CHAPTER 33M I R A N D A"Bethany Adelaide." I say as I carry her over my arms as I wipe my tears escaping from my eyes.All I could do was hold her and I was smitten by her innocence. This is always gonna be the best feeling in the world. She's so perfect on my arms as I carry her just like how I carried Ben for the first time. I still get amazed by how I created this tiny gorgeous person. As I look at her with her small face, tiny fingers, hands, toes, and how she's so small is beautiful to me. She sleeps on my arms so peacefully. She's just too beautiful to look away.It's always gonna feel fantastic and it's gonna feel this way, I think. I feel very emotional as I think of how I held Ben like this years ago. I remember that I was alone that time when I gave birth to him. Hugo wasn't here for me, and nobody did. The second time I gave birth to his second child, he still isn't here. He chose to be with Melody than to be with me while I give birth to his baby.I've been crying since
CHAPTER 34H U G O"Don't say goodbye, please. Don't tell me it's over cos I don't want it to end. Don't tell me not to wait cos I still want to wait for you. Don't tell me you've got a change of heart because that will kill me." I tell her.I shake my head as I watch her cry. "Don't say goodbye yet. Say goodbye when you're ready to let me go." I wipe her tears off.She exhales, "Hugo... It's too complicated. Why do you do this to me?""Because I know we're still in love with each other. I still feel it Rose."She sighs heavily and I know this sounds crazy but I wanted to let her know about what I still feel for her after what she find out about what I've been having with Melody lately, I know she overheard us talking about it. I wanted to let her know that I'll still wait for her and only for her even if it means it'll take years for me to. I will. And I wanted to let her know that I don't want anyone else but her. Only her."What about Melody?" She asks, not looking at me."She's ju
CHAPTER 35M I R A N D A"Zachary." I called out as soon he enters the backyard and joined us. He quickly gave me a brief hug and released me."Hey Randy." He greets and smiled. "Hey hey Benny boy." He greeted Ben too and squat down in front of him."Uncle Zachary!" Ben exclaims and hugs him. I watch as Zachary smile so beautifully right now.Damn he still looks so perfect like a God.Ben pulled himself away and pointed at what Zachary was bringing with him. "What are inside that paper bag?" Ben asks."Oh this?" He asked then placed the paper bag on top of the table. "My mom baked cookies last night and sent us some." He added."Cookies?!" Ben happily exclaimed."Ben calm down." I say while chuckling.Zachary pulled his head up to me and joined me from laughing then he stands. "It's okay Randy. I thought maybe Ben would love it too.""Thank you. But this is a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?" I asked him."I just wanted to check on you."I smiled. "Wow. That's surprising."He
CHAPTER 36H U G OHow?How did that even happen?How in the world did it get leaked?I pace back and forth inside my office as I think about it and still no clue leads to everything that I just found out. I have no idea how it went viral and I'm maddened that it got leaked but by who? I've googled what Ned told me a while ago and it was indeed the one on my phone.But how? I mentally asked myself again the question I couldn't even answer myself.I've had my iPhone with me the entire time and I don't recall any incident these past few that it had been lost cos it wasn't. I kept reading the news until I was halfway through it, my eyes dilated as I was surprised that my name was brought up to the topic. I was involved right away. Of course I had to be, she was my ex wife.'Audrey Chamberlain was videotaped doing cocaine with an unknown man and caught doing sex with him afterwards. The leaked scandal was said to be hacked from Hugo Saintclare's iCloud account based from an unknown source
CHAPTER 37M I R A N D AI take a good look at Bethany while she sleeps peacefully on top of her crib. I kiss her forehead goodnight and walked to Ben's bedroom. He's fast asleep too while he hugs that hot dog pillow in between his thighs and hugs it close to his cheeks. I've been walking around the mansion to look for Landon.When I woke up, he wasn't next to me anymore. And I'm worried where he is at this very moment. I stand out of his study and I think he is behind this room. I slowly opened the door as it squeaks open and stood by the threshold."Landon?" I entered his study.There he is with a bottle of liquor next to him and a glass half emptied by the golden brown colored alcohol. I wonder what's bothering him. He always comes here and brings with him a bottle of alcohol and drowns himself with it."There you are." I added with a soft voice.He pulled his head up to me and I noticed that the entire room was insanely quiet and a bit dark. The light from his lampshade was the o
CHAPTER 38H U G O"Are you sure with this Mr. Saintclare?" He asks.I nodded."Yes." I fix my tie. "I wanna clear my name from this irreverent matter.""I'm just worried for you, boy." He says.I grin. "I'll be fine Trenton. Don't need to worry about me. I'll just say something to make the issue go away. I don't want my company's name to be downgraded and to be at risk just cos of this stupidity.""Your company is always important to you.""Of course. It's my bread and butter."He slightly smiles. "Can you really do this? Against your ex wife?"I nodded firm. "Of course I can."Suddenly there came a knock by the door and as soon as it swings open, I see Maria standing by the threshold. "The media are ready at the conference room, sir." She says to me.I stand from my chair and placed my blazer over me. "Tell them to wait. I'm on my way." I instructed her.She nods. "Right away Mr. Saintclare."Maria leaves the room while Mr. Trenton, my Press Coordinator, was still looking at me susp
CHAPTER 39H U G OMy heart raced."Is there something important that we need to talk about?" I asked Rose. "Yes. Let's talk about it when Landon and Zachary's here with us." She responded.I'm surprised. "Zachary?" I quizzed.She awkwardly looked away."What's Zachary gonna be here for?" I ask her again but she's not looking at me anymore. "Rose?" I call out her attention.She looks straight ahead. "They're here."I see Landon and Zachary's presence coming to our table. The two of them, walked to where we were. They joined us right away. Landon kissed Rose's cheek, my heart ached by the gesture, and the lads quickly gave me a brief hug. Landon sat next to Rose and Zachary sat next to me. I glanced at them and I think they know something that I don't. I'm nervous. Im always the last one to know about things. "I've ordered for all of us." Rose speaks.Landon clears his throat as he glances at Zachary."What's going on guys?" I questioned.Zachary sighs heavily. "I can't believe we'r
CHAPTER 40M I R A N D AI left the table when Hugo started talking about kissing me and I hurriedly walked to the bathroom because I feel my cheeks burning. I was blushing in front of Hugo the entire time and I have no idea why he always affect me like this. I have been staring at myself in front of the mirror and tried to stop myself from blushing.Damn cheeks!I have been here for almost ten minutes now, just staring at my own reflection and I have been waiting for my cheeks not to blush anymore. Hugo always makes me red like a tomato and I hate how he can easily do it.Suddenly a knock came by the door, "Rose?"Fuck it's Hugo."Y-yeah?" I chirped."Landon just left."What?"Someone called him up and he said it was his client from a while ago. Something came up at work." Hugo explains.I rushed to the door and opened it. There stands Hugo, carrying Bethany over his long leans arms and huts waited for me to open up.He smiles. "He asked me if I could take you home." He says.I feel
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