudia stayed with Reese as she was being
brought to the maternity floor.

Unfortunately for Sean, there was a long queue in the
admission that he took nearly an hour. Sean was informed
that

Reese had been moved to a room by the time he finished.
Thus, he went straight to the maternity floor. He took a lift
and

walked out, searching for Reese’ assigned suite.

While making his way, Sean walked past a partially
opened birthing room. Nurses rushed inside to help a man
-a

husband because Sean could hear the wife screaming
from another side of the room. He couldn't see her, but her
shouts

were enough to suggest it. "I'm the one giving birth here!
Why did you faint? You just had to make it about you!
Pussy! Do

you hear me? You are a pussy!" 2

Sean gasped. He concluded that whatever happened
there was not going to happen to him. He locked eyes with
one of

the nurses, who quickly shut the door, still, he wondered,
'Why did the man faint?’

If that wasn't enough, Sean saw another man being
guided out of the next room. The man appeared to be sick
and threw

up on the floor! A nurse had to tell the man, "Mister Bell, |
think you should remain outside. We are almost done,
anyway."

2

The man merely nodded and puked again.

While cleaners sanitized the floor, Sean lazily reached
Reese's suite.

Having witnessed what he had seen so far, his earlier
confidence waned. He silently encouraged himself, 'Fuck, |
can do

this.'

When Sean entered the room, Reese was already in pain.
Next, he watched a doctor continuously stab her fingers
inside

Reese's entrance. "What the -'

Sure. In movies, Sean had seen this internal examination
process, but the doctors in the film weren't pushing that
hard!

Sean had to take a breather for a moment. He walked to
one corner of the room and sucked in a deep breath. He
told

himself, Be there for your wife. Calm down." At the same
time, he pondered, "Why didn’t the boys tell me any of
this? Did

Keith puke or faint? What about Evan?" 1

Milan had a C-section, so he knew Wendell didn't
experience the same process.

"Sean, this is your son. You have to be there for him and
your beautiful wife, " he reminded himself.

Returning to his senses, Sean stood beside Reese and
helped her breathe. Reese held his hand the entire time
while she

tried to hum the pain away.

"It's so painful," Reese said while tightening her hold on
Sean's hand. "l need you

"I'm here, Reese. I'm here," Sean answered, kissing
Reese's forehead. "I'll be here all the way."

It wasn't until Reese started crying that he felt his wife's
pain. His heart was aching for his wife. He could not
believe what

she was going through to give him a son. Repeatedly, he
hugged Reese's frame from the side, saying, "You are so
brave.

| love you."

Everything happened so fast. When the OB doctor entered
the room, they concluded Reese was ready to push. Only
Sean was allowed to stay. So Claudia, instead, visited
Shantelle's room while waiting for the baby to come out.
"Okay, Reese. Time to push," the doctor ordered, and
Reese regularly pushed from then on.

Each time Reese pushed, Sean felt his fingers breaking.
His wife sure was strong. Reese practically bent his
fingers from

side to side every time she pushed. At that point, Sean's
pain was no longer for Reese but for his fingers, but he
never

complained. That day was all about his wife and his son.
"The baby is coming out, Reese. A little more," the doctor
encouraged.

"Aaahhh!" Reese pushed harder. Her hand gripped tighter
against Sean's fingers too. "Aaaaaahhh!"

Just as Reese pushed, Sean looked down between his
wife's thighs and finally knew why the husband from the
other

room fainted and the other puked. Blood, guts, and gores
were coming from his wife's peach, Sean's favorite part to
eat!

If that wasn't enough to make his tummy feel strange, the
doctor had cut his wife's rose using surgical scissors!
Almost immediately, he gagged and looked away.

'Okay,' Sean thought silently. "Whatever happens. Don't
faint! Don't fucking faint!" 2

He remembered how a woman from the other room called
her husband a pussy, and he wasn't about to get called
the

same. 1

Don't fucking puke!" He reminded, scolding himself. 1
"Aaaahh!" Reese screamed again.

The doctor announced, "Baby's head is out. We are
almost done!"

Seconds passed, and the baby was out. The next thing
Sean heard was his son's cries.

Sean was relieved beyond words. It was over. He didn't
puke, and he didn't faint. His fingers were still in pain, but
he

turned his attention to his wife.

Immediately, Sean hugged Reese. He thought his wife
was a goddess! He cried and said, "God, Reese. | don't
know how

you did it, but you were great. You are amazing, and | love
you more for delivering our son." 1

He kissed her lips, her nose and eyes, and each cheek.
He held her hands and kissed them before embracing her
again.

He said, "lI love you. | love you more and more." 1
"Really? You love me more? Awww." Reese was earlier
chasing her breath. Hearing her husband, she chuckled
and

replied, "You should have seen me with Shauna. Oh, | was
such a screamer. You'll probably love me for eternity."

"| believe you," Sean declared, smiling. "I believe you! I'll
love you for eternity."

After their baby had been evaluated, the midwife rested
the newborn in Reese's chest. The couple kissed their
baby

repeatedly before they named him. Sean said, "Samuel
Reed.

CHAPTER 195

Birthing Flashbacks

Shantelle and Evan were in Reese's room. They came
over late in the afternoon after taking some rest
themselves.

Thankfully, Amara also slept for two hours before crying
awake.

Although Shantelle could already walk, the hospital
required all patients to be assisted out of their rooms.
Thus, Shantelle

was in a wheelchair, carrying Amara while Evan pushed
them into Reese's room.

"Let me tell you something. | honestly thought my fingers
would break," Sean revealed, and everyone laughed.
"Reese was bending my fingers. The wedding ring against
my fingers felt like it was breaking my bones,” Sean
described,

shaking his head.

Samuel Reed was in Claudia's arms. Sean's mother
enjoyed her time with her new grandson, taking pictures
and pecking

the newborn's feet and head, all while the friends chatted.
"Let me hold my goddaughter,” Sean requested, referring
to Amara.

"Well, look at here. Amara is a definite blonde. It's just a
few strands, but she has golden hair, just like Amelia,"
Sean

remarked. 1
"She will most likely look like Shanty," Evan proposed. 1

"Hey, Amara," Sean tapped on the baby's nose, saying,
"It's Uncle Sean. You have the same birthday as Samuel."
"Ah! She smiled!" Reese said, beaming. "Hi, baby girl." 1
"Here, let me return your son because your dad is here,"
Claudia said, walking towards their group. "Sherwin and |
will be

back tomorrow to help you get discharged.”

"Oh, let me carry him," Evan offered, turning to Claudia.
"We are exchanging babies for a few minutes."

After Evan held Samuel, everyone bid goodbye to Sean's
mother. When Claudia left, Evan focused on the baby and
said,

"| can't tell who he looks like. Reese and Sean are like
Barbie and Ken with the same hair - wait a minute, he
opened his

eyes. He has brown eyes!"

"He has a very tall nose like Sean's," Shantelle remarked.
"I'd say a mix of both Reese and Sean." 1

As the two couples studied the babies, the door to the
room suddenly swung open. Wendell, Milan, Keith, and
Karise

walked in. Wendell was carrying two bouquets, saying,
"Who are the most beautiful women right now?" 1

"Shanty and Reese!" Karise said, hugging Shantelle from
behind and kissing her cheek.

Wendell gave Shantelle and Reese their flowers, saying,
"To a successful delivery." 1

"We brought dinner," Keith said, raising the bags of food.
"And desserts too!" Milan added. "We came from Shanty's
room and found Mrs.Shaw instead. We learned everyone
was

already here."

"Thank you, guys. It's so sweet of you," Shantelle
remarked. "And you know what, | am hungry as hell."

"| am starving. | could eat everything," Reese declared.
"Reese and Shanty first, then!" Milan suggested.

The friends ate dinner inside Reese's birthing suite in the
next hour. They took turns watching the babies. Milan and
Karise especially loved carrying Amara and Samuel.
They did not gather longer, though, knowing Reese and
Shantelle were exhausted. Shantelle was the first to doze
off

since she had given birth early in the morning and only
slept two hours in the afternoon.

Thankfully, Misses Shaw had arrived to help watch little
Amara while Evan and Sean walked their friends to the
floor's lift.

Reese took care of Samuel until Sean returned.

While pacing toward the elevators, Sean turned to Keith,
asking, "Keith, when Karise gave birth normally, twice. |
want to

know if you fainted." 1

"Why would Keith faint?" Wendell asked.

Evan and Keith laughed. Karise, who had walked with
Milan, also laughed.

"Yeah, why would Keith faint?" Milan also inquire.

"| did not faint,” Keith claimed.

"Really?" Sean asked, doubting Keith's words.

Keith went at it, laughing so hard. He insisted, "| did not
faint, | swear! You were there, man!" 2

"| was there with Reese after you gave birth. There was no
mention of how you handled it." Sean turned to Karise,
asking,

"Did Keith faint? Or puke? Nearly faint?" 2

Karise laughed and replied, "That's between my babe and
me."

"| hate you guys," Sean said. 1

"Why would Keith faint?" Wendell asked again, this time,
his voice louder than earlier. Unfortunately for Wendell, no
one

gave him a decent answer.

Keith said, "Don't tell Wendell. Let's wait until Milan gets
pregnant again. Who knows."

"Karise!" Sean called again, but Karise laughed
hysterically and ran to the lift, waving her hand to Sean.
"Come on,

Babe!" 1

#HHE FLASHBACK: KARISE'S FIRST DELIVERY #HHt
Keith was holding up well. He was assisting his wife,
holding her legs up and grunting with her. "You can do it,
Babe. |

know you can.”

He was already so emotional over the past few hours,
enduring his wife's agony. He was teary-eyed as he said,
"l am so

proud of you."

Keith wasn't in the medical field, but his business had
made him hear stories, including reports of husbands who
pass out

during actual deliveries. Thus, he was aware that
whatever would be happening down there was something
he should

avoid looking at.

He focused on his wife, soothing her in any way he could.
"One more push!" The doctor ordered, and it did not take
long for him to hear his daughter’s cry.

"Baby is out!" The doctor said. "Mister Henderson, would
you like to cut your daughter’s umbilical cord?"

‘Should 1?' Keith thought. However, knowing how that
would be a fantastic experience, he nodded, saying,
"Sure."

That was Keith's biggest mistake because he heaved and
felt dizzy when he saw the mess between Karise's thighs.
Fortunately for Keith, the nurse behind him readily caught
his frame and urged him to rest. 2

In the end, Keith did not get to cut his daughter's cord. He
didn't pass out, but he sure came close. When it was all
over,

Keith was holding Kamila against his chest. He told his
wife, "No one will know about this." 1

"That you nearly fainted?" Karise laughed and said, "If you
say so. Haha! Don't look next time; it's okay if you don't cut
the

cord, Babe. It's very understandable."

After some time, Keith endorsed Kamila to the nurses,
where she would be taken to the nursery for a few hours.
Keith

preferred that he and Karise had time to rest before caring
for their daughter.

When the nurse brought Kamila to the nursery, Keith
leaned over to his wife, saying, "lI will never underestimate
the things

that you do, ever again, especially in the matters of giving
birth." He led her hand and pecked it, saying, "You are so
amazing. Thank you for Kamila. | love you, Babe." 1

Karise smiled and answered, "I love you too, Keith."
#HE END OF FLASHBACK #Ht 2

"What about you, Evan? How did you react during
Shantelle's delivery?" Sean asked while they walked back
to their

respective rooms.

A chuckle escaped Evan's lips before he answered, "|
admit that | was hurting for my wife, but if you are referring
to the

scene where my daughter was coming, | was already
prepared for it. My wife is a doctor, Sean. | have seen so
many

videos of operations - lectures and of her own. Seeing
organs, blood, and bodily fluids is something that | am
already

used to."

Sean hissed because he could tell Evan was telling the
truth, and his explanation made perfect sense.

"Then, why didn't you warn me about it?" Sean asked.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." Evan put an arm around his friend. He
said, "| would not want you to miss out on that important
day when

you will feel more connected to your wife and child. Tell
me. How did you feel after seeing Reese go through a
normal

delivery?" 1

Sean smiled. He lifted his chin, saying, "Il -1 felt love for my
wife. | was grateful to Reese." 2

"Exactly," Evan said. "So, don't tell Wendell. Maybe, he will
experience a normal delivery with Milan too." 1

"| definitely won't," Sean confirmed.

#H FLASHBACK: EVAN'S PREPARATION #54

Before Aemlia and Marcus were born, Evan had already
prepared for his wife to deliver vaginally, but that failed.
Now that

Shantelle's doctor had given her a go signal for normal
delivery, he readied himself again.

From time to time, he would lock himself in his study,
pretending to be working while at home, but in fact, he
was watching

birthing videos, the nasty kinds.

He zoomed in and out through his laptop, his eyes bulging
at the scene where the baby's head was coming out, and
more

and more fluids came out, together with the baby. There
was blood and something yellowish that covered the
baby's

frame. He heaved. He coughed against his fist and said,
"Evan! Man up!" 1

For days, Evan watched birthing videos to strengthen his
gut. Later on, he became immune. So when Shantelle
gave

birth, Evan was no longer shocked by what came out of
his wife's sweet bottom lips. He also knew the doctor
would sew

back any tears.

Still, seeing it firsthand, Evan felt proud of his wife.
Shantelle was a doctor, a good mother, and had an
excellent tolerance

for pain.

While Amara was being cleaned, Evan told Shantelle,
"Wifey, | will always be thankful for the kind of love you
give our

children. Giving birth to them, knowing how it affects your
body, is a great example of your selfless love." 1

He pecked her forehead, saying, "lI am proud to have you
as my wife."

#HHE END OF FLASHBACK #5

CHAPTER 196

: Wives' Day Out

"Everything okay here, buddy?" Evan asked Lucas, his
eyes scanning the playroom.

"Yes, Daddy, don't worry," Lucas assured him. "Shauna
and | will stand guard.”’

In the playroom, Amara, Marcus, Maxine, John Adams,
and Kamila were there with their nannies, playing. Lucas
and

Shauna were playing with the younger babies too. *

After seeing everything in order, Evan walked to the living
room where the boys were.

Keith was carrying Charlene in his arms, Wendell held
Amara for Evan, and Sean wrapped Samuel against his
chest.

The TV in front of them was turned on. Its volume was at
forty percent. Several beer bottles were on the living room
table,

plus nachos. They were watching that day's football game.
"Hurry up, man. It's starting," Sean said. He was standing
up, rocking his little man.

Over three months after Shantelle and Reese gave birth,
the boys decided to give their wives a break. They called it
The

Wives' Day Out. All girls were out on another spa
treatment, and they were going shopping too.

Evan also saw it as a perfect opportunity to gather with his
friends. Sure, they will end up watching the kids, and his
house, being the biggest, would have the kids running
around, possibly breaking things and screaming, but he
thought it

would be fun.

The man had converted their biggest room on the first
floor into a playroom area. That way, he and his friends
could focus

on the game while they looked after the young ones.

Very quickly, the boys were engrossed with the game,
occasionally screaming and grunting while rooting for their
team of

choice.

"Come on. You can do it!" Wendell said, focusing on the
TV.

"Yeah!" They all said at the same time following a
touchdown.

"Oh, Wendell. Amara may be hungry," Evan said. "Do you
mind getting the milk for me, man?"

"Get Reese's milk too, Wendell!" Sean requested.

On the other hand, Charlene preferred formula milk, and
Keith merely fixed a bottle for her.

By the time all the babies had been fed, everyone was
standing, rocking their little ones. Even Wendell did the
same

because two nannies had to wash John Adams after a
dirty diaper. Maxine wrapped her little arms around
Wendell's neck

as he stood with his friends, watching the game's peak, i
Wendell's twins had just celebrated their 1st birthday. They
were very active and fast crawlers. Maxine could already
walk

with assistance while John Adams was close to getting
there.

"It's becoming more obvious now that they look like Milan,’
Evan remarked.

"Yes, | think so too," Wendell acknowledged. "Fine by me."
"Man, you need another child," Keith suggested.

A laugh escaped Wendell's lips. He responded, "Easy for
you to say, Keith, you had kids one at a time. You have no
idea

how tiring it is to have two babies crying and begging for
milk at the same time."

"| think we will wait a year or two," Wendell added.

"She is falling asleep," Evan said, referring to Maxine.
Wendell pecked his daughter's forehead and swayed her
to sleep.

"No! The Coybows are going to score!" Sean screamed
suddenly, alerting everyone.

"Get the ball! Steal the ball!" Evan yelled. ‘Come on.
Eagles!"

"Yeah!" They all screamed at the same time, seeing how
their chosen team managed to snatch the ball.

"Pass it! Pass it!" Keith yelled.

"They are going to hit another goal!" Sean excitedly said.
"Turn the volume up, Evan!" Wendell called. Being excited
with them, Evan did as Wendell suggested.

"Yeah, Smith is running! Yeah!" Sean cheered. He was
practically rocking his head, eager for the next score.
"And touchdown!" They all said at the same time.

The boys drank to the score, and they had nothing but
smiles on their faces.

"Damn, we made so much noise, but our kids are still
asleep, " Sean remarked. They all remained standing in
the living

room, rocking their babies.

While the game progressed, Maxine's nanny came to fetch
her, but Wendell kept Maxine with him since she was
asleep.

Their favorite team had scored and also lost a few
opportunities, making the second half of the game a
thrilling one. Evan

increased the TVs volume, so they could hear the sports
commentator properly.

"Goa! Come on! Goal!" Sean yelled.

"Yeah! That was a nice run!” Wendell remarked.

"Damn! The Cowboys are tackling the ball! Evan loudly
remarked.

Their voices were getting louder and louder, yet, their
children slept like a log. When their favorite team called for
a break,

Evan concluded, "We should sit down, man."

His friends echoed their agreement, and they took their
seats one by one.

Since Samuel was wrapped around Sean's chest, he
stretched his arms and legs. He leaned back on the sofa,
waiting for

the game to resume.

Evan decided to return Amara to the stroller. At the same
time, Keith carried his daughter against his chest while
sitting

down. Wendell also sat down.

After only a few seconds, Amara cried. Samuel cried next,
followed by Charlene. Maxine did not cry but wiggled her
body,

her feet kicking Wendell's leg.

Keith immediately stood up, and so did Wendell. Evan
rushed to pick up Amara, and Sean removed Samuel from
his wrap

and stood up, cradling him.

Just in time, the game was back. The TV was loud again.
All the babies hushed their cries and groans. The friends
looked

at each other and laughed, i

"Maybe they like football," Sean gave a silly remark.

"Or the sports commentator's sexy voice," Keith gave a
joke.

"Or they miss their mommies," Evan suggested.

Wendell sighed, saying, "Maxine probably wanted me to
stand."

The game continued, and the good friends were back
screaming and cheering for their team. The TV was loud,
but the

babies were fast asleep.

"My feet are killing me," Keith complained. He rested on
the couch, declaring, "Charlene is in deep sleep now. It
wont

matter."

Everyone else followed Keith and rested back on the
sofas. Sadly for them, the babies woke up and cried one
by one,

including Maxine. 3

"| know what they want,” Evan said. *1 guess it's the same
with Amelia and Marcus sometimes.’

"Guys, we can have the TV play loudly. We can have a live
band across the lawn or an atomic bomb, but they will
sleep

for as long as we keep standing up, simulate a walk, or
sway them to sleep!" Evan concluded. 1

"Oh, | get it. They want their daddies to have varicose
veins,” Sean commented with a laugh. He got up and
returned to

swaying Samuel. 1

"Or muscle pains,” Wendell supplemented, stretching his
arm and rotating it as he stood. 1

"Or our backs to hurt," Keith said while arching his back
and standingagain. 1

After that realization, all four friends were up on their feet
for the entirety of the game. Their kids slept through their
screams and loud TV. When the game finally ended, Keith
was the first to say, "It doesn't really matter, though. We'd
give

anything for them to have a good sleep.’

"Of course, man. We'll keep standing until the girls arrive,"
Sean said, and as if on cue, the doors to the mansion
opened.

Shantelle, Milan, Reese, and Karise arrived, looking extra
hot in their new clothes, their skins glowing and their hair
bouncing with every step.

Keith whistled, winking at his wife, saying, "Somebody
wants it tonight." 1

Wendell coughed against his fists, saying, "I could say the
same thing for my wife."

"And me 100," Sean said.

Evan laughed and remarked, "I'm sorry for you guys. Mine
wants it every night- Ahh! Shanty!’

Shantelle smacked Evan's arm repeatedly, scolding, "Shut
up, Evan!”

"What are you all standing up for?’ Reese said, taking
Samuel from her husband and sitting down.

Shantelle did the same, taking Amara and sitting down,
resting her baby on her chest. Karise followed, taking
Charlene,

and Milan took Maxine and sat beside Shantelle.

The boys waited. Seconds passed, but nothing happened.
The babies were still asleep! Being the newest baby
daddy,

Sean complained, "That is so unfair!" >

"What's so unfair?" Shantelle asked.

Moments later, Evan told Shantelle they stood up during
the game because the babies wouldn't let them sit down.
Laughter escaped Shantelle's lips. She revealed, No hard
feelings, guys, but it's because babies are still young and
merely rely on their instincts. They feel safest with their
moms and safer with another guardian who moves around
while

they sleep. They can feel your presence more when you
rock or sway them to sleep.”

"With us moms, sometimes, it's just about our scents,’
Shantelle added before kissing her baby.

*k%k

On the next Wives' Day Out, the husbands were prepared.
They still watched the football game, except they wore
their

wives' workout shirts over their own. ?

They made noise as usual, but their babies slept
throughout the game, yet, they were all seated. 2

"From now on, I'm going to bring Karise's sweaty clothes
with me when I'm out with my babies,’ Keith declared.

"I love my wife's shirt,” Wendell claimed.

"I love my wife's scent,” Sean described. "Samuel is
probably thinking, oh, both Mommy and Daddy are here."
"I love my wife," Evan said.

His friends chuckled, and one by one, they expressed the
same.

"I love my wife too!" Keith echoed.

"Me too!" Wendell said.

"We are fucking lucky, man. We are," Sean said. "I love
my wife, and she loves me back."

CHAPTER 197

: Shanty’s New Surgical Success

Over a year had passed.

Evan and his assistant were discussing work when a call
came into his office's private line. The man answered the
call

and learned it was the correctional officer, hired to watch
Nicole Lively and Jessica Turner. The jail guard reported,
"Miss

Lively and Miss Turner tried to escape, along with two
inmates. They will be charged for their attempt to escape.’
[

"Good/ Evan replied. "I'll send my lawyers to discuss with
the prosecutor so the additional charges will be
prioritized."

It made Evan happy. Nicole and Jessica were both getting
more sentences for their crimes. His decision to have men
constantly watch over them paid off. 1

Thankfully, the Turners had not caused trouble for him.
They still aided Jessica, but only to provide for her needs
in jail.

She no longer had access to the family's funds.

That wasn't the only good news Evan received that day.

Shantelle visited him during lunch, bringing food packs
and setting them on his coffee table. His wife announced,
‘This is a

celebration. | am done with my pediatrics cardio-surgery
fellowship today! Next, | can fully operate on a child
independently - a little nervous but also excited."’

Evan got up and hugged his wife. To him, Shantelle had
worked hard. Even while pregnant with Amara, she had
started

her fellowship training, observing and assisting with
pediatric surgeries. This continued shortly after she gave
birth too.

She managed her time, leading the thoracic surgical team
at the heart and lung center while learning under a
pediatric

cardio surgeon and teaching at the city’s medical school
too. i

He kissed Shantelle's cheek and said, "You are a
superwoman." «

A chuckle left Shantelle's lips. She replied, ’And you are a
super dad, running such a big company and working at
home

so you could spend time with the kids.
The man hissed. His wife was giving him too much credit.
Over the year, he unexpectedly traveled frequently.

LL

Whenever he was home, he brought work to the mansion
and spent time with the kids.

"Are you picking up Lucas from school, or Miguel is?"
Shantelle asked.

"I am. And | thought Lucas and | could go out too - you
know, boys' night out," Evan said with a smile. 2

"Of course. Hubby! You should. He has been waiting to
watch that concert with you and Wendell - is that what you
are

going to tonight?" Shantelle asked.

"Yes, Wendell is his influence in music," Evan admitted.
"You should go and have fun. In the meantime. Let's have
lunch!" Shantelle said.

The couple shared a lovely meal, and while they were at it,
Shantelle watched the news on TV. The network featured
a

young single father who became widely known as Daddy
Tristan. He created T-i-k-T-o0-k videos to raise funds for his
three-month-old baby's surgery. There were some videos
where he featured her son too.

At the end of each video, it flashed the baby's condition. It
read: [Help us raise funds for Baby Ryan's heart surgery.
He

was diagnosed with Corrected Transposition of the Great
Arteries (LTGA), a congenital heart defect.)

Evan realized it wasn't the first time Shantelle had gaped
at this news. The father's Tiktok had gone viral for about a

month now.

The man cleared his throat and said, "Do you want to
operate on the baby? | haven't had my annual charity
giveaway this

year. We could sponsor his operation.”

Shantelle thought about it and answered, "Can we?"

"Of course. The father of the boy could use a break. He is
waiting tables, washing cars, and doing T-i-k-T-0-k-s. | like
helping those who try to help themselves/ Evan said with a
wink. "Say the word, and I'll bring them here to Rose Hills.
Not

only that, you will be featured as a capable and

generous doctor, wife of Evan Thompson." 3

A chuckle left Shantelle's lips. She answered, "Oh, that
still works, by the way. We can't leave that out. Wife of
Evan

Thompson.’

"Absolutely not," Evan said. "We should not leave that out.”
Shantelle nodded and said, "Let's help this father and son
duo.”

After Shantelle's confirmation, Evan made the phone calls,
and in the next few days, she became the topic of nearly
half

the state. After all, Shantelle was giving the surgery for
free.

Being new to pediatric surgery, there were talks about her
capacity. They questioned whether Shantelle was only
using

baby Ryan's popularity to make her famous and the Heart
and Lung Center too. 1

Of course, many defended her in the group of doctors, for
technically, an adult surgeon could operate on a child.
Shantelle was even praised for further strengthening her
knowledge and skill, taking a fellowship training with a
pediatric

cardio surgeon.

Shantelle and Evan disregarded the negative comments.
The company's public relations office only responded to
the

claims, publicly announcing: [Mister Evan Thompson is a
known philanthropist. He has helped many lives through
his

charitable donations. He and his wife, Doctor Shantelle
Scott -Thompson, only wish to help Baby Ryan.) 1

Thus, the surgery pushed through. Ryan's father, Tristan,
was thankful beyond words. They flew across the state
and

lived in the Diamond Hotel for a few days until the
operation.

*k%k

"I am nervous," Tristan, Ryan's father, said.

"Relax, my wife is there, and not only her. She has a team
of surgeons helping your son," Evan said, assuring
Tristan.

They were outside the operating room, together with Baby
Ryan's supporters.

Aside from Evan, Keith and Karise had arrived to show
their support for Shantelle. Because Tristan and his son,
Baby

Ryan, had become an internet sensation, the entire
operation was broadcast live. Every mistake, should there
be any, will

be seenon TV. 1

*k%k

Baby Ryan was born with his heart's lower two pumping
chambers, the ventricles, reversed in their positions. That
was

how he was diagnosed with corrected transposition of the
great arteries.

Shantelle knew it was a complex surgery but still
proceeded despite the public pressure because Baby
Ryan should have

had his surgery during the first month of his birth. He was
already late for the surgery, and the clock was ticking.
Knowing the surgery video would be fed to the internet
and shown on TV, she sternly commanded her steam and
prohibited distractions.

On the table, Shantelle had already switched the blue and
red veins in Ryan's lower heart chambers. Now, she was
cutting the major arteries and was in the process of
switching them. 1

"Looking good, Doctor Shant/ Seeing how they were
nearly done, her colleagues praised her.

Shantelle's pediatric mentor was also around to observe
the operation and was very impressed. He said, "Doctor
Shant is

very focused on her surgery.’

After stitching the arteries, Shantelle took a deep breath
and leaned back, saying, "l just... didn't want Baby Ryan to
stay

longer in the OR. Best to finish the operation first."

She studied the arteries again before saying, "Let's test
his heart/

Six hours into the surgery and Shantelle was done. She
received applause the second she stepped out of the
operating

room. 2

Her biggest supporter, Evan, embraced her outright. Keith
and Karise followed, congratulating her. Shantelle glanced
at

Ryan's father, saying, "The operation is a success. Let's
observe him for a few days before discharge." **«*

Baby Ryan was discharged after five days but remained in
the city for follow-up checkups.

Weeks and months passed, and Baby Ryan had no
complications. The baby was living normally in his
everyday life. His

entire journey was shown on the internet through T-i-
k-T-0-k-s and interviews.

Baby Ryan's story gave Shantelle credibility and more
patients. Evan shared the same spotlight for his
generosity. The

couple was repeatedly featured online and in other
charitable institutions for many months. >

As a result, Saint Dominique's Heart and Lung Center
became the state's in-demand facility for chest surgical
care.

While The Heart and Lung Center was gaining popularity,
what Evan and Shantelle unexpectedly achieved was
another

loyal friend.

One day, Tristan and baby Ryan came for a follow-up
checkup with Shantelle and a cardiologist. Tristan
purposely asked

to speak to Shantelle and Evan next, so he and Baby
Ryan were invited to their home for dinner.

During that dinner, Tristan revealed, "The Cleaveland
Clinic had asked if we can represent them - Ryan and me,
for

promotions and continue checkups with them since they
consider us a media influencer, but honestly, | would rather

continue supporting Saint Dominique's Heart and Lung
Center. Can - can | get a job at the hospital? Any pay is
fine. |

just... want to give back to the right people - to Doctor
Shant and you, Mister Thompson. You both have helped
us - saved

my son."

"I would not have raised enough funds for Ryan's surgery
in time." Tristan was teary-eyed as he added, "If you let
me. |

will work for your family until my last breath."

Naturally, Evan and Shantelle agreed. Tristan and Ryan
became added members of their circle in the following
years.

CHAPTER 198

: Sean's Lifetime Contract

[G&F Manpower International Service has earned its first
billion-dollar profit under the leadership of CEO Mister
Wendell

Franco, naming him the latest hottest and influential man
in Rose Hills, next to Keith Henderson and Evan
Thompson.] 1

The headlines flooded the internet, and those who knew
the group of friends posted photos of them, including Sean
Ross.

In just a day, citizens of Rose Hills filled the comment
sections. 1

[Congratulations!]

[To the greatest boss, Sir Wendell Franco.]

[He's hot, alright!]

[They've known each other since High School, and now,
they are some of the wealthiest men in the city.]

[They are the hottest in Rose Hills. Too bad they are
already married.]

[Their wives are gorgeous {00.]

[All of them are CEOs? How great is that?]

[Sean Ross is Evan Thompson's CFO. He isn't a CEO, but
he probably earns more than half of the CEOs in the city.]

*k%k

Because of the trending news, many companies, inside
and outside Rose Hills, began offering Sean opportunities.
Some

were clients of Evan's financial company, Gravity
Ventures, who attempted to pirate Sean during meetings
or the signing

of contracts, and a few offered him a CEO position.

Evan had heard about this but knew his friend would never
leave him. One day, at Lucas' twelve birthday party
celebration, Evan and his friends gathered at the
second-carat conference room.

Wendell, Milan, Keith, and Karise surrounded Lucas,
hugging him.

"Our boy is a big man! What? Are you already thirteen? |
thought you were still ten!" Wendell declared, making
Lucas

laugh.

"Uncle, don't baby me in front of my friends!" Lucas
complained.

"Which friends? | think Lily won't mind," Keith said,
hugging him tightly.

"Stop it, guys, you are making Lucas blush," Karise said,
pecking Lucas' cheek. "Our favorite baby boy

"Ahh! Aunt Karise!' Lucas exclaimed, and the adults
laughed at him.

"They are just joking, Lucas," Milan said, giving him a gift.
"Happy birthday!"

"Guys, over here! Our table is at the front, as usual,”
Shantelle said, calling out to them.

She caught a glimpse of Karise's gaze and noticed how
she was looking at the Wrights. They were at another table
with

Lucas' grandparents. She said, "Kaleb and Scarlett Wright
have flown in for Lucas’ birthday. All of their kids are here
too."

"That's nice of them. They are supporting Lucas' and Lily’s
friendship," Karise remarked.

"Tristan is joining US, by the way. Hope it's fine,’ Shantelle
added.

"Totally fine. We love influencing the dude," Wendell
suggested, and Keith laughed.

It was because Tristan, Baby Ryan's father, was ten years
younger than them. Being slightly naive, the boys enjoyed
sharing their knowledge and skills with Tristan. From time
to time, Evan's assistant joined in their gatherings and was
learning a few tricks, including getting a date.

Everyone was settled down when Evan approached,
asking, "Where are Sean and Reese?"

"He mentioned something about meeting someone."
Keith's brows furrowed. "Mister Daniel Knight- you know
the owner of

the National Football League -"

"Fuck, no!" Evan cursed.

"Sshhhh!" Instantly, the women glared at him, especially
his wife.

‘Language, Mister!1 Shantelle mouthed from across the
table.

"Sir, you don't think he would," James, who was seated
next to Wendell, suggested.

Evan wouldn't have panicked if not for the fact that Mister
Daniel Knight was retiring and his son wasn't interested in
taking over his legacy. The same man had even hired
Wendell's company to find him his next CEO. What were
the

chances that he was trying to poach Sean?

"l -1 need to find him - speak to him. Where are they
meeting, Keith?" Evan asked.

At the Frevo Restaurant,” Keith replied, and Evan
immediately paced towards the exit.

Shantelle ran after Evan and caught him in the hotel lobby.
She grabbed his arm and asked, "What are you doing?"
Evan turned to his wife and said, "Wifey? | think Mister
Knight is trying to poach Sean! | cant lose him -"

"As a friend? Or as a businessman?" Shantelle asked.
"Because if you truly care for Sean, you wouldn't hold him
back

from a great career.’

A realization came to Evan. His wife was right. What kind
of a friend he would be if he held Sean from an
opportunity.

Evan's heart felt heavy, admitting he was wrong. He
wound up hugging his wife. He said, "I just -1 thought it
would be

great if we all lived in the same city, but yes. You are right,
Wifey. | should be happy for him."

"You guys have been apart before. Remember college?
I'm sure nothing will change, Evan. Besides, how sure are
you

that Mister Knight offered him a job?" Shantelle chuckled.
"I'm jealous because it sounded like Sean was your wife."
Evan laughed at himself. He held Shantelle's hand,
saying, "I'm not swinging that way when | have a hot wife.
Thank you.

Wifey. | guess I'll wait for him and see what he says."

The couple returned to the party, preparing for Sean's
arrival. Evan focused on his son's birthday party instead.
He

reminded himself that there was more reason to celebrate,
considering how their son had been healthy for years.
Dinner began, and only then did Sean and Reese turn up
with Shauna and Samuel Reed.

Evan noticed how his friend was extra cheerful. He
thought, 'Could Sean have agreed to work under Mister
Knight?’

In the middle of the party, Evan finally learned about
Sean’s meeting. The rest of his friends, along with the
teenagers and

kids, were participating in the games, but he and Sean
were left at the table.

Evan was silent. Sean was especially loquacious about
the next NLF games, and the man could only speculate
why.

Minutes had passed, and still, his friend hadn't come
clean. The man could no longer hold it in and said, "Sean,
| want you

to know that | want the best for you. | am not a selfish
friend who would hold you back from your dreams or
career."

"Whatever happens, | am happy for you and will support
your decisions. Allow me this opportunity to thank you for
everything you have done for my company." The man
sucked a deep breath and said, "Just promise me, visit the
guys

and me occasionally. At least attend Lucas’ birthday every
year because we all promised to be there for him. My
other

kids can understand

"What are you talking about, Evan?" Sean asked, utterly
bewildered. "Are you trying to kick me out of Rose Hills?
I'm not

leaving even if you ask me to."

Evan fell silent. His mouth fell open, and he asked, "YOU.
ARE. NOT. LEAVING?"

"Where the hell did you hear that from?" Sean asked.
Evan's eyes scanned the venue, and his gaze landed on
Keith. He said, ’ Keith said you had a meeting with Daniel
Knight! Why else would he meet you if -"

Laughter escaped Sean's lips. He said, "So that's what's
gotten into you. Freaken, Evan.”

Looking into Evan's eyes, Sean said, "He offered to train
me so | could potentially take over his company, but |
didn't

accept it."

Silence fell upon them. Evan's jaws dropped to the floor.
He asked, "What?"

"| did not take the job offer. That was why our meeting was
very brief," Sean revealed. "I don't want to be anywhere
else

but in Rose Hills, Evan. Do | want to be a multi-billionaire
and a CEO? Maybe that would be great, but | have
learned to

be contented, and | am happy where | am, being your
CFO, being with my friends, and being in the city I've lived
in most

of my life.

Reese thinks the same too. Why would | complicate my
life?"

"Money can't buy happiness. Didn't you once tell me that
when you lost Shanty?" Sean added. "Well, | certainly
didn't

want to risk losing my happiness-"

"What a fucking relief, man!" Evan yelled, embracing Sean
from their seats. He was holding Sean so tightly that he
could

barely breathe.

"Evan! Evan!" Sean kept tapping Evan's back, urging him
to loosen his hold. He laughed and said, "Man, the kids
are

getting the wrong ideas. You better fucking let me go!" 1
They laughed as they pulled away. The two friends saw
the stares of their wives, the teenagers, and Keith and
Wendell.

All the more, they became amused.

Eventually, though, Evan covered the needs of the
company. Evan said, ’ We did plan to separate Gravity
Ventures, and |

was going to name you

CEO -"

"No, man. It's not time. Don't rush it," Sean claimed. "Talk
to me about it in a year or two, but | am happy to be your
CFO

and do your accounts.

Besides, didn't | sign a marriage contract being your chief
finance officer?"

Evan nodded as he laughed. He replied, ' Honestly, |
forgot about that. Yeah, didn't | kneel in front of you back
then?"

"You fucking did," Sean replied, chuckling.

Resolved with their plans, Evan said to Sean, "Thank you
again, Sean. Your decision to stay with me and the
company

means a lot to me."

"| want a raise, though," Sean said, winking at Evan.
"What? Didn't you get your raise? You had your raise like
fifteen minutes ago!" Evan claimed. He quickly grabbed
his

phone and transferred a hundred thousand dollars to
Sean's account. He said, "That's an annual increase. It
comes with

an additional lifetime employment contract."

Sean laughed hysterically. He replied, "I guess I'll work for
you in two lifetimes. Haha."

CHAPTER 199

: Who Is The Man?

Two years had passed. Many relevant changes happened
between the group of friends.

For one, Evan finally divided his group of companies,
putting Sean in charge of his financial business. With
Evan's

business growing, he had more people under his wing,
forcing him to get a new assistant so James could handle
more

demanding roles. Came with it, he and Shantelle gave
Tristan an administrative job at the Heart and Lung Center.
On the

other hand, Shantelle became the medical director for the
same center since William retired.

Reese became the head therapist at Rose Hills Childrens
Hospital, following Lucas' twelve birthday. Then, months
after

that, she learned that she was pregnant. Now she had a
six-month-old baby boy named Zander, another version of
Sean.

1

As for Wendell and Milan, five months ago, they learned
they were expecting another child, a baby girl. With
Wendell

getting more clients outside the city, Milan remained by her
husband's side, working as his assistant. However,
Wendell

had another secretary to perform the more tiring job.
Karise and Keith claimed they were contented with their
two daughters. Both Keith and Karise had been traveling
around

the country lately, thankfully, together. Keith was
expanding his insurance company while Karise had
become a sales

director for the pharmaceutical company she was working
for. Wherever Keith had business dealings, Karise pushed
their

products in the same city. Kamila and Charlene often
traveled with them, being home-schooled.

As their families and career grew, their gatherings were
often rescheduled, but the best part was they always
found time

to make it happen, no matter how late.

Finally, another Wive's Day Out was in order. Except for
Milan, the ladies were at the spa, delighting in a special
massage.

As usual, they booked a private room where all of them
could chat and have their treatments together.

"God! | miss this!" Reese claimed. "How long has it been?"
"Five months," Shantelle replied.

"| can't believe it has been five months since my last
Brazillian Wax!" Karise exclaimed.

"No wonder you did not get pregnant!" Milan said,
chuckling. She was having a body scrub since she was
pregnant.

"We are not trying to get pregnant,” Karise claimed. "We
have just been so busy."

"Yeah, right. | know you want a boy," Shantelle said.
Turning to Karise's therapist, she instructed, "Get her a
good

Brazillian wax and a vaginal steam bath!"

Laughter filled the air with the idea, but Karise didn't object
either.

In the next few minutes, they were all silent, simply
relishing in their treatment, when suddenly, Milan revealed,
"By the

way, | think... | want to focus on the kids, especially since |
am pregnant. | want to be a stay-home mom."

"| think that's great, Milan," Reese said. "I thought about it
too, but I also fell in love with helping the Children's
Hospital

kids."

"Never underestimate a full-time mom. We have all spent
a day or two with the kids the whole day. We know how
hard it

is," Shantelle said. "Do what you think is best for you and
your family, Milan. Wendell will support you."

"| want to be able to cherish the moments when the kids
are young," Milan described. ' Plus, | have discovered this
other

way to earn a living. I've been reading online novels for a
while and learned that you can be an online author - guess
what? | love writing stories and reading books. If this
works out for me, | can make an app and turn it into a
business!"

"What books? Where?" Karise asked.

Milan had just finished her body scrub. She replied, "Oh,
it's a book by this author, LiLhyz. She has a few books on
the

app called Goodnovel, and | absolutely love it." 3
Because Milan was waiting for her next treatment, she
returned to the locker and fetched her mobile. The girls
were also

done with their massages and were waiting for their
therapists to return. So they all gathered around Milan as
she sat on

her massage bed.

"Check out her novels," Milan said. "And you know what |
like best about these stories?"

"What?" Almost all the girls said at the same time.

"The bed scenes!" Milan revealed.

"Oooohhh!" Karise said.

Milan opened a chapter and said, "Check this out! It's
guaranteed to make you horny!"

She read for the girls, "Down on her knees, she drank his
manhood. She allowed the tip of his shaft to poke her
cheek

from the inside - that's the blowjob."

"Uhuh!" Karise and Reese said at the same time.
"Obviously. That sound so familiar, though." Shantelle
commented.

Next, Milan resumed, "He slid his manhood in. He relished
the view, how her pink folds hugged his member, and he
purposely took it out to see how his length glistened in her
love juice.”

"Damn, that's hot!" Karise said. "I'll d******d that app.”
"Me t00," Reese echoed the same. "I'm feeling hot."

"I'll check it out," Shantelle said.

The girls had their phones with them for the rest of their
therapy. They read during their body scrubs and foot
massages.

As they did, they gasped and felt their rose getting
damped.

"Which chapter is the next sex scene, Milan?" Karise
asked.

"Chapter one hundred," Milan replied.

"You are skipping? What about the story?" Shantelle
asked.

"Love the story, but | am feeling, you know, down there,"
Karise said. "| need my husband now."

Reese only chuckled and said, "I'm in for the story. | think
I'm done getting pregnant.”

"Wonder what our husbands are doing now?" Milan
suddenly asked.

"I don't know, but one thing's for sure, Sean better do the
task | ask him to do, or else he is going to sleep on the
sofa,"

Reese revealed.

"What did you ask him to do?" Shantelle asked.
"Something a father should learn to do," Milan said with
conviction.

*k%k

At Evan's mansion, the men were sweating at Sean's
request. Evan was the first to try and lend his friend a
hand with

Reese's task. He closed in on baby Zander and leaned
back, saying, "I can't do it. | never did it with any of my
kids when

they were this young. Zander is still a baby!"

The man snapped in Keith's way, saying, "You do it,
Kieth!"

"No way, I'm scared of that shit!" Keith admitted. "Thank
goodness, Karise is not forcing me to do that."

"Maybe Wendell can help you,” Keith suggested.
Wendell was seated at the far end of the living room. He
sneered at what they were doing. He said, "No. I'm a good
dad,

but | won't risk hurting my child. That job is a mom's job."
"Maybe we should ask Mrs. Shaw,” Evan suggested.
"No fucking way!" Sean objected while carrying baby
Zander against his chest. "Reese will ask every nanny
back in the

playroom; mind you, she has a way of discovering the
truth."

"| know, surely, Tristan knows how to do it. He is a single
dad!" Wendell proposed.

The men quickly called Tristan over. After an hour, he
arrived, asking how he could help. After learning what
difficult task

they had for him to do, he gasped, saying, No, | can't do
that!"

"What?!!!" Almost all of them said at the same time.
"Aren't you a single dad?" Keith asked.

"| am, but back home, | lived with my mama. | do many
things for Ryan, but my mama does this," Tristan revealed.
"| can

do it because Ryan is much older, but on a baby? | can't."
"Fuck, I'm gonna have to learn how to do it," Sean said,
hissing. Sweat formed on Sean's face before he leaned
his baby

to the side, saying, "My, the heavens help me."

Sean gulped, his heart racing. He looked at his friends
while bracing himself.

"You can do it, Sean. You can do it," Wendell encouraged.
"Fuck, you guys don't even do it! Why did Reese force me
to do this," Sean said, almost teary-eyed. With his left
hand, he

lifted baby Zander's hand. He spread his son's fingers with
his left hand. "Here goes nothing."

All the boys had that look of horror on their faces as Sean
extended his right hand to Evan, asking, "Give me... the
fucking

baby nail trimmer now!" 1

He gasped as Sean's right hand held the blue baby nail
trimmer. He started with Zander's pinky and nearly shut his
eyes

the second he cut the tip of the baby’s nail.

"This is so scary. What if | hurt my son?!" Sean
complained.

"You are a courageous man," Kieth complimented.

The boys were closing in on Sean, feeling the tension, and
their eyes studying his every attempt to cut baby Zander's
nails. There was gasping. Their face formed sneers, and
their brows repeatedly met.

When Sean was finally done, all their shoulders fell. The
boys praised him repeatedly.

"You are the man, Sean!" Keith.

Wendell smirked, saying, "I am proud of you, Sean."

"I'm the man," Sean claimed. "I am the fucking man! None
of you dared to cut a baby's fingernails!"

"No dispute on that, Sean," Evan said. "You are the man."
"There is still a little pointed finger on his thumb, though,
but that's okay," Tristan said.

Boosted with confidence for having trimmed nine out often
fingernails perfectly, Sean cut the pointed finger on
Zander's

right thumb.

"WAhhhh! Wahhhh!"

Sean's mouth fell on the floor. He accidentally cut just a
little bit of his son's skin! "I'm dead!"

CHAPTER 200

: Family Day With Daddy

Time came and went.

One Saturday, Shantelle and Evan were on their way to
the kids' school when the famous doctor received a call
from the

Heart and Lung Center.

"Oh, my god. Okay. I'll be there," Shantelle said on the
phone before giving her younger kids a look of regret.
Amara also

went to the same school and was part of it too.

The school was having a Family Day activity. It was
supposed to be a fun day for the kids, joining various
games and

activities with their parents, but even before arriving,
Shantelle was already bound to cancel on them.

"I will be back. It's just a two-hour operation, and I'll join
the games halfway! " Shantelle claimed. She sneered
before

turning to Evan, explaining," Doctor Chen fainted and
found out she is pregnant. She isn't able to operate, and
the patient

is already at the hospital, getting prepped.” 1

Evan turned to the kids and explained, "Guys, Mommy's
work is to save lives! You understand, right?"

The kid's shoulders fell as they acknowledged.

Amara, who had just turned five, said, "Okay, Mommy.
Promise you'll be there.

"But Mommy, who will dress me for the cosplay?" Amelia
reminded. She and her twin brother were already seven
and

participated in many activities because they were that
competitive.

"Daddy and | are good/ Marcus said as if warning his
father.

"I'm not going anywhere, buddy/ Evan said. I'll be with you
until the end of the day, and so is uncle Miguel. Right,
Miguel?’

Driving behind the wheels, Miguel answered, "Yes, sir!"
Instead of going straight to the school, they dropped
Shantelle off.

Shantelle reminded, "Call Lucas."

Their eldest son was practicing basketball with his team
and coach at a different school.

The kids practically stared out the car's window as their
limo drove away from the hospital. Evan had to encourage
them,

'Guys, daddy's here!

Everything will be just fine."

Upon arriving at the school, though, everything became
easy because there were so many games that the kids
could play

without Shantelle. Thus, they were no longer missing their
mommy.

Aside from the fun games, food booths were everywhere,
and the kids scrambled to buy some treats too.

Miguel and Evan divided their attention with the kids.
Miguel mostly ran after Amara while Evan took care of
Amelia and

Marcus.

There was a time, however, when Amelia wanted to buy
cotton candy, and Miguel ran out of chits to use. The
school used

chits instead of money, so Miguel had to buy more chits for
the family while Evan watched all three kids.

"Daddy, | want that!" Amelia said, pointing to a poppet bag
behind them.

"Later, sweetie, | only have enough chits for your sister's
cotton candy," Evan said while buying the cotton candy.
"Calling participants for the relay games! Prizes are in
store for you!" The announcer called.

"Daddy, | want to play! | want to play! They are giving
away prizes!" Marcus said.

"Later, Marcus, we are waiting for Miguel," Evan reasoned.
"And Amelia wants to buy something too."

Evan turned his back on Marcus and paid for the cotton
candy. When he returned his attention to his son, he was
gone!

His mouth fell open, asking Amelia, "Where did your
brother go?"

"| think to the gym, Daddy," Amelia responded.

Seeing Miguel was still not there, he carried Amara with
one arm and held Amelia's hand. "Let's go look for your
brother."

It took some time, but eventually, Evan found his son. He
was playing the relays with his classmates and was
determined

to stay in the same spot.

While standing and watching Marcus, Ameilia said,
"Daddy! Look there. My friends are there? Can | go to
them, please?"

She was referring to the group of girls seated on a bench
at the far end, and because they were in his line of sight,
Evan

agreed. Next, Evan took pictures of Marcus. He was
smiling as he sent them to his wife. He turned to check on
Ameilia,

but she was gone! "What the 1

He took a full turn, his eyes turning like a hawk, hunting
his daughter, but Amelia was nowhere in sight!

The man could not help but curse. He turned to Marcus
and back to looking for Amelia, contemplating what to do
first.

Fortunately, Marcus' game ended. He grabbed his son and
carried Amara while searching for Amelia.

The man found Amelia with her group of friends, choosing
poppet bags!

"Amelia! Why did you leave without telling me?" Evan
asked.

"We were going to go back, Daddy/ Amelia reasoned.
"You should always tell me where you are going," Evan
said. He let go of Marcus and put Amara down to talk
sincerely

with his other daughter.

After arriving at a consensus, Amelia said, "Okay, Daddy. |
won't run off."

Evan smiled. He said, "Good girl."

He turned around and learned that both Amara and
Marucs were gone! 1

"Why is this happening to me?" Evan looked through
different booths and game areas and realized there were
SO many

attractions around that his kids could not help but be
invited! He called, "Amara? Marcus?"

He returned his attention to Amelia. His daughter said,
"Daddy, I'll stay with my friends. We are going back to the

gym, |
promise!"

"Okay, go back there, and I'll come to find you," Evan said.
He looked around for minutes and finally found Amelia and
Marcus. Amelia held a handful of candies that Marcus had
won from a game. 1

"Marcus, this is the second time you ran off without telling
me," Evan scolded. "You got daddy scared. Don't do this
again."

He urged him to finish his game and brought the kids to
find Amelia. Thankfully, Amelia was now with Miguel, and
it

appeared to him that the marathon was already over.

Two hours had passed, but Shantelle was still not around.
Lucas had texted Evan how he was on his way. His wife
also

sent him a message, saying she was explaining the
procedure to the patient's family and would head to school
afterward.

The problem was Amelia's cosplay contest was starting,
and heck, he knew nothing about make-up and wigs!

Still, Evan owned up to it, and Marcus was helpful enough
to guide Evan. His daughter was playing Wednesday
Adams.

While Miguel sat in the auditorium's front rows, Evan and
the twins were changing backstage.

Amelia wore a black wig since her daughter was blonde
and wore Wednesday's usually black and dotted dress.
Fortunately, Shantelle left the make-up kit, so Evan tried to
give Amelia those shadow eyes, but he overdid it. Amelia
looked like she had black eye bags and eyelids. 1

Amelia checked herself in the mirror and exclaimed,
"Daddy, | look scary! It's too thick!"

"Well, baby, isn't Wednesday supposed to be scary?"
Evan justified.

Amelia's mouth fell open. She said, "You are right, Daddy!
The man also had to practice the Wednesday dance with
his daughter and felt embarrassed about dancing but had
no

choice. His wife was still on the road!

"Daddy, should | dance like you?” Amelia questioned. 1
"What do you mean, baby?" Evan clarified.

"Like a stick, Daddy?" Amelia answered. 2

Marcus laughed. 1

A hiss left Evan's lips. 'Was | dancing like a stick?’ 1
Clearing his throat, the man said, "Well, isn't that
Wednesday's character?"

"Okay, Daddy! I'll dance like a stick!" Amelia said. 2
Shantelle and Lucas eventually arrived just before the
show started.

Amelia did not win the cosplay contest but still bagged
second place. Evan could not be more proud, knowing his
efforts

had paid off. 2

In the afternoon of that same day, the family regathered in
the auditorium, where Marcus represented their class for
the

Little Mister Bright Academy.

Evan, Lucas, and Miguel sat in the front rows with the rest
of the kids while Shantelle aided Marcus in getting
changed

from one attire to another. The judges evaluated Marcus in
the contest for his style, good luck, and answers.
Fortunately

for Lucas, having light brown hair and mixed qualities of
Shantelle and Evan, he stood out a lot. 1

His biggest win was when all contestants were asked the
final question of the day. The contest host asked, "What
do you

want to be when you grow up?”

One by one, the contestants answered.

"| want to be a doctor!"

"| want to be a pilot!"

"| want to be an engineer, just like my dad’

"| want to be a teacher, like my mom!"

Evan thought Marcus would say he wanted to be a
businessman since that was what he was.

When Marcus was asked the same question, the boy
smiled at the audience and his father. He replied, "When |
grow up, |

want to be a daddy! Because my daddy is a mix of
everything! He is a businessman, he helps children, he
dances with my

sister, and many things, but the best part is he is our
daddy. Even when we make mistakes, he tells US he
loves US." 3

"So, when | grow up, | want to be a daddy, just like my
daddy Evan Thompson! Marcus concluded, and that
garnered him

roaring applause.

Evan wound up teary-eyed in his seat, with Lucas patting
his back. Lucas said, "He is proud of you, Dad.”

The end result? Marcus won as Little Mister Bright
Academy. 2

After that day's tiring activities, Evan was supposed to be
exhausted as hell, but he was energized.

They were driving back home. The younger kids were
sleeping on their laps, and Lucas was in the front seat with
Miguel.

Evan smiled from ear to ear as he told his wife, "Is today
father's day? It sure felt like it." 1

"Did you enjoy your day with the kids, Hubby?" Shantelle
asked.

"I loved it! | loved it! I'll attend every year's family day at
school," Evan claimed.

CHAPTER 201

: We Made It

"You look beautiful, Mommy," Amara said before looking
straight at the aisle and walking ahead. She was throwing
rose

petals on the red carpet for Shantelle.

"Thank you, baby. | love you,' Shantelle softly replied
before looking up in Evan's direction.

Her eyes gleamed, seeing her husband's handsome face.
She felt lucky to have Evan, who loved her beyond words,
following their second chance.

Time passed again, and Evan and Shantelle celebrated
their tenth wedding anniversary through a ceremony.
Shantelle now wore a crown fit for a queen. She wore a
sleeved wedding gown with an A-line skirt. She had no veil
on.

Shantelle simply wanted her face to be visible to
everyone, especially since they only invited close friends
and family to

their wedding.

She was walking to the tune of a song they both related as
they overcame endeavors through the years, especially
Lucas’

illness. It was a song by Kenny Rogers.

~ "| can't remember when you weren't there

When | didn't care for anyone but you

| swear we've been through everything there is

Can't imagine anything we've missed

Can't imagine anything the two of US can'tdo' ~

They may have failed in their first marriage, but to
Shantelle, Evan made it up for their second. And following
the song's

lyrics, she told herself how she was glad to have stayed
with Evan through the years. With how they were about to
review

their vows, Shantelle hoped for a better, loving,
memorable, and fun-filled marriage.

Evan and Shantelle held their wedding on the vast lawn of
their home, where rows of chairs accommodated their
guests.

In front was a beautifully decorated gazebo for the couple
to linger during the ceremony.

Once in a while, Shantelle would turn to the side and see
the faces of her family and friends. A few of her
co-workers were

there. Doctor Hale, who was now part of the center's
board member, attended too. James was on the same
side, including

Ryan and his dad, Tristan.

On the other side were Shantelle's college friends and
their families.

Up ahead, her parents smiled at her. William no longer
walked her down the aisle but sat with Amelia, Marcus,
and

Eleanor. She was thankful to the heavens that her parents
were graced with good health to be able to live this long
and

witness their renewal of vows.

She could say the same thing to Evan's parents. Although,
Erick could no longer walk alone in his late eighties. Still,
for

his age, he was thriving.

Clara was still also doing well, being younger than Erick.
The moment was already perfect. The mood was set, and
Shantelle was excited to hold Evan's hand, but she
supposed,

with kids around, a little laugh was bound to happen.

Shantelle was already closing in on Evan when, out of
nowhere, Milan's two -year-old, Wendy, jumped in front of
her.

Wendy ran to the middle and picked up pieces of the rose
petals, and smiled at Shantelle. Wendell hurriedly followed
behind his daughter and picked her up, mouthing at
Shantelle, ‘Sorry.’

The little girl grunted. She insisted on reaching for Shantell
while wiggling her body free from her daddy.

Shantelle offered her palm, and that's when Wendy gave
the rose petals to her, including a flying kiss.

Everyone laughed at that point. Shantelle said to Wendell,
"It's okay. It's okay.’

Samuel, John Adams, and Maxine were grouped together.
Whatever gossip was going on with them, Shantelle was
at

least happy they were in their seats. Karise's daughters,
Kamila and Charlene, were taking pictures of her. Her best
friend

directed her daughters on which shots to take.

When Shantelle did not find Keith, she looked further out,
and saw him rocking their youngest daughter to sleep. All
that

reading from Author Lilhyz got Karise pregnant again, but
they still had a girl. They named her Kaitlyn. 3

When she returned her attention to her friends, she caught
Sean, Reese, and Shauna smiling at her. She smiled back
before finding their other visitors.

To her left, she saw Scarlett and her husband waving at
her. They had flown all the way from Braeton to grace their
wedding. She only realized that her son, Lucas, was
seated beside Lily. Shantelle waved back and finally
focused her

attention on Evan.

As soon as she stood before her husband, she held his
hand, and he embraced her. He said, "My beautiful wife.
Thank

you for marrying me again."

"Like | have a choice," Shantelle teased, and Evan
narrowed his eyes at her.

The man pressed his lips against her ear and said, "You
will get punished forthat... in bed."

"Have you ever considered maybe | like getting
punished?" Shantelle whispered back, smirking.

"| - see - things - had - not - changed. Ten years passed,
and you are still impatient,’ the officiant said. "Shall we
have the

wedding, or do you want to skip and have the
honeymoon?" 2

Yes. Evan and Shantelle hired the same officiant. They
felt, he did such a wonderful job years back. They wanted
the

same humor and brilliant words from the officiant, even if
he had already aged.

As the wedding started, the officiant said, "A successful
marriage requires falling in love with the same person
many

times, and | see that in you, deciding to renew your vows
in front of your relatives, friends, and now your children.
Ladies

and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness
Evan and Shantelle's renewal of vows..."

The ceremony went on until the officiant finally
announced," Congratulations. Evan, you may now kiss the
bride."

The couple shared a sweet and long-lasting kiss in front of
their guests. They stopped to take a breather and returned
to

kissing again for nearly a minute.

Evan and Shantelle giggled as they finally pulled away.
From there, Evan turned to their guests and said, 'lt's time
for the

party!

*k%k

The party was on the same lawn, next to the ceremony
area. It only took half an hour for the couple to get ready,
and the

party commenced. It was, yet again, another gathering full
of dances and songs.

Although the couple decided on a simple celebration, they
followed the same flow in a wedding party program. What
the

couple enjoyed the most was their special dance.

They danced to the same song as their wedding ten years
ago, entitled We both Know by Colbie Caillat ft. Gavin
DeGraw.

A band played in the background, and two singers led the
vocals.

Evan relished the dance, reminiscing on their marriage's
excellent and challenging times. He embraced his wife
sweetly

and repeatedly pecked her forehead and cheek. He said,
"We made it, Shanty. Despite being thrown offtrack, we
found

our way back to each other."

Shantelle smiled at him. She pecked his lips, saying, "Yes,
Evan. We made it, and more to come.’

After exchanging sweet words, they kissed in front of the
crowd and returned to dancing slowly to the song.

Their romantic dance must have been so infectious that
his friends, Sean, Keith, and Wendell, started dancing with
their

wives.

Keith and Karise were having their own slow dance, their
hands around each other.

Sean and Reese made their own steps, turning them into
a ballroom dance. They were giggling as they managed to
wing

it perfectly.

Milan and Wendell, on the other hand, danced with little
Wendy.

Seeing how their friends celebrated with them, Shantelle
remarked, "We are not the only ones who made it."

Evan chuckled and replied, "I suppose you are right,
Wifey... We made it with our friends close by and their
helping hands.

However, setting aside our wonderful friends, are you
ready for our honeymoon?"

CHAPTER 202

: Family Honeymoon - THE END

"Shanty, are you having a great time on our family
honeymoon?" Evan asked while putting an arm around his
wife.

"| think this is the best honeymoon we have ever been to,"
Shantelle suggested.

Evan groaned, saying, "You hurt my feelings." He pressed
his lips against her ear and whispered, "What about those
nights you scream my name?"

"Stop that. We are with the kids. And that's a different kind
of honeymoon. You said it yourself. This is a family
honeymoon." Shantelle warned while looking back at the
tourist bus they had secured, especially for their family.
Apparently, Evan's honeymoon trip for their wedding
anniversary involved bringing all their kids with them.
Shantelle had

no complaints, though, because getting the kids out of
their heads was difficult. That was probably why they
never got to

take the trip they had always wanted since Evan and
Shantelle re-married. Often, they stayed within the country
or the

Caribbean at most.

Their first destination was Paris. Next, they were headed
to Rome and Greece. However, their itinerary focused
more on

Paris since it was Shantelle's dream destination in the
past. 1

"We are here!" Lucas announced, pointing outside the
window. "The Eiffel Tower!"

"Wow!" Amara exclaimed. "What's so amazing about
that?" 1

Evan and Shantelle laughed, including Miguel, who was
with them to help watch the kids. Lucas chuckled, pointing
out,

"My brother and sisters can't appreciate this yet."

Their bus pulled over, and the family slowly descended to
tour Paris’ most famous attraction.

The family arrived around six in the evening, booking an
entire restaurant and a VIP pass to the viewing area. In
each

level, Evan told them about the trip he and Shanty made
years back, "This is where your Mommy and | had dinner
then!

We will also have our dinner here, only in a different
restaurant.

|

After the family had a lovely meal, they went to the upper
deck's viewing area, and it was when the younger kids
finally

appreciated the Eiffel.

"The view is great!" Amelia said.

"Wow, look at all the lights?" Marcus said, pointing to the
city.

"| like it here now," Amara proclaimed. 1

After the Eiffel Tower, Evan took his family to the Grande
Roue De Paris, closing the entire Ferris Wheel for their
family.

Before hopping in, Evan told his children, "This is where
your mommy gave daddy a second chance." i

"What's a second chance, Daddy?" Amara asked.

"Ah, it's a long story," Evan said.

"| like long stories," Amara replied, encouraging laughter
from Shantelle and Lucas. Miguel was also the same,
chuckling

behind Evan, i

Holding Amara's hand, Evan admitted, "Daddy made a
mistake before, and your mommy left me. So when we got
back

together, that was our second chance.”

The man smiled and pinched Amara's nose, saying,
"When you are older.

You will understand.” 1

Looking at the opened capsules, he changed the topic.
"Let's hop in!"

"I'm going to have a single capsule with your mommy!"
Evan announced.

"I'll take Amara," Lucas offered.

"I'll be with Amelia and Marcus," Miguel said.

While riding the Ferris Wheel, the adults took pictures of
the other capsule or sometimes of themselves. They were
admiring the view when suddenly fireworks erupted.
"Oh, my god, Evan. Did you do this?" Shantelle asked,
looking at Evan in shock.

"Of course, Wifey. Just to reminisce about the day we
became a couple again," Evan said. They took pictures of
each

other with the fireworks in the background. 1

From across their capsule, they saw Marcus and Amelia's
reaction as they happily stared at the night sky. They
turned to

Lucas and Amara and saw their little girl jumping for joy. 1
The fireworks display lasted for half an hour, and at the
end of their rides, Evan told his children how he did the
same for

their mommy years back.

The family had a magnificent first night in Paris. They
visited the science and industry museum the next
morning, where

the kids loved the robotics display, video games, and other
technology. For the rest of their Paris adventure, they had
their

portraits painted in the streets, rode on a boat, and saw
the city through the canal.

After more than a week of a fantastic experience in Paris,
the couple left for Rome and lingered there for three days.
They

visited the ruins of ancient Roman temples, but the kids
appreciated the pizza and the ice cream more. Thus, the
highlight

of their trip to Rome was how they made pizza on their
own!

Greece, however, was a different story. Their family went
from one island to another, touring the small streets with
white

buildings and narrow paths. Aside from shopping, they
spent most of their time lounging in their rooms with a
private pool

or simply enjoying the beach. It was an experience the
kids thoroughly enjoyed. 1

On their last day in Greece, the kids were sad. They didn't
want to leave, but they had been away for almost three
weeks,

and it was time to return. Thus, they bid goodbye to
Greece the next day and rode on a private plane.

The entire family, including Shantelle, expected to be back
in Rose Hills, but to their surprise, their private plane
landed at

the airport, two hours away.

After a seven-hour flight, Shantelle thought she imagined
things, but when she got off the plane, she said, "This isn't
Rose

Hills, Evan."

"| know,” Evan said with a wink. "One more trip before we head back."

"Are we still on vacation?" Amelia asked.

"Yes, we are, baby!" Evan confirmed. ’ For another week."

Shantelle's mouth fell to the ground, but Evan assured her,
"| told Doctor Hale about you being away for a month.
Don't worry. Everything is covered.

* The man pecked her cheek and added, "It's a surprise.”

It wasn't until they arrived at the beach resort that
Shantelle finally knew why they were there. She was
already smiling from ear to ear as they processed their resort check-in. 
"Wifey, you look happy," Evan teased.

"Oh, | know where we are going, Evan," Shantelle
claimed, grinning like a fool and flushing. She hugged her husband and

said, "Thanks for remembering. | love you so much."

"I love you more, Shanty," Evan declared. "That's why | am taking you to the places where you gave me a second chance, and what better way to do that than to bring our kids along." 1

"They are going to love it," Shantelle suggested.

After checking in at the resort, they had an early dinner
before walking along the shoreline.

"Where are we going, Mommy? Daddy?" Amara asked.
"Somewhere special," Evan claimed. He was walking
hand in hand with Shantelle.

Behind them, Lucas was holding Amara. Amelia and
Marcus were walking in the same line as their eldest
brother.

It was Miguel who stayed at the back most, watching the children.

"Oh, look over there!" Marcus said, pointing at the beach.
"It's blue!" 1

"It's neon blue,” Amelia corrected.

"Kids, let me introduce you to planktons!" Shantelle
announced. This was where your daddy took me on a date before." 1

"Come on, guys! This is pretty fun," Evan said. He ran with Shantelle, and they showed the children how to play along on the shores barefoot.

Running after her parents, Amelia asked, "What are
planktons, Mommy?"

"| know that one!" Lucas offered. "Planktons are
microscopic organisms carried by tides and currents. What we have here are bioluminescent ones.
In large numbers, they cause the ocean's surface to
sparkle at night." 1

"Wow! So they don't bite?" Marcus asked.

"They are too small to bite us, Marcus," Shantelle
explained. "Come, experience the planktons.’

Lucas was the first to step into the waters after Evan and Shantelle. He showed his siblings, "See? I'm good."

Marcus followed, and Amelia did too. It took a while, but eventually, Amara joined in, stomping her feet on the water and forming footprints in the sand.

"This is so cool!” Marcus claimed.

Miguel captured the moments for the family; when there were more than enough, he disappeared to carry out another task for Evan.

Everyone was splashing water, holding the sand with their hands, and making the longest neon blue footprints on the sand. While they were absorbed in their mini adventure, Lucas suddenly noticed lights flying toward them. He frowned

and asked, "Drones?" 1

"Drones!" Marcus screamed, pointing to the sky.
Shantelle, who was making footprints with Amara, gasped. She turned to Evan, asking, "What is this?"

With a shrug, Evan answered, "My last surprise!”

Over a thousand drones lined up in the sky. The kids were gasping and cheering excitedly as the lights formed a heart.

Next, the group of drones began a particular date: the date of Evan and Shantelle's wedding anniversary.

The drones formed an image of a man, a woman, and a young boy. Below the figures, names were given, and
Marcus read, "Mommy, Daddy, and Lucas!"

The lights above the figures created two wedding rings,
suggesting marriage. The drones assembled more words, and

Amelia read next, "Plus ten years." She chuckled and
read, "Now there's me, Amelia, Marcus, and Amara!"

It was Shantelle's turn to read, but she did so silently asnshe watched the night sky: [To My Shanty, the love of my life,

Happy Anniversary. With you and our children with me, life is beautiful. Thank you for loving me and giving me such a wonderful family.] i

Shantelle's gaze was fixed on the sky, and she did not
even notice how Evan wound up carrying a bouquet and a box of pineapple tarts. 1

Laughter escaped her lips as she sought, "Oh, god, Evan. Did you fly these from the Caribbean?"

"You bet. The resort received it for me," Evan said before kissing Shantelle's lips and hugging her. "Il love you, Shanty. So

much, and my love for you only grows in each day that
passes.”

While maintaining the embrace, Evan urged his kids, "Say | love you to Mommy!"

"| love you, Mommy!" The younger kids said at the same time.

Lucas approached the couple and hugged them. He said, Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad. Thank you for getting back together and giving me a family." i

Shantelle did not know why, but Lucas' words made her cry. Because more than just loving her husband, she realized she gave more to her son by giving Evan a chance, i

Hugging Lucas again, Shantelle pecked his cheek, saying,
"No, son. Thank you for being the connection between
your dad and me." i

"And thank you." Evan winked at Lucas, saying, "For
helping me win back your mom." 1

The three of them delighted in a hug again, and because they remained that way for minutes, the younger kids also jumped in a hug.

"Group hug!" Marcus exclaimed.

"Group hug!" Amelia echoed, and Amara also joined the embrace.

The couple did not know how long they hugged each
other, but Shantelle and Evan concluded it was one of the best family embraces they have ever had.

After the family's long vacation, they returned to Rose Hills and resumed their daily lives.

Evan and Shantelle built relationships around them,
especially maintaining their bond with Wendell and Milan, Sean and Reese, and Keith and Karise.

Throughout the years, they faced endeavors together, butnwith the strength of their union, love within their family, and bonds, they lived happily ever after, 1

THE END ****

CHAPTER 203

Author Announcement March 14,2023

My Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading this book until the very end. Despite how different this book started, you still supported me. | hope you loved the story of Evan and Shantelle, plus their friends. The biggest question now is, what is my next book? And When?

Answer:

For now, | have to plan the next book carefully. | will restnand announce on my page when | have another booknready for you to leave. | acknowledge, however, | owe you Lucas’ story. For now, nothing is definite. Let me take a break first. Haha.

April is also going to be busy for me with my kids.

Please follow me on my social so you can get an update on the next book. | will also put an announcement chapter in this novel once the next story is out. So, kindly keep this book in your library.

To my new readers, if you want to read my other stories, below are all my books

The Wright Family Series:

Mommy, Where Is Daddy? The Forsaken Daughter's
Return (*)

Flash Marriage: A Billionaire For A Rebound

| Kissed A CEO And He Liked It (¥)

The Devil's Love For The Heiress

| Fell For A Boy His Daddy Was A Bonus (¥)

| placed an (*) on the books with the most reads or my
bestsellers. Each book is a standalone. You can skip any books as you see fit.

Outside the Wright Series, | have two other books:

The Alpha Of Valmore: His Fight For His Luna And Heir
The Playboy Superstar Versus The CEO

To my old readers, Evan and Shanty's book is an example where | include the stories of others. Now and then, | will be doing the same, depending on the main couple's story. Once again, thank you for the love, your patients, and for following me on this journey.

Until the next book,

LiLhyz


Bonus Chapter 1: Group Vacation

"Welcome to Saint Vincent!" Evan announced with his
hands raised."

Courtesy of Carribean Sales." "This island, for me, is
untouched - just gorgeous," Shantelle remarked as she
disembarked from the cruise ship with her daughter, Amara.

The older kids followed down the stairs with Lucas and
Miguel, then the rest of the gang followed. A year after
Shantelle and Evan's tenth anniversary, all the friends agreed to take a break together; Keith and his wife, Karise, Wendell, Milan, and of course, Sean and Reese.

Naturally, everyone brought their kids along with their
nannies, and a few security guards helped manage their party's safety.

"Oh, god! | miss the beach! This is so beautiful!" Karise
exclaimed while carrying their youngest daughter, Kaitlyn.Karise carried herself with poise and glam when suddenly, she screamed," Ahhh!"

Her daughter had just slapped her on the face and
laughed.

"You, okay, Mommy?" Charlene asked as she walked
down with Kamila and her daddy.

Shantelle laughed, saying, "Oh, she is like you, alright.
Fiesty!"

"Don't worry, Karise. We all had our fair share of being
slapped by our baby kids," Milan said behind Karise. She held Wendy while Wendell held his twins, John Adams and Maxine.

Sean and Reese followed, with their children, Shauna,
Samuel Reed, and Zander.

From there, they rode on a bus to a private resort, which was simply chaotic. The kids argued, ran around, ate shacks,

and made a mess.

Wendy was crying because Zander had taken her toy, and Kaitlyn was crying because it was noisy.

"I'm telling you, Amara, Jisoo is the best!" Maxine was
screaming at the top of her lungs, defending her favorite artist.

"No, Lalisa is better!" Amara shot back. "She is the best
dancer!”

"Both are good," Kamila claimed. "They are in the same
band.”

In front of them, Amelia could not help but scold, "I'm
reading a book.

Quiet down, will you, guys?"

Samuel and John Adams were chasing each other,
sometimes bumping into one of the adults or younger kids that Sean had to call their attention too, "The two of you, stop running around.”

Evan and Shantelle were also calling Amara’s attention for insisting on her favorite K-pop artist. Amara was practically screaming, "Lisa! Lisa! Lisa is the best!"

"Alright!" Finally, Lucas stood up. He said, "Who wants to hear brother Lucas sing?"

"Me!" Amelia screamed.

"My brother is the best singer, better than Jisoo!" Amara retorted at Maxine, but the latter was eager to hear Lucas sing too.

Charlene took off from her seat and found Lucas first,
saying, "l want to hear you sing, Brother Lucas."

Lucas took out his guitar and said, "Let's all dance to the music, shall we guys!"

"| wanna dance!" Marcus said, walking toward the back of the bus where Lucas sat.

"Oh, I'm also a fan girl of Lucas!" Karise claimed. She
handed her daughter to Keith and added, "Sing for your
aunt, Lucas, baby."

Lucas let out a low growl, and the adults laugh. Keith said,
"He ain't a baby no more."

Lucas began to strum his guitar before singing the lyrics of Best Day of My Life by American Authors.

| had a dream so big and loud

| jumped so high | touched the clouds” ~

"Yeah!" Evan said, facing the back of the bus and clapping his hands.

Everyone's attention was on Lucas while snapping their fingers and clapping their hands to the tune.

~ "This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-i-i-ife
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife" ~

From one song to another, Lucas entertained the kids and adults. Everyone sang while occasionally dancing to the tune. It became the most enjoyable bus ride yet.

When they all arrived at the resort with no kids getting
hurt, no fighting, and no screams, the adults all thanked Lucas.

Wendell, for one, suggested," Hey Lucas, how much do
you love your Aunt Milan and Uncle Wendell.

Care to watch our kids for two weekends?"

They all laughed. Lucas chuckled and said, "I'd be glad to visit them on your anniversary, Uncle Wendell."

"What about us?" Keith asked.

"And us too!" Sean sought.

"Hey! My son has a life too, guys!" Evan warned.

"We are just kidding, Lucas. We simply love you like our own," Reese hugged Lucas. Directing her gaze to the beach, she announced, "Picture time!"

"Damn, it's picture time," Sean said, shaking his head.

"| know exactly, what you mean,” Keith said, hissing.
Heartbeats later, Miguel was taking charge of capturing the moment. The friends and their families were all standing behind the beach, under the sun's heat, taking their poses.
"One, two, three," Miguel took the picture, but Wendy ran away. John Adams had his finger in his nose. Zander climbed up to Sean, and the latter missed looking at the camera. Kaitlyn pulled Karise's hair, and Karise had a complete frown on her face.

"Okay, we will take another picture," Miguel suggested
before wiping the sweat off his face.

"Guys, we have to get it this time," Shantelle said.

Evan turned to the younger kids, saying, "Guys, I'll treat
you with ice cream later, okay. Pose for the picture.”
"Okay, another picture," Miguel warned. "One, two, three. Say cheese!"

"Ahhh! Ewwww! Cheese! | don't like cheese!" Wendy
screamed. She wiggled her hand from Wendell and ran
off.

"Wendy! Come back here, sweetheart!" Wendell raced
after his daughter and caught her eventually.

When Wendell returned to their group, Evan said, "Okay,
no more cheese this time, Uncle Miguel!” The man glared at the

younger kids and said, "For the twentieth time! Let's have a perfect picture!"

"One, two, three! Smile!" Miguel said before taking the
picture, but sadly it was another fail.

"Argghh! Why can't we get a perfect picture!" Evan
complained as soon as he approached the camera.

"Oh, forget it, Evan," Karise complained while everyone
laughed. "Let's have another picture taken when our kids are older."

"Sorry, man. My kid is hyperactive!" Wendell said.

Let's just say the friends were bound to have another
group picture in three to five years. Nonetheless, while
they never got a decent group picture during the entire vacation, they had the most memorable experience, being together.


Bonus Chapter 2: The Thompson Cord Blood Foundation


"Please help us welcome, our founder's son and first
speaker for tonight, Lucas Thompson," a host said in front of the stage, welcoming Lucas.

Years had passed. Lucas was now eighteen years old. His parents encouraged him to speak in front of many
hopefuls,

looking at stem cell treatment as a potential cure for their illnesses.

Over the years, stem cell treatments have been used to
treat several diseases, including cancer, anemia, and even
disorders like cerebral palsy and Parkinson's. Still, with
cord blood storage being so expensive, only a few
individuals

could cope with saving their babies’ cord and placenta
blood. Thus, Evan established a cord bank foundation
where

depositors may only opt to give donations. Evan's
co-founder was Kaleb Wright, his business partner at the Diamond Hotel.

That day was the foundation's opening. It was only fitting that the office is located at the Diamond Hotel while the blood bank remained at Saint Dominique Heart and Lung Center.

Everyone watched as the tall and handsome Lucas stood before the podium. Like Evan, he had those tantalizing eyes and a heart-shaped face that the young girls often adore.

Lucas waved at his parents and his uncles and aunts, who were also present. He glanced at his siblings, including the Wrights. Lucas especially smiled at Lily, who supported him that day. 2

Then, he looked at the screen to his left, where the
critically ill patients could only watch the opening from theirbhospital rooms. Lucas spoke, "lt seemed not so long ago that | was once like you. | was trapped in the four corners of my hospital

room, wondering when | could get out.”

He smiled at those on a video call with them, saying,
"Know that you are not alone, and while being sick is
tough, there is

always hope."

"Like severe cases of anemia, | had aplastic anemia,
where my bone marrow had stopped producing healthy cells. After

my diagnosis, | was often sick, admitted to the hospital,
and brought tears to my mother's eyes. " Lucas looked
down at

his paper, saying, "My mother would never admit it, but | knew | made her cry."

He went on to narrate his experience during
chemotherapy. He said, "It wasn't a walk in the park." He turned to the

patients and said, "I felt what you felt - the pain and
loneliness. | was often nauseous and, at some point, had an allergic

reaction to one of my drugs. I lived in the hospital for fourbmonths, missing my loved ones."

Lucas fixed his gaze on the audience of the four-carat
conference room. He said, 'My parents never gave up on me, and

who was | to give up when my brother and sister gave
their blood cord to me? Back then, | told myself | won't failnthem

because | wanted to be with them longer. | love them that much."

"Day by day, | claimed to be better. | have my siblings’
blood in me, and | fought my hardest, not wanting to waste that," he

added. "A miracle happened. | got better and have beennsince. | am Lucas Thompson, and | am anemia free."

"My siblings’ cord blood saved me, and | wish for some of you to have this miracle cure too. The Thompson's Cord Blood

Foundation is not just my father's and uncle Kaleb's vision but mine too. And so, with this organization we have made,

may the same miracle reach your veins the same way it did mine. May the heavens bless you and thank you for listening

to me today," Lucas closed, and the room applauded. 1
At the second row of the seats, Shantelle stood up,
clapping her hands. She was in tears, proud of her son.
Evan

followed, and so did Lucas’ siblings. 1

Lily was also in tears in the front row, giving the loudest
cheering. She said,

"That's my best friend!" 1

When Lucas returned to the front row, he was met with
many embraces; from his family, his uncles and aunts, and lastly from his best friend, Lily. Despite the distance, they had remained the closest of friends.

Back on stage, the host maintained to clap his hand
before addressing his words to Lucas. He said, "Those
were beautiful words, Mister young Thompson. You are indeed an inspiration. Your parents raised you well."

When Lucas sat on his seat, Marcus and Amelia hugged him tightly. Amelia said, "If | could speak as a baby, | would do the same again and give you my cord blood because you are the best big bro, ever." 1

"| just love you, Luc," Marcus said.

"And me too!" Amara approached, hugging Lucas.
Shantelle, seated beside Lucas, hugged him again,
saying, "Thank you, Lucas. You brought us so much joy,
and we love you."

"Love you, son," Evan said.

Lucas smiled brightly at his parents before saying, "Love you too, Dad and Mom, and my crazy brother and sisters too."


©️🅰️/Ⓜ️