“Amaliah will be fine. She collapsed due to an incredibly high blood pressure. The baby is fine as well.” the doctor informed Arturo. Arturo nodded. Then his eyes widened. He wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. “Ba…b…baby? Did you say baby?” he stuttered, staring at the doctor with unfocused eyes. A baby?! “Yes, Mrs Rivers is pregnant.” the doctor’s eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that you weren’t aware.” “It’s alright. Thanks for your help.” Arturo forced a smile. “Can I take my leave now?” “In a minute sir. I would like to discuss the effects of high blood pressure in pregnancy. Severe and uncontrolled blood pressure can be deadly. It can cause problems for Mrs Rivers and the baby and could even lead to the loss of the baby’s life or a stillbirth." The doctor said. "This is because a high blood pressure may reduce the blood flow to the placenta which may result in the baby not getting enough nutrients and oxygen. High blood pressure, also known as chronic hypertensi
Amaliah still pined for her husband. It had been wonderful to be on good terms with her family again, but there was still that immense hole that everyone talked about, the one that could never be filled by anything else. Her heart ached from the memories, and she frequently wished she could see him one last time, if only for closure. At least she knew better now, and she could go on with her life without fear of forgetting Rafael. She had returned home and had sobbed when she discovered that her friends had cleaned up and packed her refrigerator with non-perishable groceries. They had enough to eat and she was so thankful. The twins were back home as well and they were happy. Her parents and Sheila had offered to stay with her in turns until she was strong enough. Although she would have preferred that they didn't because she didn't like feeling like a burden but she wasn't willing to hurt their feelings the second time around so she agreed to it. Sheila had sent an email to the
“I want to marry you, Amaliah, and I will,” Rafael said to her one day. Her shift had just ended, and she was heading for the bus stop. As it had become his tradition for the past week, Rafael was walking her to the bus stop. He sauntered beside her, back walked and even skipped. She laughed at his child-like enthusiasm and realized that it was one of the things that had drawn him to her the very first day they had met. He had a kind of inner joy, one that seemed to be unquenchable and she envied him that joy. She loved people who could be happy, no matter the situation they found themselves in. She was not one of such people; she could not keep her joy when she was hurt, disappointed or in any form of pain. She was an emotional person, and could not mask her emotions no matter how hard she tried. “You just like saying a lot of nonsense, don’t you? ” she glared at him playfully. Even as she did, she knew he was right. She would probably marry him and the realization both scared
Amaliah wiped her clammy hands on her black skirt countless times before she got to the company. Her stomach was quivering and she wished she hadn't eaten anything that morning. Not that she hadn't tried to evade the food, but Sheila would have none of it. As she got down from the car, her throat suddenly felt very dry. She grabbed a bottle of water beside Sheila and gulped it."You good?" Sheila looked concerned. She had happily volunteered to bring Amaliah to work on her first day, more for moral support than for anything else.The family had been elated when the company had sent Amaliah an offer letter via email. Carlotta had cried and Sheila made a small feast with lots of food.However, Amaliah wasn't too thrilled. She was happy she got the job, but she was fervently hoping that she wouldn't have to see Caesar after the initial briefing of new employees. She had been offered the role of a digital marketer in the marketing team and she still needed to be briefed by the head of dep
Anastasia Knight strutted to her boyfriend’s office with a sweet smile on her face even though she was burning with anger. Caesar was fast eluding her and she didn't like it one bit. She wanted to tie him to marriage before he ended things permanently. She had to marry Caesar, she just had to.As usual, she made heads turn in admiration as she walked by. She was dressed in a red power suit trimmed in navy and nothing underneath. Her long black hair was twisted up in a French roll. She usually reveled in the attention but there were heavier things on her mind that morning. She walked straight into the office and was even more angry that Caesar wasn't there. Anastasia required constant admiration and attention. She resented anything, including his business or commitment to helping others, that took his attention away from her. She sat down on the sofa and waited. The office was very wide and tastefully furnished with simple but elegant furniture and artwork. A few seconds later, Caesa
"Ahem." Bryan cleared his throat. Caesar still had his eyes fixed on Amaliah's face even when she'd casually snatched her hand from his when it looked like he had been holding it too long. Mark looked like he would burst as he shifted from foot to foot, half with the excitement of meeting the boss one on one on his first day at work and half with the realization that there seemed to be some kind of history between his colleague and the boss. "You know each other?" Mark asked, his eyes darting from Caesar back to Amaliah in quick succession. He didn't want to miss any expression that might give something away. "No, we don't. We met once some years back, for the briefest of moments through a mutual acquaintance." Amaliah cut in just as Caesar opened his mouth to talk. Bryan sensed something there. Mark's face fell in disappointment, although he brightened up a moment later. His colleague had still known the boss — the great Caesar Masterson — outside work. It was something. "What
Amaliah didn't encounter Caesar for the rest of the week and she was happy. She was even happier because Mark was a lot more subdued. He brought her bottles of water from his lunch break because she never went out for lunch. He didn't bring up unnecessary conversations and he was efficient at work which made her a lot nicer to him. She had held off from asking for another partner and she hoped things would continue like that. When his mouth was shut, he actually seemed like a likable person. Amaliah worked for the whole of the first week and she would do so for the next two weeks. Miranda wanted her to get used to the workings of the company and how they were all interconnected before she started coming in thrice in a week. During the weekend, she received a dreaded call from Ted Williams. She was in the kitchen spreading avocado on toast for herself and the twins while Sheila cooked lunch and filled her in on the happenings at her workplace. It was almost noon on Saturday and she
It was Thursday and Amaliah's second week at Skyline Corp and she decided to step out for a breath of fresh air during lunch break. Mark had looked surprised when she told him she was going out for lunch. He was used to her sitting at her desk all day, only getting up for occasional bathroom breaks and coffee."Relax." She chuckled. "I'm just experimenting." He offered to go with her but she declined. Her usual routine was work, then straight home. She hadn't explored the restaurants near the company. Also, she was craving spicy food and she didn't want Mark asking questions she wasn't ready to answer. So far, only the HR team knew she was pregnant and she wanted to keep it that way until she couldn't anymore.She wasn't showing yet, her stomach was still as flat as when she wasn't pregnant and if she hadn't seen the baby in an ultrasound, she wouldn't have believed she was pregnant. Her Ob/Gyn had told her she needed to move her food intake a notch higher.She nodded at a few peop
Amaliah sat stiffly behind the glass, her fingers curled tightly around the pendant Caesar had given her, clutching it like a talisman. Two weeks had passed since the first trial, and Rafael had been requesting to see her ever since. Both Caesar and Sheila had warned her against it, urging her not to go. But her mother’s voice echoed in her head—“Just see him one last time.”Caesar had postponed an important meeting just to drive her to the correctional facility. He was waiting outside, unwilling to let her face this alone. Knowing he was nearby gave her the strength to remain seated as the door buzzed open and Rafael was led in, handcuffed and flanked by an officer.He sat across from her, the cold metal chair screeching as he pulled it out. For a moment, he simply stared at her before reaching for the phone mounted beside the glass. Amaliah hesitated, then mirrored his action, pressing the receiver to her ear."I'm here. What could you possibly have to say that hasn’t already been
The first witness, Detective Briggs, was called to the stand.“I was the lead officer on the kidnapping case. We obtained CCTV footage showing one of the defendants—Rafael Rivers—leaving the school premises with the children. The girls were reported missing hours later. The cabin they were kept in was rented under a false name—Anastasia Knight’s cousin.”“Was there any indication the children were harmed?” the prosecutor asked.“They weren’t physically harmed, but they were confused, disoriented, and crying for their mother. Upon their arrest, Mr. Rivers grabbed an officer’s gun and shot Mr. Masterson, who had been comforting the girls at the time.”Amaliah’s breath caught in her throat, and Caesar’s grip on her hand tightened.The next witness, a child psychologist, took the stand, having interviewed the girls.“They were confused and terrified. They were told they were going on a ‘surprise vacation.’ But as days passed without contact with their mother, the older twin began crying e
Amaliah arrived at the hospital with her daughters, who had insisted on accompanying her to see Caesar. Knowing his room number, they took the elevator to the second floor, stepped out when it arrived, and walked down the hallway to his room. His name was displayed on a plaque that was on the wall near the door, but she hesitated, glancing at her outfit—a short-sleeved green floral maternity dress paired with green sandals and her hair pulled into a ponytail. The girls wore matching white and pink polka dot dresses with white shoes."Are you ready, Mama?" Madisyn asked.Amaliah chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, I think so."Micaela raised her small hand to knock on the door, but before she could, it slid open. Amaliah froze as Caesar's mother, Charlotte, stood in the doorway. Amaliah quickly pulled the girls to her side as Charlotte stepped out, leaving the door open and brushing past her without a word.The girls went inside first, their excited chatter breaking Amaliah from her thou
The night air was thick with tension as Caesar crouched behind the car parked out front, his gaze fixed on the cabin ahead. The floodlights were off, the only sound was the soft murmurs of the police officers positioned around the perimeter. They had parked a good distance away, choosing to approach on foot to avoid alerting Rafael to their presence.Detective Briggs crouched beside him, his expression tense as his eyes scanned the surroundings. “Surveillance confirms the twins are inside. They’re in the back room. Guarded by one man—Rafael’s cousin. Also... there’s a woman with them.”Caesar’s chest tightened at the mention of a woman. He already had a sinking feeling he knew who it was. “Who is it?” he asked, his voice cold, steady.“Miss Anastasia Knight,” Briggs replied, confirming his worst suspicion.The name struck Caesar like a punch to the gut. He clenched his jaw and fought to suppress the flare of anger. “We go in silent. No mistakes.”Briggs nodded sharply, his eyes steel
Caesar leaned heavily against the mahogany desk in his study, rubbing his temples in frustration. His phone buzzed again. Amaliah. No—still no response. He let it ring out, hoping it would dull the gnawing ache in his chest. It wasn’t her—it was the detective, calling with another update.Still nothing.He’d been working quietly with the police behind Amaliah’s back, desperate to locate the place Rafael was hiding the twins. But every lead had turned cold.He ended the call with a heavy sigh, but before he could sink further into his thoughts, a knock broke the silence.“Come in,” he called, straightening slightly, not looking up.The door creaked open, revealing Anastasia Knight in a sleek black dress that clung to every curve, her lips curled into a sly smile. A smile that screamed trouble.“Long time, Caesar,” she purred, eyes drifting over the study before landing on him.He stiffened. “Anastasia? What the hell are you doing here?” Where were his staff? He'd given one of the house
When Rafael refused to stay away from Amaliah despite her repeated pleas and continued stalking her at both her home and workplace, Caesar urged her to file for a restraining order. A police officer served Rafael the legal documents within the week.Not even seven days later, Amaliah’s new attorney—Denise Jordan, a sharp and seasoned professional recommended by Caesar—served Rafael with divorce papers. Enraged by what he perceived as betrayal and furious that Amaliah would dare end their relationship without giving him another chance, Rafael swore vengeance. Specifically, he vowed to ruin whatever relationship she had with Caesar.A few days later, Amaliah received a chilling call from the twins’ school: Rafael had come to pick up Madisyn and Micaela—and they had gone with him willingly. Her heart pounded as she tried calling his number, but it was switched off. She suspected right away that he had gotten rid of the phone to avoid being tracked.Panic-stricken and barely able to thi
A few days later Word of Rafael’s miraculous “resurrection” spread quickly among Amaliah’s friends and family. The girls were thrilled that their father was back, but Amaliah refused to let them see him, much to Rafael’s annoyance. Still, he soon realized there was little he could do to change her mind.Despite her refusal, Rafael became relentless, calling Amaliah every hour. If she didn’t answer, he’d try her house or even Sheila. When Caesar returned from his trip, he bypassed going home and went straight to Amaliah’s place.Amaliah had been working from home, but she found herself missing the office, especially with Rafael’s constant calls and visits. She ignored every attempt—every call, every knock—but it didn’t stop him. Caesar had just stepped out of the car when he spotted Rafael loitering near the house.Their eyes locked. Rafael’s gaze burned with hatred, and Caesar stood still, waiting for him to approach. It had been over seven years since they'd last crossed paths, and
A week later Amaliah had just ended her phone call with Caesar when the doorbell rang. Caesar was away on a business trip in Thailand, and she had been worried sick after seeing reports of the tsunami that had struck part of the country. Relief washed over her when she finally got through to him, and he reassured her that he had left Thailand a day before the disaster occurred.With that peace of mind, she made her way to the door, expecting the delivery guy Caesar had mentioned. But when she opened it, it wasn't the delivery she had anticipated—it was Rafael, standing there with a bouquet of red roses.Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. She had desperately hoped it had all been a dream—that he was gone, that he hadn't returned. But the sharp, undeniable reality settled in as she felt her babies kick inside her. This was no dream."Hello, Amaliah," Rafael greeted, a small, cautious smile playing on his lips.Amaliah gripped the door handle, steadying herself. This
“Can I come in?” Rafael asked, stepping forward.Amaliah stiffened, her jaw clenching at his audacity, and then she slammed the door in his face, turning the lock as well. On wooden legs, she walked back to the living room and settled down on the sofa, feeling her chest tighten. She rubbed the spot with the heel of her hand as memories flashed through her mind at lightning speed.Memories flooded her mind—the late-night call from the police informing her of her husband's death, the horrifying sight of his charred body after his car exploded with him inside. The funeral, the agonizing weeks that followed, and the dark thoughts of ending her own life. And yet, he was alive? He had faked his death? Amaliah struggled to grasp the reality before her.Her breath hitched. The room tilted. Her vision blurred at the edges. She gasped, willing herself to stay present, but the pressure in her chest only worsened. With trembling fingers, she reached for her phone and dialed the first number in h