KEIRA I had been sitting on the couch in the living room, engrossed in a novel when I heard Papa's voice calling out to me from the hall. "Keira! We need to talk this instant!" My heart sank. I knew what this was about, and I had been dreading this moment, but now it was here. I stormed up the stairs to pack anything important that I would need when the shrill sound of a cell phone ringing broke the silence. “The police,” Papa’s assistant informed him, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Papa had taken the call and I strained my ears to listen in on the conversation. “Alright, officer. Thanks a lot.” I heard him say and end the call. “Keira,” Papa called out softly. “Come here, please.”Reluctantly, I descended the steps and walked to the doorway where my father was waiting. He held a cell phone in his hand, and his face was grim. "The police just called," he said. "They have caught Calvin." I felt a rush of relief mixed with dread. On the one hand, I was glad that the man who had
KEIRA Goosebumps peppered my skin as I looked at Clint, my eyes wide with shock and fear after hearing that I would need to testify in court. I felt overwhelmed, and mostly terrified with the idea of facing my step-brother in such a public and confrontational setting."Keira," Papa sighed as he took my hand in his. "You can't just say no. You need to do this."I shook my head vigorously. "I said no." "It will be okay, Keira," Clint said, trying to reassure me. "You need to testify, Calvin needs to be held accountable for what he did to you." Papa nodded, agreeing with Clint. I shook my head, my voice trembling with anxiety. "I can't do it. I just can't." "You can, and you must," Papa insisted, his gaze unwavering. "Your testimony is crucial in this case. It won’t be in our favour if there are no key witnesses." Tears welled up in my eyes as I adamantly refused again, my voice growing more insistent. "No, Papa, you do not understand. I can't face him in court. I can't relive thos
KEIRA In the quiet intimacy of Clint's bedroom, the air held a mixture of tension and vulnerability. I lay beside him, the weight of unspoken words lingering between us. Clint, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, finally broke the silence."Keira, I can't help but feel that you have not truly healed. It is as if you have used me as a glue, holding together the fragments but not addressing the broken pieces underneath." Clint took a breath, the weight of his concern hanging in the air. "You need to make amends with your father," he said, his voice gentle but firm.I turned my head to look at him, a trace of hesitation in my voice. "Clint, you do not understand. I have never opened up to my father about the dark things Calvin did to me."The room seemed to shrink as Clint absorbed my words. He reached out, his hand finding mine, fingers intertwining. "Keira, you can't carry that burden alone. Your father deserves to know, and you deserve the chance to heal."A heavy sigh escaped my lips as
KEIRA "Are you ready for this?" Clint asked, glancing over at me. I nodded, but my grip on my purse was tight. Clint was driving me back home to have that talk with Papa, and I was not exactly sure what to expect. I was uncertain how he would react to what I would share with him. But I knew I should not keep it a secret any longer. I had to tell him. "It is time he knows the truth," I said, shaking slightly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Clint smile proudly, then reach over to caress my thigh, lending a silent vote of confidence. The anticipation hung thick in the air as we arrived at the compound and approached my father's mansion. I was sure my uncertainty was palpable because Clint held my hand, letting me know he was a steady pillar of encouragement by my side. As we walked through the doors and into the living room, Papa sat on a sofa, immersed in the daily news. "Hey, Papa," I greeted, a hint of nervousness in my voice.Papa looked up from his newspaper and set it aside
KEIRA As Papa and I entered the police station, Officer Rodriguez, the familiar face from our previous visits, looked up with surprise. "Back so soon?" he remarked, a curious expression on his face.We exchanged glances before responding, "We are here to see Calvin."Officer Rodriguez arched an eyebrow; his surprise was evident. "See Calvin? Are you sure about that? We are still in the middle of an investigation."My gaze was steady as I nodded. "It has nothing to do with the investigation or the case. We need to talk to him for closure."The officer hesitated for a moment, weighing the unusual request. "Well, this is highly irregular, but I will let you through if you think it is necessary. Just remember, it is not a social visit. You need to be quick.” Papa and I followed Officer Rodriguez through the maze of corridors, the echoes of our footsteps resonating in the sterile surroundings. The atmosphere was tense, the gravity of the situation amplified by the institutional backdrop
CLINTStanding outside the courtroom, my heart was pounding, not just for myself but for Keira as well. Her hand clutched mine tightly, and I could feel the tension in her grip. She was taking deep breaths, trying to steady herself before we entered. "Keira, you are doing great," I said, my voice soft and reassuring. "Just take it one step at a time. I am right here with you." She nodded, her eyes still filled with apprehension. "I know, Clint. He tried to attack me the last time. What if he does that here, too?." I made my fears known. "I understand, Keira. But you have come so far already. He can’t do shit when we put him away for good," I said, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You are brave, and you are doing the right thing. Okay?" Her breaths began to slow, and I could see a flicker of determination in her eyes. "I can do this. I have to do this." I smiled, proud of her courage. "That's the spirit. You have got this, Keira. And I will be right there besi
KEIRAThe waves rolled in, their steady rhythm a soothing melody that spoke to my soul. I stood at the edge of the beach, my toes sinking into the warm sand, and let my gaze wander across the vast expanse of the ocean. The sun, a radiant orb of golden light, painted the sky with hues of pink and orange as it descended towards the horizon. It was a sight of breathtaking beauty, a moment that filled my heart with awe and wonder.Lost in the magnificence of the scene, I revelled in the tranquillity surrounding me. The salty scent of the sea mingled with the gentle breeze, caressing my skin and tousling my hair. The symphony of crashing waves provided a rhythmic backdrop, a constant reminder of the power and vastness of nature. It was a moment of perfect serenity, a pause in time where worries and cares melted away.Suddenly, a familiar sound broke through the symphony of nature—a voice calling my name. I turned, my eyes widening in surprise as I saw him approaching. Clint emerged from t
CLINTMy lips lingered on hers, each touch, each movement, sending a spark of desire running through my veins. I deepened the kiss as Keira parted her lips, making way for my tongue to dance around hers."Clint," she gasped when we pulled away from each other.I muttered a curse under my breath as I leaned into her, my arms circling around her waist as I pulled her body flush against mine. There's no way I could get over this--over her. Somehow, she had wormed her way into the deepest parts of my soul, and I didn't think I could imagine my life without Keira anymore. Everything about her was ingrained in my mind. Her voice, the way her eyes glossed over anytime she came. And more importantly, the way she was looking at me right now. Like I was the best thing on earth."You are driving me crazy," I whispered into her ears, my lips brushing against her earlobe.I trailed my lips from her ears down to the slender column of her neck. I could feel her body quiver against mine, sending my
KEIRAWhy was this happening? Why was she here?I looked at Martha with wide eyes, and a surge of fear and anxiety washed over me. I had been worried that she might try to crash our wedding, and now that fear seemed to be coming true. But then I turned to Clint, seeking reassurance and answers in his eyes.He shot me a confident smile and whispered, "Don't worry my love, I've got this under control." His words eased some of the tension in my chest, and I knew I could trust him to handle the situation.Without missing a beat, Clint pulled out his phone and made a call. My heart raced as I wondered what he was doing, but I knew he had a plan.Within minutes, the atmosphere seemed to shift. Police officers appeared, surrounding the area discreetly. My eyes widened in surprise, my eyes darting from one patrol car to the other.As Martha continued to stand there, looking stunned by the sudden turn of events, Clint stepped forward with a determined expression."Martha," he said firmly, "I k
KEIRA As I stood in the dressing room, gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. Today was the day I had been waiting for, the day I would marry Keira and officially make her mine.I adjusted the lapels of my navy blue suit, feeling the smooth fabric against my fingertips. The tailored cut hugged my frame perfectly, giving me a sense of confidence and elegance. The crisp white shirt peeking out from under the suit jacket added a touch of classic charm.I ran a hand through my hair, making sure it was perfectly styled. I wanted to look my best for Keira, to show her just how much she meant to me.As I looked at myself in the mirror, my thoughts drifted to Keira. I pictured her in the stunning wedding gown she had chosen, looking radiant and breathtaking. The image of her smiling at me, her eyes filled with love and happiness, made my heart skip a beat.I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. As I sto
KEIRAMy eyes fluttered open as I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. To my surprise, I found Clint standing there, his eyes filled with warmth and a wide smile gracing his lips. I couldn't help but mirror his smile, feeling a sense of comfort and joy at the sight of him."Good morning," he said softly, his voice carrying an air of excitement and anticipation. "Come with me, I have a surprise for you."Still half awake, I couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Why are you waking me up like this?" I mean, waking up to him was good, but I felt like I still needed some extra hours in bed.He shook his head, his smile never faltering. "Nothing's wrong, I promise. Just trust me and come with me."I cocked my eyebrow at him, curious, but skeptical about what was making him so giddy.Without warning, Clint took my hand in his and pulled me out of the bed."Hey, slow down," I giggled as he pulled me all the way out of the room.He led me down the stairs, and as soon as I stepped into the livi
CLINTI went owl-eyed as I stared at Martha, who gave me an unreadable look. As I looked at her, a mixture of anger and frustration surged within me. I couldn't believe she had followed me to the shop, invading the private and joyful moment I had been savouring.Or maybe I was starting to get used to this, Martha and showing up to ruin things as though she hadn't ruined enough things for me already. After ruining more than five years of my life, I was more than certain that she was sent straight from Hades to steal any chance of happiness that I could get. It's not like I was going to let her, though.I watched as her eyes trailed to the bag in my hand, and before I could react, she spoke with a bitter tone, "So, you came here to shop for a ring. I guess you're serious about getting married to that woman."I gritted my teeth to maintain my composure, but her words stung like a sharp knife. "Martha, this is none of your business," I said firmly, my voice laced with irritation. She di
CLINTI slowly reached out, holding the pregnancy test in my hands. The word "positive" was displayed clearly before my eyes, and I was struck with a mix of emotions that left me stunned. I blinked, trying to process the reality of what I was seeing. A surge of happiness bubbled up inside me, intertwined with a sense of uncertainty.My heart raced, and my mind raced even faster. The thought of Keira, the woman I loved, carrying our child was both thrilling and overwhelming. We had talked about a future together, but this was a new level of commitment and responsibility, and it left me feeling a bit unsteady.As I stood in the bathroom, I realised that the entire trajectory of our lives had shifted in an instant. Parenthood was a journey I hadn't been prepared for, but seeing the positive result brought an unexpected joy that I couldn't ignore.There was a certain glow of happiness that spread through me. Yet, at the same time, a question echoed in my mind – were we truly ready for thi
KEIRA As I slowly opened my eyes, a wave of pain washed over me, centred in my head. My vision was hazy, but as it cleared, I realised I was back in the beach house, lying in a bed. Memories of last night began to flood back, and I winced as I recalled the intensity of the dancing and laughter, followed by my sudden sickness.My head throbbed relentlessly, and I tried to sit up, only to be met with a rush of dizziness. My body felt weak and unsteady like it had never before. Nausea twisted in the pit of my stomach, threatening to overwhelm me.For a moment, I lay still, taking deep breaths, trying to steady myself. The events of last night seemed like a whirlwind, and I couldn't quite grasp what had caused me to feel this way. My hand instinctively reached for my forehead, feeling the clamminess of my skin.I closed my eyes, trying to regain my composure. "What is happening to me?" I murmured to myself, my voice weak.My head still ached as I grabbed my phone, deciding to look up m
CLINTEven though I had been able to give Keira three orgasms from when we left the restaurant, I knew that we still had to talk, and the look on my little girl's face was the only confirmation that I needed. Damn Martha. The dimly lit bar provided a somber backdrop to the tension that hung between us. As we sipped our wine in silence, the weight of unspoken words weighed heavily on my heart. It was Keira who broke the stillness, her voice soft and hesitant."What's going on, Clint?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for answers.I took a deep breath, knowing I couldn't keep the truth from her any longer. "Martha has been sending me texts," I admitted, my voice tinged with discomfort. "She said she missed me and wanted to talk."If I had my way, I would keep it from Keira so that she would not have to worry about something as trivial as Martha's annoying feelings. But since it had come to this, there was no hiding anything again. Without a word, I pulled out my phone and showed he
KEIRA"I should not be doing this," I mumbled to myself as I got out of the cab and then covered the remaining distance by foot. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood outside, pacing anxiously around Clint's car. His abrupt departure from the house had taken me by surprise, and something inside me urged me to follow him. I was tired of him hiding things from me, tired of feeling left in the dark. Especially when it felt like something that would affect both of us. Instinct took over, and without a second thought, I walked towards the restaurant he had driven to. Through the glass window, I saw him seated with a woman, her face all too familiar – his ex-wife, Martha, nothing prepared me for this and the sight hit me like a dagger to the heart. My heart clenched tightly and I took a deep breath to relieve the pain that was slamming at me from every part of my body. Was Martha the reason why he had been acting all weird? What was going on between them? I watched as they converse
CLINTI stood in the dimly lit room, my phone held tightly in my hands, my gaze fixed on the screen for what seemed like an eternity. Keira's voice interrupted my trance, pulling me back to the present."Clint, what's the problem? You've been staring at your phone for a while now."I blinked, trying to compose myself, but my mind was already racing. "I... I'll be back," I replied, my voice hurried and distracted. Without giving her a chance to respond, I abruptly left the room, a sense of urgency propelling me forward.Frantically, I grabbed my coat from the hanger and fumbled for my car keys. I needed to move, to do something, anything, to find the answers that eluded me. The weight of the unknown burdened my thoughts, and I couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling that something was going to go wrong.As I rushed to my car, my heart pounded in my chest, matching the rhythm of my hurried footsteps."Clint!" I heard Keira call out my name. The worry and panic in her voice were impossible t