Erin tossed all her belongings into her room, breaking and smashing them. Exhausted, she quietly wept in a corner.
Her body shook with profound disappointment upon discovering that the man she had loved for years had toyed with her emotions. He had only granted her a few months of solace before delivering the final blow of punishment.
The accusations from people, pointing fingers at her for a sin she didn't commit, persisted. She had borne the weight of guilt since high school, which continued without relief. When would she ever find her justice?
She sobbed as her lips trembled.
"Erin!" Orion's voice echoed as he pounded on the penthouse door. She had already changed the security code, preventing him from entering.
"Erin! Hear me out. Please… Erin!" His voice quivers audibly from the other end.
But her emotions are weary. Her chest felt drained. It isn't easy to love someone who doesn't love you back.
Erin raised the phone to call security and remove the man from outside her door. Tears streamed down her face. She had anticipated Orion hurting her severely, but not in this manner.
She grabbed the cell phone with a cracked screen, and despite her tear-blurred vision, she called the person she knew would keep her safe.
While sobbing, she uttered the words, "Let's get married."
***
[Two years ago]
"I wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who has shown me love, especially my daughter, Erin. I'm entrusting my car to our driver, Cardo Dalyas, and placing the mansion in the capable hands of Isadora Reyes, who dedicated her life to my family for several years. I will pass down the penthouse in White Garden to my daughter, Erin Villaverde.
"My friend, Niel Arvesso, will oversee all my shares in the Yurich Group until my daughter Erin becomes a part of their family through marriage. I grant Arvesso and Erin two years, effective today, to strengthen our relationship. If they fail to fulfill my final wish, transfer all my shares to the Yurich Group."
It felt as if every part of Erin's body froze, and her lips were left hanging open in response to Attorney Tuazon's concluding words. Even her head appeared to swell.
"That's everything Mr. Lawrence stated in his last will," the lawyer said.
"Are you saying Dad left me nothing except for his penthouse in White Garden?" Erin rose from her seat, her face a blend of disbelief and concern.
'How could this be?'
Two months ago, her stepfather succumbed to diabetes-related complications. His kidneys had weakened to the point where he collapsed in the hospital and ultimately passed away.
"The last will specifies that he leaves all his shares in the company to the Arvessos within two years, contingent upon your full integration into their family through marriage. Failure to fulfill his final wish will result in his shares reverting to the company itself."
It means that after two years, the shares her dad owned in the company will go to his cousin, Uncle Roger. She turned to look at the man and his daughter Jenna, who was smirking.
"How much is his net worth in the company?" Erin asked.
"Two hundred and fifty million," her uncle answered with a grin.
"You've got two years, Erin. You have nothing to worry about if your relationship with the Arvessos is solid." The lawyer glanced at Mr. Niel Arvesso, who sat quietly in the corner.
"That's the problem. She hasn't been getting along well with them!" Jenna, her cousin, said amusingly.
"Why?" Erin blurted out. 'Why with the Arvessos?'
Despite her desire to confront them openly, she held back, particularly with the man's presence. That was perplexing! Her stepfather appeared determined to burden her with punishment for the rest of her life. Wasn't seven years of guilt enough?
"I think we've heard enough! We're leaving!" declared Uncle Roger, who happened to be a cousin of her stepfather.
"Good luck, Erin! I must congratulate my dad; the task is hard," Jenna said with a sarcastic tone, casting a look at Niel Arvesso.
Erin shot her with an indignant look. At that moment, she wanted to slap Jenna. Although they were close in high school, her betrayal of Erin's boyfriend made her realize who to avoid.
Individually, each person rose from their seat and left the room. The household staff also departed, their expressions subdued, even though they, like the others, were beneficiaries of monetary support from her father. Though they yearned to revel in the windfall, the somber reality of their master's recent death cast a shadow over their hearts.
"This is quite a revelation," Mr. Arvesso said, holding the tears welling up in his eyes. "I'll excuse myself too. Miss Villaverde, call me when you're prepared," he conveyed before exiting, leaving her in the lawyer's company.
"I will file a petition. I have a stronger claim to the shares than letting Uncle Roger take them!" she declared, her irritation evident. The urge to cry welled up within her. She was determined not to let the two hundred and fifty million end up with them. She adamantly opposed allocating her parents' money to Jenna's family.
Her mother had passed away during her high school years due to a heart attack. Part of the two hundred and fifty million belonged to her mother. It was her rightful inheritance! Since Mr. Lawrence was her mother's husband, everything seemed natural to go to him, especially considering she was still a minor then.
"I apologize, Erin. Only Mr. Lawrence's biological daughter can perform that action."
"What?!" Not even her last name changed when her parents married; she still carried her mother's surname.
"It's true that Mr. Lawrence was your legal guardian back then. But you are twenty-four now, Erin. It will be difficult if you petition for what you'd inherit, especially since there's no blood relation between you."
"But to marry into the Arvesso family?!"
"As far as I know, your dad and Mr. Arvesso were friends. You saw him earlier. I don't think he had any objections. For me, marrying into the Arvesso family seems easier than submitting a petition."
That's what she aimed to uncover. To her knowledge, his family held contempt for her. She hadn't seen Mr. Arvesso in over seven years. Even her mother couldn't bear the guilt of what she had done, resulting in her heart attack.
"I'm going as well; I'll handle everything your dad left behind."
Erin covered her mouth. She quivered with anger, sadness, and a multitude of reasons!
Unfamiliar with office work due to her modeling job, she still expressed willingness to work at Yurich and assume her father's position if necessary rather than letting it go to his cousin.
She wouldn't allow what rightfully belonged to her in Jenna's family to slip away.
Erin was already ten years old when her mother married her stepfather. She didn't see Mr. Lawrence as a stepfather; to her, he was her birth father, and he treated her as such.
Her mother got Erin during her maidenhood, and the lack of knowledge of her biological father might explain her happiness in experiencing fatherly care from Mr. Lawrence. Even when her mother passed away seven years ago, she felt an even stronger sense of nurture from him.
Erin was the one who ended the friendship between Niel Arvesso and her father. She understood why her father continued to include her in their lives up to that point. Maybe her father wished to test the enduring friendship she shattered during high school.
However, Erin only knew one thing: she was not responsible for Daryl's death—the youngest son of Niel Arvesso.
'No, Erin! You are guilty!'
Tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Daryl's loss became a tragedy for the Arvesso family. In turn, Erin lost her mother, who followed Daryl just a day after the incident.
Erin steered her car towards the Yurich Group office. Since her father's passing, it felt as though she were on autopilot, routinely making her way to the office. Her father held the majority of shares, rendering the board powerless in the face of her presence, despite enduring unpleasant remarks from them on numerous occasions. "What does the model do in our office?" "I like seeing her ass, though," were just a couple of the unsavory comments she overheard. Her Uncle Roger now serves as the current chairman, having won the vote for the position vacated by Mr. Lawrence. Erin allowed this to transpire due to her lack of knowledge about the business. However, this didn't mean she would passively await his decisions. Refusing to be excluded from the office dynamics, she joined the advertising team as a staff member. Her father's assistant coached her, ensuring she navigated the corporate landscape adeptly. Her manager consistently targeted her. It's plausible that this d
Erin revisited the reasons prompting her to seek assistance from the Arvesso family. Last month, her advertising manager, Mrs. Robles, extended an invitation to meet with Mr. Yu, the manager of a television station. "Erin, I'm bringing you along for the meeting with Mr. Yu." "Sure, Ma'am!" Having spent a year with the advertising team, Erin retained her position as a staff member. She refrained from complaining, recognizing that the Arvesso family currently held authority in the company on her behalf. At the same time, she remained merely Mr. Lawrence's stepdaughter. Accompanied by her manager, Erin entered a private club. In a room, they found Mr. Yu with two other staff members. "Good evening, Mr. Yu! I am with Erin Villaverde. She's the one we were talking about," her manager said, subtly lifting one corner of her lip. "She will be coordinating our project with you for the ads of the new whitening lotion produced by the company." The man ran his thick tongue o
Seven years ago… "Boo!" Erin squealed in surprise as Jenna startled her. Her heart pounded, and she accidentally dropped her phone. She was in the women's restroom, changing into a red uniform for the cheerleaders. "Seriously! You scared me!" She lightly slapped Jenna on the shoulder and then shook her head. Jenna's dad was Erin's stepfather's cousin, making them second cousins. Jenna became Erin's close friend since they had known each other since age ten. Jenna picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor, furrowing her brow as she examined the messages on the screen. Erin engaged in a text conversation with Orion, having obtained his number from his brother Daryl. "Your eyes captivate me like no other, a mesmerizing beauty that lights up my world. Every visit to your home fills my heart with joy," Jenna read the latest message. "Who is this? Is he a pervert?" she commented, rolling her eyes. The woman continued scrolling through the messages. "Sorry if I only texted now
Erin shivered with profound disappointment. No! This shouldn't be happening. She endured more than her share over the past year, not just a year but seven years of punishment. Now, witnessing Orion's eyes devoid of emotion feels like a rejection of her dignity. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she gathered the clothes she had discarded. She shouldn't let herself break completely. Erin had misunderstood Orion. It seemed he was cutting off what little sanity she had left. "I shouldn't have done this." She went to the bathroom and let out all her tears there. Sadness surged through her chest. Perhaps she carried some responsibility for the death of Orion's brother, Daryl, but did he realize that Daryl had also deceived her? After getting dressed, she found Orion waiting outside the bathroom. The man was adept at concealing his feelings; she detected no anger, pity, or disdain in his eyes. Erin wondered about his motive for waiting. She surpassed Orion's presence. "I hope you
Nothing will change if Erin sheds tears. She must take action. Unemployed for a month, she needed to seize any opportunity, no matter how small. When her phone rang, she organized her list of expenses in the penthouse on the center table.Her friend Zacharia Lopez's name lit up the screen. "Hey, Zach!""I just arrived from Singapore. I went to your office to surprise you with gifts but was shocked to hear you're no longer there. Where are you? Who's the owner that got ousted from his own company?" Erin couldn't hold back her tears upon hearing her friend's voice. She needed someone to reassure her that everything would be okay—an ally. They first met during their modeling days, and their bond strengthened as she often encountered disturbing situations involving other female models. After what happened with Jenna, she found it hard to trust women. Zach was currently the only friend she relied on. "Erin..." concern resonated in Zach's voice. "They... They kicked me out. A lot has ha
Yurich Group. Merely a month ago, Erin was ousted by her manager and Uncle Roger from the office. However, today, she stood alongside Orion and Mr. Arvesso's assistant, Jorge, ready to make a bold return. Orion, pledging to assist her in securing the highest position within the Yurich company, had convinced her to take this audacious step—a decision aligned with her strategic move to marry him. "I'll inform you of my payment when the time comes. One thing is certain—I do not need money. The Yurich Company remains yours," she recalls Orion asserting. Jorge is there as a representative of the Arvesso Family, and Orion is acting as Erin's bodyguard. Orion explained his plan to Erin, assuring her that he wouldn't mess with how the Yurich Company ran. He believed getting involved in office matters was pointless because Erin would be in charge in the future. To ensure that Erin wouldn't be bothered by Jenna or Uncle Roger and to maintain Orion's constant presence, he decided to assu
This is absurd! Orion found himself on the verge of anger as he drove Erin to her penthouse. Getting close to Erin and spending every waking moment with her was not part of his plan. He couldn't understand why he had let himself get entangled in this situation. Frustration clenched his teeth, and anger surged through him, directed at himself,
Erin led Orion to a secluded room in her penthouse for a private conversation. Unfazed that her residence boasted four rooms, she was open to accommodate him. However, she wasn’t ready to live with Orion. "What do you mean you'll be staying here?" she questioned, a mix of surprise and concern evident in her voice. 'Now? Wait, I'm not ready yet!' "After you just kicked me out of your car?" she retorted. Orion is one big moody guy, even moodier than someone with PMS. "I have to pack my things; I'm sorry," he explained. "Erin, I've already laid out my reasons to you. We told your family we'd stay together; I'll act as your bodyguard. Besides, I'm aware that someone wants to harm you." Erin shuddered in fear, though Orion's eyes conveyed much more than his words. She could sense the unspoken desires he harbored. She recalled Jenna's messages to Daryl, whom she had thought Orion. Unfortunately, Orion wasn't the recipient of those texts back then. "That's why I'm taking the k