Author's POV
Elaine was never this nervous in her life as she paced in the living room. She was waiting for her husband, Cannon to reach home.It had been three months for their marriage. Though Elaine was forced to take the place of her cousin sister for she ran away from the wedding, she did nothing but being a devoted wife to Cannon.Cannon did not reciprocate her efforts anyway and only kept using her as a pawn to get his revenge from the people who betrayed him.Elaine also let him use her. She thought Cannon would see her sincerity at some point, only he didn’t.Elaine was tired now and things were worsening with every passing day now. So, she thought of getting it straight today but a bad feeling had already settled in her guts making her nervous.The doctor said she was pregnant and she had to confess it to her husband.Later at night when finally Cannon arrived, he looked pissed off. Seeing Elaine on his way did nothing but piss Cannon off even more."I am in no mood to talk to you now. So, get out of my face." Cannon said coldly. He had enough of a shitty day today.Without bothering his cold words thrown at her way, Elaine tried to muster up all her courage as she uttered to herself. It is now or never."I am pregnant." Elaine said in a breath, wishing even as she said the words that she could call them back when she saw a muscle in his jaw clenched."And what has this to do with me? Am I meant to offer you congratulations?" Cannon uttered in a cold voice as he thought after all she was ought to leave at some point but like this!"No, I do not need your congratulations. I just wanted to let you know that.." Elaine paused for a moment considering again whether she was doing the right thing.She could literally read Cannon's thoughts about her and she knew he was never going to believe her whatever she said but still she would not hold back this time, "You are the father."Cannon paused for a moment. His green emerald eyes hardened, "You and I both know that this cannot be possible."He went on as his eyes remained dark, "You may not keep a record of your lovers Ms. Marshall but I don't forget mine. And there is no one on the list for me."A bitter laugh crept on her lips as well as a tear slipped out of her right eye that Elaine did not even bother to wipe off as she stared at Cannon.When he left after giving her a disgusted look, Elaine stood there staring at his retreating figure with teary eyes until he vanished behind the door of his room and then turned to the entrance of the apartment.Standing still for a while and then wiping the tear off her eyes, she walked to her room. The room where she had been living for almost three months now but still, it looked quite unfamiliar to her today.Sleepless nights were nothing new for Elaine but it seemed to be the longest night of her entire twenty-three years of life. Even after trying whatever she could think of to get some sleep, she failed. It was like sleep had also chosen to stay far away from her eyes.Thinking of uncertainties and confused about what to do, Elaine imagined every possible scenario that would happen as per her action now.By the end of the night and after a good amount of thought, she decided what to do with the three matters that were demanding settlement no matter what.About one thing she was still confused though..Cannon.In their three months of relationship all he was in her mind, all his grief and pain she thought of shielding, funny enough, he thought of the same.To get everything, to take revenge using her was all he did. Still, she could not blame him as it was her. She let him use her. She got used with a passion, so she should not blame him. She thought. Their paths were meant to be separated after all it was an ill-fated encounter.Still, she could not hate him. She was just hurt that even after trying so hard, she could not get him to believe her.She felt like she was used and betrayed and after the words, he threw at her about her character, she ended up losing every emotion she had in her for him.Though she did not hate him, she did not feel the need to try to associate herself or say anything to him anymore.She had told herself once that Cannon would be the only one, she would ever love.But he made her realize that she never really was his nor she would be.Their story had come down to a page and now she had chosen to leave that BLANK.He would not be the face anymore that she would search for in crowds. He wouldn't be the goal, she would strive to conquer amidst ashes anymore.As she was thinking all this, her hand effortlessly got settled on her flat tummy..~~Elaine did not get to know when the dawn had already broken like this. When the bright rays of sun flickered through the curtains, she turned in that direction.Still sitting like that for a while, she got up and walked to the washroom taking her clothes. Taking a long shower, she dried herself and got ready. It was time to take care of things.Let's start with the first one. She thought as she got downstairs.When Bella saw Elaine, she asked her to take her breakfast but she politely refused saying she was not hungry.Having all these pressurizing things in mind, having breakfast all casually was the last thing she wanted to do now.Seeing her coming out of the building, her driver got rushing to the car as he uttered, "Ma'am, just one minute. I am bringing the car here."Elaine got uttering, "Jack?"The driver stopped in his track and turned to Elaine. It was not rare that Elaine called him by his name but something was there in her voice that compelled him to stop."No need. I will manage." Elaine spoke up.Jack stood there as he stared at Elaine. She did not look like the girl who had always talked to him smilingly. Today, she looked pale and cold.Before he could come up with a reaction, Elaine was already on her way. She walked out of the building. Seeing a taxi coming, she stopped it.She got in and gave the address of her destination.Marshall Mansion..When she reached there, it was late in the morning and the first person who greeted her there was Evana. She was shocked and as well as enraged seeing Elaine there."How dare you come here after ruining my life? How dare you.." Evana came yelling at Elaine but she did not get the chance to complete her outburst as Elaine uttered coldly, "Shut up."Though Evana was startled, she did not want to get intimidated by Elaine."Mind your tongue. It is my place where you are standing right now. If we did not give you shelter, you would have.."Elaine again interrupted her saying, "I also thought so."Hearing her, Evana narrowed her brows, "What do you mean?"But Elaine seemed to be in no mood to keep talking to her, "I am not here to entertain you. Where is your father? Call him, I want to talk to him."Elaine had always feared to face James Marshall, Evana's father as he was always nothing but rude and ruthless to Elaine.Evana was not getting what was happening there and right then Stella, Evana’s mother got there. Seeing Elaine, she approached her, "You, shameless girl, after doing this to your sister how dare you to come here!"Elaine was enraged now. She was not intending to create a scene here or shout at them but when they themselves were asking for it what she could do.Living her all life here, bearing their accusations and ill-treatment encouraged her to do that also.As Stella was about to slap her, Elaine held her hand, "Don’t you even dare approach me or I will not hold back." and jerked her hand away harshly.Stella stumbled once. Evana got right beside her to hold as both of them stared at Elaine eyes widened.Elaine faced Evana straight, "I said I want to talk to your father. Call him."Evana replied to her coldly, "My father does not run a filthy shop that he would have time to roam around. He is in his office and he has an important meeting to attend now.""Call him and relay the message to him that Elaine is here to talk about the company." Elaine said and took a glance at Stella.Though Evana was still clueless, Stella got the hint about what was going on and what gave Elaine so confidence to stand her ground in front of them.And as Elaine was one month older than Evana, she already had been of twenty three years old and that meant Elaine was the owner of all of her wealth and she obviously got to know it.As the thought crossed Stella's mind, she got worried.Evana was about to say something again but Stella stopped her, "Go, call your father.""What? Mom, you.." Evana tried to protest but Stella cast her a glaring look as well as her words, "I said, go."Giving Elaine a disgusted look, Evana made her way to the intercom. Stella turned to Elaine to say something but found her walking towards the living room and then sitting on the couch comfortably.Too much for Evana’s utter surprise, James not just agreed to come but really made his appearance there in half an hour. Evana got staring at her parents' faces by turns.It was for the first time, she was finding them not enraged but this much bewildered and worried that even in front of Elaine.The situation should have been the opposite if not worse. Evana thought.Unable to take it anymore, she was about to say something but James beat her to it who seemed to be more desperate to put an end to this frightening moment.If Elaine wished, there was a high possibility he would end up with nothing. And Elaine did not look like she was there to settle with other things.This thought was enough to compel him to utter, "Look, Elaine, you cannot do this to us.""What did I even do?" Elaine shot back in a sarcastic tone........As Elaine faced James straight and got questioning about the ownership of the company and the mansion, Evana stood there taken aback. She had no idea the company and as well as their Mansion belonged to Elaine’s father, not hers. Not that she felt sorry though remembering their ill-treatment for Elaine."Do you think you will be able to handle the business thing? You will mess it up and the company, your father built with his hard work will kiss the destruction in a very short time." James spoke up whatever his mind supported him with.Elaine knew it would be pointed out against her and it was true. She had no confidence in her to handle the business nor she wished to ruin it. She would have given it a try but now the situation was not in her favour.Besides she did not have anyone with her who would help her with the company work. Cannon could have been of great help but with the situation between them, there was no way he would help her nor she was going to ask for help from him.S
It was late in the afternoon. After getting done with a meeting out of the town, Cannon and Sam were just back to Henderson's Corp. Asking Sam to check on something, Cannon walked to his cabin. Sam was going to do as he was told when his phone rang.Sam took out the phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was Hina. As much as he was happy, the feelings of Hina were just the opposite if it was not worse. She would not call him if she was not so worried for Elaine.Elaine did not go to the boutique today, did not even inform her about it, what she always did whenever she missed. Hina tried her phone but it was switched off. For the past few days, Elaine was quite tense. She had noticed that and tried to talk to her but Elaine shrugged it using some excuses. Thinking she would tell her sooner or later like Elaine always did, Hina did not mind it.Though she did not tell her, Hina could feel it was something about Cannon or her so-called family. Elaine wasn't looking well either but she tr
It was early in the afternoon when Aiden got back to his place. Since getting back from the meeting room, he was fuming as he remembered his project getting rejected to be signed just because of Cannon.He knew it was just the beginning and being a member of the Elite Panel, he couldn’t go against Cannon's decision. Now a days he was earnestly wishing a panel like that shouldn’t have existed. If he could, he would have gotten out of the panel but that was out of the question now.Seeing the stock of his favorite wine, filled, he sat on the chair with a thud after taking few bottles of wine and a glass and putting them on the table. He went on filling the glass and gulping down that in a go. The more he was thinking about it, the more he was enraged.Laya, his wife saw him once while talking on the phone but thought of leaving him alone for a while. She knew the reason for his foul mood. But what she could do? She was expecting Aiden to go on with another plan like always but found him
"Where is Elaine, Cannon?" Mary thought of asking him first. Bella had told her already that Elaine had left with her bags packed but she still thought Cannon might have known she had gone where to.Even if Cannon didn't go, she would go to her to ask forgiveness. Not just because of her guilt towards her but on behalf of Cannon also. She didn't know Aiden was plotting all this and Cannon was using her."Why are you asking me!" Cannon scoffed. His patience was getting thin already. "You must have known where she is. After all, she is a part of you all."Mary closed her eyes trying to get control over her restlessness, "Cannon, I am asking you where Elaine is?"Cannon stood there staring at her. Getting no response from him, Mary opened her eyes, "You didn't do anything to her, right?"Cannon knitted his brows in confusion hearing Mary but didn't utter anything as he thought in mind what that was supposed to mean."Elaine didn't do anything deliberately, Cannon. She never wanted to mar
Getting back to his place Cannon found Mary waiting for him in the living room. He frowned as he didn’t expect her to wait for him this long but without bothering to listen to her, he spoke up, "Why are you still here? Just leave."Mary was thinking that Cannon was going to get Elaine back from wherever she had gone but when she found Cannon walking in alone, her face fell. She thought of following Cannon as he ascended the stairs without bothering to talk to her and she did.Totally forgetting Bella's words that Elaine had left, Cannon made his way to Elaine's room. But when the room looked empty, it hit him. Bella's words echoed in his mind.He took out his phone and called Elaine but it was switched off. After trying several times, Cannon thought of calling Hina thinking Elaine must have gone to her.Hina's number wasn't there saved in his phone book. Giving it a thought, he called Sam but it was answered by Sarah, Sam's sister on its second ring.Sam was taking a shower then and S
After Four YearsCannon was driving the car, with Sam beside who was briefing him about the project for which they were going to attend a meeting.Out of nowhere, a woman came in front of their car. Cannon stopped the car with a jerk and the car got stopped just a few inches before. Both of them rushed out of the car immediately and uttered in unison, "You okay?"The woman stood up holding a little puppy in hand uttering, "Yeah, I am." but when they came face to face, all of them were bewildered. Uttered silence occupied the place.Sam spoke up first breaking the silence, "Elaine? You?"Before Elaine could say something, a little boy got there running, "Mom, you okay?"Elaine stared at Cannon’s face who was looking at the boy with widened eyes. The boy also turned to him. Pulling out a serious expression, he scolded him in his baby voice, "Be careful."Cannon stood there dumbfounded, his eyes never leaving the three-year-old boy.But without bothering him, Elaine got down and assured
Cannon kept there sitting on the roadside bench all alone as his entire thirty years of life flashed by in front of his eyes.He was a talkative child, good to make friends and get himself him into trouble as well but then he had to realise the bitter truth of his life.His parents were never there for him. Cannon always heard in his childhood whenever he asked his nanny about his mom and dad that they were busy.The feeling being a child, he went through hearing that his parents were so busy that they didn’t even have a little bit of time for him was way worse beyond imagination for him.He was sent to boarding school forcefully and only got to visit his family once in a year but that time he got to realise, they were better off without him.He stopped visiting them despite his wish. Though he wished, they would visit him if he didn't come home or ask him to visit them at least but nothing of this happened. It made him feel unwanted, unworthy, worse and what not.He was gotten to be
Cassandra was just done preparing some cake and cookies as per his preference. She tasted a cookie to check and got pleased with the taste.Not sweet at all but yummy. Sometimes, she wondered how come a little child hated sweets with such a passion!When chocolates, ice-creams, candies, different types of sweet cookies are the things children seemed to love generally,Ryan was a bright exception in this case.Well, he just liked ice cream among all of these but for other sweet things, he had a big fat No.Smilingly Cassandra shook her head at her thought and was placing the cookies in a box when the doorbell rang. She knew it was them only and walked to answer it.She opened the door to reveal Elaine standing there with Ryan holding her finger and Tom, their pet was standing in the row."Cassie!" Ryan squealed in joy and when he saw his nanny bending and opening her arms for him, he literally jumped to her."How's your outing, honey?""Good." Ryan answered smilingly and Cassandra nodd