“Wait, he saw both of you at the cemetery?” Ren almost made the entire house shake with her booming question. After a whole day of making Anastasia forget what happened at the cemetery, both the adults were tired from the toddler’s boundless energy. Now, they got to drink beer on the patio by themselves to unwind while talking about what actually took place.“Shhh!” Andrea winced at her voice. She just settled her daughter to bed and didn’t have the strength to chase the kid around the house again. That girl could tire out even a high-endurance athlete. “You’re going to wake her up,” she sharply whispered.Ren’s widened eyes quickly slanted at her and replied with the same harsh but silent tone, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could have done something before we left there! Wait, what did he say when he saw you? Did he talk like the shitbag that he was again? Tell me, Andy!” Her empty can of beer was dropped on the table as Ren continually shook Andrea by the shoulders.“Ren, relax!

“Dawen, over theyr!” Anastasia pointed at a toy store with such pep that she was able to tug the six-foot-three, sturdy man. She proceeded to pull his arm thinking that it will get them there faster.“Alright, Ana, we’re going. You don’t have to pull me hard,” Darren chuckled as he tried to calm the toddler down after she saw a life-size Iron Man figurine by the shop’s entrance. They didn’t know who to blame for why Anastasia had such a fascination and abundant knowledge of superheroes when they weren’t sure who allowed her to watch those kinds of movies. Though, Andrea suspected it may have been her father, Eugene. That was how the two bonded after all, by marathoning countless movies.They got to the store’s open glass doors and Anastasia exclaimed in excitement, “Woaah! It’s him! It’s Ayon Man!” She got up to the figure and waved hello. Darren continued to watch her with an affectionate smile, trying to get the inanimate statue’s attention to no avail. Had it been three years alrea

“Ma'am, you’re not allowed on the premises. Please leave,” the guard sternly informed them. Laura gasped at his audacity. Here she was, in her most expensive-looking outfit with all her fake, shiny jewelry and imitation bag, yet this non-important person wouldn’t let her in the compound?“Who do you think you’re talking to? I live there,” she lied as she had always done before to get what she wanted. All she needed was to look the part and to give off confidence. Which she was doing right now.But the man was like a brick wall because he didn’t give off any reaction and didn’t even give her a second glance. “You don’t live here, Ma’am. Please step aside, you’re blocking the way.”Becca whined behind her mother and pleaded, “We’re so sorry. Yes, we don’t live there but I really need to see someone. He lives around here, and I’m sure he’d let us in. So please, please, I have to see him.” She didn’t care if she looked desperate, but her mother’s tactics didn’t work.Laura slapped her bac

The two people inside the car on their way to the airport talked about their activities for the next few days until Ren decided to change the topic, “By the way, Andy told me about Laura and Becca sniffing around.”Darren grimly nodded as his grip on the stirring wheel tightened. “Don't worry. I’ll see how I should handle it,” he said.“No mister, you are not,” Ren answered without missing a beat, making the driver confused. “What do you mean?”“Before you could do something about it, I’ve already told Mads and Eugene. You don’t have to do anything at all,” Ren spoke indifferently about it with her relaxing on the reclined seat that Darren got a bit irritated. This was a huge deal that would greatly affect her friend and niece, why was Ren so nonchalant about it?His face contorted in confusion and slight anger as he stared ahead on the highway. Ren had become a close friend of his and he knew this attitude was normal, but never when it came to Andrea. This woman was so protective of

“Would you like to reschedule for another day?”“No, it has to be today. Just wait for me, I’ll be there soon.”Sebastian cursed under his breath. These Hollywood snobs and their entitled attitude. But he couldn’t lash out at the man now, can he? No, of course not. Or else, he’d never hear the end of it from his grandfather to the point of it costing him his position. That already happened to him before and he preferred not to experience it again.“Alright then, I’ll wait for a few more minutes.” He made sure to emphasize the last sentence. The producer may have thought that everyone would bow for a sliver of his time. But not the CEO of Elysian Pictures, Sebastian Adams wouldn’t let anyone waste his time. Most importantly today of all days, Robert and Ren’s wedding.“Fuck, they could be starting right now,” he said while looking at his watch. 4:15. Sebastian looked outside the restaurant’s glass walls. The sun was still very much there but he felt like his time was running out. He lo