CHAPTER 5: Stubborn Heir, Cullen Lee
Cullen’s POV:
“Excuse me? Can I ask you a question?” That voice kept on lingering on me. I slowly twisted my neck to face that someone. My eyes were still widening because it was a girl. To be honest, I don’t want to see women because they keep on stalking and chasing me. They just want my money, handsome face and fame.
Who is this person? Is she not embarrassed to talk to me?! Why is she so brave to talk to me? I am the almighty Cullen Lee! I am still staring at her with my eyes widened. She then looked away and stopped poking my arm.
“U-um, are you Cullen Lee?” She asked me while not looking into my eyes. I am still wearing my hoodie and I turned around from her. I just coughed and decided not to talk or move. I can’t be recognized here. I just want to be alone and be free, but why is there a fangirl or someone here?!
I then heard a chuckling voice. “I am so sorry. Maybe you are so shy but I am a fan that is why I can recognize you.” She said. I felt so annoyed because she actually has the guts to tell this to me! But, can I just let her go? How about my image? What if she posts something ruining my image, telling others that I have an attitude and snobbing my fans? I could not stop overthinking. Aish. I am sighing without looking at her so that it isn't obvious that I am struggling.
I could hear her footsteps. She must be walking away from where she was standing. I closed my eyes and turned around and tried to expand my arm. “Stop!” I shouted. Ugh, I must do this and be nice to her, for my image. I heard that she stopped from leaving as the footsteps stopped. I slowly lifted up my chin and opened my eyes one by one. She is now smiling at me!
“Thank you so much, Cullen Lee. I am Charlotte Takeda, your fan.” She introduced herself, looking at me while smiling and then offered her hand for a handshake. I awkwardly smiled and cleared my throat while looking at her. “Nice to meet you, Charlotte.” I responded and then raised my arm at her level to do a handshake with her. I am looking at her eyes but it is sparkling while she is smiling. She must be so happy meeting her idol now. I then removed my hand and turned around to get something from my car. After getting it from my trunk, I put it on the grass and then sat on it, it was spacey enough for us. I then tapped the space next to me and looked at her as I put my head up.
“You may sit next to me, Miss Takeda.” I said while looking at her delightful face. She was feeling so giggly and then sat down next to me. I was staring at her face and her face was so red. She just nodded and I was staring at her face. I know I have a lot of fans but this is the first time that I feel warmth. Is this the feeling of having a friend? Are we friends?
“C-Cullen, can I be your friend?” She asked me while slowly twisting her neck and looking at me. I gulped and my eyes widened as I gaped. I looked away and just nodded. This is the first time that I got a friend, maybe I can share what I am feeling right now. I don’t really want to be the CEO of Lee Department Store.
After some minutes, I opened up about my problem and I can see that she was able to understand me. She makes me laugh and even makes me so happy. This is the first time that I feel this way. Thank you, Charlotte, for being my friend. But I hope my mom will not learn about me having a friend who is not from a rich family. By getting to know each other, Charlotte is just a cashier woman in a convenience store. But it does not matter to me, as long as she is by my side, I will be happy and willing to sacrifice everything. Am I in love?
We were still talking until I realized that the sun was already rising. I raised my arm and expanded it to grab the sun but of course, I won’t be able to. I stood up and stretched my arms. I also yawned. I could hear Charlotte chuckling next to me. I then looked down and smiled at her. I offered my hand to help her get up. “Let’s watch the sunrise together, Charlotte.” I winked at her. She nodded and grabbed my hand then stood up, grinning at me. I am still staring at her instead of the sun.
After watching the sunrise together, it felt like it was a brand new life for me. When the sun rises, it feels like I am now on the first page of my new beginning. I sent Charlotte to her home by giving her a drive with my sports car. Before she got off, she smiled at me. “Thanks, Cullen Lee for giving me a ride. I still can’t believe that this happened today.” Charlotte thanked me.
I grinned while looking at her. “Miss Takeda, can I get your contact number?” I asked her and that was the start of something special. We exchanged phone numbers and I returned to our mansion. When I returned to the mansion, I hurriedly went back to my room and then sat down on my gaming chair to relax. But someone entered my room again and it was my annoying maid again.
“You are called by madam, please proceed to her office, young master.” She said with her poker face. I just sighed and groaned due to frustration. Okay, I had no choice but to just follow my mom’s order. I left with our maid and she walked me until we reached my mom’s office room. I entered the room by rotating the doorknob. She was sitting on her big chair that was next to her desk. Mom was looking at me and I sat down on the long sofa two meters away from her table. I refused to look at her and just looked up at the ceiling.
“So, what is the matter?” I asked without looking at her.
“Your meeting with the executives and your grandfather is today. Please get ready by noon.” My mom said. I then glared at her and shook my head. “No, I don’t want to!” I shouted and then stood up. I really don’t want to. I don’t even know how to be the CEO. I am not interested with that department store. I walked out and slammed the door. I did not want to see her reaction and I don’t want to care anymore.
I returned to my room and my eyes are really tired as I am not sleeping yet. I dropped my body on the bed and fell asleep eventually with planking position.
I woke up, opened my eyes and it was already dark. I got up and then stood up. I then eyed my wall clock. It is 6pm now. I want to be with Charlotte. I need her tonight. Maybe I should really tell my feelings, that I am in love with her.
I grabbed my phone from my bed and called her. When she answered I asked her for dinner and she immediately said yes, I can’t stop myself from smiling when she accepted my invitation. “See you later, Miss Takeda.” That's what I said. After the phone call, I prepared myself and called the Shibuya Sky to book a reservation for this dinner date. Even though this will be my first time, I will make it sure that she will say yes to me to become her boyfriend.
After an hour, I picked her up from her home. Yes, she is just living in a rusty apartment, I can tell it from a far. I am waiting for her to go inside my car. After a few seconds, she was out and smiling. I went out and then opened the car door where she will sit, of course, next to me. I smiled but I did not let her see it. I went inside and started the engine. I could feel that she was staring at me while I was driving.
But, upon arriving at Shibuya’s crossing, the car in front of us hit someone. The noise was too disturbing. Charlotte was too stunned to speak. I was shaking but I went out to see what happened and help as much as I could. When I got out of my car, my knees were trembling and I saw someone on the ground, a woman, holding the bloody guy. The woman was crying and kept yelling.
“Dimitri! No! No!” The woman was screaming in pain.
CHAPTER 6: Love, But It Comes With A PriceCullen’s POV:This scenario reminded me of something that I don’t want to remember anymore. It was when my dad died in front of me. “Cullen! Cullen!” Charlotte was calling my name non stop but I can’t even move my body. She then grabbed my arms and made me face her. “Cullen! Are you okay? You are so pale!” She was panicking. My eyes widened and my body continued to tremble. I put my head down and did not look at her. “I am sorry, I can’t be with you tonight. I will call you later or tomorrow.” I uttered with my low tone of voice. She slowly removed her hands from my arms and I then walked out of the scene to return to my car. I did a U-Turn and left the area.[End of Cullen’s POV.]Charlotte just followed Cullen with her gaze. ‘He must not be feeling well.’ Charlotte thought. She then grabbed her phone and called the 911 emergency hotline. After a few minutes, The ambulances and police arrived. The police took the one who hit Dimitri. Cullen
CHAPTER 7: The First EncounterNo one’s POV:After the dinner, Cullen decided to bring Charlotte to a luxurious hotel owned by Lee corporation. When they arrived in the room, it was so big and that was Charlotte's first time to enter such a hotel room. She was so stunned, standing near the door step which was automatically locked. Cullen was just standing next to her and staring at her stunned facial reaction. He then smirked at her. “Charlotte..” Cullen mumbled.Charlotte then looked at Cullen and her eyes widened when Cullen kissed her lips roughly while his eyes were closed. Charlotte’s eyes were still open and she could not follow Cullen. She was too stunned to move or respond. Cullen then stopped kissing her and removed his lips as he pulled away a little bit. “Charlotte, this is my first time, how about you?” Cullen asked her. Charlotte just nodded at him while looking into his eyes. Cullen then carried Charlotte bridal style and brought her into the bed, he went on her top and
CHAPTER 8: That Familiar VoiceNo one’s POV:Heart did not notice that Dimitri’s finger moved. Dimitri was still unconscious while Heart was crying. She then stood up and looked at Dimitri’s face. “I miss you so much, Dimitri Kim, please wake up soon.” She said and wiped her tears away. Heart turned around from Dimitri and left.When she returned to her apartment unit, she went straight in her kitchen and opened the fridge. She took out all of the alcoholic beverages and put everything on the table in the living room, facing the television. She sat on the sofa and started drinking all night. She was watching the television as she turned on the television with the remote control next to her.From the television, Lee Department Store appeared. She just sighed while drinking. “So, I am seeing my company right now while I am breaking down huh. I really messed up earlier.” Heart murmured to herself and continued drinking. ‘What if the guy earlier did not arrive? Maybe that did not happen?’
Chapter 9: The Rich And The Poor No one’s POV: The next day, Cullen and Charlotte checked out from the hotel and he sent her home with his sports car. He went straight home after sending her home. When Cullen reached the living room, his mom was there, standing near the stairs. She was staring at him. “Cullen, I scheduled some meetings for you this afternoon. You better attend! Please don’t be a disgrace in our family!” Mrs. Lee scolded Cullen as she was so frustrated about Cullen not being serious in becoming the CEO. Every maid was bowing at Cullen when he arrived but the moment Mrs. Lee shouted, they left the scene to give them privacy. Cullen’s mood shifted into a bad one. “I don’t want to be a fucking CEO of that shitty company! I don’t want anything from Lee’s corporation, all I want is to become happy!” Cullen shouted and then walked away. He passed through his mom by running upstairs and went to his room. Mrs. Lee turned around to follow Cullen by her glares. ‘No, I won’t le
CHAPTER 10: The CEONo one’s POV:Charlotte then smiled and bowed her head. She then looked at Mrs. Lee. “I am Charlotte Takeda, Cullen’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lee.” She introduced herself. Mrs. Lee offered her hand. “It is nice to meet you. But, I have a request for you, my future daughter in law.” Mrs. Lee said. They shook hands and then after that their orders came in by the waiter who was putting those on their table.Charlotte nodded twice. “Sure, what is it, madam?” She asked. “I will let you marry my son, but as a future wife, you must convince him to be the CEO of Lee Department Store, if you will not be able to do that, I will not let him marry you, okay?” Mrs. Lee proposed and smiled at her. Charlotte was too stunned to speak. ‘Is this even true? She will let me marry her son!? But I understand that I must have those skills to handle Cullen.’ Charlotte thought and realized. She then looked at Mrs. Lee. “I will do that, Madam Lee. Thank you so much. This is my dr
CHAPTER 11: Everything Was A LieNo one’s POV:Cullen smiled when he received the text message. He immediately called their hotel to book it as he read another text message from Charlotte that she wanted to celebrate it with him in the same place where they became a couple.Cullen arrived first and waited for Charlotte to come. After a few seconds, Charlotte arrived wearing a sexy red dress. She was also wearing a beautiful make up and it made Cullen gaped. “Woah, so beautiful.”Charlotte sat down on her chair in front of Cullen. They ate dinner together and Charlotte congratulated him. They were so happy together. Cullen even asked somebody to do a fireworks display and it happened in his favor. Charlotte was smiling watching the fireworks display. Cullen was watching her. “Charlotte, are you happy?” Cullen asked her. Charlotte slowly looked at Cullen and nodded. “Yes, I am so happy. I love you so much, Cullen.” Charlotte cried. Cullen smiled but felt worried. “Why are you crying?”
CHAPTER 12: Bleeding Love?Heart’s POV:I can’t believe that I am waking up again on this damn couch. I stood up and grabbed my phone from the table. I turned it on. “Should I go to work now?” I asked myself. I just sighed and shook my head. “Yes, without work, I won’t be able to pay Dimitri’s hospital bills.” Scarlet thought.I went to the bathroom and took a bath. After taking a bath, I got dressed, wore my eyeglasses and blow dried my hair. I was looking at herself in front of the mirror as I tied my hair up to a messy bun. I am so lazy to fix this bun, I am always ugly and I can’t even understand why Dimitri thinks I am beautiful. The make up in the bar was so amazing though. It felt like it was not me. Yes, it was not me. It was Scarlet Heart. I am Hearcille Reina, the plain jane. After fixing everything, I took a bus and then took another MRT ride. Yes, riding on the train to get to work, during rush hour. This is my life everyday. And, today I am late because of the decision m
CHAPTER 13: The DecisionNo one’s POV:Inside the ambulance, Mrs. Lee was sitting next to Cullen, he was being assisted by some nurse. Mrs. Lee was crying and so worried about her son. “Please hurry up!” She yelled at the ambulance driver. Cullen slowly woke up, opened his eyes and saw his mom from his blurry vision. “Mom, please stop panicking, I am alive.” Cullen uttered and smiled even though he was feeling so weak. Mrs. Lee was holding his hand and smiled at him while crying. “My son, please don’t speak too much. I am just here.” Mrs. Lee responded.“Heart?! Your back! You are bleeding as well!” Annie panicked as she was looking at Heart’s back. Heart’s eyes widened and touched her back by her arm without turning around. She then remembered when she bumped into Cullen. ‘It must be his blood. He was holding me earlier so that I won’t fall down.’ Heart thought. Heart then turned around and laughed awkwardly at Annie.“Oh, Annie, I am not bleeding. It must be the grandson of Mr. Lee’