Forty-SixNathanI sat in Mom's dining, sipping hot pipping coffee from dad's mug. He wasn't awake yet since I had come rather early in the morning. Ever since the old man retired, nine in the morning became too damn early for him. My mother danced around her kitchen as if all was well. As if they hadn't dropped a fucking bomb on me on Saturday and expected me to be fine with it. "When will he wake up? I have a company to run, I can't be late on a fucking Monday," I grumbled, dropping the cup on the saucer. Mom was meticulous about shit like that. Saucers and tea cups and charger plates and silly girly stuff like etiquettes. Well, etiquette wasn't going to get us out of the damn pickle we were in. "You know how your father is. He needs to sleep," Mom said, tossing some oil in a pan. I watched as she added bits of fish and vegetables and a delicious aroma spread through the air. My mouth watered at the scent but I ignored it. I wasn't back in my parents' house to eat, I was there
Forty-Seven NathanGiving my parents a look that told them I would be back, I walked out of the living room with my brother. We walked until we reached the cane chairs by the poolside. "You have to stay away," He said, with his back turned to me. I frowned. "Stay away? What's that?" Noah sighed and turned to me, a smile on his face. It was a grin, smirk, or some mutilated form of laughter. It was a smile. And that scared the shit out of me. "No!" I yelled, rushing towards him and clutching his suit. "Whatever the hell you are thinking, don't fucking do it." "I have to," He replied, the bizarre smile stuck on his face. "You, mom, and Dad are in danger. That shit is real. Look I've made arrangements okay?" "No, Noah, I don't fucking understand," I said, feeling every bit like a small fucking child being told to sit out of an argument. "Don't do anything stupid," My brother grabbed my hands and wrenched them away from his shirt. "The less you know. The better. That's exactly how
Forty-EightChloeNights in New York City were either really pretty or just really bad. It simply depended on where you were at the time. If you were in a club or an observatory in the empire state building. I was in the observatory. I had always wanted to come here ever since I stepped foot in New York. It was marveling how huge the damn building was. Thousands of offices littered the 102 floors of the skyscraper. It was so high up that I had to cover Adele's face so she wouldn't get sick and puke her guts. She was terribly afraid of heights. But looking down from the eightieth floor, I could see the many many lights that flooded the city. They looked like tiny stars far away in the darkness. A galaxy of neon lights burning fervently in a distance. "Oh Adele, I wish you could see this," I mumbled to the girl sitting on my arm. "I don't wanna," she whined shaking her head. Her eyes were closed tight and her hands were trembling. "Fiiine," I drawled. "You don't have to. I'll take
Forty-NineChloeWhen we got home, it was way past ten. Adele had fallen asleep in the restaurant. We had only stayed a few more minutes because Addison didn't want to leave until she had dessert. It seemed something must have happened in the Maldives. She had come home quite sour, moaning and crying in her bed like she was sick or something. I hoped that she wasn't. I couldn't lose Addy, she was all I and Adele had as a family. After tucking Adele in bed, I went back to the living room and saw Addison take out fresh beer bottles from the freezer. She'd drunk a whole bottle of chardonnay at the damn restaurant! And now she wanted to chug down beer?! Was she trying to cook her fucking liver?! "Okay, that's it!" I yelled. She froze, staring innocently at me. "What's it?" I stomped towards her, my face schooled into a severe expression. "What is going on?" Addison looked around her as if there could be anyone else I was referring to. For a woman so fucking smart, she could be dumb
FiftyNathanThings were falling apart so fucking fast, it felt like a dream. I was watching my family crumble before my eyes. "Dammit!" I roared, tossing all the articles on my desk to the ground. "Sir!" Marcus yelped, scooting to the ground to pick up the fallen articles. I didn't give a flying fuck. My face was all over the freaking tabloids. The headlines read, 'The cast out son of the Benjamins!" Cast out? I was betrayed. Stabbed in the back by my family and these people dared to make a joke out of it! That was all I was anyway to everyone in South Carolina. A joke! A fucking pathetic joke. Oh, would you look at that? Benjamin's little boy has been tossed off the side. How fucking hilarious- I could imagine those thoughts running through their heads as they read the papers or glanced through their phones. I had tried over the past few days. So damn hard. Dad's mansion was so heavily fortified, you'd think the president lived there. There were guards in every fucking corner.
Fifty-OneChloe"Maybe egging your boss' car wasn't a good idea," I whispered to Addie as we tip-toed away from the results of our hard work. We had snuck into the upper side of town and located her crazy boss' home or weirdo boss like she liked to call him. I couldn't figure out which I found amusing. Was it the way she called her boss a weirdo or the fact that she had slept with the weirdo anyway? My face pulled into a sour frown at the thought. "I'd say it is," she whispered in reply, stopping abruptly. She turned around to look at her boss' car which we had just pelted with eggs and laughed. "Do you know how pissed he would be tomorrow?! His car is going to reek for days!" If I didn't find it funny, I didn't show it. This was supposed to be a vindication trip for Addy. Her boss had lied to her and tricked her into sleeping with him despite having a wife and daughter. Addison was going to feel awful forever especially since she would remember it for most of her life. I understoo
Fifty-TwoChloe"Good morning," I mumbled to the kitchen staff, my head lowered to the ground. I felt so tired and despite my bravado the night before, I had stayed up through half the night worried about Addison and calling her several times. She ignored all of my calls! All of them. How could she be so childish and run off like that... like a freaking child?! It was plain silly! I understood that I may have been harsh. In my defense, I wasn't trying to be. Besides I thought I did my best to sound as quiet and as gentle as possible. What more did she want?! Did she want me to pretend all was fine? Like she hadn't made a grave mistake?! "Whoa," Arthur exclaimed, staring at me in shock.My face flamed up red at the shock on his face. I knew what I looked like. My eyes had dark circles under them and were rimmed red. My hair was tied up in the roughest bun I could manage and I was dressed in black pants and a white shirt. I wasn't looking my best and honestly, I wasn't feeling it ei
Fifty-ThreeNathan "Chloe," I couldn't believe my eyes. Chloe stood in front of my apartment, smiling widely at me. Her soft blue eyes looked the same. A warm deep blue that made me shudder as she watched me approach."Chloe.. are you... Is that you?" I mumbled, taking shaky, unsure steps toward her. God if this was a dream, then it was cruel. A cruel cruel dream. "What do you think? I'm some kind of ghost? Open the door will ya?" She said snarkily and my heart leaped. I dragged her into my arms, burying my face in her shoulder. "Chloe, oh my God...Oh my God," I muttered, holding her tightly against me."I'm back," she whispered, stroking my chest. I stroked her hair softly. Soft blonde waves that I had missed tangling my fingers in. "Never do that to me again! Never leave me again! Do you hear me?" I asked pulling away from her. She simply smiled at me and somehow, we were in our bathroom. I glanced down to find my clothes were gone and when I looked back up, Chloe was getting
220Chloe"Dada!" Adele's screams echoed through the air as Nathan swung her all over the place. I smiled at the sight. Her giggles were contagious. I watched through the window. Watched him spin her around, laughing his head off with her and for a minute I allowed myself to get lost in the moment with them. This was the life I had wanted all along. A happy home, a happy place, a perfect family. My eyes fell on my trembling hands and I retreated, allowing the blinds to fall. Except for the fact that we were the furthest from perfect. It had been three months since the accident. Three months since the truth of... Well everything was exposed. Mahn my life was a fucking rollercoaster. The more I thought about it, the more impressed I was that I had survived it at all. And it seemed it all started from that crazy one night stand. The world, my world, cracked and shook around its edges right from the day that I had met Nathan. If he hadn't gotten me pregnant, I most likely wouldn't hav
CHAPTER 219 NATHAN’S POV I headed to the doctor's office to collect discharge papers and a few other documents. Chloe was finally certified to be discharged and I couldn't be as happy as I was now. I was finally getting what I wanted. Signing something on the discharged paper, we started preparing for her departure. When I meant we, I meant Addison and Cameron and it was a very chaotic event. “Stop hissing, it's irritating!” I heard Cameron’s disgusted voice yelling at Addison. “Don’t you dare speak to me,” Addison warned. Feeling very embarrassed, I could see the several burning eyes on the scene happening. They had started with their annoying banter. Couldn't they just get along? I understood that Addison was annoying but Cameron had to behave like a man and stop whining like a child. I was getting angry with their actions and was only trying to cover it up with a smile. Women just loved arguing and that was it for Addison. She wouldn't miss a chance to argue with yo
CHAPTER 218 NATHAN’S POV I got to the hospital parking lot with a smile on my face. Walking into the hospital, I was very excited. Nothing was stopping me from getting her now, both Eduardo and Tristan were rotting in jail and that was all I could ask for. Pushing the don't open, I mentally groaned to see who was there with her. I was about to barge in when something stopped me. Chloe was sitting up while facing Addison and Adele with the widest smile I had ever seen. She was speaking gently and was even laughing. It felt like ages since I have seen that bright smile on her face, Chloe was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She was always smiling and helping everyone regardless of her problems. She had a heart of gold and was always reaching out to others, losing her would be the biggest mistake I would make if I allowed it. I had already lost my loved ones once, I wasn’t going to allow this one again. Not again, she was mine alone! Seeing this just made m
CHAPTER 217 NATHAN’S POV I walked casually with Cameron beside me as we met with Officer Alex. “Good morning,” we exchanged pleasantries as he welcomed us into his office. We couldn't interrogate Eduardo a day before because he had been taken to hospital because of some minor injuries. “Are you ready?” Alex asked as we walked to meet Eduardo. “Never been this ready, I had been ready for this my whole life,” I added as I put on a forced smile. Wishing that Chloe was here to witness this, my mind drifted to her. I was going to make sure I call the nurse after this. I was also worried about her safety and had stationed two private guards for her. As far as Eduardo is concerned, he could strike anyone. I was very wary of that man and didn’t want any accident to repeat itself twice. I was never going to allow Eduardo to get to my family again, especially when I was still alive! Even if it means killing him, I would gladly do so without hesitating. He had done more than enoug
NATHAN’S POV I walked casually with Cameron beside me as we met with Officer Alex. “Good morning,” we exchanged pleasantries as he welcomed us into his office. We couldn't interrogate Eduardo a day before because he had been taken to hospital because of some minor injuries. “Are you ready?” Alex asked as we walked to meet Eduardo. “Never been this ready, I had been ready for this my whole life,” I added as I put on a forced smile. Wishing that Chloe was here to witness this, my mind drifted to her. I was going to make sure I call the nurse after this. I was also worried about her safety and had stationed two private guards for her. As far as Eduardo is concerned, he could strike anyone. I was very wary of that man and didn’t want any accident to repeat itself twice. I was never going to allow Eduardo to get to my family again, especially when I was still alive! Even if it means killing him, I would gladly do so without hesitating. He had done more than enough already! “Go
NATHAN’S POV I walked into the police station with Cameron as he discussed something with them. “You are back again?” I heard a policeman ask. “Yes, I want to reopen the case of Noah Nathan and his family,” I said as the cop went through the file. “A murder case,” I added again as they searched for it before finding it. Going through it, he nods his head. “I assume you have several pieces of evidence now?” He asked as I nodded my head. He invited me into his office and I started discussing everything with him. “That’s fine, let me arrange for an arrest,” he said before calling a junior officer. Everything was finally falling in place, I was going to get my revenge and also get my girl back. Eduardo shouldn't have played those silly games and thought I wouldn't get him. Though it was difficult, he shouldn't have messed with me. I was going to teach both him and Tristan a very good lesson. “Arrange for an arrest, Mr. Tristan, owner of….” I heard the cop saying b
NATHAN’S POV “Focus man!” I heard Cameron’s frustrated voice as I failed to carry the heavy weight for the fifth time. “I am not in the mood for this shit!” I said angrily before walking away. Not knowing why I was angry, I tried calming down my nerves. Cam was just trying to help, I shouldn't have snapped at him in that way. Everything was only because of her, it's been days since I last visited Chloe. Calling the nurse to ask if she was doing fine. I understood if Chloe wanted space and that was what I was giving her but it wasn't easy for me. My heart yearns for her presence. I was slowly going crazy with everything that has been happening lately. Every thought was connected to her, now that I knew she was innocent of everything I feel so stupid for even doubting her. She was the mother of my child and the least I could do was trust her but I had failed woefully. I had one job to do, to trust and love her but I had failed. Remembering how I had spoken to her that night
NATHAN’S POV I groaned as I went to the kitchen to search for something to eat. My mind wandered off to Chloe. “I am sure she will be fine,” I said to myself as I grabbed some cookies and a glass of juice. Walking to my office, I settled down and started some serious work. I was planning an event for models, actors and everyone in the entertainment sector so it had to be perfect. I started my work and didn’t know that time had passed, I was so buried in my work that I hadn’t noticed. Time flies as they always say, you wouldn’t believe it till you start experiencing it yourself. I went down the memory lane of how everything started. My meeting with Chloe, our relationship, everything was just so fast and now we were here. Judging by Chloe’s action I don’t think she can forgive me. I have been trying to deny that for a long time but it is getting obvious daily. She doesn’t say much and would rather ignore me. Sighing heavily, I rubbed my temples anxiously. Her being with
NATHAN’S POV “I don’t still support you buying her these flowers,” Cameron argued as we walked into the hospital. “Ohh please, Chloe is my wife and I know what she wants,” I announced angrily. “Technically, she isn't, you are only trying to win her over,” Cameron said with sarcasm. I wanted to strangle him, when you are friends with someone like Cam he does everything to annoy you. Facing him, I gave him a hard glare before storming out of his sight. “Wait, I am sorry,” I heard him say but rather chose to ignore. “I need to use the restroom,” he said but I still ignored him. “Dickhead!” I cursed before entering the hospital room. Looking bewildered, I couldn’t believe the person I was also seeing. Someone who despised me with her whole heart. “Hey Addison,” I greeted with a crooked smile as she scowled at me. Addison was always with a scowl, I wondered how Chloe was friends with her. Chloe was always happy while Addison was always the opposite. So uptight and annoying! Breathi