CHAPTER SEVENTY_ SEVEN"Your dad doesn't care about us, Dylan. He wants to leave us and go to Maria," Mary cried to her son. She knew better than not using the victim card to draw her son closer to her, and she thought it was a blessing in disguise that things had to turn out this way. "What are we going to do? Let her take him away from us?" Dylan asked. Mary let out a wry smile. "To think that this disheartening issue is amusing to me to an extent. I think we should leave the house. If he really loves us, he would come for us," Mary suggested. They both sat on Dylan's bed in his room, and Mary held his little hand in hers. "I don't think leaving is the best idea, mom. You said it yourself, that woman if bent om stealing dad from us, and he loves her too. If we live this house, she would definitely move in, and the both of us might never get to come back again. That way, she would succeed in turning dad completely against us," Dylan suggested. "We would sue them if they try to
CHAPTER SEVENTY_ EIGHT"What does it matter?" Mercy asked. She sniffed in and moved closer to Henry. She had an assuring smile on her face as she approached her son in law. She stood beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "I know you are hurting right now, but everything will be fine. Don't worry, just go ahead and do your thing. I will dress your kid up for school and will also talk to him on your behalf," she assured. "I will be deeply indebted to you if you can do that for me, mom," Henry said, almost moving to tears. "I will. Just be rest assured that your son and yourself would bond once again. It would only take a while," Mercy convinced him further. Henry returned to his room and fell on his bed facing the ceiling. He picked up his pillow and covered his face with it. He reminisced on his life growing up with his dad. He would have to ask his dad for forgiveness and make peace with him. He now understood what it felt like to raise a son alone without a mother
CHAPTER SEVENTY_ NINEHenry ignored the kid and walked out on him. He decided to give the kid about two days or more to get over his hatred for him. He wouldn't blame the kid at all for the sy he was acting. He knew he had acted worse with his dad. He even went ahead to get married against his dad's wish. He returned from work two days later and met his son seated on the couch in the sitting room. He held a gamepad in his hands and was controlling it to play games. Henry sat beside his son quietly, watching the way the kid controls the gamepad. He was already a pro in the game. "Nice game!" Henry commented. Dylan turned around to look at Henry. He looked back to the screen, only to find out that he had lost the game. "Fuck shit dad!" He cursed and placed the gamepad on the table by his side. "Watch your words kid," Henry reprimanded. "After breaking Mom's heart, you would still make me lose my game? How wicked can you get?" Dylan asked."I know you are hurt, Dylan. I know I've h
CHAPTER EIGHTYHenry drove into the club house and parked at the parking lot. He hadn't been there for months now. He needed to cool his head down, from the pressure from both home and work. Dylan had been doing all he could to get his parents back together. Like the previous day, he had threatened them to dance together, or he would reveal their secrets. Henry walked into the bar and found himself a quiet and comfortable place to sit. "What do you want, sir?" He heard the waiter's innocent voice and raised his head to look at her. "Here."She handed him the menu with a smile on her face. "Just get me any kind of cocktail you think would be okay for a stressed man."The waiter bowed with a smile and left the table. Soon, she returned with a small tray in her hand. A glass cup sat honourably on the tray, with a cocktail mix filled in it. She placed the cup on Henry's table, smiled, and left.Henry picked up the cup and began to dinek directly from the cup. He ordered another, anoth
CHAPTER EIGHTY _ ONEHenry woke up when his 5am alarm rang. He looked by his side and saw Maria lying beside him, with his hand wrapped all around her. He gasped, with the thought that she was Mary, and this was as a result of one of their son's tricks. Then he immediately remembered that he had met Maria at the club the previous day, and they had the best sex of their lives. He stood up from the bed and staggered into the bathroom. A part of the hid brain still had alcohol in it, so the staggering was the influence of the alcohol. He opened the water closet and emptied his bladder before climbing into the bath. Maria woke up, and Henry was gone. She wondered why he left so early, as she began to touch the bed so she'd be certain that he wasn't there. She yawned loudly, stretched herself, and stood up to her feet. She noticed his clothes on the chair with hers. He must have packed them up before going to bed because she knew that she had fallen asleep before he did. She wondered
CHAPTER EIGHTY _ TWOCrying in Dylan's room had become Mary's daily routine. Henry decided to let her be, and pretend as though he wasn't aware of the fact that she would go to their son's room to cry all night. He decided to let the both of them be since Dylan wouldn't talk to him not matter how hard he tried to start a conversation between them. Henry returned from work and after freshen up, walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner. He met Mercy in the kitchen. He hadn't been frequent at home for a while and haven't really had any alone time or space with the woman. "Good evening mom," he greeted her. Mercy didn't reply. She had a pot of soup on the gas, and she only concentrated on stirring the pot. When she was satisfied, she removed the spoon from the pot and covered it and turned around to face Henry. "How was work?" She asked. "It had been so stressful mom. Thank God the weekend is finally here, I'd get to rest a little," he replied. He walked over to the pot and peeped a
CHAPTER EIGHTY _ THREE"My daughter."Mercy drew Maria closely and hugged her tightly. The both soon walked together into Mercy's room, and Mercy closed the door after they walked in. The two settled on the bed and Mary continued to sob silently. "Mary, you have to stop doing this to yourself, " Mercy started. "I am so sorry mom," Mary pleaded."No my dear. I am sorry for letting you pass through all of that, for making you go through all the things you went through because of me. I am sincerely sorry and I never meant to hurt you. I hope that you forgive me.""I thought you were going to be like everyone else mom, that you would choose Maria over me and think she is better than me. I thought you will love her more because of the smell reason others do. You still stood by me against her and had a clash with Henry over the matter concerning us. I love you so much mom, what was I thinking when I abandoned you?"Mary hugged her mom tightly once again and the two sobbed silently for a
CHAPTER EIGHTY _ FOURMercy stared at Henry for a while, and then she turned around and continued outside the house. They drove in Henry's small car and went to the park for some fun. Dylan, Mercy, and Mary had breakfast at the park, and also lunch and dinner, leaving their grandma in the care of the housekeeper and Henry. They knew Henry would take very good care of her, especially since he had nowhere to go during the weekend. Towards evening, they were done with the fun and all exhausted, so they decided to drive back home. On getting home, they met Henry in the sitting room. He had a gamepad in his hand and was controlling it. "Good evening, Mom," he greeted and stood up to his feet. He paused the large television screen and placed the gamepad on the table."Mom, I am so sleepy. Would you mind taking me to my room?" Dylan asked, holding firmly unto his mother's hand. Henry looked down at Dylan. His eyes were sleepy for real, but he had this mocking and irritated look on his f
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ FOURClifford removed his phone from his pocket and texted an unknown number. "Close your eyes for five minutes, " he told them and walked over to the door.He returned with two men, twin kids, and two lawyers. Mary stood up to her feet, screaming at the top of her voice while she rushed to the man who held twin kids by his side. She hugged him passionately and sobbed in his arms. Henry stood up with his eyes and mouth wide open. "Dad," he called out. Fredrick opened his arms wide to receive his son. Henry walked into his father's arms and hugged him warmly. "I am so sorry, dad."Henry's voice sounded as though he was going to cry. "It was my fault that we ended up this way. I should have let you choose your life and your wife.""No, father. Every disappointment is a blessing. You helped me find true love when I thought what I shared with Mary was true love.""Okay, can we do something fun and forget all of these ever happened?" Maria asked. "Not bef
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ THREEMaria and Henry continued walking down the stairs but got startled when they saw Clifford and Faith seated on the couch with Mercy and her mom. "What is going on here?" Henry asked. Faith rushed to Maria and hugged her tightly. She began sobbing silently while hugging her daughter. Maria softened as well and began to sob. The rest of the parents stood up to their feet to watch the unfolding drama in front of them."I am sorry, Mom. I know, I know I promised never to leave you but the pressure was too much. I didn't want to marry Fred, I didn't want to go to florida. I wanted to stay somewhere safe. I wanted a place their was love. I never told you this mom, Fred hits me. He would turn me into a punching bag in florida, and their wouldn't be a single soul I would report to. I couldn't stop myself from running away mom, he would definitely kill me if I married him."Faith hugged Maria even more tightly and patted her hair. "I love you so much, honey,"
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ TWOMaria ran upstairs with Henry following swiftly behind her. She began packing up her things. "Maria, please don't leave. Don't do this to us. You know you have to give us another chance, right?" Maria ignored Henry and continued packing up. He walked up to her and hugged her from behind. He tightened her hands in between his, and she tried to free herself, but of course, he was stronger than she was. "Maria, please. I would die if you ever leave me.""What will you have me do then? Tell me. What do you expect me to do?"Her voice cracked. It was pale and weak. She sounded as though she was going to cry. "You can't give up on us like this. Okay, you know what? Let's leave together," Henry suggested. "What? What about your son?" Maria asked.She wiped her face. Henry let go of her hand, and she walked up to the bed and sat on it. She sighed softly and raised her head to look at Henry, who was still standing where she left him. His hands were placed on
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND _ ONEMaria was about to answer the question when a slight knock was heard on the door. Henry excused himself and walked towards the door, while Maria continued towards the dining. She went on her knees in front of Mary, and folded her clapped her hands together in front of her face. "What are you doing here?" Mercy asked again coldly. "My parents were going to sell me off and send me to florida. I needed somewhere to hide pending the time they would change their mind." "And you think that this is the best place to hide? Is this the best way to behave when your sister is rotting behind bars? Why are you so inconsiderate Maria? Or you want your parents to come here and gundown everyone because of you? I guess that is the only time you would learn."Maria shook her head continously, as her mom spoke. Mercy didn't bother to look down at her. She kept a straight face, and kept her gaze fixed on the food she was about to eat. "Mom, please. I do not want to mar
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED Maria was stool staring at the little girl with her eyes and mouth wide open. She was still wondering if she was still in hallucinations or not."Ma'am? I know I have asked this before, and you didn't respond. Are you sure you are fine?" "Yea, of course I am fine. Please repeat what you just said earlier. ""Your parents are here, Ma'am, " she repeated innocently. "You mean, you mean Mary's mom and grandma, right? I mean our parents and the kid, right?" Maria asked. "They didn't come with any kid. Henry called them Mr and Mrs Clifford. They said they wanted to be sure that he wasn't hiding Maria here." "Shit!" Maria exclaimed. She pulled the girl by the hand and walked straight to the kitchen with the girl following steady behind her. They got into the kitchen, and Maria locked the door. "What did you say to them?" Maria asked, resting over the girl whose nack was rested on the wall of the kitchen. "I didn't talk to them. I pretended to be dumb and asked s
CHAPTER NINETY _ NINETime flew by real quick and the camp days were finally over. Henry and Maria had prepared a banquet for the family. She hadn't figured out yet where to stay, and she hoped on convincing her biological mom, and grandma to let her stay even if it meant moving to their room with them. She wouldn't want to bother Dylan in his room, and Mary's room would be a no go area. Of course, they wouldn't want her to stay in Henry's room, so the best thing was to either move into theirs. Or she could even manage with the housekeeper, afterall she's human..The both of them were busy setting the dinning and exchanging kisses when they heard a soft knock on the door. The housekeeper walked over to the door to help get the door, while the two rushed the work to quickly finish it before the three would walk in. They already concluded that it was grandma, Mercy, and Dylan. The two laughed immediately they were done, and Henry hugged Maria. "You know they shouldn't see us this wa
CHAPTER NINETY _ EIGHT Henry lay in bed thinking about Mary. He once loved her and still did, although not romantically anymore. He wished there was something he could do about her, but there was absolutely nothing. She was guilty of the case charged, and although Maria hadn't pressed charges yet, she would as soon as Faith succeeded in convincing her. Henry was so worried for Mary's safety. It was so early in the morning, and Henry hadn't had any sleep yet. The wall clock that hung on the wall facing him read the time to his face. And it displayed 5am.Henry sighed, as he remembered Mercy, Dylan and granny. The three were in Dylan's school camp. He felt bad for the kid, none of his parents could attend the camp with him. Henry would have gone but Dylan insisted he shouldn't attend the camp without Mary. He didn't want to create a scene in the school by going there against the kid's wish, so he decided to just stay back at home. He heard the door bell ring and jerked from the bed
CHAPTER NINETY _ SEVEN The day was a very stressful and yet very successful one. Everything the Clifford's planned on achieving for that fay they did before dusk. Everyone was exhausted and just retired to their rooms to sleep. Maria lay in bed with her eyes closed as thoughts flew freely in and out of her mind. Tears rolled down her left eyes, dropping on the sheets. She heard a light knock on the door and wiped her face immediately. "Come in," she managed to say and sat up in bed. She was too tired to stand to her feet and thanked her stars she didn't lock the door yet. She saw her mom walk into her room with a sad smile on her face. She sat on the bed beside Maria and held her jaw up. Maria understood that her mom was only trying to make her happy. She didn't like that all her life revolved around a man who was married to her own sister and wished that she could help. This was her best way of helping Maria move on from Henry, but she didn't want to. She couldn't forget the l
CHAPTER NINETY _ SIXA FEW WEEKS LATERMaria stood behind the door of her parents' room. She could hear them talk in whispers and laugh. Soon, their tone increased, and she realized they were talking to someone or some people on the phone."We should just fix the wedding, and they would come together, get married. It is not like they have a choice after all. "That was Faith's voice. She knew the meeting they held was about she and Fred, and she also knew it was Fred's parents on the other end of the call. "Maybe you would just come over to the house so we would plan the wedding properly," Clifford's voice sounded. She felt betrayed that her dad was part of the plan. Why would he? She thought he was on her side and would help her achieve whatever she wanted. Why would he switch sides all of a sudden? She sighed sadly and returned to her room. She sat in bed and banged the door against the wall. She was breathing heavily and fuming at the same time. She stood up.from the bed and wa