AUTHORS POV
THE ICU lights dimmed signaling the end of a high-risk delivery. The ward was almost silent except for the bickering of nurses and Doctor Natasha. Gavin held his wife's hand firmly, his eyes glowed with anxious tears threatening to escape his green eyes. Doctor Natasha, turned to the married couple after handing their immobile baby to a nurse. A glimpse of sadness flashed in her eyes through her glasses. “I'm sorry, Mr. Reed, but your child couldn't make it.” Doctor Natasha announced grimly. Gavin's grip on Sydney's pale hand loosened, his heartbeat matched the beeping of the Life support monitor. “There were high traces of caffeine in her bloodstream as well as the baby's. Unfortunately, the baby couldn't survive it.” Gavin said nothing. His eyes drifted to his dead baby and then to Sydney. She was crying, normally, he would wipe her tears away, but instead, it disgusted him. “I'm sorry,” she mouthed, veins bulging from her forehead. He said nothing but stared at her, his angry eyes were glistening with tears. His silence cut layers through her skin. The last time she had seen him this way was when his father disowned him, and he got hit with the reality that he had an eighteen-year-old wife and one-year-old to take care of alone. She had never seen him cry so much before. “Gav-” she reached feebly to cup his cheek but he stood up, his eyes leaving hers. He headed for the door, Doctor Natasha called him back but he ignored her. “Dad!” Ethan, Gavin's ten-year-old exclaimed as Gavin walked out of the ward. Emily, his six-year-old sister, moved in his arms as she slept. Gavin pressed his pale finger on his lips signaling Ethan to be quiet. Ethan nodded briskly, “How's mum and Xavier?” He whispered, his voice shaky. Emily was so excited about the baby she came up with potential names the baby with Ethan. Sydney, and Gavin joined in, and they settled with Xavier. Gavin let out his breath, controlling his tears. He bent to look Ethan in the eyes. “Mum's a bit sore now— but she'll be fine.” He didn't mention Xavier, “And Xav?” Gavin wilted slightly. “He's taking a nap he'll wake up soon.” in Heaven. Ethan grinned, his curly blonde hair bouncing as he leaned on the chair and sighed. "Thank God." His smile didn't reach his eyes. “I've gotta go now champ.” Gavin said nearly breaking down. He needed to leave now before lost his sanity. Ethan stood straight, frowning, “You have to stay with Mum; she needs you.” She hadn't needed him since five years ago, she decided to go against his decisions, and now they are all going to suffer the outcome of her disobedience. Or at least that's what he thought. “I'll be back in a few minutes.” He moved the hair from Ethan's forehead and kissed him. “Don't wake up your sister.” He nodded, slightly concerned about the look in Gavin's eyes. Gavin kissed Emily's cheek and when he stood, Ethan saw the tear that dropped to the ground. Gavin knew he saw it and walked away before he could speak. Reaching into the pocket of his designer khaki pants, he pulled out a handkerchief and flicked his tears away. His demeanor turned hard and professional like it always was in the face of the public. As soon as he stepped out of the hospital, multiple camera lights captured him and within a second, he was surrounded by desperate paparazzi and newscasters. “Mr. Reed, was the delivery successful?” “Mr. Reed, we heard your wife, Sydney Reed, skipped prenatal care because she didn't want to stress herself. Is that true?” almost. “Mr. Reed, you aren't speaking. Is the baby all right?” Gavin tore through the crowds; a bodyguard cleared his path as he headed towards his car, ignoring the hypocritical questions. Gavin got into the plush passenger seat of Rolls-Royce and slammed the door shut but not after hearing a question that broke into his stony demeanor. “Is it true Mrs. Reed decided to become independent because you abused her just like her father, Mr. Morgan, abused his wife?” Logan River, Gavin's driver, drove into the luxurious street of Beverly Hills. The car was eerily silent. Logan wanted to ask if Mrs. Reed was fine but he feared Gavin with his life. No one enjoyed upsetting Gavin Reed. Gavin had not always been fond of throwing his anger at others until God knows what happened five years ago. Logan thought. Whatever it was, it ruined him. Logan saw the flicker of pain in his eyes as he stared out the window. “Turn up the music,” Gavin instructed, leaning into the chair and closing his eyes, his hands intertwined. Logan Obeyed but Gavin wasn't satisfied. “Play something cynical.” His voice was shrill and demanding. Again, Logan obeyed. “Louder.” Done. “Increase the speed to 70.” Logan drew in a soft gasp of protest. “But sir—” he paused when he caught Gavin's glare in the rearview mirror. Done. Gavin frowned at the memories of his dead baby playing in his head like a broken record player. “Turn to the left and hit the gas.” His knuckles were white. Logan swallowed and obeyed. Multiple colored lights penetrated through Gavin's closed eyes. He was calculating, “Lower your speed, turn to the right, accelerate and hit the freaking brakes.” Logan killed the engine in the parking space of the Red Room strip club. His eyes widened, it never occurred to him he was driving to a strip club. Logan blanched and he opened the door for Gavin, “Mr. Reed, Mrs. Reed won't be happy if she knew you came here.” for goodness sake, she just put to bed and you should be with her! Gavin scowled down at him. “Don't tell me how to bloody live my life.” Those words were so familiar. Sydney had told him those were the same five years back. Her voice filled with odd defiance. Covetous eyes washed over Gavin as he stepped into the club. He was spent, he needed some liquid courage. He had never felt so helpless in his life. The woman he loved so much murdered his child. Gavin was already wasted half an hour in the club, his white shirt soaked in alcohol. He looked more like the foolish teenager he used to be; His shirt flown out, blonde hair disheveled. He looked inexplicably sad. “Gavin!” A brunette gasped, seeing him. Gavin lifted his head from the bar table and looked at her. He recognized her immediately. “Avery.” She had been Sydney's best friend since high school, and his old fling before Sydney captured his heart. She studied his face and gasped again, “You look awful, are you okay?” He stood swaying, “Do I look okay?” He barked exasperatedly but she didn't flinch. Her hands cupped his cheeks and she stared up at him with concern and a subtle hint of happiness. “How's Sydney and Xav?” Gavin held her hand away and ran a hand through his hair. “There's a quiet space upstairs, you could tell me about it.” “Leave me alone Avery,” he growled. “Keeping it in won't make things better. We both know what that has caused over the years.” She crossed her arms around her voluptuous chest. It ached with cravings. A coveted craving. Gavin gave in and followed her to the room upstairs. He entered first and she locked the door behind her. The lights were vermilion, obscuring Gavin's vision. His eyes darkened. He remembered the first day he had slept with Sydney; she was sixteen, pretty, and everything he loved, not the woman she was now. “Tell me,” Avery whispered, pouring champagne into a flute. Gavin sat on the bed, his eyes barely open as he watched her. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't. Desire pricked his soul as she walked towards him, in nothing but a handless top and leather mini-skirt outlining her voluptuous figure. A weapon of seduction she had always possessed. Their past relationship had been nothing more than a tool to gain popularity in high school. She was a rich brat before life slapped her in the face and he was a lecher who played with girls' hearts. Her lashes batted. “Have a drink, you might feel better.” He collected the drink and she made sure their hands brushed. He had a boner instantly and she noticed it. “I'm married to Avery.” He knew what she was trying to do. Oh yeah, where has that gotten you? “I can consider.” she licked the edge of the flute. He glared at her. “Sydney is your best friend.” “I loved you first.” He scoffed. “Past tense.” He emptied the glass and she smirked. He stood up and tried to leave but she blocked him. His chest brushed her large ones. He wanted to feel it again. “We both know how much you want it too.” He hated himself for being a man. “Human desires are deceitful.” “Human desires are an epiphany.” When she noticed the flicker of surrender in him she took the courage to wrap her hands around his neck. His fist clenched but he didn't push her away. She smirked and moved her lips seductively to his ear. He had always wondered how she became a principal without a college degree. “She doesn't deserve you.” He swallowed, “I love my wife.” She wilted but didn't give up, “But, she doesn't love you.” He also heard, 'she killed your child.' “When was the last time you slept with her?” she sucked his neck. He lost every bit of self-control. He grabbed her by the neck and pushed her to the wall, devouring her like a hungry lion. He tore their clothes off within seconds and pushed her to the bed. Everything he had been holding in, he let them out on her. Then he realized what she actually meant. “Deceitful whore.” She smirked, “ I missed you, Gav.”AUTHORS POV SYDNEY was going mad and the nurses had to run to get anesthesia. “I need to go home.” She barked for the umpteenth time. It hadn't been up to a minute since she woke up from surgery, and she demanded to return home. After Gavin's curt exit, Sydney's heart began to fail due to her severe pre-eclampsia pregnancy. “You aren't stable now, your blood pressure may heighten if you do not rest.” The doctor was tired of explaining, she had already begun sweating. If Sydney stayed a night in the hospital, she was surely going to lose it. The corpse of Xavier hunted her. If only she had listened to Gavin, none of this would have happened. “What about my kids?” She struggled in the doctor's hand. Her hair was disheveled, and her mascara was ruined. She was just about to leave for work when an excruciating pain hit her earlier. Thinking about it, she had always been fine till sunrise. “We can't bring them in. They won't be able to see you this way. Nurse Tiffany hurry up!” On a
AUTHORS POV “I can't believe he didn't stay with you during postpartum.” Avery drove Sydney home. Ethan and Emily were asleep in the back seat. Sydney had dark circles under her eyes; she didn't look like the immaculate businesswoman everyone knew. She's spent three days being tormented by Xavier's spirit and Gavin didn't take the liberty to visit her. Sydney sniffed.“He must still be hurt, I understand.” He had come to take Ethan and Emily home, but Emily didn't want to leave their mother; on the other hand, Ethan was mad at him for lying. Avery held a scoff. “That doesn't justify his actions. No man would leave their wife after she just put to bed.” Sydney didn't want to talk about it but Avery kept on talking. “Syd, I know you are blaming yourself for Xavier's death; you should stop. It isn't healthy.” Sydney bit her lips. “I should have listened to Gavin.” She had decided to be defiant for five years and see where it got her. Avery rolled her eyes. “Oh please, a man has no
AUTHORS POV SYDNEY'S heart thudded in her chest at Gavin's words. She wasn't sure she heard him right. Tears immediately began running down her cheeks. Gavin's eyes softened, he had no choice. “I said I was sorry.” She hoped it was just mirth. Gavin looked away.”The divorce papers will be ready tomorrow. I'll mail it to your office, you'll probably be busy with work to care.” How could he say that? She loved him, but she wasn't sure he felt the same. Was Avery right? Is he using the baby as an excuse to divorce her because she sexually castrated him? She grabbed the collar of his shirt and looked up at him. “How can you say I wouldn't care?” He wanted to wipe her tears away but he held himself. “If you'd care, you would have been a proper mother.” and wife. “What do you mean? I was always there for Ethan and Emily. I never missed PTA meetings, I read them to sleep every night.” and what about your husband? Gavin tasted something bitter. “That wasn't enough Syd. After you sudde
AUTHOR'S POVSYDNEY held her ears, rocking back and forth. Gabriel's house was a small bungalow a few miles away from Beverly Hills. Sydney was scared shitless when Gabriel drove into the forest but heaved a sigh of relief when she saw a quaint bungalow with numerous logs of trees in front and tools carelessly on the ground.It's been exactly two hours since Gavin had asked for a divorce. As she sat by the fireplace, she could hear his hateful words haunting her mind.Gabriel walked into the obsolete wooden living room decorated with animal skins and quaint abstract paintings of nature, he held a mug of coffee in his hand.“You'll burst if you keep holding it in.” He placed a hand on her back and dropped the mug on the table.Sydney slowly took her hand off her ears like it had been glued to it. She looked at Gabriel as he kicked the firewood that had fallen out of the fireplace, inside .“Thank you.”He sat a few inches away from her. She uttered grace and sipped the coffee. He seemed
AUTHORS POV The junior sales representative of Omnium V&P Marketing Enterprise called Sydney. "Are you okay Mrs. Reed?" Sofia asked, concern dripping in her tone. Sydney was sorting out the laundry when she called. "I'm fine, Sofia. Aren't you supposed to be working?" She wondered if Gavin had already informed the press about her miscarriage. "The SD put Riley in charge; she does the job better than me anyway." "Sofia, she's equally a newbie under training as you are. I've told you countless times to stop underestimating yourself." Sydney threw Emily's gray hoodie in the laundry basket. Sofia sighed, no one could win a debate with Sydney. "I didn't call to talk about me, Mrs. Reed... Are you sure you are fine?" Sydney stood with the laundry basket under her arm. "Is there a reason why I shouldn't be fine?" she hoped Gavin hadn't disclosed the news yet. "I know you aren't fine Mrs. Reed, even if no one believes you, I do. I know-" Sydney lost her patience. "Sofia I do
AUTHORS POVTHE RAIN PATTERED against the rooftops, its rhythmic beat echoing the tumultuous throbbing of Caleb's heart."How can you back out now? The work's almost concluded." Caleb's voice roared around the massive building as he paced around the living room.Ashley sat in the dinette, having her morning tea. Her heart raced, what could have made him so furious this time?"You claim to be a man with no faults yet your daughter is trending on the news for her infidelity. I can't continue on this train Mr. Morgan."Caleb raised a brow. "What do you- hello, hello." He took the phone off his ear and uttered a vile word.As far as Caleb knew, his daughters were happily married. Anita would never dare go against him by doing such an unruly thing. Sydney- he scoffed- she was too head over heels in love with Gavin to cheat on him.Caleb groaned. The telephone buzzed, and he quickly went to pick it up. Without asking, he knew who it was."How many investors had backed out?""Twenty-seven i
AUTHORS POV AVERY pushed herself off Aaron Hardwood, her lover, and collapsed next to him. They both lay on their back, staring at the ceiling that had patches of discoloration with chipped paint revealing drywall in some areas. "I don't think I can ever get used to this; you are wonderful, Av." Aaron breathed. "Well, you never will if you stop wearing that lousy thing on you." She sat up putting on her bra. He smirked, he loved her feistiness. He sat up and stared at her. "Why don't you just marry me Av?" "I'm not ready yet." She put on her blouse. "We both know that's not why." She looked at him squarely. "Fine, if you'd like to know, I can't live with a middle-class man, look at this place. It would collapse half a year into the marriage." He walked to her and held her by the shoulder. "Again, that's not the issue. I know you, Avery." She snatched her shoulder away like a little brat. "You don't know shit about me." She easily slid her feet into her worn-out flats
AUTHORS POV "My mommy bought me a fancy doll last Christmas." One of Emily's friends, Lacey Anabel said boastfully. Emily showed her fourteen teeth. "Well, Santa got me a pretty sundress with ballerina dancing shoes." Lacey barked a mock laugh; she was a year older than Emily and sharp-mouthed. "Everyone knows Santa isn't real." Emily looked up at Sydney as they headed to the bleachers. Dandelions had a match with Evergreen Elementary School; if they won, they would move to internationals. Ethan was playing as a striker. "Mommy tell Lacey Santa's real." Emily pouted. Sydney looked at Lacey, she hadn't even realized she was following them. "Where's your mum sweetheart?" She asked. Lacey halted as if she had just realized something. She began to cry. "Mommy will kill me; she said I shouldn't talk to you, Ethan, or Emily again." "Why?" Emily stared at her in confusion. Sydney grabbed Emily's hand and pulled her by her side. "Nothing baby." Lacey cried harder. Sydney