"Look!" the butler pointed, "I can even show you the prints of his shoes."Noah's face immediately changed. He raised his brows and looked at his mother in a split second. Their plan was gradually going sour. This revelation could expose them."Let's be careful," Lily tried to block the way as grandfather made to enter into the garden. "The garden may be harboring some wild insects, snakes and dangerous reptiles. We don't want to have an hospital case here do we?"Something didn't sit right with the way Lily was behaving. Bianca could now see through the lines. Lily was trying to hide something. She knew how cranky Lily could get when she had done something mischievous. Somehow, Bianca suspected, Lily had had a hand in this."Lily, don't you stand in my way!" grandfather reprimanded. He wasn't in for her shenanigans this time. He made to push her through if she had not shifted aside. He went into the garden with the others following behind. The butler stuck close."There!" the butler
As soon as Ariana, got to her room, her phone rang and she was grateful it was Calhoun. She had missed him so much. She wished he was there with her, so she could embrace him and whisper to him all that had happened in just one day and how she had somehow been saved."Babe, what's going on?" Calhoun asked.Ariana thought of telling him what had happened but the urgency in his voice, made her realize that if she dared say anything, he would fly out of where he was and come back to that house to get her in an instant. "Not much. Just been trying to get along with your family," She said instead which wasn't a lie. She had been trying. It was just difficult."I hope they're not giving you trouble?" He inquired. She could hear the worry and uneasiness in his voice and she wished she could hold him in that moment. But she couldn't."Not the one beyond what I can't endure," she said wisely.They both laughed. It was an unprepared laughter that just came out of their lips for different reas
Ariana barely slept through the night. For the sake of Zion who had called back after Ariana had tried calling unsuccessfully. Ariana woke up very optimistic. Zion had told her that the challenges she was facing would more or less add value to the bond Ariana had with Calhoun, and eventually, the Lawsons will begin to see this. Now all Ariana had to do was believe that this is possible. But for Ariana, believing seemed to be even more difficult. How could she believe that it'll all end in a fairytale style when Lily was bent at being maleficent. But she had to try. She can't think of the worse, but hope for the best. For her and Calhoun. Ariana got out of bed with energy and confidence and headed straight for the kitchen. Today, they're going to be making breakfast for the whole family. This time, it'll be better than the last. "Oh dear Aria," Bianca hugged her as she entered the kitchen, "you did have a restful night did you?" "Yes aunt," Ariana feigned a smile. "Then cheer up.
"so, how is work?" Aria asked as they ascended the stairs. Lily rolled her eyes. She felt insulted by this question. Why would Ariana, ask her about work when the little snake probably knew that she had no job? "Work is just fine," she replied with a tight smile. Ariana noticed how aunt's Lily's voice changed all of a sudden. She thought the woman probably had personality disorder. She was happy one moment and the next moment she got angry once again. Ariana soon learnt her lesson and decided to stay quiet. Who asked a person with a thousand behaviour? They soon stepped unto the corridor and Ariana kept going behind Lily as she walked them to her room. They got to the door and Lily simply pushed it open and stepped in. Her room wasn't anything that was worth commenting on. Except for the bed, which was scattered due to the business Lily and her husband spent the whole night doing, the room was arranged. One thing Ariana found fishy in the entire space was that it was too arranged
The whole family stood staring at Ariana like she was the last witch from East end. They were all waiting for an explanation she didn't know how to give. But Ariana wasn't a weak woman. She knew exactly what game Lily was playing at and she wouldn't let her continue framing her up like this.Ariana went down on her knees like in a slow motion and joined her hands together in a plea style. "I am truly sorry. This would never happen again," she said with the mildest voice ever. She had long realized that defending herself wasn't going to work when Lily and her boys were bent on making her life miserable. She had to fight their fire with water."Oh my God, Ariana! What are you doing?" Aunt Bianca cried out. "Please get up! This is not a murder case is it?" Aunt Bianca asked more to the people gathering around than to Aria herself."Oh please is it until she actually murders someone that you all will throw her out of here?" Matt said with disdain dancing in his eyes as he glared at Arian
Aunt Bianca gave Elsie the update of everything that had happened. Ariana just stayed in the shadows, laughing at the funny comments Elsie was making. It was obvious she and Lily, also didn't get along as much."You have to treat that cold blooded snake the same way I do," Elsie said to Ariana. "You need to put her in her place she cant keep pulling you around like some little child. Besides, why does she want to ruin your marriage plans with Calhoun?" Elsie cried out."I don't know," Ariana managed to chip in."I think she only wants to destroy it because she is a very sad woman," aunt Bianca said.Elsie giggled at the answer before tapping Ariana's shoulders. "You have the snake after you. You need to be strong less she bites your head off," she said as she waltzed out of the kitchen.Aunt Bianca had a long smile on her face, even long after Elsie left. She and Ariana continued with the cooking in a very comfortable silence. But even as they were silent."Mom?" They both turned ar
Grandfather was also worried about Lily. This was unlike her. She remained cold through out the meal. She barely ate more than two spoons as she stared at her plate of food."Honey, you look pale," Benson pointed out as he also noticed Lily had become a scarecrow ever since they started their breakfast. She went stiffer when Ariana walked into the hall. But Benson could not find a balance point or anything that could relate between Ariana and his wife."One will think the snake has seen a ghost," Elsie mumbled under her breath and Rosa snickered."Elsie Lawson!" Grandfather roared.Elsie raised her head from her plate and stared at her father. "What?""Do not teach dear little Rosa any of your bad ways!" He hissed and Elsie rolled her eyes. Her father was no fun. The last thing he would say now was to bring up something that would make Elsie really angry, so she focused on her food instead."Lily, if you are not feeling well, I suggest you go to your room and rest. You really do look
"Aria, what a life you are living here... damn!" Lisa exclaimed as she looked around Ariana's room. "I feel like I am in a hotel room!" Lisa expressed.The interior of Calhoun's room which was the room, Aria had chosen to stay in despite aunt Bianca's pleading that she could move to the guest room that was more accommodating for a female but she loved it. She would rather stay with the scents of Calhoun around her than in a strange room where she didn't know anybody. She would feel like a stranger "Stop making so much fuss Lisa. It is nothing important," Ariana replied as she folded her clothes into the cupboards."No, way! Look at this state of the art wardrobe!" Lisa shrieked again for the millionth time. "I can basically imagine living in this space back in my home town," Lisa said with a giggle.Ariana giggled too but continued with her work. The room was truly special but Ariana was never one to look at the material things. The room was beautiful and manly, all at once. She coul
(EPILOGUE)A soft knock resonated against Lim and Laura's bedroom door. Laura was in the bathroom and she had left Lim still sprawled on the bed with their handsome son.She expected him to have answered the door but when the knock resonated again, she hurriedly rinsed off the soap from her body and hurried out of the bathroom with a towel sparsely tied around her body."Lim, didn't you hear the door?" She hissed as she made her way to the door."I pay them to handle things in the house not bring every little thing to me... I am tired..." He mumbled softly against his son's head.Laura couldn't help but roll her eyes. Lim was a changed person but sometimes he couldn't help but be cruel at the smallest of things.She ignored him and went to pull the door open. There was her maid standing with her head lowered to the floor."I am sorry for disturbing your afternoon ma'am but the driver taking you to the venue is here... You said I should let you know..."Laura smiled. "Oh, thank you so
LOST IN YOUR ARMS: (NEW)"Laura, you need to eat more," Jasmine said as she kept filling the plate with more beef meatballs. But Laura never paid her any attention. Her advice was like extra water to an ocean.For the past three days, she had become a food monster. She couldn't do anything without eating. She even woke up early in the morning to get food from the kitchen. Was that how pregnancy changed women? To night thieves?"Don't you think you'll turn her into a fatty?" Charles asked. He was sitting on the other side of the dining table with Dennis."That's none of your business! She is pregnant and she needs to eat more!" Jasmine retorted."Whatever..." Charles rolled his eyes and turned to Dennis, who was busy biting off his meatballs with both hands like a hungry lion. When he noticed that his hands were stained with the stew from the food, he dropped the fork in his hands and started licking his fingers.Charles got irritated by this and made pulled up a scowl that said exact
Marcus opened his eyes and the first thing that welcomed him was darkness. He looked around, desperate to see the surrounding he was in but it was difficult to see through the darkness. He should have known that Lim had a mind of his own. As far as he could remember, back in the abandoned house, he heard the sirens of the police cars outside. Wondering if Lim was ready to damage the family's reputation name by exposing them to the public as kidnappers. At first, that was what he thought but to his disappointment, the little boy had another plan.After the police left and they got moved, he became deeply concerned with what Lim was going to do to him and Thomas. Maybe being exposed to the police was going to be a better option.Fear suddenly cupped him. He became edgy like a psychopath. He had to free himself at all costs before the devil laid a hand on him.Just as he was about to move, he found out he was cuffed against a chair. "Fuck! I'm tied!" He grumbled in frustration. Then,
The police officer's eyes were strained on Lim's injured arm. He was eager to help in any way that he could but Lim waved him off."Don't worry, it is just a mere scratch. My woman is more important now. I need to leave.""Alright, sir!" The police officer saluted again.Lim turned to Charles and gestured to him, using an eye look that only the two of them understood."Don't worry, I can handle the situation here. You need to get Laura to the hospital. Go!" Charles said.Lim nodded and made to move but Steve shouted behind him."I'm coming too!"Lim glared over his shoulder. "Suit yourself!" he said and got into the car that had just parked in front of him. Steve ran the rest of the distance and also jumped into the car before the driver pulled off.The atmosphere in the car was thick as the two of them faced opposite sides, never saying a word to the other.Steve could not stop blaming himself. He wanted to speak out but he didn't want to anger the devil that was beside him.Soon, t
Her hands were covered in blood.The world went silent as her eyes scanned the man in her arms. Her heart was dragging painfully down her throat and she thought she would pass out from the pain."Lim!" Laura screamed in horror.Instantly, the men pushed Marcus down on the floor with great force. They were red with anger, both at themselves for letting this happen and at Marcus. How dare a rat like him shoot at their boss in their presence!?Marcus couldn't believe he blocked the shot. The bullet wasn't aimed at Lim but at Laura. She was the target Marcus had planned to shoot but stupid Lim took the hit instead. Marcus was so stunned that, his body became numb. Even as Lim's men continued beating him, he couldn't feel a thing.Their plan was completely messed up!Thomas, on the other hand, couldn't do a thing but stare at his brother with pitiful eyes. Lim's men were kicking and punching Marcus. Blood seeped out of him yet no sound came out.Thomas couldn't do anything to help him. H
"Why don't you take a seat?" Marcus stated, motioning to the couch in the corner of the room, just across the bed.Thomas moved briskly to the side and took Lim's gun.Lim gritted his teeth as his eyes shifted to Laura. She was so scared, he could feel it in his bones. He knew she wanted to say something due to the movement of her eyes but she couldn't, because of the gag in her mouth.Lim's heart squeezed in pain. He felt like an erupting volcano, but he couldn't bring himself to that state, he had to stay calm for the safety of Laura.He composed himself and sat on the couch with his legs crossed. Trying to be in a character that would not show his anger."So, where should we start?" He asked them with a smirk.Marcus smiled and gestured to Thomas to handle the files. As Thomas messed with the papers, Lim's eyes moved over the room, that was when he noticed Brent, tied up and left sprawled on the bed. "Hmm..." Lim sighed and raised an eyebrow. His brothers must have had another pl
As soon as the call ended, a grin of excitement appeared on Marcus's lips. He was happy that everything was going according to plan.A few minutes from now, he would become the rightful CEO of Walter's occupation all thanks to the little dove he kidnapped.Speaking of the dove, he turned to look at the other side of the room where Laura was tied up on the bed hopelessly like a lamb.There was now a light in the room, enough for Laura to picture the faces of her kidnappers. She should have known that not all of Lim's family members liked him. But now it was too late, they had her.The smile on Marcus's face expanded. It was just amazing to watch fear and all crawl into the girl.He was grateful that she had come into Lim's life when she did because if it wasn't for her, they wouldn't have known how to get the mighty Lim to surrender."So what did he say?" Thomas, who was sitting on a couch with Brent by his side, asked his brother. Marcus turned to them with his hands in his pockets.
Lim got down from his car in a hurry and rushed into the mansion, ignoring the servant's greetings at the doorway. Charles strode behind him trying to keep up with his speed. "Laura!" Lim called as soon as he entered the living room.His heart was thumping and panic was already flowing in his veins. He didn't want to think the worst, but at this point it was inevitable."Laura!" He called again. Not caring that he was being extremely loud."Lau—" Before he could complete his words, his father stepped out of his room into the living room looking wild."Lim, what's going on?" Old Walter asked from the stairs. He was walking down with the support of his butler, Mr May."Where is my wife?" Lim snarled like a wounded snake. His voice was filled with authority and anger so thick it was like a volcano.Old Walter looked at him quizzically. What was he saying? Wasn't the girl home yet?"Laura took her leave in the morning. Isn't she home yet?" Old Walter asked as he went down to the last st
Lim tried almost ten times and yet, it still said the same thing. At this point, he couldn't put the feeling away, something was wrong."The line still says the same thing," Lim said worriedly. He had sweat all over his face from the pressure.Charles was having the same thoughts and as much as he tried to calm his friend, he couldn't bring up the right words. "Isn't Laura coming already?" Jasmine asked as she walked closer to them. Lim sighed and returned his phone to his trousers pocket. There was no time to waste, he needed to go to Walter's mansion and find out for himself what was happening."We're going to Walter's mansion!" Lim stated coldly and walked out of the room. His expression had changed to something so dark and scary that even Jasmine could feel the change in the atmosphere on her skin.Everywhere suddenly turned cold and it wasn't the good kind.She turned to Charles with a worried look. "Is everything okay? Why is Mr. Ice so cold?" She stared at Lim's retreating w