EDENI was getting coffee that afternoon when I saw her at the shop.My coffee had been placed on the counter and it was time for me to pay so I handed the cashier my card.“Ma’am, it's been declined.”Declined? That doesn't make sense.“That’s not right. Have you tried it again?"She did so right in front of me and the machine read “Insufficient funds.”“What in the world? Okay, try-"“Oh, forget it. Use my card. One Americano.” Selena stretched her hand and handed the cashier her card.I prayed that it wouldn't work too so that it would be less embarrassing for me.Unfortunately, it did and I wanted the ground to open and swallow me.“Thank you. I don't know-”“Save it."Of course, was I really thinking that just because she paid for my coffee, then it meant we were friends automatically?I got my drink and began walking out of the cafe when I noticed I'd left my card at the counter.She was still there waiting for hers so I just reached over and took it.“Whatever it you're doing,
EDENTwo months had passed. Two full months since he'd made that hand movement that gave me hope that he was going to wake up.For days after that, I stayed by his side.Things hadn't really changed since then. My life just dragged on and it was so boring.Even Selena's attacks weren't enough to keep me interested and I think she was getting tired since there was no response from me.I didn't have the time to fight with her, it was the last thing on my mind right now.I needed something exciting and fun to happen to me to take my mind off of things.“Mail for you, madam.”I mailed at Mike, the guy who brought up our mail and waited till he walked away to pick up the small envelope. I frowned a bit, wondering what could be in it because I barely knew anyone that would need to communicate with me through mail.It was a letter.“Eden, this is the only way I could tell you what is really going on. I'm sorry for what I did, for taking Belle and holding her hostage like that. Whenever I th
EdenI couldn’t move.When they called me to the morgue to identify her body, I just stared at the big knife wound on her neck, wondering how she could have died. The death would have been fast because it was right on the jugular artery.She didn’t deserve to die like this. It was unfair. I couldn’t even say anything to the warden about her death because it would alert Ryker that I knew about him and I didn't want him to know yet.“Yes, that’s Nelly. That’s my sister.”I wiped away the tear that had rolled down my face and followed him out. I looked out as they rololed her back into the cooler.“You don’t have to worry. The inmate responsible has been placed in solitary and that…is the worst punishment they can get.”But it wasn’t going to bring Nelly back. I didn’t want to tell him that he was wrong and the person responsible was still out there and walking freely but I didn’t sayb anything.“Anyways, we will contact you when the morgue releases her body so you can make funeral arang
ROMANI was in a car. I was the one driving and I could see Eden right beside me and Belle was in the back. She kept screaming for me to drive faster but I didn't know what we were running away from. “Roman! Hurry up! He's coming!” I could see the panic in her so I stepped on the gas pedal and was going as fast as I could. I thought that would solve the problem but she turned around to look again and started crying. I wanted to ask her what was going on and who we were running away from but I didn't. “Belle? Belle! Roman, she's not moving anymore."I turned around to see Belle, lying lifeless in the back seat. She had a bullet hole in her chest and blood was pouring on the floor in the car. I pushed down the bile that rose to my throat and turned around to face the road. The pain in my head increased as Eden cried over Belle. Her screams filled the car and I kept on driving. I still wanted to ask her what we were running away from but I decided now wasn't the right time to. A t
RYKER“Make sure she falls for it. Find someone around her age to make it more convincing.”“But boss, it's not easy. I've seen the kid, she doesn't have any friends. Don't you think it will be easier to set the trap another way?"If there was anything I hated so much, it was when someone challenged my authority. You were to do what I said, how I said it and with no questions asked.I stood up from my chair, keeping my eyes steadily on him as I walked over to where he stood.“What did you just say?”I watched him tremble in fear as I cowered over him.“M-my Lord, I didn't mean-"I didn't let him finish the sentence. I grabbed the knife that was in its sheath on his waist and plunged it into his neck.His blood splashed on my face and some of it got in my eye but I maintained my grip until his body slowly fell to the ground.Walking back to my desk to grab a cloth, I thought about what he said.He was right though. It won't be easy for her to fall for the trap, it had to be very convin
EDENI never thought I'd be saying this but I'm so glad that Roman is awake. After forcing him to go see a doctor, he resumed work the next day.Seeing him this serious about protecting Belle warned my heart. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't stand up to Ryker. At least, not in the way Roman would. I don't have money, nor do I have connections nor do I have people to help me fight him when he comes.The most I can do is to run away and even that won't do me much good because he would eventually find me and he won't stop until he's gotten what he wanted.I can't even go to the police because for him to get through to Nelly in prison, he had to have people on his payroll. Right now, I couldn't trust just anyone.He upped Belle's security, making sure that someone was always watching her at all times even when she was in school. The moment Belle told me that she got a new teacher at school because her art teacher moved away, I knew that it was Roman's doing.I wasn't left out ei
Eden“And you're sure it's the same bracelet?”I was currently sitting with Roman, Quinn and Alicia, telling them what happened at work.I nodded.“Yes, I'm sure. That's the bracelet I gave him.”Him and Quinn shared a look.“If he's gotten to her, that can't be a coincidence. He's looking for a way to get close to you. He knows where you work now.”Of course, he would stalk me. I just didn't think he would go for Selena though. If he wanted to get close to me, he would know that Alicia was the best person to go to.“He really isn't backing down, is he?”I don't think he will. Ryker will give up until he has gotten what he wants.“Just like the douche who keeps coming in and tries to talk to me. He doesn't understand that I'm not interested in speaking to me.”Roman had been silent throughout.“Roman, what're you thinking about?”He sat upright, like his mind has been somewhere far far away.“Yeah. I mean no, I understand what you've all said and I'll work with it.”He stood up and wa
EDEN“I told you to stay out of it!”I had to take a couple steps back so that he wouldn't throw what he was holding at me.“Roman, I-"“What the hell is wrong with you? Why don't you ever listen and do as you're told?! Why do you always feel the need to do things your own way?!”The backstory was that I had found his mother. Henry was my go to guy for everything and when I told him that I was looking for Roman's mother, he said he'd help me out.He didn't even ask for anything, just Roman's full name.I'd gotten in touch with her this weekend. We met in a coffee shop just outside the house.”So you say you're Roman's girlfriend?" She was a little lady, a lining of silver hair gracing the middle part of her hair and just enough smile lines to let you know that she's lived a life.“Oh no, I'm not. I just have a child for him.”I'd never seen anyone go pale as quickly as she did.“You have a child… for Roman?”I nodded.“ A boy?" She tried to fake a smile.“No, a girl.”She sighed heav
THIRD PERSON POVWhile everyone back home was looking for Roman, he was on the other side of the town, looking through his pockets and swearing that he carried his phone.The minister noticed that he was distracted.“Is there anything you need? Are you looking for something?”Roman looked up.“Yes, I'm sure that I carried my phone but now, I can't find it.”Roman knew that he would have gotten so many calls. He'd left the house very early and no one knew where he was.He didn't take any guard with him either.“Maybe it fell on the way."Of course, it did. With all those bullets raining on his head, why won't it fall out?It had been pure luck that he had escaped. He was almost at the minister's house when he noticed a car that he was sure he'd seen when he got off the highway.He'd rolled his eyes, not wanting to be involved in any of this today.“Can we do this in a week? I have something to do today.”What should he do now? He knew he couldn't avoid them.To make sure that he was ri
EDENIT was already seven pm and I still couldn't find him. I was ready and so was everyone else but he was nowhere to be found.I'd called him and so had Quinn but he wasn't picking up his calls at all.“Edem, are you sure he didn't tell you where he was going?”I thought back to last night and scrolled through our conversation.“No, I don't remember him saying anything about going anywhere. After I told him about the officiating minister, that was where the conversation ended. Nothing more happened.”Quinn came back.“His phone is switched off.”Wonderful, just great. Roman was missing on no other day than our wedding day.Where could he be? Even if he was stuck in traffic, he could at least pick up his phone.Or maybe he truly wasn't interested in getting married to me.But then he would have just said it then when I brought it up. Why didn't he say anything? He had the choice to reject me last night but he didn't.”Eden, don't worry. We'll find him in time for the wedding.”Alicia
EDENI woke up early that morning.Well, we didn't sleep after that.. we stayed up the entire night talking about everything we'd been through and it touched me.Eventually, I fell asleep on his shoulder and I didn't even know. I was sitting in his lap and I woke up on the bed.Alicia was standing above me .“Hey, wake up. Let's get you ready. Roman left the house really early this morning and I have to go back home to get a dress for myself. I mean, I can't wear this.”She had eye bags and her face was very dim. She has started crying again sometime during the night.”Alicia, sit down. We need to talk.”She was avoiding my eyes.“Eden, there's a lot to be done today. I mean, you don't even have a makeup artist or a hairstylist either. Your dress isn't here yet and the food isn't ready. There's a lot to be done.”I knew that all that wasn't truly her concern. She was just trying to avoid talking about me.“Alicia, please -”“Eden, there's no time. We need to get ready."I had to get
EDENWhen I finally got into the house later that night, I couldn't sleep so I just stared out the window at the stary night.Alicia had fallen asleep while feeding the kids so I would break the news to her tomorrow.I'd had to tell Quinn what had happened.“Really?! Was that why you were staring into the dark?””Yes, she was standing there. I'm not going to die, Quinn. I'm going to be here with my kids.”She pulled me in for a hug and held me tightly.“I'm so happy, Eden. You don't know how terrible I felt when you told me that. How can you die without watching your kids grow up?"I was just happy that I hadn't rushed to tell Roman anything that was going on.He was clearly exhausted because he didn't even wake up when I entered the room and when I got in the bed. I was equally so tired because I had spent a lot of time getting things ready today.My body was tired but my mind was still awake and buzzing.I was going to get married tomorrow. I should have told Quinn that we should ju
EDENWe got back home late that night.Mostly because we needed to pull ourselves so that we won't show that we've been crying.Everytime we finally stopped crying, Alicia started again and we started another whole process of consoling each other.“Please stop crying. I don't know what I'm going to do if you're like this.”She finally pulled herself together and we got into the car and drove back home.“Are you really not going to tell Roman?"“I don't have a plan to. I'm sorry, I just can't bring myself to tell him. He will be shattered, Alicia.”She still wasn't fine with it but she didn't say anything else until we got home.Alicia went into the house to check in on Roman and the kids while I went to the back of the house to check in on what Quinn was doing.She was actually on a chair and table with her legs up while eating everything she brought from the restaurant.“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”My voice frightened her.“Sorry about that.”“You guys surely took your time..
EDENWe'd ended up at a restaurant because the bar we wanted to go to was closed.Roman had already called me four times to ask Alicia questions about the twins and he sounded like he was about to lose it.“Let’s eat so much that we won't be able to walk again.”And that's what we did. I think we ordered everything in the menu and we basically had the chef at our call to make anything that we wanted.That was the first time I would be eating so much food in one day and it felt so good.“I don't think I can eat anymore. I'm so full.”Quinn had been the one to bring us here and now she was already full. Alicia's mood had changed and she wasn't speaking anymore.Quinn's phone rang and she stood up to answer it.“Alicia-”“What’s going on, Eden? And don't even tell me not to ask questions. Because you can't keep doing this. I'm your best friend. You have to be truthful.”What was sj to do at this point? I had no other choice than to tell her the truth.She deserved that much.“Balari came
EDENAlicia did come over that evening.And we stayed in the room throughout.“It’s fine. I'll take care of the kids. You guys just do what girls do. Whatever it is that you do.”Roman took the twins and left us.“What in the world happened? Why did you faint?"I acted like I had no idea what was going on.“I mean, I don't know. I just felt weak and tired and next thing I know, I'm waking up in a hospital.”“Woah, that is crazy.. but you're fine right? I mean, yorie okay?"“Yes, I'm fine.”I needed to change the topic.“Hey, about Henry, I've spoken to Roman about it and he had no idea that Henry wasn't home. He said he was going to help track him down.”I actually hadn't spoken to Roman about it but I just needed to say something that would make her forget about the previous topic.“Thank you. I just hope we won't have to go through everything we went through back then. He'll surely come back.”Surely, he will. He's probably just busy.Speaking of Roman doing things, I still needed t
EDENI'd come home the day after that. The doctor said that I was free and healthy to leave but I didn't feel free.“Why the long face? Aren't you happy to come home?”I turned to Roman who was driving.”Oh no, it's nothing like that. I'm just tired."What was the point of being happy when I knew what was coming? And I couldn't tell him. I didn't want him to feel responsible for it.Roman is very quick to blame himself and I didn't want him to. I should just die peacefully so that he would have the guts to move on from me.If I told him that it was because of him I was going to die, then I would mess things up.I recalled my last conversation with Balari.“Are you sure it's what you want, Eden? Men are not worth it. You can live with your kids and raise them in your own way. You don't have to do this.”But it seemed like the more we spoke about it, the more determined I was to do it.“I do, actually. I love Roman, I can't let him die for something he has no hand in.”“And you have a
EDENWhen I woke up, it was dark.Why was it dark and where was I? I knew this wasn't my room, and it surely didn't smell like this.I tried to move my hand and when I saw the IV line shake, I sighed. The hospital.How did I end up here and why didn't I remember anything?Me being here meant that something had happened to me but for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to. I felt so weak so I just relaxed in my bed.I didn't even have the strength to call for help and eventually, I slept.The next time I woke up, the sun was out thankfully and my eyes didn't feel as heavy as a boulder.My stomach was hurting badly, partly the fact that I hadn't eaten in a day and half. I needed food or else I might actually die this time around..I sat up in my bed, clutching my stomach tightly. I also needed to pee. I've never been to the hospital before.Roman was born in the pack and Belle?Well, Belle was born at home because I had no idea I was in labor and since Alicia and I had never been mo