Novels by Jodi Cawley

Thirty-One. 31. I don't know why I have this great urge to just help Krystal. Every single step and day with her makes me want to help and get involved with her even more. She has been through a lot lately and she is pretty stressed. All these betrothal things and fighting against her mom have drained her coupled with the fact that she's pregnant. I just hope there won't be any complications resulting from the stress she has been through. I stared at her sleeping face as she lay on my lap. She's too innocent for all of the happenings in her life right now. She is too gullible even though she tries to act tough. I couldn't help but wonder why her mother or better still a mother would do terrible things to her family all for money and fame's sake. Deriving her daughter of peace and happiness, conniving to kill her husband, and blackmailing people because of authority and power. The little information I have gathered about Anne Wallace shows that she is a b

Thirty. 30.Yolanda. "Look here son, I don't think it is advisable to carry on with this marriage anymore. I don't feel safe with it. I think we should just cancel it. " I said to Chris. He stared at me, questioning my disapproval of the long-planned and anticipated wedding. "After an engagement party has been done? " He asked as if the engagement party went successful. "Yes, I think we should cancel it. I feel there is more harm than good in this marriage and it doesn't feel safe. At least for the first time, we should follow instinct and just call it off. " I cajoled but he shook his head in objection to my opinions about the wedding. "We cannot just call it off Mom. We have waited too long for this. Not now that we are close to achieving plans. Have you forgotten that this marriage is a ticket to acquire all that belongs to Wallace? " "What rubbish are you talking about now Chris? " "Here is the deal, Mom. If I marry Krystal, I will become the head o

Twenty-Nine. 29. "To what do I owe this surprise visit, Yolanda, " I asked with a fake smile. She didn't even bulge nor return the smile, she just stared at me with an unexplainable expression. I got the message from her look that she didn't come for peace. "Have a seat, Mrs Yolanda. What may I offer you? Wine? Juice? " I asked warmly. "Quite the act, Leigh-Anne. I am not here to be your guest, " she said harshly. "Okay, what are you here for then? " I asked in my nicest tone. "I am here to question, Anne. " she raised her voice slightly. "You don't have to shout, Yolanda. What are your questions? " I sat down comfortably, impatiently waiting for her questions. At the mention of 'question, ' I knew what she wanted to ask so I wasn't surprised when she voiced out the first one. "What is going on between you and my husband? " she asked with a frown on her face. "What could be going on between your husband and me? " I replied with a question,

Twenty-Eight. 28.Krystal. Lucas was dumbfounded and stunned after watching the video clips of Mom's escapade. He stared at me occasionally like he didn't believe it. Gradually, a smirk displayed on his lips as though he was beginning to enjoy it. I couldn't fathom his expression. I was confused as to what he found funny in the video. I intended to ask what it was all about but pushed the thought aside and waited patiently for Courtney to come. I had invited her over to Lucas' house to confide in. I now stay with Lucas for now, afraid of Mom's threat to kill me. "Guess what? " he suddenly asked and I stared at him squarely. "What? " I asked and he smirked. "This is perfect. The video is strong evidence to hold against your mom and Dalton. This is a ticket to your freedom, " he said and smiled broadly, patting my shoulders lightly before turning back to the laptop and replaying the video. I stared at him surprisingly and was left wondering how

Twenty-seven. 27. Ever since the last time Krystal visited, I have noticed the unsudden and discomfort in Dalton. He's acting weird and always seems to get lost every single minute. The way he jolted out of reverie anytime he's being talked to, is obscure. He feels insecure at most like he's got something chasing him in his head. I don't understand my husband anymore. "What is wrong with you, Dalton? Are you okay? " I asked daringly. He stared at me with remorse in his eyes, like he was apologizing for something. "I am fine, Yolanda. I just need to be alone, " he replied with a low voice. I wasn't satisfied with his response, so I sat down next to him holding his shoulders. "Dalton, talk to me. What is going on? I am tired of being in the dark. Tell me what is going on with you? " I was pressured. I want to know what is going on. I know for sure that things aren't ok and Dalton is only trying hard to make it look like things are good. But

Twenty-six. 26. Krystal. I waited patiently but uncomfortably in his living room. I had come to see Dalton. The maid ushered me in exactly fifteen minutes ago but I haven't seen Dalton. Just as I contemplated leaving, Dalton came in. The devil's attendant. Mom is the devil herself. I swallowed down nothing. Since I knew Dalton, I have never spoken to him directly or been in an enclosed space with him alone. He looks bigger than I last saw him. Dalton in his huge self landed on the last stair, smiling broadly immediately after he saw me. Is it just my eyes or that Chris looks nothing like his parents? I kept mute and started sheepishly at Dalton until he got in the living room with me. "Good afternoon sir, " I greeted, blinking rapidly. "Krystal? You requested to see me? Or do you want to speak with Chris? " He asked impatiently, not even responding to my greetings. "No. I am not here for Chris. I am here to see you, Mr. Dalton, " I said politely givin

Twenty- seven. 27. He stepped in with the aura of audaciousness surrounding him. The stench of audacity and power seeped in as he entered. His guards entered with him. I stood up slowly from my forever seated position to meet his devilish gaze that pierced through me, through my bone marrow, piercing through to my heart. For the first time, his stares made me uncomfortable. I swallowed nothing. I lowered my haze to the floor. Now I know he is my superior. He made a signal to the guards and before I knew it, they hired me to a chair, binding my hands from behind. I shivered and shrieked, whimpering softly like a child. Massimo came to sit in front of me like we were going to have an interrogation. "We are going to have a little tete-a-tete, without wasting too much time, " he said and I gulped. "Who are you? " he asked. "I'm Laurie. Laurie Norman. You know me, Massimo, " I answered and a stinging slap landed on my right cheek, making the receptiv

Twenty- six. 26.Jorge. I knew relaying the past to Massimo would break him. I know his greatest fear is failing Grandpa. Hm! I will make sure he breaks and fails. Massimo thinks he is wise. He thinks I am foolish to let him lead, he thinks I will let go of the horrible things he has done to me but No. Now is the best time to take back revenge. To take back all that I have ever wanted. I will pay back Massimo for every pain he has caused me. I walked down to the dungeon where Laurie was kept. She looked sullen, tearful, and forsaken. "Ahh! Jorge, it's good that you are here. Jorge, please help me out, " she pleaded immediately when she saw me. I smirked. This is what it feels like to have someone at your mercy. This is what it feels like to be superior. "I am not here to help you, Laurie. I am here to let you know that Massimo has always despised you long before now, " I said. I expected some angry reactions from her but she showed nothing. She only plead

Twenty- five. 25.I boiled in anger, cursing every fucking minute. Laurie's a bitch, I have always known. She went too far, she went past the limit this time. She pushed too far. She snooping on my private issues, and I won't tolerate it. She got what she deserved and I would not take it easy on her. I have given her more than enough time and chances for her to understand who I am but as dumb as she is, she still couldn't catch up. What I did to her earlier is just an intro to what I have prepared for her. When I found out she rummaged through my things, I began to doubt her identity. My greatest fear began to resurface. "What if she's truly Lily?" I pondered. It was because of the striking resemblance between Laurie and Lily that made me go after Laurie. At times, I realized that Laurie was not Lily or so she made me believe. The act she displayed made me wonder if Laurie was a disguise. It could be that Laurie is Lily. What if she's lying? What if her

Twenty- four. 24.I opened my eyes weakly, trying to adjust them to the fluorescent lights. I looked up to see Massimo standing with a pail of water in his hands. "Welcome back, " he greeted, giving a lop-sided grin. "Massimo, " I called but was replied with a slap. "It's master to you whore, " he hit me again and this time, I bled uncontrollably from the nose. "Who do you think you are, Laurie? " he questioned. "Is it because I fucked your oversized pussy, you think you've gotten rights? Or because I made you feel special, you think you're wanted? Listen to me Laurie, you are just a plaything and nothing more. I can kill you no, Laurie, and not bat an eyelash. I stared at him unbelievably as he said those words to me. They hurt, they hit differently. I stared at the man my heart was beginning to beat for, the man I was slowly falling in love with. I watched him call me names. Just when I thought he was beginning to consider me and that I was starting t

Twenty- three. I didn't sleep over in Jorge's room. I returned to mine because I wanted Massimo to find me. I know he will find me. I was up and ready for him, a lot of questions to ask and he also needed to let me go. I racked my brain, trying to comprehend the mystery behind Massimo's nature. Who he truly is. He can be many more dangerous things than just being a mafia. The sparse revelation about him still terrifies me. I was restless apprehensive and alert. I moved to and fro through the four corners of the room. I want him to come. Now, I was concerned and confused. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to come because I needed answers or if I wanted him to come because I wanted to touch him, I wanted to feel him. A gut feeling rose in my stomach. I waited for over an hour but he didn't show up. I brought out Lily's picture, staring at it as tears filled my eyes. I wept. I cried for being used. I felt used and wasted. All my stay and feelings for Massimo were lies and waste.

Twenty- Two. 22."He has always been in love with her right from time. She was the first and only woman he ever had. She was all he ever thought of. Her name is Lily." He narrated and I could tell how deep their love was and somehow I felt jealous. The way he described her made me think she was just and the only perfect girl for him. "I'll tell you about her and why she left." He said. "He loved her with everything that he owned. She betrayed him. She stole some important documents from him to his rivals. She works for them as an undercover spy, she runs away afterward. He was heartbroken and devastated and since then became the heartless man that he is now. Once he saw her but couldn't get to her because she escaped. Those documents were very important and crucial. He vowed to find her because he was pained, he vowed to make her pay, make her suffer for what she caused him. " He paused and stared at me with a raised brow, "Have you asked yourself why he came after you? "Becau