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74| Steph's Showcase
The event space looked fabulous and I swelled with pride as I took in my surroundings. Everything looked so elegant and, well, with no better word to describe it, expensive. It was high-end glitz and glam with crystals inside flower vases, custom-made chandeliers, and butlers in black and white serving each person as they walked through the doors.
I still can't believe that I pulled this off. Sure, without Dominic it wouldn’t have happened, but with the little time I had in the office to complete everything, I was proud of the work I had accomplished.
There were few people here before me - mostly my employees working on finishing touches. I had been so nervous that I left the house early. That, along with the fact that I didn’t have to pick up anyone to walk the red carpet with, my driver Noah and I arrived sooner than expected.
The car ride was dreadfully silent, and Noah noticed it to
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Claudette Reed 75| Water Break
“What?” I asked with the same line between my brows and a tone of disbelief. I handed the phone back to Louisa with some annoyance. “There’s no way that was Dominic's car.” He has been gone all day on a joy ride after getting his license back and I haven’t heard from him, but I certainly wasn’t going to get my hopes up. “How can you be so sure?” “Because I’m not that lucky,” I answered sharply but in a hushed tone so no one would overhear. I saw the corner of Louisa's lips twitch, threatening a smile. The amusement was shown on her face, but she glanced down at the phone again and her face became serious once more. “Look at the comments on it.” She pushed the phone in front of me, but I waved a hand in dismissal and didn’t look back at it. I heard her sigh and she brought the phone back to herself, reading the comments for me. They said, “Isn’t th
Claudette Reed 76| Labor
“Push! Keep pushing!”My body was exhausted and I wanted to claw everyone’s face as they hollered at me what to do. The stress of going into labor early had made my head spin and the pain of contractions was the only thing keeping a hold on reality for me.My parents were on either side of me holding my hands. My dad’s wrist was wrapped in a splint after I gripped it so hard at the event when he came to help me. I felt really bad about it.I was panting between pushes, and crying through the entire process. My emotions were in utter turmoil. I went from crying to screaming to yelling with annoyance at everyone. The TV in the corner was set on the news currently and it was pissing me off. Everyone should be focused on me right now, not the damn TV!“Will someone shut that off?! I will not have my son born with a high-speed car chase on in the background!
Claudette Reed 77| Revelations
Everyone gathered around the bed where Isaac and I lay together, baby Micah cradled between us. The doctors came in to take him to the NICU and make sure that everything was alright, and with parting words and kisses, I let them take him.Once gone, I nuzzle closer to Isaac, and he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head.“You named him after your brother,” my mom said with tears in her eyes and her chin quivering, her hand trying to hide her reaction. Dad held both her shoulders before hugging her from behind with a gentle smile on his lips.“Yes,” I responded. “Do you like it?”She threw her hand down and made a hmph sound as she answered, “Like it? I’m the one who picked it,” she and my dad both laughed. “We love the name. Thank you, baby.”It was past midnight now, and in the room
Claudette Reed 78| What Happens Now?
What did I want to happen to Gwen? I guess to answer that, I would need to know exactly what she had done before I tell them to lock her up. Maybe Ben and Isaac had learned that she wasn’t really Dylan's mom and we could start the search for his real mom? But what if his real mom was the woman in those dreams? The dead one, who was Dominic's high school sweetheart that he supposedly killed. “I don’t… I don’t know….” “It’s okay,” Isaac said as he pet my hair. “It’s been a long day, and you need to rest. We can talk about the rest later.” Too tired to argue, I merely nodded my head, and everyone slowly left the room. Except for Isaac, as I asked him to stay on the bed with me. We faced each other and looked at each other silently for a while. “I can’t believe you came,” I said as I stared into his hazel eyes. “It took me a while, but once I re
Claudette Reed 79| The Death Cabin
The following day, it was confirmed at Dominic was the fatality in the crash, and it was reported to be an issue with the manufacturer of the car, so all rumors or claims against Stephanie were voided and her name was entirely cleared. The fact that she had her event and went into labor the same time as the wreck had also cleared her from any possible accusations of having something to do with his fatal crash as well. She learned of every person’s own original plan to destroy Dominic and felt so much love hearing that everyone was planning something different. Her parents shared that they were going to buy him out, and Stephanie felt relief that they no longer had to do that. She would have felt awful if her parents gave up everything, including her childhood home, to take him down. Besides, there was still the chance of backlash with that plan. Ben had heavily considered Matthew’s idea of wi
Claudette Reed 80| Epilogue
The police came to the cabin, and an entire investigation began. It turns out, the remains found underneath the cabin belonged to a Dani Winter, who was Dominic's high school girlfriend. Her records showed that she had given birth to a baby boy on Dylans birthday, then disappeared shortly after, and they quickly put two and two together - leading them to investigating Gwen. Kay had been speaking with clients of hers, as she is a womens rights activist and only photographs females, and had come across a number of women to testify against Gwen. They said that they had gotten involved with Dominic romantically, but he would get aggressive, and his sister would cover it up for him and make up excuses. All of the women said that they felt she was dangerous. Also the mention of her obsession and protectiveness with Dylan was unsettling. Even Louisa testified and said that Dominic had threatened her boys lives if she hadn
Claudette Reed 81| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Christmas
With Micah getting to come home just before Christmas, the entire family got to spend the holiday together. The family was in the living room on Christmas day exchanging gifts and taking turns holding the baby when the doorbell rang.*DING DONG*Everyone looked around the room at each other. It seemed like everyone was here. Who could be visiting?"Are you guys expecting anyone?" Stephanie asked her parents as her father got up to open the door.Her mother shook her head with a frown. "No, I have no idea who it could be."Stephanie was admiring her son in her arms when Matthew walked back to rejoin the group just a minute later. He stood next to Stephanie with a confused look."Who was it, dad?""No one was there. But this box was on the mat." He extended his hand to give her the small box. Step
Claudette Reed 82| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Doubt
After leaving Ben to his expert hacking to find the name of the person who identified Dominic’s body, Matthew returned to the living room with his wife, daughter, soon-to-be son-in-law, grandson, and newly adopted son Dylan.The room seemed to have gone still; the only noticeable movement and sound was the crackling fireplace. He glanced around at everyone to see them all lost in their own thoughts. His daughter was feeding his grandchild with a blanket draped over one shoulder for privacy. She looked under the blanket at her newborn with both adoration and worry.Isaac’s eyes were far off, almost seeming to be in another dimension with the lack of life in them. His wife’s eyes weren’t any more lively, though, and for a moment, Matthew regretted walking back in here without any good news. His heart skipped a beat once his wife turned her head to him, noticing him reappear in the corner of her eyes.
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Claudette Reed 85| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Wedding
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Claudette Reed 83| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Isabella's
Claudette Reed 82| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Doubt
Claudette Reed 81| Bonus Chapter (Alternate Ending): Christmas
Claudette Reed 80| Epilogue
Claudette Reed 79| The Death Cabin
Claudette Reed 78| What Happens Now?
Claudette Reed 77| Revelations
