Raine and Meira got married on the first of August a few days after the twins school vacated for the holidays. It was a very small quiet wedding as Meira wanted but a few reporters were invited to cover the wedding.
Meira’s beige colored gown was the talk of the town for weeks and most people wondered why she’d not worn white even at her first wedding but they couldn’t deny that she was the most beautiful bride they’d ever seen.
The reception was held in the ballroom of Vital Comforts Hotel and there the world witnessed again how much the billionaire loved his new wife from the song he sang to her in Italian; “Amo soltanto te” which was translated in English.
The applause was deafening after he finished singing and the crowd asked for an encore but he shook his head laughing and apologized, telling them that the only person he’d be singing to again will be his wife in private and the crowd roared with laughter.
Two days later “No, no no!”. Meira cried out as she stared at her phone calendar. “Raine!”. Raine came rushing upstairs and met her in the lounge area staring at her phone as if it was a foreign object to her. “Amor, what is it?”. He sat beside her. “It can’t be.” She muttered. “It can’t be.” “Meira, you’re scaring me. What are you on about?”. He took her phone from her and frowned when he saw that it was her monthly calendar for her cycle and he sighed in relief. “That’s your monthly cycle calendar.” “Do you know what this means?”. Her eyes widened like saucers. “I’m late and I’m never late!”. “Er…” He didn’t know what to say. “I was so caught up in us that I didn’t even think about it. I was supposed to have my period… Two weeks ago but it never came then I thought that maybe the stress of the wedding and all that
“So did you do it?”. Meira asked. “Yes.” Raine nodded. “But not to have a child of my own anymore. Maybe one of those women desperate to have a child could have received it.” Meira shook her head in dismay. “Richard ruined my life. From beginning to end and now I’m not even sure if Gabe and his sister are really his children.” She said. “He might have told the doctor to implant someone else’s sperm in me just to spite me.” “And if they’re not his kids?”. Raine asked her. “Well!”. She exclaimed. “I’m not going to look for their biological father. He might take them away from me.” “I won’t let him. I’d rather pay him off.” Raine told her. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something Amor.” “What?”. “Well… You’re Mrs Cruz now and the twins bear Gilbert. Is it okay if I change their surname to mine?”. “Of
Meira went on her honeymoon a new bride and returned to Nigeria with her kids and husband an expectant mother. “Welcome home Mr and Mrs Cruz.” Hanna greeted with a wide smile on her face then she smiled at the twins. “Welcome home young Mr Cruz and Miss Cruz.” The twins laughed and hugged her. “We missed you ma’am Hanna.” They said. “We’re happy to be back home.” Raine smiled. “Let’s go in.” Hanna said and the twins scampered after her. “Not you Mrs Cruz.” Raine held her back. “Yours is special.” “This is not my first time here.” Meira chuckled. “Ain’t matter. I’m nothing if not a gentleman.” Raine winked at her then swept her off her feet before she could say another word. Meira squeaked and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Am I not too heavy for you?”. She asked.
Raine stared at them with a smile on his face. “Yes. I’m your biological father.” Raine told them. “Malachi confirmed it.” “Yay!”. The twins suddenly exclaimed and threw themselves at him. “We’re so happy that we don’t have any relation with that man.” “So does this mean we will also get your surname now?”. Gabi asked. “Yes. I already have my lawyer working on it.” Raine told them. “Good for us!”. The twins clapped. “Wow.” Meira spoke up after a while. She couldn't believe her luck. She'd married a wonderful man who she thought was too good to be true, she was carrying his baby and now her children that she'd wished were his- were really his flesh and blood. It couldn't get better than this. “Good wow or bad wow?”. Raine teased. “Good wow. Definitely good wow.” Meira smiled and hugged him. She was so h
A week later “So… How would you like to celebrate your eighth birthday?”. Raine asked the twins. “It’s next week.” “Well like we told Mom last year, we would like to have some children from an orphanage come celebrate with us and our friends from school as well.” Gabe said. “If that’s okay with you dad.” “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” Raine smiled. “Do you have one in mind?”. “Uh… St Louis orphanage.” Gabi replied. “Hector told me his mother works there and they are in need of help – they can hardly take care of the children there anymore because of funds.” “It’s okay. I’ll take care of it.” Raine told her. “Thanks daddy.” Gabi beamed. “Hurry up and eat so we won’t be late.” Meira ordered. “I bet the traffic will be bad this morning.” “We could fly daddy’s helicopter to school you know.” Gabe joked
“So what have you got for me? Can I go home already?”. Richard asked his lawyer impatiently.“I’m very sorry Mr Gilbert but you have been denied bail.” The lawyer told him regretfully.“What?! Why?”. He cried.“You’re being charged with first degree murder and theft.” The lawyer responded.“How…. How did the evidence get into the hands of the police?.” Richard wondered. “The only other person I told apart from my wife was…” His voice trailed off as it hit him who the traitor could be. “Malachi Ernest.”“Who is that?”.“My friend.” Richard said. “I can’t believe he’d betray me like that.”“Is there anything I can do?”. Angela asked.“Nothin
Five days later Raine heard the shocking but not quite shocking news of Malachi’s death. He’d been shot in the parking lot of his clinic as he was about to get into his car and of course he’d died on the spot. Raine took that time to pay Richard a visit in jail and as he suspected Richard wasn’t happy to see him. “What do you want? Come here to gloat?”. Richard asked as he took a seat. “Nah.” Raine shook his head. “Just came here to see how you’re holding up. Next month’s the finale right?”. “Yes.” “I see.” Raine nodded. “So… you found out that Malachi ratted you out and you had him killed huh?”. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You realized that I couldn’t have gotten the evidence all on my own and since your wife couldn’t betray you – the traitor would be your best friend Malachi.” Raine stated. “True or false?”.
A week later “Mrs Cruz, you’re next.” The nurse informed her as she came out of the doctor’s office. “I’m waiting for my husband.” Meira told her. “He’ll be here soon.” “Alright ma’am.” The nurse nodded. Five minutes later Raine rushed into the hospital, took the stairs to the second floor and met Meira waiting in front of the nurse’s station. “Amor, I’m not late right?”. He asked. “Not really.” She shook her head. “You can go in sir, ma’am.” The nurse said. “The doctor will be with you shortly.” “Thank you.” Raine said and they went in. Dr Simon Collins walked into the office with an apologetic smile on his face and shook hands with them before he took his seat. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.” He said. “So… are you ready to see your baby?”. &nbs
Six weeks later The judge that was supposed to preside over Richard’s case had a severe heart attack so his case was postponed until another judge was available. A day to his hearing, he got a surprise visit from Meira and the twins and he imagined that Meira had come to tell him that she was dropping the charges against him, he imagined himself a free man again and he imagined that he’d stayed with Meira and they lived happily ever after. “Long time no see.” Richard said. “Hello Richard.” She sat down and the twins followed suit. “You look… like hell.” She commented. “I feel like I’m there already. How are you?”. He asked. “I’m good. Just came by to visit you since I won’t be at the hearing tomorrow.” She told him. “Oh? Aren’t you going to witness?”. “Raine said there’s no need for me to. I don’t wa
Five days later Raine sat on the chair by Meira’s bed reading a novel to her when he looked up and saw her hand move once then twice which made him hopeful that she’d wake up soon so he continued reading. “Why is… dynamite ringing in my head?”. Meira croaked out. “I don’t like the band.” The book dropped from his hands to the floor and he shot up from his seat. “Baby?”. He rasped. Meira opened her eyes and looked up at him with a wan smile on her face. “Hey handsome. Am I in heaven?”. Raine laughed and a tear dropped as he bent and kissed her. “I love you.” He whispered reverently against her lips. “I love you too. Can I have water please?”. She asked. “Okay.” Raine said. “I’ll get the doctor.” He rushed out of the room. The doctor checked on her and gave Raine the good news that Meira was out of danger and she could be moved to a private room so a nurse came in to give her water and Raine was told to w
“I don’t want to lose my babies Raine.” Meira cried as she struggled to free herself. “Let me go!”. “Shut up!”. Leonardo hit her temple with the butt of his gun. Raine scrambled to his feet and rushed forward but stopped when Leonardo pointed the gun at him. “Move one inch and she’s dead.” “Please! I need to take her to the hospital.” Raine pleaded. “She’s bleeding.” “Does it look like I care?!”. Leonardo’s eyes flashed. Meira clamped her teeth together to stifle the scream that was coming and simultaneously elbowed Leonardo hard in his ribs making him release her with a grunt. “Meira!”. Raine rushed forward to meet her and helped her up. “Emeliano look out!”. Raina called out in horror as Leonardo reared up with a curse, pointed the gun in their direction and fired before they could do any
“Emeliano… are you sure you want to do this?”. Layla asked as she watched him sign the documents. “It’s your life’s work. Your family’s legacy.” “It all means nothing to me without Meira.” Raine said. “Besides… there’s no way I’ll let that douchebag have anything of mine.” Layla exhaled. “Bring Meira home. We all miss her.” “I will.” He nodded. He dumped the papers in the briefcase and shut it then handed it over to Rogers who left with it immediately. “Carlos?”. “Sei a posto.” Carlos said as they hugged. “Buona fortuna amico.” “I’ll need it.” Raine muttered. “Be careful daddy.” The twins hugged him. “Bring mommy home to us.” “I will.” He promised them. Even if he had to die trying. “Be good for Aunt Layla.” “Yes dad.” They nodded. Raine kissed their foreheads. “Ti amo tanto.” He
“Wonderful news my husband.” Angela beamed at Richard as she sat down. “You won the lottery?”. He asked. “Much better. Our mighty enemy has fallen.” She laughed gaily. “The only enemy I know of…,” He paused as his eyes widened. “Raine Cruz is dead?!”. “I wish. Meira has been kidnapped and I heard that she’s pregnant.” Angela beamed. “Really? Who kidnapped her?”. He was shocked. “Some white people that are after her husband or so it seems.” She shrugged. “I hope they kill her so he’ll suffer.” She said. “I doubt he’ll let them get away with it.” Richard remarked with grudging respect. “He’s like a cat with nine lives.” “Anyway, I want you to sign this check for me.” She took out his check book, opened the page and passed it to him. “The kids need new clothes and shoes and I have to pay the house rent or else we will be thrown out of the house.” “Fifty thousand naira?!”. His eyes widened. “This is the remaining am
“You didn’t bring me who I want but you brought the next best thing; His wife.” The leader Leonardo grinned at Raina. “His pregnant wife.” She added with a smug smile on her face. “Ooh.” He rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Perfecto.” “How can you do this to your own twin brother?!”. Meira yelled at Raina. “Even though you don’t remember anything but surely you should know that he was telling the truth. You should have felt it.” “Shut her up please.” Leonardo ordered before walking out of the room. “Emeliano will never forgive you for this.” Meira promised. “Har har, I’m shaking in my boots.” Raina snorted in derision before she gagged her. “This will flush him out so be a good girl and you won’t get hurt.” She patted Meira’s head and walked away. Meira looked around the room and sighed. There was no way of escape
A week later “You don’t have to do this Raine.” Meira said as they stood outside the door of the basement of Emerson group. He’d stayed home for two days to rest and then insisted on seeing Giovanna so Meira had no choice but to oblige him. “I want to. I have to see her.” He insisted. “Okay.” She sighed. “I’d want to see my sister too after all these years if she were supposedly alive.” The door opened revealing one of the bodyguards and Raine walked in nodding at the bodyguard. “I’ll be waiting in your office.” Meira told him. “I happen to like the view from up there very much.” “Okay.” He grinned. “Don’t stress yourself.” She kissed him and left. “Leave us please.” He said to the remaining two guards. The guards left and closed the door behind them leaving him alone with Giov
Three new bodyguards were hired to protect the twins a week later after an attempt was made by some unknown people to kidnap them two days after Giovanna was caught and detained.They were now more protected than even the governor of the state and though it was kind of intimidating seeing all the men in black but the children thought it was fun.Raine’s ex best friend had a sister who died when she was only six but she wasn’t Giovanna Gaines so Meira told the bodyguards watching her to torture her until she was willing to tell the truth but she kept saying the same thing; she was Talon’s sister.Raine finally woke up a week later much to everyone’s excitement and the first thing he said before he opened his eyes was; “Meira”.“I’m here.” She sobbed. “I’m right here.” She took hold of his hand.Raine opened his eyes and smiled wanly at her. “You’re a breath of fresh
“Raine doesn’t know this.” Meira whispered. “Did Carlos have the information verified?”. “Yes. Raina’s body was exhumed but they couldn’t find anything. There were no bones… nothing.” Layla replied. “Was the call traced?”. She inquired. “Maybe we could find out for ourselves if she’s really alive or the person’s just joking around.” “Carlos’ security team almost got it but the call disconnected before they could. It definitely didn’t come from Italy.” Layla said. She sighed dejectedly. “It’s one problem after another right?”. “Yeah.” Meira rubbed her forehead. “I have to inform the doctor that we’ve found a volunteer, I’ll keep you posted. Please be careful.” “We will. Take care of yourself.” Layla hung up. Meira informed the doctor about Thomas and though the doctor was skeptical but he agreed that half bread was better than nothing and Thomas co