Who is Rachel? What is her story? Stay tuned to find out.
"But what does she have to do with Autumn since she hasn't even met her?" I ask, not understanding the situation. "Rachel doesn't need reasons to hate, she just does. And now my daughter represents the fixation of that hatred." That still doesn't explain anything about who that woman was. "I'm sorry Richard but I don't understand." There has to be something that she wants, she came here for a reason, at first I thought it was money but now it seems like so much more. "Rachel is my father's daughter, one he had out of wedlock with his secretary. He never gave her our name or our position in the society. She grew up away from us and over time she came to resent Eloise and me. After her mother died I offered her my help and my brotherly love but all she took was the money." Well I have to give it out for the Cromwell family, usually people don't get to hide a secret like that for so long. It comes out one way or another. The truth comes out whether we like it or not, and thank God it
One month later "I hope this time we get to know the baby's gender, I want to start cooling our baby by its name." Autumn said as she lay on the hospital bed waiting for the doctor to come in. "As long as the doctor says the baby is okay and everything is moving on great I'm more than happy." There shouldn't be any bad news, Autumn has been feeling good this past month, taking her medications and resting a lot. We spent our days together reading and talking, laughing and entertaining the best we could. Playing cards and memory. Summer came by every once in a while when she could catch a break from the restaurant. Father said he would come by today for a visit, we haven't seen each other in a month but he would often call to check up on us. There was no news from Alice, and I don't know if that silence is a good sign. I avoided going out and practically stayed in all the time so she wouldn't get a chance to follow me again. Adam however came by every other day, saying he came for bu
Alice was here, just a few feet from me. Autumn was so close to the person who hurt her without even realizing it. I had to steady myself, I couldn't react in front of Autumn otherwise she would suspect something."Why don't we go to the front desk, there was a computer glitch so I didn't get the appointment date." I say as I dig into my pocket as Autumn moves in front of me."Go ahead, I'm going to give Miguel the keys to bring the car up front." She nods her head as she slowly makes her way to the nurse's desk while I stand so I can see her waiting for Miguel to come stand next to me."Alice is here, in the hospital. She had the nerve to speak to Autumn in the restroom." I say as my blood boils."The restroom is connected from both ends of the hallway, she is probably gone by now." Miguel says as he points to the hallway leading left where there is another door into the restroom."Go to the hospital security and get the security cameras tapes. We need to look over them." I say as I
"It seems we have a lot of guests today." Autumn says as we pull into the driveway where the other cars are parked at. I recognized my father's and Summer's car, the other one I didn't recognize. "I didn't know Summer was coming." I say as I unbuckle her seatbelt."Neither did I, but it's nice she did. This way we can share the news with the entire family at once." Autumn was so excited to tell everyone the news, as was I. If only I didn't have to think about Alice at a time like this."Well let's go inside then." I got out of the car and met Autumn on the other side and walked slowly by her side.We went into the house where we heard people talking in the living room so went in to join them."Autumn, hey. How are you? What did the doctor say? Do we know the baby's gender?" Summer bombarded us with questions as soon as we stepped foot into the living room."Summer at least let her sit down first, then start the questioning." I tease Summer as I help Autumn take a sit in the middle of
"Aunt Rachel? I thought I only had one aunt." Autumn said confused as Rachel walked further into the hallway. "Ohh sweety, that's okay, I don't visit much." Rachel said as she walked passed Richard and stood in front of Autumn and me. "It's so nice to meet you." Rachel says with a laugh as Autumn looks at her confused. "You're my aunt, and you haven't met me before?" Autumn questioned her as Richard looked at me in panic. "Ohh I have, it's just as you lost your memory I thought I would reintroduce myself to you. We are going to have plenty of time to get to know each other again." She knew what she was doing. She figured Autumn didn't know things from her past and it's only pretending in front of Richard. "So nice to see your boyfriend again." Rachel said before directing herself to me. "How are you Domenic?" She asked as she offered me her hand and I had no other choice but to take it. "Good, and you?" I ask as the man who came in with Rachel clears his throat. "I'm sorry darli
"Richard, are you sure about this?" I ask him as I follow him out of the living room. "No, Domenic. But right now I have no other choice." He says as he doesn't stop walking until he gets to his office. "They have been here for five minutes and already managed to upset Autumn, making her ask a lot of questions." Questions I don't want to answer. None of us do. "How is she now?" He asks as he paces around the room. "She is upstairs with Summer, she's fine now." And I want it to stay that way, but with the new house guests, I don't know for how much longer she will stay like that. "You have a house near here, don't you? Summer mentioned something before." He asks me as an idea comes to his head. "Yes, we have a house by the beach not far from here. Why?" I ask him. "Could you take Autumn there, at least for today? Until I try to get things under control here." The last thing I want is to take Autumn away from the safest place she could possibly be right now when Alice is lurking
"Where are we going?" Autumn asked as Mrs.Hendricks finished packing her beg and left it on the floor next to the door before leaving."Not far. Summer thought we could spend some time at our house by the beach and I thought you would love a change of scenery even for a little bit." I told Summer that Richard wanted us to take Autumn away until he deals with some things here, and she was delighted. It's been a long time since we all got together again. Like the old times."Are you sure it has nothing to do with Aunt Rachel and her son? I feel like you want to keep me away from them." She wasn't wrong. "I'm not stupid, I felt the tension between her and my dad." That much was obvious, they came here at the worst moment possible. Strangers that we have no idea what intentions they have by being here. This wasn't about the money anymore, Rachel wants to get in the middle of our lives and she knows things we'd all rather hide. "There are some issues between them but you don't have to worr
It's been some time since I was here last. Summer is the one who would spend weeks on end here any time she would want to get away from father, since he never came here. It reminded him of mother.I forgot how nice it is to sit on this porch and look at the sun setting behind the horizon. "Is everyone in place?" I ask Miguel out on the porch while Autumn is inside with Summer."I have everything covered. No one will be able to get close to the house." Miguel said as she pointed to all of the men standing close by."You might wanna tell them to let me in, that is if you wish to eat dinner." Anthony said as he carried bags in his hand while one of the men didn't let him pass."Sorry, he wasn't at the house when you came before." Miguel says as he waves his hand to the man and Anthony passes through. "I know all of this is necessary but God damn this is more security than at the Met Gala." Anthony said as Miguel took a bag from his hand while I looked at him in odd."What? Your sister m
Sasha lets him fall into one of our Victorian chairs while Adam and I stand in front of him like parents who are about to scoll their child. But this talk was very necessary, for the sake of our sibling bond and their friendship.I glance at Adam, silently asking him if he’s ready for this. His calm smile reassures me. He’s been patient, waiting for this moment to happen, but I know it’s not easy for him either."Sasha," I start, my voice steady but firm, "we need to have a real talk about all this because Adam isn’t some phase or fling. He’s serious, and I am too. And I need you to accept that. Not just for me, but for us...all of us.""So, let me get this straight," he says, finally breaking the silence, his voice low. "You two have been sneaking around behind my back, hiding this whole thing, and now suddenly I’m supposed to just accept it? What was all that about, huh?"Adam shifts next to me, his hand resting lightly on my back, but I can feel the muscles in his shoulders tense up
...That night... "...so now we are not only friends and brothers-in-law but I had the privilege of being his best man. What he and Autumn have is special, anyone can see that, and all I can say is that I wish them both happiness. Also Autumn I'd like to ask your permission to take him out this Friday to play ball." Anthony jokes as he finishes his best man speech. I once heard of a so-called bromance Domenic and Anthony had pretty much ever since they met each other. Summer said she found it endearing. "As long as Summer gave you permission to go." Autumn hits Anthony with a comeback. "But Friday is a no-go, we have a Lamaze class," Autumn says as she touches Domenic's shoulder. "But you are free to join us," She added to which I started connecting the dots. Why Summer looked somewhat green on her face, why she didn't eat and why would she go to a Lamaze class... "That's a great idea." Summer says and Anthony looks at her strangely. "Why would we go to a Lamaze class?" He asks an
Alex's POV I woke up with a smile on my face as the light of the day shined over my face. Despite the cold, I wrapped myself into a blanket and sat in the corner of my balcony, breathing in the familiar salty ocean air. I used to sit here and watch over the driveway, waiting for Adam's car to drive in, and while everything seemed the same, everything had changed. Now, we were together, dreaming about a future and enjoying the present. A day I once dreaded would never come was now here and the happines set in my chest could be painted in a million colours. I smiled to myself, thinking about how far I’d come. How we had come. With Adam, I had learned to be whole. I closed my eyes, letting the wind brush across my face, and took a deep breath. The salty air mixed with the faint scent of coffee surrounded me too and I suddenly opened my eyes to meet Mrs.Henrdics standing at the balcony door with coffee in hand. "Good morning." She says as she walks over to me and hands me to warm cup.
"How is Autumn?" Eloise asks us as soon as we walk in leaving her cup of tea on the living room table."She is alright, as is the baby. They are gonna keep her overnight. Domenic stayed behind but I think Richard and Sasha will go home soon." I say as her eyes travel to the spot where Alex and I are holding hands when my mother comes to stand by Eloise. The smile on her face told me everything I needed to know."So... the two of you..." Eloise gestures between Alex and me. "How long has this been going on?" She asks."A while now," Alex says. "And before you start, it was my idea to keep it a secret. I didn't want our families involved before we were sure of where this was going." "I think that was very sensible of you." My mother says as she joins the conversation. "So now that you are sharing the news does it mean it's official?" "But they didn't share the news, they were discovered in a secret. There is a clear distinction." Eloise says.Alex laughs softly at Eloise’s comment, squ
"How is she? Can I see her?" Domenic asks as he jumps to get to him before everyone else. "Miss Cromwell is fine, she and the baby girl are stable. Her blood pressure went up which caused her to faint. I'm going to recommend bed rest until the baby gets here to avoid any possible complications." The doctor says and one could see and feel the worry melt off of our backs. "Did you talk to her? Did she remember anything? Is that why she had the crisis?" Richard asked as I stepped back and took Alex to my side wrapping my hand around her, keeping her close. Perhaps it wasn't the right moment but being able to hold her in public gave me a sense of power I never had before. "We talked for a brief moment and she described to me what happened, all the excitement of the wedding and the events that happened after took a toll on her, but she remains not remembering the past." We listen as the doctor talks and Alex smiles. We didn't care about the memories so much anymore. Autumn was alright
"What happened?" Richard yells as he runs to Autumn's side, almost crushing down at the site of her unconscious body in Domenic's hands. "I'm so sorry... I didn't think..." Rachel said as she watched what her words caused. "What did you do?" Richard asks her with fury in his eyes but Rachel only stares at Autumn in shock while Leo does the best he can to hold on to her. "Help is on its way!" Alex yells as she comes back and sticks to my side. Her hands are cold as they slip into mine. I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the situation that was in front of us with both Autumn and Sasha. "Dont wait. Get her in the car and drive to the hospital. I'll go with you and make sure they take good care of her." My dad says as he helps Richard stand up and move away from Autumn. Domenic lifts her in the air, and her veil falls down onto the floor. The sight was heartbreaking, this day turned out to be everything but perfect. First Alice, now this. I just hope it doesn't get any wo
Miguel jumps at Alice, grabbing her hand while the other guy manages to take the gun from her, ultimately pinning her to the ground when Alex pulls me back as the rest of the family gets up and gathers up at the front. “Let go of me, I'm not done yet!” Alice yells as she struggles to free herself but to no use as Miguel ties her hand to her back. “It's over Alice, it's finally over. You won't be able to hurt us ever again.” Domenic says as he presses Autumn to his side while Miguel lifts Alice, her hands pinned at her back. “Take her to the security room and call the police. She won't escape this time, not on my watch.” Richard says while rubbing Autumn's shoulder, trying to make sure she is ok. She look pale, shook but somewhat alright. She held onto Domenic the same way Alex didn't let go of my hand all this time. “He is lying to you, everyone is…” Alice says but Miguel drags her away. She was trying to do damage to the last second she could use. So much haterade in such a s
I always found weddings to be beautiful, yet this one was special. This was about my friend, someone who I knew would always be in my life, but I somehow knew that from the day I met her. Now sitting here, watching the smile on her face as she stared at the face of her loved one, the man she chose yet again despite every odd, despite not knowing the past. A path she chose solely based on what she felt within herself, and that was love. I had my doubts about it, I had my doubts about Domenic... the things I knew about their past, the things I didn't share with anyone else, not Alex, not Richard... I saw the regret in his eyes, I saw the pain but I also saw the love... and I wish them happiness. The same one I wished for myself and the woman who was sitting next to me right now. My love. My Alex. Today wasn't just the start of a new life for Autumn, this was also the day that meant something big for Alex and me. This was the day we would finally stop hiding. The day everyone would final
"Adam, where the hell were you? We are going to be late and you still haven't changed." Mom yells at me as soon as I step through the door. "I had some business to take care of. Dont worry I'll be ready in time." "Business, on a day like this one." Mom asks, her nad on her hip and eyebrow raised scepticly. "You look great by the way, where is Dad? You should go check he doesn't get something on his suit before we have to leave... I'll go shower now, bye." I manage to ramble up and run upstairs to get ready. Luck had it that Rosie had already got my clothes ready and waiting for me on the bed so I showered, got my hair ready, and got dressed just as a text came for me letting me know Derek was booked and taken care of. One more reason to party. ... "See, there was no reason for all that rushing. I had plenty of time to finish my meal." Dad said as we got out of the car at the Cromwell mention. It’s the perfect place for a wedding...grand, romantic, and more than enough to make an