"Well the thing is we were going to tell you about it on your birthday, that was why we hid it from you for so long. We even stopped the doctor from telling you, we collected the reports and the ultrasound as well. It was supposed to be your birthday gift but of course, that has been ruined for us." Fred said and Clara could not help but feel happy with what she just said."Oh my darling, this is the most beautiful news I have ever heard in my entire life. There's nothing as beautiful as this, and I'm so happy that I can't even breathe well. I'm going to be a grandmother very soon," she said and they all clapped their hands, Fred took Zara by the hand and squeezed her hand. Zara had to smile and play along, so people won't get to suspect anything."No! This is wrong, Fred is only trying to cover up for her. He's not the one responsible for those babies, I'm not going to allow this happen. How come you are four months pregnant when you have only been married for three months?" Bella as
Immediately they got to the room, Zara didn't know what to say or do. She could not even look at him in the face, she felt so ashamed of herself that she wished she would just fall to the ground and die immediately. "Fred I can explain, I can explain. Please you have to listen to me." Zara said walking closer to him, but Fred moved back from her."I don't want to talk to you right now Zara, it's best if we stay away from each other at least for this night. I want to be left alone, take the bed and I will take the couch." He said and Zara felt her heart break in pieces. At the same time, she feels a sense of gratitude and admiration towards him. She didn't expect that he would protect her like that, but he did that anyway.He didn't do it for his family reputation, because if that were to be the case. He would have told Clara the truth the minute they were alone. He chose to protect her, and that meant a lot of things to her."Alright I'm going to respect your decision, but please don
"Please don't leave like this, you are not in a good condition to do this. I'm begging you, Fred, you have to hear me out." She pleaded with him but he didn't seem to be interested in anything she was saying."Don't make me repeat myself Zara, stay away from me right now. I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to talk to you either." He said but Zara isn't having it. He doesn't seem to be in his right senses, only God knows what he will do if she leaves him alone even for a second. She will not take such a stupid risk."No Fred I won't let you go and do something stupid, you are going to stay right here with me." She said and Fred was forced to turn to her."Of what use will that be Zara? I trusted you, I vouched for you, even stopped being close to my best friend. Only for me to find out that you have been lying to my face all this time. How am I supposed to believe anything you say to me now? How sure am I it isn't one of your manipulative tricks, what exactly was your plan?" Fr
Fred carried Zara into the hospital without waiting for the stretcher to be brought by the nurses, Zara was still bleeding and that was a very bad thing he could tell. She already looks pale and she's yet to be conscious. "Sir please give her to me, we will take good care of her." One of the nurses said that Fred was reluctant to let her go."You have to do something to help her please, nothing must happen to her. Nothing must happen to my wife, you must do something." Fred yelled as he fought back the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He would be damned if anything happens to her, this is all his fault. If he had not been so hard on her if only he had listened to her. They won't be in this position now, this is driving him nuts."You don't have to worry sir, I assure you that we will do our best to make sure that your wife is safe. Hand her over, we need to put her in a ward where she will be most safe. Please let us do that," one of the nurses said and Fred was forced to put
He had no idea what to do the moment he heard what the doctor said, he couldn't believe she had the guts to do that. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she did them on purpose just to humiliate Zara. Will she ever stop?"I knew that witch was up to something the minute I saw her, I just can't believe her guts. She took the pregnancy and test results belonging to Zara and hid them from you both. Son, she has gone too far this time around. She needs to leave that house. I can no longer have it with her. This is getting out of hand. She's beyond control at this point." Clara said, and Fred knew his mother was saying nothing but the poor truth. He will have to do something about Bella."You don't need to worry about her mom, I promise I will do something about her as soon as we get back home. Right now, the only thing I care about right now is my wife, I need her to be fine." Fred said, and Clara understood perfectly well what he was saying. She would feel the same if she happened t
Zara opened her eyes and Fred was right there by her side sleeping, she didn't know whether to wake him up or let him be. Once he's awake, she's going to tell him the truth about all that has happened from the moment she was taken advantage of down to when they met with each other. She tried to sit up as she felt a little bit uncomfortable with sitting there on the spot. Fred who is only sleeping lightly jerked and rushed to help her."Don't strain your back please, just lay down like this. Is there something that you need? I'm going to get the doctor so he can have a look, they might be something that you need." He said and turned to leave but Zara stopped him from leaving."Zara I will be back in a jiffy, I will just get the doctor I'm not going that far," Fred said but she shook her head and Fred was forced to listen to her."No I don't want you to leave, I want you to be the one to stay here with me Fred. Are you still mad at me? Is that the reason why you are leaving me? I know I
Fred made his way to the parking lot and got into the car, he had a million things going on in his head at the moment. He needs some time alone especially away from Zara so that way he will be able to think things through. "Sir, would you like to go somewhere?" The driver asked him. Fred looked up at him and waved his head telling him no, yes he wanted to go somewhere but he didn't even know where. His wife is pregnant with another man's children, and she just confessed her love to him. Now what is he supposed to do about that exactly? For the first time in his life, he feels helpless. Fred's phone rang and he was forced to pick the call up."Can we talk some other time? I'm in the middle of something now." Fred said he's not in the mood to speak to anyone or attend to anything. "I'm sorry sir, but this is something that requires your urgent attention. There has been a problem with one of our factories in the other city, now the investors are asking that you set up a meeting over th
"Oh honey, you have to take things easy with yourself, okay? It's normal to feel these types of feelings every once in a while. It shows that you are human and you have feelings. But if you ask me, I would rather you follow your heart. Forget every other thing and just follow your heart. Every other thing will fall into place, my son." Clara said to him, and Fred thought about what she said. He's not so sure if that's what he wants to hear, but that doesn't sound like a bad idea to him."Alright, Mom, I will do just that. I will call you later on, I need to speak to the doctor and find out what's happening with my wife, I can't afford anything to happen to her mom." Fred said, and Clara smiled."That's good to hear, I will leave you to it. I will be in the hospital tomorrow morning and bring some things for you as well. You can't let what's happening weigh you down. You have to fight this together. So you will be going over to the company like nothing happened, okay?" Clara said."Oka
Fred was laughing when his phone rang, but the moment he answered, his face turned serious."Fred, this is Detective James. I've got some news. We have Hailey, her mother, and Bella. They're all in custody."Fred's eyes grew wide with shock. "What? How in the world did you guys find them?"The detective chuckled. "Let's just say we had some good leads. They're in the process of being booked now."A wave of relief washed over Fred. "Thank God. Thank you, Detective.""We're not done yet, Fred. We still need to question them and get to the bottom of this. But for now, you can rest easy knowing they're off the streets."Fred nodded, even though the detective couldn't see him. "I appreciate it. Please keep me updated."As he hung up, Fred turned to Zara and Clara. "It's all over. Hailey, her mother, and Bella are behind bars."Tears brimmed over in Zara's eyes. "Oh, thank God. Our kids are safe."Clara smiled, her face carved with relief. "This is the best news we could have asked for."Fr
The booms of the police sirens in the warehouse were getting closer now. Clara was holding her daughter-in-law Zara's hand very tightly to soothe her."Help is here, Zara, just hang in there." These words repeated for a while produced from the lips of Clara, firm but quaking with emotion.Zara's eyes fluttered closed, her face going white and sweaty. Clara missed one heartbeat, not even daring to go to the worst place in her mind.But then Zara's eyes flickered open again, and she fixed them onto Clara. "Clara. Lo siento. I didn't mean to put you in danger."Clara was crying now, blubbering, the tears cascading down her face. "Don't say that, Zara. You're going to be fine. You're going to pull through."The medics burst past Clara, utterly focused on Zara. Clara stood, staring, while they dropped down to her level and pinned the wound on Zara's neck, then pulled her up onto the gurney.She gripped Zara's hand tightly in her own, behind her back in the ambulance, praying that with ever
"I have to go in there, Clara, for I have to find out what's happening to my girl. The silence—it just kills me."Clara's face set in a stubborn cast. "No, Zara, I cannot let you in there on your own; it's dangerous."Zara was indecisive. Her mind knew Clara was right, yet on the other hand, she simply could not do this. "Clara, please, I gotta do this. I'll be okay."Clara just shook her head. "But I'm not going to let you go in there alone. What if Bella is dangerous? What if she unmans you?"Zara let out a melodramatic sigh at that one, knowing against all her credibilities that Clara wouldn't."Okay. But you have got to promise me one thing. You have to stay way back and let me handle it. I don't want you under attack because of me."Clara's expression had softened, but her voice did not relent. "I'll stay behind, but just because you promise me one thing- you're going to be careful, and if things get out of hand, you get out of there, period."Zara nodded. Clara, she knew was o
Reaching the bottom step and hearing the 'click' of the sound of the hardwood floor beneath her boots, she entered the living room, where Clara was already seated sipping at a cup of coffee."Hey girl, you look fabulous," she told Zara, placing her cup on the table.Another added booster of her confidence made her smile. "Thanks, Clara, I am feeling rather good today."Clara nodded solemnly. "Yes, we need to find a way to talk about Bella. I was just trying to clear my thoughts and jot down in writing some thoughts on how we would start in dealing with the whole issue."Zara nodded as she got seated on a small stone beside Clara. "I am all ears. Let's hear it all."There she was, deep in conversation, when through the door in came Fred-torn, untidy in his appearance. "Hey guys, sorry to interrupt, but I was thinking of something since you're going out, would you like me to make some lunch for when you get back?"So, forthwith, a smile flitted from Zara, quite touched at Fred's caring
"Me neither. It's like she just snapped or something."Clara held her eyes, concern etched on her face. "Do you think Fred's plan for helping her is a good idea?"Zara hesitated, having known otherwise what to respond to. A part of her wanted to believe that Bella could be salvaged, that she wasn't beyond redemption. Another part of her was just plain terrified, scared of what Bella might do next."I don't know, Clara," Zara said finally. "I want to believe that Bella can change, that she's not beyond help. But at the same time, I'm scared. I don't know what she's capable of."Clara nodded with understanding. "I think so too. But do we not have to try, Zara? For Fred's sake, if nothing else."Zara nodded, her emotions oozing with an air of resolution. "You are right. We have to try."Just then, Fred came downstairs. His eyes were tired, but there was a determined look in them. "Guys, I've been thinking. I know how we can reach Bella."Zara and Clara gave each other a hopeful look. "Wh
As Fred was lost in the thought that it might be possible for Bella to change, Zara grew tense in his hand. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked softly and gently full of concern.Fred was unsure of what to say to Zara about his plan; he just felt undecided. But something in her soft voice just made everything all right. "I have been thinking," he began, his voice barely above the whisper. "I probably could help Bella. I probably could get her the help she needs."Zara's face contorted in incredulity. "Fred, we have talked about this. Bella's beyond help. Toxic, she will bring you down with her."Fred nodded, realizing Zara's concern was founded. But he couldn't help that feeling inside him, telling him he needed at least to try. "I know, but what if I can reach her? What if I could help change her?"Zara heaved a deep sigh and searched his face for an answer. "You really would risk everything, wouldn't you, for her?"Fred nodded, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. "I have to t
Fred trudged up the walkway, his feet heavy with the weight of his conversation with the detective. He had been hoping to find some way to help Bella, but now he wasn't so sure. As he reached the front door, it swung open and Zara stood before him, a look of concern etched on her face."Hey," she said standing aside to let him in. "How did it go?"Fred sighed, rubbing his temples. He didn't know how to summarize the complicated emotions swirling inside him.A seemingly sympathetic frown was creasing Zara's face. "That bad, huh?"Fred nodded, and he felt an immense weight being lifted, just being near Zara made things better.Zara softly closed the door as he entered inside, then leaned back against it, crossing her arms. "So, did you get to speak to her?" she asked softly.Fred's eyes dropped, his mind flashing back to the conversation with Bella. He hadn't expected her to be so. unrepentant. So uncaring."Yeah," he said at last, voice barely above a whisper. "She was vile like always
Fred asked the detective, "Is there a way to protect her? I don't want anything to happen to her."Detective Mathew's eyes became wide with shock. "Protect her? Mr. Fred, she's the one who has been causing harm to others. Why would you want to protect her?"Fred's expression turned grave. "She's like a sister to me," he said. "I am responsible for her, and I don't want anything to happen to her."The surprise on the detective's face slowly gave way to comprehension. "I see," he said. "Well, Mr. Fred, I can offer her protection while she's in custody, but once she's released. I'm not sure what we can do."Fred nodded, his eyes full of concern. "I understand. Just do what you can, please."The detective nodded. He looked so contemplative. "I'll see what we can do, Mr. Fred. But I have to ask, are you sure you want to do this? She's caused a lot of harm to people you care about."Fred's jaw clamped down tightly, his eyes flashing with determination. "Positive," he said. "She's like a sis
Fred's eyes never left Bella's face and a mixture of shock and sadness was written all over his face. "Everyone, please leave us alone for a minute," he said in a whispered tone.The detective had looked indecisive but nodded, gesturing to his officers to leave the room. "We'll be right outside, Mr. Fred," he said.As the door shut behind them, Fred turned back to Bella. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice trembling. "How can you say that?"Bella laughed coldly and mirthlessly. "You don't get it, do you?" she spat. "You never have. You've always been so blind, so oblivious to everything around you."He took a step closer, his hands extending toward her. "Bella, please. just tell me what's wrong. What have I done to hurt you so?"Bella's eyes suddenly flashed with anger, and she rose to her feet, her body etched with tension. "You want to know what you have done?" she repeated. "You want to know the worst thing you've ever done to me?"Fred nodded, his heart beating in his chest in