"I heard your wife ran away," Grandpa Sebastian stated, his presence filling the living room with tension.
"Good morning, grandpa. What brings you here so early?" Andrew feigned innocence, trying to deflect the conversation.
Grandpa threw his coffee cup across the room, shattering the silence. "Kneel!" he commanded, his voice filled with authority. Without hesitation, Andrew dropped to his knees before him.
"Do you take me for a fool? Do you believe you can hide this from me?" Grandpa sneered sarcastically, his disappointment evident.
Andrew looked up and saw Aunt Rosemary standing nearby, her expression filled with guilt. A flicker of disbelief crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with a fake smile.
"You're just like your father! Both of you are fools! You can't even maintain your marriage. Do you expect me to hand over the company to you easily?" Grandpa warned, his words laced with frustration.
"I never wanted all of this! You forced it upon me," Andrew declared, standing up to confront his grandfather. "I'm tired of living up to your expectations. I refuse to bow down to your demands. I will live my life on my own terms!" With those defiant words, he walked briskly towards the door, determined to escape his grandfather's sermon.
"Mr. Collins!" Aunt Rosemary shouted, noticing him struggling to breathe. "Help! Someone, please help Mr. Collins!" she pleaded desperately.
Sebastian's assistants rushed into the living room, calling for a doctor. Andrew paused for a moment, his hand on the doorknob, but then continued walking. This was not new to him. Grandpa had always used his heart condition as a means to manipulate and control him. He refused to be fooled this time, determined to break free from the chains that bound him.
"Give me a little time," Andrew pleaded with Kelly Levine, the woman he had loved for as long as he could remember. "I've given her the divorce papers," he added, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and desperation.
"Don't make me wait too long," Kelly responded, pouting her lips in a playful manner. Andrew cupped her face tenderly, pulling her closer and kissing her softly.
"I promise," he said firmly, his words filled with determination. They continued to kiss, their embrace growing tighter with each passing moment.
Andrew had first met Kelly when he was ten years old. He had been playing near a pond when he lost his footing and on the verge of drowning. It was Kelly's hand that reached out and pulled him to safety, saving him with all her might.
"Thank you," he gasped for breath, his gratitude overflowing.
"Be more careful next time," she smiled, her radiant smile resembling the warmth of the sun. They spent the day talking, and Andrew found himself instantly captivated by her charm.
"I have to go now. See you," she bid him farewell, her departure leaving him longing for more.
Andrew removed a simple braided bracelet from his wrist, made of red thread. "This is for you. Let's meet again," he said, offering it to her.
She nodded in agreement, a sparkle of excitement in her eyes. She ran off, waving her hands in farewell, and called out, "Oh, what's your name?"
"Drew!" he yelled back, his voice filled with anticipation.
The next day and the day after, Andrew waited eagerly for Kelly, hoping to see her again. But she never came, leaving him with a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for the connection they had shared.
"Babe, look at this!" Andrew excitedly presented a red thread bracelet to Kelly. "Does it resemble the one I gave you before?"
Kelly was taken aback, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Hmm... What bracelet?" she questioned, unable to recall the item he was referring to.
Andrew wondered if she had lost it. "It's alright, it's been a long time," he reassured her. "Come here, let me put this on you." He reached for her hands, gently fastening the bracelet around her wrist, while wearing the matching one on his own. "Now, we're matching," he said with a joyous smile.
Kelly smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.
"Do you like it?" Andrew asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
She hesitated for a moment before replying, "Y-Yeah, I love anything you give me." Though her words lacked conviction, she wanted to show appreciation for his gesture.
Feeling lost and conflicted, I decided to avoid going home. The thought of facing Andrew and the potential discussion about signing the divorce papers was too overwhelming. I contemplated visiting my sister Alyssa, but I didn't want to disturb her studies. With nowhere else to go, I boarded a bus without a clear destination in mind. I allowed the road to guide me, curious to see where it would lead.
As the bus journeyed on, the warm sun streamed through the window, casting a comforting glow. I gazed outside, taking in the familiar sights passing by. Amongst them, I spotted a place that held warm memories for me. My hand instinctively reached out, pressing against the cool glass as I yearned to revisit that special place. Lost in my thoughts, I realized I had missed my intended bus stop, unable to get off at the desired location. It seemed that fate had other plans, nudging me to postpone my visit for another day.
It was two in the morning when I finally arrived home, trying to enter as quietly as possible. However, as I opened the door to the living room, the lights suddenly switched on, revealing Aunt Rosemary waiting for me. I felt a sense of embarrassment knowing she had witnessed my attempt to sneak in.
"Young mistress," she began, her voice filled with concern. "Your grandpa came here this morning looking for you. The young master said some harsh words to him, which caused him to have a heart attack. He's currently in the hospital."
My eyes widened in shock upon hearing the news. "Can I go and visit him?" I asked, my worry evident.
"He came here as soon as he heard you had run away from home," Aunt Rosemary replied, her voice tinged with both worry and understanding. "The young master hasn't returned home since their fight."
My heart sank at the mention of Andrew's name. "I will visit grandpa during the designated visitation hours," I stated, my voice filled with a mix of determination and uncertainty. I made my way to our room, feeling the weight of the situation weighing heavily on my shoulders. What would I say to grandpa? Would he also cast me aside like Andrew had? The questions swirled in my mind, leaving me with a sense of anxiety about what the future held.
As I walked down the hallway, I happened to pass by the music room. Glancing inside, I saw a student handing a letter to Andrew, who was practicing his guitar as a member of our school band. He set his guitar down and looked at the girl with a heavy sigh, clearly uninterested in the interruption.
"What is this all about?" he asked, his voice filled with impatience.
"Please read it," she replied, her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Tell me what you want. I don't have time for this," he commanded, his voice echoing through the room. Curiosity got the better of me, and I discreetly positioned myself outside the door, hoping to catch snippets of their conversation.
Summoning her courage, she stammered, "I-I... I like you!" Andrew crossed his arms, his demeanor cold and distant. "And then what?" he pressed, his tone devoid of any warmth.
Confused and on the verge of tears, she managed to say, "P-Please be my boyfriend."
"What do you like about me?" he inquired, moving closer to her, causing her to instinctively step back until her back was against the wall. Andrew placed his hand on the wall, his eyes fixed on her, waiting for an answer.
"You are..." she struggled to find the right words, her voice choked with emotion. She swallowed, as if her words were getting caught in her throat.
"Do you like me because I'm rich?" Andrew taunted, toying with her emotions.
"No. I didn't know that," she explained, her teary eyes filled with sincerity.
"Is it because I'm handsome? Smart? Popular?" he continued, scrutinizing her every expression.
"I... just like you. I can't explain it, but I like you," she finally confessed, looking into his eyes with vulnerability. Then, she softly asked, "Do you have someone you like?"
He turned away coldly, refusing to answer. "That's none of your business. My personal life is not something I need to share with you," he retorted, removing his hand from the wall and stepping away from her.
"Is she pretty?" she asked innocently, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
He turned his back on her, his irritation growing. He clenched his fists tightly, trying to control his emotions. "Stop prying into my personal life," he snapped, his tone sharp and dismissive. "Before you ask someone out, make sure to fix your heavy makeup!"
Her innocent question had struck a nerve, and the weight of his words caused her to burst into tears. Overwhelmed with sadness and hurt, she ran away from the music room, seeking solace and refuge from the pain his harsh rejection had inflicted upon her.
"Do you really have to say that?" I entered the room, my voice filled with determination as I confronted him. "She mustered all her courage to express her feelings to you. She deserves some respect," I scolded Andrew, my words laced with a sense of righteousness.
Andrew turned his back to me and began playing a few keys on the piano. "What is it to you?" he retorted, his tone dismissive. "Do you pity her for being rejected, just like you?" A smirk played at the corner of his lips, taunting me.
My eyes narrowed, but I refused to back down. "Your words have the power to leave an indelible mark on someone's heart," I asserted, my voice unwavering. "Being rejected is one thing, but being disrespected for showing someone love is an injustice."
As I opened my eyes, I felt the weight of tears streaming down my face. It was late in the morning, and as I glanced around our room, I realized my husband was still nowhere to be found. The emptiness and silence seemed to echo through the space.
With a heavy heart, I made the decision to visit Grandpa in the hospital. Arriving at the hospital, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of anticipation and concern. The scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, intermingling with the hushed whispers of nurses and the occasional sound of medical equipment.
Upon entering the room, I was met with a somber yet hopeful atmosphere. The soft hum of machines provided a steady rhythm, while the pale light from the window cast a gentle glow on the room.
Taking a deep breath, I approached him and spoke softly, "I'm sorry to cause you worry, grandpa."
He gently held my hand, his touch providing a sense of comfort. "My grandson is a fool for hurting you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him," he expressed, his voice filled with a mix of concern and regret.
I forced a smile on my face, feeling grateful for his support but burdened by the weight of his disappointment. "Please, grandpa, don't say that," I pleaded, concern evident in my voice. "I will do my best to work on our marriage. Please don't worry about us and focus on your recovery," I reassured him, a glimmer of hope shining through my words.
Our conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the door being opened. The click of heels echoed through the room, causing me to turn around. My heart beats faster as I lay eyes on a seductive young woman, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands. To my astonishment, she looked almost exactly the same as me, but a younger version.
She exuded an air of confidence and allure as she stood before us. Her presence commanded attention, with her perfectly styled hair cascading down her shoulders and her fashionable attire accentuating her curves. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and her smile held a subtle hint of seduction. The resemblance she bore to me was uncanny, as if looking at a reflection from the past.
With every movement, Kelly exuded a magnetic charm that was hard to ignore. Her confident demeanor and self-assuredness seemed to draw people in, captivating them with her allure. It was evident that she was accustomed to being the center of attention, effortlessly commanding the room with her presence.
"Good morning, Grandpa Sebastian," she greeted, her voice dripping with confidence. She placed the flowers on the table and approached us. "These are for you. My name is Kelly Levine. I am Andrew Collins' mistress."
A tense silence filled the room as her words lingered in the air. My heart raced, and a surge of disbelief washed over me, leaving me breathless. I turned my gaze towards Grandpa and the worry etched on his face. The beeping of the machines monitoring his vital signs seemed to grow louder, mirroring the intensifying rise of his blood pressure.