"Mom sent it for you," Shanice dropped the package in front of Serena before taking her seat in the chair. It looked like an ointment with something "Ayurvedic remedy" written over the package. "She said it will speed up your recovery. Use it before going to sleep," Shanice smiled warmly at her. The mention of Mrs. Cooper brought a smile to Serena's face. When she had told the kind-hearted woman about her sprained ankle yesterday, she had not expected her to go out of her way to send ointment for her. She was thoughtful and compassionate just like her husband. "I'll thank her personally," Serena said while picking up the tube. "Mom was all about how I made the best decision of staying here with you. I tell you if she could, she would have replaced you with me," Shanice remarked with her dramatic hand gestures. Serena let out a bark of laughter. "She also said......" Shanice trailed off hesitantly, letting the sentence hang in the air. Serena was intrigued."What she said?" Seren
"Hey," Serena greeted Asher as he entered through the door. Asher responded with an exhausted smile."Tired?' Serena questioned, feeling sorry for her dear husband. Running a multinational company is no child's play. "A little," Asher sighed while dropping his bag to the chair. Serena opened her arms to him and he responded by climbing on the bed and lying over her, careful not to hurt her ankle. He buried his face in the valley of her chest and breathed deeply. Caged in each other's embrace, a sense of serenity settled deep into their bones. Smiling, Serena slipped her fingers into his hair and started sliding them through the thick waves of his locks. Asher sighed in satisfaction, loosening more. "Don't stop, sweetheart," the vibration in his voice danced through her like licks of fire. "If you dare to sleep on me again, I'll throw you off the bed," Serena warned, the threat absent in her tone. He snuggled deeper, smiling at her warning. He had developed this habit of sleepin
"Surrogacy?" Asher lifted his face from her neck to look at her. His brows knitted in confusion."Yes," Serena replied, eager to know his opinion on the subject. "Why? We are trying, ain't we?" he asked, not able to understand why she was suddenly thinking about surrogacy. "We have been trying for six years but nothing has happened till now. We've done everything we could from medicine to surgeries but nothing has worked till now. The doctor says to hold onto hope and keep trying but for how long? I try to stay positive but..but I can't when we are failing each time. What if I never conceived? What if I failed to give you an heir?" a sheen of tears glistened in her eyes as she asked in a hopeless voice. Asher felt his heart tearing at the sight of her breaking down like this. He cupped her face, making her look into his eyes."Just because it didn't happen in six years, doesn't mean it won't happen ever. We just have to keep our faith and try," Asher reassured her while feeling his
"You ready to go?" Serena asked Shanice as she descended her way down the stairs. Shanice answered in agreement. Serena's eyes instinctively drew to the bracelet Shanice was wearing on her left wrist. It was a pretty. She squinted at it. It also looked familiar. "Where did you get it from?" Serena asked, finding herself strangely curious about this bracelet. "Ohh, it's a gift. A very special gift. I got it in high school. You don't remember?" Shanice jogged Serena's memory. Serena shook her head when the memory suddenly hit her. She wouldn't have recalled it if not for these tiny silver lotuses carved on it. Also, this bracelet had one suspense attached to it. "Yeah....wasn't it from one of your exes? Come to think of it, you never introduced us to him. Who was it?" Serena asked nonchalantly. She remmebered the suspense about this boy in their group was huge. Shanice had told them about some guy she was dating in their last year of high school but was tight-lipped about his i
Serena decided to drop by Asher's office while on her way to the hospital. "Good evening, Ma'am," everyone she passed by, bowed to her in reverence. The receptionist leaped to her feet when she saw her approaching. "Good evening, Ma'am," the receptionist greeted her in a warm voice. "Good evening, Claire. Is he available right now?" Serena asked, giving the receptionist a fond smile. She hadn't informed Asher about her visit. The plan was made in the car only. "Yes," the receptionist replied. Serena made her way towards his office. She opened the door only to find her man in a meeting with some other men. The room was dim-lit and the projector was on. The man explaining whatever was written on the project paused at the noise of the door opening. Silence filled in. Everyone's head snapped in her direction.Serena felt awkward, realising she had just interrupted a meeting. Why did the receptionist said he was free then? The light flooded the room an instant later. Asher swiftly
Shanice struggled to free her feet from Iron cuffs but to no avail. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Cold dread coiled in the pit of her stomach as her instincts told her she was in danger. Her gaze snapped to Asher who was watching her from afar with a neutral face. Perched on a red couch, he exuded an air of menace that made Shanice's heart pound with anxiety. The atmosphere around him was thick with hostility, turning up the temperature of the room into an inferno of hellfire. Cold ire burned beneath his calm, tranquil orbs."Why am I here?" Shanice demanded, her voice edged with apprehension. The desperation to escape this place grew stronger when she looked into his dark, soulless eyes. "My wife...," the menacing intonation of his voice thundered in the quiet room, setting her nerves on edge. His icy glare pinning her to the spot."...is my life..." he rose to his feet, his bearing regal and full of authority. Casually slipping his hands into his pockets, he advanced towar
"Why are you.... I am not a threat..why are you so hell-bent on seeing me as one? Serena is my best friend and I would never even dream of hurting her...please, stop it," Shanice cried out as though deeply hurt by his words. Even at the door of death, she was lying smoothly. Asher clenched his jaw. Seven years is enough for anyone to change. He had expected her to change too for if he can change then anyone can. But this woman was a liar back then and she is still a liar. "Why did you tell her about fly board?" he demanded, stabbing her with a withering glare. He couldn't even bring himself to say their first kiss, that disgusted he was with himself for kissing someone other than Serena. It was after kissing Serena, he came to the euphoric realization that his lips belonged to her along with every cell of his being. Shanice's eyes turned wide in realisation. "I..I they were talking about memorable kiss...I told mine..please, stop it ..please," she begged, throwing a fearful glan
"What?' Serena asked, not sure she heard right. Shanice averted her gaze to the window and sighed out as though preparing herself to speak further. After a moment she turned her eyes back on Serena, a sympathetic look in her red-rimmed eyes. She reached over the table and took her hand in hers. "I can see how much having a baby means to you, Ren. You can fool the whole world with your fake smile but not me. I can clearly see the sadness lurking behind your eyes. And your sadness saddens me. Motherhood is the biggest blessing for a woman and I don't know why God chose to not give it to you. I know it in my heart, Ren, that you will be an amazing mother and you deserve all the happiness in the world. And if I can..if I can help you in any way then I won't back off. I am ready to lend you my womb," her words conveyed conviction and sincerity. Serena was still not able to process her proposal Shanice had sprung on her all of a sudden. "I don't......I don't think it's a good idea," Se