CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR *My whole life is ruined because of a birthday gift!*"What?! what are you saying? That I can't walk?" Janice squealed in shock as tears glittered at the corners of her eyes. The Doctor waved a hand at her to calm her down. Her parents were around trying to comfort her as they attempted to pull her against them. "Don't get me wrong. It's not going to be for long. But for now, yes." He admitted quietly. "Is there anything else we can do doctor? I don't mind the medical expenses. Please spit it out." Mr Jordan turned imploring eyes to the doctor. Doctor Davies shook his head, ruefully. "I'm afraid not.""No way this is happening to me!" wailed Janice as she sobbed. "Oh no don't weep honey. We will take care of you. You will be fine." Mr Jordan muttered to her and stroked her cheek, using the pad of his thumb to wipe out the tears. "Shhhhhh..." crooned Isabella as she held her tight in her arms, kissing her hair. "But doctor... how long will she u
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE*This is real and not a dream. *"This is certainly no time for argument. Instead, let's focus our energy on other important things like your speedy recuperation." Isabella continued as she gave them both a stern look. She heaved a deep sigh. Her eyes softened as they roam over her daughter. "Honey... I understand how torn apart you're feeling right now. We are grieving with you and trust me, we terribly regret having forced all this on you. We didn't anticipate any of what happened today, but as life would have it, it did happen independently of what any of us had wished for you. But that doesn't eliminate or reduce our love for you."She leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead and then stroking her cheeks with her thumb she said calmly. "Do you trust us, Janice?" Janice's eyebrows rose diametrically. Why is her mother asking such a delicate question out of the blue? Her parents brought her to this world. they cared for her, nurtured her and gave her
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX *Is this the end for her? *It's been seven years since it happened. On her eighteenth birthday, everything changed and her life never remained the same. She never looked at the horse with that glitter in her eyes again. That sparkling delight and admiration in her eyes were suddenly replaced by fear and trauma darkening her eyes. After that incident that almost took her life but succeeded in rendering her immobile for six weeks. Initially, the doctor had predicted a month , which was four weeks, but sadly enough, four weeks gradually turned to six weeks. Hannah frequently visited her and kept her company in the house, rendering her warm comfort but it couldn't take her nagging pain in her chest, the trauma and terror of the day still maintained a hold in the dim recess in her head. Even till she became a full-fledged adult. Until Drake Hughen came into her life and everything changed. All the horse keepers that had come before him were all the same, incompete
CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN*Darkness engulfed her*"Jane!!!!!" the voice drowned in her ears as she crawled into total darkness. She opened her eyes, it was all pitch black. Devoid of life. Devoid of emotion. Devoid of memories. Devoid of hope. Just stark darkness. Where is she? She was floating in the dark as if she was drowning underneath the deepest part of the ocean. She couldn't see a thing. As if she was staring into the dark space mirroring her consciousness. What is this weird feeling in her chest? She felt strange as if she was not herself. Oh no! Could it be she already died and was in the afterlife? In other words, is she already a ghost? Instinctively, she touched her face, part of her was expecting her hand to pass through her face, but it was cold. Like death. Her breath hitched in her throat. But she could feel her face, she could touch it. Which means, she's not a ghost. She swallowed hard. What the hell is happening to her? Where the fuck is she? Okay
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT *this is all her fault! *A chill spiked through her body when his endearing, husky voice registered in her head. She turned slowly and came face to face with him. He is alright! She breathed out in relief but it was short-lived when her eyes locked on the slung, supporting his arm, hung around his neck. Her hazel eyes dilated in shock and alarm she began to sputter. "W-What the hell happened to you!" she shrieked. She touched her throat. Oh, she can speak again. She would be more concerned as to what the actual fuck happened to her but Drake is hurt! And maybe she's the one to be blamed for it. But first, what really happened? His explanation should help clear the air and hopefully, bring her back to her senses. She swallowed thickly. He chuckled. Her spine bristled mildly. Is this supposed to be funny? She's going bunkers for fuck's sake! "He came right just in time to save you from the fall. As a result, his arm was injured. I'm glad you're a
CHAPTER NINETY-NINE *You got to be kidding me! *Like a hungry animal, I tore the flesh of meat from the bones in rapid seconds and gobbled them down. The oily seasoning smudged her cheeks but she didn't care. She was starving! Her father, noticing, the smear on her cheeks, brought out a neatly folded napkin and gently brush off the stain from her cheeks. "There you go. Eat up." he crooned with a wide grin on his face. He cocked his head to Drake and gestured for him to take his seat and join them. He did just that. Dusk was falling rapidly as the sky cast unremitting darkness. The stars sparkled in the dusky sky. "Thank you, sir," He said. He pulled the chair to his side and slumped into it, grimacing in pain as he did so. Janice did not fail to notice and she immediately felt a pang of guilt as she watched him from the corner of her eyes. The barbecue chicken was served to them. Muttering thanks to James, he used his free hand to take a chunk of chicken and began munchi
CHAPTER HUNDRED *Her deranged and confused thoughts were all she knew*"You were what? I'm not sure I caught that." Her father asked, staring into her soul, his brows marred with curiosity and worry. Drake still maintained the indecipherable demeanour. Great! She made it too obvious that she was hiding something. But this time, she will keep it so. A part of her would want to share the creepy experience she had while she was unconscious but she had no idea where in the entire realm of the earth she was lurking. It was total darkness, devoid of life and form. She was just floating aimlessly in the darkness, with no sense of direction and meaning. She was battling with her inner self, her deranged and confused thoughts were all she knew. Did she perhaps die and come back to life without the two of them knowing? Now, that's a ludicrous assumption. No way that is true. Absolutely no way! She is herself, alive and whole. Whatever the crap that was... Was not real. She was t
CHAPTER HUNDRED -ONE *If wishes were horses... *She turned to leave but hesitated as she snuck one final glance at Drake. He ignored her as he focused on devouring the roast chicken before him. Hmmm. He didn't even give a damn about her? What an asshole! Like she gives a fuck! Oh damn right she does but what the hell?Countless guys are more than willing to grovel before her and lick her feet but this so-called horse keeper is ignoring her entire existence like she didn't mean a single thing! Fuck! She feels insulted and spat upon! How embarrassing, seeking his validation and affection. What had come over her? She wasn't like this before! She would always get what she wants and when she wants it. If it's a good fuck, they are plenty of eligible, handsome and very rich men out there that are dying for her company. But she ignored them and instead sought this asshole's attention like a swoony little school girl that is in love. Shit! She needs a brain reset operation do
*To forever and beyond…*The day of the trial had arrived, and it felt as though the world held its breath. The courtroom was filled with journalists, spectators, and photographers positioned on all corners of the courtroom doors waiting. They were all here for the same purpose: the moment the world would witness as justice decided the fate of Mr. Jordan. In other words, the downfall of the Jordans.The courtroom was so unnervingly quiet that you could hear a pin drop as every creak of a bench and every rustle of paper lingered in the tense air.Janice Jordan sat at the front with Finn beside her. Her uncle came with some family members and they sat behind the pew. Janice’s hands trembled in her lap, fingers clasped so tightly together that her knuckles turned white. She glanced at Finn beside her, his jaw set, gaze fixed on the judge as if nothing else existed. This was heavy for him especially but at last he would witness the final judgment and hopefully get the justice his late f
*He had to bear the consequences of his actions.*Janice sat in an uneasy silence, staring out the window as the news sank in, each word settling into her mind like stones dropped into water.She could hardly believe her ears. Her father has been arrested?! This was the first time such news would reach her ears. The mighty Jordan was arrested?!"Janice? This isn't the time to space out!" Finn's voice yanked her out of her reverie. She blinked repeatedly as her brain was still processing this whole unexpected turn out of events. She gulped. "What's going to happen to him, I-I don't even know what to say. He's the only family I've got, Finn," her words barely squeak out of her lips."Unfortunately, it may be nothing good, Janice. This is the moment of truth, and justice must not only be done but it must be seen to be done." A cold shiver pricked against her skin like goosebumps. As much as she tried to ignore it, it was the hard truth. Her father had done horrible things in the pa
*Was this the end of the line for the mighty Jordan family?* "Janice, I'm so sorry you had to go through this alone, " Finn said, pulling her towards him for a long hug as he stroked her hair. Janice broke into tears, sobbing as her body shook with the weight of losing a child, a part of her that she wasn't fortunate to bring into the world. She sniffed and muffled against his chest, "I didn't mean to hide this from you, Finn. This is shocking news to me as well." "It's alright, sweetheart." He said gently as he continued to stroke her hair. Then he broke the embrace and cradled her wet face in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me, Janice," he wiped her tears with his thumb. His heart tightened seeing her like this. "I promise I will wipe the tears off your face. We can always make another one." She momentarily stopped crying and looked at him wide-eyed. "You didn't even ask if that child is yours, Finn." He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't
Chapter Three Hundred and Thirty*The unexpected and Sad Revelation*Finn's (once Drake but will be called his real name henceforth)hammered as he paced the narrow room with the burner phone clutched tightly in his right hand and his left hand frantically raking through his sandy brown hair.Every creak of the floor, every rustle outside the window, seemed like it could be Fergus’s men clawing closer.They were running out of time.With the government closing in and Fergus’s rage nearly tangible, Finn knew their only chance was to reach out to someone who could help them disappear. His father’s old friend, Yamato—a man, both feared and revered, a former militant from Japan who had once pledged his loyalty to the family.Yamato listened in silence, his deep breaths echoing through the line. Then, without a word of question or reprimand, he simply said, “Be ready. I will take care of the arrangements.”A wave of relief coursed through Finn's body at once. His father had been right af
Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Nine*My real name is Finn Orwells and not Drake Hughen.*He knew of one place Fergus wouldn't dare to look.The drive to his special hideout was unbearable, long, and tedious. It was a rocky path in the thick of the forest but close to a river bank. He usually came here when he needed some privacy from the Jordans and planned his next revenge move. But right now, the reverse was the case. How ironic did things turn out to be? He was literally bringing his arch enemy's daughter to his secret hideout, away from the hawk eyes of his evil brother-the person he was supposed to be working alongside.Well, things had changed. Maybe he had changed, too.But right now... he had a purpose.He glanced at the passenger's seat, where Janice was sitting quietly. Apparently, she was still shaken by everything that had unfolded. Poor woman... He had to protect her even from his own family.I'm so sorry, Mother....but I think I broke the rule.He gulped. I had fallen
*At any rate, he must save Janice.*The heel of his boots pounding in her stomach sent her to the floor, retching and wheezing with her heart in her throat, threatening to explode. A crushing pain seared through her chest. She sprawled on the ground, with her eyes shut tight, gasping for air desperately. The blindfold was restricting her vision, so she couldn't see who it was, but she could feel the extreme coldness exuding from his presence. "Let's try again, shall we, darling. And this time I won't go easy on you. I suggest you answer my questions if you want to leave here in one piece and see your asshole of a father!" the menacing raspy voice roared across the empty room. The man cocked his head to the two huge guys in black and at once they heaved her roughly to the chair and tied her hands and legs to the chair. The sound of the cocked gun jolted a shiver down her spine. He took long strides towards her and trailed the gun around her exposed chest, her buttons had come undon
*He must save Janice no matter what!*"What do you mean you haven't seen her?!" Mr Jordan bellowed through the phone, his hands trembling badly."You need to calm down, Mr Jordan. Remember, this is bad for your health. I will be at the shortly. " Matt spoke as calmly as possible through the phone."Calm down? What if something happened to her, Matt?! You were supposed to take care of her and now..." He paused, taking a sharp breath as he rubbed his temples frantically to ease the tension building up inside of me.Where on earth was his precious daughter? What could have happened to her?"Please, exercise some patience, Mr Jordan, while I wait for the construction team to help me remove my door. As I explained to you, Janice just stormed out of the house and locked me inside because she took the remote with her. She must have been in a hurry or something. I think maybe she's at her best friend's house, Hannah."Mr Jordan's eyes lit up.That may be true....who else will Janice be wi
She was super excited and relieved to see Drake coming to her rescue. Tears of relief etched at the corner of her eyes. He came for her! He must have sensed that I was in danger! But how did he know where to find me....? She pondered silently as she arched a brow at him curiously. "Drake! How did you know that I'm here?" She quizzed.He shrugged, winking at her."I just know, Janice. Now come one before Matt comes out!" He urged, waving her over.Her heart jumped at the mention of Matt. That monster! She never wants to be around him ever again! For now, she has been rescued, and she can safely go home and put this whole marriage behind her.Luckily, she has the videotape as evidence to nail Matt on the cross and call off the engagement. She rushed to the car and opened the passenger's door in the front seat and settled on it, jamming the shut quickly.For now, she will have to ask questions later."You good, Janice? I hope he didn't hurt you in there?" Drake asked, although his
*...if it wasn't Drake, then I would rather not love at all.* Damn it! Matt found out already? How did he even know about this? I thought he wasn't aware of it. What do you mean, Janice? Of course, Matt had been watching you non-stop! Only a fool wouldn't be aware of the deep connection that exists between you and Drake. At this point, I wouldn't even be surprised if the maids knew as well. The voice in her head taunted her. She bit her bottom lip frantically, trying to rein in the turbulent thoughts writhing inside of her head. She had to act cool and unbothered. Pretend as if you didn't know what he was saying, Janice. Act cool and get the hell out of here! The voice rang inside my head again like a Belfry. She sucked in several deep breaths and looked up at Matt intently, a smirk curling up her lips. "I have no idea what's you babbling about, Matt," she snapped, feigning ignorance. Matt scoffed, shaking his head. "Stop lying, Janice. It's too obvious! I'm not a