CHAPTER TWENTY _ EIGHT Henry was hesitant about calling Maria's parents at first. He was scared about how they would take the news. They would think he wasn't capable of taking care of her, and would definitely question the reason why he decided to keep her if he knew it would turn out this way. He picked up his phone, opened his phone book and began to stare at it blankly. "Ehen? What is going on?" Stephanie asked him."I_ do not have Mr Clifford's contact", Henry replied. Stephanie took his phone from him, dialed Mr Clifford's number, and it began to ring. Henry placed his hand on his head, as strands of sweats dropped down freely from his forehead down his face. "Hello".Stephanie heard Clifford's voice from the other end of the phone. She placed the phone close to Henry's ear, and when he gave her a questioning glare she rolled her eyes on him. "Hel_ Hello sir", Henry stuttered. ~Clifford just finished bathing and was about to have a littke rest when his phone began to vi
CHAPTER TWENTY _ NINE"What do they want?" Mary asked, breathing heavily as she walked towards the door. Faith walked behind her, and immediately they were close enough to the door, the house keeper gave them space and left the sitting room."Good day," Faith greeted. "Your husband invited us," one of them informed her. She wondered why Clifford called the police so soon that she wouldn't let them take Mary if that was the reason they were here. And except so whatever they wanted to discuss, maybe arresting Henry, she would give Clifford her full support, afterall he was the reason they were in this mess in the first place. "Ahan!" Clifford's voice was heard from behind. Mary and Faith turned around and saw him walking down the stairs. "Why didn't you both call me?" Clifford asked. He walked over to the door and opened it widely. "Come in," he invited them inside. Mary's heart was beating very fast. He had threatened to let her rot in hell, and Henry in cell, so why were the
CHAPTER TWENTY _ THIRTY Maria was able to sneak out of the crowd. She quickly found a spot to hide, even though it was inside an abandoned car, and she knew it was risky. She stayed back in the car thinking about her life and how she got here.She wondered why Mary had to come back. She would have been married to Fred by now if she didn't get drunk again even after what drunkeness had done to her in the past. If she didn't get drunk on that day, she would never meet Henry.There would be no case of her begging Henry for a divorce, him mistaken her for his wife, and she believing all the bullshit, moving in with him and now falling helplessly in love with him. She was in love with someone else's husband, what a shame? She had accused her parents of being impostors. How would she face them? Where would she begin her apology speech. If only she had listened to them from the very first instance? Why did the doctor manipulate her DNA test result with her mom? He would definitely gear
CHAPTER THIRTY _ ONETwo weeks later.Henry heard about the accident and rushed to the hospital to save Maria. She was unconscious, and he did everything possible to resuscitate her, and he took her home after two weeks. Their life seemed to go back to normal as their was no disturbance from anyone for the days they spent at the hospital, and the two days at home had been peaceful, with Henry taking good care of Maria. Her leg was still hurting, so Henry had to carry her around the house. Towards evening, a knock was heard on the door. Both Maria and Henry were in the sitting room, while Maria lay on the couch with her head rested on Henry's lap, Henry sat up, cuddling her hair softly.Henry raised Maria's head slowly and made her lie on the pillow before walking over to the door. He opened the door, and it was his gatekeeper. "Someone asked me to give this to you," he informed, stretching his hand with an envelope in it towards Henry. Henry took the envelope from him and walked
CHAPTER THIRTY _TWOMaria thought about it for a while and had a rethink. She turned around and walked with Henry to the dinning. He moved her seat backwards and helped her relax on it, then he dished out food in her plate, poured water into her glass, and then dished for the rest of the people present at the table.Henry sat beside Maria, and fed her while they ate, the both of them talked in low tones, and chuckled for reasons best known to them. The whole love thing was itching Mary, she wished she could just hit the both of them and make then stop whatever they were doing.She cleared her throat and placed both hands on the table. "We didn't come here to watch you both talk in low tones and pretend no one else is present at this table, we came all the way here to discuss business, and that is exactly what we are supposed to be doing, not watching the both of you_""I am sorry. So let's go straight to the point", Henry apologised. "I am certain you both have seen the lawsuit. Don
CHAPTER THIRTY _THREEMaria walked into her room and banged the door.Henry pleaded with her parents, apologising for her misbehaviour, then he rushed out of the sitting room, headed straight to Maria's room. He opened the door and walked into the room."Maria, what was the meaning of the attitude you just put up there? Are you out of your mind, Maria?" Henry shouted at her. "What!" She screamed at the top of her voice. "You want me to sit back here and watch her take you away from me? Plus, did you hear the way she disrespected me? She called me a slut and you sar hack there without saying one word, not a single word in my defense Henry. She was the one who got married to someone else and had three kids for him, I bet you don't know that. You took my virginity Henry. "Breathing heavily, she stood up from the bed and walked up to Henry. "You are a complete idiot that you had sex with me and you didn't notice that I wasn't Mary, you brought me back from the hospital after I regained
CHAPTER THIRTY _FOUR"Maria, I never loved you. I only said those words so I could keep you. Although I never had an idea if you were Mary or not, I only guessed you were, and I decided to seize you. I didn't want my son to be without a mother. I kept on telling you that I loved your person, I kept on telling you that I wasn't in love with your name or status as my wife, but it was all a lie, Maria. It would always hurt me whenever you asked me not to call you Mary because that was the name I fell in love with nine years ago, even before she revealed her face to me. Maria, I do not have any feelings whatsoever for you. My wife is back, and I want you to return to your family as well. I am so sorry if I was selfish, and also if I toom advantage of you. "Maria stopped sobbing immediately. Henry began his speech. She watched him speechlessly as he said those hurtful words like they were nothing. She wondered if he was human at all, and she wondered if the man she fell in love with had a
CHAPTER THIRTY _ FIVE"You are here already," Henry mumbled. He pulled Mary into a tight embrace and let her feel the warmness of his broad chest for a bit. Then he pulled her away gently, locked the door, and helped her carry her bag as they walked into the room."You don't look so happy to see me," Mary lamented as they walked into the room.Although she had been away from Henry for over five years, she still knew him too well to be able to tell when he was sad and when he was happy. "Can we not start? You just came back, " Henry replied. Henry wasn't ready for Mary's troubles. He had rested from her nagging and complaints for five years, and he thought she had changed when she was swapped but now he felt the presence of the real Mary, and her presence in the house changed the whole atmosphere. It was as if a different kind of perfume was sprayed all over the house, and it overshadowed the whole house. "What do you mean can we not start? Would you beat your chest and tell me you
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