Amelia I held my phone to my ear, distracted by the clothes I was packing for my trip home. Hayley's voice came through, concerned and caring. "How's your mom doing?" "She's doing better," I replied absent-mindedly, my focus on the clothes. “Ella said the doctors are positive she would recover fine.” "Ella? You're not with your mom?" Her question snapped me back to attention. I had forgotten to tell her. With the back-and-forth travel and my late-night visit to the warehouse, I had dosed off immediately when I saw a bed. "Uh, I'm actually in New York City right now. Something came up." "What are you doing here?" She asked. I paused, fighting the urge within me. "I came back yesterday to get my things,” I lied. “But I'll be heading back home in a few minutes." "Oh, I see. I'll come with you then," her tone was casual, almost nonchalant. My heart pumped with excitement. I've missed my best friend and I wanted to see her. "You want to come to Wisconsin with me?" I asked
Chapter 12Amelia "How... how did this happen?" She stammered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're married? And pregnant? Without me knowing?" "I know it's a lot to take in, but please just listen." I pleaded.She shook her head, "I can't believe you would keep this from me, Amelia. Your own mother. You're supposed to set an example for your little sister.""It happened so fast mom, we fell in love and then got married in court. It wasn't a big wedding." That was a big lie. I was lying to her in her face. But what other choice do I have?“You're not married by a priest! Oh, Amelia… what did I do to deserve this?”Oh, my! I've messed up big time. I didn't intend to reveal anything about the wedding. But my nerves are getting the best of me.“Mum, we plan to have a big white wedding,” I continued my lie, trying to salvage the situation. “With you and Ella present, before the Lord. But we're waiting for you to get better, Mum.”I could feel Hayley's burning gaze on me. But I ign
Alexander I sat in my office, lost in the stacks of papers and files on my desk. The shrill ring of my phone broke the silence, I glanced at the screen, and a wide grin spread across my face as I saw the name "Charles" flashing back at me."Hey, man," I greeted as soon as I answered."How are you doing married man?" Charles teased at the other end of the phone.I chuckled, leaning back in my chair, It's been one month since I married Mia and Charles still teased me about it. Well, I decided to join in the fun. "Still dealing with your superstar girlfriend's diva antics or has she finally learned to tolerate you?" I teased back.The laughter on the other end of the line was infectious, and I could almost see Charles' grin through the phone. "Oh, I've missed you so much, man!" he exclaimed, his voice still chuckling, "Get your ass to the club later, we've got some serious catching up to do!"Charles, my best friend, was one to party. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason for
Selene My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself lying in the back seat of a car, my mind foggy and my memories hazy. But one image stood out clearly - Alex, rushing to my aid.A soft smile spread across my lips as I whispered to myself, "My knight in shining armour."The car came to a stop, and Alex opened the door, gently pulling me out. My legs faltered, still weakened by the alcohol, and Alex swiftly lifted me into his arms, cradling me like a child. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding tight and sniffing it.A subtle smile spread across my face as I gazed at him, taking in the chiselled features of his striking face. His handsome appearance was undeniable. And for the first time, I saw his face soften, not the cold demeanour he usually reserved for me. Like he had been harbouring a grudge against me. Like I had wronged him in a past life. I was lost in thought, my mind reeling as I stared at him, My thoughts were a jumbled mess as I stared at him. The next thing I knew,
Chapter 15Amelia "Have you seen it?!" Hayley shouted from the other end of the line."Seen what?" I asked groggily, not happy I had been woken by this time of day.I never knew the first trimester would be this exhausting... or I knew but never expected it. I've had bouts of morning sickness that leave me drained every single time. "You haven't seen it then," "Hayley, what is it? I'm not in the mood for long talk." I said, my voice impatient."Go to TMZ!” she exclaimed."Tone it down, Hay,” I begged her, already itching to get off the phone and back to my dream world. “Just tell me already, Hayley." "Girl, You're only eight weeks pregnant. Don't be lazy, just go online and check the latest news on their page." she insisted, heaving a sigh out of frustration. I could almost picture her pouting as she spoke and I smiled.I succumbed, grabbed my phone from the bedside drawer and flipped it open. I opened my Instagram and clicked on the TMZ website to see what Hayley was freaking out
Amelia"Oh my God, Hayley! You scared the shit out of me." I exclaimed, my voice shaking with fear."Sorry! I noticed you rushing in here and I was wondering what was happening. Why did you rush in here? Are you planning on getting books?" Hayley questioned, her brows furrowed in confusion as she stared at my empty hands."Were you the one following me?" I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly.Hayley arched her brow, her expression puzzled, "No. Was someone following you?" she asked, her eyes darting around us.I rubbed my temple, shivering slightly as the cool breeze brushed against my skin. "I'm not sure. I just had this weird feeling like someone was following me.""Amelia, are you all right? You're covered in sweat," Hayley said, her voice filled with concern as she gazed at me with a worried expression."I need to get out of here, Hayley," I said, brushing past her and hurrying out of the bookstore. I stood outside, taking deep breaths and trying to calm myself down.She followed be
Alexander "This entire area is swarming with paparazzi!" I thundered at my security team. "Do your job and get them out of here immediately! Clear the premises now!"I stole one last glance at them before letting the curtain fall. It was a mess outside. They have surrounded the entrance of the estate.Why were they here? These people were like vultures, they only gathered where there was news. Amelia left the house alone, I wondered if the paparazzi spotted her as she was leaving. Have they found out about her? Pa Martins had made it clear the other day, that the public mustn't know about her or the pregnancy. I picked up my phone and dialled Amelia’s number. It went to voicemail. I tried again and it went straight to voicemail.Goddammit, Amelia? Where the fuck are you?! I slammed the door shut, squeezing my phone tightly in my fist.I tried her number again. Still the same response. Left with no other option, I resorted to tracking her location through her phone's GPS. I dialled
Selene "Ugh," I lifted my head with a groan and was immediately struck by the harsh sunlight, which felt like a dagger piercing through my brain. I fell back onto the bed. "Owww, I need coffee," I moaned. As I lay there, the events of the previous night came rushing back to me. I remembered kissing an unresponsive Alex. The flashback played in my head. "Selene, what the...!" he exclaimed, trying to push me away. But I held fast, my lips still pressed against his, refusing to let go. He finally broke away, shoving me backwards. I stumbled, regaining my balance. I glared at his insolent face. "Fine, I'll leave!" I snarled, storming over to where my dress lay, snagged it up and draped it over my head. "You're pathetic," I spat out and strode past him out of the room. "Damn Alexander and his attitude," I blurted out, shaking my head in annoyance as I returned to the present moment. A light tap on my door. “We leave in thirty minutes,” Alexander’s voice carried into the room
Alexander Two days ago“If my assets are what they want, they can have them,” I said, my voice heavy with frustration. “I won’t be able to live with myself if anything happens to Misty.”“What if they don’t release her after you give them everything?” Sarah asked, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall.“She’s right,” Charlie added. “What if they… traffic her?”“They won’t. If I give them what they want, she’ll be fine.”“Let’s just call the cops,” Amelia said.“No cops!” I snapped. “I don’t want to upset them.”“Alex, this isn’t a movie. We can’t just keep this to ourselves and hope they don’t harm her.” Charlie added.I dragged my hands through my hair, the pressure in my chest was becoming unbearable. “Fuck!” The word exploded out of me. “I need to think.”I stormed into my study and slammed the door shut behind me. My vision blurred with anger as I stared at the cluttered desk. In a blind fury, I swept everything off it with one angry motion, sending papers, pens, and a
Henry “It’s really working,” I said, unable to hide the hint of disbelief in my voice. My dad smirked. “Of course, it’s working. It’s my plan, Henry. It’s supposed to work. I trust all your doubts have been cleared now?” Selene chimed in, lounging against the wall with a smug grin. “I told you your dad was right. There are three people Alexander loves more than anything: his sister, Amelia, and their daughter.” My dad turned his cold gaze toward her. “I don’t know why you’re still here. Don’t you have something better to do?” Selene straightened. “Henry said it was okay for me to stay.” “Leave her alone, Dad,” I interjected. “She’s helped us. We’re all on the same side here.” “She helped you, not me.” He shot her a disdainful look. “This will all be over soon. What are you planning to do with Amelia?” “The same thing we plan on doing to her daughter.” Selene’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re going to kill both of them?” “Do you have a problem with that?” my dad asked sharply
Alexander “It’s been two days,” Amelia said softly, her voice strained with worry. “The kidnapper hasn’t called. Let’s just go to the cops.”“No, we can’t. If we involve the police, they’ll kill her. We need to play it safe. I’ve already spoken to my lawyer—everything’s ready. We’ll give them what they want and get her back.”Amelia sank onto the edge of the bed. “I just… I wonder how Misty is doing.”“She’s fine,” I said, more to convince myself than her. “And as long as we play by their rules and do exactly what they say, she’ll stay fine.”Amelia looked down. “I hope so. She must hate us right now.”I frowned. “She wouldn’t hate us.”“Really? She said she wanted to come home, and we haven’t brought her home. Of course, she would hate us.”I sighed. “I bet she’s giving them a hard time. You know how stubborn she can be.”We both chuckled. Then Amelia sniffled, almost breaking into tears.“Hey,” I said softly, shaking my head. “Don’t.”Her eyes glistened with fresh tears. “What if i
Alexander My heart clenched as I glanced at Sarah, then at Charlie, who stood stiffly by the window. Amelia was curled up in the armchair, her hands twisting the hem of her sweater, and her tear-streaked face buried in her knees.I was barely holding it together. My fists clenched at my sides as the police officer in the room delivered his report. “Henry is no longer a suspect,” he muttered. “What?” We said in unison, shock etched on our faces.“He came down to the station voluntarily this morning. We questioned him, and his alibi checked out. So we had to let him go.” The room fell into stunned silence. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out whatever he said next. “You let him go?” I snapped.The officer straightened slightly, his eyes narrowing as I took a step toward him. “You’re telling me that you just let him walk out? Are you serious?”“Mr. Smith,” the officer began. “There was no evidence—”“I don’t give a damn about the evidence!” I shouted. “Henry did this! He took
Henry I watched as Selene walked in, her sharp eyes darting around, taking in the space. “Is this where you live now, Henry?” she asked, as she glanced at the cluttered shelves and dim lighting. I sighed, already regretting my decision to bring her here. “Don’t make me regret this.” She shrugged. “Fine, fine. I was just admiring your… man cave.” Her gaze swept the room again before landing on me. “So, where are the bugs?” I pointed to the small workstation set up near the wall. “Over here. I’ve got enough.” She walked over, and the moment her eyes landed on the equipment, she let out a low whistle. “Holy shit. This feels like one of those mafia movies.” “Mafias don’t use bugs, Selene,” I said, shaking my head. “Yeah? Well, maybe we’re like the FBI then. Or the CIA.” She grinned, clearly enjoying herself. I levelled her with a look. “We’re just regular people, okay? Let’s not get carried away.” Her attention shifted to the table where a few guns were laid out. She pointed to
Amelia “We shouldn’t be out here, Hay,” I muttered.“Come on,” Hayley said, brushing off my concern. “Misty wanted to come here. Besides, you guys have been cooped up inside for days now.”“I told Alexander we’d stay at your house,” I said, glancing around nervously.“It’s only going to be a couple of minutes. Let Misty enjoy a little freedom. Look at her.” Hayley gestured toward Misty, who was laughing and playing with the other kids. “She’s so happy. We’ll be out of here soon.”I followed her gaze and saw Misty chasing a ball with a wide grin on her face. My heart softened just a little. “I guess you’re right,” I admitted.“Amelia,” Hayley whispered, nudging me.“What?” I asked, looking at her.“Look at that hot dad over there,” her voice was barely audible.“Hayley, stop it. You have Daniel,” I said, rolling my eyes.“That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a hot, sexy man when I see one,” she replied with a sly smile.I chuckled, shaking my head, and turned away. My eyes scanned the
Alexander“Hey,” her voice cut softly through the haze of my sleep.My eyes fluttered open to find her sitting on the edge of the bed, her hair tousled and a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Good morning, darling,” I murmured, leaning forward to place a kiss on her lips. My fingers brushed her cheek as I pulled back. “How was your night?”She raised a brow. “You mean after you kept me awake for hours working on my body?”A chuckle rumbled from my chest as I propped myself up on my elbow. “I call that productive use of time.”“Productive?” she repeated, rolling her eyes dramatically. “You’ve got quite the definition of productivity, Alexander.”I reached out, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back down onto the bed. She squealed in protest, but her laughter betrayed her enjoyment.“You didn’t seem to mind last night,” I teased, my lips brushing against her ear.Her cheeks flushed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”“And yet, here you are,” I said, smirking as I tigh
Selene “Hey, girl,” I said, standing up and rushing to hug Sarah as soon as she walked in. I wrapped my arms tightly around her. “I’m so sorry for what happened.”“It’s okay, Selene. It wasn’t your fault. You saw the signs and tried to warn me. I just wasn’t paying attention.”I pulled back slightly, holding her by the shoulders. “I knew that son of a bitch was up to something,” I muttered.She sighed and moved past me to sit on the couch. “I wish I wasn’t so blinded by love.”“Has he been found?” I asked, walking over to sit beside her. “Do they know where he is?”Sarah shook her head. “I don’t know. Alexander has people looking for him.”“So, they don’t know where he is,” I said flatly.“Yeah,” she confirmed. “All I know is that he’s out there somewhere, and I just hope Alexander’s people find him.”“What…” I hesitated for a moment, then asked. “what will Alex do to him when he finds him?”“I don’t know. But you know how Alexander is. Whatever he has planned for Henry won’t be good
Amelia Ella gestured toward the security guards stationed inside the house, her frustration written all over her face. “When do you think this will end?” she asked, her tone heavy with exasperation.I shook my head. “I don’t know.”“God, I just want this to be over,” she groaned. “I’m so sick of them following me everywhere. I even had to skip a party because I didn’t want to feel embarrassed.”I raised an eyebrow. “I thought having bodyguards was supposed to make you look cool.”She let out a sharp laugh, the kind that carried more annoyance than amusement. “Cool? Are you serious? It’s a party, not a red carpet event. The guards would just scare everyone off, keep them from even getting close to me. How am I supposed to meet anyone like that? How am I supposed to find the perfect guy? I just want to get laid, for God’s sake.”“I’m sorry, Ella. Alexander just wants us to be safe. Henry is still out there and—”She cut me off, throwing her hands up. “I know, I know! But I don’t think