[ Charlotte ] “Ace, do you want to talk about it?” I gently placed my hand over my son’s head who looked lost in his thoughts.“No, Mom, I am fine.” He shook his head and stood up from the grass. It was a bright Sunday afternoon. I decided to spend the entire day with my son who had been quiet since Mrs. Blackwood met him and called him her grandson. I buried the matter there by making some random excuses but I knew my son.“Ace, please sit down. I know you’re thinking about that incident a lot.” I said to him and pulled him back on the ground to sit with me.“Why Leah’s grandmother called me her grandson, Mom? Is she my Dad’s mother?” He blinked his eyes at me. My heart constricted seeing the desperation and conflict on a small boy like him who acted way mature than his age. The time had come when I could no longer hide the truth of his paternity.“I have to tell you about your father but first I want you to remain neutral because I do not want you to hate your father because he wa
[ Charlotte ] “Ace, I am your father.” Sebastian said in a softer tone..“I know, I recognized you in the party.” Ace said very calmly and it made me wonder how wisely he was talking.“Can we talk? Please, I am not here to create any wedge between us.” Sebastian said and knelt down to his level, his eyes were glossy.“You hurt my Mom. She had been taking care of me alone. You were not present in our lives and your mother was very mean to my Mom.” Ace again gave him a sharp response.Sebastian looked at me helplessly. A part of me felt bad for him but it was nothing compared to the pain I and my son had endured in his long absence.“Ace, baby, he is your elder. You shouldn’t talk to him rudely.” I corrected my son as I couldn’t see him disrespecting someone who was elder than him.“It’s fine, Char. He has all the rights to feel this way. I wasn’t there for him whenever he needed me. I wasn’t there for you when you gave birth to him on yourself, endured every pain alone.” He said wit
[ Charlotte ] I walked in the guest room of my office with steady breath and a conflicting mind. My lawyer was with me. I called him on the urgent basis when Tara informed me that Sebastian came along with his attorney. If he was willing to play it dirty then I should also not leave any stone unturned. He had to defeat a mother if he wanted his son.“Ms. Montgomery, please calm down. I know how my brother works. Don’t worry, I know how to be a step ahead of him.” Will, my lawyer said to me as the guard on the door of my guest room opened the door for us to walk inside.Sebastian and his attorney William were talking in a hushed tone. Their head turned to us when they felt our presence inside the room.“Welcome to the Skylark Group, gentlemen. I hope you are satisfied with our hospitality.” I plastered a smile on my face. Both William and my ex-husband looked uncomfortable. I chose William’s brother to be my lawyer.“Yes, Miss Montgomery. Please sit first so we can discuss the matter.
[ Charlotte ]"Charlotte, listen to me." Sebestian shouted from behind and I could hear his loud, running footsteps on the tiled floor. At this point, I didn't care if my whole staff was watching the drama unfolded in front of them.I was devastated and felt cheated.I was still legally married to the man whom I vowed to never see again. I hated him for the pain I endured. I made myself strong, both physically and mentally but old wounds were slit opened again."Charlotte!" He shouted again but I marched out of my office building. The fresh morning air touched my skin. I needed to be alone. I had to clear my mind first before I face someone.I strolled in the open area where the vehicles of my employees were parked. I sat on a bench and stared at a plain white wall.My life had become a pretty mess. I begun to regret my decision of coming back and avenge the Blackwood family. The game turned against me.I sensed his presence near me. I could hear his heavy breathing."Charlotte, pleas
[ Sebestian ]Charlotte's words kept resonating in my ears. All these years, she had been living in a misunderstanding that I abandoned her for the sake of another woman. According to her, Victorine lied to her over the phone.I directly went to Victorine's home who had taken a few days' off from the work due to sickness. I had to seek my answers from her because if it's really her then I fear I'd be the worst enemy of her. I tried to recall the events on the day when Ace was born but the memories were blur. I couldn't remember anything or any suspicious activity from Victorine's side.I pressed the bell of her apartment and waited impatiently for her to open the door. It was taking her long to open the door. I pressed the bell again but no response came."Fuck! You left no option for me except to barg inside." I cursed and punched the password in the lock.The door opened and I entered inside only to meet eerie silence."Victorine!" I called her name.Still no response.I scanned the
[ Sebestian ]My heart pained as my eyes scanned my best friend who was laying on the hospital bed. Her face was pale and looked lifeless. I didn't know what I felt right then but I wasn't angry. I had no right to judge her before I heard her side of story."Bastian.."She whispered my name in a faint voice. She sounded tired."Hey." I took slow steps towards her. Her eyes were glossy which meant that she got the devastating news of her miscarriage."How are you feeling now?" I gently took her hand into mine and rubbed them as a sign of my condolences."I lost my child. How am I suppose to feel, Bastian?" Tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes."You're alive and safe. I am thankful to the God and the doctors. You have a life ahead of you, Vic. Don't lose hope." I tried my best to consol her as I wasn't good at such stuffs."They wanted to kill me. They'll come again, Bastian." She said in a panicked voice."You know the attackers?" Anger rushed into my blood,"We need to tell thi
[ Charlotte ]"Tara, mail these documents to Will and also inform him that I want him to verify these papers ASAP. Do you understand?" I handed a stack of papers that proved that I filed for a divorce five years ago and my lawyer presented me in the court."Right away, Ma'am. I'll make all the arrangements. Do you need anything? I have been noticing since the morning. You even skipped your lunch." Tara asked me with worry itched face."A cup of strong coffee would be fine, Tara and thanks for everything. I trouble you a lot."I said to the girl who had been a support pillar for me since the day I gave her the job.She agreed on coming with me to New Jersey. It was the place where I spent the first two years after my separation with Sébastien."I like working for you, Ma'am and your coffee will be at your table in two minutes." She said with a wide smile and walked out of my hotel room.The lawyer betrayed me and the law.I was ready to sue the man who fucked up with my present and my
[ Sebestian ]"What do you like to eat in the dinner, I'll ask my cooks to prepare it for you?" I asked my son or more like putting an effort to know him better as he sat beside me, staring at all the awards I won over the years."I'd prefer a simple mean and a hot chocolate before I go to bed." He replied giving me a side glance."Would you like grilled chicken with spice seasoning and homemade fresh garlic bread with vegetables stew? Your mother used to cook it on every Sunday dinner and it is one of my favorite dish. Though my cook don't half as good as her." I said or rather shared a piece of memory with him."Then why did you leave her if you liked her?" He asked innocently and it sliced my heart.I was again speechless."It was a mistake, Ace. I wish I had used my brain but I was blinded by my anger. I am ready to repent for every pain I inflicted on her and you. I swear I regret it in every single second of my life."I told him honestly."I am not sad. In fact, I never missed yo
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Don't run, Aria. Mom is tired and she wants a hug from her princess." I shouted and heard soft giggles of my five years old daughter from behind the curtains.A smile stretched over my lips as I spotted her shadow. She was the source of light in my life whom I found during my trip to Mexico and instantly fell in love with two years old orphan who was abandoned by her birth mother at an orphanage.It took me an year of struggle and legal procedure to adopt her officially and bring her to home."Mom got you." I grabbed her and tickled her.The little girl wriggled to get out of my hold while laughing. I showered her pretty face with kisses."Stop Mama, it's ticklish." She pushed my face away."No, Mama wants a cuddle with Aria." I pulled her on my lap and hugged her."I am angry on you, Mama. You promised to come back early but you're two days late." She pouted with grumpy face."I am sorry baby but you know my work. I am the CEO and it's mandatory for me to be
[ Arianna Blackwood ]"Anna.."Rafael's low voice rang into my ears. So, this man can also feel remorse!"Come and sit, Rafael. We need to talk on certain matters." I said in a flat tone."Please, let's just sit together and-" He tried to say something but I showed him my palm."I do not want to spend even a single moment with you, Mr. Martinez but we must clear a few things before we part our ways." I finally shot my blank eyes at him.He looked vulnerable, his eyes were puffy and red. By judging his appearance, I bet he hadn't been resting properly."Please, Arienna. Don't do this. It was my fault. Our baby died because of me." He said in a croaked tone, I observed his adam's apple bobbing up and down."It was my baby. It doesn't give you any right to call it yours just because you fucked me for once." I snapped at him, the bottled up anger and resentment was threatening to spill.He lowered his gaze and shook his head, "Alright, I won't. Please, calm down. We can talk once you get
[ Arianna Blackwood ]It's been four days.Four long days since I lost my baby, the last hope of my future. I am stoll trying to accept this news but my heart denies my loss. My lower body aches every time I move or shift, a constant reminder of my cruel fate.I don't deserve happiness since my birth. Why does God punish me? What did I do to deserve only grief and misfortunes in my life?"Ari, my princess." Dad's soft voice forced me to pull out of my mourning solicitude."Dad."I barely whispered as mu throat was constricted due to crying for hours since doctor broke the devastating news to me. I predicted my loss when I felt the pain during my argument with Rafael but a part of me hoped for a miracle to happen."I have brought your dinner. It's your mother's home cooked recipe, one of your favourite dishes and healthy." He placed a tiffin box on the table.He was trying to cheer me up. That's all my family could do, they stood like a pillar around me. They're my everything and I'd f
[ Rafael ]I have been waiting for two long hours, still no words from the hospital staff how Arienna is doing after miscarriage. Yes, the doctors declared the baby dead as soon as they admitted her and they had to perform emergency surgery to remove the dead fetus.Arienna lost too much blood which caused her to lose her consciousness for a long time.Miscarriage, a simple word with eleven syllables but it has so much pain and shattered hopes within it's depth. It has the power to bring even the bravest heart at the bottom.I lost my child, my first child despite several warnings from the doctors. Yet I let her go through the trauma, not once, not twice but everytime we talked.She's right, I killed our baby. I don't deserve it call it mine because Arienna tried her best to be there for our baby but I was busy hitting my head on the wall of past. I became so mad that her pain got unnoticed by me."How dare you?"A voice roared and I got punched on my face, it was a hard blow. I stumb
[ Arianna Blackwood ]After my conversation with my mother, I found myself drowning into more conflict. I couldn't live with Rafael as long as he keeps harboring hatred and vendetta against my family, on the other hand, I was drawn to my husband.I was screwed and back to square one."Anna, you're back?"Rafael's surprised voice reached into my ears and I turned around to find him standing at the threshold of main door."Yes, I guess. Sorry, if you're disappointed to see me here. Well, I won't take long. I came here to talk on certain matters." I said in a clipped tone.His features softened. He rushed towards me and grabbed my shoulders, "I don't want you to leave, not now not never, Anna. I can't imagine my life without you, my love. Please, forgive me. I am ready to talk to your parents if it makes you feel better." He sounded vulnerable and desperate.I detatched myself from him and looked away."Let's talk, Rafael. I don't want us to live in continuous uncertainties." I said in a
[ Arienna Blackwood ]"Mom, I want a divorce with Rafael. I don't think this marriage would work. I am sorry I didn't think wisely when I decided to marry him." I said to my mother who was calmly sipping her coffee.She didn't look affected by my decision, instead, she poured some in my cup."Please, say something, Mom. Your opinion matters to me the most." I gave her a pleading look."You want my honest opinion?" She finally looked up at me while placing her cup down on the table.I nodded my head in impatience.She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Are you afraid of the boy you once knew, who cared for you a lot or the man who is blind in vengeance. It's your take?" She asked me and I was left shocked."How..how..do you know?" I couldn't find proper words to ask her how did she know everything about Noah."I am your mother, Ari. Of course, I know everything about my children. I wouldn't have let you marry him if I didn't know about your groom. I ran a background check on Rafael and i
[ Rafael Martinez ]"You didn't have to take a stand for me. I can fight my own battles and it wasn't the first time my grandmother bullied me. She has always been like this. I thought you'd of all people would understand her nature." Arienna said curtly over the dining table.I gave her a blank look. She was only playing with the food on the plate."I had to show her that she can't boss around in my house and demean my wife." I replied. I heard suck a deep breath. "I am sorry for the morning. I shouldn't have said those things." I said after a momentary silence.We were back to square one because she didn't respond and resumed eating small portions from her plate."We're inviting your parents tomorrow at the breakfast. I don't want to live this cat and mice life anymore." I said."Don't drag my parents in your dirty games, Rafael. I will deal with them." She said in a flat tone and stood up."Finish your food, Anna. You can't ignore your health." I reminded her and our eyes met for
[ Rafael Martinez ]Arianna's outburst kept replaying in my mind like a record. Her eyes reflected her sedimentated anger and hatred for me and it broke my heart to see those emotions in her eyes. I made her hate me even more and probably ruined my every chances to be with her. She'll not stay quiet and tell her family about my identity and about my parents. "Come on, son. Are you going to say something or sit here like a stone statue. I know something has happened. This red mark on your face is telling a lot." My father said, his eyes were darted on my cheek.I touched the stinging area and looked away. "She's a poison in your life, Noah. Why are you with her? You're successful and young. You will find a thousand women at your disposal if you go for a bride hunt. Just leave her. You will get your child. I trust you." Mom again repeated the same dialog."Mom, please, I'm already frustrated and clueless. Yesterday, Charlotte Blackwood confronted me and it's not wrong either. She hel
[ Arianna Blackwood ] I sipped the ginger tea, enjoying the ghostly silence of the living room. The weather was still bad, the downpour changed into soft drizzle but the sky was grey and gloomy depicting my own mood. I heard footsteps. I recognized them so I sat unbothered and sipped the tea. "Good morning." I heard his grosggy voice. "Good morning," I wished him back curtly but didn't spare him a glance. "A cup of coffee please!" He yelled to his staff and sat across me. I stole a glance at him, he was in a t shirt and trousers. "I am sorry, the last night was unintentional. I never get this much drunk often unless I'm frustrated." He kept talking but I only listened. I remained quiet. "Look, if you're intentionally ignoring me then it won't work, Arianna. We can't go like this." He said in a little frustrated voice. Meanwhile, his coffee was served. "I am not in a mood to talk. I hope you understand." I said without looking up. "Alright, take your time to sort out your moo