CHAPTER 109"Are you crazy?!" Marcus shouted as his eyes flew wide open.Xavier looked annoyed at the question. "Considering the situation, Mr Dreame, I don't know who's supposed to be asking that.""You expect me to just run off like a fucking coward?""Well if you give it some thought you'll realize how beneficial it could be for you.""Right," Marcus nodded sarcastically. "And what's going to happen to my businesses? Everything I've built here? I'll just leave it and run off because of some silly woman's obviously false negative comments about me?""Do not underestimate the power of a grieved woman's tweet, Mr Dreame," Xavier said with a warning tone."Well thanks for the word of advice, Xavier, but I'm no coward and I know my rights, and I'd like to be taken home now as well, if there are no other sensible things to be said."Xavier stared at him for a few more seconds before he chuckled."Don't say I didn't warn you.""There won't be a need to say such," Marcus cut in sharply."O
CHAPTEE 110"I don't know what it is you're planning in your head, Rose, but whatever it is, I want it to have Caleb and I in the picture. I want you to create a magical moment for the both of us because I didn't come here just to stare at you all in your faces. I am seriously running out of time here!" Stella said."I will," Rose replied and sighed with exasperation."That's why I love you, Rose," Stella blew her a kiss. "Oh, it's going to be such a wonderful time there and I'm sure Caleb would barely be able to resist my body when he sees me glowing under the sun!" Stella said dreamily."I don't know, Stella, he and Jane have grown quite inseparable in the past few weeks.""I know. And that's why you're going to help me, right?" Stella asked. Her voice now had a threatening edge to it."Or do you want me to...""Fine, I'll try my best, Stella!" Rose threw her hands up in the air with despair."Good. I want you to make the announcement after dinner tonight."As Stella bounced out of
CHAPTER 111Diane was filming yet another Instagram live session when Abigail walked into the room.Abigail stopped at the foot of the bed and waited for her to end."... So thank you all for the immense show of love and for all the contributions that have been made. And I hope that all the women out there who are standing up for their rights and not depending on men like Marcus Dreame, would get the freedom they so deserve. Don't forget, I love you all, have a blissful week. Bye!" She blew a kiss at her phone screen and ended the video."That was exhilarating!" She squealed happily and Abigail gave her a small smile."How're you feeling?" Abigail asked as she moved closer and sat by her side."I'm good, really, and I'm sure the wounds can be easily covered with make-up," Diane shrugged and Abigail's shoulders dropped."So why are you still tainting Marcus's image when your wounds aren't really serious?""Aby," Diane sat up. "It's for your good, girl. Marcus doesn't deserve you. If he
CHAPTER 112"Oh my God! Is that yours?" Bianca exclaimed as they walked into the hangar.There was a sparkling white jet with the name: Lockwood Enterprises, Inc. written across the body of the jet in large black Italic lettering."Seems like someone has never been on a plane before," Stella said, loud enough for Bianca to hear.Bianca rolled her eyes at her and rolled Jeffery and her luggage towards the jet."Jane, are you really sure about this?" Caleb turned to her and asked again. "Are you really comfortable with this arrangement?""I'm fine, Caleb. We all need this break anyway.""Yes, I know we do. But I'm not sure about Bianca and Stella coming.""Let's not worry about them, Caleb. I have you and you have me. That's all that matters."Caleb smiled and reached out to smoothen her hair that was blown about by the wind."I guess Miami would be better with you around," he said and kissed her."Come on," without warning, Caleb scooped her up, bridal style and started towards the sta
Chapter 113"Please return to your seats and put on your seatbelts. The plane will land in five minutes," the pilot announced through the speaker.Jane rolled off Caleb's lap and took the chair next to him."Ever been to Miami?" Jane asked Bianca. As much as she didn't feel very comfortable around the woman, she still thought it wise to know a thing or two about her and what she did before crashing into her and Caleb's perfect life.Bianca turned to her direction and gave her an uninterested look. "Once."From the flat tone of her voice, Jane could tell that she wasn't interested in making small talk. She glanced towards Caleb who was half asleep, and tapped him lightly."I wasn't asleep. I could tell we've arrived because the air smells different," he said, smiling with his eyes half closed."Of course you could," Jane chuckled and held his hand as the plane sped down the tarmac and came to a slow halt."The car must be waiting already," Rose said as she passed by them, peering out
CHAPTER 114The chauffeurs from each limousine were hauling their luggage in the trunk of the van when another private helicopter landed a few metres away."You're very cooperative, ma'am, and you have no idea how happy I am to speak with you. What shall we call you?" Maurice asked as she hastily brushed her hair to look presentable enough."Just Bianca is fine," Bianca replied with a smile."Alright then. You ready?" Maurice asked her cameraman and Bianca stood aside as she waited for Maurice to finish making the introductions."So Miss Bianca, how do you explain your relationship with Mr Caleb Lockwood? What does he consider you as?" Maurice asked purposefully. She danced inwardly at the attention the unprecedented interview would bring both to her and her news house."With all due respect to his dear wife, Mrs Jane Lockwood, I do not consider myself anything more than the mother of Mr Lockwood's heir and I'm sure he doesn't consider me anything more than such as well," then she add
CHAPTER 115Bianca collapsed the stroller and carried Jeffery in her arms.Stella eyed her up from where she was seated opposite her in the spacious car interior."For a man as affluent as Caleb he sure doesn't make much noise about it, right?" Bianca asked."So?" "I'm just saying," Bianca shrugged. "It's good to know that my child's financial future is already taken care of.""Okay, listen, bitch," Stella narrowed her eyes and moved to the edge of the plush leader. "I don't know what plans you have but it's never going to work. You don't even know these people, you don't know the Lockwood's, at least not any better than I do," she paused and then continued slowly, syllable by syllable, "Accept the reality, Bianca. Caleb will never look at you."Bianca was smiling all the while, making Stella even more irritated."Tell me something Stella," Bianca also moved to the edge of the seat. "Do you, er, get occasional headaches after that slap Jane gave to you?" Stella's brows pulled toget
CHAPTER 116One of the most peaceful nights he had ever had was suddenly interrupted by the loud ringing of his phone.He let the phone ring for a while, pretending not to hear it and hoping the caller would find something better to do.But the call didn't stop.With a grunt, he spread his hand out and tapped the bed beside him, but he felt nothing. His eyes opened slowly and looked around the room."Jane?" He asked but there was no response.Lifting his shoulders to lie in his elbow, he craned his neck from side to side in order to ease the tense muscles and as his stomach grumbled, he remembered that he had fallen asleep earlier the previous noon and had not eaten.His phone began to ring again."Ugh!" He groaned and snatched the phone.He had only seen the first two letters: 'Xa' when his eyes flew wide open and he sat up with alarm, wondering why Xavier would be calling him at such an early hour, but when he remembered that Xavier had not made a move to attend the memorial as wel
CHAPTER 174Minutes after Marcus revealed all he knew, dozens of patrol cars as well as two helicopters were despatched to the location Marcus had given.One of the helicopter pilots sighted the house from above and the officers, including Caleb quickly moved towards it.They kicked the door of the building down without hesitation and as Caleb ran in, his gaze immediately fell on Jane's weak body sprawled on the bare floor. Caleb rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her. This time, he did not hold back his tears.Her body and clothes were covered in dirt, some parts of her body was swollen and there were a few cuts in different places, but still she didn't lose her beauty.Jane muttered something with her eyes half closed.“I'm here, baby, I'm here. You're gonna be okay. It's all over, you'll be fine,” Caleb didn't mind that some droplets of his tears fell on her face, all he knew was that he had finally found her and he was never going to let go ever again.Some medical attenda
CHAPTER 173“He's a lying bastard! How can you believe all that?” Xavier asked Ross who had asked to question Xavier immediately Lorenzo told them everything.“It's not something we would want to believe as well, Mr Xavier, but he showed us the millions of dollars as proof,” there was a look of disappointment on Ross's face. “You do know that drug trafficking is a really serious offence, right?”“There is nothing to prove that I'm involved with this man!” Xavier yelled. “How do you know if someone didn't pay him to lie against me?”“He gave us a perfect description of you and said you came around every week to collect the profits that belonged to both you and coincidentallly Marcus Dreame.”“This is outrageous, Ross.”“Trust me, Mr Xavier, the whole situation has also left me totally dumfounded, but it's also helping to put the pieces together.”“What pieces are you talking about, Ross? What the hell is all this? I deserve more respect than this, don't I? How and why would I get mysel
CHAPTER 172Four days and there had been no word from either Xavier or Mann, no newspapers to tell him what was going on outside, and they were running out of food. And he still haven't received a cheque from the weekly profit as usual. Marcus was totally losing it.He paced from one end of the house to another.“That fucker!” He said through his teeth, imagining Xavier amassing all the money to himself. He reasoned that Xavier had probably withdrawn himself from situation and had left him and Jane there to die of starvation. And probably enjoying all the money and profit from their illegal business. The thought of that sickened him. Xavier had probably come to his wits end and had decided to keep his slate clean.But Marcus was not one known to easily let go.He knew he was eventually going to go down, and he would stop at nothing to bring others involved down with him.“You'll be a dead man if you step out of that door,” Jane said weakly as she watched him put on his camouflage.
CHAPTER 171Lorenzo sat at his desk, brooding.Two days had passed and neither Xavier nor his scary looking second hand man had come to collect their weekly profit.He looked down at the stack of money in the bag on his desk. If he took even a note from it, Xavier would know and would kill him without thinking twice. He was a man not to be conned and also a man to be feared. But as he constantly stared at the pile of money, he felt his walls of restraint breaking down. The sight of money always enticed him but tampering with Xavier's money was like signing his own death warrant. He quickly zipped up the bag, swallowed some sedative pills and then looked up Xavier's address on his computer. It was better to get the money to him instead than let it stay another day in his office.___Lilian was wrapping her wet hair up in a bun and preparing for lunch when she heard the knock on the front door.“Don't worry, I'll get it,” she said to the house worker who was setting the table.“Hi?” She
CHAPTER 170Lilian, who had heard from Caleb about her mother and uncle's arrest quickly returned back to the state to see them.Rose on the other hand, had just spoken to the detective and was still in a state of shock. Tears rolled down her face as she stared at the photos of her and Xavier sprawled on the table. She had initially thought that Stella was bluffing when she said she had kept some clues for her lawyer to give the police if anything happened to her.The door suddenly opened and an officer popped his head in.“Ma’am, your daughter is here to see you,” he informed.“What? My daughter?” Rose asked with surprise and began to clean her face while stacking the photos together hurriely. “Take everything with you,” she told her lawyer. “Leave immediately.”Lilian stepped in just as her lawyer walked out.They both stared at each other for a long time and Lilian's steady gaze was like hot iron searing her heart. Every second of silence that passed reminded Rose that she had now
CHAPTER 169“You're lucky my lawyer is already on his way. You'd better start preparing an explanation for why you had the guts to touch me!” Xavier ranted as the officers led them through the station.Rose on the other hand did not even try to struggle because she knew they were guilty, and her conscience kept battling with her. She did a very bad job concealing the shock expression that was spread across her face. As she watched the officers lead Xavier to one end of the hallway, her eyes landed on two familiar faces and her eyes widened with shock.Stella's parents! Stella's dad was consoling his wife who was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably.“Rose… you…” Stella's father said when their eyes met, but before she could respond, the officers led her away. She could still hear Stella's mother's voice.“I told her to stay away from their family, I warned her…”Xavier was taken to a dimly lit interrogation room, the room was hotter than usual and Xavier swiftly adjusted his tie, the
CHAPTER 168“I'm sorry… what? What's that supposed to mean?” Xavier asked with his brows furrowed in annoyance. Fear flickered in his eyes but he squared his shoulders and maintained an annoyed visage.“Mr Xavier you have a right to remain silent. Anything you say now can, shall and will be used against you in the court of law…”“You can't arrest us!” Rose said. “What the hell did we do? What's all this about? This is an insult to my person!”Caleb watched with his spoon frozen in his hand. Things were happening too fast for his brain to process and he almost thought he was hallucinating when an officer walked to his mother and ordered her to stand.“Hold up! Hold up!” Caleb finally said to the officers as he stood up.“What's all this about?”“They are being arrested as prime suspects in the murder of Miss Stella Rosman,” the officer explained. Rose and Caleb exchanged glances and while Xavier was able to maintain his composure, Rose visibly went pale.“This is crazy! I barely even k
Chapter 167It had been two days since Marcus was revealed to be the prime suspect in Jane's disappearance. And the forensic tests came out fine that Marcus was the owner of those male accessories as some combs in the bathroom had his hair samples which were tested. The police officers had combed the woods for two whole days yet there was no sign of either Marcus or Jane and there was also no clue left that could lead to them.“They couldn't have just disappeared,” Rose said one morning as they were having breakfast.Caleb had only taken a few slices of his toast and then walked to the living room with his coffee. His mother had been trying to make conversation with him for the past few hours but talking was the last thing he wanted to do. He was preparing to step out one last time with a few officers to search deeper into the woods. He turned on the television.“Have they found out if there's an insider yet?” Rose was speaking only on the topics that related to Jane because she kne
Chapter 166“I still don't understand why it's so difficult for you to put a call across to him!” Marcus shouted. “We've been waiting for hours for fucks sake!”They were now in a bigger house with lesser windows and only one sofa as furniture. Mann was staring out blankly from one of the windows.“You know, Mr Dreame, you complain too much for a man.”“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Marcus scowled and lunged towards him.“You come in at the middle of the night and sweep us all away without explanation and you want me to be quiet and act like nothing happened?”“No, I'm only asking you to be patient,” Mann replied cooly.“Don't tell me that bullshit! My patience expired hours ago. Now call up Xavier.”“Boss is the one who would make the call to us. I'm in no position to call him unless in a serious emergency…”“This is a serious emergency!”“No, it isn't, Mr Dreame. This is just you acting like a scared little girl. Even the woman's doing better than you.”They both turned t