M I R A N D A I still haven’t gotten over about the fact that Hugo nose my full name. And to make it worse, now was really the time for me to ditch my contact lenses and ruin all my cover. While the foods were served one after another, all of us started eating and while I was doing so, I still feel Hugo's eyes glancing at me from time to time. I have been trying so hard not to meet his gaze because I don’t really want Audrey to be starting a fit in here, not in front of Landon and the others. I slowly pull my head up, trying to take a peek from Hugo but as soon as I did so, he is already staring at me while he feeds himself. Every action he does, he stares at me, when he takes a sip from his drink, when he wipes his cheek with the table napkin or when someone is talking, his damned glue-green eyes were on me. It was so hard not to feel distracted because I came here with Landon and I don’t want him to think of anything and I don’t want him to suspect anything too. I tell myself I
36 M I R A N D A My smiles stretches wider on my face as I cup his cheek and smiles at me before he plants a kiss on my forehead. Everyone, excluding Hugo and Audrey, were teasing us. "Son?" Paris calls out. "Oh my gosh you have a son? How lovely!" She adds, smiling "I've been wanting a baby boy as well." Scarlet chimes. I was surprised that they find it acceptable that a woman like me could be with Landon. Ever since I met Audrey, I thought most of the other guy’s girlfriends would treat me with a bad attitude regarding Ben’s existence in my life. All this time I was worried of what they will think of me especially with Charlotte earlier, I didn’t know there are also women who would actually back me up and not drag me down. "You should've invited him and brought him along." Paris says with a happy smile. "He's with Landon's mum." I answer. "Aunt Jo, is very fond of him. She seems to love him." I smile happily. "Well I'm glad Landon finally found a girlfriend. It's been a very
36.5My smiles stretches wider on my face as I cup his cheek and smiles at me before he plants a kiss on my forehead. Everyone, excluding Hugo and Audrey, were teasing us. "Son?" Paris calls out. "Oh my gosh you have a son? How lovely!" She adds, smiling"I've been wanting a baby boy as well." Scarlet chimes.I was surprised that they find it acceptable that a woman like me could be with Landon. Ever since I met Audrey, I thought most of the other guy’s girlfriends would treat me with a bad attitude regarding Ben’s existence in my life. All this time I was worried of what they will think of me especially with Charlotte earlier, I didn’t know there are also women who would actually back me up and not drag me down."You should've invited him and brought him along." Paris says with a happy smile."He's with Landon's mum." I answer. "Aunt Jo, is very fond of him. She seems to love him." I smile happily."Well I'm glad Landon finally found a girlfriend. It's been a very long while since h
37M I R A N D AI exhale heavily.Finally we're back in New York and I am glad we are back. Aside from the fact that I can't get my mind off of Hugo when I was in London, I’m also bothered about the fact that Audrey is pregnant and aside from her pregnancy, I have a strong feeling that Hugo is slightly remembering me as the girl he fucked seven years ago. Deep inside, I'm still wishing he doesn't recognize me.With the distance between us, at least he's far from Ben and I which is actually a good thing… for now.Days passed by after having that private dinner party, rumors has it going that Landon and I are officially publicly known. People have been talking about it and people have been saying lots of positive and negative things to say about us being together. I was no longer bothered about it because Landon told me not to worry even though those fans who are still on track about some updates about the guys are the ones making me worry. For myself, yes. For Ben too.I've read some
37.5H U G ODinner party.Blue eyes.Freaking blue eyes.I stare at her as Miranda opens the bathroom door for me and both of us neither spoke for a few seconds. I can feel that she is tensed and I can see it through her blue eyes. I don't know why my feet dragged me all the way here just to see her and just to talk to her. This was not right, I know but I cannot help it. She hasn't responded to my text a while ago and I really wanna talk to her so bad. It's been a few months that we haven't talked, a few months since the last time that I've seen her. A few months since the last time we fought."What do you want?" She asks.“We need to talk.” I say firmly.Damn if I just brought that necklace with me right now, I could have shown her.It all leads to her.The necklace.The change of hair color.Her very familiar face when I saw her inside that hospital in New York.Her original roots on her dark hair showing off.And God!Ben!Ben looks like me.Exactly like me!He could be my son!
38H U G O New York City.I came here for Miranda because we need to have the conversation I have been meaning to ask from her. The conversation I have been wanting to ask from her. I wanna have a personal conversation with her while Audrey is out in France for her fashion week and she's not even bothered about our baby's health or neither her health condition knowing she’s pregnant. Now that Landon is back in London for his football team charity work, it is time for me to visit Miranda.This is the time to talk about things we should have ought to discuss.I step out of the airplane and quickly shove my bag over my shoulder feeling the New York breeze hit my face gently caressing my cheeks. I fix my hat and quickly walked out of the airport as I walk fast to my car so I won't get noticed, even though some people already saw me and noticed me.I didn't really want to be seen by the paps and Audrey doesn't know I came here because it would only make things worse than it already is. I
39M I R A N D A I stand completely frozen as soon as I hear another voice coming from behind me. My heart is beating like crazy and my hands feel damned cold. I was not ready to face who it was and I don’t know when will I ever learn how to be ready when eventually the people will know about the truth.Landon will know the truth.Hugo will know the truth."Landon." I breathlessly call out his name as he slowly closes the door behind him.He stares at me and at Vivian eagerly looking all confused with what he just heard. I know he is having a hard time processing everything that he heard from here because I have never really told him about the truth and he never actually asked about Ben’s father because he told me that I can tell him only when he is ready. Why is Vivian such a thin-lipped?Why did he ever had to hear that right now?Now is not actually the right time for that.I feel my heart being squeezed to the tiniest piece so hard that it's taking out all of the blood from my s
40H U G OSEVEN YEARS AGOLos Angeles.Avalon, 11PMI hopped off my car as soon as I parked right outside a club named Avalon. I'm not much of a fan with bars but I love the thought of getting a little bit tipsy for a night and going out with friends just enjoying a few drinks aside from smoking some weed. Since our break is about to end in a few days, I think I need something fun before we continue our world tour. Maybe a few shots with Ned and Zachary won't actually hurt, and then maybe meet some couple of women to just hang around all through the night.Who knows? I might find one lucky woman who I can fuck with tonight.The three of us marched our way inside the club together with our bodyguard, John, who is always so protective. He walks with us and makes sure we got in safe without being spotted. As soon as we entered Avalon, I see ridiculously sexy women were around who were busy taking shots and some were even dancing as if they were some strippers. Most of them would glance
87 T H E A Sebastian committed suicide. He ended his own life with a gun in his head. No one even knew how he had a gun in the first place and no one had any idea he was going to do that. He was supposed to meet Ben and the others tomorrow for a reunion. He was supposed to live a new life after being sentenced in prison for seven years. He was supposed to live in a tropical place and start a new life for himself. He was supposed to live a life filled with dreams now that he is out in prison. Sebastian was supposed to live. I was supposed to forgive him. The autopsy report stated that it happened around twelve midnight which means just a few hours after he left our home. I have never felt so depressed in my entire life that I wasn't even able to tell him a lot of things that I wanted to say. I didnt know what I was exactly feeling, completely lost in my thoughts and emotions after Sebastian's passing. I knew that there was something wrong in his eyes when he talked to me becaus
86T H E A"How have you been?" He asks.Sebastian wore blue, white and light pink plaided top, a pair of faded jeans and a dirty white sneakers. He looked older than the last time I saw him and his hair has gotten longer too. He looked different, but those eyes still frightens me.Those merciless eyes.I couldn't stare at him longer and I had to look away from his gaze. I clear my throat, "I have been well." I answered."I'm really glad that you are." Sebastian tells me."Um, do you want to drink something Sebastian? Tea?" Ben offers.I quickly held his wrist, stopping him from leaving me alone in here and stared into his eyes as I said to him. "Please don't leave me here."Ben stares intently at me before he turns to Sebastian who speaks, "You dont really have to offer me anything."I bite my inner cheek and breathe in some confidence before I faced Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"Sebastian stares at me eagerly."What do you want?" I asked firmly."I came here to see if you ha
85T H E AI couldn't sleep the entire night as I was bothered about Sebastian's release happening in just a few hours.Thoughts were filling and piling inside my head one over the other and I don't know if this was going to let me sleep at all.So I slipped out of the bed where Ben was sleeping soundly and headed out of bedroom to get myself a glass of wine from downstairs. I hate myself when I turn to alcohol every time my thoughts are fogged up and fucked up. I hate when there are questions left unanswered and my solution is alcohol.I hated it.I hated it so much I hate myself too.I finished two glasses of wine and spent almost thirty minutes just sitting on a chair where I tried to drown and sort my troubled thoughts. I finally pulled myself up and headed back to my bedroom only until I saw Xavier heading out of his room, crying. I rushed to his side and wished that he wouldn't smell the stingy scent of alcohol from my breath."Xavier." I cooed. "What happened?""Mommy I had a n
84T H E A“Why didn’t you tell him?”Benedict's question still lingers in my mind.Why didn't I tell Sebastian back in the day?I have been asking myself that same question over and over again for the past couple of years. I used to tell myself that I wasn't ready and I know I wasn't ready. I lied to myself when I said I was ready to confess to him about our child but I was absentmindedly denying the fact that my mind was filled with so many thoughts as soon as I faced Sebastian.When I saw him, I was reminded of how he raped me mercilessly. When I saw him, I was reminded of how dirty of a woman I was. When I saw him, I was reminded of how I didn't want this baby to be born if only it hadn't been for Ben.Ben has always been my rock and my strength after everything that happened to me. All these years, he accepted me no matter what and I have been beyond blessed to have a man like that in my life.That kind of love and care he showed me is going to be something I didn't want to waste
83T H E AI stare at my own reflection in front of the mirror, I gained weight but I look different compared to the old me a few weeks ago. My eyes travelled down to my baby bump and as I turn to my side, I feel more anxiety building in the back of my head. I am not confident enough that I will be a good mother to this baby once it’s out when I know this baby came from a man who I trusted so much but just raped me. My bump is starting to show now and I know I have a lifelong responsibility waiting ahead of me. I just hope I will be responsible enough.I rub my hand over my small tummy then smiled at myself.“You will be fine.” I told my baby.Ben is here for me and for us. He always has. He made everything feel better. He made me better and happier without asking too much in return. He is a very selfless man and I owe him my life. My everything and all that I have left.I breathe out heavily and tucked my hair behind my ears as I stare at myself wearing this white dress and white ba
82B E N E D I C TShe stands by the balcony sliding door, staring at an empty space wearing my shirt and some pajamas. Standing here afar from Thea, looking at her, I can see and I can feel that her mind is full. It’s full of endless thoughts and worries. I wish I could take some from her restless bothered thoughts and I wish I could help her with what she is going through.Thea is strong but I don’t want her to have another breakdown. I hope I can share the pain and confusions she is going through right now. I wish, at least I could make her happy despite of what has happened lately.But I don’t know what to do as well.I am bothered too, restless, anxious, troubled and angry. I still have this growing hate in me and unwillingness to befriend Sebastian.I hate him.I walk towards Thea and wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t budge but still sets her eyes out the window. “There are no stars tonight.” I say.She sighs heavily.“Aren’t you hungry sweetheart?” I ask.She didn’t answer
81B E N E D I C T“The CEO of Saintclare Enterprises , finally off the market!!”I read mentally the newspaper’s headlines as soon as I got into my office. I scan through the magazines which were also over my desk, and the headlines were also all about me.I sigh. “I knew this was gonna come out first thing in the morning.”The phone on top of my desk rings, I quickly picked it up, “Yes.”“Mr. Saintclare everyone is calling in for an interview with you. They’re all asking if you have any available time.” I can hear telephones ringing from my secretary’s background.“Cancel all interviews. Tell them I have a busy schedule up until next week.” I hung up.Suddenly the phone in my pocket rings. I stare at the screen and it was Mrs. Brown, my PR.I sigh as I answer, “I know what you’re going to say.”“It’s everywhere. My phone has been ringing since six o’clock this morning. I don’t know what to answer them.”“Did you say anything about Thea?”“No. Not unless you tell me to. I’m only wait
80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed
79THEASometimes, in our lives there are instances when you just want to disappear because of awkward situations or embarrassing moments. And right now, that’s what I want to happen. I want to teleport to another place far from here.It feels like everything inside my system malfunctioned and brain feels dead. I have never felt more disgusted of myself and my past than how Sebastian is embarrassing me right now in front of Ben. No one has ever made me feel so little of myself, only Sebastian.This bastard. This one of a hell man. I wish he dies.My tears were just flowing from my closed eyes and I feel this growing pain against my chest. I try to breathe in but the pain grows as I exhale so I remained quiet. I don’t want to face anyone or see how they look at me with disgust and filth. I just want to disappear like one pop of a bubble or run out of this house and never look back.But I cant, I know I have to face them now. I have to face Khaleel. I have to face Benedict even if it’s