GENERAL "But if you want us to hold onto this memory, you have to answer a question. And the way you answer it will determine whether we should hold onto it or call it a mistake as usual," Lexi uttered, staring into his eyes. There was a wry smile at the corner of her lips as she studied Ryan's reaction. As expected, his dropped face lightened up when he heard her utterance. "Really! I... I am ready. Tell me. What is it? I will give you a befitting response. I will not make you doubt your decision," he muttered hurriedly. "How will you treat me henceforth? Especially in your family. I mean your mother and sister," she asked, looking at him with keen interest. She was really anticipating what he would say. That was the only way to know if he had learned his lesson. "ERM... It's simple. I will never let anyone maltreat you or treat you like a pushover. I am ready to support you when you are right and even when you are wrong. I will not leave any space for any form of disrespect
GENERALRyan nibbled on her lips for a while before breaking the kiss and pressing a swift kiss on her forehead. "I will see you tomorrow," he mumbled.A fleet of butterflies sizzled within her, and her face suddenly heated up, turning crimson red. With a lowered head and a cheeky smile, she nodded and got out of the car, avoiding his gaze. She didn't want him to see her flushed face. "Bye," She mumbled, waved at him, and shut the door. He drove off after flashing a smile at her.The moment his car dispersed into the street, the door of the mansion opened and Donald walked out. The first thing he sighted was Lexi's reddened cheeks, and that got him a bit scared. "Hey, Lexi. Did you get beaten from the date?" He asked, scurrying to where she was standing. He stretched his hand, aiming for her face, but she recoiled, taking a step backward. "What are you doing?" She asked, her eyes broadening. "I thought you were hurt. I just want to check... He tried to talk, but she cut him
GENERAL "WHAT!" Ryan repeated, his eyes and mouth dilating.Cinderella took a step backward, afraid that he might become aggressive because of the news and another thing might happen. She gulped, rubbing her head. "I understand that you do not know about this from the beginning. I didn't tell you because I don't have the intention of forcing you to accept me because of this. I tried terminating it, but it... It... It's just what it is. You don't need to think deeply about it. I don't have plans to disturb or propel you into taking responsibility for the baby," she explained calmly, studying his expression.Unblinkingly, his eyes were fixed on her stomach. He was unsure of what to feel at the announcement of the news. Different emotions surged within him, but the strongest one was happiness. Who would have thought that he would come across double blessings that day? His silence caused Cinderella's heart to beat faster and louder as though it was about to jump out of its socket. The
GENERALLexi skimmed through her wristwatch continually in the meeting room. It was evident that the only thing present at the meeting was her body but not her soul. Silence fell in the room after the last employee made his presentation. They all fixed their gazes on her, anticipating her response, but it was glaring that she was long gone. She wasn't following the meeting anymore.Donald tugged her gently, "President Lexi," he whispered, jerking her out of her thoughts. She flinched, raising a part of her brows. She threw a questioning glance at him, and he gestured with his eyes, telling her to pay attention, and that was when she realized what was happening. She adjusted her posture instantly, blinking and swallowing hard out of embarrassment. "Uhm... ERM... I have listened to everyone's presentation, and I praise your hard work. The COO and I will sit and recheck the plans before making our decision so that we can be sure that we are making a smart move and not a foolish one." S
GENERALJasmine stood beside the window, looking out and nibbling on her fingers. She had eaten her fingers to the last part and had sustained injury, but she wasn't ready to stop. Even when she tasted metallic in her mouth.As each day passed, her spirit for vengeance increased. She didn't believe that she would be locked in the prison despite her smartness. "Hey! What are you still doing there?" A husky voice lingered in the air, but Jasmine never reacted."Can't you hear me? Are you deaf?" The voice rang again. This time, it was cold and terrifying. The bodies of the remaining prisoners in the cell trembled in fear. Still, Jasmine remained firm and silent.Annoyed by her unwavering and brazen act, the queen of the cell she was in stood up and hit her aggressively at the back of her head. "Are you crazy? Have you started your madness? Didn't you hear me calling your name?" She shouted at her, angered by her lackadaisical attitude. Despite the smack, Jasmine turned her head, looke
GENERAL "Be careful with the steps," Donald let out, holding Cinderella's hands as she helped her into his house. They had just returned from grocery shopping."Come, have your seat. You must be tired from the trip. I will bring you water right now," he mumbled, assisting her to settle on the couch. He rushed to the kitchen and returned with a cup of water. He handed it over to Cinderella, who couldn't help but wonder why he was treating her like she was handicapped.She drank some of the water, and the moment she removed the cup from her mouth, Donald took the cup from her.Sitting beside her, he scrutinized her whole body with his eyes. "Do you feel any form of discomfort from walking? Do you want me to call the doctor?" He asked, concerned and worried.At this point, Cinderella couldn't hold her laughter any longer; she burst into a peal of laughter. "What are you doing, Donald? I'm fucking pregnant and not injured. And why should I be tired because I went grocery shopping with y
GENERALAs the night went on, they decided to take a romantic stroll along the beach, the only sound being the waves and their footsteps. They walked hand in hand, enjoying the peacefulness of the night and the love they shared. Lexi enjoyed every bit of the moment. The silence and the space to dwell in their thoughts. It was as though they were in their own world. As they walked, Ryan stopped and turned to Lexi, his eyes filled with love and adoration. "You mean everything to me, Lexi," he said, his voice and eyes filled with emotions. His eyes glittered under the moonlight.Lexi's heart melted, and she felt a sense of joy and happiness. "You mean everything to me too, Ryan. Thanks for finding your way back into my life," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She prodded her eyes into his seductively. She blinked, and her gaze fell on his perfectly molded lips. As the lips moved, her body tingled, and the urge to clutch them with hers sprouted within her.As though he could
GENERAL "What! Never! I will never do something like that!" Zoe remarked, getting up from her seat. Anger scribbled on her face. She had just heard the funniest joke of her life. Kneeling in front of Lexi? Begging Lexi? She would rather mop the floor than do that. That would be over her dead body. "Mum! You just need to kneel in front of her and say sorry for treating her badly," Ryan muttered, trying to change her mother's mind.Zoe scoffed. She couldn't believe that her son was really propelling her to do something like that. To kneel in front of his wife and plead for mercy? What mercy? And did he call that "just" kneeling in front of Lexi is "just"? When she felt like she had been trampled on and killed with a knife just by listening to the crab from him. "Never, Ryan. I will never do that. I would rather be killed than do that," she insisted strongly and stubbornly.Ryan swallowed hard. "And you are aware that we really offended the girl. She deserves our apology at least,"
GENERAL Five Months Later The thump on the door caused Cinderella and Donald to raise their heads and look in the direction of the entrance. At the same time, the door opened slightly, and Lexi popped her head in, scrutinizing the whole place. When her gaze finally landed on the couple, she smiled and waved her hand. "Hello, mummy and daddy," she mumbled, strolling inside. She was followed by her husband, Ryan, and her daughter, Isabelle. "Lexi!" Donald muttered, walking up to Lexi and pulling her in a tight hug. "You didn't tell me you would be coming when we talked on the phone yesterday," he added, breaking the hug and darting his gaze over her. He was surprised to see her at the hospital. "Yeah! I didn't tell you, but it would be bad of me not to come to see my godson as soon as he was born," she said, sauntering past Donald to where the baby was. "Oh! My little pookie. You look so handsome," she complimented, taking the bed from his bed. "He looks just like you, Cinderella,"
GENERALThe sounds of gunshots reverberated across the building. Jasmine was shot in her legs and was forced to stagger into the fire she just created. Like a flash, the fire spread quickly and engulfed the whole building.Zoe and Emily screamed their lungs out for help. The cops who had arrived at the scene earlier rushed in before the fire could get to the people who were tied. Expertly, they released them from the hold and carried them out one after the other. Fortunately, nobody sustained burns except Jasmine, who fell into the fire. The fire was quickly quenched, and she was saved before she could be burnt beyond recognition. Her face, hands, and legs were burnt like an offering. Just when they thought the storm had calmed, Isabelle, who hadn't revived from her blackout, started breathing with difficulty in her mother's arms. Her chest hurled up and down.Lexi's jaw dropped and her eyes blinked as she looked at the girl in her hands. "Isabelle! My love! What is wrong with you?
GENERAL"What! What are you saying?" Zoe let out a stutter. Her lips shook with her eyes dilating in disbelief. She was certain that she didn't hear right. Jasmine would never say that.Jasmine prodded into her eyes, and her lips curled into a sinister smirk. "You heard me, Zoe Middleton. I still have unfinished business with your son," she repeated herself."No, Jasmine. You promised me. This wasn't the agreement. Don't you even try to go back on your words?" She interjected, "I don't like when you try to act sly. I hate betrayals, and I don't pity them." She spurted out, her eyes revealing anger.Jasmine snorted, unfazed by her reaction. "Well, I lied, Zoe. Feel free to call me a betrayal," she asserted.Lexi burst into a peal of hysterical laughter, throwing her head backward. "Such a fool! You think you are smart. Nobody knows Jasmine better than I do. She is just a desperate attention seeker. You are doomed," she muttered amidst her laughter.Angered and frustrated, Emily walked
GENERAL Ryan's eyes blinked when his sister, Emily, and Zoe, his mother, walked in. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was forced to shut his eyes and open them back, and they were still there. They didn't change. "Mum!!!" Ryan muttered, stupefied. It was as though he had just seen horror. If he had been told that he would be betrayed by his own family, especially his mother, he would have argued blindly. What pushed his mother to this? Zoe and Emily strolled closer to them and folded their arms. "Surprised?" She muttered, and he gulped. "What are you doing, mother? Why are you here? Why are you with Jasmine? Don't tell me you've joined hands with her..." He mumbled, and his mother shrugged her shoulders, asserting his speech. His mouth opened and he scoffed. "What are you thinking, Mum? What is wrong with you? Why would you do such a thing?" He retracted his gaze from his mother and moved it to his sister, Emily. "And you? Can't you tell her that this is wrong? Did you join an ou
GENERALRyan drove like a madman to the spot where he was told his wife's car was found. Getting there, he met some cops doing their work. "Mr. Ryan," one of them called the moment he stepped out of his car. "Did you find any clue? Have you checked the dashboard? Isn't there any CCTV in the street?" He hurled questions at the cops, scared. "The card in the dashboard has been removed. We guess the kidnappers took that with them. And for the street CCTV, we've asked the residents here, and they said it isn't working. It was just there as a camouflage," the cop explained, and Ryan hissed. What was happening? Why did bad things keep happening anytime he was happy? Who would dare kidnap his wife and daughter?He ran his fingers through his hair and placed a hand on his waist. He hated that he was helpless. His child and wife had been kidnapped, but he didn't know what to do. How would he save them? Where were they taken to?* "What! My Lexi? Never!" Mrs. Alexandra's eyes widened when
GENERAL "Please, have your seat," Donald said, pulling the chair out for Cinderella to sit on it.She scrutinized the restaurant they visited with admiration in her eyes. She didn't know where they were going before they left home. Donald just told her to dress nicely. She blushed as she took her seat. He walked to the other side and reclined on his seat. "Welcome, ma'am. Welcome, sir. What would you like to take?" A female waitress walked up to them as soon as they settled.Donald picked the menu and skimmed through it. "Seafood, and a bottle of champagne," he responded, handing his debit card over to the waitress. She took the card, bowed curtly, and left to prepare their order. The seafood he chose was Cinderella's favorite. Soon, the waitress arrived with their orders and arranged them on the table. She returned Donald's debit card. "Enjoy your meal," she said and left.Cinderella's eyes sparkled with hunger as she saw the seafood. The urge to dig in surged within her, b
GENERAL "Finally! You've come to visit me," Ryan's grandmother said, grinning as she went to welcome Lexi, Ryan, and Isabelle, their daughter. "Oh, my Goddess! Is this my little Isabelle?" Grandmother asked, ruffling the little girl's hair. "Hello, grandmother," Isabelle greeted with a smile. "Hey, granddaughter. You've become so big," Grandmother said with admiration in her eyes, and they laughed.Lexi went close to her. They prodded into each other's gazes and embraced each other. Tears brimmed in Lexi's eyes. There was no way she would count her blessings and not count her grandmother. In fact, she would count her twice. She was the only one who never looked down on her despite her poor status in the past. She took her like a daughter and made sure she never lacked a thing. Seeing her again after five years brought back memories, and tears strolled down her eyes. "Thank you for everything, Grandmother," Lexi said with a croaky voice. A lump clogged her throat.Breaking th
GENERALLexi and Ryan weren't surprised by their presence. They glanced at them indifferently, waiting to hear why they were there.Zoe swallowed hard. "Hey, son!" She mumbled with a fake smile.With an emotionless expression, Ryan said, "Why are you here, ma'am?"Her eyes widened. She stuttered, "What... What do you mean by that? Why would anyone ask why I am at my son's house?" She darted her stare over Lexi and threw her deadly and hateful glare. Lexi didn't mind the looks from her. In as much as she didn't step her foot into the house. "I thought I told you not to bring your legs here unless you are ready to repent." Why are you here with the devil you birthed?" He snapped at his mother, fixing a cold gaze at her sister, who was hiding behind her mother.Zoe's face changed into horror. She wore a squinty countenance. "What! Did you just call your sister a devil? What has gotten into you? Has this witch messed with your sense of reasoning?" She hurled questions at him, throwing
GENERALJasmine's step slowed as she neared her hideout. It was evident that she was scared. Perhaps not scared. She wasn't just ready for the drama that would follow once she got to where she was staying. As expected, she saw the man she had been staying with, standing outside and looking fierce.With the way he paced up and down, Jasmine discerned that it wouldn't be a good day for her as usual. He was drunk and exasperated. She was going to get beaten for the umpteenth time. When she escaped the prison some weeks back, she met this grumpy man who offered to help her if she agreed to be his wife. Without thinking, she accepted since she was in dire need of help. And that marked the beginning of her misery. If she was beaten today, she would be sexually abused the following day. Should we talk about the dirty streets and the stinky houses? If she was the previous Jasmine, she would have puked the first time she stepped into his house. "Look who is here. The Almighty Jasmine," The