Chapter 1LAYLA’S POVI stood before the tomb of my late dad. I missed him so much and wished he could be here with me but it’s so sad that death took him from me. When I was done mourning and talking to my dad, I looked and saw Nate staring and waiting for me. I have been married to Nate for a year plus but we don’t love each other ___well he didn’t love me and to me I just felt like I was a barrier obstructing him from living his life. My marriage to Nate was just us fulfilling my dad’s wish before he passed, he has always wanted us to be married before he died so we had to do it which makes me feel so guilty, and he needed to be with the woman he loved and not me.“Hey, are you okay?” he asked. I loved the way Nate always became soft whenever I visited my dad.Because that was the only few times he showed care about me.“Yeah” I assured him,He left a faint smile on his face.“Should we get going?” he asked“Yeah” I gave a faint answer.…. We were on our way home with a
Chapter 2LAYLA’S POVI was trying to figure out what they were talking about so I started approaching Nate’s office but stopped on my track when I saw her coming out and I felt frozen.The woman that was chatting with Nate… my husband with that singsong voice and beautiful smile, I was no other than Chloe, Nate’s ex.What is she doing here?Chloe and Nate had been dating in high school, they were the perfect match because both of them were A-level students and attractive. Everyone was jealous and wanted their relationship. They were older than me with class and age so I was invisible to both of them even though I was really in love with Nate. Nate had been happy around Chloe, and that had never really been the case when he was around me. Which made me feel what I felt when we were in high school all over again. Chloe was smart and beautiful and funny, which was everything, she was that perfect girl and I knew that I couldn’t beat her. I didn’t want them to see me so I decided to
Chapter 3LAYLA’S POV I felt sore and tired from the activities of last night, I didn’t want anything to interrupt my sleep because it felt so nice and relaxing but if course the universe was against me. I heard my phone ringing loudly in my ear, I was surprised at how loud it was because it felt like someone had buried it deep within the walls of my brain. I stood up from my bed reluctantly to pick up the phone . I placed it on my ears after confirming the caller was Amanda.“Whyyyy”I yelled demanding answers for her rude interruption.“Trust me it’s serious. ”she urged, “Well I was on a walk this morning and I passed by a café, guess who I saw at that café with a woman” she asked“I don’t know ? How I’m I…” wait a minute ! She called me to talk about someone being with a woman at a café, it can’t be a nobody it must have been …. Nate.“Was it …was it Nate” I didn’t want to accept it because it hurt like hell. This was a very bad thing to wake up to.“I’m still there and I wa
Chapter 4LAYLA’S POVAfter finally speaking out the buried thought in my mind, I refused to think about it any more. I needed to focus on what was more important, to get this project done and with the research from Prof. Germanus I actually think I’m going to ace this work. I opened my bag trying to bring out my laptop to continue the work but I don’t find it there. I could have sworn that I carried it with me…shit! I guess I just have left it in a hurry when I was trying to check out that café.I don’t feel like driving home but I guess at the end of the day, that was going to be solution. I quickly hurried to the car grabbing my things and dumping them in the passengers seat. I got home not even bothering to lock the car because I know I was going to be out it in a minute. I stepped into the house and was surprised with the sight I met.Nate was sleeping on the couch and I must say this was a first. I knew he had late night shifts but still he always ended up going to his roo
Chapter 5Nate’s POVI dropped the flowers I came with at Layla late dad tomb and gave her some space to talk with her father, I am not good in words and I really don’t know how to console her right now, I know how well she misses her father but too bad she never for once grew some feelings for me.I know she agreed to the marriage with me because it was her father dying wish. I notice the sadness in her eyes, oh God what should I do? Should I caress her hair and speak with her, no that will look a little bit off, what if I hug her from behind and promise her I will always protect her no matter what, even if it’s a one sided love, damn it, none of these even make sense but I need to say something, I will be a bad husband if I don’t mostly now she caught me staring at her. “Hey, are you okay?” Was the only sentence that came out from my mouth.“Yeah.”She replied, how is she this cold? Just yeah? I expected a sweet conversation at least, anyway I placed a faint smile on my face and in
Chapter 6 Nate’s POV “At least be kind enough to offer me a seat.” She said interrupting my thought of telling her if I am married or not, “My bad, please do have your seat.” I said politely and concluded on not telling her about my marriage with Layla. I know Layla wouldn’t like it, so it’s best I keep it from her. “How have your being Chloe?” I questioned her and I found it easy talking to her because she always know how to go deep in any of our conversation. One thing I like about Chloe is the fact that she is a good listener, no wonder she is a lawyer but I don’t have feelings for her at all. “I have been good, I missed you so much and I am happy to see you again.” She said holding my hands and using her finger to flirt with it and I withdrew, “OH yes, I missed you as well, so tell me how is life generally, heard you are a lawyer now, you finally accomplished your dream.” I had to change the topic immediately because I wasn’t comfortable but I won’t blame her. “Well it’s borin
Chapter 7Layla’s POV I left Amanda’s place and headed home immediately to tell Nate my mind, I don’t want such a marriage where there is no love and no hope for love to grow at all.I stood at the doorpost for a minute and took a deep breath before going in and walked straight to his room, I knocked at his door but I got no response, ”Nate are you in?” I also got no response from him, maybe he went to the hospital, I guess I should just wait till tomorrow.I retreated and ended up in my bedroom resting on my bed and holding my pillow so close and tears flow down my eyes like a river. “Why can’t you love me Nate? Why? I am trying and it’s seems I will never win his heart.” I cried throughout and skipped dinner and didn’t know the time I doze off completely.*I woke up the following morning feeling discomfort on my body due to the fact I slept in a wrong position. I walked straight to the bathroom to have my bath and when I finished, I put on my blue dress with my hair packed in a po
Chapter 8Layla’s POVI imagined him kissing me for the very first time and I thought maybe he has feelings for me now but I guess I fantasize a lot, he didn’t kiss me like I thought instead he removed something from my hair.“You had a thread on your hair.” He said and I didn’t know what else to say, I just opened the door and left without saying a word.I didn’t go directly to the professor office, I just rushed to the female toilet and locked myself in, “Why does Chloe have to come back? Why? I am married to him and she is just an ex to him but why does she has more advantage over him? I am married to him this long and we have never slept on the same bed, we have never called ourselves sweet name or cuddle each other, we haven’t done anything as a couple.I remained in here for up to 15 minutes and I tried to put myself together before stepping out and washing my face with the sink. I looked at the mirror after drying my face, I kind of look dull and I don’t want anyone asking me w
Chapter 91Andrew's POV Amanda is pregnant and now they are both in danger, I have failed woefully.What am I going to do now?"We have no choice,” Romeo said to me and I felt so bad because it's all over, I don't know where to start again."Just call it off, I will be going home.”"I will do that now but you wait for her, make sure you don't do anything stupid okay.”'"Fine I will watch someone take Mrs Susan home.” I assured him and he took his leave.I sat in my chair like a failure. My wife is pregnant and I have no means to save her, what if he changes his mind and kills her this evening? What am I going to tell Mrs Susan Beets after I promised her, would protect her and her daughter?Father, I tried my best but it turned out that it's not working at all, what should I do? You told me to act smart and I did, maybe I am not smart enough. I don't think I will be able to do what you want. I have failed as a husband and a son and also as a father to my unborn child.Romeo retu
Chapter 90Amanda's POV I opened my eyes and found myself in an empty room, I felt so weak and it took me some seconds to realize that I had been kidnappedI started banging at the door screaming, "Let me out of here, please let me go.” I continued hitting the door but got no response.I fell to the ground in tears wondering what my fate would be. Are they going to kill me or what?A few moments later, the door opened revealing a guy in a mask and he gave me some food, "Eat.” He said and trying to leave I begged him."Please let me go, you got the wrong person, I haven't done wrong to anyone.”"Your fate will be decided by the boss but for now, the boss wants you to eat, I will return soon to check on you.” He added walking away and locking the door from the outside.What if this food is poisoned? I am not going to eat anything from it, I rather remain starving than eat what Is going to make me meet my early death.I noticed I was feeling sick again, and also about to fall asleep ove
Chapter 89Amanda's POV Daddy, I am sorry once more, can you ever forgive me? I suddenly felt sick and passed out after two days.The day I turned on my phone, I got a call from Layla, I never told her what was going on, what if I shared this with her so she could also advise me?Damn, this is so insane, I would say."Hello Layla,” I said feeling so weak."Hey you, you are sounding so weak, are you sick?” She asked of me and I nodded my head."Not at all, I am okay.”"Okay, I want to invite you for dinner and I won't take no for an answer.”"I am sorry, I will pass.” I replied, what if she gets troubled seeing me this way? It's really not good, I love Layla and she is my best friend, can I avoid her forever when she did nothing wrong?"Are you serious right now?” She asked again and I gave a conclusion of coming to have dinner with her and her family.She ended the call when I told her I needed to get a little rest before I started coming. I looked at a few pictures on my phone and
Chapter 88Andrew’s POV“Just tell me why I am here.”“I want us to bring down those guys together and you are the only living witness,” I stated.“You are crazy, I wonder what my daughter sees in you, if you are going to get yourself killed, count me out, I am not interested in dying,my daughter already lost her father, and I don’t want her to lose me.”“That won’t happen, I won’t let you die,” I assured her.“I want to sleep now, I am tired.” She rested on the bed ignoring me, I guess I finally understand where Amanda got her toughness and stubbornness from.I guess it’s time to retreat, at least things are getting better, she knows the truth now and I know she needs time to process everything.I am fully confident she will have to join me in bringing those enemies down, they were the ones who exposed the truth to Amanda knowing it would hurt the most since we never expressed it to her.I returned to my room and ended up being drunk before dozing off.I woke up very late the next mo
Chapter 87Andrew’s POVI never knew I was on the floor for more than ten minutes and even the lady who brought the divorce papers already left.“What happened?” Romeo inquired from me.“She wants to end the marriage,” I replied.“That’s not possible, maybe it’s a prank, where is the camera?” He asked checking around the premises.“It’s not a prank at all, the lady who came in was her lawyer and the painful part of it all, she didn’t bring it herself, does she hate me so much that she is finding it really difficult to face me?” I questioned myself over and over again.“She doesn’t hate you, I guess she is acting based on her emotions, we will look for her and sort everything out.”“I will call her again, give me your phone, if she blocks my number,I believe I will be able to reach her with yours,” I suggested and he gave me his phone immediately.We walked to the living room together, I placed a call to Amanda but it kept disconnecting, don’t tell me she has turned off her phone.I tr
Chapter 86Andrew’s POV“Okay, fine. This is the plan, Plan A. We need to kidnap Mrs. Susan Beets from that mental home,” I said, looking at Romeo with determination.Romeo’s eyes widened in shock. “WHAT?!” he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the walls.I stood my ground, knowing this was the only way. “That’s the only option we have now.”Romeo shook his head, incredulous. “Are you crazy? Do you know what’s required of us to take out Mrs. Susan Beets from that place? Are you on some drugs or what? I’m lost here. I guess Amanda leaving has really made you insane. Just give me some time, and I’ll talk to her so she can give you a chance.”I sighed, frustrated. “I’m perfectly normal, and I’m not on any drugs, okay? This is the only way out. Something tells me they’re going to hurt her. I really don’t want anything to harm my mother-in-law.”Romeo threw up his hands. “Oh, sweet Lord, help my friend, for he is crazy and out of his damn mind! I’m not supporting you in any suicide missions.
Chapter 85Andrew’s POV“Please son, forgive me, don’t hate me as your father and for my lovely wife, if you are still alive please forgive me but if you don’t also make it, I will forever never forgive myself because I brought all these upon us, I miss us so much mostly when we all go on vacation, I will always cherish the good memories, I need to go now, I hope you find this recording soon.”I cried my eyes out when the video finished playing, a hand touched my shoulder to calm me down, it was Romeo.“Stop crying, now we have the truth in front of us and also a prove that your father is not a killer, he just got carried away for some time, he tried to do the right thing but was killed by that bastard, we are going to take him down with the others, now we have the names.” He said clutching his fist.“Yes you are right and I am just crying because I didn’t have much faith in my father, I actually believe he was a killer, yes he is the founder but I am glad he never killed with his han
Chapter 84Writer’s PovYears ago.Andrew's father went inside his secret room to make a video,he set the camera and took a deep breath before he started recording."Hey son,how are you? Confused right? Don’t worry this video will answer everything and I hope you forgive me after watching it. I will possibly be dead by then, I was one of those who actually founded the Dark Circle.“He took a deep breath after saying that and looked at the lens of the camera recording, “I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to leave such a terrible reputation behind, I was carried away with greed without bringing myself to reason like how you would expect your father to act ”Tears left his eyes and he wiped them off, “I have failed you and your mother, I really want to protect you two, that’s my greatest wish so far, will I be alive to do so? My son In case I don’t make it, it’s okay if you can’t forgive me but I need you to promise me you will destroy the evil I created with my hands.” He brought out a file i
Chapter 83Andrew’s POV“Thank you so much, Layla,you are the best, I knew I could count on you.”“That’s why we are family, so eat up and you are going to stay for dinner as well.” She said to me and I nodded.“Your cookies are nice as always.”“I am glad I haven’t lost my touch yet.”I finished having cookies with her and then she told me I could relax in the guest room while she tried to talk to Amanda to cover over for dinner.I was so happy about it, finally I am going to see my wife, I hope she gives me a chance to talk so I can set things right with her.I didn’t know when I dozed off in the room,I was awakened by Nelson telling me mom wanted to see me in the dining.I had to wash up my face immediately then stepped out of the room,” Hey man, how are you feeling? Layla told me everything.” Nate said to me after shaking hands with me.“Thank you for hosting me even if it was impromptu.”“Oh come on, we are one family.”“So you are not going to avoid me since my father is a kill