Nathalia’s POVI looked out with a wide smile as I watched the road. I rolled down the window and let the strong wind blow my hair. I caught a glimpse of Cole’s car following us in the side mirror.“You look so happy,” Stephen remarked to me.I nodded. “Yes, I am.”I remained quietly gazing outside until I heard his deep sigh. I turned to him with a puzzled expression.“Problem?”He slightly loosened his necktie. “Don’t you really want me to accompany you and Cole inside? It’s better to be safe. What if my enemies already have their agents inside your school? Cole might not be able to protect you immediately if that happens.”I chuckled at what he said. The summer break is finally over, which means I’m back in student mode today.Stephen initially didn’t want to let me go to school. He thought it would be safer if I just studied at home. He said he would find a great professor to teach me. But of course, it’s a different feeling when you’re actually at the university.Luckily, I was a
“So, Thalia, how does it feel to be married while still a student?”I paused in the midst of taking a bite of pasta as Albert’s question caught me off guard. Their curious eyes were all on me.I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s okay. My status is the only thing that changed. He can be a bit overprotective at times, though. But I understand.”“That’s normal. Many envy Stephen, especially in business matters. So, he just wants to make sure you’re safe from those people,” Harold chimed in.I raised an eyebrow. They’re enemies of his mafia, after all.I bit my lower lip, lost in thought. Do they really have no idea about Stephen’s illegal activities?“I have a question.” I put down my fork and looked at them one by one.“Shoot,” Albert said while munching on his food. Wait, how many servings of rice did this guy order?I sighed before adjusting my seat. “How well do you know Stephen? Do you know all the businesses he’s running?”I looked at Albert, who suddenly coughed. He quickly grabbed h
Stephen’s POVI went straight to the company I manage after dropping off Nathalia. When I arrived at the office, my assistant, Jeff, stood up immediately to greet me.“Good morning, Sir Stephen. Sir Ashter and the others are already inside,” he politely informed me.I nodded at him before heading inside. I couldn’t help but shake my head as I entered, greeted by my friends, who seemed like they were just hanging out in their respective mansions.Someone was seated on my desk and in a chair, while others were playfully interacting on a long sofa off to the side.I walked irritably towards my desk, pushing Ace away from it. I forcefully made Shantel stand from the swivel chair before forcefully tapping Ashter’s propped-up foot, who was seated in front of my desk.I sat down properly before giving Ash a stern look. “I have to clean my desk again because of you. Do you know that you’re the reason it gets dirty?”He placed his right hand on his left chest and acted as if he were hurt. “You
Nathalia’s POVI was currently playing chess with a young girl whose face had remained unclear up until now when someone suddenly called out to me.“Nathalia!”I paused my thoughts and furrowed my brow as I turned towards the source of the voice.It’s him again.“Why, Tep-Tep?” Even though I couldn’t make out his face, he seemed familiar to me.He ran towards me and quickly grabbed my hand, pulling me up. “Come with me.”“Wait! Ry and I are still playing! Where are we going?” I asked him in confusion.“I just want to show you something. Let Ry be. Ley will surely challenge her again anyway.”“As if he could beat me!” Ry retorted with an arrogant tone.Before I could speak again, Tep-Tep had already pulled me away. I looked back and saw Ley take my place in an instant.I turned to Tep-Tep, irritated. “Where are we going, then?”“Just come!”I didn’t speak again and just let myself be led by him.After a while, we entered a familiar mansion and went straight to its farthest hallway. The
I was about to open the door when a sudden headache hit me. I closed my eyes, accompanied by a jumble of scenes that flashed in my mind, but everything was still blurry.I gripped the doorknob tightly, trying to calm myself. However, I was startled by a commotion outside. So, when I snapped back to reality, I put aside my plan to enter the room and locked the door again.I took cautious steps as I made my way to the garden at the rear of the mansion. There, I found Cole appearing somewhat flustered while in conversation with several mafia guards.“Guard the place well, clear? If you need to stay awake all night, do it. After what happened to Sir Stephen, it’s not far-fetched for the enemies to target the mansion,” he ordered with authority.The mafia guards all nodded in unison before taking their respective positions and posts. Some of them even paused to greet me politely when they noticed me.But I couldn’t manage to say anything. The anxiety within me seemed to double due to what
Nathalia’s POVDue to what happened to Stephen, I decided not to go to school today. Even Mads is absent, as stated in the text message she sent me last night.There seems to have been a problem at the hotel where they work as part-timers. Although they are not regular employees there, I learned from her earlier that Stephen placed them there to eventually manage it. Apparently, whenever there’s any issue at the hotel, they are the ones who handle it. I think Stephen is gradually grooming them to run the business.I let out a deep sigh before glancing at my watch. It’s already two in the afternoon, and Stephen is still asleep.Well, he did sleep in this morning. Besides, it looks like he’ll be staying home all day for the first time.“Are you sure he’s really okay? Shouldn’t he be resting in the hospital instead?” I asked Cole, my concern evident.He’s sitting on the single sofa next to me, absorbed in playing with his cellphone.“Don’t worry, Madame. Sir Stephen is fine. Perhaps his
We watched in silence at the beginning. But as time went on, Stephen seemed increasingly restless in his seat. I could also hear his slightly heavier breathing and swallowing.I had been holding back my laughter for a while now. Even the urge to look up and see his reaction.“What the fuck is that movie? I thought it was an action movie?” His voice sounded exasperated.At that moment, I looked up at him innocently. “Yes, it is. The main character is a mafia boss, isn’t he?”His jaw clenched, and he shot me a pointed look. “Then why the hell are they just fucking like there’s no fucking tomorrow? There seem to be more of those scenes than gunfights and killings!”“Why? Massimo and Laura did have their share of shootouts, didn’t they?” I teased, trying to suppress my laughter. His face was turning red.It was meant to be a joke, but it seemed like he took it the wrong way.I stopped laughing when I noticed that he was staring at me seriously. I suddenly felt nervous because of the way h
Nathalia’s POVI woke up feeling light and as if I were still on cloud nine. Even though I hadn’t caught Stephen this morning, it was alright. I anticipated that he would leave early again.I woke up with a smile before getting up and peering out of the window. I warmly greeted the mafia guards stationed outside the mansion.“Good morning!”They looked up at me and nodded. “Good morning, Madame!”I chuckled at their formality. I left the window and quickly got ready for the day. Before heading out, I visited Belen, who was busy watering the plants in the garden.“You seem happy today. I hope you’ll always be this smiling,” she said, taking my hand and giving it a gentle tap.I nodded. “Exactly. Let’s have dinner together again tonight, shall we?”“You really are such a child. Now go, or you might be late for your class.”I looked down at my watch. There was only half an hour left before my first class.I bid her goodbye and left in a hurry, heading towards where my car was parked.How