CHAPTER 84M I R A N D AHe didn't say anything to me and continued to drive instead. We went quiet and we were still quiet when we reached back home. The kids were still with Landon's mom so I follow him inside the foyer where he stopped, so I stopped too. He stares at me and I know he's trying his very best to be strong for himself.He extends a hand, "Let's make dinner together for the first time."I stare at his blue eyes and I am sure that he was hurt so I take his hand as we walk silently to the kitchen. We began to grab the things we need as if we know what we were going to make. I side glance at Landon and he was busy getting some spices from the fridge while I take out the possible pans we were going to use."Let's make that pasta you showed me the other night." He says calmly, as if we didn’t talk about having the divorce."Alright." I sniff, wiping my tears from my cheeks.We began to chop everything we need for the sauce while Landon was busy boiling the linguine inside th
CHAPTER 85M I R A N D AIt has been a week since Landon and I have signed the divorce papers. Even though Landon planned it behind my back, I think all I've left to do was to sign the papers. I don't want to divorce him because he's a nice man but at the same time I don't want him to stay in this wrecked-up relationship that neither of us can't fix it.I guess the solution was ending it.I went back to New York after the signing of the divorce papers and I still communicate with Landon after it because he didn’t want me to feel that I lost him. He talks to me about Ben and Bethany since they were still in London. The kids still don't know how things are going between us but I wonder how will I tell Ben about this.The court are trying to sort things out about how Landon will have time for the kids since he has the right to be a father to them too.Landon still hasn't spoken up about the issue even though a part of it has already been leaked to the media. I don't want to comment anyth
CHAPTER 86M I R A N D AWe walk inside his penthouse suite after being inside the elevator while I feel my heart was still pounding against my chest. He walks his way to the living room while I follow him there. My eyes darted at him right away when he begins to take his trench coat off, loosened his tie then placed it over the table and finally unbuttoned the first three buttons of his black dress shirt while he pulled out the hems that he inserted in between in pants.Oh god that was fucking hot.He looks at me, "Do you want it hot or cold?"I gulped.Fucking hot. My malicious mind tells me. I shake my head right away. Stop thinking naughty things Miranda. He's talking about the coffee. You're making yourself horny again. I scolded myself.We went silent."Your coffee?" He asked."Yeah." I snapped myself out from my own thoughts. "Hot." I answered, clearing my throat. "I like it hot."He grins at me, giving me an evil stare while he was licking his lips. "I like it hot too." He muf
CHAPTER 87H U G OIt's been months and years since I've seen Miranda Rose, I lost count already. It's been a really long time since I've seen her and there's never been a day that I don't miss her. I know she wants space from everything that has happened, and I want her to think it thoroughly if she still wants to be with me or not.I love her and I think I'll always will, but I won't force her to be with me just because she’s divorced now.The kids are with her in New York and Ben already understood the fact that she had divorced Landon. She mentioned that Ben has been coping up after Landon left.On the other hand, I would come over if I have a free time from my busy schedule. But I always Skype with my kids, no matter how busy I am, no matter how hectic my schedule is, I always make sure to make time for them. I make sure that we talk before the end of the day, and I make sure to ask how their day went, even though it's bright as daylight here or it's pretty damn late in London.I
CHAPTER 88M I R A N D AIt's been almost two years and half, since I've seen Hugo. I miss him. I really miss being with him. I miss seeing him. I miss seeing his dimpled smile.His long brown curly hair. His handsome face. And how I feel when he's around me. So whenever I miss him, I just stare at Ben and then I get reminded of Hugo in him. I even hug Ben tight just so I could feel like I'm hugging Hugo too.During the past months, when I try to reach out to Hugo, he doesn't answer his phone. He doesn't even answer my text that much and I feel like something is wrong with how he's treating me. I know he's giving me space so I could at least have a little time for myself from everything that happened, but then I think he's really doing it wrong.He is really avoiding me.But then I try to hope he's not.Maybe he's just sleeping when I'm calling him or he's just pretty much busy with his work that's why he doesn't answer my text all the time. I haven't read news about him dating someon
CHAPTER 89M I R A N D AWhen we got home, Hugo and the kids played some video games. Ben and Bethany was having so much fun together with their dad and I was happy to see them being so happy together.When it was already getting late, Bethany had already fallen asleep on Hugo's lap where he had been humming a song to her. I walked to Hugo and carried the sleeping Bethany over my arms."You're putting her to bed?" Hugo asks."Yeah. Looks like she's pretty tired." I answered him."I'll help you." He offers."No. It's fine. Just enjoy your time with Ben. I'll put Bethany to sleep."I walked my way up to Bethany's bedroom while Ben and Hugo were still having a good talk at the living room. I carefully placed her on top of her bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin and kissed her cheek. I went down the stairs again, and heard my boys talking about random stuff that men would talk about. They even mentioned about women and Ben was asking Hugo how he could ask his crush out for a date.Good
CHAPTER 90M I R A N D ABen chuckles. "I just love you both so much. Goodnight dad."Ben stands from the couch and headed to me. He hugged me briefly and kissed my cheek. "Goodnight mom.""Goodnight, son." I kiss his cheek.Ben begins to leave the living room while I was left here alone with Hugo. He stares at me while he licked lips. "Sit with me, Rose." He says, patting the couch gently.I slowly walk my way to him and sat down silently with my knees flexed against my chest, as I wrapped my arms around my legs. I feel Hugo's hand creeping from behind me and his arm wrapping around my waist while he pulls me closer to him."Are you still mad?" He asks.We are facing each other now and his pinkish plump lips are bothering me."Yes." I answer directly.Hugo pouts. "I expected that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the years that I've never been with you. I'm sorry for being away and for staying away. I was just insanely jealous with the things that I've been hearing lately."My brows crea
CHAPTER 91M I R A N D AIt's been great since Hugo came in New York, he's been very hands-on in becoming a responsible father to his kids. He drives Ben and Bethany to school and fetches them afterwards, he eats meals with us, he even tutors Bethany and teaches her how to draw, he helps Ben with his math and history too and of course with Claire. He's been a great father to them and I'm happy that he's finally getting the chance to spend time with his kids after he's been gone.As for me, he's been sweet and I couldn't get enough of it as much as he couldn't get his hands and lips off me. We wake up everyday next to each other, we tease each other when the kids are at school or when we just woke up in the morning, he steals kisses from me time to time, we cook together, do groceries together, we make love when the kids are asleep or when they're not around, we shower together and end up getting the kids late for school, he drives me to work even when I’m on night shift and we always
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