The C.E.O'S shattered heart (MxM, C.E.O X C.E.O)

Chapter 27. My past.

"I knew that Rick would never let me leave the orphanage. I had no other choice than to flee the town with Andrew when we graduated. We moved to Los Angeles to attend college. I rented an apartment with the money that I had saved. I did everything in my power to give Andrew the life that he would have had if he had stayed with his wealthy parents. I had to work three shifts to make ends meet, but I didn't care. Andrew and I were together, and that was all that mattered to me. I met Alexei by chance. I could see that he didn't belong on the streets and did my best to help him. I never expected anything in return, but I'm glad that I met him again. He's a great man, and anyone would be lucky to have him as a friend."

"I had created a website in college and did some odd jobs to earn some extra cash. The website became popular overnight. I managed to save enough money to start a company after our graduation. I made Andrew a partner when the company became successful. I worked hard to win awards each year because I knew that the exposure would attract more clients. I thought that Andrew and I would grow old together, but I was betrayed. Andrew cheated on me and took my company, money, and house away from me. He threw me out on the streets knowing I had nowhere to turn. We were together for ten years, yet he discarded me like trash in the end. I suffered a nervous breakdown because of his betrayal and was hospitalized for almost a year. I had to re-learn how to walk and how to use my hands again. Andrew didn't care about my health. He made his lover a partner in the firm and is planning to marry him soon. I couldn't stay still in the hospital. I helped the nurses whenever I could. Your mother-in-law's mother, Melissa, was a patient I chose to look after. She was a haughty grandma. Most of the nurses were afraid of her. I told her stories and played games with her. Melissa became smitten with me before I knew it. I was sad to hear that she passed away. I'm grateful to have known her. She was a strong woman."

"My psychiatrist wanted me to rebuild my life. I couldn't live alone, so I moved in with my friend Zavier. I applied to several companies after I got released from the hospital. My goal was to prove to my psychiatrist that I could handle the stress of the corporate world. I wanted to start another company as soon as possible to show my worth to Andrew. My psychiatrist stopped me from making that blunder. No one knew me here, so I thought that it would be easy to find a job. I was gravely mistaken. I had to wait for months before I got a reply from some of the companies. I decided to do other jobs while waiting. I had stayed home for almost a year before I received an email from the Marquis empire. I was planning to leave the company in a year, but I changed my mind. I want to stay with Alexei and the kids now." I looked in Chance's direction then added, "I had a habit of walking with my head down when I was a child, Chance. There was nothing good in my life, so there was no reason to hold my head up high. People think that I'm oblivious to my surroundings and arrogant, but they are wrong. No one would believe me if I told them that it was out of force of habit."

"I heard someone once say that you would have to be a prince on a white horse to get noticed by Zachariel Joseph. That is utter rubbish, of course. I'm not prejudiced, and I treat everyone equally. I didn't concentrate on Alexei when I joined the company because I knew that I wouldn't be here for long. Alexei caught my attention for the first time at the Christmas party. My heart melted when I realized why he organized such extravagant parties for his employees. Alexei knows that his fortune will last for generations. He is not afraid to spend some of his wealth to make his hardworking employees happy. I started having feelings for Alexei since that day. My feelings turned into love when I met the kids. The kids were happy, and it reflected in everything that they did. Alexei has taught them how to be great human beings. Andrew is dead to me. I don't want anything to do with him. I didn't lie to you before, Chance. I truly changed when I moved to Los Angeles. I started getting healthier and gained some muscles through hard work. I heard that Rick was looking for me, so I erased all the traces of my existence. I didn't want anyone to know that I was in a psychiatric hospital either. So I wiped my hospital records clean. You know everything about me now, Chance. I hope that you won't doubt my sincerity again."