Adrian’s Point of ViewThe moment I pulled into the driveway, I felt it. That suffocating weight pressing against my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Celia’s car was still parked outside, sitting there like a goddamn reminder that I wasn’t free... not yet.I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my fury in check, but the anger was already flaring up inside me like an uncontrollable fire. I had given her and my mother clear instructions to be gone before I got back. My mother had obeyed, but of course, Celia never listened. She was too stubborn, too manipulative, too damn convinced that she could somehow still control me.Slamming the car door shut, I strode toward the house, my steps heavy with purpose. This needed to end. No more games. No more power struggles. No more Celia.As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted her in the living room, standing there like she owned the damn place. She was dressed in a silk robe, her hair perfectly styled as
Emma’s Point of ViewFor the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up feeling completely at peace. The warm weight of Adrian’s arm draped over my waist, his steady breathing against the back of my neck.. it was everything I had once thought I’d never have.Who would have thought we’d end up like this? After everything we’d been through, all the battles we had fought, all the pain, all the betrayals... yet, here we were. Together.I let out a contented sigh, shifting slightly under his hold. He tightened his grip around me, pulling me even closer to him."You're not trying to escape, are you?" he murmured against my ear, his voice thick with sleep.I chuckled, tilting my head back to look at him. "Escape? I must be crazy if I ever think of running from this."His lips curved into a smirk, and he trailed his fingers lazily along my bare shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. "Good. Because I have no plans of letting you go, Emma."I turned in his arms, looking up at him with pl
Adrian’s Point of ViewMy mind ran wild as I drove out of the house, the only sound interfering with my thoughts were just the sound of the car engine. My hands gripped the steering wheels tightly as my knuckles turned as white as sheet. Lily sat in the backseat, her tiny hands clutching her backpack, while Paul, Naomi’s Son, gazed out the window, unaware of the storm that was brewing in my mind.“Daddy,” Lily’s soft voice broke through my thoughts.I glanced into the rearview mirror, locking eyes with her big, innocent ones. “Yes, princess?”She hesitated, her fingers playing with the strap of her bag. “When’s Mommy and Aunty Naomi coming home?”My chest tightened. God, how was I supposed to answer that? I forced a smile, even though my heart was heavy. “Very soon, baby. Mommy’s just… handling a little business. She and Aunty Naomi will be back before you know it.”Lily’s small head nodded, but her eyes told me she didn’t buy it. Kids... they always seem to know when you’re lying. I
Adrian’s Point of ViewOne week in and I feel like I'm losing it, the weight of the world seemed to be crashing down on me, my fingers drumming impatiently on the glossy surface. Tomorrow was the damn court hearing, and I hadn’t heard a single word from Pedro since he walked out of the cell with Emma’s staff records. Days of silence... nothing.The tension was driving me insane.Papers were scattered all over my desk from financial reports to legal documents, you name it. But my mind wasn’t on any of them. Instead, it was stuck on the thought of Emma sitting behind those cold bars, waiting for me to pull off a miracle. And Lily... God, Lily. She kept asking when her mom would be home, and each time, it felt like a knife to the chest.My phone vibrated sharply against the wood. I snatched it up without even looking, but when I did, I frozePedro.“Finally,” I muttered before answering, “Pedro. Please tell me you’ve got something.”“Turns out,” Pedro’s gravelly voice echoed through the
Emma's Point of ViewThe Prison lights buzzed faintly above me, a dull hum that had become all too familiar in the past weeks. I sat on the edge of the cold, metal cot, twisting my fingers together, my heart racing with an unsettling mix of hope and dread. Today was my hearing, the day that would determine whether my life spiraled deeper into chaos or finally clawed its way back to normal.I glanced at the rusted clock on the wall in the hallway. Its slow, dragging ticks only heightened my anxiety. Every second felt like it was mocking me.The sharp jingle of keys snapped me out of my thoughts. A guard appeared at the cell gate, his eyes scanning the clipboard in his hands before calling out, "Emma Carter, you have a visitor."I blinked, surprised. "A visitor?" I echoed under my breath. My heart thumped painfully hard against my ribs as I stood, wiping my clammy palms against my jeans.“Let’s go,” the guard said gruffly.I followed him through the echoing corridors until we reached th
Adrian’s Point of ViewWaking up to a cold, empty bed wasn’t something I was used to these past few days. The absence of Emma's warmth beside me felt strange... Off, even. I stretched my hand over to her side, but all I felt was the chilled sheets. Frowning, I sat up, ruffling my messy hair, my bare feet brushing against the cold wooden floor as I slid into my slippers.“Emma? Love?” I called out softly, though I already knew she might not be in the room.The bathroom light was off. Empty.I sighed, pushing my groggy body out of bed. The house was oddly quiet, too quiet for a place that usually buzzed with Emma’s soft humming or Lily’s endless chatter. As I padded down the stairs, the faint melody of a nursery rhyme echoed from the kitchen. A soft smile crept onto my face."Twinkle, twinkle, little star..." I stopped by the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the frame. There they were.. Emma, with her messy bun falling out of place, flipping pancakes with that peaceful lo
Emma's Point Of View "So Princess, who told you that babies are bought?" I asked as we drove. I briefly glanced at her through the rear mirror, to see her playing with her stuffed rabbit which was always in my car. "In a book mummy, we read it that beanies are bought in a baby store" she says innocently not taking her eyes off the teddy for a secondI chuckled and continued driving, Adrian’s return into our lives may have been an unexpected event but it sure made me see life in a new phase. "Who knows how his mother is faring?" I thought quietly as my mind reeled into the events of these last few months. She may have acted like a self-centered witch but she is still Adrian's mother, I know what it means to lose a family member, she may not be dead but her absence would definitely take a toll on AdrianThe rest of the drive was familiar blur if thoughts, when we finally arrived at the school gate, I got out and helped Lily out of the back seat“Hey baby, be good at school okay?” I
Adrian's Point Of ViewOutside Lily's room I couldn't help but let my tears run freely, I was holding back for the sake of Emma, she was already a mess, how do I let her see this mess of a man.I spent 5 years without my child and now that I'm finally getting back with my daughter, this happens. It feels like the universe doesn't want me anywhere close to being a father. "We are all done Sir" I had sat through pierces of syringes with out an iota of pain as my mind was pain stricken enough to register such minor pain. Looking at the tiny plaster placed on the pierced area, I knew it was worth it. "This was for Lily, anything for my little girl." I assured myself, turning to the nurse and asked "When should I expect the results?""Blood match should be out within 24 hours" she said, I nodded before getting back to the room.Emma had slept off while crying, she had her head on the bed while holding Lily's tiny hands. My heart ached at the sight before me, Emma had been through a lot
Adrian’s Point Of View“Lily hurry up Sweetheart” I yelled from the sitting room. Checking my wristwatch it was a few minutes past 7am. I needed to drop off Lily at school before 8am, then head to the hospital to see Celia. I couldn't rest easy all night, i’d have gone to the hospital last night but it's too risky to take lily with me last night and she couldn't stay home alone. Then I heard little footsteps dragging my attention back to the stairs as Lily descended. I quickly stood up and walked up to her, picking her off the ground to hasten the walk, I sat her in her car seat and off we sped into the road. It wasn't long until we got to her school, hurriedly I helped her into the gates and rushed back into the car and started the car. At the speed of light I hit the road, only stopping at the hospital entrance. I hurried in and asked the nurse at the station “Excuse me, could I see Celia Guerrero, she was brought in last night” I asked“Hold on please” she scrambled on her keyb
Celia’s Point of View“My plans were finally falling into place” I murmured drumming my fingers rhythmically against the steering wheel as I drive into the busy roads of New York City, a sly smile playing at my lips as I drove through the dimly Lit streets. Despite approaching evening, The city was alive and buzzing with its usual chaosblaring horns, distant sirens, the occasional flicker of neon signs cutting through the darkness. But none of it mattered. Not tonight. Tonight was about control, about setting the pieces in place for the inevitable checkmate. The anticipation bubbling inside me was almost intoxicating.I pulled into the parking lot of a small, nondescript restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall place tucked away in a forgotten part of the city. I exhaled sharply, reaching for the hoodie on the passenger seat. Pulling it over my head, I adjusted the baseball cap snugly before sliding on a pair of oversized dark shades. A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirmed that I looke
Ryan’s Point Of ViewWe have been out here for hours, it took me a whole lot getting Celia’s residential address. For some reason she had this file hidden but I always had my way around it all. The air inside the car was thick with tension, the kind that came from hours of waiting with no payoff. Marian let out a dramatic sigh, stretching her legs as much as the cramped car allowed."Ryan, we’ve been sitting here for hours, ""So?" I muttered, my eyes locked on the house we were watching."So?" she repeated, voice dripping with irritation. "I didn’t think we’d be this useless. I thought we'd have gotten closer to the truth by now so everything will be over and done with."I shot her a glare. "If you are tired, why don’t you just leave? I don't remember asking you to tag along you know.""i tagged along because I want to catch Celia too. To get this damn complication out of our lives," she huffed, arms crossing over her chest. "I just didn’t sign up for a full-day surveillance missio
Celia’s Point Of ViewThe rich aroma of wine filled the air as I swirled the deep red liquid in my glass, my fingers lazily tracing the rim. The soft glow of the chandelier cast golden reflections against the pristine marble floors of my living room. Everything was perfect, just as it should be. My plans were working and it was just a few more cards to play before it all happens.I took a slow sip, savoring the taste of expensive indulgence, relishing the satisfaction of knowing that everything was going according to plan. Adrian was slipping further into my grasp, Emma was as good as forgotten, and soon, my life would be exactly as I had envisioned it.Then my phone rang.I didn’t even have to check the caller ID... I already knew who it was.Adrian. Again. This was the umpteenth time he was calling.I ignored it, continuing to sip my wine. But the ringing didn’t stop. Over and over, it filled the air, each shrill tone like a mosquito buzzing in my ear.Annoyance prickled through me.
Emma’s Point Of ViewI have spent so long in here that I have lost complete track of time. My body was getting weaker as the day goes by, my throat dry, my mind clouded with exhaustion. Time had lost meaning to me in this place. I wasn’t sure how many the outside world looked like now, All that rested in my mind was only that I was starving, they would usually bring food, on some occasions good food and most almost rotten food. When I heard the heavy creak of the door opening, I barely lifted my head because I knew what it was that was coming to me.The guard who always brought the food entered, his footsteps slow and deliberate. He carried a plate of food like always, but something about his presence today made my stomach tighten. His stare as he walked up to me lingered too long, his lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smirk but held just enough malice to set off every alarm in my head.I forced myself to sit up from my lying position. Ever since I'd been locked up in th
Ryan’s Point of ViewA sharp ringing jolted me awake.For a second, I was disoriented, my mind still trapped in the hazy remnants of sleep. Then I felt it... Marian’s head resting on my chest, her arm draped across my stomach.Memories from last night came rushing back.Her moans.Her nails digging into my back.The way her lips tasted warm, desperate, claiming.My phone rang again, cutting through my morning haunted thoughts.I sighed, carefully adjusting Marian so I wouldn’t wake her. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, my brows furrowing at the unregistered number flashing on the screen.Who the hell was calling me this early?I hesitated before answering. "Ryan speaking."A pause. Then a voice I hadn't expected."I know, Ryan."I froze. My grip on the phone tightened.That voice.. I recognized it instantly, anywhere, any day"Nanny Isidro?" I asked, sitting up straighter.She sighed. "Yes Ryan, it’s me. I had to call you."I swung my legs off the bed, my pulse quickening. "H
Ryan’s Point of View"How dare he.." I slurred to my glass "To think she chose him over me" I raised the glass and made to pour the content into my mouth but unfortunately it had finished I raised a hand at the bartender and he came over and refilled my glass. "He got that suspicious bitch pregnant, I bet my entire life that she us behind Emma's disappearance" I gulped down the drink at a go and it stung my throat"Sir, my shift is over, and you look totally wasted, can I take you home?" the bartender offered. Looking at my glass, I felt it was time to go home, but Marian was there! Waiting for more nagging. But could I leave my home to her? I decided to go home. " It's fine I can still find my way" I dipped my hand in my pocket still staggering and took out my wallet, I gave him my credit card and in minutes I stumbled out of the bar, the night air hitting me like a slap. My head was spinning, but not just from the alcohol. Celia. Pregnant. With Adrian’s child.I gritted my tee
Ryan’s Point Of ViewI watched as Celia’s car took a sharp right, her tires screeching against the pavement. She was trying to shake me off. Good. That meant she had noticed me and she was scared.I slowed down, letting her disappear into the highway as I went straight.I wasn’t here to catch her though. Not yet.No, I wanted her to feel some one lurking, to feel like eyes were always on her, like danger was around every corner. Once paranoia settled in, she would slip up. She’d get reckless while trying to cover her tracks, make mistakes that would give me an upper hand . And when that happened, I’d be there to catch her red handed.But for now, she could keep playing her little hide and seek game. She could keep thinking she was in control.I turned my car around and drove back home.The moment I set foot into my apartment, I knew something was off.I stood by the light switch, scanning the room. My instincts tensed, my fingers hovering near the glass vase by the door side.Then I f
Celia’s Point Of ViewI stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the maternity dress that hugged my belly just right. It was subtle.. just enough to make myself look like a responsible soon to be mother but still graceful. If I played my cards right today, everything would fall into place. Adrian had asked to meet after days of absolute silence. Could this mean he had made a decision? Maybe he is finally ready to accept me and our baby into his life.A smile tugged at my lips, but I quickly wiped it off. No, I had to stay in control. I shouldn't be swayed by just a invitation. I had spent too much time, too much energy on this to get excited over an ordinary invitation. Emma was never coming back, and Adrian had to accept that.I grabbed my handbag and stepped out of my room, I had given my men strict instructions before leaving the hide out.. From now on, I didn't want Emma’s door opened for any reason. Not even to let her use the bathroom, if she ever wanted to relieve herself, she