CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY *She must be prepared to fight for what she wants. There's no two ways about that*. Drake made sure the horses were calm before he sprinted towards Matt and hunched down to offer him support as he struggled to raise to his feet. "You alright?" Drake said calmly with concern furrowing his brows. Matt however swatted Drake's supporting hand off his back, an icy stare on his face. "I don't need your help. I can walk by myself... This was nothing." He said smugly as he clambered to his feet and started teetering on wobbly knees, almost falling face down. In a swift movement, Drake reached for his arm to steady him but struggled to wrench free. "Will you quit acting like a child Matt? Drake obviously trying to help. Maybe if you had listened to him earlier, this would not have happened." Janice hissed at him... She puffed out an exasperated breath and rolled her eyes. She can never understand what Matt is fighting so hard for. If it's her love, then
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-ONE *I still don't trust him anyway.*"Do you like her?" Matt's sudden question threw him into an internal frenzy. They already rounded off the corner that led to his cabin and now, his cabin was in view. Why the hell was he asking this question all of a sudden?! Act natural!! His throat quickly worked on a swallow. He cleared his throat weakly. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean?" Drake peered at him, feigning surprise as they tottered to his cabin. Matt chuckled weakly, fearing the pain in his side might get worse if he cackled. "It's just a harmless question, Drake. Do you like Janice? I won't bite or say anything to her I can assure you of that not even her father. It's just between me and you." Quit it already Matt. You won't get the answers from me and whatever you may be plotting, ain't gonna work. He was just here for the job and nothing more or nothing less. He forced a tight-lipped smile as he turned to face his searching ey
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-TWO *He must tell her the truth.*"I can't believe at the entire time you stood me up, Dad!" Janice hollered as they entered the house. She tossed her shades unto the couch. "I thought you said it was going to be a family get-together. What's changed?!" Mr. Jordan shook his head. "Nothing changed. We had a great time together didn't we darling?" "of course, not Dad! The entire time you left me with Matt. Was that your plan all along? You, Mr Castle, and Matt probably Connive at my back. " Mr Jordan shrugged, feigning ignorance. "You are misinterpreting the whole situation and your judgment is clouded by your hatred for Matt. We just wanna have a good time. And Matt suggested the both of you go horse riding and my friend and I didn't want to interfere. Sometimes it's best to leave the youth alone to catch up." He grinned at her. Janice scoffed, rolling her eyes so much that they almost popped out of her head. "You have got to be kidding me, Da
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-THREE*Please, God... I don't wanna lose him! *A tense Silence blanketed the room. Her father was silent, his jaw worked as he relapsed into deep thought. It was as if his brain was trying to put some pieces together to arrive at a conclusion. Well, she may never know what her father is thinking now. Or what he was hiding from her. Either way, she had vowed to face her feats headlong and seek the truth. She was prepared to get to the bottom of the matter once and for all. There's no going back! After a couple of minutes of silence, He cleared his throat. "The truth you say?.." He dragged out the word as he made his way to the minibar for some drink. Janice followed him and took a seat on the bar stool.He reached for a bottle of Martini. His doctor said he should avoid strong alcohol for now but he had missed taking something strong in his system. He most definitely will need it as he was about to reveal the truth to her and he was not sure how
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR. *I thought I was fully prepared for the Worst.*"What's the issue?!" Mr George entered with a strain etched on his face. Janice bit her bottom lip and shook her head slowly. "None at the moment. The doctor is currently attending to him." Janice answered, her face was swollen. Matt stroked her hands and eased himself into the space Drake had originally occupied and huddled close to her, their knees brushing against each other. She gritted her teeth. If not for the fact that her Dad is still in the hospital and for the sake of family comfort, she wouldn't even let him be an inch closer to him. His hot breath wafted through her nose and tingled her skin in disgust, irking her to her bones. And she hated it! Poor Drake he had to be away because of Matt. She wanted Drake to be by her side so badly and not Matt! But right now, that's the least of her problem. The more pressing problem now is her father; is he gonna be okay? What will happen to
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE*In fact at this point, everything that has been happening from the start of today, has been a nightmare... *The door tugged open and it was as though it took an eternity to open and reveal the one person she's been dying to see. "Hi, honey." His voice was barely croaking out. She clenched her fists and fought back a shrill cry of relief and a flood of tears. Although she did say she was prepared for the worst today she had never for once expected things to take one hell of a drastic turn as they did. How her father suddenly landed in a hospital, looking like this... Was beyond her and she was still grappling to face reality. Only she had wished this was a nightmare. Seeing her father looking so pale and out of breath shattered her and her fear resurrected all again. That fear of losing someone very dear to your heart. A family and the only family you have in this world that you simply can't afford to lose. It reminded her of that awful moment s
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX*Her whole life was about to be turned upside down.... *"Matt is a great guy, Janice. I'm sure if you two get together, the blinders in her eyes will fall off and you will come to realize how nice and responsible he is. The problem is, you have been holding on to his former self-your childhood. He is a mature man now and he is so serious about you. I don't see the reason why the both of you shouldn't be together." He stroked her hand as he said, a smile on his face. Janice has barely recovered from the tragic news and now this? She gaped at him unable to form a coherent sentence in her head. Can someone please tell her what the actual fuck is going on here?! Is this really the father that had brought her up, nursed her, cared for her, and given her everything she had ever wanted? Her father had always said that he would never bring her up like his father did. He would never become a domineering father like his own was. He would never impose hi
CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN *Everything's so messed up!*"Nothing is going to happen to your fashion company. while you are married to Matthew, although he takes over, you are still the rightful heir to the property. He will be your legal trustee as per your spouse in marriage, to manage the property and business on your behalf. The business will still bear the Jordans. So there is nothing practically to lose here. I don't see anyone who would be as genuine as Matt really because every guy that may be showing interest in you is most likely after our wealth so you ought to be cautious." She gulped. Could Drake be after her wealth? She doubted it because he had shown no interest in their wealth and he wouldn't look at her sometimes, always aloof and inscrutable. But that's far from it. Drake saved her time without a number and he had always been there for her and even advised her to take the family's business seriously. He bodes well... Although she may not know so much
*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