"What is she doing here?"Ariana felt her heart sink as she stared up at her mother. "Mom what are you saying? What do you mean?""Do not even call me that! You lost that right the moment you turned your back on us!" She spat.This time she felt thunder strike within her as she turned helplessly to her brother for help. But the latter only shrugged as he also didn't understand their mother's outburst.Calhoun unconsciously moved to stand protectively between Ariana and her mother. She broke into a laugh and took out a cigarette before lighting it and walking away from the scene."Fuckers!" She breathed.Ariana's hands were shaking as her eyes caught the large portrait of her father down the hall. She moved towards it like a zombie. And when she got there she almost toppled over as she found a few friends settled around with a candle lit in front of it. It only meant one thing, her father was truly dead."No," she screamed covering her mouth and gaining the attention of every guest who
Ariana couldn't stop her tears from falling. She felt like she could have stopped her father from dying if only she had contacted them earlier. If only she didn't cut them off her life after what they did to her..."Honey, you need to stop blaming yourself," Calhoun whispered to her ears."How can I not blame myself? My mother is right, do I have a right to be here?" She said pulling away to look into his face."Do I have the right to cry when I was the one who walked away? Do I Calhoun?"Calhoun held her hands and squeeze them gently."Do I have the right to feel this pain I feel in my heart when I was the one who turned away from them?" "You didn't turn your back on them, Ariana. They turned their back on you. You kept helping them with open arms. You did all you could but it was never enough for them... honey how do you want to love a person who considers your love as financial freedom? Do you have to hurt yourself before you see it?" Calhoun whispered to her.She stopped crying a
"I offer my sincere apologies ma'am," Calhoun said as he stretched his hand toward Brenda. She took it but she kept a hawk-eye on his left hand."Thank you," she replied in an even tone as she kept waiting. This was Calhoun Lawson surely he had an envelope for her or did he keep it since she had raised her voice at Ariana? —Brenda thought as she waited for him still."May I steal him from you?" Calhoun said instead.It took Daniel nudging her shoulder before she realised what Calhoun had said. "Of course," she hissed walking past them to go sulk on one of the couches. Her anger was now toward Kelvin who she felt wanted to take the cheque Calhoun must have prepared for her."Have the two of you had a conversation?" Calhoun asked Kelvin and Ariana. He wanted to take her away from there but before doing that he wanted her to speak to her long-lost brother."We haven't," Ariana said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear."Ah! Great then," Calhoun exclaimed handing Ariana's hand to K
Daniel and Ariana held hands and walked to the small park they had in their home town. They used to go there a lot with their father. It had a lot of memories and they sat quietly just enjoying the feeling the park brought to them."You remember the day your ice cream fell and you started crying so bitterly?" He asked her and Ariana smiled as she also saw the image of her two ponytails flying around as she cried that day."You gave me yours," Ariana whispered and they stared at one another.Silence filled them again and Ariana stared out at the little children that were playing around in the field. They looked very happy with their missing teeth as they jumped around and tagged each other. She was suddenly reminded of her childhood. Her brother had been her backbone. They use to come to this very park to play. They ran around and tagged one another just like the kids she was looking at.In the house, he acted like her second daddy. He protected her whenever their parents were arguing
"You brought that?" She asked referring to the envelope of money that solved her problems back then. "Yeah, I was there the day they had both refused to give you money for the ticket. They didn't do it because they loved you... they did it because they needed you to keep early to feed them." He had his hands folded into fists as he spoke. The anger he had felt at that moment returned to him and he had the strong urge to blow something."I wanted to take you then but I saw how attached you were with them, I got scared... And then the fear grew into ego. Each time I thought of coming to take you, I told myself that too much time had passed and that you probably hated me already," Daniel explained."I am truly sorry Aria. If I could turn back the hand of the clock, I would have taken you with me," he said holding her hand with sincerity.She pulled her hand from him and hugged him. How could she hate her brother? She lived every moment of her life hoping to see him and now that he sitti
Lily had been trying to convince Grandfather that Nikita was a terrible person —even though he was ignoring her— when a call came in through Mr Lawson senior's phone. He raised a finger and shut Lily up."Yes, Calhoun?" He responded. He was both relieved and stressed that Calhoun had called. Relieved because he was tired of listening to Lily complaint about everybody now and secondly he was stressed out the more because he knew Calhoun was probably calling to give him news that would increase his blood pressure. The boy enjoyed doing that to him."Grandfather, how have you been?" Calhoun started."I am better now that you have decided to take responsibility and call me!" He said harshly. He loved Calhoun too much and the fact that Calhoun kept disobeying him made him angry because he knew he could never really come through on any of his threats."Grandfather, can we not go to that topic? I called for something else!" Calhoun stated on his end. He was as stubborn as his grandfather. He
"It was exactly what you heard!" Matt spat back in anger.Lily felt like a knife had gone through her lungs. She couldn't breath for two seconds straight. She could not believe Matt had raised his voice and not just that, he stood against her in front of their grandfather."Mother arent you tired of meddling into people's business and just being a pain in their lives?" He asked and once again Lily thought she was having a nightmare. The son she had brought up couldn't speak to her like that —no, never."Matt, are you okay my son?" She asked drawing closer so she could feel his temperature. He couldn't be normal and speak to her in that manner. He surely had a very bad fever.But as she stretched her hands to touch him, he moved away from her with an irritating look on his face."I amvery well mother. In fact, I have never felt better. Somebody needs to tell you that what you are doing is wrong! And if everyone doesnt have balls to do it, I will!"Lily was shaking at this point. She fe
"Who is the sweetest woman in the world?" Calhoun asked as he placed a series of kisses all over Ariana's face."I think that's me," Ariana squeaked happily.She still couldn't believe her luck as she had found Calhoun. He loved her so much. Words could not express how much lucky she felt to be loved by him."What is my love thinking?" Calhoun asked poking her nose.They were on the bed just relaxing after their breakfast. It was a weekend and they were having dinner with the Lawsons later in the day to inform the rest of the family about their wedding date and preparation. Calhoun had noticed that Ariana was a bit edgy on the matter and so he had taken her to the room to pamper her with kisses and an overdose of love.After the intense lovemaking, they lay on the bed and just spoke to one another. But Calhoun had noticed that Ariana was still lost sometimes in her own head."What is it?" He insisted.Ariana smiled and placed her lips against his. "It's nothing I can't handle." She st
(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