Zayden's POVSaying I am happy sounds like an understatement. I am over the moon and I feel fulfilled. Even though I know my father will think I won because of him and Julian, I am going to prove them wrong. Their help didn't take me anywhere. Justine prevailed. I won and Damien lost.After presenting my speech and appreciation to the people who stood by me, I was given another standing ovation. I didn't mention my father and I did that on purpose. I only mentioned the one absent person but I was sure she was watching my success from home.My mother! She stood by me, she sacrificed a lot for me to be where I am today.Even without her legs, she supported me and gave me strength. When I want to give up, she is the one I always run to, she gives me a shoulder to lean on and she keeps telling me my success is close at hand. Here I am, the richest billionaire in New York.I wanted to acknowledge Daisy-Belle too for telling me to believe in myself when I thought I was not going to be th
Tessa's POVI am a strong woman and I won't let anything break me down, not even Zayden. After crying for a while at home, I decided to come to see things for myself and here I am. I reapplied my makeup and asked the driver to drive me to the party with Zoe who was looking at me with pity. I don't need any pity. Zayden has just trampled upon me and I am going to deal with the idiot, I no longer care if he is the man I love or not.I am no longer here in the event because of Zayden, he is no longer the reason why I am here. I am here to satisfy my curiosity, I want to see the girl Zayden brought to the party in place of me. I want to see the person that took my place. I want to see how worthy she is. I want to see who she is and what she is.That will determine my next line of action.I ask the driver to drop me off at a little distance away from the entrance and I take bold steps out of the car when it comes to a stop. I didn't wait for Zoe before walking to the back of the hall. I
Belle's POVAfter Zayden left, I sit quietly taking into consideration the warnings he pointed out to me on our way here. I don't want to get on his bad side and get him angry on a day like this. I want to stay put and wait till he is back, hoping the meeting with his father won't turn out bad.There are few people left in the hall now and everyone seems to be chatting with other people. The people on the dance floor have stopped dancing and the music is off. I can see some people going to the buffet to get their food. My stomach rumbles at the instant and I shut my eyes to ward my hunger off. I can't eat without Zayden here. I feel unprotected without him here and I feel everyone seems to be looking at me, those I know and even those that I don't know.They must be wondering what the billionaire's bride is doing all alone. I am hoping Zayden will be back soon because of how awkward I am sitting and looking around. Despite my hunger, I still stay put. I am willing to wait for him to
Tessa's POVMy replacement is a beauty to behold. But she is nowhere as beautiful as I am, I know this. I can see the way she was staring at me with admiration when I first appeared in front of her before she replaced the admiration with a nonchalant attitude.She is nowhere as sophisticated as I am and that relieved me a bit. I thought Zayden will go for someone better than me in all ramifications, someone more sophisticated and classic but here she is, nobody.I can see how she is finding it difficult to ignore me like I don't exist, I can see how she is trying to sip her wine like the elite that she isn't, I can see how difficult she is trying to play along and I am glad that my presence is making her uncomfortable.It is quite obvious that she knows who I am already and what I am to Zayden. Whether Zayden gets married to her will not change anything between us. Zayden will still be mine. I am sure he is getting married to her for a reason. I am trying hard to let go of the fact th
THREE WEEKS AFTERBelle's POVI wish this isn't a facade. I hope this is real. Me in my wedding dress, sitting in front of the mirror, admiring being a beautiful bride and patiently waiting for the time to go say yes to the man of my dreams. But this is the total opposite, I am admiring myself right now but I don't admire the type of life I am living. I don't like the fact that I am getting married today to a man I don't love and who doesn't love me. I like Zayden for being a strong, hardworking man and for being the father of my baby but I also dislike him a lot.Our wedding is going to be a small one in the church nearby the house. He suggested we move before the wedding but I told him I want to get married in the house where I grew up. Mother can move to the house he bought for us after the wedding, when I am already in his house.I know Zayden isn't proud of me. He isn't proud to call me his wife, what he did on the day of the award was just a show-off. If he is proud of me, we w
Damien's POVNever in my wildest dream have I ever imagined life to be this sorrowful for me and depressing. I feel like a real loser for once in a while. I have always rejoiced in the delight of being a winner in virtually everything I do, but I take rejection and failure the hard way. I beat myself up for whatever failure I get.Zayden knows this about me. I was always the guy with the grade A in mid-school but the year Zayden took A, I almost stopped being friends with him. I felt betrayed. I felt he took the position from me on purpose. I felt he did it to spite me. My mother said I was just being childish and I accepted after giving it several thoughts.Ever since the night of the award, I spend most of my days indoors. I am not ready to give up, I won't relent until I see Zayden down. I am drafting new plans to achieve my goals and my confidence is beginning to set in at this rate, I am just hoping it doesn't turn out bad the way the award saga turned out to be despite my confid
Tessa's POV"Zayden is married?" I open my mouth in disbelief. I can't believe he eventually married that low-life girl. I thought something will happen and he will realize she is not his type of girl but the message before me proves otherwise. "Congratulations, Zayden is married to Belle Gomez", it reads.Damien sent me the message. He has been calling me for half an hour now but I did not pick up his calls. He sent the message instead and I can't believe it.Is this a prank to make me pick his call? I ask myself but after waiting for some minutes for his call to come in and it didn't. Now I know the purpose of his call. He was calling to taunt me. To make a mockery of me by informing me of Zayden's marriage.I had no idea Zayden is married and I am still surprised by the news. How did Damien know when it is obvious that the wedding was a quiet one?Ever since the incident that happened on the award night, I have spent most of my time at home. I haven't gotten over all that happen
Zayden's POVI had a long day at work today. My work has increased ten folds now that I have new clients, new ideas that I want to work on before the year runs out. Ever since the award night, I have always signed a new deal almost every week. I now have a personal assistant because of the workload. My personal assistant and the secretary now help me in reducing the loads of work I have to work on every week before the arrival of new ones.I know I need a vacation but I can't go on one now. I have a lot to cover before then. I am also planning on launching my new innovative skill next week in Los Angeles. I have employed new workers for innovative ideas and they are really helping. I am also partnering with Madeline's steel manufacturing Industry and I have established a car company in Boston.I release my tie the moment I get out of the car. I heave a sigh of relief for being home after a long day. I am a bit early today unlike the other days of the week. I have been getting home ve
Belle's POV"Tessa Rodrigue has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the kidnap of the Billionaire's daughter, Lily Elizabeth Alvarez", the reporter states, and I heave a deep sigh. I feel a touch and I know instantly that it is Zayden."What are you thinking about?" He asks me after pecking my lips. He pulls me closer and puts off the television with the control. I am sitting in between his legs with his back on the headboard."Nothing", I whisper. I have just finished taking a bath and Zayden is also coming out of the bathroom. We have plans of going on a tour today. We are on a vacation to Paris and we are going to begin our tour today. We have been indoors for two days now, doing nothing other than playing games, cuddling in each other's arms, and having sex. Sex with Zayden is amazing and I love every moment of it. I love my life now and I am hoping it will last forever."Are you sure?" He bites my earlobe softly, with his hands on my chest. "Zayden?" I take his hands off an
Zayden's POVMy family is complete now and my joy knows no bounds. It is as if the kidnap never happened. Sometimes, I feel like spending the whole day watching Lily play, sleep or giggle, but I can't do that all day. I realize Lily only has my eyes but she has a striking resemblance with her mother.Belle and I had gone out this morning to visit Tony and I wanted Lily and her nanny to come with us but Belle protested. Tony was surprised to see us but he invited us in anyway. I have no idea why I followed Belle until I got there. Tony was truly hurt and I realized a man like that can do anything.I apologized to him for my behavior the other day and explained things to Tony. I didn't want him to see Belle as a bad woman so I told him I was the one who gave her the right to date other men while we were married. It was after she began to go out with him that it dawned on me that I might lose Belle to him and I didn't want it because I loved her and I had refused to admit it to myself
Tessa's POV"Where the hell have you been?" my father burst into my room, startling me. I am sitting on the stool writing something down in my diary. I quickly close it and stand to face him."I've been indoors", I tell him."You've been indoors? I came here this morning but you were nowhere to be found." I am silent. I don't know what other excuse to give. It is apparent he won't believe me, I have been caught red-handed.He strolls close to me and slaps my face. "You shameless girl!" my mother burst in immediately with a gasp. She must have been outside, scared of coming in to intervene but my father's slap prompted her to come in.My cheeks hurt and I close my eyes to shut the pain. "Who is responsible for the bastard you are carrying?" he thunders. My head is bent and I can't even look up at him in the face to see the disappointment. I have never felt this much regret before, no matter how bad my actions are but I regret this one. I regret wanting to become pregnant for Zayden,
Zayden's POV"I'm going with you, Zayden", Belle pulls my hand as Tristan and I get to the pavement. She kneels, begging me."No, Belle. You need to stay here and wait for us to be back", I peck her forehead."No, I want to go with you to see my baby", she begins to cry again and I sigh. "I don't want them to kill my baby.""Belle.........""I want to come with you so I can beg them to let my baby go. Please, Zayden", she sobs.I turn to face Tristan and he shakes his head."I promise we will be back soon", I kiss her lips and release her hand from mine before walking towards the car with Tristan, ignoring her cries. Natalie comes out immediately and helps her back inside with the help of Jodie."The presence of Tessa at your accident spot will ease everything, she is a suspect" Tristan informs me as we enter the car. Tristan is of the opinion that we take all the people I know can do such a thing as a suspect and not just one person. I feel Damien is capable and responsible and his
Zayden's POV"My baby!", Belle shouts as I enter the house. She runs out of the car before I can even park the car well in the driveway.I run after her and barge into the house. I just hope she won't hurt herself. I wonder where Tristan was when it happened.Who could it be? Is it Damien?I know Damien isn't the only enemy I have. He isn't the only person I am holding grudges against. Apart from Damien, Tessa is there also and my father. I remember Tony and I wonder if he is capable of doing this to get back at Belle for deceiving him.By the time I enter, Belle is already on the floor in the living room. We shouldn't have spent a week at my villa, we planned to spend just three days, if we had come back on time, maybe this wouldn't have happened."How did it happen, Natalie?" I ask her with my hands on my waist."I heard gunshots in the early hours of this morning and came out to check if all the doors are closed when I saw two men dragging Tania out with the baby. They had her mout
Tessa's POVI don't know how I got here and what happened. I groan and sit upright to find myself in a hospital bed. My mother is right beside me, dozing off. What the hell happened? I look around.Was I able to achieve my aim? The last thing I can remember is that I was on my way to Zayden's mansion. What happened afterward? Why am I here?My mother opens her eyes and smiles weakly before holding my hand."What happened? Why am I here?" I ask her? I can't be trapped here, I need to go and do what I intend to do before it's too late. I need to go there before Damien. "You lost consciousness all of a sudden", she informed me."Lost consciousness?" I furrow my brows. "How?" I only remember I was driving.She looks away with a sad expression and I become curious to know what is happening."What happened?""Tell me who is responsible", she uttered softly, holding my hand more firmly. "Your father is mad at you.""Responsible?" I ask, putting my feet down. I want to be out of here.She d
Zayden's POVThis is all my fault, I pushed her into the arms of another man. I rejected what she was offering me, her heart and she went in search of someone who would take it gladly. I didn't realize the kind of pure heart Belle has until now, I didn't realize the kind of woman she is until now.Despite her broken heart, she kept pushing to gain entrance into my heart but I kept shoving her back, making her feel rejected and unwanted. This is all my fault but I don't know if I can survive losing her. She is the reason I survived this accident in the first place. I remember the man that pushed me, he kept telling me to go back to Belle.I know I am a bad person, if only I am good, I would have told Belle to go back to Tony and accept his proposal so they can be happy together but I am not good. I am selfish and I want to be selfish till the end, I can't let her go.I pull her to me in an embrace. "It's ok. Everything is ok and fine.""He broke up with me already, we are done", she s
Belle's POV"Home sweet home", I heave a sigh of relief as I help Zayden out of the car. The front door bursts open, Tania, Natalie, and the rest of the maids come out to welcome him. They bring out his belongings from the trunk of the car as we enter.Pamela, Richard, my mother, and Zayden's mother were at the hospital before he was discharged this afternoon. Zayden wouldn't allow his father in and the man left dejectedly. I pitied him.We began to pack after he left so we could leave the hospital. By the time we were done, it was already 7 pm. Zayden's mother gave me a sweet hug and my face broke into a smile."Thank you", she whispered into my ears. That gesture alone lifted the veil of guilt I have been wearing ever since the night of the accident and I began to feel proud of myself. I don't need anyone to tell me about Zayden anymore, I believe I know him enough now and whatever is left, I am going to figure it out on my own.We have been acting like normal couples. He said he r
Zayden's POV"Go back!" The voice thunders at me for the umpteenth time but I am adamant. I want to follow him to find my way back home. Why is he sending me away?He turns abruptly to see me following him. His white face suddenly becomes red and I know he is angry.I am doom."I said go back!" He shouts again.I shiver and look back. The place looks empty, there is nothing for me there but ahead of us are grasses full of life."No!" I say stubbornly, despite my apprehensions.He scowls at me, with his chest heaving up and down. He takes a step back and charges at me. "I said go back!" He screams pushing me down the hill with all his strength."No!" I scream. There is a sudden silence. My eyes are closed, my limbs are cold, my feet are stiff and my lips are tightly closed together. Where am I?Then I hear words that sound like whispers. I strain my ears to hear more and I hear them."Who is it?""It's Damien", another voice answers.Who are these people? Who is Damien? Where am I?