The Heiress Is Back!

"How is it?" Henry stood up right away after hearing the click from the door of their bathroom. He could not hide the anxiousness and excitement that he was feeling right at the moment. His hands were sweaty and was trembling a little bit. His heart was also pounding fast as he walked towards his wife who just stepped out from the bathroom. "Amelia," he called her softly.

He was just staring at her, patiently waiting for her response. But his bright face became gloomy when he saw his wife's lips in a thin line.

There was nothing on her face but only disappointment.

He knew from seeing her reaction that the result that he was waiting for was just the same as the previous results.

"Is it negative?" he asked her.

Amelia dropped on the floor as she bit her lips tightly. Her grip in the pregnancy test kit that she used a while ago tightened. Her vision started to get blurry because of tears that were starting to form in her eyes.

She could not look up to him. She was sad and was feeling hate for herself.

Why hasn't she gotten pregnant?

It was already their third time trying. But all they got was the same negative results.

Henry, who felt his wife's frustration, immediately made her look at him as he cupped her face. His heart clenched in pain when he saw that she was just suppressing her tears to fall down.

Why was life so cruel to them?

"I love you, Amelia," he whispered to her wholeheartedly. Then he leaned forward and pecked on his forehead. When he pulled away, he stared at her right into her eyes. "I love you so much, Amelia. And that love won't fade even if we won't get pregnant in this lifetime. I promise you that," he tried to comfort her.

But those words from him made her lose it all. The disappointment that she was feeling for herself worsened. She felt pity and sadness for her husband. "Why can't I give you a child?" she sorrowfully cried in his arms.

Henry pulled her for a hug and immediately caressed her hair. "This is not your fault, Amelia. We don't know the reason for this. We don't know if you're really the problem here or I am. Maybe I'm infertile. Don't put all of this on yourself, honey."

Amelia shook her head as her cry went louder. She knew to herself that she was the problem. She did not know what the problem was. But she could feel it. And that made her feel worse.

Henry could not afford to see his wife crying so much because of something that she could not control. So when Amelia finally calmed down, he held her hands, squeezed them lightly, and voiced towards her, "Let's go to the hospital for a checkup. We will also talk to Dr. Hudgins to ask for his suggestion about our case."

"I'm really sorry to tell you, Mrs. Thompson. But the reason why it is so hard for you to conceive a child is because you have a PCOS," Dr. Hudgins dropped the bombed that shattered Amelia and Henry's world.

The couple looked at each other with sorrow in their eyes.

Why was this happening to them?

They did not do anything wrong. And they had not wronged any person in their lives. But why was the world throwing them this kind of problem?

They were multibillionaire businessmen. But what was the purpose of this if they were not able to bear an heir or heiress of their empire?

Their hard work would all become meaningless if they could not have an heir or heiress. But what was worse was that, they would not be able to feel and experience being parents.

Their thoughts were interrupted by a sudden ringing of a phone.

“Kindly excuse me. I just need to take this call,” Dr. Hudgins said.

The coule nodded in response.

"Amelia..."

Amelia gulped hard as she immediately wiped her tears, then shifted her eyes outside the car's window.

They were already on their way home from the hospital. And it was raining hard. It seemed like even the heavens were mourning with them.

Amelia felt Henry hold her hand and lightly squeezed it.

A few more seconds later, Henry lifted her hand and pulled it towards him. He kissed the back of her palm while his eyes were on the road. “Don't worry about that much, honey. Maybe a child is just not for us,” he blurted out.

Amelia gasped for air as she cried harder. She could not accept that fact. So she faced him with her wet face. “But what about our business? Who will manage it when we’re old?” she asked.

Henry sighed in defeat. Even though he was the one who really wanted more to have a child from the beginning, he was left with no other choice but to accept that maybe this was their fate, to grow old without children.

Both of them were silent in the remaining minutes of their trip. And when they reached their mansion, both of them could not help but to roam their eyes around, then their shoulders dropped in an instant after a realization.

Their mansion was gigantic and wide, but there was no joy that they could feel in it. It was such an ironic thing to have it all and have themselves together, but they suddenly felt alone in this moment.

But all of those thoughts and emotions temporarily went away when they saw one of their maids, Leah, rushing towards them, with tears streaming down her face.

"MMr. Thompson... MMrs. Thompson..." Leah stuttered because of too much crying.

Both of the couple browse furrowed while staring at their maid.

"What happened, Leah? Why are you crying?" Amelia was the first one to ask.

Leah found it hard to answer her boss because of mixed emotions. She could also feel a lump in her throat. "MMy daughter... LLily is in the hospital. I am need of a huge amount of money for her hospital bills"

Leah stopped her words because of a phone ringing.

It was Amelia's.

She immediately took it out from her bag and wondered when she saw the caller's ID.

Henry peeked out to his wife's phone. "Dr. Hudgins?"

Amelia faced Leah then apologetically smiled at her. She gestured that she would just answer the phone.

Leah nodded her head in response.

"Dr. Hudgins?" Amelia spoke after she answered the call.

[Mrs. Thompson...]

Henry was just watching his wife taking the call. He was also curious with their topic since it was not on loudspeaker. He did not know why he was feeling strange about the call.

"May I ask why did you call, Dr. Hudgins?" Amelia asked.

[Oh, right. About that, I just called to tell you what I forgot to tell you a while ago.]

"What about it?"

[About the child... If you really want to have a child, there is a way for you to have it without risking your health.]

Amelia's eyes widened in shock. She took a few moments for the information to sink in. "WWhat? TTell me about it, Dr. Hudgins," she eagerly asked.

[You can have a child of your own through surrogacy.]

Amelia frowned at his response. "Surrogacy? How can I have a child of my own that way?"

Was he mocking her?

Amelia felt like she was dreaming upon hearing their doctor's explanation. She looked at Henry with trembling hands and teary eyes.

"What happened?" Henry asked in worry.

Amelia gulped hard and smiled at her husband. But she did not answer him. Instead, she faced Leah, then wiped her tears. "Leah..."

"Ma'am?" Leah answered in response.

"Will you do everything I will ask you in exchange of your daughter's payment for yer hospital bills and maintenance?"

Leah unhesitatingly nodded her head. "YYes, ma'am! Everything!" she eagerly exclaimed.

Amelia smiled at her, then took a glance at Henry.

"What are you going to do, Amelia?" Henry asked with his brows furrowed.

Amelia held his hand then intertwined their fingers before returning her gaze at the maid. "Will you be our surrogate?" she asked.

Henry and Leah were shocked at her question.

"What are you talking about, Amelia?!" Henry exclaimed.

"Sshh. Trust me on this, Henry," Amelia calmed him down. Then faced Leah again. "I'll give you everything you need for your daughter's medication. In exchange, you will be our surrogate. You will carry my and Henry's child in your womb."

Leah gulped hard. 'How could that happen?' she mentally asked.

Like Amelia at first, Henry and Leah were only knowledgeable about the traditional surrogacy. That was why they found it insane that Amelia told her that.

Amelia heaved a deep sigh and explained everything that their doctor told her to them. And after she finished, it seemed like both of them understood what gestational surrogacy was.

Even Henry was already convincing Leah to agree with the deal. His hopes rose instantly.

And also, they had nothing to lose since Leah was such a great and kind maid.

“What do you think, Leah?” Henry asked.

Leah fell into a deep thinking. And after a few seconds, she lifted up her gaze to them with determination in her eyes. “Yes. I’ll do it.”

For her only daughter, she would be willing to do everything they would ask, even that meant carrying a baby that would not be biologically hers.

"Take care of yourself while we're away, okay?" Amelia tapped Leah's shoulder as she talked to her.

The Thompson couple was about to have their vacation on an island for their fifth wedding anniversary.

And five months had already passed after they had a talk about the surrogacy thing.

And as of now, Leah was already four months pregnant with Amelia and Henry's child.

Leah was really grateful for the couple, not only for the help that they gave for her daughter. But also for the care that they were giving her.

Amelia and Henry were very hands on towards Leah. They were giving her all the things that she needed during her pregnancy, especially for her first trimester since Leah's pregnancy was a bit sensitive. And they did not also stop helping Leah's daughter after her operation. They also provided everything for Lily's maintenance as promised.

So, in exchange, Leah was being careful with her body also. She was making sure that the baby that she was carrying was safe to show her gratitude towards her bosses.

"Yes, Mrs. Thompson," Leah responded to Amelia's order.

"Good." Amelia smiled at her.

"You don't have to worry because we already told the head maid and the other maids to look after you and provide everything that you will be needing. Just tell them," Henry added.

Leah gave them a curt nod with a warm smile. "Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. This was already too much. And I really appreciate it. I owe Lily's life to you. You don't have to worry about me and the baby that I'm carrying because I will be extra careful now that you'll be away for a while," she promised to them.

"I know you will. Thank you, too, Leah. We also owe you so much. Without you, we won't be able to experience being a mother and a father, " Amelia replied.

Henry nodded his head at Leah as he squeezed his wife's hand lightly.

They had a few more chats before the couple finally decided to bid goodbye.

"Just call us when you need something. And also tell us what do you want for a present when we come back," Amelia said.

Leah blushed in shyness. She scratched her head as she awkwardly smiled. "Take care there, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. Enjoy!" That was all that she could say after that.

She even walked them to the gate and waved her hand for goodbye before the couple's car went away.

"Mom?"

Leah's attention was shifted from the crochet baby attire that she was making to her only daughter, Lily. She looked at her with concern. She moved towards her side and caressed her hair. "Why, Lily? Do you feel unwell?" she asked worriedly.

Lily weakly smiled at her mother and reached for her cheeks. She carefully caressed it as she stared directly into her eyes. "I love you so much, mom. God knows how grateful I am to have you as my mother," she heartily said. Her eyes easily watered after speaking.

Leah was delighted at what she heard. She felt a warm embrace in her heart as her tears also started to form in her eyes. "Lily... "

"You have already done so much for me. And I don't know what I did to deserve you," Lily added.

Leah's tears already streamed down her face. She sniffed as she reached for her daughter's hands. She pulled those and kissed the back of her palm. "Why are you saying these things, Lily? Of course, I would do everything I can for you. Because you are my daughter. You're all that I have. And willing to do everything for you even if it means sacrificing myself."

"I love you so much, mom. Always remember that."

"And I love you more, sweetheart."

"I'm kinda sleepy, mom. Let's sleep, shall we?" Lily asked her.

Leah chuckled in response, then immediately wiped her tears. "Sure. Sure. Good night, Lily."

"Good night, mom."

Both of them laid down on the bed.

Lily closed her eyes then immediately fell asleep afterwards.

Leah, on the other hand, was still awake, staring at her daughter's face. She smiled when she saw how Lily's body and appearance changed after her operation. It was evident that she had gained weight. Her protruded cheeks were now a bit chubby. She could also see her arms becoming bigger. Although she lost her hair because she was undergoing chemotherapy as of the moment.

She could not help but to tear up once more. She was glad that Lily was starting to heal as days passed by. She was happy to see that her daughter was fighting with her to survive her cancer.

After her operation, Henry and Amelia allowed Lily to live inside their mansion and stay with Leah. And that gesture made Leah feel at ease. At least from then on, she would not need to travel from her work to their small apartment just to check on her daughter.

She would not know what to do if she would lose her. Maybe she would get crazy if that happened.

Suddenly, the baby in her womb came into her mind. She looked down at her baby bump then started to caress it with her right palm. "How are you there? Do you feel comfortable inside?" she asked the baby.

At first, she found it awkward to carry a child that was not biologically hers. She meant, was that really possible?

She was mesmerised with science and technology for it, and wondered what more could it do for the people.

Leah heaved a deep sigh when her eyes went to the wall clock.

It was already 10 o'clock in the evening.

She must sleep now.

Leah closed her eyes. And before she fell into a deep slumber, she prayed that everything would be alright.

"MMom… Mom…"

Leah was awakened from her sleep when she heard Lily waking her up. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at Lily. "Why, Lily? Are you thirsty?"she asked.

She could not clearly see Lily's frown because only the bedside lamp was open.

"Sweetie?" Leah called for her when she did not respond.

And before Lily could answer her mom, she started to cough hard.

"Lily!" Leah exclaimed when she saw blood in her daughter's palm.

She was coughing blood!

Lily kept on coughing blood that made Leah hysterical. She started to tremble because she did not know what to do. She was already crying while seeing her daughter's pain.

"Help! Help, please!" she shouted.

Leah managed to get Lily to the hospital with the help of the other maids and the family driver of Thompsons.

Lily was now in the emergency room.

"Ms. Gomez?"

Leah lifted her head when she heard someone call her. The other maid, caressing her back to calm her down also lifted up her head.

Leah stood up. "Doctor, how's my child?" she asked right away.

"Ms. Gomez, your daughter is temporarily out of danger. But she needs to undergo an operation as soon as possible. But you will need a large amount before we conduct the operation," the doctor said.

Leah gasped for air and cried once again. "YYes, doctor. PPlease save my daughter. I'll pay. I'll pay, " she pleaded.

The doctor just nodded his head in response.

Right after the doctor went back to the emergency room, Leah looked at her coworker beside her.

"Can you call, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson?" she asked.

The maid nodded her head and took out the phone from her pocket. She dialled their bosses' number, but they were all unreachable.

She tried many more times, but they were really out of coverage. So she apologetically looked at Leah and said, "Their phones are unreachable, Leah."

Leah was horrored with what she heard. "What? CCan you try it again?" she asked once more.

That could not happen. She needed to call the Thompsons to ask for help once more. Her daughter would be in danger again if the operation would not take place as soon as possible.

But even after a thousand of trying to reach the couple, there was no progress.

"I'm really sorry, Ms. Gomez, but your daughter did not make it."

That announcement from the doctor shattered Leah's world instantly.

Was that it?

She really lost her daughter just like that?

Leah almost fell down on her knees if not for the maid that supported her.

She cried her heart out while hugging her daughter's cold body. "Lily! Why did you leave?" She shook Lil's body while asking her. She could not believe what happened. And she refused to believe it.

Three days had passed and the couple were still not home. Lily was already buried just this day.

Leah was inside their room, staring at the wall while thinking of how fast everything happened. Anger rose in her heart.

This would not have happened if only the Thompsons answered their calls. They told her that they would help her every time. But they were not there when she needed them the most.

With hatred in her heart, Leah packed all her things and waited for everyone to fall asleep before carefully escaping the mansion.

Now that she already lost her only daughter, she could not afford to lose a baby once more. She would not allow anyone to take the baby in her womb away from her. Even if the baby was not biologically hers.

"We're home!" Amelia announced as they reached the living room.

But there was no Leah walking around to meet them. That was why she looked at the head maid, who was looking down the floor, avoiding their gazes.

"Where's Leah?" she asked her.

The head maid gulped hard before answering her boss. "MMrs. Thompson, Leah tried to contact you to ask for help for her daughter's urgent operation. But both of you were unreachable. Lily died five days ago. AAnd it was already two days since Leah left the mansion.”

The couple's eyes widened in surprise.

"What?!" Both of them exclaimed.

“You never failed to amaze me, Leah. All you create is such a masterpiece. If I were you, I would increase the payment for every piece of clothing that you’re making since the designs are all originally made by yours!” Colette, an assistant of a fashion boutique owner, praised Leah for the new collection that she made.

Leah could not help but just smile at her. She had been friends with her after she became the supplier of the boutique since she was the one who kept on assisting her and insisting that she should sell her designs higher than what she usually sold.

“You know that I just want to sell clothes for my daughter’s needs and for our daily necessities, right?” Leah responded. She handed her the stripe where the clothes were. “And one more thing, I am already content with how I am earning in this job. Luckily, what I get paid for is already more than enough for us both,” she added.

Colette pouted her lips, being problematic of how kind and good person Leah was. If it was really her who had this talent in fashion designing and sewing clothes, she would take that opportunity to get rich.

But Leah was not her. So she was left with no choice but to sigh in defeat. “Fine. Kindly say hello to your Phoebe for me,” she said.

Leah smiled at her as she nodded her head. “Will do. Thank you again, Colette. But I need to go now. I still need to cook for my daughter,” she bid her goodbye.

She left the boutique with a wide smile on her face. She would not need to think about the payment for Phoebe’s tuition fee for this semester now since she managed to sell enough this week.

She roamed her eyes around the road. Seeing the greenery around her also calmed her mind. She could not believe that she managed to live and support Phoebe all these years.

It had already been eighteen years since she ran away from the Thompon’s mansion. She went to a remote place where nobody knew her. She never planned to return Phoebe to her real parents. She was hers now. Even if she knew that she was not biologically related to her, she still treated her well, like her own child.

Phoebe became the light of her life since Lily died. That was why she was doing everything that she could to provide anything that Phoebe would ask for.

Phoebe once asked about her father’s whereabouts. But Leah lied to her. She told her that her father already died before she was born in a place that she did not want to return to.

“Mom, I’m home! Are you there?”

Leah’s lips automatically curved upward after she heard her daughter’s beautiful voice. She just arrived at the right time. She just finished cooking dinner. “I’m in the kitchen, honey,” she shouted in response.

“Coming!” Phoebe cheerfully responded.

A few moments later, Phoebe entered the kitchen. She immediately went behind her mother’s back and hugged her from behind. “Hmm. That smells delicious, mom,” she commented.

Leah chuckled as she turned off the stove and faced Phoebe. She narrowed her eyes at her, but the curve on her lips was irremovable. “Hmp! You’re just fooling me!” she accused her jokingly.

Phoebe laughed at her mother’s childishness. “Of course, not, mom! When did I fool you?” She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at her as she pouted her lips. “Your dishes are the bestest in the world!” she continued.

“Really?” Leah narrowed her eyes more.

“Yes! I promise!” Phoebe exclaimed, then raised her right palm.

Leah surrendered and reached for her daughter’s hair and messed it up. “You go and change your clothes first. I’ll prepare the dinner,” she said.

Phoebe saluted. “Aye, aye, captain!” Then she ran to her room.

Leah was left there, shaking her head.

Her Phoebe was undeniably the sweetest.

Phoebe, who just got out of her room, wearing her school uniform, carrying her backpack, gazed at her mother, coughing hard while sewing clothes. Worry started to fill her heart. She rushed towards her mom and knelt down the floor to level with her face.

“Phoebe…” Leah stopped from what she was doing and faced her daughter. There was a knot that was visible on her forehead. “What are you doing there? Stand up,” she instructed her.

But instead of following what her mom said, Phoebe remained kneeling on the floor and held her mother’s hands. “Mom, you’ve not been feeling well these past few days. You kept on hiding it, but I still noticed it. Why don’t we go for a checkup? I’ll go with you,” she tried to convince her.

Leah smiled genuinely at her worried daughter. She felt so lucky having Phoebe by her side. “I’m fine, Phoebe. I already took medicine. You must go to school before you get late,” she responded while tapping her shoulder.

Phoebe shook her head. “But, mom–”

“Sshh.” Leah cupped her face. “I’m fine, honey. I can handle this. This is just a normal cough. And also, didn’t you tell me that you still have a quiz today?” she reminded her.

“Oh, shoot!” Phoebe facepalmed when she remembered that. She looked at her mom apologetically. “I’m so sorry, mom. But I promise to get home early so I can accompany you to the hospital. I promise!” she exclaimed, almost rapping.

Leah nodded her head. “Sure. I’ll wait for you here. Good luck on your quiz, Phoebe. I love you.”

“I love you, too, mom.” She even kissed her mother goodbye before she ran outside their house.

Leah let out the cough that she was suppressing after Phoebe left. She felt her chest aching because of too much coughing. It was like there was something piercing her chest.

It was true that she had been feeling unwell these past few days. And she was trying her best to hide it from her daughter because she did not want her to worry and just focus on her studies. And each day that was passing, her illness was getting worse.

Maybe, Phoebe was right.

She needed a checkup.

So she finished sewing the last piece of clothes that she started to sew, then she prepared and went to the hospital.

“This will be hard to hear, but Ms. Leah, I’m sorry to let you know, but you have stage 4 lung cancer,” the doctor announced after reading the findings.

Leah was dumbfounded at what she just heard.

Did she hear it right?

She had lung cancer?

And it was already on the terminal stage?

“Oh my God!” She covered her mouth using her palms as she gasped. Tears fell down from her eyes upon processing the information.

The doctor looked at her with pity.

She still looked young yet fate was already on the verge of taking her life.

“HHow long do II still have?” Leah managed to ask despite breaking down.

The doctor pressed his lips in a thin line before answering. “Two to three months.”

If only she was not sitting on a chair, Leah probably fell down the floor as she felt her knees turn jelly.

Where did it went wrong?

Why did she got the disease that killed her first daughter?

Was this her karma for taking Phoebe away from her real parents?

Leah could not stop crying even when she already got home. She did not know what to do now. Sadness and fear filled her heart. But not for herself, but for her daughter, Phoebe.

She did not want to leave Phoebe this early. She had still not finished her studies. And also, who would take care of her and provide for her needs when she passed away?

Leah massaged her temple because it was already aching for many thoughts that were running in her mind right now.

“Are you okay, mom? I’m sorry that I went home late. We had a practice for our school project after our class dismissal,” Phoebe apologized when she noticed her mother staring at her while they were having dinner. She was thinking that maybe her mother was sulking at her for not fulfilling her promise this morning.

But Leah just smiled at her. Her eyes turned glassy as she reached for her hands. “You’ve grown into a beautiful young lady, Phoebe. I love you so much. Always remember that,” she said in a broken voice.

Phoebe’s eyes furrowed. “Is everything alright, mom? Is there something that happened while I was at school?” She could not help but to worry.

Leah coughed once more as she shook her head. “No. I just realized how fast the years are passing by,” she lied.

Not believing what her mother was saying, Phoebe stood up from her seat and went to hug her mother from behind.

Leah closed her eyes to savor her daughter’s hug.

She would miss this feeling. She would miss everything about Phoebe.

Phoebe sighed. “If you have a problem, mom, please tell me. I am always here for you. You don’t need to own every problem that comes in our family,” she whispered to her.

Leah caressed her arms as she nodded her head.

Tonight, Leah had already made her decision. She would do the right thing to do now.

She would return Phoebe to her real parents, to the place where she really belonged.

“I already excused you to your teacher, honey,” Leah told Phoebe.

They were currently watching a movie when Leah suddenly blurted that out.

With that, Phoebe’s attention was now all on her mother. She got so curious about it because this was the very first time that her mother asked her to be absent from school. “Why, mom?” she politely asked.

Leah looked at her, too. “We need to go somewhere, Phoebe,” she answered.

Phoebe’s brows met. “Where?”

Leah placed her left hand on Phoebe’s right hand. “You’ll know soon, honey.”

Phoebe almost had not slept thinking of where they would go tomorrow. She had a weird feeling about it. She also noticed that her mother had been acting strangely these past few days. She became more caring and industrious than before. She was stopping her and advising her to have a rest since her cough had not still healed. But her mother would always tell her that she could handle it. And that she was feeling better as days passed by.

But she could not fully believe her because she could hear her continuous coughing every night. She was just waiting for her to tell her what really the problem was since she kept on denying everything whenever she was asking.

“Good morning, Phoebe! Time to wake up now.”

She was awakened by her mother’s soft voice. A smile immediately formed on her lips when she felt her mother’s hug. “Good morning, too, mom,” she greeted with a hoarse voice.

Leah chuckled while adoring her daughter’s cuteness. She even weakly slapped her butt and said, “Wake up now, Phoebe. Sunshine’s saying hi already.”

Phoebe groaned. “I’m still sleepy, mom. Five minutes more please?” she requested.

“Fine. Five minutes more and you’ll wake up, okay? We’ll have our breakfast when you go downstairs.”

Phoebe smiled with her eyes closed. “Thanks, mom. I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetie.”

As promised, Phoebe spent another five minutes sleeping. And after that, she woke up and went downstairs to have breakfast.

“I’ve already prepared the clothes that you will wear for our trip later,” Leah informed her after she swallowed her food.

“Thank you, mom. But can you already tell me where we are going today? I kinda feel a bit anxious about it,” she confessed.

Leah shook her head with a curve on her lips. “It’s a great place where you will love. I promise,” she answered.

Uncontent of her mother’s response, Phoebe still felt a bit relieved because of it. She believed everything that her mother would say. She would not say that if she did not mean it.

After having breakfast, the mother and daughter were already prepared before they left their house. They rode a cab to the bus terminal.

Brenn City.

That was what was written on the bus that they were going to ride on.

Phoebe’s forehead creased while trying to remember where she heard about Brenn City. And when she could not recall it, she took out her phone and searched about the place.

Brenn City was the capital of the country they were living in. And it was known to be the richest city in the country. It was a city of innovation and modernization.

“Mom, what are we going to do in Brenn City?” She could not help but to ask.

But her mother did not answer her question. Instead, she handed her a travel pillow. “Use this. It will be a long trip. You can sleep also if you want,” she responded, far from the response that Phoebe was expecting.

Phoebe sighed in defeat and took the travel pillow. She would just sleep since her mother had no intention of telling her until they got there.

“Amelia…”

Amelia immediately wiped her tears before she faced the person who called her. “Henry…” she called him back with a broken voice. She was trying to suppress her tears, but she could not stop it. She ran towards her husband and threw herself to him for a hug. She cried so hard in his arms.

Henry bit his lower lips. His heart clenched in pain while hearing his wife’s cries.

Even after eighteen years, Amelia was still longing for her lost child. God knew how much they tried to search for their child that Leah took away from them before. But there were no leads that they could find. Now, they were just hoping that Leah would be eaten by her conscience and return their child to them.

“Hush now, honey,” Henry tried to calm her down.

But Amelia wagged her head. As much as she wanted to calm herself down, she could not. She was this weak when it came to their lost child. She was still b;aming herself for asking Henry that time to have their wedding anniversary on the island. If only she just chose to celebrate it at home or in a fine dining restaurant, maybe they would not have lost their child.

“II’m sorry, Henry. IIm really sorry. This is all my fault,” she whispered repeatedly.

Henry ran his fingers through her hair. “Don’t blame yourself for this, Amelia. Nobody wanted for this to happen,” he comforted her.

Amelia lifted up her head to look at her husband’s face. “I’m so sorry for adding up to your worries. I know that you’re having a hard time in the company, yet I’m still here, mourning for our child.”

Henry shook his head and cupped her face. “I am not mad, Amelia. I don’t care if you decided to stay at home instead of working in the company. But I don’t want you to keep on blaming yourself and stressing yourself because of a thing that you never wanted to happen.”

Their moment was interrupted with a sudden knock on the door. “Ma’am, sir?”

Amelia pulled away from the hug and wiped her tears.

Henry, on the other hand, waited for his wife to fix herself before finally opening the door.

Behind the door was one of the maids.

“What?” Henry asked her.

“Someone’s looking for the both of you, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson,” the maid answered politely.

Henry’s brows furrowed. He could not remember any of his business partners telling him for a visit today. “Who is it?” he asked the maid.

“She told me she’s Leah.”

The maid’s response made the couple’s heart stop from beating for a moment.

“LLeah?”

Was she the Leah that they were looking for for years?

Phoebe almost felt dizzy while roaming her eyes around the mansion that they just entered. “This house is so big. Who’s house is this, mom?” She turned to ask her mother.

But before she could answer, sounds of footsteps caught their attention.

There she saw a man in a corporate attire and a sophisticated lady in a black dress beside him walking downstairs. She felt her jaw drop while staring at them.

They looked like a king and a queen in corporate attire!

Leah, on the other hand, was stunned while looking at the couple who used to be her bosses. Her palms were sweaty and cold. She could not even move from her place. It was like her feet were glued on the floor.

“Please have a seat,” Henry formally offered.

Phoebe felt uncomfortable for the stares that man and woman, in front of them, were giving her. She had already avoided their gazes, but she could still feel that their eyes were not leaving her.

Leah could feel the tension between the Thompson couple and Phoebe. That was why she faked a cough to get the couple’s attention.

“Leah,” Amelia called her. Bitterness was evident in her voice.

And that made Leah feel guilty and embarrassed. “MMrs. Thompson…”

“Where have you been hiding all these years?” Amelia was trying to be casual. But she could not help herself. All the questions and hatred that she was feeling towards their former maid dominated her being.

Leah fisted her hands, finding the courage to answer all the pending questions that they would throw her.

And after a moment of silence, everyone gasped in shock when Leah suddenly knelt down the floor. “II apologize for all the wrongs that I’ve done to you. I apologize for taking your daughter away from you for years. I am deeply sorry,” she cried.

Amelia cried, too, while seeing Leah asking for forgiveness. While Henry was tapping her wife’s back. He could not also hide his disappointment towards the former maid.

“How could you do that to us, Leah? We gave you everything you asked for. But why did you run away with our child? Do you know how heartbroken I was and I am still for what you did? We’ve been so good to you, yet…” Amelia could not continue what she was about to say because her heart was already clenching in pain. “YYou know… how much we long for a child…”

Lead nodded her head while still crying. She knew. And she knew that it was all her fault. “I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. I was just carried away because I lost my only daughter at that time. And I was blaming you for it. That was why I escaped with the baby in my womb. But believe me, I regretted it all long ago!”

“But why didn’t you return my child?! You’ve been hiding her from us for eighteen years!” Amelia exclaimed. Her eyes were firing with anger.

Leah looked down at the floor. “BBecause I’ve learned to love her as my own,” she almost whispered. Then she raised her head once again. “And I know that’s selfish–”

Amelia cut her off with a hard slap. “You are beyond selfish, Leah! You took all the years that we could have been a parent to our child because of your selfishness–”

Phoebe, who was puzzled at their conversation, interrupted them after she saw the lady slap her mother. “Please don’t hurt my mom! Why are you hurting her? You can talk to her calmly without laying a hand on her! She’s already apologizing to you for what she did wrong!” She bravely defended her mother. Even if she still could not understand what was happening, she still found the courage to fight for her mom.

Amelia and Henry’s attention was shifted to the young lady beside Leah.

“IIs she our daughter?” Henry was the first one to ask since Amelia was stunned. Although they kept on eyeing her for a while, they still needed confirmation for their thoughts.

Leah sniffed before she glanced at Phoebe, who had a crumpled face, then she nodded her head. “YYes. She’s your daughter,” she confessed the truth.

Amelia immediately stood up and went to hug Phoebe. But Phoebe pushed her away.

Phoebe sharply looked at Leah. “What are you talking about, mom?!” she exclaimed.

Leah crawled towards her and reached her face. “Listen to me, Phoebe. Amelia and Henry Thompson…” She glanced at the couple before returning her gaze to Phoebe. “TThey are your real pparents.”

“Phoebe!” Leah called the young lady running away from the living room of the Thompson’s mansion. She stood up from bending on the floor and was about to follow Phoebe outside when she suddenly felt a hand stopping her from running away. She faced the person who was holding her.

It was Amelia. And there was begging visible in her eyes. “Please return our daughter to us, Leah. Eighteen years is already enough,” she pleaded.

Leah was left with no other choice but to agree with her. After all, this was the reason why they appeared again in Brenn City after so many years.

With a heavy heart, Leah went outside to look for the young lady that she had been treating as her own for years.

“Phoebe…” She found her in the garden, staring at the nothingness. She did not even bother to glance at her after calling her. “Phoebe, I know that all of this seems abrupt to you, but you need to accept the truth–”

Phoebe sharply turned to her mom. There was anger in her eyes. “What truth are you talking about, mom? Why don’t we just go home? I still have classes to attend to. Let’s go.” She reached for her mother’s hand to convince her. But Leah moved away.

“Listen to me, Phoebe, please?” Leah begged.

Phoebe shook her head in disapproval. “I can’t understand you, mom. I’ve been asking you so many times where we are going today last night. But you never answered me. And you just bombarded me with a thing that is so hard to understand now!” she exclaimed in frustration. Her mind was in chaos. She just confirmed that her instinct about this trip was right. There was something weird in here.

As the explanation went further, Phoebe got more confused. But she chose to listen to Leah.

“After a year or two, I finally realized the wrong thing that I did. I was sorry for you and the Thompsons. But I couldn’t take you back. As I’ve said earlier, I already learned to love you as my own. That was the reason why I decided to keep you all these years.”

“Then why did you bring me here now?” Phoebe asked.

Leah felt a lump in her throat for her sudden question. She then bit her lips.

“Mom?”

“Because I have lung cancer, too,” Leah confessed.

Now, it was Phoebe’s turn to be dumbfounded. “What?!”

Leah avoided her questioning eyes. “Yes. I just found out the day you told me to go to the hospital for a checkup. And it is already in its terminal stage, stage four.”

Phoebe’s tears automatically fell down her cheeks. She was frozen in her place. “Then why didn’t you tell me about it immediately, mom?” she asked with dismay in her voice.

Leah was silent.

Phoebe ran her fingers to her hair frustratedly. “Why didn’t you tell me, mom?!” She started to get hysterical while crying.

So Leah immediately pulled her to a hug. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Phoebe,” she whispered these sentences multiple times to her.

Phoebe cried harder because of her mother’s words.

The truth about her identity instantly left her mind because of the revelation about her mother’s health.

Fear crept her heart.

Of all the people in the world, why was her mother the one to get that kind of disease?

She was the kindest person that any person could meet. So, why her?

Henry was still consoling his wife when he saw Leah and Phoebe come back from outside.

Phoebe looked more composed now than a while ago.

“They’re here,” he whispered to Amelia.

Amelia moved away from him and wiped her tears. She cleared her throat and fixed her posture as she watched Phoebe take her seat.

After they took a seat, Phoebe directly glanced at Amelia and Henry. She felt nervous right at the moment. And she could also feel how tense the two were while waiting for her to speak. She heaved a deep sigh before voicing out the decision that she made up in her mind. “Mom already explained everything to me–”

She almost regretted pronouncing that word when she saw pain in Amelia’s face. She did not know why she felt hurt seeing the woman in pain. But since there was nothing she could do anymore, she just continued her speech. “And I’ve agreed with her to stay here.”

Amelia and Henry felt an instant relief after hearing those words from their long lost daughter that now appeared. “Thank you so much,” Amelia said towards Leah.

Leah smiled weakly at them.

“But with conditions,” Phoebe interrupted them.

“Anything that you will ask for,” Henry responded.

“Tell us. What is it?” Amelia asked, too.

Phoebe took a glance at Leah, then smiled at her.

Leah smiled back.

“I want mom to stay here with me. And I also want you to help her with the hospital bills. She has lung cancer. And I can’t afford to just send her back to our hometown just like that,” she politely explained.

Amelia and Henry looked at each other. A few seconds later, they nodded her head before facing Phoebe.

“Sure. We will help her with everything,” Henry said.

Phoebe smiled at them. “Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.”

“Please call us mommy and daddy, PPhoebe,” Amelia requested with longing in her voice and eyes.

Phoebe bit her lips as she looked at Leah.

Leah just nodded her head at her with a curve on her lips.

“Okay, mmommy.”

“Have you heard the news about the Thompsons?”

Alfred Evans stopped from reading the newspaper because of his wife’s question. He took a sip of his coffee first before answering her. “Yes. Actually, I have already scheduled a meeting with Henry today. Now that the heiress of the Thompsons came back already, I think this is the right time to fulfill our agreement with them. This is the right time for the top 1 and top 2 in the fashion industry to merge forces to dominate the fashion world,” he responded with a victorious smile on his lips.

The wife also curved her lips upward after her husband’s statement.

They were not aware of the crisis that the Thompsons were facing at the moment.

“It is really great to hear that your heiress is already found. I am happy for both of you,” Alfred greeted them in the middle of their meal.

“Thank you, Alfred,” Henry responded before taking a bite of his food.

Alfred cleared his throat to start with his purpose of calling for this dinner meeting. “Now that your daughter is already here, don’t you think that this is the right time to continue our agreement years ago?”

Henry was all ears to his business friend. He liked where this conversation was going. “What do you mean, Alfred?” He acted like he was clueless of what the other man was talking about.

Alfred laughed at his business friend’s pretension. “Oh, c’mon, Henry. Didn’t we have an agreement that we will arrange marriage for our son and daughter when they reach the right age?”

“Oh!” Henry acted like he was enlightened about the agreement. “Yes. Yes. I actually think that this is the right time for that to happen,” he agreed.

Actually, this was what he was waiting for. This was what their company needed to survive the crisis.

Amelia, who was also worried for their company’s status, but more worried that this sudden implementation of the agreement might shock their daughter, held her husband’s hand.

Henry looked down their intertwined fingers, then lifted his gaze to her. He looked at her with a look implying, ‘Trust me on this.’

Amelia just sighed in defeat. It was clear that they were left with no choice now.

“Are you really sure about this, Phoebe?” Amelia worriedly asked.

They just finished telling her the situation of the company right now. They told her about the crisis that they were facing. And told her that they could still provide for her needs for years, but they did not know how long they could manage to support her. And they were shocked when Phoebe unhesitatingly agreed.

It had already been six months since Phoebe stayed in her real parents’ mansion. And she saw and felt how longed for her. She saw how willing they were to provide everything that she would ask for, even if it meant helping someone who did them wrong before.

And upon hearing their explanation about their company, Phoebe felt worried for them, too. She knew that her real parents worked hard for them to reach their place right now. And it would not be too much for her to agree and marry someone that could help their company rise again.

“Yes, mommy. I’ve already made up my mind. I will accept the marriage proposal from the Evans,” she answered them.

“How’s your class?” Leah asked Phoebe.

Phoebe smiled at her mother that she grew up with. She closed the door and walked towards Leah’s bed. She then sat beside her. “It’s all normal, mom. How about you? How are you? How do you feel?” she asked her.

Leah smiled weakly. “II’m fine. Still the same,” she responded.

Phoebe treated this as a miracle. She learned that her mom was supposed to live for only two to three months after she figured out her disease. Yet here she was, still fighting for her life for already six months.

Even after learning that Leah just took the life where she belonged, Phoebe could not still afford to hate on her. After all, she took care of her well, loved her as her own, and provided everything that she asked for. That was why she decided to ignore all of it and just focus on what she had now.

And besides that, it was also great having two mothers and a father at the same time. She was getting overflowing care and love from them. That was enough for her to erase the supposed hatred in her heart.

“Don’t stress yourself so much, okay? And also, always find time to spend with Amelia and Henry,” Leah advised her.

Phoebe smiled at her, then she nodded her head. “Yes, mom,” she answered.

“Good.”

After a month of living with her real parents, her father, Henry, enrolled her to a school for proper etiquette and business class also to prepare her from running their business since she would be the one to be the company’s new CEO after she got married. And she would not deny that she was loving it. She just found a track that she was enjoying doing.

Phoebe laid down on the bed and hugged Leah’s waist and buried her face to her neck. “Mom?”

“Hmm?” Leah combed her hair using her fingers.

“Don’t get angry with me, please?” Phoebe suddenly said.

“Huh? Why would I get angry with you?” Leah’s brows furrowed. “Are you hiding something from me?”

Phoebe got silent for a moment. She did not know how to tell her mom about the marriage proposal that she agreed to with her mommy and daddy.

“Phoebe?” Leah called her with a warning voice.

Phoebe lifted her gaze to her mom and laughed awkwardly. “Promise me first that you won’t get angry with me,” she convinced her.

Leah raised an eyebrow at her. “Phoebe…” she warned her once more.

Phoebe pouted her lips. “Fine.” She bit her lips, finding the courage to admit everything. Then she heaved a deep breath before blurting out the thing. “I am getting engaged next week, mom,” she said with one of her eyes closed.

Leah’s jaw dropped after her daughter’s revelation.

Days had gone by fast. And her engagement party with the Evans Corporation’s heir was already approaching.

Amelia could not help but to get tearyeyed at her daughter’s speech. She pulled her into a tight hug. “We’re so lucky to have you, Phoebe. Thank you for giving us a chance,” she heartily said.

She was thankful to Leah that she raised their daughter into a fine and great young lady. She had already accepted that maybe this was the way of fate to let them realize and appreciate things. She had already let go of before. What was important right now was their daughter was now by their side.

“What a lovely scene it is!”

The mother and daughter pulled away from the hug because of that voice. Both of them looked at the doorstep and found Henry standing there with his arms crossed. He then opened his arms wide. “Won’t you give me a hug, too, sweetie?” He jokingly raised an eyebrow at Phoebe.

The two ladies laughed at the man’s actions. Then both of them walked towards him for a hug.

Henry hugged them back and gave them a kiss on the head. “I love the both of you so much,” he whispered to them.

“I love you, too, honey.”

“I love you, too, daddy.”

“Are you really fine here, Phoebe? Why don’t you come with me?” Amelia asked Phoebe.

“I’m fine, mommy. I’ll just wait for you here,” Phoebe answered.

“Are you sure?” Amelia asked once more.

Phoebe smiled at her. “Yes, mommy.”

The old woman then heaved a deep sigh. “Fine. Just come to me when you need anything then.”

Phoebe nodded in response.

Amelia even kissed her on the cheeks before walking away from her.

Phoebe was left there alone on the table. There were some men who tried to approach her, but she would immediately end the conversation with them. She was really bored because she was not used to this kind of party. And as the night deepened, the more she got bored. So, when her eyes caught the bar counter, she immediately stood up and walked towards it.

She ordered a drink and was on her way back to her seat when she suddenly bumped into someone, causing her drink to spill to the man she bumped into.

“Hey!” the man exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, mister!” she immediately apologized because she just spilled the wine on the man’s suit.

The man hissed in irritation.

Phoebe could not lift her gaze to the man for she was embarrassed for her carelessness. She could not blame the man for his reaction because she would probably react that way, too if she was in his position.

“Is this your way of catching my attention?” the man suddenly asked boastfully.

That made Phoebe raise her head with her eyes narrowed. “What did you just say?” She felt like her ears rang because of his accusation.

“You’re one of those girls who like me, right?” Another question from him that made the young lady’s blood boil.

“We are so grateful for everyone who attended tonight. And for tonight’s celebration…”

Phoebe’s mind was flying because the man’s face would not leave her mind since she got back to her seat. She could not forget how arrogant that man was. She could not even listen to what her mommy was saying in front because of it.

“Let us all welcome on stage, the engaged couple, Phoebe Thompson and Adrian Evans! Let us all give them a round of applause!” Amelia announced.

With that, Phoebe got out of daze and stood up to go on the stage. But when she reached beside her mommy, she was stoned from where she was standing because of who she just saw.

That arrogant man that she just bumped into a while ago was Adrian Evans!

“Ehem… So you’re going to marry the country’s most eligible and hottest bachelor, huh?” Adrian teased Phoebe after he sipped on his wine.

It had been already half an hour since Amelia announced about the merging of the Thompson and Evans Corporation through Phoebe and Adrian’s marriage soon. And since then, Adrian did not stop bothering and teasing Phoebe about what she said after the bumping incident a while ago.

Phoebe blew out air as she glared at him in irritation. “Can you just shut up? I did not mean what I’ve said, okay?” She then hissed. “I never knew that you’re the man who I’m going to marry. If I'd known it earlier, then I would have immediately backed out,” she added, then she rolled her eyes at him.

Adrian chuckled for the young lady’s sassiness. It was his first time to encounter a woman who really did not have an interest in him. And it was also his first time to see a woman who was as simple yet elegant as her. He was not exaggerating though. Because living and socializing with elite people meant competing with everyone not only with business but also with their fashion sense.

He also knew that she was telling the truth. But she could not stop from teasing her. She looked so cute with that frown on her face.

He tried to offer her a toast, but the fierce lady immediately looked away. He shook his head with a smirk on his lips. He put his free hand inside his pocket, then leaned his back on the edge of the bar counter. “So, what do you think of me, Ms. Future Mrs. Evans?” he asked.

Phoebe, who wanted to leave the man’s side but was shy to embarrass her parents from the visitor’s eyes, secretly mocked him. “Can you just shut up? And don’t you ever dare mention that title again. I’m shivering,” she irritatedly said.

Adrian faked a worried face. “Oh, why are you shivering? Are you cold?” He then took off his coat, then handed it to her.

Phoebe brows furrowed at his gesture. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“C’mon, babe. Don’t be shy,” Adrian responded. He moved towards her and was going to let her wear the coat.

Phoebe was about to dodge him and move away, but Adrian carefully grabbed her wrist and whispered to her. “Don’t move away, everyone’s watching.”

Phoebe was electrified by his whisper, especially with his hot breath, causing her to widen her eyes and be stunned from her place. Her heart also started to beat rapidly.

Adrian took the opportunity to let her wear his coat. A curve appeared on his lips when he saw how she was dumbfounded with his actions. ‘So, I also have this effect on you, huh?’ he thought.

The guests, who were secretly watching the newly engaged couple, could not hide their admiration towards the two anymore.

“They looked so good together, didn't they?”

“I suddenly remembered how my husband and I were before.”

“I can see a bright future ahead of them.”

Those statements were just some of the comments of the guests towards Adrian and Phoebe.

“It looks like they are already getting along with each other,” Alfred commented happily.

“I think so, too,” Henry replied, watching her daughter together with Adrian.

“We should toast for this. A toast for the new start and fruitful merging of Thompson and Evans Corporation!” Janice Evans offered.

Amelia just smiled at them as she accepted the toast. After having a drink, her gaze returned to where their daughter was. She was really hoping that her unica hija did not feel forced into this arranged marriage. Because the last thing that she would do was to hurt her precious daughter’s feelings.

Finally, Phoebe already got home after her worst night ever!

That Adrian Evans really did not leave her side until the party ended. And that was what made her night the worst of all. She could not stand the boastfulness of that man. It was like he was made up of air because of his arrogance. She thought she did not have even a minute to roll her eyes for every line that he was saying.

And he was also too talkative for a man.

She could not help to stomp her feet in irritation when she reached the doorstep of Leah’s bedroom.

She only temporarily stopped thinking about Adrian when she heard loud coughs of her mom inside the room. “Mom, this is Phoebe. I’m going to enter now, okay?” she spoke from the outside.

She did not bother to wait for her to respond and immediately opened the door because of worry. She rushed to Leah and sat beside her. She had already stopped from coughing. “Mom, let me get you to the hospital,” she said.

But Leah weakly shook her head and just held Phoebe’s hand. “Mom’s fine. How about you? How did the party go? I’m sorry that I could not go and attend,” she voiced out, almost out of breath.

Phoebe’s eyes softened as she reached for Leah’s cheeks. She carefully caressed it.

Leah’s physical appearance had changed so much since she discovered her illness.

Her good physique before had now changed. She became skinny. And her hair also fell out because of chemotherapy.

She could not believe that the healthy woman, who used to design, sew, and sell clothes for them to live, was now in her weakest state.

“I love you so much, Phoebe. Always remember that,” Leah said, then coughed again.

“Mom, stop talking first please?” Phoebe stopped her. Her vision started to blur because of the tears in her eyes. Worry, sadness, and pity for her mom was mixing inside of her. If only she had a choice, she did not want to see her this weak.

Leah caressed her daughter’s cheek. “And please forgive me for taking you away from the original life that you should have had before. I am sorry for being so selfish, Phoebe,” she cried.

Phoebe’s heart was clenching in pain. Leah never forgot to ask for her forgiveness every time she visited her here. She would not deny that she was hurt for what she did because there were many what ifs that were coming into her mind that time. But whenever she remembered how Leah took care of her, all of those vanished in an instant. And she also never forgot to tell her that she had already forgiven her.

“Mom, the past is already in the past. Let’s move on and just think about what we have now and what we will have tomorrow, shall we?” she hardly said.

Leah wiped Phoebe’s tears as she smiled. “I’m sorry. I was just carried away. Thank you so much, Phoebe for all, especially for asking your parents to help with my medications.”

“That’s just a normal thing for me to do, mom. Please stop making me cry, can you?” she joked to ease the heaviness of the atmosphere.

Leah laughed, then wiped her tears, too. “Fine. Just tell me about how the party went then. I’m sure you’re the most beautiful there.”

“Of course, mom!” Phoebe confidently answered which made both of them laugh.

“So, have you already seen who’s your fiance? Is he handsome?”

Phoebe’s blood automatically raised to her head because of that question. Adrian’s annoying face immediately flashed in her mind. She hissed. “Yes, he is. But he’s too arrogant,” she complained, pouting her lips and rolling her eyes.

Leah laughed at her daughter’s reaction. “Why did you say that?”

Phoebe sighed. “Let’s just forget about him, mom. He’s nothing but a boastful man who thinks that every woman in the world has a crush on him. Like, eww! He’s not my type!” she grumbled. She was also fisting her hand. She did not know why she was so pissed off with him to the point that her eyebrow would automatically raise once she heard his name.

Leah’s stomach hurt because of laughing too much for Phoebe’s reactions. Somehow, she was already having a clue of how the relationship of the two would go in the future.

She was just hoping that her beloved daughter would not get hurt when the time came.

Meanwhile, inside Adrian’s bedroom, he was there, lying down on his bed, with his hands as his pillow, staring at the ceiling. If people would know, they might think that he was insane for seeing Phoebe’s face on his ceiling.

A bright smile on his lips was irremovable. He thought that he would just get engaged with a woman who had nothing else to worry but her appearance and status. But Phoebe proved him wrong. And now, he could not take her off his mind.

Her smiles and frown was all he could see. She was too cute and gorgeous at the same time whenever she had her face crumpled because of annoyance towards him.

“Hayyy…” He sighed as his smile widened more. “Phoebe Thompson…”

Now, he just wanted to know more about her.

“Sweetie, time to wake up now,” Amelia softly said as she lightly tapped Phoebe’s shoulder.

Phoebe groaned then covered her face with the blanket which made Amelia chuckle. “Five minutes more, mommy, please?” she asked.

Her mommy’s last statement was the one that awakened Phoebe’s soul. Her eyes immediately opened widely as she turned to her mommy. “Can you repeat what you just said, mom?” she asked mindlessly.

Amelia’s forehead creased as her eyes narrowed. “Which one?” she curiously asked.

“AAbout Adrian?” she hesitatingly answered.

“Oh! He called me last night and he told me that he would come with us today. Don’t you think that’s sweet?” Amelia teased her.

Phoebe almost puked for her mother’s question. “Sweet?” She laughed sarcastically. If only she knew, he just did that thing to annoy the hell out of her. She knew that he would not fulfill his promise just as he told her mommy. “What do you think of him, mommy?” she suddenly asked her.

“Hmm?” Amelia thought for a second before answering her. “I think he’s a great guy. He’s actually a jolly man. And I think it is a great personality of a man, especially a businessman like him. Because if you notice, businessmen tend to be serious all the time. No time for jokes and play around. But Adrian? I think he can manage a business without forgetting to have fun.”

The further her mommy went on with her sentiments, the more her face crumpled in cringiness.

Did her mother really think of him that way?

Or she was just charmed because of his killer looks?

"Oh...kay?"

Amelia laughed once more for her daughter's reaction. "How about you? What do you think of him?" she asked her.

"Mommy... " Phoebe called her with her tone implying that she did not want to answer her question.

"Do you regret being engaged with him?" Amelia asked once more.

Amelia was listening to her intently and was amused by how her daughter described a man that she was going to marry soon. "So you're thinking of him?" she unconsciously blurted out.

Phoebe's eyes widened in shock after her realization. "NNo. I didn't mean it that way, mommy!" she defended herself.

Amelia shook her head as she chuckled. Then she ran her fingers through her daughter's head. "Fine. Fine. I won't ask about him anymore."

Phoebe's cheeks blushed in embarrassment. "Thank you, mommy."

"Get up now and prepare yourself. I'll go downstairs to prepare breakfast."

"Hmm..." Phoebe nodded her head.

Amelia kissed her on the cheek before going out of Phoebe's bedroom.

Phoebe was left there pinching herself and throwing a pillow on the wall because of frustration.

After having their breakfast, Amelia and Phoebe bid goodbye to Leah before they went to their appointments.

They start off first by meeting with the event organizers. The day was almost near to its end but Adrian had not still appeared since the morning.

Phoebe could not help but to hiss as she rolled her eyes while staring at herself in the mirror. "I'm really right about him appearing today. He isn't really a trustworthy person," she murmured irritatedly.

Thank God she had a lot to do to forget about that arrogant jerk.

Phoebe tried on different gowns because her mommy told her that she was looking for the best gown that would perfectly fit her.

Actually, she was really tired of wearing them then taking off the gowns. But she could not afford to complain to her mommy because she could see how she enjoyed dressing her. She did not want to spoil the fun. Besides, after this, they could already go home, and she could finally lay on her comfy bed.

She smiled widely when she wore the last gown that she needed to try on. And for her, this was the best among all of the wedding gowns in this boutique. She was sure that her mommy would also love this gown.

She blew out air before pushing the curtains aside to reveal herself. "Mom, I think this is the—"

And she almost tripped when she did not see her mom outside the fitting room. Instead, she saw Adrian intently staring at her.

"Dad, can't you just move this meeting to another day? I promised Aunt Amelia that I will accompany them for the wedding preparations today!" Adrian exclaimed in frustration.

It was just 8 in the morning, but he was already stressed out.

He had a very nice sleep, and even woke up early in the morning just to prepare himself for this day.

He was so excited to see his fiancee again.

But his dad stopped him and told him that he needed to meet with an important potential investor today.

"Just call them and tell them that you have a more important thing to attend to," Alfred responded.

Adrian hissed and did not bother to answer his dad. He just dismissed himself and stormed outside his office.

He was briskly walking back to his office. He angrily loosened his tie so he could breathe air.

Now, he was so sure that Phoebe had been thinking of him as an unreliable person.

He was left with no choice but to meet with their client. He was there with the client, but his mind was flying to where Phoebe was. He could not even listen well to what his client was saying. Luckily, he still managed to answer his questions and successfully convinced him to sign with them.

"Finally!" he exclaimed. He checked his wrist watch and flinched when he saw that it was already 5 in the afternoon. "Are they still there?" he asked himself.

Well, he should go and check for it himself. He was already shy to call and ask Amelia since he did not appear earlier. He also forgot to text her a while ago which made it worse.

As soon as he got out of the restaurant, he immediately went to his car and maneuvered it to the boutique.

"I'm really sorry, Aunt Amelia. Dad ordered me to talk with an investor so I wasn't able to come with you earlier," he immediately apologized as soon as he saw the old lady.

Amelia smiled at him, then tapped his shoulder. "That's fine with me." She suddenly glanced at the curtained fitting room. "But I think you need to apologize to my baby. She's been expecting you to come."

Adrian could not help but to scratch his head as he nodded at her. He suddenly heard his heart thumping for her statement. "Yes, Aunt Amelia. Thank you so much."

Amelia bobbed her head, too before gesturing that she would go and roam around the boutique.

Adrian was left there, standing straight, parallel to the fitting room where his fiancee was, waiting for her to come out.

"Mom, I think this is the—"

Adrian was automatically stunned after seeing Phoebe in her wedding gown. He almost did not blink as he gaped at her. It was as if his throat went dry.

"What are you doing here?"

Phoebe's sassy voice was the reason why he came back to his senses.

He blinked his eyes a few times before shaking his head to recollect himself. "OOh!"

Phoebe, who was trying to hide her shock, crossed her arms, then raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"AAhm.. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to come with you earlier. I just needed to attend an important meeting–"

"Who cares?" Phoebe cut him off and went back to the fitting room to remove the gown.

She wanted to rip off the gown. She kept on mocking him inside the fitting room.

'Needed to attend an important meeting? Then he shouldn't have promised to accompany us if that's so!' she exclaimed in her mind.

"Look, Phoebe, I really don't mean it. It was an abrupt meeting. And I couldn't postpone it!" Adrian tried to explain.

'Then you could have informed me!' Phoebe answered in her mind.

But instead of saying that, she turned her back to him, then picked up her purse on the chair before she faced him with her piercing gaze. "You don't need to explain, Mr. Evans. Besides, this is just an arranged marriage, right? No need to accompany me for the wedding preparations. I already have my mommy with me," she voiced before she turned her back on him.

While walking away from him, she could not help but to ask herself.

'Why did I seem to spit that out bitterly?'

“Oh, c’mon, Phoebe. I’ve already explained myself. And I’m really sorry about it, okay?” Adrian continued to chase Phoebe around the boutique. “Look, I’m already here. What are you still angry about? If I were you, I couldn’t get angry with my fiance if he’s this handsome!” he arrogantly explained which made Phoebe stop from briskly walking, then sharply turned to him.

They almost bumped into each other because of the lady’s sudden action.

Phoebe looked at him with raging eyes. “Can you stop being so full of yourse–”

“Phoebe, Adrian.”

Phoebe stopped from yelling at Adrian when she heard her mommy’s voice behind her.

“Aunt Amelia,” Adrian called her with a wide smile on her face.

Phoebe, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and glared at him. And when she turned to her mommy, her expression was changed from a grumpy one to a bright one. “MMommy…” She faked a smile to her.

“Have you already explained to my baby, Adrian?” Amelia asked. She was hanging a few pieces of dresses in her arm. She was looking at Adrian.

Adrian instantly cleared his throat as he nodded to his future motherinlaw. “Yes, Aunt Amelia. And Phoebe forgave me immediately because she told me that it is so hard not to forgive a fiance that is just as handsome as I!” he cheerfully exclaimed. Then he wrapped his arm around Phoebe’s shoulders then pulled her closer to him. “Right, my future wife?” He even asked her which made Amelia chuckle in amusement, and made Phoebe simply step on his foot. “Aww!” he groaned in pain.

‘Serves you right, jerk!’

“Oh. I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it!” Phoebe acted concerned.

Adrian simply glared at the lady. While Phoebe stuck out her tongue to him without letting Amelia see it.

In her mind, ‘May God give me lots of patience for this man.’

After a long ceremony of secretly teasing each other, finally, today’s appointments have already ended.

“Finally! I can go home and lay on my bed!” Phoebe exclaimed as she stretched out her arms after they reached in front of their car.

“Hmm… Why don’t we go eat for an early dinner first?” Adrian suddenly appeared beside her.

The heiress immediately frowned for his thickfacedness. “Go have dinner yours–”

“That would be a great idea, right, Aunt Amelia?” Adrian cut her off and asked for his fiancee’s mother’s opinion.

Amelia nodded in response. “I think that’s great. But can you take up somewhere new? I think I have already brought Phoebe to all of the restaurants in this city.”

Adrian snapped in excitement. “Yes, Aunt Amelia. I know somewhere nice.”

Phoebe looked at her mother with an unexplainable expression. “Mom…” Her voice was implying that must not have agreed with him in the first place. Bet Amelia just tapped her shoulders.

After a while, the old lady’s phone suddenly rang. “Wait for me. I just need to take this call,” she said before walking away to distance herself.

Phoebe pouted her lips.

This day was the worst day ever!

Adrian curved his lips when he saw how irritated his fiancee was again. He then walked towards her and leaned to their car. “Don’t you know how to smile?” he asked her.

Phoebe hissed. “Why do you care?”

“Of course, you’re my future wife. I don’t want a grumpy one. Don’t you know the saying, ‘If you don’t know how to smile, blessing won’t come in your way?’”

Phoebe flinched at his words. “Did you really say those words?”

“Yup. Why?”

“You don’t seem to be the person who would say such a thing,” Phoebe responded as a matter of fact.

Adrian chuckled at her response. “Why? Don’t I seem like a jolly person?”

That question made Phoebe stare at him from toe to head. And she wanted to punch herself when she stared a little longer when her eyes reached his face. And when she realized what she did, she looked away fast then cleared her throat. “Well, you look like someone who doesn't know how to be serious in life. You know, just the happy go lucky in life.” She simply pinched her hand after saying that line.

Adrian could not help but to smirk at her perception towards him.

“Uhm… Phoebe? Adrian?” Amelia walked towards them. She just finished the call.

“Mom?”

"I'm really sorry, but I cannot go with you tonight. I have an urgent matter to attend to," Amelia apologetically said. Then she glanced at Adrian. "Adrian, please take care of my daughter, okay? You'll be doomed to me if something bad happens to her," she seriously asked.

"But, mom! I'll just go with you"

"I assure you that Phoebe's going to be fine with me, Aunt Amelia," Adrian interrupted.

"But"

"That's okay, sweetie. You also need to go out with your future husband so you can get to know each other, " Amelia advised Phoebe.

And before the young lady could protest once more, her mother immediately kissed her goodbye and entered their car.

"Mommy!" Phoebe tried to follow Amelia inside. But the car already drove away which made her stomp her feet and groan in frustration. "Aishh! This is all your fault!" she yelled at Adrian.

"Chill, babe! I won't do anything to you. We'll just have dinner," Adrian said in defense. " If I were you, I would stop wasting my energy complaining. We'll just eat. And after that, I'll send you home."

Phoebe sighed in defeat.

Well, nothing's really wrong with the dinner. She was just really overacting, letting her emotions drive her.

"Fine. Let's go."

"As you said, milady," Adrian replied, giving her a curt nod.

Phoebe remained silent while they were on their way to somewhere she did not know.

"Are you sure there's still a restaurant in this part?" She could not help but ask when she noticed that they were already going away from the center of the city.

"Yup. Just wait there and relax," Adrian assured her, his eyes focused on the road.

That was why Phoebe was silent again and was patiently waiting for them to arrive.

And she was really shocked when they arrived at the place.

"We'll have dinner here?!" she exclaimed in awe.

Adrian smiled as he nodded his head. "Uhhuh!"

"Wow," Phoebe unconsciously blurted out. This would be the first time that she would have dinner on a yacht.

Adrian made a soundful smirk. "Well, this is just one of the benefits that you could get when you marry me."

'Oh, here comes the boastful jerk again,' Phoebe thought.

Instead of wasting her saliva on him again, Phoebe just faked a smile before she turned her back at him and walked first to the yacht.

"Be careful," Adrian reminded her as she walked to the ladder.

Phoebe really thought that she could successfully reach the yacht without stumbling herself. But she was wrong. Her heart almost dropped when she slid because of her heels. She thought that she would fall in the water for it.

However, Adrian was on the rescue. He caught her and wrapped his one arm around her waist, and the other one held her on the railings. “I told you to be careful,” he told her in a low voice.

Phoebe’s eyes widened not because of fear, but because of the shiver that she felt when their skin touched, plus his soothing voice with his breath that smelled like mint. It was as if her breathing stopped for a second. And she just came back to her senses when her body floated in the air. “Hey! Put me down!” she shouted at him, panicking.

But instead of listening to her, he carried her and dropped her when they finally stepped on the yacht.

The blushing lady instantly moved away from him. “I told you to put me down there,” she almost whispered after she looked away from him.

Adrian chuckled. ‘So, she knows how to be shy, huh?’ he mentally told himself. Then he put his hands inside his pocket. “I just did you a favor. I don’t have spare clothes here in case you fall in the water.”

Phoebe just frowned.

Adrian took a step forward to her. And before his fiancee could move away from him, he already leaned forward, their faces just an inch away from each other.

Phoebe gulped hard. Her eyes almost crossed because of that distance. In addition, she could feel his hot breath fanning her face. She wanted to faint right now. “WWhat are you doing, AAdrian?”

Adrian smirked at her. But inside of him was his rumbling heart. She looked more beautiful when she was this close. His eyes wandered from her eyes, to her nose… and to her lips.

‘Those lips are so luscious. Fuck!’ he exclaimed in his mind. And God knew how much he tried to stop himself from tasting those. He took a deep breath before voicing out the words that were different from what he really wanted to tell her. “Won’t you thank me for catching you?”

Phoebe blinked a few times. She wanted to poke her head for thinking that he would actually kiss her.

“Hmm? I’m waiting, future wife.”

‘Fucking hormones!’ Phoebe screamed in her mind.

“I–I… TThank—”

Phoebe could not finish what she was about to say because of what happened next.

The yacht just moved causing Phoebe to be out of balance. She was about to reach for the yacht's railings but Adrian held onto her first. The two were pushed at the side of the yacht, too close, face to face, and eye to eye.

And when the yacht calmed down, both of them realized that their lips were pressing onto each other.

“Mr. Evans— Oh, shoot! I’m sorry, Mr. Evans, Ms. Thompson!” The waiter came and was just about to call them and would lead them to the spot where they would eat dinner, but ended up witnessing such an intimate scene between the engaged couple.

“Shit!” Adrian hissed then he distanced himself away from Phoebe.

Phoebe, on the other hand, was still stunned, completely lost because of what happened.

Seeing that, Adrian just smirked. He was trying so bad not to laugh. That time, Adrian was still holding her hand.

Phoebe pulled away from the hold right away, then pretended as if nothing had happened. She could not look at him nor the waiter as she felt blood rush in her cheeks. That was her freaking first kiss! And she just lost it like that, most especially, to a man she did not even like!

She had already experienced too much embarrassment for this day, she could not afford to experience another again.

“Shall we go?” Adrian asked after a few seconds.

Phoebe did not bother answering him. Instead, she glanced at the waiter, gesturing to him to lead the way, which he willingly obliged.

When they reached the table, Phoebe temporarily forgot about her embarrassing moments today because of the breathtaking view. She was awed by the night view of the ocean.

It was not her first time to witness the beauty of the ocean at night. But it was her first time to see it in this view.

She could see from where she was standing the night lights of the city.

Who would have thought that she would get the chance to experience this in this lifetime?

"Do you like it?" Adrian asked when he reached her side. He held onto the railings and stared at the city, too.

Phoebe nodded in response, completely forgetting what happened between them a while ago. "Yes. It's so beautiful. I never experienced this before. Nor have I thought I would get to experience this," she replied.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Until Phoebe realized something. Upon that realization, she faced her fiance. " Uhm… Adrian?"

Adrian turned to her, then he raised his eyebrows. "Hmm?"

"Thank you," Phoebe sincerely said.

Adrian was dumbfounded by her sudden words of gratitude. "AAhm–"

"I know I've been rude to you even before we got engaged. But I want you to know that I'm glad that you're the person I got engaged to," Phoebe cut him off, then smiled at him genuinely.

Adrian gulped hard after seeing that smile. It was as if the heavens brightened because of it.

Phoebe thought that she was creating such a dramatic atmosphere. So, in order to lighten it up, she poke Adrian's arms and said, "Don't take it in so much. I still hate your arrogance," she joked.

Adrian finally recollected himself. He chuckled when he processed the last statement that his fiancee told him. Because of it, he held his chin up. "If I know, you just find me handsome, that's why," he kidded back.

Phoebe laughed at what he said while she shook her head. 'Well, it's not really that bad to have someone airy beside you sometimes," she thought.

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" Adrian asked after she swallowed the food that he took.

They were already having dinner after some minutes of sight seeing the ocean and the city.

"What about me?" Phoebe asked, then took a bite of the steak.

"Anything."

"Hmm… " Phoebe's mind was blank as of the moment. It was so hard to think of what to say about yourself if a person suddenly asked you to. It was as if all the adjectives, verbs, even words would fly in the air. "Why don't you just ask me? I really don't know where to start. Just ask me what you want to know. I'll answer as long as I can," she told him instead.

"Okay." Adrian took another bite. And as he munched his food, he also thought of an interesting question that he could throw at her.

What did he want to know about her?

Well, if he was to be asked, he wanted to know everything about her. But since he knew that the time was not enough, then he needed to think of the more important ones.

"Right!" he exclaimed.

Phoebe flinched in shock. She looked at him like he was a weird person. "What?"

Adrian dropped his knife and fork, then he stared at her. "Where were you in the past years that you've been missing?"

Phoebe was silent for seconds.

"Mom and dad always told me since I was young that I'm going to marry the heiress of the Thompsons. However, they could not guarantee me when that would happen since you've been lost before you were born. And your parents are still finding you. I really thought that it would take a long time for me to get married because of it. But then, you suddenly appeared." Adrian paused for a moment to see her reaction. "I hope you won't mind me asking," he politely continued.

Phoebe did not go detail by detail about the reason why Leah took her away from her biological parents. She just told him that something unfortunate happened that made her run away while she was pregnant with her.

"I grew up living a simple life. I didn't have any fancy accessories and clothes back then. But I am content with it. Because my Mom Leah never failed to show me the love and care that I needed," she proudly said with a wide smile on her face.

Adrian automatically imitated the lady's smile. "That's great to know," he remarked.

Phoebe happily nodded. "Uhhmm… "

"But may I ask where is your Mom Leah now that you're already back in the Thompsons' care?"

"She's still with me. She's in the mansion. She just could not attend the engagement party because her body's already weak."

Adrian's forehead creased. "And why is that?"

Phoebe's bright aura disappeared instantly. Her shoulders also dropped. "She has lung cancer. Same with the cancer that killed her daughter eighteen years ago," she answered in a low voice.

Adrian suddenly regretted asking for that. Now, he just completely ruined the atmosphere.

And just as when he was about to speak again and ask for an apology, his phone suddenly rang. "Excuse me."

"Take your time." Phoebe nodded her head.

Adrian stood up and went from a distance before he answered the call.

It was Amelia.

He mentally laughed in his mind, thinking that maybe his future motherinlaw was going to ask for him to take Phoebe home already.

But instead of hearing a soft voice from the other line, he heard a siren.

[Adrian, is Phoebe still with you?]

Worry was evident in her voice.

Adrian glanced at Phoebe, who was silently eating her food. "Yes, Aunt Amelia. We're still having dinner. Why?"

He heard sobs from her. "Is there a problem there, Aunt Amelia?" He worriedly asked.

[PPlease tell her that Leah will be taken to the hospital. She's–she's bleeding! Please tell her right now!]

Adrian was dumbfounded for her words. But he managed to come back to his senses because of Amelia's cry. "YYes, Aunt Amelia."

"What did mommy say?" Phoebe asked innocently.

Adrian did not know how to say what he learned to her. "PPhoebe… "

"Why?" Phoebe did not know why her heart thumped fast after hearing his voice. There was something wrong with it. She was sure. "What happened?" she asked once more.

"Your mom, Aunt Leah… "

Phoebe's eyes widened. "What about my mom?"

"She's being rushed to the hospital right now."