LOGINAfter a brief appearance at a birthday celebration, Ayra Carter's life took a drastic turn when the famous billionaire's heir chooses her to be his new mum.. "I like you a lot so you have to come home with me and be my new mummy" Arya's heart warmed as she stared at the cute little boy in front of her.. "Cutie.. Why don't you pick again?... I'm about to get married" "My son chose you and that's final! become his mum!" A loud authoritave voice broke into the room.. Now what???... Not him! Mr Kyle Anderson! the man who doesn't take no for an answer..
View More吐く息が白い。比喩ではない。文字通り、白い霧がパソコンの液晶画面にかかって、打ち込んだばかりの文字を曇らせていく。
白河小夜子(しらかわ・さよこ)は画面の曇りを手で払って、かじかんで感覚のなくなった指先を口元に寄せた。「はぁーっ……」
温かい呼気を吹きかける。一瞬だけ指先に血が通う感覚が戻り、ジンとした痛みが走った。
(よし、まだ動く)
小夜子は着古したフリースの袖をまくり上げ、再びキーボードに向かった。現在時刻は午前4時。場所は、名門・白河家の広大な敷地の片隅にある「離れ」。
かつて物置として使われていた粗末な小屋が、小夜子の生活スペースだ。隙間風が容赦なく吹き込む室内は、外気と変わらない冷え込みようである。 暖房器具はあるにはあるが、義母によって電源コードを没収されていた。「電気代の無駄よ。どうせパソコンの熱で温まるんでしょう?」
そんな無茶苦茶な理屈を押し付けられて、早5年。
父である白河家当主の愛人の子として生まれ、母の死とともにこの家に引き取られて10年。 義母と義姉、父からの不当な扱いは年を追うごとに増すばかりだった。 中学までは義務教育だからと、かろうじて学校に通わせてもらえた。 けれど高校に行くのは許されなかった。 今は亡き恩人、この家の執事であった藤堂がこっそりと、私費を使って通信制の高校に入れてくれたため、高卒の資格だけは取ることができた。 親切にしてくれたのは藤堂だけだ。その彼が亡くなってしまった現在、この家に小夜子の味方は一人もいなかった。人間は環境に適応する生き物だと言うが、小夜子はひどく冷え込む空気の中で、驚くほどの速度でタイピングを続けていた。
というのも、手を止めたら凍えるからだ。画面に並ぶのは、難解なフランス語と専門用語。『ホスピタリティの根源における「主と客」の非対称性について』
これが、今回の論文のタイトルである。小夜子は机の脇に積み上げられた分厚い洋書――『欧州ホテル産業の歴史』――をめくり、該当箇所を翻訳しながら引用していく。
(19世紀のパリにおけるサービス規範……ここ、使えるわね)
ふと、暗い窓ガラスに自分の姿が映り込んだ。そこにいるのは、精彩を欠いた影のような女だった。
手入れを知らない黒髪は、艶こそ失われているものの、夜の闇を溶かしたように細くしなやかに背中へ流れている。 色素の薄い肌は、陶磁器のように白い。それは健康的な白さではなく、陽の光を浴びることを許されない、地下室の花のような青白さだ。 頬は痩せて丸みを失い、身体は一抱えできそうなほど薄い。粗末な服の袖から伸びる手首はあまりに華奢で、力を込めれば折れてしまいそうに見える。 だがその顔立ちは整っていた。長い睫毛(まつげ)が落とす影の下、切れ長の瞳だけが、暗がりの中で静かな光を宿している。本来であれば美しい女性と言えただろう。でも。
~Arya's pov~ It's been a year since all those drama happened around me, it's been a hell of a ride all because a Billionaire's Son Chose Me to be his mum at his dad's birthday.. I gave birth to a beautiful daughter who looks just like me, Kyle named her Rachel, just because it sounds a bit like Raymond.. What a jerk! Sooo.. moving on, I had the most amazing wedding, my dad was there to walk me down the aisle.. It was a dream come true, Ray now addresses me as his mum, and did I forget to mention, He's so fond and protective of his baby sister?. And oh! here they come.. Kyle smiled at me walking hand in hand with Ray while the other held Rachel to his chest, I'm so jealous of their bond.. It's like I'm almost forgotten whenever Rachel is around.. It's probably crazy to think that I'd be jealous of my little baby, but yeah I am.. in two months time she'd turn a year old. I can't wait for that to happen.. "So what have you been thinking about Mrs Anderson?" Kyle teased me, I c
Two days later.. Arya was finally discharged and taken home, and ever since she got back, Ray has refused to leave her side even for a second.. Kyle also kept a close eye on her, he had strictly forbidden her to step out of the bed or their room at large. Everything was gradually falling into place for them, until Arya felt her stomach shift, she stepped out of the bed, not again! her legs were still a bit weak but she managed to help herself to the bathroom.. Kyle stepped into the room with a smile on his face which died the minute he saw the empty bed and room.. He heard the sound of water running in the bathroom and also groans and loud coughs.. "Arya!" He banged on the door until it opened to reveal her pale face.. "Are you alright?..." he worriedly asked scooping her into his arms.. Arya shook her head slowly resting against him as he carried her to the bed... "We'll leave for the hospital right now" *** Chad's brows furrowed while he checked up on Arya
Few weeks later at a cemetery... Mia bent down a little touching Ray's shoulder with a small smile.. "Go on Ray it's your turn..offer your flowers" Ray took a look back at his dad who gave him a nod, he took a step forward to the graveside next to Mr Carter who was mumbling some things to next to the grave, he dropped the flowers and walked back to Mia... Mr Carter looked a bit well off now, his beards was nicely trimmed and he also looked healthy.. The incident from that day was still fresh in their minds, Charlotte was apprehended by the cops that day and was locked up behind bars.. Some years behind bars will definitely make her think twice before commiting any more crimes.. *** Ray pouted his lips staring blankly at his bowl of cereal, he missed Arya, she was the one who always made breakfast for him and also gets him ready for school.. "Come on Ray..eat up" Mia urged stroking his hair gently.. She sighed already knowing where this was heading to, he'd probabl
Sharon handed the phone she was holding over to Charlotte who was seated in the midst of all these chaos.. It felt like everyone was on standstill contemplating their next move and the possible solution to this problem.. Arya took a step forward as the floor sank once more, Kyle reached out effortlessly to her arm as the chairs holding the two went up a little.. "Control yourself Arya! you're endangering them more by going closer!" He yelled shaking her slightly, he got that she was concerned about Ray and her dad.. but she also needed to weigh the pros and cons of her actions.. "I can't do that Kyle! I can't just stand and do nothing okay?! Ray is counting on us to save him! Charlotte is a freak and I'm very sure she left a way out of this!" she argued in a firm and lowered tone.. Charlotte threw her head back with a sigh, their lovey dovey scene wasn't what she was expecting to see.. She wanted to see them in tears and at her mercy most especially Arya.. "Umm excuse me
Arnold glanced down at Chloe's hand holding his before raising his head to meet her eyes.. "No.. big bro" she shook her head gently holding firmly onto his hand.. "Chloe?" Chloe bit her bottom lips avoiding his intense stare, she groaned out facing him with a sour expression on her face.. "I'm
Charlotte turned back when she heard hurried footsteps approaching her, her gaze fell on Arya's worried expression with a little stain of tears on her cheeks.. It was obvious she must have heard what happened, to her amazement, a slap fell on her cheek, she turned to Arya in disbelief, finding it d
A knock on the window startled Chloe who was about to fall into a deep slumber, she sat up from her bed wiping her tear streaked face with the back of her palm, she straightened her thigh length red night gown .... The knock came again this time in a hurry, she became scared and stood at alert, who
Charlotte ran her hands through her hair pacing around, it was a good thing that they were able to lost Kyle's men who were tailing her earlier.. She couldn't leave the country because all roads were currently blocked, this was definitely Kyle's doing.. He'd surely comb the entire city clean to fi


















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