~ANASTASIA~
I didn't get why Jimena was calling me; I didn't even know why I still had her contact. Well, it went to voicemail, but she tried again. Okay, she was now disturbing my daughter's sleep, so placing it on silent, I placed the phone on the dresser and then went to bed, joining my daughter.The next morning, I got up to Ivy saying she was hungry. I called for one of the maids to help her get cleaned before getting her a morning snack. Now, this is not something I often do; I usually wait for breakfast, but with the way she has been behaving lately, missing William, I just allowed it so she could feel better.After the maid took Ivy to her room to prepare her, I took my phone as I was a little curious about what Jimena wanted. I thought maybe she had texted, but there was no text from her; instead, there was a text from Hudson reminding me of my doctor's appointment.I didn't respond but made a mental note to call him later so I could meet him; I really needeI didn't get what she was doing here until she showed me a pregnancy test. Looking at the purple, I quickly recognized it; I took it a few months ago when I was still living with William.I tried to deny it, but when she mentioned Harriot, I panicked. Harriot was my doctor, and he was the first to know about the pregnancy, but my question was, why did he tell her?She then went ahead and told me she had all the reports; she got them from Harriot. She was even threatening to call William if I would be difficult. She asked me to choose whether I would speak to her or William. Well, she was better off, so I agreed to speak to her.We went to my office, and there she shocked me by asking for a job.“I want to be your model.”“What? Why?”“Well, first off, I'm a model, and being your model means my career is back; you'll also be paying me a big fat check, so…”“We both know money is not what you're after.”“You're right; if I work for you, the media will s
Okay, this was crazy. If there's anyone I trusted the most, it's Harriot. He was loyal and definitely never took advantage of anyone, especially his patients. I asked Jimena if she was sure, and she said she was sure.“I had an affair with him; how else do you think I got the information about you?”“What information?” Daniella jumped like a maniac, “Tell me and I'll pay you a thousand dollars, cash now.”“Wait, what? Who are you, and what makes you think Jimena takes bribes?”“Fifty, just name your prize.” Daniella, who was in pain a few minutes ago, was suddenly fine, as she seemed rather more interested in my secrets.“Okay, first of all, I am here because I need to protect my millions. I'm Mrs. Rogers; I have a card with no limit, and if I tell you, then my deal with Anastasia would go off, and I need her more than the millions, so nah, no price.”“Oh, I will get it out of you, one way or another; you obviously don't know who I am,” Daniella said before t
I was in shock. I never expected Vivi to go to such lengths to frame Harriot, and I never expected Harriot to cheat, either. After Vivi narrated everything, from the cameras to hiring her brother's man, Matt, I mean, she told me Hudson didn’t know about it, but I doubted that. Well, I didn’t know what to do. Harriot was my friend, and sure, cheating on Vivi was not cool, but I had to hear his reasons first.I told Vivi I had to hear Harriot out, as she planned to keep him there for five years, and then she would do everything in her power to get him out, like releasing the original intentional footage of Harriot being drugged; she had it, but she wanted to teach him a lesson.Now, when I told Vivi I had to hear Harriot out, she reminded me of why I had to hear Hudson out, too, so I promised I would give her brother a chance to explain as well—even though deep down, I knew nothing he would say would change the fact that he was a criminal.After Vivi got back to work,
I was so confused. Why was Hudson and his crew having a photo of my mother? I mean, knowing what Daniella told me, a lot was running through my mind right now.I started moving backward while Hudson raised his hands in the air, saying he could explain; my eyes darted between his people, who rather looked calm as they were now both standing in one place, silently watching.“Please breathe, take a seat, let me… let me explain,” Hudson said, but I shook my head and asked him not to move; then, in a swift move, I snatched the photo from the table and then turned and rushed out with my driver holding the door open for me.When I reached the car, I didn’t wait for my driver to open the door for me as I let myself in and in understanding he joined me and asked where I wanted to go, I told him to take me home.Tears were streaming down my face; my heart was now beating fast. I didn’t want to think about it, but I couldn’t help it. The only reason Hudson had my mom's picture
~HUDSON~ I didn’t expect Ana to show up at our apartment; I thought she was still processing what Daniella told her. That’s why I asked my team to come here, as I was not in a state to go to the company or Rowan’s since that’s where we were now mostly doing this. I was pacing, scratching my head, cursing as the pain in my chest got unbearable. Shit, now I truly messed up. What was I going to do? How was I going to face her now? “I don’t understand, why didn’t you show her the footage?” Gabriella asked, and everyone else nodded, agreeing with her question. “Yes, she could have seen that it wasn’t your fault.” Rowan agreed. I ran my hand over my mouth, exhaling slowly. I couldn’t lose it now; I needed a second to think. I walked to the window and scratched the back of my head as I placed my thoughts together; now there was no lying to her anymore; she knew, and it was going to take time for her to understa
My eyes wandered around the apartment until they fell on a computer. I walked to it, and it seemed she was just using it as the screen was on. Then I saw she was booking a flight for Georgia, although it seemed she was unsure as there were also other tabs of her checking out Texas.I turned to her, searching for an explanation; she wasn't even scared or anything; she was just silently staring at me as if this was normal.“Ahh!” Gabriella screamed so loud that it got my attention, Dahlia was trying to get the bullet.“Put dark tape on her mouth; we don't want the neighbors to get suspicious,” I instructed Dahlia, who quickly got the tape and placed it on Gabriella's mouth. “Now you…” I turned toward Maddison, tucking my gun behind my waistband before dragging the small table closer and sitting on it, facing her. “I guess whoever hired you told you about me, right?” I asked, and she was still just staring at me without a word.I didn't like it, especially the fact that
NEW YORK, KINGSTON 2022~WILLIAM~When I told Anastasia I was okay with just being her friend, that we could just co-parent, I lied; I wanted to win her the right way, and Harriot advised this was the right way—not pushing my apology—giving her little space.I wanted to leave that night as I had Jimena to deal with; after I caught her that time ordering a fake belly, I still didn't believe it was a friend’s, and after hearing the conversation between her mom, wanting to lie to me that she was sick, I wanted to be near her so I could investigate her as I was starting to doubt her pregnancy. Well, Ana stopped me, and I thought maybe it was a chance to show her my changed self, that's why I stayed and made sure she got the contract.I truly didn't care that she was carrying Hudson's child; I had hope that we would get back together… she never loved him after all, but I was wrong because even with all my niceness, Ana still didn't fall for me.I kept it cool when we
WASHINGTON, SEATTLE 2022~ANASTASIA~It's been exactly one hour, twenty-three minutes, and seventeen seconds since the doctors declared my father dead. I haven't said a word; I have nothing to say.Trey, Santiago, Vivi, and even Carmen were all worried about me; they were standing in front of me speaking about me like I wasn't even here. They all tried to talk to me, but none received a response. My father is gone… he is dead.I couldn't believe it. I mean, when Mom died, she gave us each five minutes to speak to her, five minutes to be with her. Trust me, those five minutes were worth it. I think I only got better because of the encouraging words she said to me… because of the smile I saw her go with, but Dad?… I wasn't even there when he took his last breath.I honestly don't know if I'll be sane for long because this was my father, the only person I relied on for everything… the only man who gave me the world, the one who brought me into the world.Wh
~ANASTASIA~It's been days; I don't know if it's been a week, weeks, or a month; it wasn't honestly important.“Oh yes, finally this girl has been fooling them for a long time now,” I excitedly said and stuffed more popcorn into my mouth. “Let's see how she will get out of this one,” I said, and yes, I was talking to myself.I continued watching for a few more minutes before I heard Hudson's voice.“Are you sure you don't want bacon?” He asked for the hundredth time now.“I'm good, but if you will be so kind, I would like five more cupcakes.”“One.”“Thank you, alright, you two have a good day,” I said as Ivy kissed both my cheeks before taking her backpack. Hudson also bid me goodbye by kissing my forehead, then he asked if I needed help washing my hair.“I can do it if you don't want a hairstylist to do it.”“I'm good, but if you're worried about me, get me more snacks on your way back, okay?”“Okay, Dahlia is here, you're safe, and you can
Those imaginations worked as I went forty minutes without cursing or causing an accident.When I reached the city, I drove straight to the ranch, as he owned a ranch here and liked staying there at times when he was grieving or maybe getting away from the First Lady.Of course, security was tight; most of them knew me, but they still had to confirm my presence and search me. After that was cleared, I was led in, and of course, I found him in the stables, feeding horses.“My dear old friend,” he said, then took me in his arms, clapping my back.Now even with this happening, this man was like a father to me, considering I was seventeen when I met him. He is the reason I and my family were still alive and living well; otherwise, we would be in the streets or worse, dead.“Mr. President.”“I was just telling Daisy you were coming to see us, isn't that right, Ana?” He turned to the white horse, and yes, you heard it right. The white horse's name was Ana; he named
I was trying to make sense of everything when Gabriella asked a stupid question. I mean, she knew I knew the president was in Fall City; why the hell did she ask me that stupid question?“Get to the point, Gabriella,” Rowan said knowing I didn't have the patience.“I think what Gabriella is trying to say is that the president is in Fall City, you found Maddison in Fall City, with the footage and the call history, it’s obvious the president is in it,” Matt explained, and again I already figured that out, although his explanation made it make sense.“So the president didn't, or let's say doesn't, want you and Mrs. Frost to be together,” Dahlia added.“Correct, but for him to go to these lengths, creating a whole new identity must be deeper than just wanting you back as his fixer,” Rowan said, making me nod and say that I wanted the reason.“None of us for sure know the reason, only him.” Gabriella answered, and I turned to her and then patted her back, saying she w
“Why are you calling me?” I asked as soon as I picked, as this was the third time—I missed the other two.“He told me you knew.”“Knew what?”“The secret—why… why the hell didn't you tell me, I wanted to marry her?” He sounded drunk, like why would he be drinking this time when he was supposed to be mourning? Yes, I could judge, as when my dad passed, I never sat and cried or maybe went and drank my life out. I immediately matured as I started searching for ways to provide for my family, so instead of drinking, he could be there helping Santiago arrange everything—it was his damn father for God’s sake.“I don't know what you're talking about.”“Of course you do, and I—” I ended the call before walking into my apartment; I didn't have time to deal with drunkards.“Found anything?” I asked as I removed my coat.“Wait till you hear what Rowan found,” Gabriella said as she came toward me and handed me a packet of warm chips and a drink, I took it but placed it on the table as this wasn't
~HUDSON~After Maddison narrated everything to us, how the attorney who represented her offered her a fresh start, she didn't accept it at first, but when he told her that he who was supposed to help her would work against her, that he would make sure she spent the rest of her life locked up even when he knew she was innocent, well, she was left with no choice but to accept the deal.Everything else happened in the blink of an eye after she signed the agreement. Next, she woke up in a hotel room with a new identity—her look was completely changed, including her fingerprints.She told us how she had two phones, one to connect with them and another for her fake normal life.Unfortunately, she didn't know who they were, as she only received instructions through the phone from meeting one of them, who was covered. Then, going forward, her first task was to seduce me. Now, that was the first night I bumped into her in that club, so initially, we were supposed to have a one-night stand if h
Vivi told me how Hudson saved them as their home and properties were almost taken, how Hudson started providing for them, and they were confused at first as he was just seventeen, but they needed the money, so no one questioned him. He saved them, well, until a few years ago when Mom died; she found Hudson in the hospital.He first acted like it was just a coincidence until she showed up unannounced at his apartment, and there she witnessed Hudson watching someone get killed and doing nothing, instead, he was the one giving the order. She confronted him, and that's when he told her it was what he did.Vivi explained how Hudson didn't tell her everything, as she figured it all out by herself by putting one and one together. She spent a week just investigating him until she arrived at a point where Hudson and the man who was a vice president at that time worked together.She found out how he took care of people who didn't want to vote for him, how Hudson even ordered the d
~ANASTASIA~Opening my eyes and realizing it was early morning, I got up and walked straight to the bathroom. I don't know how I got on the bed or if I imagined William was here; it was honestly not important.After the shower, I walked into the closet where I threw on the first pajamas my eyes landed on, ready, and tying my hair into a messy ponytail, I walked out and headed straight for my computer. I searched through the CDs, and when I found Dad's favorite, I inserted it before moving to the music.I kept dancing, repeating the song, until someone opened the door without knocking.“Want to join me?” It was Vivi; she didn't respond. She shook her head and asked if I was okay, which was honestly a weird question. I mean, did I look sick to her? I was here moving my body.“I need to talk to you about your mom.” She said, and I didn't want to listen at first, but she insisted, saying it was important. Wanting to get over it, I sat on the floor after pausing the m
I let the shoes fall to the floor as I tried to defend myself by trying to remove Hudson's hand from my neck, but his grip was tighter, and all my efforts were in vain. I didn't understand why he was still holding onto me when he could just easily move me from his way.Okay, I'm not weak, especially not after how I've spent the last month in a gym, but Hudson, it's like he was trained to do this.I didn't want to beg him to free me as that would be so low of me, so I tried all means, but nothing moved him. It's like he wasn't there anymore, and I swear if it weren't for those breath-hold training sessions, I would be cold by now.Well, I was now losing it, and just as I thought I was going to fall, a voice sounded, which made him free me.It was Vivi.I struggled and coughed, trying to catch my breath, while Vivi came to me and tried to help.“I hate him, but doing this won't solve it. I called him here.”“You also asked him to insult me?”“Of course
She asked me to sit with her so she could show me a video of her graduating from high school. I understood what was happening to her, so without giving her trouble, I agreed as I removed my shoes and sat next to her on the floor.“I have Cheetos; do you want?” she asked as she pulled out a basket full of snacks, “I also have popcorn and Snickers; it's a long movie; better not watch on an empty stomach.” She said, raising an eyebrow. She was looking at me while I didn't exactly look into her eyes. I still tried to read her face, and trust me, she looked normal, which was weird.I hesitated, and then when I saw she was getting tired of waiting for my reply, I nodded, agreeing, saying I wanted Cheetos.“I love chips,” I said, taking it from the basket.“I know you do; Ivy loves it too. That's one thing you two have in common: both have the same taste for food.” Her voice now scared me because there was no crack, and she was aware that Ivy was our daughter.“I'm sorry for your loss, Ana.