Joanne -I honestly will never understand how these wealthy people walk and talk.I thought it would just be a friendly dinner for Trevor Jones, the man of the hour, who took it in his time to invite these people over to celebrate his birthday with him.And I thought we would all just have dinner and head home. Maybe after a few toasts or whatever.But boy, was I wrong? Again.I will never be right with these people.It wasn’t dinner at all, but hell.And I should have seen this coming, for the fact that I’ve spent time with these women at the ale-o house and would have known what they were like.We were all supposed to be having dinner, but yet it feels like an interrogation center.What happened to everyone’s table manners? Don't talk while eating.Even the juicy sauced stake that has been blemishing my brain for a bite has run far from my appetite, all thanks to the tight spot the woman around the table had created.The men had quietly ignored every conversation, leaving the ladies
JOANNE-Trinity shut the door behind her, and I found myself gulping like a drowning alpaca.Why the hell was Hardy here?“What are y--His massive strides towards where I was caused my breath to seize, and I stopped talking and slowly took a step back.I stopped walking when my calves hit the bunk of my bed, causing me to heavily take a seat.I shot up immediately.“Tonight..” Hardy began.He looked more than drunk.“What did you and Trevor do?” He asked again, getting close.“Like he said, we did nothing."“And you just had to go for a bathroom break when he said the same darn thing. Stop lying to me!” He yelled.Who let his horses out of his stables? Why was he getting angry?“Because I had to pee, you didn’t think I was running away or something?” I scoffed.“Do you think this is funny?”He finally got close to me, and his height towered over mine.I shook my head. “I’m not even laughing.”“Exactly,” He grabbed my chin with his fingers.What the hell was he talking about?“I brou
JOANNE-I was quite frozen for a while, both my hands in the air and my eyes almost budging out, thanks to the man lying against half of my body. His hands were firmly wrapped around my waists, like he owned them.I knew he was drunk, but that didn’t leave room to stupidly not realise the woman he was holding is Joanne and no one else.Slowly, I brought my hanging hands down, and not knowing where to drop them, I let one fall on the back of Hardy’s head and the other one to his sides.He was stricken quiet, and I was a bit nervous. This was another new side of him I hadn’t seen.A side he would never intend to show me, because I am nothing to him.Maybe being drunk once in a while is a good thing.I didn’t know what came over me when I started to stroke the back of his head, letting his thick black hair sweep the passings of my fingers.Immediately I realised it was Hardy I was touching. I pulled my hand to myself and gritted my teeth in horror, imagining the many things he might do
JOANNE-I woke up the next morning to an empty bed.There was no trail of Hardy, who had fallen asleep last night after our almost-body-thriving sex.I shook off last night’s thoughts that were slowly starting to creep in and slowly sat up.My mind had clearly done a better job at shaking it off, but my body still remembered every part of me he kissed and touched.I kissed my teeth and rolled my eyes in annoyance. Somehow it still wouldn’t leave my mind.Hardy was really gentle. It almost didn’t feel like Hardy.Was Trinity right all along? Could I possibly induce Hardy to develop feelings for me that influence his demeanor towards me towards becoming less aggressive?I shook my head. I shouldn’t let Trinity’s words dig deep.It sounded too crazy.I tried to imagine myself in love with Hardy or the other way around.And it made me shudder and gave me cold feet.He was the devil’s spawn. And they only manipulate, bend, shape, and use people in any form they want and like.Last night h
JOANNE-Bailey? My Bailey, and her father? Found?My head felt light and my body felt spritzed, but I kept up a really good composure and decided to listen more.Theodore’s voice was subtle but thankfully audible.“They were found at a bar in this almost unknown town, and one of your men who had been residing there saw them, thanks to the fact that the information reached him.”“Good job,” Hardy’s voice took over. “I want her back at Villa; she and her damn father. She tricked me and pushed someone else to pay her debt.”Hardy sounded pained, and my heart twitched a little. Not my heart, but something below my heart.Maybe a muscle twitch.“You wouldn’t believe this.” Theodore's voice began to sound low, so I took a giant stride forward, which caused the flip-flops on my feet to drag and shuffle.Theodore stopped talking, and I realized it was solely because of my noises.I immediately turned around and dashed back into my room.Suddenly, my head was all over the place, my breathin
-JOANNE“You’re pregnant?”“For how long?”“Already?”The questions all came at me at once, and I found myself heaving."Oops,” I bite my bottom lip. “I wasn’t supposed to say that. Hardy and I wanted to keep a secret until birth day.” I lied with a smile.I had all the attention in the room now, and I knew instantly that Anne had lost this round.I was playing a big role now, and I had no chance to mess it up anyway.I was starting to fit into their puzzle. And I was starting to become the biggest piece.“Don’t worry, whatever happens in the white Aleo house stays with us here. Your secret is safe with us” Aneesa nodded.“She’s right,” Ruby added, adjusting the fancy bracelet around her wrist.It was no mystery; I was pregnant, and Hardy had given me permission to declare my pregnancy to these women in order to elevate me above the rest of them and leave them in a rage of envy. Because, while they may not say anything, three out of them all, also want to become pregnant.Everything
JOANNE-The night the women of the Ale-o house threw a celebratory party for Lisa was the night she died.Theodore didn’t seem to care about my frozen state. He continued speaking.“I hope you realize that Hardy is walking you down the same path. It’s all for his big investigation. He knew Lisa would never commit suicide. The police and a lot of powerful people were involved in this case, but none registered it as homicide. But suicide. Until he hired a private investigator who proved that Lisa’s death was indeed a homicide, A few days later, Hardy received a letter that came in an actual envelope saying everything Hardy has ever had will be taken away from him, no matter how much he renews them, and he or she will make sure Hardy never finds true happiness. Ever since that day, Hardy hasn’t remained the same. Because it all just proves someone was onto Hardy and gave Lisa a clean death with her unborn child.” Theodore paused to catch his breath.A little too soon, he continued.“
HARDY’s POVJoanne’s face morphs from an intense state of loss to horror the moment she sees me standing by her door.I watched her slowly pull the blanket above her body and clutch it tighter.What is she supposed to mean by that?“Joanne McCain, are you trying to starve and kill my child?” She slowly started to sit up while I took a massive stride towards her bed.She looked away, and I caught her rolling her eyes.Typical Joanne.“I’m not hungry,” she says, shaking her head.“Like I give a fuck,” I deadpanned and caught as she engulfed hard."Well, it’s my body, and I’m not eating,” she said, shaking her head.Stubborn as always.“Trust me. You do not want me to force food down your throat. Do you?” I glowered at her.I almost saw a glimpse of fear across her face, but she tossed it immediately and replaced it with anger.“I hope, while forcing the food down my throat, you clog my throat and kill me instead.” Her voice was almost quiet, but that was the most wicked thing I’ve hear
—JOANNE- I looked at Hardy and the expression he had on his face, was so overwhelming, I had to ask“what’s wrong?I knew he wouldn’t tell me because he practically never tells me anything, but he has been really nice to me dad, I had this feeling that he was going to tell me.“nothing we should go home”Right. Had my hopes up for nothing. But the way He said home drew this sense of security that embraced my spirit.I knew he wouldn’t wouldn’t tell me no matter how much I persists, so I just let the matter immediately.Even though I had seen his phone screen and saw that Theo was the one who called I knew something was up, but I only hope to have something good. I was exhausted beyond exhausted to be specific.The only thing I wanted to do was lie, my head and close my eyes I haven’t slept properly, but any time I close my eyes all I saw was the Rope beside me waiting to be wrapped around my neck.It’s made me she had really badly anytime. I thought about it.I ignored the ladies
—HARDY CONTD. The detective stepped out of the interrogation room and asked if we grabbed anything.Joanne had to explain her first to her last meeting with this Ophelia girl which caused everyone to be in total dismay.“Wait a second, so she warned you about the ladies when she was the mastermind behind all these?” Detective Alex asked.“Yeah” Joanne nodded, looking frightened.“But she works for Anne—“Anne shaw? Age 26. Married to Asher Black?” Alex interrupted.“Yeah” Joanne nodded.“Well she and the other ladies are asleep now, they drank so much they all passed out. But don’t worry, the moment they’re awake they’ll be interrogated.” Alex said to be assuring but Joanne didn’t bulge.So he continued to put her mind at ease.“Ophelia is being tracked. Every means of transport registry has been nicked with cops, she won’t escape. We’ll understand who she works for”Joanne nodded and turned to me.Her gaze were soft but yet I didn’t know what it was demanding.“What’s wrong, I aske
-HARDYI pulled Joanne in a tight embrace, making sure I buried the entirety of her body in mine, she looked so scared. I need to eat every bloody corners of my heart. How much does a bust out I hadn’t planned this world I kept being played. I have sent her to congratulatory party to lure the fuckinh murder. Not get abducted.I watched the police handcuff the man that taken Joanne away, the bastard thoughts just because today was the stupid parade day didn’t mean in I’d seat and watch pave the way for the same history.The man now handed to the police, Looked vain. He was echoing pleads, and seen it wasn’t his intention for the attempted murder, that someone has sent him. I breathe in and out to see a relief because he look like such an easy targets. Unlike Lelani, who is currently being watched under my men’s custody, and wouldn’t darn lead us to the culprit.I knew this man would be an easy one. Definitely, I shouldn’t touch my eggs before they hatch, but I knew what am I got was t
—JOANNE~I opened my eyes to meet nothing but complete darkness. But my body was moving. I tried to breathe out a yielding sigh only to realize my mouth has been shut with a rough cloth.I let out a muffle scream and tried to seat up.My hands were tied in front of me but thankfully my legs were free.I scuttled before sitting up and realizing I was in a black van.I let out muffled screams that didn’t even stretch at any distant The driver driving the van slightly turned to me and nodded.“You’re awake.“Who the fuck are you” my scream came out muffled but he understood me well and replied me quietly.“Go back to sleep.” I kicked his chair and he scoffed.“A fierce one aren’t we?” I wanted to scream but I couldn’t, instead I started to cry.My eyes started to blink rapidly when I saw the thick ropes sitting beside me.No!History was indeed repeating itself.“Where are you taking me!” My scream loosened the cloth around my mouth a bit and the man driving sighed.“Just shut the fuc
-JOANNE—I was gasping for breath as Anne’s grip tightened around my neck, suffocating me. She was a tornado, twisting me around and smashing me into the table like a ragdoll. Adrenaline kicked in, and I fought back with everything I had. My fingers clawed at her hair and pushed against her slim frame, trying to gain any kind of advantage. But her strength was superhuman, and her nails dug into my neck like talons.I had to think fast.Desperation set in. I lunged at her shirt, gripping it tightly as if my life depended on it—and it did. I pulled hard, forcing her slender form to stumble forward. It was a desperate gamble, a Hail Mary pass to even the odds. I might’ve been down, but I wasn’t out. Not yet. My heart was racing, my muscles screaming, but I wasn’t about to let Anne win. I wasn’t about to let her take everything from me.I finally got the upper hand at things, and as I tried to hit her, Ruby came in full charge at me, pushing me to hit my head on the brick wall and causi
-JOANNE— Two days before my celebratory party. Theodore and I are seated with Hardy in one of the mansion’s empty rooms, talking about the twentieth.For some reasons. I felt enlightenment.Because Hardy was always fond of disdaining me whenever it came to sharing his plans. He would only let Theodore in on it, but tonight he was making me part of it.And it made sense because I was aware of it all.We were trying to fix the crazy puzzle together and rearrange ours. Trinity had walked in and out of the room every now and then, getting us water and all sorts of food.We’ve spent a good six hours in the room trying to come up with different alternatives and routes to take if plans A or B don’t align and manage to collide.We’ve managed to come to the conclusion that Lisa’s killer could be anyone. But the source we needed to pick from was from the White Ale-o house. Hardy looked unfazed, mentioning Lisa’s name a few times, and I tried to fight the urge to scream the truth out lou
-JOANNE -The present > As the revelations from Trinity poured forth, I found my jaw plummeting in stunned disbelief. My mind, once nimble and quick, now labored to organize this flood of disorienting information. Trinity's words had transformed what I thought I knew about Lisa and Hardy into a harrowing tale of deceit, confusion, and unrequited love, leaving my comprehension reeling.I was trying so hard to stay composed.It wasn’t just the fact that Trinity and Lisa had something going on. Well it was part of it. But it was mainly the fact that the woman Hardy was pulling all lengths for, pulling down seas and mountains for. Restraining every one that breathed out her name, the same woman that he had clearly offered his entire life to never loved him.It was shocking.Deeply.She only married Hardy to live a stable life?The fact that Hardy was clueless was alarming. Trinity let out a tired smile.“I’m sorry for boring your day out with this”I shook my head.“No. It’s good you sh
AUTHOR POV-Last part of FLASHBACK- 2years ago- - Days passed, and Trinity avoided Lisa altogether. She made sure Hardy was aware by making it explicit. She had told him, rather erroneously, that she had contracted a flu that might potentially be fatal for a pregnant woman. Even though Lisa tried to convince herself that she couldn't get sick from her sickness. As per her request, Hardy put Trinity in charge of the loo while assigning other maids to take care of Lisa. To genuinely keep Lisa at bay, Trinity had installed a new lock on her door. And when Lisa found out what Trinity had actually done to genuinely keep her at bay. She also stayed away. Under the Bensimon roof, they both became strangers, and even when Trinity's alleged sickness was curedShe and Lisa never spoke to each other properly again.- For what seemed like an eternity, Trinity languished in a bottomless pit of remorse. Until one fateful night, when she stumbled upon a scene that made her heart stop. T
Author POVFLASHBACK contd. -Trinity could feel her entire body heating up from the inside.What was going on?How did her little advances get out of the way for Lisa to notice their great deal?If Hardy were to find out about it, He’d get disgusted and throw her out of his domain.Her quietness and shame caused Lisa to burst out laughing.“Look at you. I’ve got you right where I wanted.” Trinity snapped back to reality and shook her head.“I believe you’re mistaken.” “Mistaken?” Lisa laughed.“The only mistake here is you denying it.”Trinity gently walked out of bed and shook her head.“You are deeply mistaken. And to have my beauty sleep. I would love it if you left.“So now you’re throwing me out?” Lisa scoffed.“I’m sorry.” Was the only thing Trinity said.And after a few gazes of disbelief, Lisa walked out of the room.***Hardy's wedding to Lisa was a whirlwind of excitement, the talk of the town. Everyone wanted to be in Lisa's shoes, wishing they could understand the allu