The news hit Nikolai like a thunderbolt, jolting his senses and freezing him in disbelief. In that split second, time seemed to stand still as the glass of wine he held slipped his hand and shattered into a thousand pieces on the floor. Shock surged through his veins, leaving him momentarily paralyzed, his heart pounding in his chest. Adira was equally shocked. Ophelia was his ex-girlfriend, and Jagger was the man that had abducted them ten years ago. Hold on; how were they back? "What're you.... talking about?" He asked with a voice draped in disbelief. His eyes were wide open in astonishment. "It's...it's all over the news, Nikolai." Bellamy spoke. "They said she just showed up at the station with Jagger. Jagger has been locked up, but Ophelia is home with her parents to receive medical care. So far, she was too shocked to drop a comment about what happened." "She returned with Jagger?" Adira's face crumpled up. "You mean... Jagger intentionally showed himself? He's a wanted cr
"What the hell?" Na-ri flinched. "What is she talking about?!""Has Ophelia lost her mind?""How can she push the blame on Nikolai?""What has gotten into her?""This is outrageous."Startled murmurs swept across the room. Everyone became extremely tensed."Are you... very sure, ma'am?" The interviewer asked. "I mean, this is quite heavy because everyone believed Mr. Jagger killed you. Although, your body was missing, but we all believed you were dead because Mr. Nikolai said so.""Did you say Jagger?" Ophelia scoffed. "If there was anything Jagger did, he saved me. He witnessed what happened, how Nikolai had shot me. And when Nikolai noticed he was a witness, he decided to put the blame on him because he felt everyone would believe him since he was the son of a rich man, and also because everyone already thought that Jagger was a bad man. But the truth is, I was saved by Jagger. So, he doesn't deserve to be locked up."She paused and sniffed. "I'm not saying this because I want Nikol
Adira had a warm smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she made she way into the kitchen. Clothed in Nikola's long-sleeved shirt that stopped just below her thighs, she looked adorable.He was still in bed, and she wanted to make breakfast before he's awake. She'd planned on making some bacon and eggs. Checking the crates, she discovered they had just two left."Damn it." She hissed slowly. Two was never going to be enough.She stood still in front of the cupboard for a while, thinking of what to do. But not until she feels his familiar hands wrap her from behind, pulling her into his embrace."Nikolai!" She let a startled gasp and chuckled afterwards.She wasn't expecting him."Hey, beauty." He planted a kiss on her neck.His hand snaked up to her boobs and gave them a little squeeze."Good morning." Adira smiled, her cheeks wearing all shades of pink."Trying to make breakfast?" He cooed."Yeah. But unfortunately, we're out of eggs. I'll need to dash out to a grocery store." Sh
Ophelia held her face in shock, her eyes widening in disbelief. She looked at Adira like she had just done the most forbidden."You have no right to talk about my marriage." Adira threatened. "I don't know who the hell your informant is, but my relationship with Nikolai is nothing like what you had with him.""Have you gone nuts?! How dare you lay your hand on her?" The lady beside Ophelia shrieked.In a brisk, Ophelia tried returning the slap, but Adira was quick enough to repel and pulled at her hair instead."You witch!" Ophelia yelled and grabbed her own hair.And a messy fight ensued.***Nikolai stepped down from his car and hurried into the grocery store. For a week, he's been doing his best to avoid public attention, but not when Adira is involved.He got into the store and found the four women there - Adira, Ophelia, Ophelia's mum and an unfamiliar lady. The store keeper was there as well, at his counter.He halted momentarily at the door, his gaze roving around Ophelia.Her
Vesper's head felt so heavy as he returned to the room where Kalina was filing her nails. She noticed instantly that something was wrong with him."Hey, are you okay?" She questioned.Vesper lowered himself to the bed."I'm not. Nothing is okay."Kalina stood up and walked across to meet him."Okay, what's the problem? Is your grandfather mad at you?" She placed her hands on her thighs.She had given him the idea of going to spend some time with the man, but obviously, it didn't go well.Vesper buried his face in his palms, trying to arrange the words in his head. Then, he let it all out."I just overheard my grandfather and Lyra talking about his will."For the first three seconds, Kalina was blank, trying to process it. Then, it finally dawned on her."What?" She flinched. "
Na-ri walked into the opulent VIP room, her heels echoing with every step on the polished floor. As she entered, her gaze was immediately drawn to the young man sitting in front of a set table, bathed in a warm glow.He was the only one in the VIP room. And although she's never seen him before, she knew instantly he was the one she was there for.He had a crystal wine glass in his hand and didn't turn to look at her as she approached him. She got to the table and took a seat."Hi." She greeted with a sigh, dropping her bag on the table.The man in front of her was handsome - she'll give that to him. But she was more concerned about why he arranged this meeting and how the hell he knows her."Welcome, Na-ri." He wore a wintry smile, dropping his glass on the table. "I'm glad you made it.""Yeah." Na-ri crossed her arms. "I'm very curious, tho. So, I'd want us to go straight to the point. Why did you send for me? Who are you? And what discussion did you want us to have about Nikolai and
Adira's hands trembled with anxiety as she clasped the test strip in her quivering grasp. Alone in the bathroom, her heart pounded in net chest, its rhythm echoing through the silence.She never thought she'd be so nervous with a pregnancy test. The first time she had been pregnant - Lancelot - carrying out the test was the happiest thing for her. And when it came out positive, she could never forget just how limitless her joy had been.But this - this right here was different.She inhaled a lungful of air and finally inserted it inside of her. Her anxiety increased, her legs had gotten cold.She watched with wavering breath, not knowing when to expect. Not until the big positive signed popped up on it."Oh, my God..." She grazed her fingers over her mouth to stifle her gasp.Her heart summersaulted in her chest, the entire place rotated in her head.She lost balance and helped herself to sit on the toilet surface before she'd reach for the floor. Shaky breaths left her chest, and her
Adira was bewildered. Who the hell was that, and why was he sounding like he could see her at the moment? Nikolai was distracted, checking out some male outfits. "Listen, I don't know who you are, but it's obvious you're joking. So, I'm hanging up." "I wouldn't do that, if I were you." The voice stopped her. "I mean, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to see a bullet go through Nikolai's head right now. It would be awful seeing his white shirt get soaked in blood." Adira froze instantly. Her eyes became so wide like they'd fall out of her sockets. She looked around frantically, but the galleria was too big with hundreds of people in it. "Are you insane?" She gritted. "What stupid game are you trying to play? You expect me to believe you'd shoot a man like Nikolai here in public? If that happens, you should know you're never getting out of here alive." "I know. I know his guards are there with you at the moment. But trust me, they won't be fast enough to stop or shield him before
76Blood gushed from his head, he staggered and his entire body lost balance.Lyra took a step back, the blood-stained knife in her hand. And as soon as she did, the mighty Jagger slumped to the floor.Lyra watched with shaky breath as he writhed and gasped for air. Fearfully, she watched and could do nothing.His widened eyes looked at her, calling for help. Until finally, he stopped struggling. His eyes remained open, but she could tell they weren't alive anymore. He was...dead.The knife fell off her hand, and only then did she realize the gravity of what she had done. With her bare hands, she just killed her own father. She killed him!"No..." She muttered inaudibly, fear eating her up.Disgust crawled into her stomach, making her throw up instantly in the room. Tears spilled from her eyes as she dabbed her lips and looked at her father's corpse on the floor. How did she become this? How could she become this?"No!" She let out a painful cry. Her anger had gotten the best of her.
Lyra walked into the house and found Jagger there in the living room, having some apples. He had a knife with which he cut out the apple before taking it into his mouth. He seemed so happy, while she was there, mourning."Lyra." He called, his mouth full with a chunk of apple. "You didn't tell me you were coming."Lyra's eyes were sore and swollen. She fixed her gaze on him as she dropped her bag on the parting table in the room."How do you do it?" She asked in a low tone. "How do you manage to stay so happy when our biggest plan crashed a week ago? You didn't even bother to comfort me, neither did you seem worried that we had lost a lot of money. You didn't even try to come up with an alternative or something. It's so unlike...you."Jagger scoffed. He sliced out a piece of apple and threw it into his mouth before looking at her."Did you say an alternative? What was I supposed to do? Point a gun at the Kensingtons and threaten them to transfer their wealth to me? You really think th
Bellamy and her husband ran into Nikolai's room and gasped when they found him awake on the bed. When Na-ri had called and told them about it, they couldn't believe. But finally setting their eyes on him..."My dear son..." She whimpered as she went closer, holding his hand. "Good Lord! You're awake."Nikolai was still lying on the bed, and his face etched with concern when his parents came in alone."Nik, how're you feeling?" Mr. Vincent asked, going to stand at the edge of the bed.Nikolai's eyes were fixed on the door, and when he didn't see who he was expecting, he looked at his parents."Where's she? Why isn't she here?" He asked feebly.Bellamy shared a glance with Na-ri. Na-ri had also told them over the phone that he was asking for Adira.Wearing a smile, Bellamy caresssed his hand."Son, you just woke up after a long time. I believe you need as much rest as you can get. Stop worrying about anyone and just...""Where's she?!" He half-yelled. It was now becoming obvious that so
Adira found it difficult believing Bellamy's words. Was she for real? How could this woman have the guts to say this to her face?She was hurt, she wouldn't deny; hurt that Nikolai had been processing their divorce. Of course, he told her about it. But now, it was just too difficult to believe.She sniffed as an uncontrolled tear dropped to her cheek. Looking up at Bellamy, she found no emotions on the woman's face. When did the woman change so much? She used to love her a lot.She looked at the paper again before pushing it away, towards Bellamy."I'm not signing it." She said in a hardened tone.Bellamy's brows furrowed in surprise. She never expected that rigidity from Adira."Are you being serious?" She scoffed. "Do you have any idea what I'm offering you? If you agree to sign these documents, I'll make sure we drop the charges against you and you can be out of jail. You'll be free."The temptation of the offer lingered on Adira's mind. Being in here for the past one week had not
It's been a week now.Vesper seemed to be the one benefitting more from the death of Mr. Thatcher as he felt there was no will to share. Due to Nikolai's absence, his position at the company had gotten pretty high. It was all he's ever wished for.His grandfather had been buried already, but the air at home was always tinged with sadness. He even had to move out of the mansion as he got tired of the unending gloom.He just finished from a meeting and was walking out with his assistant when a call came into his phone. It was Kalina again. He'd lost count of the number of times she had called him for the day, and it was becoming annoying already.Grudgingly, he answered the call."Finally! Someone decided to take my call." She exclaimed, her voice echoing with anger. "What is going on, Vesper? You have been ignoring me for ages now.""I was in a meeting, okay? And you were interrupting." His reply was peeved.Kalina scoffed, like she couldn't believe it. "Seriously? Now, I'm being a pes
Lyra ran into her father's house and fell onto the couch immediately, crying her eyes out. Jared was there as well, but neither of them said a word to Lyra as she wept profusely."All I needed was one more day." She whimpered, her face covered in her palms. "The will was to be ready today, and he'd have signed it already. My life would've been all better by now."Jagger had a glass of wine with him, and he sipped from time to time, saying nothing to his hurting daughter."Lyra, come on, it's enough." Jared rolled her eyes, tired of her whinging already."I'm also angry that the plan was ruined at the last minute, but you shouldn't kill yourself over it. With the rate at which you've been crying, you might actually fall sick."Lyra lifted her face from her palms to look at him."You think I'm worried about being sick right now? Do you have any idea what I've planned? How much that money was supposed to help me?" She pointed a hand to her chest."My life is ruined, Jared! But of course,
Adira let out a terrifying scream immediately, her eyes nearly bulging out of her sockets. The bag she held slipped to the floor, and her heart pounded repeatedly against her ribcage. She was too frightened to move and simply watched as blood gushed from his head. It didn't take long before people rushed out, drawn by her scream. First,it was Finn and his wife, followed by Vesper and Kalina. They all expressed great shock at the sight in front of them. "Grandpa!" Finn and Vesper ran to his unconscious body. His wheelchair had fallen along with him and was beside his body on the floor. From every indication, someone pushed him. Finn and Vesper were trying to get him from the floor when Bellamy came out. She gasped at the sight she found. "What the hell happened here? What happened to him?!" Her eyes were already sore. Nobody could say anything and instead, focused on getting the old man from the floor. Adira's heart raced heavily. She watched with bated breath as Finn and Vesper
Vesper walked back to her, a scrowl on his face."What nonsense are you spewing, Adira?"He asked hoarsely. "From what Na-ri said, you're the reason he got drunk and drove out in that state. So, why the fúck are you trying to point accusing fingers at me?"Adira rose to her feet, still maintaining a calm look."You shouldn't get so worked up. I'm just asking because, you seem to be the only one benefitting from all this.""Well, I didn't do it. So, watch your words." He glared at her and left.Adira fell back to her seat, finally letting her weakness shadow her features. Nikolai's condition was making her lose her mind. She knew Vesper had nothing to do with the accident, she was just upset that he was benefitting from it.****†****†****†Jared was in a bad mood and decided to stay home for the day. He was in his room when his phone started off beside him. Glancing at the screen, he discovered it was his father.He ignored it at first, not wanting to speak with the man. But he called a
68Nikolai's condition was very critical - the doctor said. They've done all they could for him at the moment, but he was still not regaining consciousness.Adira got to learn that the accident was so bad, and it was only by a miracle he had been able to come out of the car alive. This got her even more frightened. What would have happened if he wasn't lucky? How would she be able to live with herself, knowing she caused his death? Even if it was not entirely her fault, still it started with her.The following morning, most of the family members had to leave to take care of other things. Bellamy didn't want to go, but she was convinced by her husband that she needed a bath and a change of clothes.As for Adira, she couldn't go.When she had the chance to be alone with him, she went into the room and a tear dropped to her cheek. Her Nikolai wasn't looking any better.He had an oxygen pipe beneath his nose, had a big bandage wrapped around his head, his leg was placed on support and a d