"what? She killed her own son?" Whispers like those filled the air, everywhere she walked.

"Gosh, what a monster!"

All sound suddenly stopped the moment she went into the church, getting on her knees, and closing both hands that shook out of fear, starvation and a bit of something else together.

"father… please forgive me." Her eyes closed, and she pressed her head onto the ground.

The wonderful statue that stood Almighty above her shined always.

"I beg for your forgiveness dear father." She said again but this time in a Shaky voice, tears nearly now rolling out her eyes.

The door opened and a tall handsome man walked in.

That man was her husband, and he looked at her with disgust.

"E-ethan…" she turned while still being on her knees, her hand reaching for his legs, but then, he moved back. Avoiding her completely.

"don't touch me… you monster."

Her eyes widened.

Her husband too? It was known that he hated her, but… he had never called her that.

Her beautiful blond hair had became messy, and her complexion turned pale, her finger nails looked like they needed serious manicure.

"please forgive me… I never meant to." She sobbed, but instead of him comforting her, he only turned his back.

"it's best if we never see each other again, Vero… it'll only cause commotion, both to me, and you."

She got up, the door slammed hard, and silence staying still with her.

"Ethan?" in a weak pleading voice, she called, and after no response, fixed her gaze back on the statue.

"what have I done for everyone to point hatred to me? I beg for your forgiveness…"veronica looked down at the knife they usually used for slicing the bread, she took the knife, pressing it against her neck.

"everyone has turned their backs on me when I needed them… so," a smile tainted her lips. "I atone for all, my sins."

Splash!

*** ***

Ethan sipped on his black coffee, placing it down afterwards, and taking a long look at himself through it.

A sigh escaped his lips.

The clear reflection of himself worrying him.

He had forgotten that today was meant to be the day that he met someone important.

"Honey?" a sweet voice echoed, and heels could be heard shortly after.

Gomez sanpacher, the wealthy daughter of annex sanpacher, and the newly wedded wife, of Ethan.

"You looked stressed." Gomez sat on his laps.

She was equally an actress, a famous one in fact, all her rolls were nailed perfectly, and her beauty was topping everything of.

Her hair shined like a golden spoon, and her eyes were the color of silver, her smile enchanting everyone, and her body figure adding to everything.

Way better than his lost wife.

"I was just thinking."

"about?" her head tilted to the left, and her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Nothing much… I was wondering how this… new partnership would work."

"what do you mean? Is it about that company? That's who your partnering up with? Gosh, am such a fan of theirs."

Ethan chuckled. "yes…"

"so? What's so bad in that? You get to meet the biggest and largest company. Why are you so down?"

Ethan licked his lips.

"you won't understand… never mind."

Paradise valley… the one most famous company known to man kind.

It suddenly shut up 5 years ago, and was told that a woman of her late 20's ran that company.

Meeting with another woman… in a room, all by himself, no one else… was it safe?

"Hey, you don't have to worry, even if they refuse your proposal, we still have our company, it's ranking second after all." She said while smiling.

Gomez was right indeed, the were ranking first, but then, paradise valley pushed them down the ladder and took first place.

Their earnings has skyrocketed to over a billion, and their worth is now at 700… billion.

Paradise of valley wasn't a company you could mess around with.

They have kept that first place spot for 5 years, what makes anyone think they could mess with them?

They made things like phones, jewelry, and so much more. They were a brand on their own.

Ethan pulled her into a hug. "thank you." He mutter with inhaling her scent.

*** ***

Ethan flapped the news paper, his car coming to a stop as he arrived at the company.

It was twice the size of his

impressive. He thought while closing the news paper and dropping it on the chair next to him.

"We're here, Mr. Duran." The driver finally spoke after a while, taking a glance at Ethan through the mirror.

"right." The door opened, and he stepped out of his rollss Royce phantomm, his feet crushing the stones, and his hand adjusting his suit.

"Please, this way, Mr. Duran." One of the staffs ushered him the way to the company.

"lead the way." The staff bowed, and just as told, led the way.

They walked at the same pace, but except the staff was in front, and each and everyone eyes were on him.

They all bowed the moment they came across his presence.

"Good day Mr. Duran."

He nodded as one other staff passed him.

The company was big both on the inside and outside.

The staff who had been leading him, pressed one of the elevators buttons, and in matter of seconds, the elevator came sending down, it opened and few people stepped out of it, before they got in.

"the mistress had already prepared an invitation for you, apparently, she says that you two will work along side each other."

"so she's already gotten the idea that we're now partners?" Ethan cocked a brow, watching the numbers go up on the elevator.

What was this feeling he felt? That name…

Was it by chance curiosity? Or something else?

That was what it was… excitement.

It was excitement he felt. And the reason for that was because he wanted to meet the person who one upped him.

A grin appeared on his face, the last number coming to a stop as they reached the top floor.

The staff pulled out a card and swiped it on a camera above the buttons, granting them access to the top floor

"what was that?"

"Oh, this?" the staff asked while turning back, pausing in his tracks, and flashing the card.

"yes."

"The mistress gave her most trusted staff the card. It has the key to the last floor, which is here." The staff tucked it in. "You can call me Javen." He smiled while continuing to lead him to the room.

"alright."

He hadn't expected someone to bring in such an idea to the world.

Fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

The door slid open, and it was empty.

"I'll call for the mistress right away." Javen bowed, and took his leave, leaving Ethan alone in the room, to get seated.

And while being in there alone, he couldn't help but take a look at his surroundings.

Everywhere was white, and some strips of gold.

The Table was long, and many chairs appointed at it, but there was no one but him.

Once again, the door opened, and she walked in.

The moment their eyes met, Ethan froze in place.

Time slowed down, as she walked to her sit opposite him, their eyes still locked on one another, and her dress beautifully hugging her body, her beauty was time 10 of Gomez.

Her hair was white, her eyes was still as red as a marble, and her skin still looked pale as ever.

It was his late wife, Veronica Magour, or better known as…

"Welcome, I'd like to introduce myself first. My name is… Sue... Sue bringforth."