REINAAfter my conversation with Ravenna, I had been quite disturbed. Yes, I went back into the studio dark room to confirm that nothing had been done to the clothes.My dear was relieved a little when I confirmed that the clothes were still in good shape. Nothing was done to the clothes. Everything was still as it were.But, now sitting beside Ethan in this hall was the most awkward thing ever.The media personality in charge of the event was doing his work perfectly well. Calling us to speak when it was required of us and calling on the live band in charge of the music to play when it was necessary.I was enjoying every bit of it until my phone lightened up.I quickly swiped up to check what it was. It was a text from an unknown number and it read.“Be careful. Ravenna is about to do something unexpected. This is not about the dresses. It is about your child.”I almost screamed and Ethan noticed my unusual behavior. I was going crazy in the middle of the event. I swiped to check w
ETHAN“I will get you the drink you want now,” I offered.“No, please. I can cater for myself. Besides, it won't make too much sense if both of us are seen at the bar when it's our ceremony,” she protested.She was only looking for excuses to make but, I won't give in to her excuses this time.This launching ceremony was so important to me but still I am still looking out for her.She better notice the sacrifices I am putting up for her to fall in love with me.“Other trusted staff are there to make sure the event goes as planned. Besides, I am not planning to stay there throughout today. Just for a few minutes, when you get yourself. We can both go back and join the “Hmmm…what if you are needed somehow? I still don't buy this idea,” she said.“If I am needed, then I will go and attend to it. There is no cause for alarm. I want to make sure that my designer is okay.”She chuckled and I walked down with her to the little bar in the building. I looked back over my shoulder with my dar
REINA This second wine tasted a lot better than the previous one. But, even as I drank that. I still wanted to leave. “Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Ravenna.”Those names kept on ringing in my ears. He is Ethan. Ethan is him and Ravenna is his wife.I am in a bar alone with the man that I never wanted to be seen with. The man whose wife was someone that wanted me out of this world.What was I even doing? Why was I so comfortable that I was sharing a drink with him?Holy heavens! I'm just out of my mind.I needed to go but I didn't know how. I have tried all I could to get myself out of here and find Raveena before she ruins my day but I could not. Ethan has held me captive and won't allow me to leave his sight. I messed up big time reading that message in his presence. I would have been more careful.“I am sorry, Ethan. I think this short time we spent today was great and I really need to leave. Let's not forget that we have something to do.”“I am aware. I never wanted to keep you here. A
REINA“Raveena!” I almost blurted out. I was terrified to the core and I knew that my Raveena had started to plan things that were silly. I looked beside me and saw that Ethan had been staring at me the whole time.“What's the matter? Now, I am certain that something is definitely wrong somewhere and you have no choice but to tell me,” he demanded.I wish he could understand that this is not something I see myself talking about, not anytime soon. I had a lot on my plate and staring here was not helping. I need to find Raveena before she finds me and spoils my day.“It is nothing. Let's go to the hall now. They need us,” I pleaded with him but he decided not to let me come with him.“They are still far away from needing us, Reina. I need you to open up to me and let me know what the problem is. Look, I don't bite. I know that we have had some misunderstanding but that doesn't stop me from helping you if I can,” he disclosed but that was not the problem that I had with him.“Like I s
REINA We both froze and stood still. I recognised that voice. I sure did. “Ravenna! What are you doing here? You should be at the launch. In the hall,” Ethan said, almost stuttering in between words.I was getting embarrassed on his behalf. But, my fear was greater than his embarrassment. I was scared of what Ravenna was going to do next. I just had to stay alert and prepare myself.I faced her and maintained eye contact with her so that she would get the impression that I was not afraid of whatever she was going to do.Besides, she was alone. I would do justice to this. I trust myself.“Stop It, Ethan. I am not in the mood for all of these. I had always known that you had been secretly seeing her. You should be ashamed for going back to your vomit,” she sneered at him but Ethan was not moved by her words.It was written all over his face that he does not love her and he does not see any future with her. But, as always Raveena would keep forcing herself on him even if that was the
REINA“Excuse me?”, I asked Ravenna, who was busy laughing from one end to another. “Are you surprised? Or, have I made you dead struck that you can't speak?” I shook my head continuously as she spoke to me. “Like, I said, Reina. I think the time has come for me to expose your wicked deeds and your lies. Not only to Ethan but to the world,” she revealed and she snapped her fingers.I didn't know how it happened. But, I began to hear heavy footsteps coming in our direction.Very soon people filled the room and they did not just come empty handed. They came with cameras and their phones were held up high as if they wanted to capture everything that was going on.“What is the meaning of this?” I yelled and Ethan on the no other hand who was long lost didn't like what he was seeing.But, Ravenna had her ways of calming him down.“Tell the whole world why you hide your son from your ex husband. The man who impregnated you and dumped you. Why do you parade yourself as someone without a c
EthanThat I was thorn between two ends was an understatement. I hate the way my thoughts run through my mind like a whirlwind.I was not okay. Deep down, the whole Saga that was playing out was making me go crazy. If it was true that Reina had a child that she hid for me for years, then I may never forgive her. And if it was true that Ravenna was lying about this, I won't forgive her too.“I know what you are Reina. But, what you are doing won't work,” Ravenna stressed.“I wonder why you are still emphasizing on this. Haven't I informed you that you are going to hear from my lawyer?” Reina asked.She looked so confident as she spoke to Reina. Someone who was accused of having skeletons in her cupboard was not meant to act this way. If she was guilty, she would have been shaking by now. My head was banging. I was confused. I couldn't choose who to believe.“Please, let's leave here now. We still have an event. Or, do you want this devil to spoil our event?” Reina asked me.She stres
REINAI was not wrong when I said that two people would trend that night. I did a good job in putting Ravenna in her place.Soon enough, the cops came to whisk her away before she could escape after the event.I watched as the cops handled her carefully. I wished that they didn't handle her that way. They would have handled her like the criminal that she was. That would have been better. She cried all through the time she was escorted out of the premises by the cops and I felt no pity for her.In fact, I felt so triumphant and I would celebrate my little win. It was funny how everything she planned against me backfired on her.My phone began to buzz as notifications came in from different blogs and social media handles. Everyone was talking about the launching of the Triple A and they didn't fail to mention the saga that happened earlier too.As I scrolled down, I saw a picture of Ravenna who was already disgraced by me and I smiled again.I knew that this would happen. Didn't I say
Ethan Reina looked up at me, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. “We are going to get through this, right?” I nodded, though my throat felt tight. “Of course, yes. We are together. Don't forget. ” And in that moment, I knew we had no choice but to keep fighting for Andrew, for each other, for our family. Finally, we were both with him after waiting for hours. Waiting. That was all we could do before being let in. Wait and hope. The clock on the wall seemed to move slower than usual, its ticking loud and relentless, as if mocking us. I sat in the sterile waiting room, the faint smell of antiseptic in the air. Reina was beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her knuckles were already white but she didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes stayed fixed on Andrew and I'm glad we were both seeing him. I wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay, but how could I when I didn’t even believe it myself? For hours, Andrew has been in there, fighting for hi
Ethan Reina looked up at me, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. “We are going to get through this, right?” I nodded, though my throat felt tight. “Of course, yes. We are together. Don't forget. ” And in that moment, I knew we had no choice but to keep fighting for Andrew, for each other, for our family. Finally, we were both with him after waiting for hours. Waiting. That was all we could do before being let in. Wait and hope. The clock on the wall seemed to move slower than usual, its ticking loud and relentless, as if mocking us. I sat in the sterile waiting room, the faint smell of antiseptic in the air. Reina was beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her knuckles were already white but she didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes stayed fixed on Andrew and I'm glad we were both seeing him. I wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay, but how could I when I didn’t even believe it myself? For hours, Andrew has been in there, fighting for hi
Ethan “Mr. and Mrs. Ethan,” the doctor said as he approached us in the waiting room. His voice was calm, but the tightness in his expression betrayed the gravity of the situation. “We have done everything we can to stabilize Andrew, but his condition has deteriorated. He needs surgery immediately.” The words hit me like a truck. My knees almost buckled, but I gripped the edge of the chair to prevent myself from falling. “Surgery immediately?” Reina’s voice cracked as she stood up beside me. “What kind of surgery?” “We need to address the complications caused by the infection. If we don’t operate now…” The doctor hesitated, and his eyes moved between us. “Just say it,” I barked in a sharp voice. I sounded so desperate of course, I just wanted my child to get out of this damn hospital. “If we don’t, his chances of survival are very slim.” The room spun, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Reina let out a soft, choked sob and covered her mouth with her hands. “How soon?” I fo
Ethan Reina looked up at me, her eyes filled with both hope and fear. “We are going to get through this, right?”I nodded, though my throat felt tight. “Of course, yes. We are together. Don't forget. ”And in that moment, I knew we had no choice but to keep fighting for Andrew, for each other, for our family.Finally, we were both with him after waiting for hours. Waiting. That was all we could do before being let in. Wait and hope.The clock on the wall seemed to move slower than usual, its ticking loud and relentless, as if mocking us. I sat in the sterile waiting room, the faint smell of antiseptic in the air. Reina was beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her knuckles were already white but she didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes stayed fixed on Andrew and I'm glad we were both seeing him. I wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay, but how could I when I didn’t even believe it myself?For hours, Andrew has been in there, fighting for his life, and
Reina“Why isn’t he waking up, Ethan?” I whispered, clutching the edge of the hospital bed.My voice trembled as I stared at Andrew’s pale face, his tiny body was almost swallowed by the sheets. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room.I was going crazy. My only child was in a critical condition. “Reina, calm down,” Ethan said softly, though from his voice , I knew he was also scared. He was standing by the window, his hand pressed against the glass. “The doctors said they are running more tests.”I snapped my head towards him. “Tests? Ethan, he has not opened his eyes in hours! This is more than a fever. I know it!”Ethan turned to me and his face tightened. “Do you think I’m not worried? I’m losing my mind here, Reina! But panicking won’t help him.”The tears I had been holding back spilled over as I buried my face in my hands. “He’s just a child. Our child. He doesn’t deserve this.”The night before, Andrew was not sick. He just suddenly became
Reina The email came at 7:45 a.m. sharp. It was as if the person who sent this mail did it deliberately to give me chills. I was sitting at the kitchen table, still in my oversized sweatshirt and sipping my first coffee of the day when I saw the subject line. “Congratulations on Your Appointment". My hand shook as I clicked the email, my heart pounding. And then I saw it: the confirmation that I had landed the job I had been dreaming about for years. It was the job of a Creative Director at one of the most prestigious firms in the city. I let out a gasp so loud that Ethan came running into the kitchen. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Are you fine?” he asked, his face filled with concern. “Nothing’s wrong!” I said, laughing through my tears. “I got it, Ethan! I got the job!” His eyes widened in disbelief, and then, like a switch, his face softened into a smile. “Are you serious? Are you serious right now, sweetheart?” he asked, stepping closer. I nodded, holding up my phone
Reina The following morning, the house felt colder than ever. It was not the weather or the light drizzle outside my house, it was the emptiness Ethan left behind. After our little argument last night. Ethan left the house and refused to answer my calls. I was going crazy because of a husband I had married and now, he had refused to come back. My heart became so heavy as I began to think about the implications of our argument. Had I pushed him too far this time? Was this all my fault? I would have shut the fuck up and not talk much to him about anything. It would have saved us a lot of stress. I stared at the clock, my coffee untouched on the table. Every second that passed without a word from him felt like a ticking bomb. My pride told me to wait, to let him be the one to come back and apologize, but my heart was screaming at me to call him, to beg him to come home. I needed him home. I needed to see him even if we were quarreling. I picked up my phone, my fingers hov
Reina “Damn it!” I almost yelled at the blank wall b The sound of the rain splattering against the window just reminded me of how my mind was. The atmosphere in the house had changed since the accident. I was getting better of course, I knew I was. I was taking my drugs and going for my frequent checkups to make sure I was fine. I was doing all I wanted to do to stay alive. Because, Damn. I still had a little boy that I needed to take care of. Ethan was trying his best to be present, trying to make things better between the both of us and I always appreciated his efforts but something still felt fractured. No matter how hard we tried, the pieces of our relationship didn’t fit the way they used to. That was just the plain truth. I could not continue lying to myself. I loved him, yes. But we were not as we used to be. Tonight, the tension felt unbearable. I sat at the dining table, staring blankly at the steaming cup of tea in front of me. Andrew was already in bed, and t
Reina Everyday in the hospital was filled with so much pain and all I could see were patients who were attended to and nurses who were filled with so much concern. Ethan never left me for a second. He was there every morning when I woke up and every night when I drifted into restless sleep. But the accident had changed something. It was not just in my body, but in the air that surrounded us. I could feel it in the way he hovered over me, his hand brushing mine as if afraid I might shatter. I could see it in the way he looked at me. It was not just love; it was fear. And I hated it. “You are not eating enough,” Ethan said one afternoon. I pushed the food tray away, the smell of the hospital’s chicken broth making my stomach rumble. I hated the sight of food. I didn’t want to eat anything. “I’m fine.” “You are not fine, Reina,” he said, his tone hardening. He sat down beside me, his knee brushing against the edge of the bed. “You almost died.” I flinched at the word. “You