“Don't answer!” Frade's finger pressed the red “No” button on my phone's screen, then took my phone and turned it off.“Frade.” I protested.“You don't want to take any calls at this time.” Frade rolled over and stared at me. “I'm telling the truth. I don't want anyone to get in your head, especially Daley.”“He can't influence me.” I've made my choice, and I know I can't go back to Daley.“Today I'm going to meet with the head of security,” Frade said sternly, “Soon there will be an end to me and Daley. There is no doubt that I will win. In the meantime, I need you to stay here. Can you do that?”“Yes.”“When this is all over, I swear I will take you to Switzerland. We can go skiing together and see the most beautiful scenery in the Alps,” he said, and kissed my forehead. “Just the two of us.”The Alps, where I used to fantasize about going on vacation with him. I wanted to get away from the city and live in peace in a beautiful place, with someone I loved. So that's what he thought.
A damp, cold breath poured into my nose and woke me from the darkness. I found myself lying in a dark room, my mind blank. I tried to remember everything that happened before I passed out. The only clear memory that exists in my mind is the sound of a ghost.“Hello, my little rose.” The voice came from a corner of the room. A sudden chill hit my body and I felt cold.A slender figure in the dim light slowly appeared. He silently walked toward me. I saw the Frade-like face in the yellowish light, a bitter smile on his face as he looked at me.“You crashed my car on purpose,” I accused him. “It was you who caught me here.”“Calm down.” Daley looked at me calmly. “Shouldn't I be asking you why you drugged me and ran away? What good did you do behind my back while I was looking for you?”“You deserved it,” I said. “You broke the law.”“So my wife sold my evidence to her ex-lover?” Daley's eyes flashed with hate. “You ruined me for Frade. I should just have killed you.”“Then why don't you
“I swear, everything I'm about to say is true,” my mother's voice came over Daley's phone. I could hear the frustration and despair in her voice, as if she were saying her last words.“My name is Serena Wilson and I am Mikeal Green's wife. My husband is a businessman on the surface, but he has been dealing in arms secretly. To win over the officers, he presented me as a gift to an officer named Mickle Blanton. I was forced to behave like a p.rostitute for a month. And Mikeal Green was able to conduct an arms deal here. Not only that, but I also know that Mickle Blanton used his power to privately resell the arms purchased by the state to third-world countries through Mikeal. Their actions have seriously violated the law of the country. I was so tortured by Mikeal that I wanted to kill myself, but I couldn't. Because I'm pregnant, and the baby I'm carrying belongs to Mickle Blanton. As much as I hate Mickle, the child is innocent. I can not take their lives. I taped this evidence in th
Daley gave me a pained look, and then I watched his body slowly kneel before me as his gun fell to the ground. He let out a groan of pain in the darkness.“God, what happened to you?” I held his body to prevent him from collapsing on the ground, a faint smell of blood from his chest. I saw his grey shirt under his suit turn dull red.“You're hurt,” I almost screamed. “Why didn't you say it earlier?”He hung his head in silence as two cars surrounded us. Frade jumped out of the car. He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Daley.“You b.astard!” Frade pulled out a pistol and pointed it at Daley's head. “I'm going to kill you.”“No. Frade.” I stopped him. “Daley's hurt.”“Just let me put you out of your misery,” Frade said. “Mark, take Eva back to the car.”Mark came over and tried to pull me away, and I shook his hand off. Just as Frade was about to shoot, I called out to him, “Please don't kill him.”“Have you forgotten how he hurt you?” Frade growled angrily. “He must die today.”“C
“Eva, is that you?” A weak voice stopped me from leaving. I hesitated for a second and then returned to the room.“There you are.” Daley lay on the bed with a pale face, his golden eyes staring blankly at me.“I just came to see you,” I said, rubbing my belly. “I don't want my baby's father to die before he's even born.”“Is that my baby?” Daley struggled to raise a hand. “Come here. Come to me.”I walked over to his bed. He looked even more haggard after the first aid. His cheeks were sunken and he was in a bad state of mind.“Maybe, just maybe,” I whispered, “This baby’s father is one of you and Frade.”Daley showed a pale smile, “This baby is definitely mine.”“That's what Frade said.” The confidence of the two men made me think they were childish.“I will get medical identification to determine who is the father of the baby,” I said, glancing down at my lower abdomen. “Or until the baby is born.”Daley put his hand on the back of my hand, his eyes fixed on my belly, and then he sm
“What are they doing?” I asked Mark.“They demanded a search of the manor on charges of our harbouring criminals.” Mark whispered. “They also claimed that Eva was Daley's wife and was suspected of involvement in the crime. So...”“So what?” Frade demanded.“So the police need to take Eva to the police station to investigate,” Mark says, glancing at me.“To hell with the police,” Frade roared. “I'll never let them set foot in the manor.”“Frade, calm down,” I advised him. “It's not in our interest to go against the police right now. Let them in. They can't find Daley with their dogs.”Frade pondered silently for two minutes. He told Mark, “Tell the cops I need to talk to their boss first.”“OK. I'll let them know right away,” Mark says and leaves.Soon we saw two uniformed policemen in the living room, one tall with a buzz cut, the other small but shrewd-eyed. The two of them stood together like a dwarf beside a giant tree, looking so discordant.“Hello, Mr Logan,” said the little poli
“Mrs Logan. Please tell me, why did you murder your stepmother Lydia?” Eric stared at me.'Eva, calm down.' I comforted myself. It's best not to say anything at this point.I took a deep breath and sat up straight. The policeman saw my flustered expression. I mustn't let him catch me at a disadvantage.“I'm sorry, but I'm not answering any of your questions until my lawyer arrives.”“I think I've made myself clear, Mrs Logan,” Eric's face grew serious, “You are accused of murdering your stepmother, and now I need you to cooperate with the police. You must answer my every question.”“No. I need to call my lawyer.” I calmed down. “It's my right.”“You probably don't know how serious this is for you,” Eric said in a threatening tone, “This paper includes a video of Lydia's final moments as proof that you killed your stepmother. You actually shoved Lydia down the stairs, it turns out. You shoved her down the steps, and soon after, she passed away.”He paused, put his head forward and rais
“I hope what you said wasn't a joke.” I stood up. “If you want to keep testing me, I hope it's over.”“Mrs Logan, your lawyer is waiting for you in the next room,” Eric said coldly. “This is no joke.”“Thanks,” I said.I thought I was going to have to keep dealing with these cops, but the lawyer came sooner than I thought.Eric led me to another room. A man in a black suit was sitting on a chair. When he stood up, I realized it was Tommy.“Here's your lawyer,” Eric said, pointing to Tommy. “You have 30 minutes.”The door closed, and I said to Tommy, “God, why you?”“Eva, come and sit down,” Tommy motioned with his eyes. “We only have 30 minutes.”“Did Frade find you?” I asked.“Remember when Daley asked me to do business with him?” Tommy whispered, “I've been following him ever since he was arrested. This morning, one of my informants at the police station tipped me off that the police were going to arrest Daley again. I asked him about you on purpose. He told me that the police have
A week later, the trip to Mexico didn't go well. Mexicans were angry at Mickle's claims that the wall had been expanded. The Mexican president and Mickle met in secret for three hours. I don't know what they talked about.After the meeting, he got on a plane and left Mexico. But he left me behind, and I knew exactly what he was doing.I was not surprised to see Daley in front of me as the representative of Mexico. Instead, I had the urge to punch him, but I held back.During my stay in Mexico, Daley was responsible for receiving me as the Mexican representative. The night we met, he took me to a fancy restaurant in Mexico City.“I had no idea that the famous Daley was already a member of council.”I looked across at Daley. The last time we parted, he looked pale. But now, beneath his mask of calm lies a kind of ineffable pride.“Do you have to talk to me like that?” Daley smiled at me, “It's been a long time since we were alone together and I miss you so much. I think we should celebr
“Why do you always have to decide before you tell me?” Frade asked, smoking hard on the couch. “Didn't I tell you to consult me before you made any decisions?”“Because this time there is no room for negotiation.” I stood in front of him, looking at him like that. My heart felt extremely painful. But I had to tell him about my decision. We have to face the truth eventually.“Mia was dead.”Frade's face froze for a few seconds. “She's dead?”“She escaped from the sanatorium, frantically searching for her father and questioning him as to why he had abandoned her. Mickle's bodyguard shot her for endangering the president. It happened right in front of me.”I have mixed feelings about Mia's death. Even though she was detestable, her death was like a razor blade slicing through my unsuspecting skin. It was instant, clear pain.Frade continued to smoke heavily. He didn't show much emotion about Mia's death. But I guess he felt the same way.He was in love with Mia. Her love was fake, but hi
I didn't expect Mickle to agree to meet with me as soon as I contacted him. But I had to go jogging with him, so I changed into a white sweatshirt and drove to his estate.We jogged side by side on a path near the estate, with two bodyguards following us. I can't remember the last time I ran in the morning. I was a little out of it at first, but after a while, I got my breath back.“Do you need a few minutes?” Mickle, who was wearing a black, short-sleeved tracksuit, turned to me. “Looks like you haven't exercised in a while.”“I'm fine,” I said.“I'll wait for you at the lake ahead,” he said as he continued to run.By the time I got to the lake, he was resting. A burly bodyguard offered him water, but Mickle gave it to me.“You need water,” he says.“Thank you.” I opened the bottle cap and took a sip. The bodyguard somehow took out another bottle of water and handed it to him.“It's a rare day for you to call me,” Mickle said, his face flushed but his tone calm. Judging from his stro
According to Vickie's will, her body will be transported back to Italy for burial. So Frade decided to hold a simple farewell ceremony for Vickie in the manor. After the ceremony, he would be in charge of sending Vickie's body back home with Mark.Vickie was right that no Sicilian would refuse the dying wish to return home. This time, they offered to open their arms to the Logan family to show their deepest sorrow.The place of the farewell ceremony was chosen in the hall of the manor, and all the participants were dressed in black as a sign of mourning. Black-and-white photographs of Vickie's life were placed in the centre of the hall. As her body was temporarily placed in the hospital morgue, guests had to mourn over her picture in silence.Each of the guests held a white chrysanthemum in their hands and placed it in front of the tablet. In the photo, she looked at everyone with a smile on her face, her eyes looking at everything indifferently.Frade greets guests who have come to p
In the room, Vickie is lying on her bed, a private nurse holding a clear plastic tube attached to a ventilator up her nose. Since a trip to Italy, Vickie has grown weaker. Mark told me that she was taken home in an ambulance from a private hospital after she landed.“Why don't you take her to the hospital?” I asked in a low voice.“She's determined to go home,” Mark said. “No one can change her mind, and you know it.”“The patient needs to rest. Please leave the room,” the middle-aged brown-haired nurse said politely.Mark and I left the room just as Frade and Vickie's doctor came out of the other room. That was the room where they had been discussing Vickie's condition, and Frade's sullen face didn't look good.It's terrible.“Mark, please help me get Dr. Hans out of here.” Frade's voice was hoarse and tired, and the stubble on his face seemed to have grown overnight, making him look even gloomier.“Are you all right, darling?” I stroked his cheek and looked at the man in front of me
A middle-aged woman in a plain grey T-shirt and light blue jeans sat on the living room sofa, her hands on her closed knees, her eyes downcast. The coffee in front of her was steaming, and it was obvious that she hadn't touched it.“Hey!” I whispered. “I'm Eva.”“Hi!” The woman stood up at once. She looked at me a little stiffly. “My name is Joe. I'm a friend of Joan's. We're all in the same union.”“How did you find me?” I motioned for her to sit down.“Joan gave me your number,” said Joe, “And we found your place. I'm sorry to bother you so late. Joan needs your help.”“You didn't come alone?” I asked curiously.“I have another colleague with me,” Joe said truthfully. “He's waiting for me outside.”“Is he here to ensure your safety?” I looked at her. “Since your friend is worried about your safety, why are you looking for me? So, what's the matter?”“We just...” Joe looked down sheepishly. “Just in case. But Joan says you're a trustworthy person. You're not like your father.”“I hel
During my stay in the hospital, I received many greeting cards and gifts from strangers. They piled gifts for the baby in front of the hospital or at the nurses' station, and a few fanatical fans even pretended to be nurses sneaking into the ward to see the baby. Fortunately, the fanatics were spotted by the doctor on duty and called the police, who quickly took them away.To prevent this from happening, Frade picked me and my baby up from the hospital in the middle of the night and took us back to the manor. Frade also put guards around the manor to keep out outsiders, leaving Mark in charge of all security, and Liv came to accompany me.Frade was on the move for us to leave the United States. This time he didn't entrust anyone but himself. He didn't tell me that he had met with those people. But from his tired face after each return, I can guess that our departure would become a distant dream.When Vickie learned of Frade's plan, she decided to go to Italy herself, because most of t
“What does a newborn baby get him?” I stared at Ian. “He's already president.”“The president just wants to show his concern for you,” Ian explained patiently. “This baby is his granddaughter. You're family.”“What an official statement,” I said. “Just this once. I need at least three months off for the rest of the year. During that time, neither I nor my baby could be seen in any media.”“Deal,” Ian readily agreed.“I'll give you some time to get ready,” Ian said. “I'll let you know when the president is arriving at the hospital.”After Ian leaves, Frade gently places the baby in her own crib, where she falls fast asleep without crying or fussing. Frade walks to the bedside, his eyes brimming with anger. I knew he was unhappy with my decision, and as I prepared for his wrath, he just lowered his voice and said, “Why did you agree to his request?”“Because I can't say no.” I looked at him. “Ian's right. Mickle is the baby's grandfather. I have no reason to say no to him visiting his g
“Do you have to go to the inauguration?” Frade asked as he peeled the apple. “The doctor told me your due date is coming up.”The skin he cut off with a knife was attached to the flesh of the apple, and less than two-thirds of the whole apple was left in his hand. I stared at the silver knife in his hand and asked, “Do you have a problem with apples?”“I hope this knife didn't cut apples, but...”“Stop,” I reminded him. “Watch your mouth.”“I don't want you to go to a crowded place,” Frade said, handing me a peeled apple. “In that case, all eyes are on the new president. If you're not feeling well or...”“Ian will have a nurse with me,” I said. “Besides, I only promised to be at the inauguration, and as soon as it's over, I'll be home.”“I'm going with you,” Frade said, “Or I won't trust you.”“Sure,” I readily agreed. “I'll tell Ian and get him to set you up.”“All I have to do is stand next to you.” Frade walked to the bed and brushed my cheek, then put a hand on my belly.“She's mo