CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT
Althea's eyes were wide as saucers and she stared at Tyler in shock. He has his eyes closed, not caring about anything but the attack he was making.
His kisses were rough and forward. She can feel him gnawing on her lower lip like it was the sweetest candies he ever had. Since her mouth was parted, his tongue slid in shamelessly.
It touched her tongue, then searched her whole mouth like a thief searching a house. It was thorough, he wasn't letting a spot untouch.
Her ears started to heat up. Her tongue was slowly following his lead. He noticed it too as he leaned in to make the kiss deeper. His hand slid down to her hip and gently caressed her side. The hand on the back of her head also slid down to her neck before it tapped it slowly.
It feels like he was beckoning and seducing a swan from a lake to get into the land.
Althea
CHAPTER NINETY EIGHT (TWO)"Kai-wait! "Althea yelled for the ninth time this day. "Stop running away! Where are you going?! And stop throwing stuff-"She dodge just in time the other vase that Kai pulled down from a table and let it crash loudly on the floor.She had to be careful not to wound herself from the flying fragments of the broken vase, so the gap between the two widened even more. It made her click her tongue. Although her son is smaller than her and has shorter legs, he was able to increase the distance so she could not catch up to him.She can't remember teaching something like this to Kai- no sane mother will teach their 5 years old kid about something as dangerous like this. That is pure stupidity!If it's not her, it is more unlikely not his father, Augustine, because that bastard can't even make time to talk face-to-face with his
CHAPTER NINETY NINEKai was born on a stormy day. Althea was very anxious at that time, especially since it was her first time giving birth, also, the kid was a product of one night stand.Aside from being anxious, she was being eaten by guilt too.Since she got pregnant after having sexs with the husband of an old friend.No words can describe how devastated she was when one day she just began vomiting and showing signs of early pregnancy.No words can describe how she felt while waiting in the bathroom with the pregnancy test kit in her hand.And no words can describe her feeling when finally, two red lines appeared.The lines were too much for her, she remembered breaking down there and there when she saw it. She was in a public restroom, but she sobbed loudly that it was heard from outside of the restroom.&nb
CHAPTER NINETY NINE PART TWO"..." Althea opened her mouth and tried to speak but a lump on her throat was stopping her.She was frozen solid at his words. It struck her speechless and she could feel herself standing on the edge of a steep cliff.She can feel the rushing waves coming crashing and slamming itself to the stonny cliff. The cold breeze was like the hands of death touching her skin."Mom?" Kai must have sensed it. He touched the cold face of his mother before stroking it as if he was trying to comfort her. "I'm sorry. I know why you did that- Charlotte explained it to me that you were trying to-""No. You're right." Althea cut him off from his stuttering. "No matter what excuses I have- I still abandoned you."Kai opened his mouth to speak but himother cut in."But what happened in the past won't happen again this time -
CHAPTER ONE HUNDREDThe morning was cold, the soul, grasses and the leaves outside were moist from the morning mist. The sun was slightly peeking from the east and its light was just barely touching the ground.Althea went out to the balcony with a thick blanket dumped on her shoulders. She was still in her pajamas and her comfy fluffy indoor slippers.Since it was freezing outside- it was 5 in the morning- she had a piping cup of coffee in one hand, while the other had her phone.She leaned on the nearest wall then dialed a number.As the phone rings, she takes a sip of the hot coffee and made her mind wander back a bit about what happened yesterday.-After what happened that morning, Kai was the first one who fell asleep. He was sleeping on top of Tyler with the most comfortable position. Tyler was slowly stroking his
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED (PART TWO)Althea tried to change the subject after hearing what she wanted to know, but she should have known that no matter how she tries bending and changing the subject, she would somehow know how to get it back.She's persistent, even when she's still a kid chasing for her husband.She's a handful.She ended up telling her about everything that happened for the past months down to the slightest details. Charlotte interrupted her here and there but she managed to get the whole story through without hanging up on her.She should get used to this kind of attitude. No, she must have already gotten used to this kind of attitude after years of bein
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED ONE==They were in the middle of unpacking their luggage and the things from the boxes when Tyler came. He came in with his suitcase and his disheveled face. The eyebags on his eyes clearly indicated that he had sleepless nights. His hair was in disarray like he was running around the whole day.Well, he did run just to decrease the time of going here.When he reached the doors of the house, his eyes immediately went to work and searched for the faces that he hasn’t seen for days. Meters away from him, near the staircase, across the piles of boxes, he saw her. She had her hair up in a messy bun and stray strands of hair was on her forehead and the back of her neck.She was sweating and was carrying a small box on her hand. It seems like she still helped them unpack even after telling her not to because they can all do it alone. She has a sma
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED ONE (PART TWO)==The new house was bigger than his previous house, the layout is different too and so is the design. It was obviously new painted and some of the furniture just arrived earlier. But even though new, the kitchen was already stuffed with foods and drinks. Knowing this, both headed there as Tyler still look tired.She told him to sit down while she prepares coffee and his food. He tried to tell her that it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. He had no heart to tell her he already ate and waited patiently. Tyler obediently sat down and removed his coat then made it hang on the backrest of his chair then watched her maneuver the kitchen. When she was done preparing and sliding the food and the cup of coffee to him, she sat down directly across him.“So, what are we?”Tyler almost spit out the coffee he was drinking aft
==CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED TWO==Plop, plop, plop.Althea looked outside the window as the plopping sound of the falling drops of the rain slaps on it. It was tidbits at first, slow and small amount of water, until the sounds of falling and plopping become denser and packed.It was pouring. The sky was dark as the black, thick clouds were covering the moon. All the streetlights were foggy and barely lighting because of the heavy rain. The downpour was sudden, as it was; many people started rushing to seek shelters in the nearby sheds or just simply run to get into their respective households.“Althea? What are you doing there? It’s cold!”Althea turned towards the voice and saw her mother walking towards her with a worried expression. She had a thick blanket hanging on her shoulder. On her hands were two steaming cups of, she think
---I did what I was ordered to, and when I finally got to the bottom of it…What the fuck?“I knew things would be interesting if I keep him by my side.” Startled, I looked at my sister who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She was looking at the photo with interest in her eyes. She looked at me. “Erase every record the police had or anything within Victoria’s reach, we can’t have her figuring out everything before I can have my fun of them destroying each other.”“Hmmm,” I glanced at her. “Isn’t she your friend?”“Friend?” She smiled, appearing innocent. “I don’t have anything like that. Father banned that word to us, brother.”“... If that’s what you say.”“Good!” She turned and stretched her body. “Ahh, I can’t wait to see Sheryl get destroyed by the man she loves. Or maybe, it would be mutual destruct
—“Is that your fiance?” I asked as soon as I sneaked at her back, wanting to scare her.“Stop doing that!” She yelled at me. I laughed at her, telling her sorry. She clicked her tongue before nodding. “He is. Handsome, right?”“Hmm?” I pretended to think about it. “Not really.”She scoffed. “Really.”She turned her back on me and continued her work, facing the paper works that were piled on her table. She was 15.I stood behind her, looking at the man on her table.From the day I knew that all along, she was the leader, I decided to stay and look after her. When I told her about my decision, the pause she had was short but eye-catching. Before I could register the pause and understand the meaning behind it, she answered my words with a smile.‘I will be glad to have you under me.’ Her smile was pretty chilling, more bone-numbing than our father’s s
—I am older than her by 5 years, and I remember her looking at me from behind. Normally, one should feel happy to know that someone was looking at their back, admiring them, but that’s not the case with me.Every time I look back, turn to look at her over my shoulder, every time I caught her eyes, I can’t help but shudder:She feels the same as our father.We were only half-siblings. We have the same father, but that’s not the case with mothers.My mother died when I was four, then our father brought another woman into the house after that. That woman was Charlotte’s mother. She was warm and kind. I remember her talking to me a few times.‘Charles, even though you don’t have my blood, please think of me as your mother too.’ She said one time when I tried avoiding her in fear that she wanted me dead. That was what most people who wanted to seize my father’s power would do if they were in her position
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (10)“He is so cute…!”Days had passed since the birth of her son. Althea was peeking at him with a glass wall between them. She still has IVs in her hand, and she hasn’t recovered most of her energy yet, but she seems like she was overflowing with one.She had her palms against the glass, Althea feels like looking from where she was is not enough, she wanted to slip through the wall and hold him. But it was still not safe, so she held the urge in.A bracelet on her son, the letters were a little bit incomprehensible, but she can read them. It was the name of her son:Alexander Kai GrahamAlthea felt giddy, she can’t wait to hold him in her arms soon.“He’s your son?”“Yes,” Althea responded without thought. When she realized what she had
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (09)—Blood was trickling down.Plop, plop, plop.Bead-shaped blood fell from her private area continuously. It seems like someone pressed the pause button of the world; Althea felt everyone in the supermarket stopped moving.‘No.’ She thought to herself as she watched the blood slowly forming into a puddle beneath her feet. She can feel the hot liquid trailing down her legs. ‘This can’t be!’This day is supposedly like the normal days she had. Strolling around and buying things she thinks she wants. But in the middle of it, she just suddenly felt it come down.She’s only six months pregnant.“Oh my god!” A lady came to her, holding her shoulders in worry. Her eyes were on the blood, aghast. “You are bleeding!”
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (08)—She didn't think of it anymore and immediately set an appointment for the abortion.The next day, she went to the center and waited in line.Althea was all covered up, afraid that someone might recognize her in this hospital. She was pale, she had to deal with the morning sickness alone, and she had no idea what to do the whole time because, in her previous pregnancy, her mother was there.Now she was alone, dealing with everything she doesn’t want to.Althea wants to sob and to get everything over with. She can’t believe she committed a grievous sin to her friend. If only she didn’t get tempted with the money, things would not escalate like this.‘It’s all his fault,’ she galed at the entrance of the hospital where few people were going in and out. ‘He fooled me!’
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (07)—“A brothel?” Althea asked as soon as she entered the place. Her eyes wandered around and she felt overwhelmed by the red hue of the place. The lights, the atmosphere, the people. Everything here was new to her. She doesn’t know what to feel.“First time here?” The lady in heels asked. She gestured to someone far away by her hand and the other nodded before leaving their sight. “Don’t be nervous, you will only be entertaining guests… Why you don’t want to? It’s money, you know.”Selling myself. If it was her in the past, she would strongly disagree and storms off from here. But now, she has nothing but emptiness, she abandoned her pride and morals. She doesn’t have any desire to live anyway. This much won’t hurt her.“Anything’s fine,” Althea said, her
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (06)“What happened to you?” Altheaopened her eyes and saw a fuzzy scene. There were heads in front of her peeking at her from above. Althea could not recognize the features of the faces, but she knew they were medical workers because of their uniforms. It was the uniforms that the nurses and the doctors wear that she sees every time she goes to the hospital for check-ups and visits to her father.“You have been stabilized…” She heard muffled voices as if she was submerged in an ocean, waters entering her ear canals. She tried to move, but her body was too heavy like lead. She gave up and remained still, still unable to do anything, not even talk.“The man who found you and sent you here already paid for the medical bills…”‘What are they talking about?’ Althea had no clue. ‘It seems important.
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (05)“Do you like it?” The man asked Althea who was silent with her head bowed. “Do you like it?”“...” She had no response.His eyebrows twitched. He dislikes being ignored despite ignoring people.He bends down and held her chin to look at him forcefully. “Hey, little mouse, I am asking you a question. Do you like it?”“...” She still had no response.With eyebrows raised, he stood up and stretched his arms. “Sigh! After all, we did to repaint the wall, that blood only amounted to that much. It wasn’t even able to cover one-fourth of the wall. So regrettable! Now, the little fierce rat is not fierce anymore…”He glanced down, his cold eyes looking at the woman who was sitting on the cold ground motionlessly. “She can’t even appreciate our