Ch. 1991..1995
Chapter 1991
Chapter 1991 He had barely finished his sentence when Flint swiftly drew away his hands from Caprice's shoulder.
He held his hands inches away from his face to admire them while expressing sourly, "What do you mean stinky hands? These hands are beautiful.”
Liam ignored him.
Flint held his hands in front of Caprice. 'Take a look, Caprice. Do these hands look beautiful to you or what?” Smack!
Liam smacked his hand away without mercy.
Flint groaned from the pain.
Caprice broke out into a chuckle, amused by the shrill cry of Flint.
Isabel showed up as well and joked. "Flint, you better watch out. Caprice is going to be our sister-in-law soon enough. If you step on her toes, | don't think | can save you from Liam breaking your legs."
Flint scoffed. "| have long legs, he won't get me."
Upon saying that, he playfully grabbed Liam's shoulder before scuttling away toward Sylvia and Odell to seek their protection. Liam looked on silently.
He wore a look of disdain as if the mere idea of continuing this interaction offended him.
Flint had always liked to get on Liam's nerves ever since he was a child, even if he knew he was never going to come on top. Caprice was long used to this queer interaction between the siblings but still was amused nonetheless.
Isabel grinned, then she walked away. The engagement ceremony was more elaborate compared to an actual wedding. After the friends and relatives had all shown up, the engagement ceremony officially commenced.
Caprice and Liam walked to the middle of the field with their parents on both sides. They exchanged engagement rings and proceeded to say their vows of engagement.
After that, the Carters presented their dowry gifts with all of their friends and relatives present as witnesses.
Caprice was surprised to see that Odell and Sylvia had prepared two large boxes filled with treasured jewelry for her. There were several boxes that followed after, and all of them were filled with luxury apparel.
Finally, there was an envelope filled with money.
They did not specify the amount, but it was not hard to imagine that it must have been a shocking amount of cash.
John seemed pleased with this presentation as a rare smile broke out on his face.
They went through the rest of the procedures without any hiccups, and the engagement ceremony wrapped up smoothly. The bridal presents were taken to Caprice's courtyard.
Then, Caprice and Liam went to the ballroom with everyone following them.
They operated according to tradition where the elders, relatives, and friends were seated first. After that, the newly pronounced fiance and fiancee raised their glasses and toasted their guests.
Shortly after the toasting session, Liam seemed to have grown tired. He tilted his head down with his palms placed against his forehead as if suppressing a headache. He had drunk roughly the same amount as Caprice, which was not a lot to speak of.
Caprice asked him worriedly, "Liam, are you drunk?"
Liam said in a low voice, "I'm fine, | just need to rest for a while."
"Alright, come on, let's get some rest."
It just so happened that Madam Stockton, John, Sherry, Odell, and Sylvia were approaching them. They eyed Liam suspiciously.
Caprice hurriedly explained, "Liam is drunk."
John, Sherry, Odell, and Sylvia seemed amused.
They looked like they could not believe what they were seeing.
Madam Stockton was the only one who responded appropriately, "Caprice, take him back to your room so he can lie down." "Got it."
She helped Liam to his feet.
It did seem like he was drunk. As soon as he got on his feet, he leaned his full weight against Caprice. It was by sheer luck that he did not tumble forward and land on his face.
She did what she could to help him walk to her courtyard. They entered her bedroom where she helped him into the bed.
“Liam, lie down for a while. HI get you some tea in a moment." She moved away and headed outside.
Just as she was about to reach the door, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.
In an instant, his enormous figure had towered over her, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Liam?" She was caught by surprise.
She had barely managed to catch a glimpse of Liam’s face when he pressed himself toward her like a bolt of lightning.
One of his hands was firmly clenched around her waist, with the other palming her face domineeringly. He pressed her against the door panel and started to kiss her with a desperate hunger.
They had kissed more times than she could count by this point, but this was the first time she felt such fervent passion. He kissed as if his life depended on it. There was not a trace of his usual calmness.
She felt as if all her strength had been sapped out of her. Within seconds, she collapsed into him, pushing every part of her body closer to his.
They kissed for what seemed like forever and by the time she came to her senses, she noticed that her dress had been thrown on the floor.
"Liam, I—"
She barely had time to speak when Liam silenced her with another kiss. Then, he picked her up effortlessly and strut toward the only bed in the room.
The bed was adorned with pink bedsheets with adorable patterns. Additionally, there were all sorts of odd and adorable dolls lined along the headboard.
Within moments, the quilt had been crumpled into a mess. The neatly arranged dolls on the headboard slowly tumbled off the floor, one after the other. Agentle ray of sunlight quietly slipped through the gap between the curtains and into the room.
Liam held Caprice’s cheeks that were red with excitement and passion. He looked into her watery eyes and said in a soft groan, "Caprice, you're so beautiful today.”
He could not hold back any longer. It was impossible.
Chapter 1992
He had barely finished his sentence when Flint swiftly drew away his hands from Caprice's shoulder.
He held his hands inches away from his face to admire them while expressing sourly, "What do you mean stinky hands? These hands are beautiful.”
Liam ignored him.
Flint held his hands in front of Caprice. 'Take a look, Caprice. Do these hands look beautiful to you or what?” Smack!
Liam smacked his hand away without mercy.
Flint groaned from the pain.
Caprice broke out into a chuckle, amused by the shrill cry of Flint.
Isabel showed up as well and joked. "Flint, you better watch out. Caprice is going to be our sister-in-law soon enough. If you step on her toes, | don't think | can save you from Liam breaking your legs."
Flint scoffed. "| have long legs, he won't get me."
Upon saying that, he playfully grabbed Liam's shoulder before scuttling away toward Sylvia and Odell to seek their protection. Liam looked on silently.
He wore a look of disdain as if the mere idea of continuing this interaction offended him.
Flint had always liked to get on Liam's nerves ever since he was a child, even if he knew he was never going to come on top. Caprice was long used to this queer interaction between the siblings but still was amused nonetheless.
Isabel grinned, then she walked away. The engagement ceremony was more elaborate compared to an actual wedding. After the friends and relatives had all shown up, the engagement ceremony officially commenced.
Caprice and Liam walked to the middle of the field with their parents on both sides. They exchanged engagement rings and proceeded to say their vows of engagement.
After that, the Carters presented their dowry gifts with all of their friends and relatives present as witnesses.
Caprice was surprised to see that Odell and Sylvia had prepared two large boxes filled with treasured jewelry for her. There were several boxes that followed after, and all of them were filled with luxury apparel.
Finally, there was an envelope filled with money.
They did not specify the amount, but it was not hard to imagine that it must have been a shocking amount of cash.
John seemed pleased with this presentation as a rare smile broke out on his face.
They went through the rest of the procedures without any hiccups, and the engagement ceremony wrapped up smoothly. The bridal presents were taken to Caprice's courtyard.
Then, Caprice and Liam went to the ballroom with everyone following them.
They operated according to tradition where the elders, relatives, and friends were seated first. After that, the newly pronounced fiance and fiancee raised their glasses and toasted their guests.
Shortly after the toasting session, Liam seemed to have grown tired. He tilted his head down with his palms placed against his forehead as if suppressing a headache. He had drunk roughly the same amount as Caprice, which was not a lot to speak of.
Caprice asked him worriedly, "Liam, are you drunk?"
Liam said in a low voice, "I'm fine, | just need to rest for a while."
"Alright, come on, let's get some rest."
It just so happened that Madam Stockton, John, Sherry, Odell, and Sylvia were approaching them. They eyed Liam suspiciously.
Caprice hurriedly explained, "Liam is drunk."
John, Sherry, Odell, and Sylvia seemed amused.
They looked like they could not believe what they were seeing.
Madam Stockton was the only one who responded appropriately, "Caprice, take him back to your room so he can lie down." "Got it."
She helped Liam to his feet.
It did seem like he was drunk. As soon as he got on his feet, he leaned his full weight against Caprice. It was by sheer luck that he did not tumble forward and land on his face.
She did what she could to help him walk to her courtyard. They entered her bedroom where she helped him into the bed.
“Liam, lie down for a while. HI get you some tea in a moment." She moved away and headed outside.
Just as she was about to reach the door, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.
In an instant, his enormous figure had towered over her, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Liam?" She was caught by surprise.
She had barely managed to catch a glimpse of Liam’s face when he pressed himself toward her like a bolt of lightning.
One of his hands was firmly clenched around her waist, with the other palming her face domineeringly. He pressed her against the door panel and started to kiss her with a desperate hunger.
They had kissed more times than she could count by this point, but this was the first time she felt such fervent passion. He kissed as if his life depended on it. There was not a trace of his usual calmness.
She felt as if all her strength had been sapped out of her. Within seconds, she collapsed into him, pushing every part of her body closer to his.
They kissed for what seemed like forever and by the time she came to her senses, she noticed that her dress had been thrown on the floor.
"Liam, I—"
She barely had time to speak when Liam silenced her with another kiss. Then, he picked her up effortlessly and strut toward the only bed in the room.
The bed was adorned with pink bedsheets with adorable patterns. Additionally, there were all sorts of odd and adorable dolls lined along the headboard.
Within moments, the quilt had been crumpled into a mess. The neatly arranged dolls on the headboard slowly tumbled off the floor, one after the other. Agentle ray of sunlight quietly slipped through the gap between the curtains and into the room.
Liam held Caprice’s cheeks that were red with excitement and passion. He looked into her watery eyes and said in a soft groan, "Caprice, you're so beautiful today.”
He could not hold back any longer. It was impossible.
Chapter 1993
Smack!
Without warning, he delivered a slap across Isabel's face.
If not for his other hand holding her chin firmly, she would have easily been swung off balance.
Her head which was already fuzzy to begin with had grown dizzier. She looked at Decker with stark surprise and met his ominously black eyes. 1
There was not a trace of warmth underneath them. They looked like mere organs with a purpose.
He said sharply, "Have | been too lax with you?”
He continued, 'TH forgive you this time but if you ever do this again, I'll chase you back where you came from!" He rudely flung her away before marching back to his car.
The engines roared as he drove off.
Leaving behind Isabel and the biting cold, cruel gusts of wind beat against her soaked body. The only part of her body that produced any heat was her pulsing cheeks.
The sharp pain made her tremble all over. Her chest tightened, and she wrapped her arms protectively around herself.
At the same time, a ball of flame began to grow inside her. It seemed to encompass all of her existence as its brilliant radiance swarmed her vision, flooding the raining world in an ephemeral light.
Soon, she found herself transported away from outside Decker's apartment. She recognized her new surroundings, it was her apartment.
She noticed a handsome, silent man staring at her and was briefly jolted." Roland? Why are you here?”
Roland looked at her, and a bright gleam appeared in his eyes. "You were the one who asked me to take you back here.” Isabel blinked.
She remembered now.
Caprice and Liam's wedding was today. They had a child even before the wedding. The original plan was to wait until Caprice graduated and took over her family business, but things took an unexpected turn when she got pregnant with Liam's child shortly after their engagement ceremony. They waited until she had given birth and had recovered from the pregnancy to host the wedding.
There was a terrific party at the house and Isabel went all out, drinking more than she usually did. It was only after she got drunk that she remembered she had a shoot the next day. She ended up calling Roland and asked him to drive her back to her place in the city center since it was inconvenient for her to spend the night at her parent's place.
After she remembered everything, she groaned sleepily and thanked Roland with a smile, "Sorry for the trouble." "No trouble at all." He smiled warmly and asked, "Could you let me go now?"
It was only then that she realized that she was holding onto his arm.
To be accurate, she was gripping his arm tightly.
It was probably because of the nightmare she had.
She quickly let go of his arm and said apologetically, "Sorry." "No big deal." "Did | hurt you?" she asked worriedly.
He answered with fixed composure, "Not at all.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good to know. Anyway, it's getting late, so you should go back and rest." "Okay." He rose and shot her a look.
He looked like he had something to say but did not know where to begin.
Isabel looked at him blankly. She was going to ask him if he had something to tell her before he spun around and walked away. Thud.
He gently closed the door behind him.
Isabel made a look, then she got up to take a shower.
She realized her arms were slightly sore, perhaps due to how hard she had been flexing them during her nightmare. Even after shrugging them a few times, she could still feel it tingling.
She lay on the couch again, figuring that she should let her arms rest a little longer. Ding! Her phone rang.
It was a text from Flint asking if she had got home safely yet.
Chapter 1994
Isabel wrote a reply with the hand that was not aching, "Yeah, I’m home."
Flint asked, "| saw Roland helping you into the car, was he the one who sent you home?" Isabel replied, "Yeah, | asked him to drive me home."
Flint lectured her. "Sis, | know that you're the one who hired him. But don't forget that he's still the vice president of Carter Corporation at the end of the day. He's already busy enough with work, now you're troubling him with having to send you home."
Isabel grimaced. "It's along the way anyway.” It was true, Roland lived in the high-end residential area next to hers.
They first met on a fateful night a year ago. That night, she had just finished shooting a scene and was about to head home for a good night's rest when she nearly ran over Roland in the middle of the road.
It was in a remote part of the town that rarely saw any traffic. He had been waiting for his rental car for ages to no avail and ended up resorting to stopping the first carthat he could see.
At the time, his mother was slumped over the side of the road in critical condition.
Isabel and her assistant immediately helped his mother into the car and sent them to the hospital. Fortunately, they arrived just in time to bring her mother back to life.
Then, came the time to pay the medical bills.
Roland was very well-dressed and handsome to boot, therefore it was rather surprising that he did not have the money to foot the medical bill.
He stared at the bill with distraught eyes, then turned to look at Isabel. Isabel made a look.
She decided that since she had already helped this stranger, she was going to help him to the very end. With that, she paid the medical bill.
Roland seemed ashamed to have troubled a stranger. He immediately promised her, "I'll pay you back in full. Thank you for your kindness."
Isabel smiled and did not think much of it.
She considered that this man was far too handsome to not consider a career in entertainment. His charming looks could easily put any other male celebrity to shame.
Both he and his mother did not seem like they were living in poverty.
However, judging by the fact that he could not afford the medical bill, she wagered that his family must have fallen on hard times. With that in mind, she asked if he would like to try joining the entertainment industry.
He refused straight away. "No." He said it so bluntly that Isabel would have stopped talking to him entirely if not for her civilized temper.
"Suit yourself, then.” She told him before instructing her assistant to take care of his mother's subsequent hospital expenses before leaving.
To her surprise, that would not be their last meeting. Shortly after that, he showed up at her office to interview for the position of vice president at Carter Corporation.
That was the period when her father had practically forced her to take over Carter Corporation. Her acting career along with her work at Carter Corporation turned out to be too much for her to juggle, she barely had time to breathe. That was when a brilliant idea came to her. She would hire a competent person to take over her duties for her.
Roland was just as astounded to see her. He did not expect the lady he met to be the successor of Carter Corporation on top of being a famous actress.
He did not conceal his shock when they met at the office. Despite his initial surprise, he steeled himself expertly and answered the interviewer's questions with composure. He even managed to answer the difficult questions that Odell himself devised.
That day, Isabel was just there to scope out the interviewees. Upon noticing Roland's performance, she asked him, "Why couldn't you afford your mother's medical bills? You don't seem like someone who would have financial problems considering how competent you are."
Roland fell silent.
The interviewers and Odell stared at him.
After a prolonged silence, he stated solemnly, "Miss Isabel, it's a private matter, | have the right to choose to not answer." Isabel felt insulted and wanted to boot him out right then and there.
Fortunately, it was Odell who wisely stepped in and addressed Roland,” You're hired, but before that, | need to talk with you." "Alright."
With that, Odell took him to the office.
They had a brief conversation that lasted roughly twenty minutes.
Immediately afterward, Odell announced that Roland was officially installed as the new vice president of Carter Corporation, and Isabel would be his direct superior.
Over the past year, it was evident that Isabel's title as the president was merely for show since she hardly showed up at the office at all. Meanwhile, Roland had proved himself to be more than competent and quickly commanded the respect of everyone in the corporation. From there on, it was generally accepted that he was the de-facto president despite holding the title of vice president.
That being said, he still made a point to send routine reports to Isabel once a week, even if Isabel rarely if ever opened them at all.
Ding! Flint sent her another text. "By the way, Dad has been asking me about your dating life." Isabel frowned. "Why is he asking?"
Flint speculated. "With Liam getting married and you not dating anyone for all these years, he's probably starting to get worried about you. He asked me to check in for him."
Isabel replied curtly, "I'm busy with my career, | don't have time for dating."
After a two-minute silence, Flint texted her again. "Sis, are you going to tell me what happened during the six months you disappeared five years ago? I'll keep it a secret between us two."
Isabel's eyes darkened. She replied, ‘That was a weird time in my life, | lost my memory and just wandered around for half a year."
Flint stopped pressing her. "Alright, enough talk, make sure you get some rest."
Chapter 1995
Isabel put away her phone and went into the bathroom. She cupped a handful of cold water and splashed it on her face. Five years, it had been five whole years.
It was better to forget about the past.
It was already midnight by the time she finished washing up and was ready to settle in for the night.
She fell asleep swiftly and was woken up by the alarm clock.
She had always taken her work very seriously.
She did not need her assistant to wake her or help her prepare for the day.
She was out of the door in no time.
Her assistant and driver showed up to pick her up.
After getting in the car, she was driven to their filming location for the day.
Ding!
Her phone suddenly rang. It was a text from Roland. "Miss Carter, | emailed last week's report to you." Isabel frowned when she read the message.
At this hour?
Considering how he got home so late last night, he could not have stayed up all night working, or could he? She replied perfunctorily as always, "Got it.”
She proceeded to stuff the phone into her purse.
That was when Roland followed up with another text. ‘There are some important notes in the report that you should take a look at."
Isabel replied, "Okay."
Roland reminded her, "Let me know after you went through them."
Isabel was baffled.
She asked snappily, "Am | the boss or are you the boss?"
How dare he have the audacity to order her around!
Roland answered stiffly, "You are."
Isabel closed her eyes to shut off the burning rage.
Her assistant Carla noticed her expression and asked, "Is everything okay? Did someone get on your nerves?"
Isabel said stoutly, "No. I'm fine."
She would not get ruffled so easily!
She picked up her phone again and quickly sent a reply, "I’m not reading it, what are you going to do about it?” With that, she stuffed her phone into her purse.
Meanwhile, inside Roland’s office at Carter Corporation.
He was seated at his desk and had just read the reply from Isabel. An unusual smirk formed on his usual stoic expression. Heh.
He was humored by the reply.
With that, he forwarded the mentioned report to Odell instead.
Ring!
His phone rang.
It was his mother calling.
He answered the call promptly, "Hey Mom, what's going on?" "Roland, how’s your arm? Is it healing well enough?" his mother asked frightfully.
Isabel had left behind a swollen mark on his arm. When he got home last night and rolled up his sleeves, his mother noticed it immediately. He merely told her that he had accidentally bumped into something.
He stifled her concerns. "It's much better, don’t worry about it." "That's good, make sure you apply the ointment | gave you or else it's going to leave a scar behind." "Alright, | understand."
After hanging up, he rolled up his sleeves. Two distinct and deep bruises were imprinted on his fair white skin.
He wondered what sort of nightmare Isabel must have been having to clench his hands so tightly.