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"I would rather marry a maid and live in a slum than help you with your freaking business." A statement Lennon left his father out of his anger when he offered him to work in their own company. He left without knowing he only gave his dad an idea of what to do to make him change-or a punishment for his rudeness and disrespect. Wish granted! But he didn't kick Lennon out of his house to live in the street. He found it perfect timing because their Filipina servant needed help, and William had a better plan for the two for his greater benefit. How about Anita, who suddenly became a tool for William's plans? What if she found out the real reason-that her boss lied?
Anita's Point of View
For us, overseas workers, nothing could be more exciting than going home. Being away from our family had never been easy, but it was better that way than to cry in hopelessness when something went wrong and you couldn't do anything about it.
Three years was my contact as a kitchen assistant at Martin's mansion in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. It was all a stroke of luck when I got picked by the agency to be a servant and later chosen to be the assistant of our boss' chef, Ms. Linda Peters.
My experience as a kitchen helper at the school canteen where I studied college was something they saw in my resume for me to be assigned to the kitchen. Something I never thought would push me into that position because it was only a part-time job for me while I was studying to help me with school expenses.
I was only twenty-one when I accepted the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity from an agency that went to our province, Tanay, Rizal. I spent two of my birthdays away from my family and within a month I could finally go home.
As days went by, I couldn't hide the overflowing excitement I was feeling every single day, but everything suddenly became a rollercoaster ride of happiness and sorrow. Who could ever think that in one month, I would be able to meet not just one, but three people who would turn my world upside-down?
***
Sunday morning and I was on my day off. I went to the church to attend a mass and before returning to the mansion, I decided to go to the supermarket to buy more things I would be putting into the box I would be sending to the Philippines.
Bottles of shampoo, boxes of soap, and packs of chocolates. I planned on sending one large balik-bayan box as my pasalubong three weeks before my flight because the box would take a month before it arrived at its destination. However, I needed a box to measure how much stuff I still needed to gather.
"Excuse me," I waved at one of the staff at the supermarket and approached her. "Sorry to bother you, I just want to ask if I can find a large carton box here?" I asked her immediately because she seemed to be in a rush.
She looked at me with confusion. "What kind of box exactly? I mean where you will be using it?"
"I'll need it to send a package," I replied.
"We don't sell the box you're looking for. You can get a box to the courier company you want your package to handle," he informed me.
I knew about it, but I needed a box to measure how much I still needed to buy to fill a huge one. I thought for a moment. "Okay, thank you for your time."
"You're welcome," she answered, but when I was about to go to the cashier to pay, I heard someone calling behind me. When I looked back to check who the person was calling, I realized it was me.
She approached me with a smile and said, "I asked my supervisor, we have boxers at the storage. I can give you the size you are looking for for free before they throw those away."
"Oh, wow! Thank you!" She was an angel. My problem with the box was solved.
She told me to pay first to the cashier and meet her in the alley of the sweets treats where she was assigned. The box was kind of heavy even though it was flattened and I still had to assemble it. For a five-foot-two-inches-tall, petite woman like me to carry, that was quite heavy, but that was the size I needed so I needed to carry it myself.
I realized it was not a good idea I bought so much bath soap and bottles of shampoo that day. It made it harder for me to walk because I had something else to carry to the spot where I could get a taxi.
People were staring at me while I was struggling. Some of them offered help, but I refused because I felt so independent that day.
I tried countless times to call a taxi, but drivers kept ignoring me. It took me a couple of minutes of waiting until an old pickup truck suddenly stopped in front of me and an American guy who seemed around my age sitting in the driver's seat rolled his window.
"Do you need a ride?" he asked.
His metallic blue eyes were mesmerizing to stare at. The pointy nose was quite intimidating with my small nose. I could say he was a good-looking man, but I didn't want to be deceived by those pleasant features.
I got scared deep inside because there was a lot of news about missing women every day. I had recently watched a documentary about a handsome guy who m*rd*red numerous individuals and most of those were women.
"N-No, thank you," I answered politely, immediately looking away as I expected him to leave after that.
"Come on, my dad is a sheriff. I'm not a bad person." I heard him say, but who cares? He could be lying.
"My name is Adam Cassidy. This is my license," He even introduced himself without me asking.
I looked at him and saw he was raising his driver's license for me to see, but I was not convinced although I was honestly shocked by the way he wanted to prove he was not like those people in my head at that time, but-
"They won't let you ride a taxi with that huge carton box, young lady. You need to fold it and end up ruining it if so," he said, just to convince me.
He was right, though. It had been half an hour since I tried calling a taxi, but none of them stopped to give me a ride.
I suddenly thought of what he said. Fold it in half, or maybe a quarter, however, I might end up ruining it. What I also worried about was the dark clouds forming. It seemed it would rain any moment and I should return to the mansion before it gets dark.
"Come on. It could rain soon," I heard the guy say after he caught me looking at the sky.
I looked at him, searching for a sign that he was not a good person, but I didn't know what had gotten into my head to bluntly ask him this, "Are you sure you're not a serial killer?" It made him chuckle. I bit my lower lip and bowed my head because if I was wrong, it was a shame on my part to jump to that kind of conclusion.
Lucas, Elyana's husband, made her believe she was to blame for their failed marriage. She promptly filed for divorce to completely cut ties with him. She has been betrayed, hurt, and misunderstood, but there is one person who has always been by her side, her best friend. Being together day and night, Elyana eventually feels her heart pounding harshly when he is near. But what if she finds out the truth behind her ex-husband's lies before she figures out what she truly feels for her best friend? Will that secret prompt her to return to Lucas, or will it catalyze her to completely reject him and let her heart do what it whispers despite of—?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
Looking at the divorce papers my lips curled up into a mocking smile. 'How big fool I am? How can I think that he will give a chance to this marriage? How can I forget that I was nothing more a tool in his eyes to vent his anger until his beloved Tara is back. Since, she was back, how can he let me stay there?' "After you will sign these papers, you will receive 100 million dollars as alimony." the lawyer added. Because of his words, I came back to my senses took the pen from him, and signed the name. I have also gotten exhausted from this marriage both physically and mentally. Even though I had wanted my child to be born into a complete family, I didn't want my child to have a stepmother and live miserably like me for the rest of his life. After taking the papers from my hand, the lawyer gave me the bank card, turned around, and was about to leave when he paused at the door. He then turned around and added, "Mr. Carter said that he hoped that you won't pester him, or you have to bear the consequences." The lawyer's words were like a knife stabbing in my heart, but I still nodded. Anyway, I also don't plan to have anything to do with him anymore. I just want to live a good life with my children. After the lawyer left, the ward fell into silence. I placed my hand on my belly and said to my children, "Baby, I am sorry, Mommy can't give you a complete family! But I promise you, I will do my best to give the love of both mother and father." 'As for giving one of my child, I will never do that. They are my babies and my alone. I and I will give birth to all of them and raise them no matter what.' Four Years Later... Anya came back to the country with her three kids, to inherit the company left by his grandfather...
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"