Sapphire's POVI was seated in the living room for hours while Vivienne, the stylist, worked her magic on me. I used to think Jamila talked too much until I met her. The woman was a chatterbox. She never stopped talking all the while she did my hair and makeup. But I didn't complain and why? It was simply because she was such a cheerful and fun person to be around. And the fact that she'd worked with a lot of celebrities and socialites didn't stop her from being so friendly and humble.Most of her talks were interesting and funny, she made every moment of this enjoyable. Vivienne was a whole mood, in fact. Oh, and her French accent was off the chart, it was so pleasing to the ear. She said 'darling' with a playful trill, rolling the 'r' with a dash of flair. It was so thrilling to hear her speak because I couldn't remember the last time I spoke to a woman who was this fluent in French. I wondered how Eric had met her and I was tempted to ask her about it but I just let it be.Vivienne
Sapphire's POVI felt the warmth of Eric's breath on my hand and I quickly pulled it away, trying to maintain composure. I cleared my throat and wore a straight face. The last thing I wanted right now was for my knees to get all wobbly like spaghetti. And if he carried on with his usual shenanigans tonight as well, I just might lose it."Let's not get carried away, Eric. I'm just here for the party," I uttered in a quiet yet sharp tone and tried to keep a smiling face."Oh, but my darling, you are the party," Eric replied, his smirk widening and he gave me a once-over, his eyes roaming my body. "Look around, tigress. It's not just me. Everyone can't stop talking about how breathtaking you look."I bit down my lip to stop myself from smiling and replied, "Oh, please, Eric. Flattery won't get you anywhere.""But I beg to differ, my dear tigress," he chuckled, his voice low and resonant in my ear. "It seems it's gotten me right where I want to be.""And that is?""Right here with you," h
Sapphire's POVEric's mother glided toward us, her tall figure accentuated in a purple velvet gown that screamed wealth and poise. Her wavy black hair with a side parting flowed over her shoulders as she walked. Her beauty was undeniable, I could see where Eric got his looks from, but it was overshadowed by an air of arrogance that hung around her like an invisible cloak.Her eyes, sharp and piercing, surveyed me with distinct coldness as she approached us. There was this look of disdain etched on her face that made it very clear she was not happy to see her son with me. And I braced myself for whatever was to come. Because it was obvious that she was going to talk down to me. I just didn't know to what extent.I could feel Eric's muscles tense beside me when he locked our fingers together and glanced into my eyes as if to say, "I got you." But I sent him a small reassuring smile to let him know that he had nothing to worry about.It was evident that their relationship was not a good
Sapphire's POVAnger bubbled up inside me. How could this woman refer to her own son as a beast? Sure, Eric was a case of his own and he could be such a prick, no doubt, but he was far from being a beast whereas this woman glaring at me clearly didn't take her time looking into her mirror. She was like a three-headed venomous monster who poisoned everything she came across.I gave her yet another befitting reply, "Oh, don't worry about me. If your husband could put up with a monster like you for such a long time, then I'll manage with my beast just fine." I hooked my arm in Eric's and smiled sickly at her.Mrs Donovan fumed, "I will make you regret ever speaking to me this way.""I just don't get what your fucking problem is, honestly," Eric chipped in, "The only reason you asked me to get married is your greed. I don't see why my choice of wife should bother you, mother."Eric's mother heaved a deep breath and shook her head disapprovingly. "Very well, Eric. Do whatever you want. But
Sapphire's POVSophia? Who was Sophia? And why was she all over my fiancé like they were in some kind of intimate relationship? Why was he so comfortable with her? And why was she acting so possessive towards him?Was I missing something here? And she called him Erry Perry. That's new. What kind of silly nickname was that?I glared at her, feeling a mix of irritation, jealousy and anger. Eric's casual interaction with her didn't sit well with me. It was clear that these two had a history, and her familiarity with him bothered me more than I wanted to admit. While they exchanged their neverending pleasantries, all that ran through my mind was what connection the both of them could possibly have.She seemed like the typical ex-girlfriend – gorgeous, slender, with beautiful brown eyes, silky brown hair and a charming smile that could stop hearts. And most importantly, she seemed filthy rich. That was no surprise. Since she was here at this party and happened to be an old acquaintance of E
Sapphire's POVI snapped back to reality and lifted my head up to see a tall, dark-haired man standing in front of me, his hand extended towards me. I looked at him, taking in his handsome chiseled features which were Brad-Pitt-like. It seemed like almost all the men here were good-looking and should either be on the runway or in showbiz.The stranger was about 6 feet tall, with a strong jawline and bright blue green eyes that appeared as though they sparkled under the gleaming lights of the place. His dark hair was styled in a messy yet charming way, and his suit fit him perfectly, clinging to his somewhat muscular frame. His eyes were more than capable of looking right through anyone they found and his faint smile was mesmerizing.It took me a moment to register what he had said and I was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to react. The man kept peering straight into my eyes, his smile having faded into a small smirk playing on his lips."Um, I...I'm sorry, what did you say?" I
Sapphire's POVI spun around to see my 'beloved' fiancé standing there, his eyes blazing with anger and something that I just couldn't really make out. His sudden intrusion caught me off guard. He stepped towards me and Adrian, his eyes never leaving mine. This felt like the time he had walked in on me and Austin at the store. Eric sure had a thing for making a dramatic entrance. It was like he practically lived for drama. He was always so dramatic! And annoying! And irritating!And so damn hot! – my subconscious added.It took every ounce of me not to roll my eyes at myself at this moment. And if I could talk to myself aloud right now, I would have said, "Shut the fuck up! This is a serious situation. I'm supposed to be mad at him, not admiring how hot he is.... Even though he is freaking gorgeous."But my subconscious was even more stubborn than I was. It continued...Seriously, it was like Eric descended from the heavens on a cloud of charisma and mischief. If being drop-dead gorgeo
Sapphire's POV"Tell me, tigress, are you falling in love with me?"Eric's question echoed in my mind and resounded in my ear, swirling through the chaotic of conflicting emotions inside of me. It hung between us like an unanswered riddle. All I did was stand there, frozen, and staring deeply at him. I had been caught off guard by his question. This man always had a way of catching me off guard and leaving me tongue-tied. It felt as though time itself had taken a long pause, waiting for my answer as much as Eric was right now.The party noises faded into the background as I stood facing Eric, lost in contemplation. Eric's eyes bored into mine, in search of his answer perhaps, and for a while, I found myself grappling with the uncertainty of my own emotions.Did I love Eric? Was I really falling in love with him?These questions sent my emotions twirling in every single direction. Well, the idea of falling in love with him sounded extremely ludicrous in my head, especially considering
Sapphire’s POV“I’ll never be yours,” I spoke defiantly, hiding every hint of fear in my voice. “Never.”“Oh but you already are,” Ethan responded, sniffling on my hair and twisting the gun against my head like it was about to bore a hole inside. “Whether you like it or not, you belong to me now. Eric can’t do anything about it. Isn’t that right, Eric?”Eric snarled, moving forward, “Ethan—”“Careful, bro. I thought I made it clear that if you try anything stupid, your tigress will pay for it. You wouldn’t want me to paint the walls with her blood now, would you?”Eric stood still but the fury in his eyes was unmatched by anything I’d ever seen before. He knew he was trapped, forced to play by Ethan's rules to keep me safe. Ethan was relishing in his power, revelling in the control he had over both of us. The son of a bitch held all the cards right now to his sick game.“Hang in there, tigress,” Eric told me in a softer voice, “I promise we’ll both walk out of here together. I’m takin
Sapphire’s POV “Going somewhere?” I looked up at Eric who was getting ready to head out. “Yeah,” he answered, peering into the mirror and fixing his shirt. He was wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of black pants. His hair was wet from the shower he had not quite long ago. He grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the chair and shrugged into it, zipping it halfway. The material creaked softly as he moved and his rich cologne filled the room. “Where are you off to?” I asked, sitting up on the bed and watching him. “Just going to meet with some contacts,” Eric replied, flashing me a quick smile. “I’ve got some important stuff to take care of.” “By this time? It’s almost 10.” “I won’t be long, I promise.” “Be careful,” I mumbled. Eric turned to me and shot me a warm smile. “Always am, tigress,” he cooed, crossing the room to plant a kiss on my forehead. I watched him as he grabbed his keys and wallet from the dresser, tucking them into his pocket before heading towards the
Sapphire’s POVI struggled so hard underneath the monster, trying to get him off me but all my efforts were futile. He was a whole lot stronger than me, pressing his body harder on mine, his lips grazing neck. I screamed and squirmed, flashes of that night he violated me whelming my brain.Ethan didn’t relent. He groaned in my ear, kissing my neck hungrily and rubbing his erection against my core. His breath washed my body whole with filth and disgust and I wanted to throw up at that point. The bitter, foggy memories of that night were replaying in my head as Ethan tried to have his way with me again.“Let me go!” I cried, struggling still, hoping and praying that someone out there would hear and come to my rescue.Where are those stupid bodyguards when you need them? Where’s Eric when you need him?I had to do something to get myself out of this. I had to break free and run away. I couldn’t let him do it all over again. I would never look at myself the same way ever again if I didn’t
Sapphire’s POVEthan took a step forward, the usual calm and friendly look on his face completely gone. His eyes went dark and he pressed his lips into a grim thin line, his brows furrowing slightly.“It was you!” I screamed, angry tears spilling in a split second as I clutched my panties tighter and stepped backwards, heading for the door. “You…you..raped me!”He was quiet, deadly quiet and something like anger flashed in his eyes. He looked different, like a completely different person. The stare he gave me was frosty and sharp; the kind a psychotic criminal gave after being exposed.I didn’t wait for him to say another word and didn’t demand any explanation from him even though the whole thing was puzzling and mind-boggling. In a flash, I turned towards the door and raced for it. But Ethan beat me to it. He blocked my path and locked the door before shoving the keys in the back pocket of his sweatpants.“Leaving so soon?” He asked, a devilish smirk now imprinted on his face.“Open
Sapphire’s POVEric had still not come home yet. I was still up, waiting for him and it was already very late. My eyes darted at the huge clock in the living room, my hands gripping my phone tightly. It was a little over 9pm and I’d been calling him for that past one hour but couldn’t get through to him. Perhaps his phone was down. I wished he’d come home soon.He’d given me specific instructions to stay put and not go to the hospital to look for him. I was intent on listening to him this time. I didn’t want him getting all worked up again about how stubborn I was so I waited patiently, glancing at my phone occasionally and listening for the sound of his car driving in.I had been waiting all evening to hear the latest update regarding Patricia. I hadn’t got any information about her condition and what state she was in but from the looks of things, she might not make it. She’d lost a lot of blood when I’d gotten there the previous night and she had more than two stab wounds.I didn’t
Eric’s POVThese past few months had been fucked! I had never seen anything like it. It had been from one fucking problem to the other, day in, day out, with no breathers, no breaks and no end in sight. What the hell was going on? The universe must love playing horrible games with us.First, Sapphire and I split up for months after she found out about the accident which I believed all my life I was responsible for when in reality, my sick mother was behind it all. And up until now, we still had no idea who’d called Sapphire to feed her with all of that bullshit of me conniving with my mother to kill her siblings.Secondly, my wife got raped after we were back together and like that wasn’t terrible enough, she got knocked up in the process. The bastard who did it was still on the run. She made up her mind to keep the baby, another blow to my face. It almost broke us apart and then she lost the baby, thanks to Patricia. I felt like shit at first when we thought Sapphire had a miscarriag
Sapphire’s POVI glanced down at my body. I was covered in Patricia’s blood and the footsteps were getting closer. I swallowed, cold sweat dripping out of my pores. If anyone saw me here like this, they’d think I stabbed her. I had to get out of here and fast. I got up and headed quickly for the door but I stopped dead on my tracks when someone walked in.Oh no! I was too late.“Sapphire? What the…?”“Eric?” I was relieved for a moment. It was just Eric. Surely, he wouldn’t think that I had anything to do with this. Or would he?I went over to him, my hands trembling, my voice shaking and my breathing heavy. “Eric…I…I… P…P…Patricia.”Eric gave me a hard once-over, his eyes trailing over the blood on my clothes and then darting towards Patricia’s seemingly lifeless body lying on the cold marble floor. He had an unreadable expression but his gaze was fierce and hard that I feared the worst.I didn’t know what I was expecting exactly. Perhaps I thought he’d begin with the interrogation,
Sapphire’s POV“Mrs Donovan,I’m terribly sorry that you had to find out this way. I should at least have the guts to face you and say this but I don’t. And I’m even sorrier for what I did to you and for the pain I caused you. I never intended to do it. I was forced into it. As you know, the love a mother has for her child can be overwhelming and compelling; hence I did what I had to do.I’m not saying any of this to excuse my actions, for you to take pity on me or even consider forgiving me. I don’t deserve your forgiveness and I’ll carry the burden of what I did to you for the rest of my life. A week ago, I had told you and the others that my little boy was very ill and so I took a leave. But that was a lie.My son was kidnapped and they told me the only way to get him back was if I did the unthinkable-kill your baby. I didn’t want to do it but I had no choice. They threatened to kill my son. The day before I left, I laced your tea with an undetectable poison the kidnappers gave me
Sapphire’s POV“I’m sorry but she lost the baby.”The doctor’s words replayed in my ear every single minute since the day I lost my child. The day he had broken the news to us, I was distraught and words couldn’t even express how shattered and hopeless I felt. I felt like dying along with my baby. All of a sudden, my life stopped making sense.How did I get here? How did I get to this point? When did my life become such a never-ending pain-filled nightmare? It was always one problem or the other. Why couldn’t I just be happy and have peace for once? Why was I always a mess? Why was my life a mess?I thought back to how terrified and unsure I was to become a mother at first, given the traumatic circumstances. And then, how I grew to love the idea of having a child, of creating a life and nurturing it as the days passed. I had so many dreams for my baby. I was already coming up with names.But now, all those hopes and dreams lay shattered at my feet, broken beyond repair. They were brut