[ Claire ]I took early off from work since I failed to focus on anything. My mother’s words kept resonating in my head. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that everything is about to be changed, my whole perspective to judge people, to see at the facts and to view my past, present and future.When I returned home, Travis wasn’t back so I decided to visit’s my old maid with whom I had closeness. I haven’t met her in years. She was fired from her job just after a few days of my discharge from hospital. I have to seek my answers from her. She definitely knows something which forced my family to remove her from my life. I took her address from the old gardener at our house after bribing him with money.I pressed the doorbell when I reached at her house and waited for the door to be opened. I had a lot going through my mind. I felt knots in my stomach. A minute later, the door was opened by a young woman, it was her daughter.“Hello, I am Claire Jones. I am here to meet Jennie. She used to
[ Claire ]“What are you saying, Jennie? It’s impossible. I met Tristan recently. If we had a past as you have mentioned, I would have recognized him.” I shook my head in denial.“My dear, ask yourself, do you really see him as a complete stranger?” She placed my palm over my heart and I knew I felt a deep connection with him when we first met and I also had flashes of past.Tears brimmed in my eyes. If Jennie is saying the truth, then she’s right, my whole perspective has changed. The man, my past everything has been in front of me and I failed to catch a hint. He pretended to be a stranger but in reality, he is the one with whom I had shared a beautiful past. I asked him to help me in finding my lover, he is the one!And I have a child?I replayed all the recent incidents. I met Travis and immediately felt a bond with him, our resemblance. Why did it not make sense to me before?I am a mother to Travis. I am his biological mother. He has been craving to meet me ever since he’s born.
[ Tristan ]I couldn’t hold my excitement as I head back home. I saw a ray of hope when Mr. Lee assured me to find the real culprit. I wanted to share this news with Claire. Although, I had texted her, I wanted to tell her the details in person. She left from office early to meet a friend. I didn’t ask her which friend because I didn’t want her to feel suffocated in our marriage but for her safety, I ordered her bodyguards to keep a close eye on her and the people she meets.They reported that she went in the crowded area of the city, in a shady building to meet someone, it was a young lady who opened the door. I didn’t dig deeper. She doesn’t do friendship on the basis of social and financial status. I bought their favourite cupcakes from the bakery where they always go to buy the sweet treats and headed home.When I entered in the house, it was oddly quiet. I scanned the living room, they were there.“Claire, Travis. Where are you?” I called out their names but no response came whic
[ Tristan ]“Claire, it’s not as easy as others think. Only I know how I have endured being away from you for five long years. Every single second, I remembered you and prayed all the Gods for some miracle to happen. I never abandoned you, Claire, the circumstances were against us.” I spoke.She was sitting across me. It was tougher than I thought.“I want to know, Tristan. What were the circumstances which forced you to keep my child away from me? If you had loved me truly, then you would have fought all the odds for me? So, don’t expect me accept everything maturely. I am being calm here, that only I know how.” She reacted.“I am sorry, Claire. I know how are you feeling right now and I don’t want to defend myself but do not doubt my love for you, Claire. Even though I wasn’t with you, I made sure that you were fine and your parents were not trying to plot against you.” I said.Her brows furrowed, “How? I was all alone in their prison where they used to torture me mentally and emoti
[ Claire ]Tristan’s confession pushed me into an abyss, my own family plotted against me. It feels really ridiculous how they want me destroyed or rather dead. They separated my child from me. I never hated them, no matter how much they despised me and made me realise it but now, I only feel disgust for them. They are the most pathetic people and they don’t deserve my tears and my love for them.My child lived without me for five years, I can never forgive them for committing this sin.“Ma’am, we’re at the café.” My driver informed me. Today, I decided to come alone for lunch because I wanted to be alone for some time. Being in office, I am always surrounded by people. Thankfully, Miss Kim understood and stayed back as we eat our lunch together most of the time.I made my way inside my favourite café and took my usual seat.“What do you want to have today, Ma’am?” A familiar waitress approached me.“The usual one pot chicken and vegetable stew with garlic bread and a fresh tiramisu.
[ Claire ]“Ma’am, how can you be so careless? You could have called your security guards. God! The cut is deep. I think we should lodge a complain against Miss Jones. She can’t harass you in a public place. I think she needs a good psychiatrist.” Miss Kim lectured while a doctor cleaned and bandaged my wound.My head was pounding. Mia’s violent actions kept replaying in my head. How could she lose her temper and hit me? It had never happened before.“Ahh! Please, be careful.” I winced when the doctor picked out a glass shard from the cut.“Ma’am, this is first-aid. We’ll be visiting a doctor so you can get examined and also have a CT scan.” Miss Kim’s concern reflected.“I am fine, Miss Kim, the wound isn’t deep.” I tried to avoid the situation but I knew, it’d be suicidal if I don’t consult a doctor soon.“Ma’am, you must see the doctor, especially a neurologist as soon as possible, you had a brain injury in the past and the force your sister used to hit you, it might cause some sev
[ Claire ]“Don’t worry, Ma’am, we’ll take immediate action. A team is leaving to arrest Miss Mia Jones. You have to come to the police station for the statement. We also collected the CCTV footage in which Miss Jones can clearly be seen while hitting you with a glass but may I know what led to such violence? Were you two arguing?” The police chief asked me as I and Tristan went to the police station to lodge a complain.“She’ll come, don’t worry officer. But I want you to make sure that such incident won’t happen again. My wife was at a public place.” Tristan reminded him, being a prominent figure in the city, everyone respects him and it was a big thing for police when we came to report a crime.“I can assure you, Mr. Pierce that we’ll do our best. Miss Jones will be arrested shortly.” The Chief assured us.“Sir, I have a request, please be gentle while handling her. She is pregnant but it should remain between us or the news will spread like a wildfire in the city.” I requested him
[ Claire ]“The police have arrested Mia.” Tristan who was on the call with the police chief told me once he ended the call.It’s been two days since they were looking for her. Our parents had undergrounded her, perhaps Ryan was also involved in their plan but Mia being Mia, she never obeys or takes any order seriously. She was arrested when she came out of her hiding place to do shopping.“Hmm, do you have any news on my parents or Ryan?” I asked, it must have fuelled their anger even more, first Caleb left the country, secondly Mia. I gave them concrete reason to hate me this time.He shook his head in despair. I advise you to manage your work from home or your other office, Claire. Your parents are releasing ridiculous statements about you in the public, even though the city has seen who is at fault. I don’t want you to get hurt and if you are in the vicinity of your father, I can’t keep a close eye on you.” He said with an exasperation.“I’ll be careful but if I don’t face him bra