Chapter 56: Chapter 56

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

<Azaria>

"Ma'am, are you sure these bags and makeup are just for me?" One of the house helpers asked me.

I had my room cleaned up, and I gave away items I no longer used to them. Some I planned to give to Camille.

I had so many unused things.

"Remove the things that you haven't used for one year or six months. There's a big chance you won't use them in the following years," my husband advised when I was frustrated looking at my things.

Lanvin changed me, and it scares me because my feelings for him are getting deeper.

I'm becoming more of a minimalist like him.

Lanvin doesn’t want too many things in the house. He's reading a book, that's why.

"Less is more. Use only what's necessary. More is less because you won't use everything you have. There's clarity and peace in having what's necessary. More space. More peace of mind. More freedom. More time," he said during an argument about decluttering my things.

I was stressed about having too many possessions, and he noticed, stopping his work. We had arguments because I was attached to my things.

"Take what you want from my stuff, folks. I'll just throw the rest," I told them.

I sold my branded items.

I had so many clothes, bags, and makeup that I never used.

“Invest in traveling rather than purchasing things. Traveling gives you memories that you keep. Having a lot of things stresses you out. Invest in traveling,” he once said.

When he gives advice, he's calm and serious.

I'm practicing minimalism like him.

I have two iPhones, and it stresses me out because I don't know which one to use. I noticed that the more I have, the more stressed I feel.

“Buy things that can multitask. Having one thing is more than enough,” he added.

I don't want to throw away my things because I think I might use them in the future, but my husband is more right than my thoughts. I won't be able to use them anytime soon, so I'll just give them away to someone who can use them more. One person's trash is another person's treasure.

Our maids are happy about the things I gave them. Nick treated his maids nicely, but sometimes he has a bad temper.

My husband has taught me a lot. I'm learning that being a woman doesn't mean I'm always right. Let's admit it, girls, we're not always right. It's hard to win against a mature husband.

I'm growing with my husband.

One thing I like about him is he doesn't rush me. He lets me realize things, and he's there to guide me through my journey.

I stand up, having a husband with billions of money. I could use Nick to scam people again. With Nick’s money and power, I can do whatever I want. My husband is always there to support my wrongdoings.

I sold my branded things. I started to invest in real estate, purchasing condo units and houses, and creating a crypto scam. Making money through scams is easy, but gambling is even easier. Gambling can make people addicted because of the system.

If I hadn't changed my ways, I would create a crypto scam. If I decide to change, I’ll create online gambling. I'll make it legal to avoid problems. Azaria is brainy, not brainless.

I have a talent for scamming, so it would be a waste not to use it, right?

Marketing tells me that the more I buy, the more society validates me. But I don't care about validation anymore. I'm focusing on building my billions. I’m standing up again.

My husband is more than a thousand times right. I should invest in travelling and purchasing things wisely rather than wasting my money. I'll start travelling again anytime soon.

I still have to repay my dad for the money he borrowed from me.

I sold many of my things, got money, reduced my stress, and gained more space in my walking closet. I feel relieved.

“Wife.”

I looked at Lanvin when he called me. He seems sleepy.

He approached me and circled his arms around my chest.

I noticed the maids became silent when Lanvin arrived. They're afraid of my husband because he often shouts at them when he's in a bad mood, but when he's in a good mood, he buys them a lot of food.

“What are you doing, hmm?” he sleepily asked me.

Before I could answer, I turned to face the household staff.

“You can have whatever’s there. Do what you want,” I told the maids, then turned to my husband who was being affectionate.

“I’m throwing most of my things. You're right, I should reduce what I have and stop buying things that I don’t need but make me happy.”

He smiled at me and kissed my lips.

“Hubby, can I visit my daddy?” I asked him sweetly, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He pulled away from me and led me to the living room.

“Why the sudden change? I thought you hated your parents, baby?” he asked with a furrowed brow.

“They're still my parents. And I know my dad couldn’t stand me. Only my mom is the demon,” I said, smiling at my husband.

“And you're the evil one,” he teased, pinching my small nose. It's not pointed but not flat either.

“Hubby, can I visit? Please?” I asked, tugging at his shirt.

He kissed me quickly on my lips.

“Of course! I'll come with you. I'll cancel my meeting. Is it now?” He asked while giving me kisses.

“Can I go alone? I want to bond with my dad and inform him that we're pregnant,” I said.

He took a while before speaking, seeming to think it over.

“I'll wait for you,” he insisted. He didn't want to be far from there.

“I'll wait in the living room at his house. Patiently,” he added to his last words. He seemed really concerned.

“It's my dad's house, and no one is going to hurt me there. It's safe,” I reassured him.

He looked incredibly worried.

Nick rarely goes to his company. He works from home to watch over and take care of me.

“Promise me you'll take care. I'll bring you and pick you up,” he said.

I smiled and nodded at him. Feeling a bit playful, I hugged him tightly and quickly kissed him on the lips.

“I want more kisses,” he demanded, pouting.

“Eww!” I teased.

~

I visited my dad.

Nick dropped me off at my father's house.

We don't fight much anymore because I'm not being difficult. Nick says I'm the cause of our fights, but he's actually the reason behind our arguments.

This baby is a blessing in our marriage.

“How about I stay with you?” Nick asked again.

“Why don't you want me to stay with you?” He added, frowning.

“I know you'd cling to me, and I want to have some alone time with my father. It's been a long time,” I explained again.

“I'll behave. I'll stay in the living room and wait for you until you're ready to go home,” He said persistently, his expression unchanged.

I sighed.

“Take care, hubby, okay?” I kissed his cheeks.

We're here, parked in front of the house.

“I'll call you when I'm heading home,” I added and opened the car door.

Nick looked annoyed and unhappy that I didn’t want him to stay with me. There's nothing I can do about this man.

*

<Third Person>

"Sir, this is all the information I've gathered," said a man in a black suit.

He was facing a man seated in a swivel chair, adorned with a black ring on his finger. The man wore a white shirt and a black blazer paired with black trousers. His hair was bouncy and covered his eyes.

The employee laid out photos and other information on his boss's desk.

"Sir McLaren and his wife were once in a relationship. I remember they were always together, until one day, he started avoiding her. Perhaps Sir left his wife? He used to be quite the 'playboy' back then. I never thought he'd take Ma'am seriously and marry her," he elaborated.

"Here's a copy of the CCTV footage from Sir Nick's company parking. It seems they were having an argument there," he said, showing a clip to the man.

The man took it and inserted it into his device to watch the video.

"You probably shouldn't worry, Sir Keith, since they've been a couple for a long time," he continued.

"But the strange thing is, Don, whom Azaria mourned, wasn't her relative, nor was Lucy her sister. Her known parents aren't her real parents. Here are Azaria's true parents," Nick's driver explained, showing pictures of Azaria's actual parents.

"And here's more. Heidi is Azaria's sibling. Her father sponsored Heidi's education; I found out she's a psychiatrist," he added, presenting a picture of Heidi with Azaria.

“I know Ma’am Azaria. I remember when she and Sir Nick were in a relationship before, but something seems off with her information,” Keith said while examining the photos.

“I also found out, Sir, that Azaria comes from a broken family. Her parents' relationship is chaotic. There are times when they reconcile and then separate again. Like a flickering light, hehe,” Nick's driver joked.

“Look into the reasons behind all this. Investigate Azaria's relationships with her false family, explore the real circumstances of Don's death, and most importantly, uncover Azaria's hidden agenda. I don’t trust this woman. She’s concealing more than meets the eye. Dig deeper into Heidi's background.”

“Yes, sir!”

“You may leave now,” Keith ordered.

Keith stood up, holding the pictures, and pinned them on the wall.

“Are you part of our family? Are you his father's mistress?” Keith asked, staring at Azaria’s picture.

The moment he saw her, he had a bad feeling. Nick's behaviour was also peculiar.

“Whatever you’re hiding, I’ll make sure to uncover it soon.”