Theodore could feel Irene's distress, her eyes revealing inner turmoil as she sat on the floor. His heart ached seeing her like this. "Please, tell me what happened. Why are you so upset?" he asked, genuinely concerned.Irene remained silent, clearly unhappy and uncomfortable with him invading her personal space, especially in the bathroom."I've already told you, I'm not going to say," she replied, her frustration evident in her voice.Theodore stood his ground, refusing to back down despite her resistance. "I need to know.""Please, just leave me alone. Today is really not my day, and this marriage messes everything up. Your forceful intrusion into my house isn't helping either," Irene's voice trembled as she struggled to maintain composure.Theodore felt agitated upon learning about the forced marriage and her professors threatening to cancel her scholarship. Irene's tears made it all the more painful for him.Irene had never cried in front of anyone, but this guy had brought so muc
Irene was acutely aware of Lily's unwavering support and non-judgmental nature. Their friendship had blossomed since their kindergarten days, when Irene's own parents seemed oblivious to her existence. Lily had always been there for her, offering a comforting shoulder to cry on and unwavering support.Given their history, Irene wasn't surprised by Lily's hyperactive reaction to the current situation. Lily had always been animated when it came to anything involving Irene, and Irene had grown accustomed to it."Let's continue this conversation in the canteen," Irene suggested, tugging at her hoodie in an attempt to conceal her anxiety. The thought of drawing more attention to herself was overwhelming.Irene had always kept herself hidden, both in her choice of clothing and her reluctance to reveal her true identity as a member of the Jones family. None of her university peers knew about her family background, and she had no intention of exposing herself to unnecessary scrutiny. The idea
"Who cares about their plans? If you keep overthinking their actions, things won't work out. Just go with the flow, girl. Stand up to Cyril and make sure he never bothers you again. You always act too softly, and that's why everyone tries to push your buttons. But don't let people like him affect you, Irene. This is not how you should handle it," Lily said empathetically.Lily understood her friend well. No matter how hard Irene tried to be strong, things always ended up in chaos. Lily tried to make her see that it wasn't the right approach. Irene was always scared of disappointing her family, or maybe she just desperately craved their love.Lily couldn't fully grasp it, as her own family was always supportive. She had seen Irene cry and beg for her parents' love countless times, but they never gave it."You know I can't, and the marriage is already done. It's not like that's going to change anything here," Irene replied with resignation.Lily reached out and gently held Irene's hands
After a busy day, Irene returned to her apartment, with Lily insisting on coming along to live with her. However, Irene declined, not wanting to drag Lily into the mess she was already dealing with. She dreaded the thought of Cyril showing up and causing trouble, especially in front of her friend or anyone, given her last ounce of self-respect.Entering her apartment, Irene felt an eerie atmosphere. It was not an easy situation; she was irritated by what was going on."Who's here?" she asked, hearing commotion inside her place. She hoped it wouldn't be the worst-case scenario, as living alone was already frightening enough."You came back?" a voice asked, sending shivers down her spine."Who?" Irene asked again, feeling scared."It's your dear big sister," Misha stepped forward, shocking Irene even more. It had been a whole year since anyone from Jones' family had entered her house, making her feel unsafe.Perhaps there were more bombs yet to be thrown at her, and she had no idea how
As Irene stepped out of the class, her mind was finally at ease after completing her last exam. The semester had been a whirlwind of stress and hard work, but now she could finally breathe. However, her moment of relaxation was interrupted by the sight of Josh, the new guy who had recently joined their faculty. She couldn't help but wonder why he enrolled in the final exams instead of waiting for the next semester.He had a presence that was hard to miss – the tall, well-built frame and chiselled features gave him a striking appearance, earning him the nickname "Greek god" among their peers. Irene had noticed that he seemed to be popular, and she often found him trying to start conversations with her, even though they didn't know each other well.As Josh approached her, Irene greeted him with a curious expression. "What happened, Josh?"He seemed a bit nervous, his usually confident demeanour faltering slightly. "Uh, well... I was wondering if you could help me out with some notes. I m
Irene's frustration reached its peak, and she realised she couldn't tolerate him anymore. Her patience had run out, and she no longer had the will to compromise. Though Irene wished to speak these words directly to his face, she knew he would completely ignore her and proceed with his absurd plan to frighten her by using her husband's name, which was nothing short of a complete disaster. "Don't worry too much; I won't do anything harmful... yet," Theodore chuckled, amused by Irene's behaviour. Even though she tried to hide her face, it was evident how repulsed she was, to the point of wanting to kick him out. Her expression mirrored her disgust. The disguise as Cyril gave Theodore a sense of satisfaction. It was a clever strategy he used whenever he wanted to wander incognito. Not many people knew his cousin Cyril, who lived overseas. This anonymity provided a comforting shield. "Cyril, it would be best if you left. This doesn't feel right. My landlord won't allow a guy to stay h
"I want to talk to him. Only then can you stay here. It's nearly morning, and I have classes in a few hours. I need some rest," Irene spoke sternly, emphasising her point. If he insisted on being so stubborn, she wouldn't go easy on him. He could display his obstinacy elsewhere, not when she was in dire need of sleep. Otherwise, she would become nothing more than a sleep-deprived zombie. "Who gave you permission to use that tone with Cyril Myers?" Theodore clenched his teeth, shooting her an angry look. In truth, he wasn't truly angry with her stubborn behaviour; annoyance was a more accurate description. Nevertheless, he wanted to feign anger, just as she was attempting to project false confidence. Irene felt intimidated by his piercing green eyes, brimming with anger, and his furrowed brow, which lent him a menacing aura. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to prevail in any argument within this room. "Furthermore, I have to work in a few hours. It would be best if we
"Irene?" Leo Jones called out, his voice filled with a mix of concern and frustration."Yes, Dad," Irene replied, her heart pounding in her chest as she stood before the Jones family. She felt a jumble of emotions, knowing that this encounter was not going to end well. The way her mother had sounded on the phone, so angry and disappointed, it was clear that trouble was brewing.Leo's question hung in the air, and Irene couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. How was she supposed to answer? Everyone knew she had no relationship with Theodore Myers, let alone ever met him. The situation seemed absurd."He is my husband, that's all, Dad," Irene responded, her voice steady despite the anxiety that threatened to consume her. She didn't want to reveal the turmoil inside her, the fear that gripped her heart.Leo's voice rose, filled with anger and frustration. "I never said he's not your husband, you foolish girl! I'm asking what on earth you're doing, what kind of wife you are, when yo