Second Thoughts

"How could this be?" Penelope exclaimed, her voice filled with anger. "I can't believe my plan has backfired!"

Her assistant, Maya Rivers, hesitantly spoke up, her voice laced with concern. "Ms. Voss, Ms. Hart is already divorced from Mr. Collins. Why do you still feel the need to hurt her and her baby?"

Penelope turned away from her swivel chair and walked towards the window, gazing out at the view beyond. With a determined tone, she replied, "Because she carries his child! If I can't have Andrew, then no one else can." Her words dripped with a mix of bitterness and possessiveness, revealing the depth of her obsession and her unwillingness to let go.

During their college years at Premier Institute of Business Studies, Penelope Voss crossed paths with Andrew Collins while they were both studying abroad. Penelope had gained a reputation for her popularity among men, frequently changing boyfriends as effortlessly as she changed her clothes. Some men would reject her advances, as they were already committed to other relationships. In such cases, Penelope would resort to buying off their partners, offering financial incentives to convince them to leave the person she desired. It seemed that she always got what and who she wanted.

However, everything changed when she encountered Andrew. Unlike the other men, he exuded an air of aloofness and distance. He had never been close to a woman before, showing little interest in romantic relationships. Penelope even entertained the thought that he might prefer the company of men. Consumed by her infatuation for him, she went to great lengths to capture his attention, but Andrew remained resolute in his coldness towards her. It became apparent that he hailed from a wealthier family than her own, leading Penelope to realize that money could not always buy love.

"I don't want to get married!" she protested vehemently as her father informed her of their arranged marriage.

Her father, however, remained insistent, countering, "Who wouldn't want to become the daughter-in-law of Legacy Furnishings? Our company is on the brink of collapse. Numerous investors have withdrawn their support and shifted their investments to our competitors. You have spent enough time frivolously pursuing relationships. It is now time to settle down and fulfill your responsibility as the daughter of the Voss Family!" His words carried a tone of urgency and the weight of familial expectations.

Despite feeling trapped and having no choice but to comply with her father's orders, she made one condition. She requested to continue working at Vanguard Holdings, specifically to be by Andrew's side, even if he showed no interest in her whatsoever.

However, when she discovered that Andrew had married a woman from a humble background, her fury consumed her. How could someone like Andrea be compared to her? In an attempt to assert her dominance, she tried to buy off Andrea's loyalty, but instead, Andrea taunted her, refusing to be swayed by material possessions.

"Babe, I need to ask you for a favor," Kelly began, as they lay down in bed together.

Andrew, still engrossed in checking his emails on his phone, responded without looking up, "What is it?"

"My father wants to expand our business, and he asked if you would be interested in investing," she said, her tone tinged with seduction.

Andrew paused for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts. He knew that his grandfather would not approve, considering his disapproval of Kelly. However, Mr. Levine, despite initially opposing their marriage, had now given his daughter's hand to Andrew. He couldn't afford to disappoint him. As a future son-in-law of the Levine family, he knew he shouldn't hesitate.

"Okay, bring me the proposal tomorrow," he commanded, making up his mind.

"I knew I could count on you!" Kelly exclaimed, planting a kiss on his cheek, expressing her gratitude.

"I want pasta," Kelly declared with a commanding voice. Lately, she had been requesting that I cook for her whenever Andrew was not around. Cooking had always been a passion of mine, but now, I found myself despising it. The aroma of onions had become unbearable, and being in the kitchen felt suffocating. However, I felt trapped. Kelly wouldn't allow Aunt Rosemary to assist me, insisting on overseeing the entire cooking process. 

I couldn't help but wonder if Kelly took pleasure in seeing me cover my nose while cooking, despite knowing that I was experiencing sensitivity to smells due to my pregnancy. I suspected she took pleasure in seeing me struggle, disregarding the discomfort it caused me.

"Alright," I replied, masking my true feelings.

As I put the finishing touches on the meal, the sound of Andrew's car pulling into the driveway sent a wave of tension through the air. Kelly quickly stood up, eager to greet him at the main door, but he ignored her and headed straight to the master bedroom. He remained there for what felt like an eternity before finally descending the stairs, his expression filled with anger and frustration.

"Who has been touching my belongings?" Andrew's voice boomed, his gaze fixed on Kelly.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Kelly pleaded, "I didn't do anything."

"Then why is my important document missing? I specifically told you not to touch my shelves! I was humiliated during the board meeting!" Andrew exclaimed, his frustration reaching its peak.

"It wasn't me!" Kelly cried, her voice trembling. Andrew's anger was unlike anything she had witnessed before.

My heart raced as I watched the intense confrontation unfold before me. 

Aunt Rosemary interjected, her voice calm but firm, "Young master, we have made it clear to all the servants that your bookshelves are off-limits. They would never dare to disobey you."

Kelly pointed an accusatory finger at me, her voice filled with desperation, "It was Andrea! I saw her entering our room last week!"

I tried to speak, but fear of Andrew's scolding rendered me speechless. My body trembled as Andrew swiftly approached me, gripping my arms tightly. His eyes bore into mine, filled with anger and accusation.

"How dare you! What were you trying to steal from me? Why were you snooping through my belongings? What is it that you want by coming into this house?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with fury. The intensity of his words sent shivers down my spine.

"Please, young master, calm down. She's pregnant," Aunt Rosemary interjected, her voice filled with concern. "It's not good for the baby."

"I can't even be sure if that baby is mine!" he retorted, pushing me away.

Tears welled up in my eyes. While it was true that I had entered their room at Kelly's request to clean, I hadn't taken any documents.

Enraged, he shouted, "Get out of this house! Never come back! I don't care if you're pregnant, just leave!"

Like a fallen leaf, forbidden to return, he cast me out. I had no choice but to comply. Trust, once fragile like glass, had shattered completely.

Removing my apron, I placed it on the table. With steady steps, I walked out of the house. Determined not to look back, I clenched my fist as I made my way through the gate. The rain fell, as if mocking me. The security guard called out, offering an umbrella, but I ignored him, consumed by a whirlwind of emotions.

As the clock neared midnight, Aunt Rosemary paced back and forth, her worry evident on her face. Andrew, feeling parched, made his way to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water.

"Young master, the rain is still pouring heavily outside," Aunt Rosemary pleaded, her voice filled with concern. "Andrea doesn't have her phone with her, and I'm certain she doesn't have any money. How will she manage to get home?"

"It's none of my concern," he replied icily, his tone devoid of empathy.

"Please, young master, allow us to search for her," Aunt Rosemary insisted, her determination unwavering. "If your grandpa were to find out about this, you would surely face his wrath."

Letting out a sigh, Andrew reluctantly gestured his agreement.

Aunt Rosemary's voice trembled as she delivered the news to Andrew. The weight of uncertainty hung heavily in the air, their hearts sinking with each passing moment. Despite their efforts, their search for Andrea had yielded no results.

"We didn't find her," Aunt Rosemary uttered, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and worry. The implications of Andrea's disappearance weighed heavily on their minds, leaving them with more questions than answers. What had happened to her? Where could she be?

The room fell into a heavy silence, the absence of Andrea casting a shadow over their thoughts. As the morning light began to peek through the windows, Aunt Rosemary and Robert made their way to the kitchen, seeking a steaming cup of coffee.

Just as Aunt Rosemary reached for the coffee pot, the sound of the television caught her attention. With a sense of urgency, she turned the volume up, and the morning show anchor's voice filled the room, capturing their undivided attention. "Breaking news! A pregnant woman in her mid-twenties has been involved in a devastating accident, struck by a truck. Her identity remains unknown."