Chapter 1

As Olivia fernandes stepped out of the bus, she inhaled deeply and swallowed hard. Then clutching her duffel bag, she glanced around at the big city where she'll start her life anew.

Leaving home was a big step for her, it was a spur of the moment thing and she 's sure it'll help her forget about the past. She was an only child, and as displeased as her mother might be, Olivia knew it was the right thing to do.

Ever since her father had died seven years ago, she and her mother had struggled to forge ahead even though the family's income was meager. Her mother was uneducated so it was hard to find a decent job. She'd sent olijvia to school for the sake of the family's future.

Olivia blew up the opportunity when she got herself pregnant by a man she thought she would spend the rest of her life with. It happened so fast that she thought it was an illusion but it wasn't and she's reminded of that mistake each time she looked upon her daughter. There had been nothing but lies behind that promise of love.

If she hadn't been so gullible, she would have known from the start that the bastard was married with children. After throwing caution to the wind, all she ever thought of was him―being with him, growing old with him. But it wasn't her he carried in his heart; it wasn't her he wanted to grow old with. To him, she was more like a holiday fling, a kept woman whom he could turn to whenever he had problems with his wife.

Her mother never found anything wrong with the relationship, she simply approved of him because she thought he was the right man for her daughter.

Olivia grew up hearing stories about the city and had only seen it in her imagination; right now, seeing all the tall buildings and street lights, it was a dream come true for her.

She's here in the city not because she wanted to see the father of her daughter but because she wanted to live her dream of becoming a successful designer―one of the best in Mexico

She'd been waiting almost an hour and no one has come to get her and what's more, she had no cellphone. Eric had told her that in case he was unable to make it to her, his brother would fetch her instead.

Eric had been a brother and a friend to her, she never heard from him ever since he left Veracruz to mexico city until now,now that he's helping her star all over again.

''where could he be.'' She muttered impatiently.

And there he was in the crowd, waving and calling out her name. relief swept over her when she saw him and a smile slowly crawled to her lips as she waited. He raced from where he was to her.

''Olivia look at you!'' excitement registered on his face. And his arms flew around her as he drew her in an embrace.

''what took you so long?''

''sorry, you know pepino had to go on an important errand and my shift ended just now.'' He explained.

''whatever. You're here now, so let's go.''

He took her bag with one hand and the other, he circled her shoulders as he led her down the busy street.

....................

It's been a year since Lorenzo de la Cruz had died, now staring down at her two beautiful daughters, victoria de la cruz found she can now let go off her grief. Her only regret was that he didn't get to see his twin daughters being brought into the world, he would've been a good father to them as he was a good husband to her.

Rosario slowly and steadily eased the door open just a bit and peeked through it to watch victoria play with her daughters. She'd been part of the de la cruz household ever since Lorenzo was a child, there was not a single pin that fell on the ground that she wouldn't know of. She's had her fair share of secrets as well as the ones involving the de la cruz family. Theirs was a family built on lies and deceit.

Rosario couldn't explain what her feelings were at that moment; was it jealousy or anger? She couldn't tell, all that was certain is that she wished she was in victoria's place holding her grandchild. But it was worth it, she wouldn't be a maid like her grand mother but a mistress of the house. And when the right time comes, she hoped she would forgive her.

She pulled the door closed and turned round only to be startled by matilda de la cruz ; the second mistress of the house who looked like she'd been there for a while.

''oh madam matilda, you startled me!''

''what have been up to this time Rosario?'' she raised a brow suspiciously.

''n―nothing madam. Excuse me.'' She spluttered before racing off.

Matilda's eyes narrowed as she watched her walk away. She ought to know the woman by now, her lily-livered self would get them both in trouble one day; she ought to keep the woman close.

She didn't get to be a de la cruz overnight, she worked her bones to get into this prestigious family and she'll make the most of it. As the wife of the second son, she invariably has the entire household revolving around her, she even have her husband wrapped around her little fingers; or so she thought.

The noise from downstairs indicated that the special person juan was talking about has arrived. The old hag, she thought to herself. She couldn't stand breathing the same air as that woman even though she's her mother-in-law. The old woman always gets on her nerves and to make matters worse, juan wants her to live in the mansion for good― really, the thought of having to see that woman's face every day and every second makes her want to flip her lid.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then proceeded downstairs to welcome her dearest mother-in-law―Doña heriberta de la cruz.

With a smile, she placed a kiss on juan's mouth.

''hi honey. Mom?'' she lean in to kiss dona heriberta's cheek but the woman withdrew, giving her one of her i-don't-approve-of-you-for-my-son looks.

For sometime,they both exchanged some hard stares after which Rosario cleared her throat and announced. ''dinner is served.''

Doña heriberta turned to her son. '' where is victoria?'' she asked.

''oh she's upstairs. I think'' he replied, and then suggested. ''why don't we have dinner first?''

''no, I'll just go to victoria instead. I'm dying to meet my grand daughters.''

Damn the witch! So this was all about victoria and her daughters, what about her son? Juan will get it from her.

Matilda waited till they were in the privacy of there room before confronting her husband.

''you know that your mother and I don't get along, why do you have to make her stay here for good?'' she paced about the room restlessly.

Juan was in no mood for arguments, not after a long problematic day at de la cruz corporation―from one mishap to another. Being the CEO of a vast business empire as this means a lot of work than just sitting behind an exclusive executive chair and drinking a glass of chardonnay; there's de la cruz chemicals, de la cruz mining, and de la cruz anti-ageing center, just to mention a few, And he's not about to let her disagreement with his mother add up to that.

Without a word, he knocked off his shoes and pulled off his jacket. His tie was next, long fingers worked through the buttons on his white shirt.

''are you listening to me at all juan?'' she barked getting pissed by his silence. While pilling off his shirt, he whirl round to face her.

''what do you want me to do? It was mom's idea not mine.'' He told her.

''then you should've dissuaded her, it would've been better for everyone. She snapped.

''For everyone?Or just you?''

''ugh! You're a piece of work.'' She threw back and left the room slamming the door so hard that it startled him.