VERA'S POVI was dreaming about myself being chained up and thrown into a very deep hole when I sprang up, panting and sweating.I looked around and saw that I wasn't in my house. I'm in a familiar bed and the awful aura of the place I was has never left me ever since my last experience with the boss of the house and that made me become afraid.I rushed to the door and pushed it open. I still didn't feel a sense of freedom at all when I saw that nothing had changed about Kenneth's house.The memories of what happened last night came, but I don't remember what happened next after the person bent closer to me or how I ended up inside Ken's house.I concluded that they must've found me this morning and had given me first aid which seemed too generous for a man like Ken who doesn't care about anyone else's welfare.I knew better than to make the guards look at me with their horrible and scrutinizing eyes. I sneaked back inside, but left the door slightly open so I could see whoever decide
JACKSON'S POVI was going to ignore the news. I would have done that without minding the way people looked at me as I walked to the elevator.My workers and clients weren't left out. Some of them actually forget what they are supposed to be doing and only gape at me all day.The new year ended and things died down and life started moving at a slow and steady pace as if nothing was ever celebrated in just a matter of ten days.So the company is flooded with my workers, clients, and people looking for jobs. Of course it's the eleventh day of January and many applications have been submitted.I wasn't bothered by all of the changes at all. I was more concerned about the fact that I haven't heard from Vera and the cops have no good news about Monica and Timothy. I always stay idle, but my head is full because it's always occupied with so many thoughts. I would wonder if they are doing well and blame myself for everything that had happened.Many times, I jumped whenever my phone rang, expe
VERA'S POVI believed that Jack would comply with Kenneth to see that I am safe and sound, but I didn't know that he would actually appear in front of me.When I heard voices from the room I was locked in, I stood up and went to see what was going on outside through the keyhole.It took me a great deal to realize that Jack was the one pushing through over sixty armed men and yelling at them. My heart raced. What exactly was he thinking when he made the decision to come to the house of the prince of Wales, unarmed, reckless and untamed? For Pete's sake, it doesn't even look like he came with someone! Does he have plans to live again? Does he think that he could buy his life if he loses it or what? I did not realize I was crying until Monica opened the back door and came in to talk to me."What did you do to Jack? He's…" her voice trailed off as she shook her head in disbelief."He shouldn't have come here! He shouldn't comply so easily with Ken! He should be looking for us and not y
JACKSON'S POVI kept lamenting and blaming myself for everything. If I meant everything I'm saying, I would tell the driver to stop in front of Vera's house right there in New Orleans and ask her to go, but I couldn't do that.But that doesn't mean that I am not mad at her. Everything would have worked out fine if she hadn't left the hospital, and hadn't submitted herself to the enemy!She isn't to be blamed for her actions, she only wanted to escape from reality. I had taken another child away from her, and this time around she wasn't allowed to at least deliver the child safely before it was being taken away.I just hate myself for that! And now that I think about it, I have never been so afraid in my whole life like I was when Ken called me and said he captured her.As she sat quietly beside me, I only wanted to take her hand, plant a lingering kiss on her lips and assure her that I will do anything to protect her and no one would ever have to hurt her as long as I am alive.I want
VERA'S POVI knew he was waiting for me to talk to him, but I wasn't ready to say anything. I was wrong, I should have waited for him to help me like he promised.I complicated everything by leaving the hospital and ending up in the net of the enemy. Now Ken used me to cut his hard work off. He could have easily gotten a witness and defeated Ken in court and Malone would be with me.I lost again. I made the wrong decision again and I'm a liability to him. After all, he didn't push me intentionally and he was ready and willing to help me solve some of the problems in my life.I placed my head on his chest and laid down beside him. I knew that he wanted to hold me, touch me and caress my hair, but he's restraining because he's not sure about what I want.I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sound of swooshing wind, clapping waves of the water, the beat of his heart as his chest rose and fell against my cheek, and the silence of the night.I wouldn't mind if we stayed like that for the rest
JACKSON'S POVAll through the night, I watched her sleep in my arms after having sèx for the better part of the night, round after round, until she lost her breath and dissolved in my arms.That we were able to get home at all is a miracle because I don't know how we managed to do that while we couldn't get enough of each other.I couldn't sleep at all, I know why, there are many reasons. First, I'm afraid that if I close my eyes even for one second, she would disappear again.Second, I thought about how to win her battle and bring the victory, which is her son back to her. I pondered about how to be that kind of hero to her. Her knight in shining armor and more if possible.Third, I couldn't stop thinking about what Monica was up to by taking Timothy away and if I would be able to see them again. I will, but I must do something or maybe nothing about it at all.There are many more that occupy my mind and heart, so I watched her face as she peacefully enjoyed her sleep and gave me jus
VERA'S POVI watched Jack as he hastily ran towards his car and I knew he would go looking for me outside, so I intentionally opened and shut the bedroom door to get his attention back to the house.I'm sure that he heard the noise and that's why he suddenly ran back inside and upstairs to the bedroom where I stood laughing.He ran to me immediately and hugged me. I just stepped out of the shower so I was dripping wet, but he didn't mind that he's fully dressed."Fûck! Vera, don't do this again!" He swore, kissing my lips wildly."Easy, babe! I was just pulling your legs. I was in the shower when I heard you drive in and I decided to stay quietly in there and see what you would do! You didn't think about the bathroom?" I laughed throatily as I broke the kiss."Gosh! I didn't think about anything else but you… leaving… fûck it! I don't want you to ever prank me like this or leave again! Please?!" He pleaded, holding my hands."I will never do that again, I promise," I sealed the vow wi
WRITER'S POVMonica stepped down from her car and hesitated before entering the sitting room because she knew what everyone thought of her. Tim left Vera and went to hug his father too. Jack lifted him up into his arms and watched Monica as she walked into the parlor and sat down."Jack, I'm sorry for everything that has happened since you became sick. I have no better excuse for my actions, but I don't regret it anyway. These past years are the best moments of my life," Monica began, looking at both Vera and Jack."I just keep wondering what I did wrong, Monica. How you changed, why you are doing all of these things, what happened, I haven't stopped thinking, not once have I stopped thinking about it all," Jack shook his head.He sat down and carried Tim on his lap. Vera sat beside him and held his hand as they waited for her to explain her actions which they believed was what she was about to do."Tim, go to your room," Monica said, staring down at their entwined hands. "Okay, Mom
VERA'S POV If desperation was a person, it would be me as I came down from Jack's car, holding out my hands in front of me and careful not to miss a step and trip over. The fact that he had insisted on blindfolding and bringing me to God knows wherever he was taking me–claiming it was a surprise–sounded so cliche, but I couldn't stop my heart from fluttering in anticipation.It has been three months since our surreal kiss in the garden. The feeling that Monica was still alive–a. k. a. Monica had probably deceived us, or the man was trying to raise a false alarm, play with our emotions, and make money off Jack. Whatever it was–hung heavily over us. Malone's unacceptability still lingered; it hurt more to watch him become more of Kenneth than who I hoped he could become. Our fear of my capability to carry a child for nine months and birth without complications also made us restless. I sometimes find myself wallowing in self-doubt and trying to pretend I could do it since I had done i
JACKSON'S POV It was already late afternoon as I waited in my car at the park. I watched the figure walking toward my direction from the side mirror. The way he dressed and walked spoke volumes of someone who does dirty jobs for people for the money, the kind of man hired to go on deadly missions and trusted to do clean jobs without any trace back to his client.I have had my share of such men, but I work closely with only one private security company and have only used the company's cyber security and men. Though I do question their loyalty sometimes, that's what fuels my need to trust such people by risking it all or going through government agencies. And every businessman who has dangerous rivals knows which system always fails.I pressed a button beside the wheel to unlock the car doors for him to ease in. He looked around sharply before he folded himself into the passenger seat and lifted his black cap. He's dressed up in black from his cap to his shoes. With his long dark hair
WRITER'S POV Vera couldn't tell who trembled more, Hannah or herself, as she guided her into the house, and they sat on a leather-made bench in the kitchen. She had never seen her friend's house in disarray, no matter how determined her kids were at breaking, disarranging, and making a mess of things.Somehow, Hannah managed to be a good mother as she was a good wife who loved keeping everything tidy and in order. If the kids made a mess ten times, she cleaned it up twenty times without complaining about the stress but rather scolded them to be careful and not hurt themselves. What had gone wrong?When her sobs subsided, Vera heaved a sigh, and they both at the same time released each other. Their foreheads still pressed together, they looked at their hands and laughed at the realization that they were both shaking immensely. Vera's heart relaxed as their moods became lighter, her friend was still there, right behind her pain.Fifteen minutes later, they both sank into the couch in t
VERA'S POV I decided to drop by Hannah's house before heading to the hospital, but after I tried her phone too many times and she didn't answer, I had to go to the hospital first.She had never sounded so frantic before, and it chilled me to the bone that I couldn't contain the nauseous feeling as a form of reaction to my bewilderment.It was the first time Hannah and Oscar got in a fight. My favorite inspirational lovey-dovey couple fighting? It couldn't have been serious, but then, she wouldn't joke about such a thing!I called Dr Halmes office next and was certain that he was waiting for me before I made up my mind. I told Max to stay back and look after the boys, Timothy and Malone since Jack drove himself out and I didn't need a driver. My children meant more to me than my protection which Jack would have insisted upon, probably turned whiney, to make sure I allowed the driver to take me to wherever I wished to go.
JACKSON’S POVI rose to retrieve my phone from my pocket, partially relieved as I suddenly felt gawky in front of a lad. He is finding it hard to adapt and I wished that he would understand how much he was hurting his mother by acting in that manner. As I swiped my thumb across my phone's screen and saw the text that came in, I turned to look at Vera. There was no point reminding her that I still had to leave the house and not follow our plan for the day, so I told her that we would talk when I came back. Even though I had made up my mind to walk through the door and not stay for breakfast, her sickly face made my legs stay rooted to the floor.“You don't look well.” I reluctantly brushed strands of her hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear.“I'm going to be fine.” She turned away from me and went to the kitchen counter where canned juices waited.To say that she was going to be fine meant that she wasn't well, so I walked up to her and was about to get her to see the reason
VERA'S POV If I know Jack as much as I think I do the palms of my hands, then I know that he would be distracted and his train of thoughts would be shifted toward finding out if truly there is a Monica out there or not. How could he let himself be easily swayed by a mere random text from a stranger who, I might say, is supposedly looking for ways to fill his pocket after everything we have been through? How did I let myself think that it was over? Just when I thought that we had reached the pinnacle of happiness, a single text message from a strange number that kept calling his phone while we were screaming for release turned our world upside down again! Shattering every hope that I built in my dreams while in his arms! So much for a happy ending! “Yes, this is unbelievable! You're so unbelievable, Jack!” I climbed out of bed and hurriedly threw my robe on. The absurdity of the whole thing gave me a headache. Last night, my heart had flopped in pleasure, and this morning, in pa
WRITER'S POV Vera spent many nights brooding over her son. She didn't know how to make up for all the years wasted, but she wanted him to feel how much she loved him.He had accepted her and hugged her first but it was hard for him to start calling her Mummy.She felt the butterflies in her tummy come alive the first time he called her mummy following Timothy.She shared his room with him, and the first night he said he wanted to share Timothy's room instead was the night she finally went to spend the night with Jack, who seemed to have been suddenly forgotten by her."We'll have to rearrange the room for the boys if he's willing to share with Timothy." Jack offered happily after she told him."Thanks for everything, Jack. You made everything possible." She melted into his protective arms."I promise you that this profound happiness will never depart from your dazzling face again." He vowed, making her look into his eyes so he would see what he felt as he slid a ring into her finger
VERA'S POVJack agreed to stay in the hospital and complete his treatment until the doctor confirmed that he was healthy enough and good to go home.Natalie Bells was under detention in the police cell. Harry reported that she cried always and begged for forgiveness and freedom because she doesn't want to end up behind bars.Kenneth was awaiting trial and he's detained until the first hearing in court which I believe will send him to prison and he won't see the light of day ever again in his miserable life.The cops promised us that everything is under control and I shouldn't be afraid of moving and going about doing anything that I needed to do and my business.Jack wouldn't hear of me going back to stay in his mansion with Timothy. Even when his mother and sister offered to stay with us, he insisted that some policemen be sent to guard the building and also take us wherever we wanted to go.I understood his fears and I also felt safer being guarded even though it didn't seem neces
JACKSON'S POVThe first person I asked the nurse in my room about when I woke up and she helped me swallow some pàin kîllérs was Vera. When she told me that she hasn't checked up on me ever since the incident that happened at the parking lot, I instantly thought that she's very angry with me and won't ever want to see me again.When my mind got to how fast she reacts and acts up against me whenever I'm harsh towards her, especially her rash decisions and quick to get far away from me, I told the nurse that I wanted to see her."Your stubbornness is the next level. I already told you that she went to see Mr. Nathan and I know that she will come to you if she learns that you are awake." She shook her head."Are you taking these things off or should I help you do your job now? I'm not going to try to run this time, I just want to talk to her before she…" I stopped and blew out a breath."Okay, fine! Thank God the cops are right out there because I won't hesitate to have you tied to this