Dalia's POV I can hear a baby crying… it sounds like my baby. Wait, how do I know how my baby sounds? I haven't given birth to the one I carry. What is happening?! Suddenly, the baby stopped crying. I smiled at the silence in my head. It was so calm. Then the pain started. It came like a thunderbolt from my head down to my abdomen. It was excruciating and unbearable. "She is about to go into premature labor! Someone get the doctor!" That sounds like Emily. What is she doing here? She doesn't sound happy. Everyone around me sounds distressed. "Stay with me, Dalia. The baby will be fine.. just stay with us." I can see the darkness getting closer to me. I can't take it anymore. I can't fight it because they were mere shadows. It enveloped me before I could scream. ………………………………………………………………… "Em?" I tried to call but it came out hoarse. My throat felt scratchy. I felt the cold body of a glass c
Dalia's POv A week later, "Can you raise your hands?" I did as Dr. Ryan requested. I think I am going to be discharged today. Beside me sat Eros and Emily. They all had expectant looks on their faces. They all wanted me to go home. "You are good to go. Don't hesitate to alert us if you feel pain anywhere. Eros won't let me off the hook.." Dr. Ryan trailed with a nervous smile. All these while he was avoiding Eros' intense gaze. Now I see the bruises clearly. He has been hiding his face from me under dark sunglasses. Apparently, the dimmed lights were for him and not for me. I saw it a day after the first visit. Now he is putting on another dark shade. Jeez… it's unsettling to see him under that shade. What the hell happened to his eyes? Emily has refused to tell me no matter how I whined. "You know, you could ask instead of staring." I turned to find Eros obviously glaring at me from under there. Is there som
Dalia's POV The nurse was still attending to Eros left eye which was starting to look better than before. He was given an eye drop to stop the tears from falling involuntarily out of his eyes. Looking at it, it was merely the side of his left eye. According to Dr. Ryan, it was an injury gotten from a hard fist. He fought. Connecting the dots together, Eros fought Nick for me. How else would he have gotten the wound just after I was hospitalized? There is no other explanation for it. She had just passed the white stuff above his left brow when the doors slid open.. It was the West family. I narrowed my eyes at the bouquets of flowers they carried with them. What a family? Not one came to visit me yet here they are when I am just about to be discharged! Hector had a grim look on his face while the rest had fake smiles on their faces. It was soon wiped off after they saw I was packed and ready to leave. There was something I a
Nick's POVThe black car was packed inconspicuously by the hotel. It blended well with the environment. It slid open as soon as I got closer."God damn it! Where is my phone?" I asked myself, searching my pockets to no avail. Unfortunately Eros had me surrounded with his guards. The big one especially.Luckily, I had backup. I always do. All I needed to do was to give a little incentive to the nurse for all her hard work. And here I am glaring at Betty.She came to the rescue just when I needed her the most. Our agreement wasn't finished. I owed her and she owed me. We both had things to settle."Why are you getting yourself involved with Eros?!" Betty screamed in panic. Her eyes darted here and there and I could see why. She was terrified. She doesn't want Eros to see them together. "I told you to take Dalia away from him.. not in his presence! Do you even love her?!"I scoffed in mockery. She is one to speak. I hate hypocrites and she is starting to act like one. "You are acting rid
Betty's POV This man is dangerous… I shouldn't have struck a deal with him. To think he was a gentleman who fell in love with the right person at the wrong time… I watched him bolt out of the hospital carefully. He had a look of a predator on his face. It made me a bit uncomfortable. You see, I was discussing with Mrs. Lacoste about a non-existent brewery company when my phone vibrated. I wanted to ignore it but after a while, I excused myself. From the distance, I could see Eros making his way towards a private elevator. and Dalia was turning towards the second corner. They were going to meet at some point. I should stop them… My phone vibrated again and to my shock it was my first brother. What does he want? "What?" "Is that the way to talk to your first brother?" Came his gruff reply. I could picture a frown on his greasy face. He was the replica of my father so the resemblance was uncanny. I rolled my eyes to
Dalia's POv Eros rubbed through his hair in obvious frustration. He turned to Dimitri with blazing eyes. "How did it happen?" "It was one of the nurses." Dimitri curtly replied. There was no need to explain what really happened. She must have accepted the bribe. Eros will have to deal with her later. The rat.. But that was the least of my problems. With Nick on the loose, who knows what he might do next? I don't even want to think about it. Athena gave Eros a degrading smile and I knew what was about to come out of her mouth was something unpleasant. "Interesting. Can we go home now? I think the pity party is over." She gives Emily a cruel smile to which she rolled her eyes to. "Let's go home shall we?" Gaia gives her children a knowing look and I wondered what they have plotted for me this time around. Before I could say Jack, I was dragged to my feet and pushed through the hospital doors. To my dismay, Eros stayed a few m
"We are here," Ajax grumbled and I dreaded setting my feet on the soft soil. It was just like Dalia explained. The car drove into the open gates which were controlled by an eye scanning lock. It was sheer extravagance and beauty. But I already feel not welcomed here. I slightly shivered. Not from the cold. "Are you cold?" Ajax suddenly asked and I sharply turned to him. What? I should ignore his words. How am I supposed to reply? Should I tell him that I am not physically but emotionally cold? I only shivered because I could feel that I am not welcomed here. It would be hard for someone like me to stay with this sort of family. I opened the car door to get out. It was like they had this secret thing that I am not part of. "Here," he wrapped something warm around my neck before I could step out of the car. He uses the other car door and I couldn't see the expression on his face. I got out, prepared to confront Ajax when I sa
Dalia's POV I watched in suspicion as Ajax walked in with Emily. Just what is she doing with the West siblings? Emily is on a different level. She's like Brad Pitt's daughter while the West were the queen of England's children. No matter how I try, I just can't see any of them together. It would be catastrophic. Just like me and Eros relationship. I am the child of a nobody. Jeez.. it couldn't be any worse. I see Mr. Spencer asks Emily to follow him up to her room. He must see how tired she looked. She needs to rest. Ajax's eyes followed her till she disappeared down the hallway. Someone wrapped their hands over my shoulder and for a moment I thought it was Eros. I was a bit disappointed when I turned to see Nicholas. He must be happy because he has gotten what he wanted. I nervously glanced at Athena who was watching our reaction like a hungry hawk. She was no doubt unhappy. I still had the most unreasonable wish to grant.
Dalia's POVThe days went by pretty fast. One afternoon, I was in the hospital, and the next, we were on our way to the West mansion. Eros didn't have to send a message like he usually did."You didn't leave the baby in the house, did you?" I asked Eros who looked better than he did a month ago. He barked out a laugh. "What? I already tucked her in."I sighed in relief. It happened sometimes because we were too preoccupied with each other. If Emily learns of this, she will take the baby from us permanently. I smiled at the thought.We were still in the first paragraph of the chapter. It was beautiful, just like I had always wanted. One time, I heard the maids discussing Betty. What she did when I wasn't around was nasty.Why would she seduce Eros? It was there that I learned that Eros had slept with her one drunken night. My heart sank at the discovery, but it was a long time ago. A long time, yet Eros hasn't said anything about it. Hold on a minute. I don't go about telling him abou
He had received the divorce papers, but they weren't signed. Good.Eros jumped at the vibration of his phone. He hoped it was good news. Then he frowned when he saw Emily plastered across the screen. He picked it up immediately. She hasn't spoken to him in a long time. He knew the reason."Dalia got into an accident. I will send you the address." She hung up and Eros panicked. He tried the number again, but it went straight to voicemail. Then the message came in. She was in Spain! He didn't mind. He would meet her anywhere. All he wanted was for her and the baby to be fine.The maids watched with hands folded as he turned the house upside down while preparing for the journey.They no longer saw Bethany Woods because they overheard Eros rejecting her during a heated moment. He said he loved Dalia and she was his wife. Betty had left with anger. Now, she has lost Eros as a friend too.***********It was a drunken mistake. Nick had swerved right into an upcoming truck. She had been lucky
It was a month until Thanksgiving. It's been two months since Dalia left the house. She didn't even take her belongings except for her phone.She had left his black card on the bed.Eros was a mess. He had gotten thinner. His eyes sank in. He was a shadow of himself. He didn't think she would take his words seriously and disappear for two months. There were no pictures, no news, nothing!His phone vibrated. It was the officer who caught the burglar months ago. Adkins. "Have you found her?""No." came his disappointing reply.It has been like that. Every call was disappointing.When Eros arrived at the office, he didn't know that all eyes were on him, watching his every mood. His staff avoided him like the plague. Not because he was angry, but because of how tired he sounded and looked."Jeez." Sara muttered under her breath. She was consoling Tracy. Her boss won't be coming to the office forever! Or so she thought. "I don't know what to do." She was thinking of calling Jeffrey, but it
It was a month until Thanksgiving. It's been two months since Dalia left the house. She didn't even take her belongings except for her phone.She had left his black card on the bed.Eros was a mess. He had gotten thinner. His eyes sank in. He was a shadow of himself. He didn't think she would take his words seriously and disappear for two months. There were no pictures, no news, nothing!His phone vibrated. It was the officer who caught the burglar months ago. Adkins. "Have you found her?""No." came his disappointing reply.It has been like that. Every call was disappointing.When Eros arrived at the office, he didn't know that all eyes were on him, watching his every mood. His staff avoided him like the plague. Not because he was angry, but because of how tired he sounded and looked."Jeez." Sara muttered under her breath. She was consoling Tracy. Her boss won't be coming to the office forever! Or so she thought. "I don't know what to do." She was thinking of calling Jeffrey, but it
The letters! Dalia mentally facepalmed. She should have kept it well. Away from Betty's hideous eyes. She thought she had them hidden.Eros' face was ashen in color and when he didn't say anything in reply, it occurred to Dalia that he already knew about it. Her heart sank deeper. She didn't think about telling him because it was nothing. Maybe when they went to the office the next-day, she would have told him about Nick. Only if he asked!A loud knock on the door pulled Dalia out of her thoughts. Eros sighed, making his way upstairs. "They are here again. Increasing by the minute all because of my foolish wife."'he called me his wife' Dalia realized with sadness. It was at that moment she knew that she fucked up. Now she has Eros in a tight spot. He may not look like it but Eros was enraged. It's just that he just apologized to her yesterday so it seemed like he was tired instead."I am sorry!" Dalia cried out. She didn't know what to say that would soothe him.Eros paused on the se
Dalia paced the room up and down. She was restless and could not place her butt somewhere. "Pick up, Emily!" She gritted out. How did it happen? Nick only grabbed her because she was about to leave! They were not doing anything like whosoever that took the picture was suggesting!Emily picked up at the third ring. "What the hell? Dalia!""Emily! What should I do? I know everyone has seen the picture. I don't think Eros should see it.""Eros should never see it. Go and see for yourself and make sure he doesn't have his phone around him."Dalia nodded, opening her door. She was down the stairs in a flash. "What should I do if he has already seen the picture?""I don't know. You love him, I don't." Emily's downcast voice dampened Dalia's spirit.Dalia could imagine her friend shrugging in helplessness. "I swear, it was a mistake!" She was still explaining to her dearest friend when she saw Eros with his phone. He wasn't looking at it but beyond it. He was looking at her. He knew about th
Dalia's POv.The next morning…I arrived just in time to see Tracy drop another letter on my desk. What is it this time around?! The letters were getting frequent! I am not in the mood for his pranks and silly antiques.I dismissed her quickly, snatching up the letter.I tore it open expecting to find cheesy lines, but I didn't see any."Come to the park by 7:00 p.m.; I have a surprise for you." Why would Eros ask me to come to the pack when he snubbed me on his way to work this morning. What surprise does he have for me? I folded the piece of paper in anger, dumping it into the trash bin.Tracy walked in with a cup of coffee. Just what I needed for my already puffy eyes. "Not in the mood? I have got just the right thing for you." She subtly eyed the dark shades sitting on my nose.I have nothing to say to her.I left work early because, I mean, who can stop me from leaving whenever I want to? Not even Eros, because I am pissed at him.The park was almost empty. It was evening, and
Dalia's POVShe was always right.My dear Emily.Why is she friends with someone as daft as me? She told me to confront Eros about Betty because she was biting more than she could chew. I have decided to take the bull by the horn today.I need to hear from his mouth whether he loves her or not. If he says he loves her, I will move out of the way, give birth to my baby, and divorce him. The baby won't have to live his life thinking he was born out of wedlock. When it comes to custody of the child, I won't allow him to get away with his misdeeds.The drive home was quiet as usual as I mused over the things Emily told me that afternoon. She expressed her anger for Betty and wished she met the bitch one more time. Her words, not mine.I entered the house to see Eros in aprons. He greeted me with a small smile, which made me confused. He has never smiled like this at me. The last time I saw him smile, only in a bigger version, was with Betty! My mood was already sour and damp."Your food m
Dalia's pOV. I found Emily later that afternoon slurping down her lunch. She had consumed two bowls already. It was noodles and boiled egg. Rosalind's Diner was an old Korean diner that specializes in homemade noodles. I almost snorted when she raised her messy face. A noodle got stuck at the side of her chin. Today she was putting on a blue belly blouse that revealed her smooth arms and palazzo jeans. From where I stood, I could see her belly button and her shaved armpit when she drank from the plate. "Eating lunch without me." Emily paused only to look at me before going back to her meal. "That's why I suggested this place." She said with mouth full. She looked wicked whenever she did that. "And I foolishly agreed with you." I turned to the woman sitting behind the counter. "A bowl of noodles and fried egg. Add extra spring onions, and chili." At the look of her confused face, I pointed at my baby bump. A look of realization clouded the form