[ Claire ]“Hey, come here.” Tristan said who slipped in the bed beside me after the dinner. Thankfully Alicia requested to eat in her room. I was glad because I am sure I wouldn’t have eaten peacefully in her presence.I snuggled into his arms. It’s my favourite sleeping position though I feel bad for his arm but he doesn’t mind allowing me to use his arm as my pillow.“You know, it is the best time of my day when I can finally have you in my arms and find my peace, no matter how challenging my day was.” He said with a smile. I like this trait about him. He never misses a chance to make me feel wanted.I kissed his chin with a smile, our gaze never breaking. I found surprise in his eyes.“Sleep now, Tristan. You are exhausted, it’s visible on your face.” I said while running my fingers in his hairs, he closed his eyes to feel my touch, his creases relaxed.“I can do anything to have your fingers massaging my head, it’s a heavenly feeling which I missed in five years.” He said with cl
[ Claire ]It wasn’t ethical to ask Alicia about her past link with my husband but I don’t want any kind of danger on him and it wasn’t wrong because I can’t trust Alicia.“What do you want to know, Mrs. Pierce?” She blinked her eyes innocently at me.“Please, drop the formalities now. You can call me Claire.” I said as I am still not habitual being addressed as Mrs. Pierce.“Then stop calling me Mrs. Bale, it feels more like an abuse. I hadn’t adopted Ryan’s surname, one of the many baseless reasons he hated me for.” She told me with hint of sadness.“You’re safe now. You can start your life fresh with your son. It will be challenging and not easy at all but I am sure you’ll overcome.” I said to lift up her courage.“I don’t think, Claire. He has given me deep wounds which I don’t think would heal easily. He is a monster who will chase me to the end of the earth if he won’t be sentenced for his sins.” She said.“He will, he must pay for his crimes. I and Tristan won’t leave him easil
[ Tristan ]I promised Alicia and Claire that I’d fix everything but it’s not as easy as I thought. I received a call from the hospital where Harris was admitted. They told me that he passed away in the midnight but I had pretty doubts, it couldn’t be possible since he was recovering and his reports were normal.To find out what actually happened, I called Mr. Lee to do it for me since I wasn’t allowed to meet the convict of a murder case. The evening rolled on but I hadn’t received anything from Mr. Lee which was making me anxious with passing moments. I hadn’t told Claire about her father yet.“Sir, Mr. Lee is here. Should I send him inside?” My P.A. asked me through the intercom.“Yes.” I said and sat straight to meet my detective, I was having knots in my stomach. I was angry on my fate. I wanted to punish Harris but his death was quick and painless. How could he die so peacefully after ruining many lives?I was busy cursing my fate when the door opened again and Mr. Lee walked in
[ Tristan ]“Are you sure that your sister isn’t playing a trick this time?” I asked Caleb who was frantically yelling on the phone for last one hour.He turned around only to give me a frustrated look, I might offend him but Mia Jones is no less than a spoiled kid who throws fits to gain her family’s attention.“Mia’s phone is found beside the road in a broken condition. No one knows my sister better than I do. She is obsessed her phone and the only time she keeps her phone when she sleeps.” He said.I glanced at my watch, it showed around six. I should be heading back to my home but I couldn’t leave Caleb alone, he was dealing with everything alone and being his friend, it was my duty to help him.“Alright, please calm down. We can look for her with the help of police also. I know they haven’t helped us much in our previous matters but if her life is actually in some kind of risk, then it’s better if we inform the police.” I advised him and it was the most sensible thing to do.“You
[ Claire ]When Tristan came back, it was around ten in the night. Luckily, he was home just before heavy rainfall hit the city. He looked really depressed and it pained me to see him dealing with a lot all alone. I wish I could support him actively but he strictly told me to stay home and recover.“Hey, looking tired. Please, go and change, I’ll serve you the dinner.’ I said to him softly but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a hug. A smiled crept on my lips and I wrapped my arms around him.“Just stay like this for a minute. I need you close to me.” He murmured in the crook of my neck.“I am always here, Tristan.” It came out of my mouth on its own.“I know and you have no idea how much relief I am feeling right now, your words mean a lot.” He said breaking the hug but I was still in his arms and our closeness was making me giddy.“I am not hungry, my love but I will have a cup of strong coffee. I’ll make it myself, you don’t need to stress yourself.” He said giving a pat on my
[ Claire ]I stayed awake most of the time until the effect of medicines kicked in. My mind couldn’t find peace. My thoughts kept running back to my dysfunctional family. Harris died, my brother is torn between is own dreams and handling a disrupted family. Mia, who also wants to see me dead, is missing. I don’t care about her but she is pregnant and I don’t envy her child.“Hey, why are you standing here? You may catch cold.” I heard Tristan’s groggy morning voice but it sounded sexy. He wrapped my shawl around me and hugged me from behind as I stood in the balcony, the heavy pour turned into soft drizzles but temperature fell drastically.“Good morning.” I wished him, I didn’t want to sour his mood first thing in the morning.“Good morning, beautiful. I am thinking to skip office today. What do you say?” He inhaled my hairs.“Sounds like a good idea. I am also planning to escape office for a day but I want only three of us to spend the day together.” I said turning to face.His smil
[ Claire ]“Claire.”My brother pulled me into a tight hug, I was frozen, it was the first time my brother showed such affectionate gesture and a hug was out of the blue.“Caleb, how are you doing?” I asked him somehow when I recovered from the shock.He broke the hug, his eyes looked sad, “I don’t know, to be honest. Being a part of this dysfunctional family is a curse, Claire. No matter how far I run from home and try to leave my past behind. It will forever haunt me.” He said. I didn’t know how to comfort him. We were never close and our last memory was very bitter.“Let’s find Mia and then we’ll see how we fix this twisted family. I can’t believe how Mia fall for a guy like Ryan or her driver. We need to find him, I am sure he knows something.” I said with a shake of my head.“Since when you started caring for our sister?” He narrowed his eyes.“I don’t care about her, Caleb. I am not the same Claire and I have no feelings for either her and our mother because they gave me no rea
[ Claire ]“You can’t be serious?” I fired at my husband as soon as I came out of the restaurant where we met Caleb for a late lunch. Travis was inside the car.“Yes, I am serious, Claire. Do you really think I’d take you with us? I won’t be making the same mistake again.” He flatly denied my request to join him.I blinked my eyes at him because his tone reflected authority which he never used on me.“Now, get inside the car. I have to drop you two home safely so I can come back on time and help Caleb to find your sister.” He said opening the backseat of the car for me.“I am coming with you and that’s final. You may not believe me but I can be a great help since I have known my sister and her behaviour much better than any other person.” I said with confidence but it didn’t work on him.“Please, get in the car, we’re leaving.” He said again and I breathed out in frustration. Why was he acting so stubborn?“What is the guarantee that I will be safe in our house? I don’t trust your fri
[ Alicia ]Three years, it has been three years since I tied the knot with the love of my life. It was a simple court marriage first but I didn’t imagine that Caleb planned a real wedding for us when I got discharged from the hospital. It was again a private ceremony since I don’t like loudness and wastage of money but we did invite people close to us and the number of guests reached to two hundred.Life could be no better than this. Caleb is a dotted husband and father to Alex and our one year old twins; Clarissa and Aaron. When we became pregnant, our happiness had no bound, he treated me like a queen and my son was a step ahead of his father. They cried when they found out that I carrying twins.Clarissa is the apple of everyone’s eye. Her father and elder brother are super protective of her. Sometimes, I feel jealous of my own daughter as she wraps her father around her little finger.Today’s our third anniversary. Ryan Bale died due to liver decease. Mrs. Jones’ mental state wors
[ Alicia ]“What happened to Mrs. Jones?” I asked the siblings and the bitterness on their face told that it wasn’t a good news.“Caleb, I think you shoulder answer this because that woman’s mention is driving me nuts.” Claire said with disdain.Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose, he also looked displeased but my curiosity hiked up.“Why aren’t you both telling me anything? Trust me, I am fine.” I assured them, I thought they were worried for me.“She’s in mental asylum. The doctors found out that she was mentally disturbed and she needed urgent medical supervision. Leaving her with other people might be harmful for both her and others like she had done to you in the fit of her anger. She is becoming violent day by day.” Caleb answered my question and I was quiet for a moment.“She didn’t deserve all this but nothing is in our hands. I hope she recovers soon.” I said since I held no hard feelings for her.“Ali, you can’t be this kind, people will take advantage of your kindness. Som
[ Alicia ]I woke up with dull pain in my head and I found myself in the hospital, I expected it when I recalled how I landed here. Mrs. Jones wanted to kill me but I survived. The doctor came and examined me, they said that I am lucky to have a husband who never my side even for a second.My eyes were impatiently glued on the door. I was waiting for my loved ones to walk in. I couldn’t pay attention to what the nurse was saying to me and then, the door pushed open and walked inside my husband with our son. The gleam and relief on their tired faces were the proofs how much they suffered when I was out.“Hey, love.” Caleb said in a whisper.My heart raced when I heard his smooth voice though he sounded tired.“Hey, handsome.” I greeted him.“I’ll give you two space. Mr. Jones I hope you’re breathing normally now.” The nurse joked and walked out.“Mom, how are you?” Alex asked me, he wanted to jump out of his father’s grip but Caleb held him in place.“I am feeling recharged after seein
[ Caleb ] The night felt like the longest. I couldn’t blink my eyes for a second even though they were burning due to lack of sleep. I had this fear inside me if I sleep and she wakes up then I won’t be by her side and she couldn’t press the bell by herself. But finally, my eyes gave in around four in the morning. I slept on a sitting position beside her bed so she could call me if she wakes up.I was woken up by a gentle tap on my shoulder and I slowly opened my eyes, it was a nurse who gave me a polite smile. I looked at Alicia, she was still sleeping and now my heart began to sink, it has been fifteen hours since she’s unconscious.“Mr. Jones, please go and fresh up till I am here with your wife. The doctor will take a round in next thirty minutes, only he can speculate when your wife will gain her senses.” The nurse said as if she read my dilemma.I wasn’t in a mood to leave but the nurse was right, I couldn’t help either if I stay. I stood up and stretched my stiff muscles and r
[ Caleb ]Every passing minute felt like eternity to me as I waited outside the operating room. My Alicia was fighting for her life while doctors are doing their best to save her. I closed my eyes and prayed to the God to save my wife. She had suffered a lot in her life and when I promised her that I won’t let any pain touch her, my own mother tried to kill her just because she dared to love me.Never in my wildest dream I imagined my mother to take such deadly step. She followed my father and grandfather’s path. She tried killing an innocent for her so called perception about my wife.“Caleb, please have this or you’ll fall sick yourself.” Tristan’s voice forced me to look up at my friend. He was holding a cup of coffee and I shook my head in refusal.“I could save her, Tristan. You warned me, my house staff warned me about her violent behaviour but I didn’t confront her first and busied myself when she got the chance and hurt Alicia. My wife asked me to give her a chance and how she
[ Alicia ] The next day, we were ready to leave for our house. When Alex woke up in the morning, he came running into our room and jumped on us. He was over the moon after seeing us. We cuddled with him, I couldn’t get enough of him.“Mom, I missed you and Dad but I am a big boy. I did all my work.” Alex told me proudly, he was the only one who kept me occupied or else, my mind was going back to Mrs. Jones.Caleb was lost in his own thoughts. I gave him space since it was the hardest part for him. He had to deal with his own mother and probably he had to make a tough decision.“I know my big boy.” I pinched his nose and hugged him close to my heart.Soon we reached at our home, it gave me peace to look at the home we built. Caleb picked Alex from me and I stepped down. Our guards and house staff greeted us at the entrance, they looked relieved.“How are you all?” I asked them.“Trust us, Ma’am, we would have gone crazy if you didn’t come back today. Mrs. Jones is driving us crazy wit
[ Alicia ]I stirred in my sleep and immediately a smile stretched on my lips when I saw my husband sleeping like a baby on my chest, his soft breath was falling on my bare breasts, sending a ticklish sensation on my skin. I caressed his hairs and kissed his forehead, these seven days were the best days of my life. We explored almost every famous part of the country, currently we were in a hotel’s suite since we had an early morning flight back to our home.I left the cottage at the island with heavy heart because we made the most beautiful memories of our lives there. He made love to me in every corner of the cottage. He was serious when he said he’d have me whenever he wishes. He made love to me like a mad man.“Wake up, sleepy head. We have to head back home.” I slowly tried to wake him up.He stirred but didn’t wake up, “Please, two minutes, just stay like this.” He groaned and snuggled his head more into my chest and smiled on his childish act.“I won’t mind you having here with
[ Alicia ]Caleb’s hands slowly removed my robe off my body and his eyes darkened when his eyes landed on my body, his hands froze on my forearms.“Ali, what is this?” He asked me, his heavy voice was the proof that my appearance had an effect on him.“I though it’s your favourite colour.” I said and blushed, it was the lingerie that Claire forced me to buy. The maroon colour in lacy fabric, barely covering any body part was more appealing for the eyes of a man.“It is but I didn’t know I would love it the most on you.” His lips curved upward as he roamed his lust filled eyes on my body, scanning each part of my skin. I felt my cheeks heating up, his gaze was intense.“I’ll have the pleasure of fucking you with this lingerie on your body. You have no idea how much it has turned me on.” He said, his thick was said it all.He pulled me on his lap so we could sit on a straddling position, our cores were touching, I felt his growing bulge where I needed him the most.“Do you feel it, baby
[ Alicia ]“What are we doing here, Caleb? We can’t see the sea in the darkness.” I chuckled when mu husband asked me to join him for a short walk after we reached back at our cottage and changed.“I have something for you, love but first I want you to close your eyes.” He said.“Why have I a feeling that you want to give me a surprise?” I narrowed my eyes but I was excited from inside. Whatever he does for me, it’s always special, even the smaller gestures.“Yes, there’s a gift for you but it’s also a surprise, now stop asking and close your eyes.” He said and I closed my eyes because I couldn’t wait for my surprise.In a few moments, I felt something cold around my neck, metal exactly and I guessed it was a chain or necklace. He made me wear a necklace and then he kissed my neck. I touched it to feel the design.“You can open your eyes now, love.” He said and I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the piece of jewelry. My smile vanished and my jaws dropped in shock.“Cal…Caleb, how d