Zyrielle’s POV.Sound of chain rattling jolted me out of my sleep and I looked up, shocked to see Natalie standing in front of me with a smile on her face. Whatever looked friendly to her about me in this situation? I wondered but decided not to speak just yet. From what I could see I was kidnapped. I remembered every incident lining up until I was taken so I believed that nothing had compromised my mental capacity just yet. “I know you might be surprised to see me. Those guys are a bunch of fools. I had told them not to hurt you which I guess they did.” She said but still wasn't making any sense to me. I needed a solid explanation as to why I was here, and she was in the know without thinking that it would be proper to address that. Was I supposed to jump for joy because I was not hurt? “Why did you bring me here?” I confronted her immediately. She needed to understand that I knew something was fishy and she couldn't pull wool over my eyes. She offered me a kind smile but all I
Zyrielle's POV. "Exactly what I was trying to explain to you but you're not giving me any audience. I have witnessed a lot of women ply this route and end up being scarred. The last straw was his wife... Oh, ex-wife, I forgot," she said, wearing a pathetic look on her face. I didn't want to believe that she was telling the truth about her son but what could I say? "How does telling me the truth impact my freedom?" I demanded. "Staying here without a plan is only going to make my life miserable, I wouldn't want to be in such a position. Is there anything you want me to do?" I demanded further. She took a minute before finally speaking. "I need to show you something and I need you to take it in good faith. This might help you understand why I am particular about you." That stopped me from protesting further but instead looking for solutions. My freedom wasn't in the talks so I had to find a solution"Oh..." "Yeah... I'll be back soon, don't get worried." She reassured me before w
Zyrielle's POV.I continued staring at the sky when I remembered that I was here without any help. There was no way I was going to break out of bounds without having any backup on my side. Natalie had blocked every angle that would make things easier for me to escape. Sometimes I wondered what I had ever done to deserve such kind of treatment from her. I understood that she claimed to be protecting me from something but I couldn't see it. I felt like she was skipping the main point. If Rain was truly involved in cult-like activities, she had claimed, then it was only a matter of time before he found me. What difference would it make besides getting him angry and insisting on harming me?The lock rattled, announcing a presence. I looked away unwilling to show that I was angry. Natalie walked in with a smile and a tray in hand. "I guessed that you would be awake. I'm sorry for barging in at this time but I wanted to talk to you." She began making me roll my eyes. I wasn't in the mood
Rain's POV. The house suddenly felt too big for me to stay in and all I could think of at that moment was how to get out of thisness without killing someone. All my connections had led to a dead end telling me that someone I wasn't aware of had decided to play a fast one on me. It was up to me to find a solution before things went out of hand.I kept on gazing at the now deserted fashion house. Zyrielle's assistant had reached out to me, trying to get me on board so that they didn't lose the deal which I had vehemently refused. I had proposed that the event be pushed back a little until I had found her. I never wanted her to attend in the first place.My phone rang, interrupting my serenity, and I decided to check who it could be.Richard. A colleague. I had left that life behind. Why the hell was he calling again? Was he trying to lure me into something that I didn't want to get involved with? I wondered what he thought he could use to draw me closer to himself besides having valua
Zyrielle's POV. I stretched out my arms and legs when I became tired of remaining here without any form of compensation whatsoever. I wasn't someone who would accept being tied down simply because they saw something that looked like gold. Instead, I would be pretty happy if I could get many things in order and enjoy my life. "You don't look happy, are you still thinking about him?" Natalie called from the doorway making me roll my eyes. She didn't expect me to be happy with her now, did she? "I am being held against my wouldn't it be weird for me to be in such a dilemma yet be so happy?" I responded to her so that she knew that I was never going to be pleased by this. She sighed in frustration, "I thought we had moved past this. If I wanted to harm you, trust me, I wouldn't waste my time trying to get on your good graces. I understand that it is still hard for you to believe that the man you have loved can be as dangerous as that but you do not have to take it out on me, I'm only
Zyrielle's POV. We headed into a private store with a trolley in both hands, courtesy of Natalie. She had insisted that we did some massive shopping for the kids and didn't spare anything else. Even though I was not interested in that line of conversation I guess I didn't have any choice but to play along. It would be better if I could just wing things and see how I could get a lot of things done without necessarily hurting myself. I gazed at the counter, scanning for where the CCTV could be mounted. I didn't want to escape and be found by her. I needed a place where I could completely be free from her clutches and find my man. "You look distracted again. This would look pretty on your son." She gushed making me roll my eyes in anger. "I don't like this blue Jean but it's a pretty nice brand. I guess I have no choice but to go with it anyway." I responded calmly hoping that she got the memo that I didn't want to involve myself in that sort of conversation. She dared to look hurt
Zyrielle's POV. I headed to the back of the aisle which led to the back door of the mall. It was pretty hard for anyone to find me here. All I needed was five minutes to convince a person that I had been held against my will regarding my state and hoped that one person had pity on me and helped me escape this dungeon I was living in. I saw an attendant passing by and decided to take my chance. It had to be now or never. "Are you looking for something, ma'am?" She inquired from me with a polite smile. I reconsidered my actions. It could be termed to be a means of just getting undue attention but I needed to take you with everything I had. "I need to speak to you about something very important. I hope that we can have this conversation without having to worry that anyone might be eavesdropping." I said softly hoping that she didn't also work for Natalie. It would be a disaster then. Curiosity shone in her eyes and I took that opportunity. "Can we talk somewhere more private probabl
Zyrielle's POV. As soon as I crossed the bridge, I picked up my pace with fear raging deep inside of me that I was about to be caught by my arch nemesis waiting outside and probably had informed everyone of my disappearance.The attendant had been kind enough to explain that there would be no need for me to take a car because that could end up becoming disastrous. She had suggested that I could give birth in the car myself and that wouldn't be nice. I had also reconsidered my options and saw that she made sense. She had only given me some money for the bus station so that I didn't get stranded as much but had also warned me not to get involved in late-night movement because that could turn out disastrous. I was anticipating freedom. I didn't know how it was going to come especially right now. She had also given me the best route to take which was through the woods. It wouldn't occur to anyone to find me there, but if I had stepped out in broad daylight, there was every possibility
Zyrielle’s office was filled with the warm afternoon sunlight, showering a soft glow on the sleek furniture and the framed photographs that hung on the walls. She stood by the window, sipping her coffee as she gazed out at the bustling street below her. It was hard to believe how much her life had changed.Her fashion business had blossomed into one the biggest brands in Wisconsin; you couldn't even walk into a boutique without seeing her clothes. Every major fashion house in the country seemed to want a piece of her, a lot of them offering a large amount of money to have her relocate.She had declined their offers of course. Moving out of Wisconsin wasn’t part of her plan, this place had become her home. Not just that, it was also a matter of pride. She built this business with her bare hands and she'd be damned before she gave it away to strangers.She placed her cup down and walked over to a dress form draped in one of her latest designs. Running her fingers over the delicate embro
Author's POV.The sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Zyrielle’s studio, painting the room in golden light. The soft hum of her sewing machine filled the air, a comforting rhythm that steadied her nerves. She stood back from the mannequin, her fingers trailing over the fabric of her latest creation. The dress was a masterpiece, an accumulation of everything she had learned and done to get to this point.Her fashion business was finally taking off, and every day looked better than the last. Orders flooded in, collaborations were just on the horizon, and she felt, for the first time in years, that she was finally making progress.And yet, a strange unease simmered beneath all of it.Zyrielle shook her head and glanced at the clock. “Maybe I just need some fresh air,” she muttered, grabbing her bag and stepping outside.The city greeted her with its usual hustle and bustle vibe. The chatter of pedestrians, the distant honking of cars, the scent of freshly baked pastr
Rain's POVLife had a funny way of stitching moments together—victory, love, and the occasional unexpected twist. Today was a day stitched in gold. As I stood in the kitchen, holding a steaming mug of coffee, my thoughts drifted to the woman sleeping upstairs. Zyrielle. My wife, my anchor, the woman I loved more than life itself.The mere thought of her brought a smile to my face. After everything we’d been through, the surgeries, the sleepless nights, the worry—I could finally breathe again. She was here, alive, and so were our babies. Life felt like it was finally clicking into place, and I swore to myself that nothing would stop me from building the future I’d dreamed of.As I sipped my coffee, my phone flared up on the counter. I reached to pick it up, barely glancing at the screen before answering.“Rain Lark,” I responded, giving my new surname, whilst leaning against the counter.“Mr. Lark!” an excited voice burst through the line. “I have fantastic news! The housing contract
Zyrielle’s PovI felt my toes curl up slowly against my cold feet as I gained consciousness. The first thing that came to my senses was the crisp sheets of the hospital bed and the very strong stench of antiseptic.I thought I had gotten accustomed to it by now but it striked me each time.I groaned a little as I tried to lift myself to sit up with my eyes glued shut. My body still ached all over, but I was certainly feeling more energized. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I wasn't drowning in absolute pain.Instead, I felt— alive. My eyes finally fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Rain, sitting by my side in a cushioned chair.His deep blue eyes were focused on me, his expression a mix of relief and hesitation. He wasn’t touching me, though, just sitting there like he didn’t know what to do with himself.I found that oddly cute.“Rain,” I croaked out, my voice weak but steady. I needed something to drink, I couldn't understand why my throat felt so dry.His li
Zyrielle's POV. "I want you to tell me if you feel any pains in your body." The doctor told me just before I was taken into the theater. I took a deep breath and watched my husband shake at the thought of me going inside the machine and being operated on. It was a 50/50 chance of survival and we knew what this meant. One of us wasn't going to come out alive and I hope that it wasn't my kids. "Can I speak to my husband before I go in?" I responded instead and Rain jumped at my side immediately. I had never seen him this angry in my entire life and out of his wits. If there was a way he could take away the pain from me and inflict himself instead, he would have done it, and my heart went out to him. Marcus also watched us from the glass mirror and acted as a moral support but it wasn't going to be enough to quench the way my husband felt about this situation. I was certain that he would punch the doctor if it ended up not going well. "I need you to be strong for me and the kids. We
Rain's POV“Please you have to try”“I understand, Mr. Rain, but my hands are tied. I can't take on a case like this. I'm sorry.” With that, the call ended, and I clutched the phone tightly in my palm.This couldn’t be it. That was the third hospital to refuse to operate on her but I wasn't giving up, not when her life was in danger.I kept scrolling through the endless list of contacts. Each name blurred together, none offering the solution I desperately searched for.“Rain,” my father’s voice broke through the haze, he was also searching for a doctor who could help me. I was glad for his support because I couldn't do this alone. “Any luck?” He questioned, and I shook my head, defeated.“We’re running out of options, I can’t lose her,” I murmured in a pleading tone. “She’s everything to me, my life will be meaningless without her in it”“We won’t have faith,” he assured, his tone firm, though his eyes betrayed his doubts. “I’ve reached out to my network and there's someone who might
Zyrielle's pov.My head throbbed badly as I regained consciousness; slowly, I blinked back, forcing my eyelids open to the ceiling of the hospital wards.The room was quiet except for the soft beep of the machine and footsteps. I angled my head spotting Rain pacing in the room.I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my side made me wince, forcing me to lie back down. "Rain... I called out barely more than a whisper, but it was enough to catch his attention. He froze mid-step, his broad shoulders tense as he turned toward me."You're awake," he murmured rushing to my side. "Finally.""Finally?" I repeated, bewildered. "What do you mean, finally? What happened? How did I end up here?"He didn’t immediately answer, his eyes scanning me as though checking for any signs of injury. His jaw was tight, and for a moment, he hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, he let out a low breath, stepping closer to the bed."How are you feeling?" The question came out soft, almost too gen
Zyrielle's pov.No!“No, you're gone”“You wish you could get rid of me that easily.” She gained a knife in her hand. I tried to move and tried to get away but I couldn't move.I was trapped.“Goodbye, Zyrielle,” she sneered, raising the knife and stabbing me right in the heart.“No!” I cried, jolting awake. My breathing ragged and I was sweating profusely.Instinctively, my arm clutched my chest, feeling my heart this rapidly; I wasn't injured.It was just a dream yet why did it feel so real?I felt a nudge by my side and I turned sharply, finding Rain half awake beside me. His arm was draped over his forehead, his brows furrowed even in rest. Reaching out, I touched his shoulder, my fingers trembling."Rain," I whispered, my voice cracking.He stirred, blinking slowly before turning his head to look at me. "Hey, you good?" He asked, rubbing his eyes, I could tell he was exhausted and needed to sleep, but this was important."She was here," I murmured, barely able to get the words ou
Zyrielle's POV.I shifted uncomfortably in my spot watching Rain clench and unclench his hands on the steering wheel.The tension between us was so palpable you could slice a knife through it, I didn't like the silence between us. I know he was worried still it didn't feel right."You're too quiet," I finally ventured, my voice cutting through the stillness like glass breaking. "Stop overthinking. It’s going to be fine."Rain’s jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on the road ahead as he kept driving. "When we find her it will be fine," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper."Do you have any support on this? Were you able to convince them to help us out or are you trying to play the hero and do this alone?"For a while, he didn't reply, and I could tell he was battling with whether he should tell the truth or not."I’ve got a few," he finally admitted, his voice flat, devoid of the confidence I’d hoped to hear."A few?" My heart raced. "Rain, this isn’t some game. Janet’s not going t