"Meeting adjourned."

He really made sure that his meeting with the board members and shareholders of his company would be short to be able to go home early. He promised his beautiful wife that they're going to have some quality time with their two years old twins on the weekends, they're planning to go to the beach and their flight would be in a few hours.

His wife would surely hate him if he stayed much longer than 4 in the afternoon, she precisely said that he must be home before four or else. She got him by the 'or else' speech, his beautiful can be really scary when she's mad. So, he must be off right now. He was about to stand from his seat when some of his colleagues interrupted him.

"What can you say, Vince?"

It was one of his closest friends since middle school that also happened to be his colleague and shareholder in his company. They were still talking about something he didn't comprehend because his mind was busy thinking about their family trip while others were leaving the conference room.

He bewilderedly looked at them. "About what?"

They looked at him with teasing grins. "You're mind is flying somewhere again."

"He's been like that ever since he tied the knot."

"It's even before he got married, dude. If you guys just saw how smitten he was with Nina, he looked like a fool smiling from ear to ear in the middle of a chaotic and stressful board meeting. It was kind of disgusting and disturbing at the same time."

"That's what happened when you're in love that's why I'll never put myself in that kind of situation again, I'm done with that so-called love."

"I definitely agree with that."

The others agreed with that statement.

He can't help but to smirked while shaking his head, these guys doesn't know that no matter how they try to avoid it, they couldn't do anything if Cupid struck their hearts, like how he got his heart struck.

He's pretty sure that when they fell in love they would be much worse than he is. They would also go crazy with jealousy and unexplainable feelings that they will do anything for the woman they would love, spoil her in giving her needs and wants even she doesn't asked. Moreover, protecting their woman would always comes first among other important things even it would cost their lifes.

"I need to be home early, so I'm off." He said while standing from his seat.

"It's still too early. What's the rush, dude?"

"That's right. Tomorrow is the weekend, why don't we hangout at our favourite bar."

He sighed. "I'd love to but I can't, maybe next time."

"Don't tell us, your little buddy can't wait to score a home run."

With that statement, his buddies started to whine and complain with obscenities that he just ignored, he just laughed it off and shook his head. If he doesn't know how their minds work, he might get offended with their comments.

"We're just going to the beach for the weekend with the twins and our flight is in a few hours." He explained. "Nina would kill me if I'm late even for a second."

"But you have a private jet, what's the rush?"

"Wife's orders, can't object and complain." He said while grinning.

"Oh..."

"Let's hangout next time, my treat." He assured them before walking out.

He was waiting for the elevator when his phone rang, it was an unknown caller which made him curious because only his family and closest friends know his private number.

"Andreiage speaking."

("Good afternoon, Sir. This is from the West District Police Station, I would like to inform you that your wife along with her driver was involved in a car crash with a 16-wheeler truck and a SUV a few minutes ago, they're currently being transported to Ridge Medical Center.")

Upon hearing the news, he felt like his world was slowly crumbling and the only thing that's running in his head is his wife, wishing she's safe. He couldn't wait for the elevator much longer that he rapidly took off to the emergency exit even he was on the 32nd floor of their building.

💕💕💕

Shane lost count on how many times she sighed since she left her apartment until this moment that she's in front of Reiage Hotel, a well-known international luxury hotel, today is her first day at her new job as one of the hotel manager.

Anxiety is getting the better of her but who could blame her, new job meant new environment and new colleagues that she have to adapt to. At her last work, she had a hard time getting along with her co-workers that it became very toxic for her to handle that she decided to leave.

She let out another sigh before walking to the hotel's entrance while psyching herself that she can do this and be more confident.

The security guard in the entrance was about to greet her but upon seeing her, he looked so surprised and he has his look in his face that he couldn't believe whatever he is seeing.

It's very weird that even gave her some chills, maybe it's just a coincidence or something so she just ignored it. Though it made her thinking, does he know her? But she doesn't remember ever meeting him. Oh well, maybe he just mistaken her for someone else so she just shrugged it off.

She just politely greeted him when she passed in front of him though he didn't have any respond that she just ignored but she could feel that his eyes didn't left her until she reached the reception counter.

"Hi. Good morning." She greeted one of the ladies behind the counter who's busy typing something.

"Good morning." The lady looked up at her with a smile but it immediately faded upon seeing her then her big doe eyes widen while looking at her the way the security guard looked at her.

Weird.

"Miss..." She said trying to break off the receptionist's uncomfortable stares at her but it seems her thoughts is lost somewhere. "Excuse me, Miss."

The receptionist is staring at her like they're longtime friends that didn't see each other in a long time but she's pretty sure that she doesn't know her or meet her so why does this girl looked at her like this?

"Miss, are you okay?" She asked since this lady is now teary-eyed. What the heck is going on? "Is there something wrong?"

"Gia, what are you doing?" The other receptionist asked with a puzzled look.

So, Gia is her name but still she still have no recognition of meeting her before.

"H-Huh?" This Gia immediately turned to her colleague breaking from her reverie with troubled face. "W-Wha~What?"

The other receptionist motioned at her direction. "She's talking to you."

"I-I-I'm sorry." Gia said in stutter while wiping her teary-eyes. "W-What can I help you with?"

She smiled to show her that it was not a big deal. "Ahm... I'm here for Miss Therese Walton, I'm Shane Dowell, the new hotel manager recommended by Miss Fhouden from Horryx Hotel. It's actually my first day today but she asked me to come early before I start my shift."

That took them by surprise based on their reaction that she can't help smiling playfully, it nice to see this kind of reaction sometimes.

"She's expecting you in her office, Miss Dowell. It's on the fifth floor, I could accompany you if you'd like." Asked by the other receptionist.

She smiled. "That would be great if it's not a bother, Miss~"

"Fiona. I'm Fiona Hempton, Miss Dowell." She showed her nameplate that she didn't immediately noticed a while ago.

She turned to Gia and she's also wearing one, how stupid of her for not noticing that they're wearing nameplates.

Fiona returned her smile. "This way to the elevator, Miss Dowell."

She looked at Gia again, who's still have that look on her face. "I hope you're alright."

She didn't wait for any kind of response and immediately followed Fiona to the elevator.

"Is your friend alright?" She worriedly asked when they entered the empty lift.

"I don't know, she was alright a while ago."

She thinks that she's the reason why Gia's mood suddenly changed but she really have no idea why.

After a few seconds, they already reached the fifth floor and Fiona guided her to the left wing. They passed some people and most of them have the same reaction with Gia and the guard when they saw her, honestly, it's really giving her goosebumps.

"Is there something unusual on my face?" She curiously asked Fiona.

Fiona shook her head. "You're very pretty, Ma'am."

Then, why does the people in this hotel look at her like there is something on her face?

"We're here." Fiona knocked on a tinted glass door before pushing the door. "Miss Therese, Miss Dowell is here."

"Let her in." Said the sweet voice inside. "Thank you, Fiona."

She thanked Fiona before entering the office. Inside, there's a gorgeous woman behind the desk staring earnestly at her the way the other people she encountered and she's on the verge of crying.

"Okay. This really is giving me huge chills, what the heck is going on with you people?" she suddenly bursted out. "Is this your way of welcoming new employees? Or there's something on my face that only you guys could see cause honestly you baffling my mind."

The woman wiped the tears on her eyes. "I apologize for that, Miss Dowell. You just resembles someone that most of the people here adores which we haven't seen for two years."

So that's why they looked at her like they know her even though this is the first time she set foot in this hotel.

"May I know who she is?" She asked Miss Walton, based on the name engraved on a glass block on her table.

"She's the wife of the owner of this hotel and CEO of Dreia Group, Shanina Andreiage. She's also the only heiress of the Ashtons of Ashton International."

Something tighten on her heart hearing that name and she doesn't know why.

"What happened to her?" She really curious about this Shanina who looks exactly like her.

Miss Walton sighed heavily. "She got into an accident two years ago and she suddenly disappeared that even her husband doesn't know where she is until now."

"That's quite tragic." she commented since she really doesn't know what to say.

"It is but it is also very mysterious, for a person who was comatose to suddenly disappear into thin air without any kind of clue." Miss Walton added.

"W-What?"

Miss Walton just weakly smiled at her. "Let's get down to business, Miss Dowell."

"Just call me 'Shane', Miss Dowell is too formal and I'm not really used of people calling me with my last name."

"Okay, then just call me Therese."

💕

Therese toured her around the hotel and introduced her to the staffs, she just ignored the reactions of some staffs when they saw her before they went to the manager's office which is also located on the east wing of the fifth floor near the office of the owner and general manager of the hotel.

"Lily didn't mentioned why you resigned at Horryx when she gave me a call to recommend you for the position," Therese seems to be fishing for information about her. "If you don't mind my intrusion, just curious."

They're inside the elevator and on their way to the restaurant to have their lunch, there is an employee's lounge where the staffs take there lunch since this hotel also provide free meals to their employees but Therese said that she must familiarized herself to the hotel's menu as a hotel manager.

"I guess you could call it as social conflict." She grimaced.

Therese's forehead creased. "Social conflict?"

"I just can't get along with most of my colleagues, they were so hostile towards me and there's this girl that's so annoying, she keeps on slandering me to everyone around us so I have no choice but to leave." She explained.

Therese laughed. "I think that girl is just envious of your face and brain."

"Lily also said that every time I complained to her." She said while smiling.

When they went out the elevator, they were greeted by loud voices of a little girl around 3 to 4 years old and a woman in a skimpy off-white dress in the lobby. People were surrounding them but nobody was intruding or trying to intrude, but she noticed that they're quite worried.

"You little brat! If wasn't for your dad, I won't tolerate you and your brother." The woman shouted while firmly holding the little girl's tiny arms. "You both are huge obstruction for me and Vince, why didn't you both vanished with your annoying mother so that Vince would give me his attention that you both dominate."

"You're hurting me!" The little girl shouted with teary eyes trying to be free from the woman's grasp. "Let go!"

"Oh my gosh! Shaina!" Therese exclaimed and immediately walked to the center of the crowd. "Julia, what do you think you're doing?!"

She also followed to the scene.

"Let go of Shaina!" Therese furiously shouted at the woman while trying to remove the woman's hand from the little girl.

"This is none of your business, Therese. If you don't want to lose your job be smart and stay away from this!"

"Aunt Therese, my arm hurts." The little girl cried.

She noticed that the little girl's tiny arm was already bruised in the woman's firm grasp.

"You're not my boss, Julia. So why should I be scared of you?! Let go!" Therese is still trying to remove the hand but the woman is really stubborn.

She looked around and saw a man holding a cup of hot coffee, she took it and went near to them, she pulled Therese away then she lifted the little girl who stared at her in wide eyes before she pour the coffee on the woman's arm and it was effective.

"Whaaaa~!" The woman wailed exaggeratedly, it wasn't that hot.

She ignored her and started to walk away while carrying the little girl, Therese immediately followed with a smug smile.

"Are you okay, baby?" She asked the little girl who's still staring at her.

She was surprised when tears fastly fell from the little girl's eyes then suddenly buried her little face on her neck and hugged her tightly, she's murmuring something but she can't understand it with all her sobbing. She tried coaxing her to stop crying but it seems it doesn't work.

"Therese, what should I do?" She asked helplessly but Therese just shrugged.

Oh my gosh! She doesn't know what should she do for this little girl to stop crying, she was always been good with kids but no matter what she says or do, it doesn't work.

She stopped from walking when she noticed a little boy standing in front of her, he's staring straight at her with longing and sadness.

"M-Mommy..."

💕💕💕

Did Shane misheard what just this handsome little boy called her? Maybe she's having a kind of hearing difficulties, why would this little boy call her 'mommy'? Gosh! She's very much single and not ever been in a relationship since she was born, thank you.

"Mommy!" the little boy shouted and run to her.

She was so surprised especially when this little boy hugged her lower body tightly while crying.

Oh my gosh! She don't know what to do with this two kids clinging on her tightly and crying their hearts out, she turned to Therese to asked for help but she was just standing like a statue behind her and just watching them.

"Mommy, you're back." The little boy sobbed. "Please don't leave again."

Her heart tighten with the two kids crying, it breaks her heart to see them like this and she doesn't know what to say or do to coax them and tell them that she's not their mother.

"Baby boy, I'm no~"

"You! Stop right there!" The crazy woman shouted a few meters behind her, it looked like she recovered from what she just did to her. "Don't you know me?!"

"Julia, would you please stop!" Therese yelled.

"No! Just shut up, Therese!"

This Julia is really unbelivable! Doesn't she realized that she's making a huge scene and maybe some were recording a video of this so she won't be surprise if this would be uploaded online, Julia is just ruining her own self.

"You think Vince would tolerate you for making a scene here much more for inflicting an injury to her daughter? So, if I were you, I'll stop this right now." Therese is still trying to reason out with this crazy woman.

"Do you really want to lose your job, huh, Therese?!" The crazy woman bawled like a banshee. "So shut up! I have no business with you!"

She looked at Therese to assure her that it is alright and she can handle the crazy woman.

"Hey, you tramp!" How dare is this crazy woman to call her as such?! Is this Julia tired of her glamorous life that she wants to die on her hands? "How dare you do that to me?! My dad is a shareholder in this hotel! I could make your life miserable in a matter of seconds in just a snap of my finger."

Instead of rebuking, she tried to walk away with the kids, things like this, is not something they should witness in their young age.

"I said stop right there! I'm not yet done with you!"

My gosh! This crazy woman really have no shame, they're in a public place and there's so many people witnessing of her making a scene, she's even involving her and the kids.

She nonchantly looked at the crazy woman, she only can turned her head to have a look at her since she can't move easily.

"I have nothing to say to you so I don't care if you're still not done with me but I'm done with you. So, if you'll excuse us, me and the kids are starving." She said coldly.

The crazy woman smirked. "You're just scared of me."

Wow! Too much confidence. She would never be scared of the likes of this crazy woman, who could only bark but can never bite while she have more bite than bark.

She slightly turned to her with a grin. "Why would I be scared of a crazy feline that could only show her claws to a little girl? You can't even touch me."

It seems that she provoked the crazy woman since she walked to their direction and tried to slap her face but she easily dodge it and when she got a hold of it, she twisted her arm then pushed her hardly that she fell to the floor that made everyone gasped in surprise and some chuckled including Therese.

"I forgot to mention, you really can't touch me since I know some martial arts." She said in poker-face. "So, if you don't want your face to be disfigured or get a huge cut, you should stop this foolishness."

The crazy woman immediately stood up. "Not until I got my payback on you! Just wait and see, you'll regret making me your enemy!"

"You think I care? Even if you're the most influential or powerful person in the world, I won't care. I think it's you who should care and think about what you did to this little girl, you think just because you came from a wealthy family that you can get away from child abuse easily, then think again. And if you don't stop blabbering nonsense, I won't let you off and call the police for harassment and child abuse, and just for your information, I have friends from different media stations that could ruin you more faster than you could ruin mine. I'm telling you I always do what I says." She chided.

Well, that was half true and half lie since she only know two persons from a major media network but those two are the owner and the President of that network, so she thinks it's quite the same thing.

The crazy woman smirked while her arms are crossed in front then raise a brow at her. "You're just bluffing. How can someone with your status can have such influence? You're just a nobody."

"She not a nobody!" The little boy interjected while wiping his snot with his arm. "She's our mother, Shanina Ashton-Andreiage!"

Everyone in there gasped with what this little boy said, including her.

"Baby boy, I'm not your mommy." She told him softly.

"No, you're our mommy." The little girl cut in while still buried in her neck. "Please don't deny it, Mommy."

Oh my gosh, how the heck did she got herself into something like this? She only came here to work and it's only her first day, her shift haven't even started yet so technically she haven't really started her first day but so many things had already happened in a spun of a few hours.

"She can't be your mom because your mom is already dead." The crazy woman announced coldheartedly. "So, it's really impossible for her to be your mom."

"No! Daddy said that Mommy would come back because she loves us so much! And now she's here!" The little girl shouted while sending deadly glares to the crazy woman.

"Come on, Shaina. If she's really alive then why didn't she come back sooner and you heard her, she's not your mom. And accept that I'll be your new mommy since you both can't do anything about it."

Is she a kid to argue and enraged toddlers? She's not only heartless and arrogant but also immature. If these kids wasn't clinging on her, she would love to erase this crazy woman's smirks with her fist.

She glared at this pyschotic woman. "Hey, did you just lost a screw in your head."

The psychotic woman sent deadly glares at her. "What did you just say?"

"You're not just crazy but also deaf or you're brain just can't function really well that's why you think your delusions are real." She mocked her.

Some of the people around chuckled including Therese that tried to hide it but failed miserably.

"Who would be so stupid to want a crazy woman like you to be the mother of his kids, there's nothing maternal about you. I would really pity your future husband, he would marry someone like you but I assure you it won't be the father of this two cutie kids especially after he sees what you did to his princess." She added that really made this crazy woman fume in anger.

"You're going to regret this! I'm going to make you pay."

She chuckled. "Then, I'll be waiting, Miss Julia Dillon. Let's race who could be the first one to ruin the other in just a snap."

She walked away from scene with the kids and Therese immediately followed, they're now heading to the restaurant. Finally! She was really starving and if that crazy woman stop them again, she could've eaten that woman to soothe her hunger.

When they were settled in one of the tables, she let Therese ordered their lunch and just pay attention to the two kids whose faces were tear and snot stained. She wiped their faces using the wet wipes she always carries inside her coat's pocket and she also asked for an ice pack for the little girl's bruised arm.

"Why are you two roaming around without any chaperone?" She asked them. "What if you meet a bad guy like that crazy woman, see what happened when you're on your own."

"I ran from our nanny when we arrived here to go to daddy but I bumped into Miss Julia." The little girl answered.

"I followed her since she's so clumsy." The littlle boy answered this time.

They're so cute and anyone who would see them could say that they have good looking parents, they don't look exactly like her since she looks exactly their mother, but it's a mixture so it means that their father is quite good looking too even she haven't saw him yet.

She also noticed that she have the same eyes as them, not only in color but also it's shape. It seems that she and Miss Shanina have so much in common in terms of physical attributes.

Therese sighed heavily. "How many times did your daddy told you to never ran off from your nannies when you're not at home, even you're in the hotel or Andrei Tower? You're both are really stubborn like your mom."

She observed that Therese looked at her for a second when she said the word 'mom' then immediately averted her eyes away from her to look at the kids.

"It's because we're her kids, Aunt Therese." The little boy said cheekily.

"That's right!" The little girl added perkily.

Therese frowned. "And you two are also like your father."

Shane couldn't help laughing with the way their conversation was ending, it seems that Therese is being bullied by two toddlers without any kind of effort.

"Mommy, why didn't you come back early?" The little girl asked her.

She don't know what to say, aside from she wasn't their mother, she couldn't take the look they're giving her. It was filled with so much hope longing and love, it would be very difficult for them to accept and that she's not their real mother and it would also break her heart to see them hurt but she don't want to lie to them and pretend just to make them happy.

"Babies, listen. I'm not your mommy, my name is Shane Dowell and not Shanina, so it's really impossible that I am you~"

"No! You're our mommy!" they shouted in chorus.

"But~"

They both started to cry again and it really affected her that she also on the verge of crying.

"Don't you love us anymore, mommy?" The little boy sobbed. "Are you tired of us, of taking care of us? Don't worry, I'm a big boy now, I could take care of you and Shaina, you won't get tired anymore."

Oh my gosh!

"And you don't need to help us put on some clothes or do my hair or make a glass of milk for us or bathe us, we can do that on our own now, all you have to do is be with us always. So, please mommy, don't leave us again." The little girl sobbed. "Daddy also misses you so much, so please stay with us."

"And we'll be good kids, we'll never be bother or cause any kind of trouble again, we'll behave and listen to everything you and daddy would say, so that you won't get irritated or have a headache, we'll clean our rooms and the playroom, and we'll never be messy around the house, if you want we could learn some house chores to be useful and we'll study hard to be always on top of our class when we went to school this year. Just don't leave us again." The little boy added while tears were continuously falling from his eyes.

The little girl nodded. "Vander is right, we love you and miss you so much, mommy so don't leave again."

She couldn't control herself and pulled the two kids into her arms, her heart can't stand it when they're crying and begging her so desperately. If only she was really their mother then she won't deny it but it's really not possible, because she's Shane Dowell and not Shanina Ashton.

"You don't have to do that or anything, babies." She wiped her tears and the kids tears, her heart is breaking with the way their pleading. They didn't need to do anything just to be with someone they love so much, they deserve to have the best things that the world could offer, words weren't needed to say that they're the best kids any parent could ever wished for. "You don't need to beg."

"But we want you to be with us." They said in chorus while still sobbing.

"Okay, okay. Just please stop crying." She coaxed them then looked at Therese who is staring at the kids with sympathy. "I'm not going anywhere."

She knows this kind of desperation when she was a child since she grew up in an orphanage, wanting to be adopted but she doesn't remember this kind of feelings. Although, she have a memory of it but it seems that her feelings doesn't agree to it like she never felt it before but witnessing this kids now she understand the feeling and she doesn't want to see them begging like this to her or to anyone.

💕💕💕