After the disagreement, Robby left without saying goodbye, and Ayana went to prepare herself for work. From her room, she could hear Lyana’s laughter every now and then, which assured her that her daughter was doing fine. But still, it was the first time she was going to spend an entire day without her daughter, and that weighed so heavily on her. As Ayana made her way through the playroom, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight of Lyana in the nanny's lap. Though she knew Lyana was in good hands, the thought of leaving her daughter for an entire day weighed heavily on her heart. "Mommy!" Lyana exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she caught sight of Ayana. "Look, Coudia and I are playing a game!" Ayana forced a smile, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "That's great, sweetheart," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "I just wanted to say goodbye before I head off to work." Lyana's smile faltered slightly at Ayana's words, a hint of disa
As the day progressed, Ayana's presence at Mrs. Julio's kiosk proved to be invaluable. With her help, they were able to navigate the busy lunchtime rush with ease, serving customers efficiently and keeping the line moving smoothly. Despite the constant stream of orders and the chaos of the lunchtime crowd, Ayana remained calm and composed, her dedication to her work unwavering.As the afternoon turned into the evening and darkness began to descend, the kiosk showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, if anything, business seemed to pick up even more as people stopped by for a quick bite to eat on their way home from work. The atmosphere was alive with the sounds of laughter and chatter as customers gathered around the kiosk to enjoy the delicious food and friendly service.Throughout it all, Ayana continued to work tirelessly alongside Mrs. Julio, her energy and enthusiasm never waning. Together, they managed to keep up with the demands of the busy evening rush, serving each customer w
“So, what do you want to eat?” Ayana asked with fury and agitation. Of all the people in the world, she could have never envisioned herself serving Adam. And she hated his guts at that very moment. She hated that instead of rushing home to meet her child whom she had not seen the entire day, she was there, staring at that disgusting man who seemed like he had all planned out to ruin her day.“You!” He spoke, his cold gaze cutting through between them to find her scornful eyes. There was a trace of a slight smugness as he gazed at her as if he were enjoying tormenting her. Then again, it was crystal clear from day one of their encounter that he would make nothing easy for her.“I am not on the menu, and neither do I have time for your stupid games. Be sensible and save our time, please. We are not like you, who have nothing meaningful in your life to do.” Ayana retorted with fury.He smiled—that smile that leaves questions hanging in the air—but before Ayana could even start decipherin
Minutes had passed since Mrs. Julio had left, and Ayana, full of fraudsters, had walked to the encounter, hoping that Adam would finish his coffee fast. But that was not the case. It was like the guy was learning to drink coffee for the first time or something. Or he had some wicked plans.Ayana grew impatient and walked to him, anger radiating from one ear to the other. It was past ten already, for goodness sake, and the distance to Robby’s home was almost an hour. “I am so much behind time. Can you finish that in the car? I will take it with me and bring it back with me in the morning,” she said.Adam's expression and actions, particularly his lingering gaze and a faint hint of amusement, suggested a deliberate intention to provoke Ayana and test her patience. He seemed to be enjoying the power dynamic at play, relishing in the discomfort he was causing her.His unfazed demeanor and calm reaction to Ayana's growing impatience indicated that he was fully aware of the effect he was ha
As the Bungatti glided through the desolate streets, Ayana's mind raced with concern while Adam appeared unperturbed, as if insulated from the worries plaguing her. The dimly lit surroundings only exacerbated Ayana's apprehension, accentuating the desolation of the closed shops and sparse pedestrian traffic. Despite the city's inherent allure, Ayana found herself unable to appreciate its charms, her focus consumed by the plight of the downtrodden souls scattered along the sidewalks.As the car decelerated, Ayana found herself drawn to the downtrodden figures lining the streets, feeling an inexplicable kinship with their struggles. Though her own circumstances had not spiraled to such depths, she recognized the precariousness of their existence and empathized with their desperation. In them, she saw a reflection of what could have been her fate had she not encountered a guardian angel to rescue her from the brink of destitution.The sight of the impoverished individuals, spanning gener
As the car eased into the familiar neighborhood, Ayana's stomach churned with unease. The prospect of facing Robby after returning home so late filled her with a sense of dread. She knew him well enough to predict his reaction, especially if he somehow learned of Adam's unexpected presence. And lately, Robby seemed to be changing into someone she barely recognized.Ayana had hoped that Adam would drop her off a corner away for discretion's sake, but that wasn't Adam's style. He drove straight to the gate, the lights shining on them like a spotlight, inviting trouble.Sure enough, as they pulled up to the compound, they found Robby's figure roaming outside, his features twisted into a scowl of disapproval and rage. Ayana wasted no time. She jumped out right after the car stopped, waiting for Adam to speed off in reverse gear so she could confront the brewing storm that was approaching. But Adam remained composed, as if he were a walking promise to help her confront the world.Ayana kne
As Adam's pointed questions hung in the air, Ayana's heart sank. She hadn't realized Robby had tried calling her. A mix of guilt and frustration welled up within her as she retrieved her phone from her bag. She checked it, confirming Robby's claim of a missed call. "Sorry. I didn’t hear the phone," she murmured, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach.Robby's tone oozed with sarcasm as he responded, "Oh, yes. I was worried. Your daughter was. She waited for you until sleep swept her off, and I had to play the night nanny." Ayana's irritation rose at his mocking tone. She wasn't an infant in need of diaper changes, and she couldn't discern whether his affection for the girl was genuine or not.Ayana gritted her teeth at the mockery and sarcasm dripping from Robby's words. It felt like he was belittling her, and she couldn't stand it. Adam's intervention provided a brief reprieve as he snatched Ayana’s phone and scrutinized the call log. With a smirk, he read out the time of the call, re
Ayana dragged her dejected self inside the house, her curiosity about who was waiting for her fueling her steps. She was so tired and angry, and she was afraid that whatever waited for her inside was something more of what she had just gone through outside.Getting into the house, she met the antagonistic face of her sister, Grace, seated confidently on the sofa, like she had any right to belong there. Ayana’s pace slowed down as she walked towards her. A lot of things were playing in her mind. Like, how on earth did that witch even know their address? What business did she have with her that she had to wait for her until midnight?Wait, won’t they ever leave her in peace? She had left their oppulent home, and yet they had traced her. Where had she gotten refuge? Why, for God’s sake?“Ooh, Ayana! The never-disappointing drama queen!” Her sister mocked her, standing up the moment she noticed Ayana. They kept a safe distance from each other. “I see you are home, finally!”“That name sui