CHAPTER 7M I R A N D A"Doing great Ben!" I hear Landon.I turned my attention to Landon and Ben who were trying to fly a kite. We were having a small barbecue party slash get together at our backyard. Vivian and Art were here, Leon and Scarlet came too since they were around town today while Paris and Zachary came all the way here to visit us.We were all making barbecues, Leon did most of the grilling while the ladies, set up the table. Zachary and Landon were playing with Ben and I think all of us are enjoying our day so far just relaxing.When it was time to eat, all of us settled down on the table and started eating together as soon as everything was ready. We talked about so many things that we could possibly think of. We tackled on how things were going with them while we were on our honeymoon. I heard Paris and Zachary were expecting another baby and we're all so happy for them. Scarlet just opened a new boutique and I heard she's designing her own clothing line. No wonder th
CHAPTER 8M I R A N D A"What are you two doing here?" Landon pops out of nowhere and cuts us off from our conversation. He laced his arm around my shoulders as he says, "You two should join us."I smiled and held Paris's hand while she stares at me and looks at me at me with her bothered eyes. She makes me worry about what's bothering her because it is evident that she is thinking about something. She makes me worry about these things that she's saying to me out of the blue and I’m worried because she sounds like she wants me to be careful about something or maybe someone.We joined the others and sat back down on the table. I sat next to Landon while my eyes were glued to Paris. She looks troubled as hell. It got me thinking that why would she want to tell Hugo about the truth now? Something must have happened."Have you guys planned already on the baby's name?" Scarlet asked.I travelled my head to her."We don't know the gender yet." Landon answers. "We want it to surprise us."I
CHAPTER 9M I R A N D ALandon just went out to his recording studio and I'm sure he'll be back late again because he'll be doing some major edits on this new album he's getting so pumped up with.It was his first album and artist to produce EDM and house music kind of songs. I know how excited he was with this and I know this is a huge deal for him. I was immensely happy for him because he's really expanding his music field on different genres now. Aside from pop, hip hop and some rock-indie music, he's now taking over a whole new different level.I was watching TV with Ben because he just loves early morning cartoons and seems like I've gotten used to it too. I was combing his hair for him while he was busy munching on his cookies."Are you ready for your rehab activities today Benny?" I asked him."Yes!" He chimes.He just loves going to those rehab activities lately. He met a few friends who were just like him and I'm happy Ben is coping up after that accident. He's getting perfec
CHAPTER 10M I R A N D AHugo and I headed out of the rehab center and walked to the nearest Starbucks. We marched our way inside and thank god nobody mobbed us on the streets."What do you wanna have?" Hugo asks me while he leans his hand over the counter.I take a minute to think. I don't really want anything to drink, I just wanted to come with him. I glanced at him and he's looking at me thoroughly, studying my facial expression."Mocha latte. Venti." I said."Make that two please." Hugo added with his deep hoarse voice."Should we put it under your name sir?" She asked Hugo.He nods. "Yes, thank you." He smiles tight-lipped before he looked back at me, "Do you want anything to eat?"I shake my head in response.When Hugo was done paying, we settled ourselves on a table and waited for our orders to be called out. He sits right across me as he pushes his hair off his face."How's Alex?" I asked out of the blue."He's getting a bit heavier everyday." He answers while he locks his ey
CHAPTER 11M I R A N D A"Why don't you stay here at home for the night Hugo?" Landon offers and I quickly turned my attention to him.My brows are meeting at the center of my forehead and I am undeniably shocked by what Landon is trying to say right now.What the hell is Landon planning?Hugo takes a bite on his food and glanced at me. I know he feels awkward with this situation and I know he knows that I feel a bit awkward with Landon’s offer too. We were having a peaceful dinner at home and I wasn't feeling anything great about Landon's idea."I mean, it would be great for Ben to spend more time with you. You can tell him bedtime stories and sing him to sleep." Landon adds.I kept my eyes on my food while I am eating dinner awkwardly and Ben was too happy about Landon's idea. He's giddy on his seat and he sounds so excited with it.But I wasn't.After what happened at the exit staircase a while ago? I wouldn't want that to happen again. I don't wanna be unfaithful to Landon again.
CHAPTER 12M I R A N D AI was on top of the bed next to Ben who was fast asleep beside me. I push his hair off his face and just watch his chest go up and down as he breathe. Hugo's out to the restroom and he's been out for a while now. I think he's taking a shower or whatsoever.I hum a song to Ben while I run my forefinger over his nose bridge. The room was quiet and Landon has been in his office for a while now too.Suddenly the door swings open and I kind of jumped but then recovered by it. It was Hugo, wearing a pair of black jogger pants and some white shirt. Damn he's still good on that. I swear he looks hot on this jogger pants. He walks closer to the bed while he rubs his wet hair against the towel. He just took a shower. Damn I could smell the scent of his shampoo from where I was. I quickly fixed myself on top of the bed, the minute Hugo was close enough to me.He stares at me."You can go to your room with Landon now. I'll guard Ben while he sleeps for the night." Hugo in
CHAPTER 13H U G OPARIS: I need your help Randy. I'm so scared. I'm so scared right now.I tried to ignore what Paris sent her. I don't understand. Why is Paris acting like this? What's she scared of? Who's she scared of?I sit on the couch and kept my eyes glued to her text. I try to think of what she was possibly talking about in this text. It looked simple but had so much meaning in it. I try to read in between the lines but I still couldn't figure out what Paris is trying to say in this text she sent Rose. Maybe Rose knows about it. It's already one in the morning and I wouldn't want to wake Miranda up and tell her that I opened her message. She'll feel like I invaded her privacy.Her phone beeps again.It was another text from Paris.PARIS: We need to tell him. I feel so bad for hiding it from him all these years. I had a nightmare. It was horrible. It was so traumatizing that I'm too scared that it looked real. I don't want it to happen. I'm so scared. I'm really scared. We nee
CHAPTER 14M I R A N D AI asked the nurse on the nurse's station where Paris’ room was and I am anxious. I am panting, trying to catch my breath and feeling incredibly scared but I knew I had to see her.Hugo, Landon and I rushed our way to Paris' hospital room and we were all worried for what happened to her. Zachary called us up this morning and told us about what happened. He said Paris was having tantrums and nightmares. I'm glad they were still here in New York when this happened. I'm so worried for Paris. I hope nothing serious had happened to her. I don't know what has exactly happened last night but I wish her baby is still alive. I wish she's okay too. I wouldn't want her to have another miscarriage again.When we reached her room, we quickly marched inside and saw Paris sleeping on her bed. She looked pale. Very pale. Very weak. The three of us walked near Zachary and he hugged us respectively. He looked tired and he looked like he hasn't gotten any sleep at all."Thanks fo
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