Tara's POV
At the conference, I was asked to sit in the front.It is not a secret who I was married to hence the special treatment.Somehow, I was thankful for my identity as the former first lady. Being seated at the back with hundreds of participants from all over the world sometimes there are lots of distractions.When I was in university, I always preferred to sit at the front so I could concentrate well.Nothing has changed, I still love to sit at the front to fully put my attention on the lecture.When Gian started to speak, I took notes and recorded the lecture.I am not just intelligent but I'm also diligent, that was my advantage. Others are intelligent but not diligent.Putting intelligence and diligence together, the result is exponential.I graduated summa cumlaude on both of my degress.After the lecture we had a thirty miThe elevator ride was utterly silent, Andrei's eyes never left me and I felt like being burned in his fiery gaze. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I felt myself being lifted from the floor."Andrei, mmm…" he sealed my lips with his, kissing me intensely as if punishing my lips.After the storm in the room subsided, I had no energy to lift even a finger and my eyelids as if they weighed a hundred pounds, difficult to open. I was starting to lose my consciousness when he whispered, "My sweet, little wife, you'll always be mine." Learning my lesson the hard way, I made sure that Gian could not approach me by constantly surrounding myself with people. I was glad that Gian didn't do anything after seeing me deliberately avoiding him. Though I look up to him as someone worth following when it concerns career path, I won't trade my marriage because of it. I know what
"You don't lack properties, Andrei and you can have them stay on one of them, why bring them here?" I asked him calmly and stubbornly fought my tears. "If I did that, there would be rumors that I am having an affair and had been unfaithful to you," he replied, helplessly. His answer had my heart plunged deeper down into the ocean of agony, drowning me in misery. Reputation. He was deeply concerned about his reputation but wasn't concerned about my feelings. I didn't argue with him anymore. He brought them here without asking me and there was no use of arguing with him. Without making any comment, I stood up and went to the walk-in closet and changed. I picked up my broken phone and stuffed it in my handbag. "Where are you going?" Andrei asked coldly. I smirked and replied, "Don't worry I am not running away nor let other people know about it." "Tara
I laughed while tears streamed down my face. "Me, you're telling me I am throwing a tantrum here?" He looked at me and stretched his arms to take me in his arms but I swatted his arms. "Did you consider how would I feel bringing home your family here without asking my opinion?" I stepped away from him as his nearnest made me feel trapped and oppressed. "You're my family, Tara," Andrei said.I laughed maniacally, "I'm not." "Nonsense!" Andrei refuted me. "Don't make it hard for me, Tara." Like a hammer smashing my broken heart into powder were his words to me. To him, I was being selfish and didn't think of his situation. "How about me, Andrei? You made me feel how useless I am. That I can't bear you a child," I spoke rapidly. I let out what was in my mind, thinking it to be a cathartic release but I was wrong as it made me more depressed.
Is she mocking me? Is she picking a fight with me? I shook my head and said, "I can't help you." She looked at me, blinking her big blue eyes and pouting, "Only this time, Tara. Please!"Seeing her like this, I couldn't decline. "Alright." Not wasting a single minute, I looked at my patient's medical file.I was immersed in perusing the files when someone stood in front of my table, casting a shadow on the file I was reading. I looked up and my mood darkened. "What are you doing here?" "Tara, let's talk," I was irritated to hear his voice. "There's nothing to talk about, Andrei," I went back reading the file but Andrei placed his big hand over it. "Can't you see, I'm working?" I was clenching my fist at this time, controlling myself as I wanted to yell at him."She has lupus. She didn't want to let me know about the child but she had no c
I froze at my son's request. "Daddy, kiss mommy," he repeated. I looked at Sandra and she was blushing. Her long thick eyelashes fluttered. Then, looking back at my son, staring at me with his eyes, clear and big with much anticipation. My eyes went back to Sandra and she was still looking at me. I leaned forward and gave Sandrei back to her and I strode towards my bodyguard. "Get another car for me," I instructed before turning to look at Sandra. "Get in the car," I said flatly.Even if no one was looking at us, I will never betray my wife. She was already hurt seeing Sandra leaning on my shoulder though it was an accident.The driver looked at me for instruction."Drive them to Cardem Woods," I said.Sandrei was calling for me but I didn't pay attention. I will not let him go in between me and Tara. I have h
Tara's POVMy shift had ended a long ago but I was having second thoughts going home. My heart couldn't take it seeing the woman whom my husband had s"x*al relations with, even if it was in the past. I could accept the child being with us but not the woman. It was just that seeing her my mind would picture how Andrei touched her. And that's the reason I couldn't let Andrei touch me. After hours of debating, I eventually went home. The house was dimly lit and there was no one in the huge and lavish living room. The butler came near and helped me take my trench coat as autumn season brought along heavy rains. "Where's Mr. Kanovski?" I saw the shock look of Jefferson because whenever I ask him about Andrei I always use husband. Hearing me address Andrei, Mr. Kanovski spoke volumes. Signifying that our marriage was in a dire situation. "Sir, took the woman and the chil
Without delay, Andrei with his assistant flew to Ursana so as not to arouse suspicion and made it look like he went to Ursana for a business trip. He conducted business meetings with potential business partners while he waited for the paternity test.He didn't want to underestimate Sandra as there might be someone powerful behind her. "Who was behind her?" I asked Andrei as I was intrigued who instigated Sandra to create trouble in our lives. "No one was supporting her. She overheard from someone in the hospital that you and I were trying to get pregnant to no avail and I was desperate to have a child. That's when her dormant greed for status, power and money came to life," Andrei answered and his nose flared with anger."What did you do to the person who forged the result?" I asked while I stroked his tense back. "Fired him," he said.Andrei seemed to be ruthless but he doesn't use
Andrei was sensitive enough to notice my uneasiness. He took me in his arms and cooed. "Relax, baby." But no matter how he cooed, my nervousness wouldn't let up. The elevator dinged an indication that we reached our floor destination. "Sir, Ms. Heineken, President Heineken's daughter, is already waiting at your office," Morgan, Andrei's assistant, said as soon as he was near us. Andrei held my hand and we walked into his office. My eyes grew wide at the grandeur of his office but before I could take time to have an in - depth admiration of his office a beautiful and voluptuous woman sashayed towards us. Her hips swayed in a seductive manner at each step she made. "Andrei," her sultry voice resulting in goosebumps all over my body.She looked at my husband as if she would eat him whole. By instinct, I knew this woman's intention was. No wonder why I was nervous. Someone had se
Andrea Wilkin’s POV The garden was filled with laughter as my kids, my siblings' kids and cousins' kids were running about the garden. Today is my dad’s sixtieth birthday. My siblings and I organized this surprise birthday party for him. “Are they coming?” My brother Austin asked while cradling his third child. “Yes, mom sent me a text an hour ago that they’re preparing,” I replied. “Kirsten is blessed to have you, Austin,” I said, smiling. Austin and Nicholas are like our dad, they are hands on dad. My phone rang as Austin was about to respond. Before I answered the call, I signaled at everyone to keep quiet and they cooperated, not wanting to ruin the surprise. “Mom?” I whispered. “Andrea, your dad is asking me where we are going and the reason we are going out. What should I tell him?” I chuckled. It’s really hard for mom because dad could see through her. It’s really hard to surprise him. “Just tell him that you wanted to have a date with him,” I suggested.
“Congratulations!” Evan gave me a manly tap on the shoulder. Tara had just finished feeding our baby and laid her on the baby cot when he and Trixie came in. “Oh, so beautiful,” Trixie cooed. “What is her name?” Evan asked while looking at my sleeping daughter. “Andrea,” Tara answered and I looked at her in surprise. “You don’t like it?” she squinted her eyes. “I’m happy, babe,” I hugged her, smiling from ear to ear. Naming our daughter after my name was one of her ways of showing how much she loves me. This woman truly amazes me. Despite all the pain she has gone through since we got married she always finds ways to express her love for me. She loves me no matter what. ***The following day, the DNA test result was out. The result has proven that Tara was the great granddaughter of Marcus Reinsterd the Duke of Clorgow. Tara’s grandfather released a statement that Tara is his great granddaughter, the daughter of his grandson the son of his son, Lincoln. In his statement, t
I was like a cat on a tin roof waiting for my “great grandpa” which I was going to meet for the first time. “Don’t be nervous, babe. They can’t hurt you,” Andrei reassured me as he kissed the crown of my head and stroked my large belly. “Dad and mom, will be here, shortly,” as soon as he said that we heard hurried steps coming from the entrance of the mansion. Suzanna smiled at me reassuringly as she walked towards us. “All will be fine, darling,” Suzanna said as she stroked my back. Trevor layed a box and a file on the coffee table before me.“The box was what your grandma left for your father, while the file was your father's legal documents.” I looked up at Andrei and his smile gave me the needed strength for me to look into the box. One by one, I took out the content of the box. I took out the diary and read it. March 5[I was disowned and disinherited by my family because I chose to marry Lincoln Reinsterd. But it was worthwhile because we love each other.]June 1[All of
While I was brooding, the door burst open and I saw Courtney come in while the bodyguard was restraining her. I waved my hand, “Let her be.” “What are you doing here?” I tried not to let my annoyance seep through my voice. This woman saved me after all. “Mr. Hendrick, your surgeon is my friend and he discussed your leg injury with me.”“And?” I frowned. What does she have to do with my injury? “You didn’t look at the card I gave you?” she asked and her eyes darted at the side table. “I’m a physiotherapist,” she went on. She explained to me that I will have a greater chance to walk again if I undergo therapy. Tara’ POV“You can visit me, mom,” I told mom as she was crying when we were left alone in the room. She nodded and wiped her face with her handkerchief. “You take care of yourself, okay,” she said and kissed my forehead. “I will,” I said and we hugged for I don’t know how long. My brothers were in the living room looking solemn as they stood before the grand piano.
Jordan was at the door. “We are all waiting for you at the dining room,” he said and gave me a mischievous grin. I forgot, it’s Saturday today. When I came to Astrana, we all gathered together at the dining table at lunch time on Saturdays. Jordan was right as everybody was seated on their chair at the dining table when we came down. “Sorry for making you wait,” I said as Andrei drew a seat for me. “It’s alright,” Trevor answered, smiling at me. The sparkle in his eyes was more brilliant at this time. Is this because he was seeing his best friend in me? Suzanna told me that my biological dad was his best friend. One by one I looked at the faces of people I love as we were having lunch. My heart was filled with gratitude that I was blessed by God to have been surrounded by people I love and love me too. ***The day before we were leaving, I was hugging Andrei from behind as he was shaving his face. “Babe, we are leaving tomorrow night and I haven’t visited Hendrick in the hosp
I used my eyes to plead to Andrei and let me go to the hospital. Yes, I don’t see Hendrick as a lover, but he is my friend and I can’t just ignore him knowing that he is now in the hospital. “Let’s go,” Andrei said and I was relieved. I hugged him and said, “Thank you, babe.” “Get Johnny to drive for you,” mom said. Andrei embraced me as we traveled as I was tense. “Don’t get agitated. Think about our child.” “Mm,” I nodded and silently prayed that Hedrick would be fine and the surgery would go well. There was a woman who was waiting in the corridor in front of the surgery room. She might have heard our hurried steps and turned toward us. I was stunned as she was beautiful. My heart suddenly leaped with excitement. Finally, the one for Hendrick showed up. “Are you the girlfriend?” she asked when I was near her. Andrei slid his arm around my waist, silently telling her that she’s got it wrong.“I’m sorry, I thought you were because he has been calling your name. So I called
“Mm” I pounded his chest with my fists but Andrei seemed not to feel it. “You are disgusting!” I said as my palm connected with his face after letting go of my lips. His head turned sideways because I hit his face hard. He looked at me with teary eyes. “Can’t we come back to the way we used to be?” My heart clenched seeing the pain in his eyes. “Don’t you love me anymore, Tara?” I took a profound breath. He has to know. It’s immoral to continue in this relationship. “Andrei, Kristoff Kanovski is my father and he is your uncle. We are cousins. We are in an incestuous relationship. It’s immoral.” It was hard to say it, but it is the truth and we both need to be freed from this. “Let’s go, they are waiting for us in the living room,” Andrei moved out of the bathroom and I walked behind him. “What happened to your face, son?” I heard Suzanna.“Your son misbehaved so he reaped what he sowed,” Trevor said, chuckling.There was no available seat in the living room and was already
As if strong hands pulled me together. My strength came back all at once and I went to have a shower. “Tara, wait for me, I will come and get you and our child back,” I said. I was crying and smiling at the same time. I will not let Kavanaugh have her. If kneeling before her will gain her forgiveness and acceptance, I am more than willing to do it. I shaved my face as my beard and mustache had grown long. Tara didn’t like me growing my beard and mustache. She wanted my face smooth. I went down after getting dressed. “Are you leaving tonight for Astrana?” Dad already guessed what was on my mind. “Yes, I can’t wait to see her. We have been like this for months,” I shook my head, realizing the wasted time. “You should have asked me about it son,” dad patted my shoulder. “I was afraid you would have another heart attack that would kill you. I can’t bear seeing mom, lonely and crying,” I said with a sigh. It was the truth, I’d rather be sad than see my mom cry. “We will go with
I pursed my lips. “Tara, I will be here for you and the child,” Hendrick said. “What about your mom and dad? You left them for me?” Hendrick shook his head. “No, they came with me.” I remember that General Rossini and Eloise were Astranians. “Do they know the reason you left the military and went here?” I asked with wide eyes.“Yes they do,” Hendrick nodded his head with a smile. ***At night, I was in bed, and my mom came into my room. “Mom?” My mom sat on the side of the bed and I slid my body in the middle of the bed to give her space to sit. She got into the bed and she leaned on the headboard. “Don’t be afraid to accept the man, he truly loves you.” I looked up at her and said, protesting, “But mom.”“Sh… listen to me. It’s very important.” mom said and had me lay my head on her chest.“When I was young I had a boyfriend who came from a powerful family.” Mom paused for a while and sighed.“But his mother told me to leave him and I agreed. However, after agreeing to hi