World-Glow Cooperation.
Raymond, who was sitting behind his desk couldn’t help his lips curling up as he watched his little woman, savoring her breakfast in a happy mood. After he sent his men to go get Lina’s belongings months ago, after they signed their marriage certificate, he had instructed them to install hidden cameras in places where she wouldn’t locate them.
It’s not that he was a pervert, he just felt Lina was someone who looked stubborn. She looks like someone who would run away from home if they had a slight misunderstanding, which she proves right as she does right now. He didn’t regret telling them to install the hidden camera. With this, his mind can rest assured she was okay.
Raymond, who hadn’t been in his office for almost two weeks now, because he was taking care of his wife, Lina at the hospital, felt a sense of normalcy washed over him as he settled into his usual routine.
He also didn’t sleep well last night. Lina didn’t go back to the mansion. She was still angry, and without clarifying his scandal with Ashley, he didn’t think she would be home anytime soon.
“Lina, I missed you so much,” Raymond said to Lina, who was eating quietly on his laptop screen, his hand tracing her face contour through the screen, his face filled with longing. If his friends were here, they would have thought Raymond was being possessed. Three months ago, Raymond was so sure he would never fall in love with his contractual wife, but destiny had more plans installed for them.
Even if he misses her, Raymond promises not to call or meet her in person, until he proves himself innocent. For the bigger picture, he would let her cool off for two days. In two days, he knew he would find evidence about Ashley’s shady dealings.
From what he knew about her five years ago, he knew she wouldn’t have reached the position she is today without getting help from someone. He just hopes what he had been suspecting she did to reach the top of the entertainment industry doesn’t come out to be true.
As Raymond was deep in thought, still staring at the screen, assistant Lucas came in with some documents that needed Raymond’s signature. “Sir, you have a meeting with the Aurora enterprise in an hour. Shall I brief you about the details?”
Raymond nodded his gaze still on Lina, who had almost finished her breakfast. Lucas was surprised as he heard a sound coming out of his boss’s laptop. “Is my boss watching a movie or something?” He shook his head at the ridiculous thought.
Raymond was a busy CEO. Where would he have time to watch a movie? He instantly dismissed the thought as he focused on briefing his boss on the upcoming meeting.
***
Harmony Estate,
Robert villa.
After a day of resting at home, Lina decided it was time to face her father and his mistress to get all her mother’s properties which her father had forcefully claimed by himself.
She doesn’t plan to take this risk alone after regaining her memories, but as the saying goes; desperation drives people to do desperate things. Since she doesn’t have anything to do at the moment, she left her apartment to visit her father.
Looking at the tall erect building in front of her, tears welled up in her eyes, casting a watery veil over her gaze. Her eyelids trembled, and a single drop spilled down her cheek, tracing a glistening path across her skin.
A series of memories that had been locked up for a decade came back rushing in. Taking a deep breath, Lina cleaned her tears with the back of her hand.
“You can do this Lina. Nothing can hold you back from getting the right revenge for your beloved mother.” Lina repeated this statement like a sutra in her mind as many times as possible as she walked closer to her father’s villa.
The familiar yet unwelcoming facade loomed before her, its grandeur a stark reminder of the wealth and power her father had amassed through questionable means.
Lina rang the doorbell as she stood in front of the door. The massive wooden doors swung open, revealing a maid, who stood there in shock seeing Lina. Everyone knew since after her annulled wedding, she had not stepped into this villa. “Eldest Miss, you are back?” The young maid asked, trying to check if she wasn’t dreaming.
Lina stood tall, her voice gentle as she said; “yes Iris, I’m back. Is my father at home?” Lina was gentle towards Iris because she was among the few of the maids who treated her with respect in this villa.
Iris nodded, her expression cautious. “Yes, the old master is around. Everyone is around.” Lina felt this was a good opportunity. She doesn’t have to give anyone a face as the happy family of three is already gathered.
“Iris, who is there? Why aren’t you getting the door?” Rebecca, Mira’s mother’s annoying voice sounded from the inside. Lina immediately felt disgusted hearing her stepmother’s voice.
Before Irene could reply, Lina walked in and said, “A happy evening to you father, stepmother, and stepsister. Lina greeted with a hint of sarcasm, her eyes scanning the room to take in the familiar, yet unwelcome atmosphere.
Jason, her father, was the first to look over from the newspaper he was reading. Seeing it was Lina, he instantly felt happy, but his happiness was dashed away by her sarcastic greetings.
“Lina, is that how I taught you to respect your elders? His eyes darkened as he set aside his newspaper. “Kneel and apologize to your mother and sister now,” Jason said as he took off his reading glasses, his tone was as commanding as ever. What he doesn’t know is that the Lina in front of him isn’t the little girl he always commands to do whatever he wants.
Lina wasn’t surprised at her father’s words. He hadn’t seen her for months. And when he did, the first thing he did was scold her. She was quite used to this. Lina chuckled before walking to an empty sofa in the living room. Three different sets of eyes were on her every move, but she didn’t care. She sat down and crossed her right leg on top of the left one.
“My mother you said?” Lina’s voice was cold, her eyes blazing with fury as she looked at Rebecca, who couldn’t help shifting nervously in her seat. When does this bitch have such an intimidating gaze? Rebecca couldn’t help her thoughts swirling.
“Don’t you know where my mother is?” Lina continues. “If she isn’t scared of being a ghost, she can take that title.”
“You…” Jason stood up, pointing a shaky finger at Jane. Before he could speak, Mira, who had been watching the show in front of her with interest, couldn’t help chiming in as she walked over to Lina.
“Big sister, I’m so happy to see you. Where have you been? We were all worried about you.” Mira’s skills of being a white lotus were something Lina could never match. She watches Mira with interest, seeing how far she can go on pretending.
“Worried about me? Or rather say you guys are looking for a way to make me disappear forever.” Lina repeated, her tone laced with skepticism. Mira couldn’t help avoiding Lina’s brown eyes that seemed to look right into her soul.
Lina leaned back on the sofa, a cold smile spreading across her face. Let’s cut the chase, shall we?” Her gaze moved around the room. Seeing the frown on everyone’s face, she was somehow happy. “I’m not here to play games or pretend to have a happy family reunion with you guys, I’m here for only one reason: to claim what rightfully belongs to me.”
As Lina drops the bombshell, everywhere falls silent. Different thoughts were running through everyone’s mind. Jason looked at Lina warily. Does this b*tch know about how I deceived her to sign her mother’s properties to me during her eighteenth birthday?
No, Jason shook his head at the thought. She was too foolish to know about it. Mira was also thinking maybe Lina was talking about taking Daniel back. If Lina knew what Mira was thinking, she might throw up.
“And what is rightfully yours Lina?” Rebecca, who hadn’t spoken to Lina since she came in, finally spoke.
“Of course, it’s my mother’s company and her other properties which you guys make me unknowingly hand over control to you guys by making me sign the agreement document on my eighteenth birthday, with the intention of helping me keep watch on them until I’m married? Since I’m finally married, I want back what is rightfully mine.” Lina’s lips opened and closed as those words rushed out of her mouth, not minding Rebecca and her father’s pale face.
She knew. Jason couldn’t help the shock at the realization that Lina, who had always abided by his rules, was now going against him.