Pearl's POV.“I was joking about sleeping in your room tonight, but that doesn't mean if you let me I'll turn it down, you have to catch some sleep so you'll be up early tomorrow for the shoot,” Philip says after ten minutes of letting me cry in his embrace.I pull away. “Yeah,” wiping my face. I try not to look at his shirt or where my tears have soaked.Philip takes me unaware by kissing me on the forehead, “I'll get you a dress for the photoshoot, so you just have to be up early,” “I'll be up early,” I tell him.“Alright, I have to go before my parents start calling, sleep tight okay? and dream about me,” He starts retreating with backward steps.I mimic his talk, “I'll try,” once he's vanished from the hallway, I place my hand on the my door and open it…“Pearl…” My body trembles with shock. I pause and catch my breath before looking to see who's calling me like that.“Dad…” I swallow the brick in my throat. Did I not impress him at the table?“You told me you were going to stay a
Peal's POV.When I get to Photoshop, I'm received with a warm welcome. Like the workers, were waiting for my arrival. I bet with all my life savings that this shop was designed for the elite people because of how it was built. Big, elegant and luxurious. I wonder how much they make.“Come with me, Ms.” One of the workers told me with a polite smile, I suspected her to be one of the superiors at the place.I follow her meekly. My breath snags in my throat when I see Philip's back. Hands in both pockets, he's talking to one of the workers. Maybe the manager or something. I just watch him silently from a distance. Philip is fine! Coupled with the way he commands authority without words, the easy going demeanor he exudes, the effortless charm in his smile, the way his muscles flex under his dress shirt. Oh…am I forgetting the way he talks to people respectfully? Not like those trust fund babies who think the world revolves around them. And Yes, how kind he is to me. It surprises me ever
Pearl's POV.The photographers arrange their cameras and get us to position. When Philip's hand rests on my hips, I repress a shiver.“Are you okay?” He whispers in a low voice.“Do we really have to do this? I thought it's usually before the wedding?” “Well, it usually is but our parents, to be concise, your Dad has big plans, he said he wants everything about this marriage to be perfect and different, they want special pictures of the both of us together to use in preparing gifts for the engagement party,” “Oh, I see now,” I nod my head, and swallow, trying hard to ignore the tingling feeling of his hand.“You can change position now,” The photographer shouts.“Umm..how should we stay?” I ask.One of the photographers came forward and tried to get us into position. While he instructs us how to pose for the camera, Philip's hand brushes my abdomen. I shudder.“Did I hurt you?” worry fills his eyes as he stares at me.I gulp, “No, I'm okay, just a fleeting pain,” I lie. I can't look
Pearl's POV.Those last words from him break something inside me–walls I think. “Yes–” The words are incoherent. Almost inaudible but he catches it. He hears the words and makes them move. Inching closer as he presses his lips on mine.I'm pregnant! I want to say these words so badly, but the fear of the consequences is weighing me down. I've lived a lie for the past seven years. But I didn't have to drag anyone into it. Now I have a baby growing in me. I don't know how long I can keep up this deceit now. I'm a fraud! Something hits the ground and it resounds in the room, Philip breaks the kiss and together we look opposite and shit! Are we still in the studio? I thought we were in a room filled with white balloons and pancakes.My face heats with mortification. Oh, I can't stand here.“Are we done here?” I ask the guys.“Yes, yes,” they nod awkwardly. After what they have seen, what should I expect? I run out of the room. Back to the dressing room to take off the clothes.“You need h
Fabian's POV.“Boss, have you seen this?” My secretary says walking straight up to me, I'm seated behind my desk.“What is it?” I ask curiously.“I don't know, your mother granted a press release,” “My mother…” The words get stuck inside my throat as the video begins to play.“No shit…” I pick up my car keys and my suit jacket. “I'll be back, alright?” I tell my secretary and start driving straight to my mother's house. I find myself hissing all through the drive. Exasperated. I know my Mom is many things but why would she…My car screeches to a halt, in front of the driveway of her house. She lives in the mansion I acquired for her. She knew I'd do anything to get her to stay away from me and my wife, I didn't mind buying it for her. She was my mother after all.“Mother,” I meet her sitting on the sofa comfortably like she hasn't just caused a ruckus online. “Why did you do that?” She frowns, feigning innocence, “Do what?” “Come on, Mother, did you think I wouldn't see it? Why wou
Fabian's POV.I clear my throat, “Hi! Am I speaking with Megan Pierce?” “Yes, it's me. And…who are you?” The curiosity in her voice is unabashed.“It's Fabian, Fabian Barlow,” My throat constricts.“Oh my Goodness, where are you now?” She asks.“I just left my office, are you still at the hotel?” I start the car and turn the steering wheel. “Yeah. Yeah. Should I expect you?” Her voice is excited and expectant.“Yeah. I'm coming,” I tell her. “I'll call you once I get there,” “Okay, I'll be waiting,” the excitement in her voice is unmistakable.I sigh, tossing my phone after that call goes off. Then I pick it when I remember I need a map. Do I have to do this? Mom just has a way of getting on my nerves all the time.A few minutes ago I was busy in the office, then I was interrupted by a video where she publicly called Pearl a slut, I went to ask her to bring it down and now I'm off to see one lady she's been chatting with on a dating app with my picture. I've never been on a dating
Fabian's POV.“I'm on the app cause I'm looking for a lover,” She states unabashedly.“Okay,” I nod, digesting the term lover, “What about your exes?” “My exes are none of your business. What about your exes? How about we talk about them?” Honestly, she's more approachable than you are.“I’ve only had one,” I wasn't a Virgin even when I met Pearl, even if she was when I met her. I was not a Playboy either but I'd had some amount of experience with sex. But Pearl was the first woman I was committed to.“Wow! Well, I've had seven.” She replies.“Seven? That's quite a number, so why did you break up with ‘Seven’ of them?” “You tell me why you broke up with yours first,” My phone beeps again. I almost ignore it but I can't, I just raise my phone to have a look. It's another text from my secretary.[Mr. Fabian, I have to go to the hospital, where are you?]I lock the screen and place the phone back.“She um…she cheated, there were other issues surrounding the relationship that made us s
Fabian's POV.The line goes silent. I curse under my breath. Stephanie has fucking blown my….“No, sir,” Greta stammers. With a release of breath, I cut the call. I'm fucked, I'm so, so, so, so fucked.I go back to my seat with Megan. “Sorry for the interruption, just something important I needed to handle.” “It's okay. With the way you look, I thought maybe your house was on fire or something.” She giggles.I force a chuckle, “Actually, it's something different. So…” I cross my fingers on the table, “...After all you said about your exes I don't think we are compatible. No need to make me the ninth one,” “What do you mean we are not compatible? You talk differently than you text,” She accuses. That's because I'm not the person you've been talking to.I clear my throat, “You said you broke up with your ninth…I mean the sixth boyfriend because he had a small Dick, and I'm sorry to break this to you but I do have a small dick,” “Oh…” She exclaims, her hand flies up to cover her mouth
Fabian's POV.“What is wrong with you Fabian? Why can't you get over this girl? You keep getting into continuous scandals with her and you don't even care what it's doing to your reputation or your Stephanie,” I pretend not to hear what she's ranting from across my desk.I stick my head in the paper before me, going through the files. “Answer me, Fabian,” She slams her hand on the desk. If I raised my head a second before she would have put her hand in my face.“What do you want me to do for you mother?” I ask. Offended by her distraction.“I want answers? What do I not know about you and your ex-wife that makes you crawl back to her even at her engagement party? Don't you have any shame? You had me panicking, looking for you! You weren't even healthy and yet you ran to her.” “Mother, I'm 34 years old. Old enough to make my own choices and be with whoever the fuck I want to be with. I'm busy right now and your noise is distracting me, please leave.” “I think I've given you enough ti
Pearl's POV.“I…I…that wasn't…” forming a proper sentence becomes difficult. Not sure I thought about what I'd say to him at that moment. “I was really scared. That's why I sent you the text,” “What text?” He asks, with slight irritation in his voice.“The…text I sent to you a day before,” “Pearl, we are both adults, and you have to own your mistake and stop lying to cover up because It makes me want to hate you even more!” “I'm not lying Philip, I sent you a text.” I defend myself.Philip breathes out exasperatedly, puts his hand in his pocket, takes out his phone, taps on the screen a couple of times, and hands me the phone. “You can check if your ‘sent’ message is there,” I scroll through the messages. I'm sure I sent it to him. Why is it not here? I keep searching.“Did something happen?” Philip mocks me, “You didn't see the message you sent? And you expected me to see it.” He abruptly takes the phone from my hand. “Let's face the truth, Pearl, you still love your ex, so much.
Pearl's POV.My brother and I are sitting at the ends of our plush sofa, in my Father's home office. My hands are intertwined between my legs, my heart is drumming erratically in my chest, it could Pop out.I know. I know I fucked up, I'm not blaming anyone, I shouldn't have let him get to me. I should have ordered him to leave, and not ruin my day. But I just couldn't, I told myself I needed to talk to him. I thought it was going to be a quick conversation and I'll run back in and no one will know I spoke to him, that was the plan but I didn't know when I hugged. It was so soothing, it felt like home. It was peaceful like I was back to being my old self, with my Man–but he is no longer my Man. And it has landed me here, under the scrutiny of my father by seven am in the morning. My brother has refused to talk to me since last night. I know he's mad at me. He has the right to be. Maybe when he falls in love with someone genuinely one day, he'll see it's not that simple to detach. Y
Fabian's POV.I can't go through the front because of how I'm dressed, so I sneak into the restroom area.When I start feeling dizzy again, I go into the men's room to pour some water on my face and rest a bit. But my adrenaline is pumping madly in my veins if I don't get to talk to my wife in the next few minutes. I'll lose my mind. When I come out of the men's room, I absentmindedly look sideways before setting my eyes on the path that leads to the….Wait a second! My eyes get sight of a man, standing at the entrance of the women's room. There's no one else in the hallway. Despite the strong urge to see Pearl, I feel this nudge to get close and know what's happening there. As I approach him, I notice he's talking. While talking to the person inside, his tone is hushed from a distance but as I get closer the words become clearer. I'm stunned when I realize it's Pearl's brother from a close distance.“Make me get this properly, 'cause I want to, How would you feel if I was getting ma
Pearl's POV.It's been really hard to keep up with the expectations of the people gathered here today. They're all like Dad, they narrow their eyes at you, searching for the tiniest bit of imperfection. Philip has been great at keeping my emotions afloat, but there's the lingering unsettling feeling I've been having. Has he read the letter and he chooses not to talk about it? That's impossible for me but I expected him to say something since last night, but he hasn't said anything. I checked my phone first thing when I woke up this morning and I was surprised to see no message from him was lying in my message box. Also, no missed calls or anything. I'd waited all night for a response. I wanted to be alert, holding my phone when the message came but I fell asleep and even when I got up, nothing had happened.“Pearl, Take this,” Philip hands me a glass of champagne he retrieves from the passing waiters. “It'll help your confidence,” he points to the people around, “It'll make you see t
Fabian's POV.My phone alarm rings. Signaling that it's time for me to go to bed. I set it to lessen my work time as my health condition has started getting worse and even if I'm afraid I don't have up to the time the doctor told me I don't show it.I close the paperwork on my desk and pack up, despite wanting to go home earlier, I'm still the last person who gets out of the office. Thank God it's Friday, I'll just have to take some time and rest before continuing anything.I use the elevator that leads to the garage. When the elevator dings, There's a spin in my vision, and I stop before I make the wrong step. Once everything settles, that's when I realize blood is coming out of my nose, at the same time a blinding migraine hits me, and breathing becomes a barrier.I try to find the nearest pillar–anything for support. My knees give out and I fall, clutching my throat as I struggle for air with eyes that can't see.I hear a voice in my head. I try to shake it off because of who it be
Pearl's POV.“Okay!” I say. Dragging my feet, I don't even realize I stopped.Settling in the backseat with my Dad, our driver takes over the steering and we start moving to God-knows-where. It takes me a lot of courage to turn and face my Dad, “Umm…” I try to make my voice polite, “Where are we going?” He swivels to look at me, “We are going to the venue of your engagement Party,” He says, almost excitedly.Okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around this. Why are we going to the venue tonight? I can't help but think my dad is up to something, Wait–has he found out? “Is something wrong?” He says. “No,” I reply sharply. Showing him a forced smile.He turns his face away as if irritated by the smile. The silence from then on puts me on the edge and makes me anxious till the car pulls to a stop, I immediately come down from the car. I don't even know if we have gotten to our destination.The air in the car is so suffocating that if I inhale one more time, I may fall sick. Or worse, colla
Pearl's POV.It's Friday already, I wish so bad that it's not but there's limited power to what I can control. Standing at my room window, I've seen the night snatch light from the day. And I can only wonder what tomorrow holds for me. Tomorrow is my engagement party.Tomorrow, I'll stand before people and pretend to love a man. I'm not so sure how I feel about him, and I'll have to tell him about my baby eventually. Running away is not an option for me. I've thought about it countless times. It'll only make things worse for me and the baby. I can only hope he doesn't take the news negatively, I'll never tell Fabian that the baby is his. Philip and I will care for the baby, he'll be my child's legal father. That's if he accepts the baby.I stand back from the window and turn, going straight to my table. The letters I'd written two nights ago are lying there.One for Philip, one for Dad, and one for Paul. He'd be the most disappointed, I don't know why it's hard to tell anyone I'm preg
Fabian's POV.After picking my Mom from the cell, I don't need to ask her why she did what she did because she won't give me a reasonable answer. I just drop her off at her house and head back to the office. It's already enough headache I'm dealing with in my life, I can only try to reduce my headaches.I toss my suit jacket on the desk as I walk into the room. I pick up a bottle of water from my mini fridge and drink. It's been so distressing and annoying how much I have to worry about myself and my Mom too. I throw some pills into my mouth and use the water to wash it down.There comes a soft knock on my door, “Come in,” I say. Stopping myself from thinking about whom it may be.Stephanie walks in, her pretty face is in order, but there's an edge of something…concern, Maybe.“What happened?” She asks, ambling close to me.“Nothing I couldn't take care of.” I reply, casually.“Do you have to be like this all the time with me?” By this time she's standing so close behind the desk. I