CHAPTER 35The ray of sunlight peeking through the expensive cotton curtains met Valerie's face and stirred her up from sleep. She woke up with a yawn and stretched her hands to the side a few times before stepping out of bed and then going to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her fingers grazed the purple bruises on her neck a few times before she stepped backward and checked her physique. The memories of what happened last night were still etched in her brain and she closed her eyes together tightly to try and forget a bit. A sorrowful sigh left her lips as she walked back to the bed and flopped herself on it. She picked up her phone and the first news that popped up was about an explosion that took place after the Cranberry forest. A curious look appeared on her face as she clicked on the news headline. "There were no survivors," She read out before dropping the phone and slipping the thin hand of her silk nightgown down her pale, milky shoulders. Her thoughts wandered of
CHAPTER 36 Valerie spent nearly the whole day with Alan and then returned to her room later that evening. The orange evening sun reflected into her room and she could hear the estate trees dancing in sync with the breeze. An overwhelming feeling flowed inside her as she took a sit on the bed and lay on it out of impulse. Even if she felt sad that Alan was going back to London the next day, she took it as a sacrifice for his and her well-being. A thought about her birth control pills crossed her mind and when she got up to go and have a pill or three her phone started to ring under her pillow. "316 missed calls from the CCU?" She asked herself before settling on the bed to call the hospital back. Different horrible thoughts crossed her mind as she heard the soft rings. "Hello, Mrs Carson. We have been trying to get through to you all day," The doctor said, his voice low. It scared her so much because he was a cheerful man- a doctor who never let a bad day wear him down unles
CHAPTER 37 Valerie flung the door to her room open and slammed it on Fareeda's face. Fareeda, who had a sad expression on her face knocked softly on the door before opening it.Fareeda knew that she wasn't one to feel sorry for Valerie's son, there are many reasons as to why she need not have any filial attachments to any member of the Carson's. There wasn't any more time to pity anyone.If she could kill her sister and her cousin then who was Valerie that she couldn't squeeze the life out of. Valerie immediately turned to face Fareeda, with an angry expression on her face she yelled, "Get out! I don't want to see you anywhere near me or my room," Fareeda's face contorted into one of confusion and she made to understand why Valerie would have said that. "Why? What did I do? For all I know, you have been the one who has been nonchalant about this whole thing! You have a sick child! You struggled so hard to give birth to that child and he turned out to be sick and his mother was n
CHAPTER 38FLASHBACK TO FEW HOURS BEFORE FAREEDA AND VALERIE'S VISIT TO THE HOSPITALFareeda sat on the swivel chair in her office, her hands under her chin with a tablet sitting before her. She kept replaying the events of the fire accident that was reported near the forest, and the words of the sheriff- Dreg rang in her head, "Unfortunately, there were no survivors but three burnt bodies were found and we'll Identify them as soon as possible and send word to their families," Different scenarios of being betrayed by her closest people swarmed her head. Even Dreg, she didn't trust him anymore.She had reached a stage in her life where she could no longer trust anyone because she was nearing the end of this long plan time, and it was usually at this stage that people backed out of things.The most deadly stage where things usually got ugly.She could picture two possible ways of how this whole story would end and both of them ended up with a happily ever after for her. If she had any
CHAPTER 39"So ma'am what did you say the victim called her again? And can you describe her facial features for us so as to make it easy for us to catch the murderer," Dreg asked and Valerie pressed her lips to form a thin line, she strapped the blanket on her shoulder to her chest tightly as she went deep in thought.The killings hadn't stopped, they were even getting worse. Different people were being targeted from different angles.Mr Rize, Her father, Logan, Asha, Mini, Kevin, and now Kai?Even if she wasn't really a fan of Kai's antics she still appreciated the fact that he had come to confess to her about everything before he was killed.She'd like to think of it as his redemption card to heaven, or maybe he won't be forgiven for having a hand in all of those murders.The worst part was that she had little or no clue about who the murderer was, but whoever it was, Mehn, that person was heartless.Mini and Kai were the ochestrator's siblings, so why'd she kill her siblings? Becau
CHAPTER 40THREE DAYS LATERValerie held Alan by the arm and escorted him to the estate's hanger where his helicopter was. The captain gestured a salute toward Valerie and she nodded back."So, this is goodbye," he said softly with a smile on his face."Yeah, not forever though. You'll come back for me right?" She asked with a glint in her eyes. He cupped her face and pressed both their heads together and whispered softly, "Yes Cara," "Can I say? I love it when you call me Cara. It reminds me of my dad. You picked it up from him right?" A small smile appeared on Alan's lips as he nodded in affirmation, "I figured that you wouldn't miss him as much if I called you his favorite given nickname," "That wouldn't work anymore because you're leaving. Now, I'd miss him more than ever," She said sadly and he raised his head to place a kiss on her forehead."I got you a journal. I asked one of the estate maids to leave it in your room. I know that we are going to be on video call every sing
CHAPTER 41 Click, clack. Click, clack.Hollow footsteps could be heard from where Valerie sat, cross-checking the staff's credentials, she raised her head to where she heard the footsteps come from with a puzzled look on her face as to who that may be. "Alex," she whispered, her face filled with horror at his sudden but not unexpected arrival. She thought he was probably going to take like a year to process the thoughts of his brother sleeping with his wife but she was wrong.Alex walked into the living room, dressed in an all-black suit, with his long hair slicked back with a gel and then tied at the back to form a short ponytail. His aura screamed evil and desirous and the smirk that appeared in the corner of his lips even added to the fear she felt in her heart."What's going on here?" Alex asked, interrupting her train of thought with this thunderous voice. Valerie cleared her throat as she wanted to answer, "I'm taking them through a series of examinations. I discovered th
CHAPTER 42KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON Alan inputted the password to unlock his luxurious penthouse, he was met with the scent of wood musk, carried on a warm current of air. He closed the door behind him and glanced down the long hall. He had not been home for close to four months and he was sure that he didn't forget to tell his AI home assistant- Shirley to turn off all the lights."Shirley, lights please," Alan said, and the lights started to come on one by one, illuminating the whole place and even accentuating the large space's beauty.He looked toward the large window that cut across the length of one wall and gave a breathtaking view of the city skyline. A sense of nostalgia filled him as his mind drifted back to the bustling Californian cities. Knightsbridge was a quiet place, perfect for people who don't like to be disturbed. But now, all of that seemed to fade into the background, as Alan stood transfixed by the light spilling out from the half-opened door at the end of the hall