CHAPTER SIXTEENHenry and Dylan had so much fun in Disney land, and when they had exhausted all the fun there, Dylan asked that his dad take him to atlanta. He wanted to see the ocean.They visited different places after seeing the ocean. Henry was happy that his son was strong and happy again. He sat in their hotel room watching their pictures while Dylan was asleep. He noticed the smile on Dylan's face in the first pictures, where dad smiled and that his face got brighter by the day. In recent pictures, Dylan had a cute and sincere smile all over his face, and it impressed Henry so much to see that his son was happy again. He had doubts about taking him back to the city just yet, but Dylan needed to attend school. He had missed classes for almost three weeks, and he didn't want his son to keep missing out. He had promised the school that they would return in a week and kept postponing, making the school question their reason for giving them the short break at first.Henry knew his
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN After pleading with Henry to eat and he bluntly refused, insisting that he had to see his mom first before eating any food. Henry got frustrated and lay on the couch in the sitting room with his stomach facing the ceiling. He found tears dropping down his left cheek against his wish, and then he began to laugh like a madman. Dylan had been hiding behind the stairs, leading to his room watching his dad for a while, and this particular action scared him to his marrow. He rushed out of his hiding place and went to kneel in front of his dad. "Daddy, please don't run mad. Don't think this to me, don't leave me as well, I would just go crazy, "Dylan pleaded with his dad as he knelt in front of him. "I promise to obey you, I will eat whatever and whenever you want me to eat, but please do not leave me I beg of you."Henry surprised at his son's reaction, pulled him to himself and hugged him tightly. The both of them lay on the couch together with Dylan lying on top of He
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "I would tell you over dinner, I promise", Maria said and tried to free herself from Henry's grip."You won't because our son would be there", Henry replied. "I will, I promise you that I will", Maria insisted, and Henry allowed her to go continue with her preparation. After cooking and serving the food, the three gathered around the table and Maria dished some food into everyone's plate. As they ate, she began to narrate everything that happened and how it happened. "So, I was consistently crying and praying to God, and yes he answered me. My parents had bribed my lawyer, and made her turn her back against me_""Your parents bribed her? How did you know?" Henry asked."Of course, I do. How would I not know? I called her for help and she asked that I forget about you and move on with my life. Thank God who still used her to bring us back together. She raised her hand when the pastor asked if there is anyone who doesn't want the bride and groom together, and guess w
CHAPTER NINETEENThe court case was ruled in favour of Maria and Henry this time because they presented a legal marriage certificate and a matched DNA test result with Dylan and Maria. Henry was overjoyed seeing their victory this time, and the family celebrated together. This time around Dylan was convinced that his mom would bring be taken from him any longer since it had been proven beyond reasonable doubt that she was his mom.Dylan told his friends and classmates that he now had a mom, and his mom was there to stay forever, she would never have to leave them again no matter what. Henry and Maria returned home after dropping their son off at school. They both sat on the couch staring at each other without saying a word to each other. Maria couldn't believe all of it was happening, and whenever she would recall all that Henry did in court, how he presented the pieces of evidence one after the other, how he worked together with her lawyer to make sure they ruled the case. It just
CHAPTER TWENTY "Mom, your phone wouldn't stop ringing," Dylan called out his mom.She had just picked him up from the school and was preparing lunch for him. He was still th dining waiting for her, and her phone was lying on the table. She rushed out of the kitchen and picked up her phone. "Hello," she said."Hello ma'am, this is Doctor Sampson. I am calling to inform you that your husband had been involved in another accident", she heard the doctors voice from the other end, and her heart jumped out of her stomach. "What!" She screamed. She pressed the red button and picked up the car key, which lay on the table beside her phone. She tried to hurry out of the house when her eyes caught her son, and she came to a full stop. "Oh, you are here already," she said and sighed.She regretted that they had to send their helper back home. Although back then, they thought it was necessary to let her go without replacing her since she only wanted to visit her mom for a few months and would
CHAPTER TWENTY _ ONE Maria hired security to go with Henry everywhere he went after he was discharged from the hospital because she didn't want to take chances with him this time. It was a week already since the incident, and Maria had also hired private investigators to investigate the issue and find out who was behind all the accidents. Henry wasn't too cool with the idea of moving around with bodyguards, but then, he didn't want to upset Maria. Thinking about it, this was the first time she would decide anything in his house. The old Mary wasn't like this. Back then, she was bossy and had much going on with her that they almost always had issues. Henry thought it was nice that she lost her memory and hoped she remained that way because he had fallen more deeply in love with her than ever. Henry also thought that she became more caring and loving. He hoped he wasn't being selfish by hoping she didn't get regain her memory and returned to her old troublesome self because their live
CHAPTER TWENTY _ TWO"What do I owe this visit?" She asked, trying so hard to sound as mean as possible. She didn't want to show any signs of fear or weakness."Your dad has asked that we bring you to him," one of them announced. "Bring me to him? What does that mean?" Maria asked them."I am here on command ma'am, I didn't come on my own will, ma'am," the officer addressed. "Look here, man! I do not care whether or not you came on your own will or not. My wife is going nowhere with you sir", Henry argued."You are not Maria. Allow her to speak for herself," another officer interrupted. Maria stood at a spot watching them, as they continued to debate whether or not she was going with them. Maria didn't have the intention of going anywhere, and she had been so stressed lately that her head began to spin, and everything that was being said then and there began to ring in her head. She tried to cover her ears with both hands, yet she couldn't stop hearing the voices. They were initia
CHAPTER TWENTY _ THREEMaria shot the door hurriedly and opened it again, she cleared her eyes and the girl was still standing in front of her. She looked down at herself and checked around for a mirror that shows people's reflections with them in different clothes, but it was only her and Maria who were there. Henry noticed that Maria was taking too long at the door, he hadn't noticed her walk back into the house yet. He decided to go out and see for himself what was going on. Immediately Henry stepped into the sitting room, Maria saw him and shot the door immediately. "What is going on?" Henry asked her."No_ nothing, I am f_ fine", she stuttered. Henry stared at the door, then took his gaze back to Maria. Her heart was beating fast, and her legs and hands were shaking. Henry noticed she wasn't fine and tried to walk over to the door but Maria stopped him."I am fine, I promise. There is nothing for you to see there. It was someone who mistook her for his apartment, and he is gon
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