Zheme's heartbeat was palpitating at a speed it never had before and his fingers that gripped the gun were shaking with anxiety.
This was all a surprise to him. He had initially thought that Dan was apart of his father's twisted plan, but now it's seems his father had been the one apart of Dan's.This, all of it was too hard to process, how could it have turned out like this?Dan the mastermind...?His father the victim...?Zheme would've never guessed it, but now since the real truth had forcibly found its way to him, he was sorry.For doubting his father...For condemning him...For hating him...And lastly for trying to kill him.What if he had succeeded?Then he'd be in an even bigger pit of regret, but now instead of regret, he was buried in fear, for the father who had aspired to protect him was laying on the floor, panting unsteadily and bleeding heavily.What if he...w"Well since you asked..." Dan shrugged, nonchalantly. "I'll tell you.""It all started with...•••Flashback•••It all started with him, Jerome Algae. (Dan's original name) He wasn't a normal kid, there was just something abnormal about him, the way he talked, the way he walked and even the way he stared. There was this darkness in everything he did, this...this inexplainable aura. He had no parents and in the orphanage where he lived, the kids were adequately scared of him. He did things they would never; gruesome things, sick things.On his left finger, he'd bite the nails until they bled, but left the ones on his right hand to grow just so he could use them to scratch his arm until the skin abraded.He wouldn't wince, wouldn't groan out in pain, but instead he'd smile like the pain brought him joy. Nobody understood him, nobody tried to, but perhaps if they had, he wouldn't have turned out as cruel as he did.
Amongst the fear that flowed relentlessly within Zheme, there now laid anger.No sadness... No pity...No regret...Only anger, repulsion, disgust for this old man; supposedly known as his grandfather.How could someone's mind be this corrupt?How could someone hold onto a grudge for this long?His mother had left him at the age of seven?Well at least she got a chance to leave willingly, Zheme's was forcibly taken away from him. And his father had hung himself? That was nothing compared to what both Zheme and his father had to endure.The whips, the manipulation...if they were for a good cause then perhaps Zheme wouldn't have felt this bad, but they were for nothing at all, nothing but Dan's stupid conviction.For it was stupid, He just lost his mom and his dad and then thought the world fell upon his shoulder, well Zheme lost his mom and while his father was alive, he fel
Lexie's hand shook even as she sat in the hospital. She had killed someone and though he deserved it, she still felt the need to lament.Her shaky finger had rested against the trigger without hesitation, they had pressed down urgently and without a second thought too, shouldn't she have felt something?Something other than her fear for Zheme's life, something other than her fear for his safety?Perhaps she had felt something, something that she had now forgotten, for how could she have killed a man and feel absolutely nothing while doing it?How could she have done something like that?Perhaps it was because everything that took place approximately a hour ago was something new to her, something she never thought she'd experience.The blood, the bullets, the deaths, it was all a surprise to her. She had known things would get messy between Zheme and his father, but she had never thought the mystery of the story went so deep. Andr
A whole of three weeks had passed since the incident and in that space of time, Zheme and Lexie had flown back to their native country. He had regained his original position as CEO and had even pinpointed and taken out the cameras that resided in his house.Everything felt normal, but nothing was the same.The sadness that had reigned in his heart still lingered, he could feel it, gnawing at his flesh, consuming him little by little. He knew why it stayed, so prominent, so dense, he knew why and yet he could do nothing to alleviate or exterminate it.It seems that sadness was there to remind him of everything he had lost just to gain, everything that left him in a deep pit of pain, he felt like crying, but no tears would come, so instead, he resorted to apologizing for everything he had done.Thus why he stood, shakily, broken-heartedly at the graveside of one of his stepping stools, of someone who it seems he had used to gain his freedom, but had
"Do you think mom heard?"Lexie looked over at Zheme who sat beside her on the couch, head propped up on his palm, shaking along with his feet. "Well..." She swallowed, fingers fiddling together. "I d-don't know."That's right, how the hell should she know?Was she Jesus Christ?Or perhaps the angel who escorted his mother to and from her graveside?Lexie wanted to glare, hit or maybe strangle him, but he wasn't in a good spot, he was obviously sad, so instead, her arm laced around his waist. "Look Zheme, perhaps she heard and perhaps she did not, but either way, I know for sure your mom loves you, she told you she did, didn't she?"Zheme nodded."Then why do you doubt her? Do you think she lied?""No, I just...I just think that I don't deserve her love or forgiveness, I didn't help h—"Lexie sighed, cutting him off. "You were what...? Eighteen? Yes, you were only eighteen... You were a kid, what could
With a nervous shake in his feet, Zheme sat by the hospital bed, Lexie's hand in his and his dark eyes fixated on his father. The room was cold and bright and the ambient was silent, so much so that if a pin dropped, the sound would be blaring to the ears.His father stared back at him too, eyes just as dark as Zheme's but within them was flourishing distress. Zheme could see it, his father was nervous too, deep in worry and perhaps drowning in anxiety.Maybe he thought Zheme was here to mercilessly discriminate him, to judge him with his eyes and punish him with his words, but Zheme was here to do neither.He wanted reconciliation, he craved it, if not back then, he needed it now...Now when he desired a father...Now when he finally thinks he has one.Back then, he might've called Maxwell his father, but he had never thought of him as one. After all, which father would've mercilessly punished their child for defending
"Alright, I'm serious now, who cooked?"Lexie groaned, eyes travelling over to Maxwell. "How many times must I tell you that I did? I chopped the onions, the tomatoes, the sweet peppers, I passed him the macaroni and not only that I passed him the season and the rice too, the only thing he did was put it on the damn fire.""Yes, but Lexi—""Shut up Zheme."Zheme pursed his lips in acquiescence to her harsh words and only then did Lexie turn back to face Maxwell with a sweet smile. "Anymore questions sir?"Maxwell shook his head while moistening his lips. "No, but I do have something to tell you...perhaps it will hurt your feelings, perhaps it will break you, but I have to tell you.""What? Go ahead, tell me."Maxwell sighed in a mocking style, pushing away the now empty plate. "You did not cook the food.""What? Is that...is that all?" Lexie's mouth dropped, eyes lethally narrowing. "You're just like your son, a
Zheme shook his head, fingers fiddling with his tie. "No, I promised not to break anymore of my promises and I had promised not to sleep anywhere near you, so..." He grabbed his jacket and eased up off of the floor. "For tonight, I'll sleep in the room next to this one, you can call me if you need anything."He took a step forward and continued to do so until he made it to the door. With a tentative hand, he twisted the knob, using little to no strength to pull the door open. "Goodnight, Kitten..." He whispered.And then he was gone, out the door and away from Lexie who watched as he left; eyes saddened, lips stretched into a pout. Why did he leave her...alone?Lexie did this all the time, she'd tell him to go away, but before now he never did...so why?Why did he go now?Lexie's heart twisted in agony as a certain heaviness settled on top of it. She felt insignificant again, for if she wasn't, he wouldn't have left he
"Kellen, come here!"The five year old boy looked over at his mother, eyes sharp. "No, I told you, I want this." He pointed to the pack of Oreos on the shelf. "And I'm not leaving this supermarket without it."Lexie shrugged, grasping the handle of her trolley. "Alright then, stay here then. I'd be happy to leave a naughty boy like you behind."Kellen's lips curled into a frown, eyes becoming glossy. "But momm—""My answer's final Kellen, you're not getting it."Lexie shoved the trolley pass her son, leaving him to stare watery at her back. He sighed, rubbing his hands in his jeans as his eyes darted over to his father who stood beside him. "Daddy...?"Zheme looked down at him then at the pack of Oreos. "Mommy said you're not getting it." He informed, watching as his boy groaned out in frustration before speaking again. "But daddy didn't say so did he?"Kellen's frown stretched its way into a grin when his father grabbed
"Push!"With a loud groan, Lexie did as told, tears running like a river down her cheeks.It hurts, the pain was more than just prominent, so immense that it had her weak legs shaking. She didn't know what to do, all she was told was to push whenever she felt a contraction, but that was hard considering the relentless pain each contraction brought along with it.She tried though, she was trying so hard for her baby boy. What if something happens to him?He was premature and that fact only proved to worry her more, for premature babies were sometimes born with a disability. She didn't want that for her child, she wanted him healthy and fit, though if he was born with a disability, she'd love him the same.A sudden cry edged her lips when another contraction was bestowed upon her, each lasted a minute and this time, she'd use the minute well. She pushed; hard, hands clutching the sheets, teeth gritted.She could feel it, the head j
Lexie's eyes fluttered open, bringing her out of a world of darkness and into one of light.She had fallen asleep on the couch last night, eating ice cream and watching 'friends'. But it seems even after complaining that he wouldn't, Zheme had lifted her and brought her here.Such a sweetheart he was, the perfect husband and yet everyday she found something new to taunt him with.Yesterday, she had taken his slippers, knowing well enough that hers were too small to fit him and today, she was going to confiscate his computer or rather hide it.With an evil smile, she threw his arm from around her protruding stomach and shuffled off of the bed. His computer was kept in his office when it wasn't in use and that's exactly where her steps took her.She twisted the door knob, wasting no time to push the big, rectangular board open and as she stepped inside, her eyes sought for it.On his desk, she found it, seated perfectly amongst mul
Lexie padded to the couch and with a heavy sigh, she took a seat beside Zheme. After the marriage, they had started off clean, the past was put behind them and what laid before them now was the present and the future.They had left the house behind too and had moved to a different one, one more modern and one in which they've already started their new life.Lexie was almost eight months pregnant now, her stomach blown as big as a floating balloon and Zheme only made matters worst by constantly calling her a pig. Not because she was fat, but because she ate a lot. Around the clock she'd be stuffing her face and when she wasn't doing that, she was either tormenting Zheme or painting.Now though was one of the times she felt the need to perplex her husband. He had been doing office work since morning and though he still looked after her, Lexie wanted to feel more important than the computer that sat in his lap.So she hauled the thing from him, placi
Lexie wiped at her eyes, crawling closer to him until her head rested against his shoulder. "I just want you. I'm sorry, I won't do it again, just... Just please hold me...please."Sighing again, Zheme leaned away from her. This girl truly knew what to do to drive a nail in a man's heart.She made him feel guilty, but her plead for him made his thick length even harder. He wanted her too, so god damn much. He could feel the desperation, the immensity of his need and it wouldn't hurt to finally feed his desire.Without much thought, a finger of his slithered its way under her chin, steadying her face so that her teary eyes resided on him. "I'll hold you Kitten, just promise not to do that again, you should be patient, don't I always satisfy you in the end?"Lexie nodded. "Yes, always but are you going to do that now? Satisfy me.""Only if you promise to sometimes wait."Lexie held up her pinky, handing it to Zheme. "I promise."
"Entertain...?" Lexie questioned, following Zheme up the unfamiliar wooden stairs. "What do you mean by entertain?" "I mean..." Zheme sighed. "You're going to show me exactly what you do in the mornings while I'm asleep."Lexie fumbled with her fingers, eyes watching as he opened up the door to the bedroom. "I can't...I can't possibly show you that, it'd be mortifying.""Then...I can't forgive you either." He stepped into the room, eyes scanning the creativity that laid inside.The room wasn't big but it had all the essentials: a king sized bed decorated with fine sheets and seemingly soft pillows, a nightstand upholding a stylish lamp and decorative items and a built in dresser with a flat screen TV on top and an arm chair beneath it.It also had double doors that lead to a balcony that issued a marvelous view of the sea and a seemingly comfortable couch in the far corner of the room.Zheme grabbed the armchair from beneath the
"I can't believe you glared at every single thing that moved at the reception."Zheme's grip on the steering wheel tightened, eyes fixated on the fairly dark road. "I told you I didn't want to go, didn't I?""Well yes, but that doesn't give you the right to scare my friends away, you even gave Mark a middle finger!""He should be lucky that that's all he got, I really wanted to punch his damn face in. Who invited him anyway?""I did." Lexie informed."Well in that case, you're the one that deserves this." His left hand loosened the wheels as he issued Lexie a middle finger. "Pocket it nicely.""Pocket it?" Lexie demanded, grabbing at his hand. "How about I do this instead?" From between her lips, her tongue slithered out, slowly circling his finger. "Isn't that much better?"Zheme yanked his hand away from her, wide eyes leaving the road to stare at her. "Did you just...? Why in heaven's name would you lick my finger Lex
"Zheme Mardruk Algae, do you take Lexie Shay Dillon for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"Zheme nodded without a doubt. "I do.""Lexie Shay Dillon, do you take Zheme Mardruk Algae for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"Lexie looked towards Zheme, hands nervously squeezing his. "I...I do.""You have declared your consent to the church." The priest clasped both his hands behind his back, a pleasant yet hardly noticeable smile on his lips. "You may now kiss the bride."Zheme was the first to lean in, plump lips crashing onto Lexie's with a gentle passion.Her lips were as soft and as moist as ever and just like Zheme's they moved with a slow and delicate tendency.At thi
Zheme stood with all the confidence he could muster on top of the podium's spotlessly polished floors. He was still nervous, abashment settling under both his tiring feet.He could hear the music drifting like the wind to his ears, the melodic piano that flawlessly played 'here comes the bride...'He could see the many people in crowd, the chandelier, the flowers, he saw them all, but what or rather who he really wanted to see was Lexie.The only woman in this building that could light up a dark room with nothing but her beauty.She was like a candle amongst the darkness, the sun infiltrating the very sky, she was his light, his forever, HIS BRIDE.After today, he'd cherish her like a gem and like an unhidden treasure; he'd keep her close, just to make sure no one had the audacity to steal her. He'd love her with dignity and never again would he break his promises.Both of them...He'd never lay a finger on her again.