~Kurt~"Boss, they're there. We've surrounded everywhere. Should we start action now?" Phil asked as I gave orders to some of men.I lifted a finger, stopping him immediately. "No, wait! Let's give Luciano a hell of a surprise, shall we?"He smirked and nodded. " Hold on a second. Something's not right. Gabriel's not with them."No. "They're probably going back because they thought Luciano would still be holding Laurel captive. Quick, is there no way we can inform Mariano about this? Mira?!""I'm afraid not. A signal. Maybe we could send a signal to a passing connection that any standby phone could pick up.""But won't that pulled them into a more bigger trouble?!""At least it would be worth the risk.""Fine. Do it."~~*Laurel~*"Come on, it's this way." Kaitlyn led and I followed as we escaped out of wherever Luciano may have taken me. The moment we got out, some of Kurt's men were waiting for us and quickly I entered the car."We need to leave. Now!" Kaitlyn ordered."Wait! Gabrie
*Four months later*~Mirabelle~"....to everyone here, I just want to say thank you. And to the most important people in my life; my wife, my daughters and my son..I would love to say thank you very much. For all the times you stood my me help turn me into this man I've become today, I would really love to say thank you. I know these past few years hasn't been easy for us but with God and his infinite mercy upon our lives, we were able to overcome it all, together. Thank you Laurel, thank you Mirabelle, thank you Genevieve and thank you Gabriel. I love you all very much. And once again, happy birthday to my wife and happy birthday to my twin daughters."Claps and cheers revolted in the air. I didn't know I was crying until dad pulled me close and brushed the tears off my face. "Happy birthday baby," mom pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheeks."Happy birthday, mommy."She sniffled, smiled at me before moving to Gen and doing the same.As soon as mom moved down from the stage with d
~*Mirabelle*~After the cutting of the after-birthday party cake, it was time for gifts. We were given so much gifts by families as well as friends and well wishers. The most important part of the celebration was when I had to dance with Wesley and Liam. They were hilarious as hell."Mirabelle?"I turned to face the person that has just called out my name. "Grandma? Um, you need something? If it's about mom, well, I saw her go that way with Aunt Lavinia and Gisell---""No, actually, it's you I wanna see.""Oh.""I hope it won't be too late to give you your birthday present." She held out a key for me. Another car? Goodness, I was going to have a hard time giving each cars a parking space. "Here. It's the key to your new restaurant."What?"Grandma, you.... you're giving me the key to a---""Remember when you first visited my eatery? You were so excited and didn't even want to leave. You even told me how much you loved cooking and how happy you would be if you could own a restaurant of
~Mirabelle~"These are the files you requested for, ma'am." My assistant, Betty told me and placed the files on the table. The merging of Kgroup and Hyde's management would commence soon and I was to make sure that everything goes smoothly. Mom had come in earlier to take a good observation at what we had done with the company, I was happy she was impressed. Managing an organization has never felt so good. And with mom around, it was absolutely inspiring.Kidd called me few hours later and reminded me of our date later in the evening. God, I knew it was going to be hell sitting and pretending to enjoy every moment with him when it was nothing but absolute torture. God, I was supposed be off today just like Gen but me..typical workaholic, I still came here to bury myself in a pile of endless files and meetings.My phone vibrated on my desk, breaking me out of my thoughts. I picked it up and tapped the answer button. It was my bestfriend, Hailey. "Hey,""Hey. You in?""Yeah, I'm at work
~Mirabelle~"Hey! Ryder, what are you doing here?!" I was shocked to him waiting out on the patio of our mansion. "Hey!" He too was shocked on seeing me. "Hi.""What are you doing here?""Um, I..I came to see Gen," he saw the look on my face and quickly smiled. "It's about work.""I wasn't asking though." I joined him on the bench. "It's late though. Why didn't you wait till tomorrow?""It was uh.. urgent.""How long have you been waiting here?""Twenty minutes? Your um..worker said she's rounding up on something.''Was she?"Then you don't mind me keeping you company before she comes back?""That'll be great! So, what do you want to talk about?""Um I...I need your advice on something, Ryder. It's just... you've heard about there merging right?""Yeah and I...don't think it's a good idea."That was fast. "That was pretty fast. Have you been harboring this answer inside of you since? Was that what you came here to talk to Gen about?""No, no, it's not. I'm just... being honest here."
~Mirabelle~I had put all activities on hold. It felt as if I was suffocating, locked in my mind and I couldn't breathe. All staffs were running helter-skelter, assembling files and putting on orders on how the crash happened. I had gone to Hyde's Jewelries for check up and what I saw nearly made my throat hang. The Jewelry project was no more. According to the makers and handlers, it had exploded during its second round of testing. The new Jewelry collection we were planning on introducing to the world was no more. It's sapphires, rubies and silvers were all puffed into smoke. A part of me was grateful that it wasn't the whole industry that was exploded just the project that was worth more than a a billion dollars. Two billion, as matter of fact. And now, it was all gone. Gone.This wasn't thousands we were talking about nor millions. We were talking about billions... A huge amount of money..and now, we had lost it. Lost it all. "What happened?" Gen barged in when the production roo
~*Mirabelle*~"Yes, Mr Raymond?""You're not hitting the point, Ms. Kenton. Hyde's is on the edge of a bankruptcy. Who knows? We're already bankrupt. The best thing to do at this point is to probably start selling shares and trade stocks. That's the only way...the only solution to give Hyde's Jewelries a 10% percent chance to stagger up back to its feet again. Apart from that, I'm afraid, there won't be any other way or solution. Except you would like to make a donation of course, either from your own pocket or from Hyde's clothing..."The door opened and mom walked in to everyone's surprise. No, no, no. She wasn't supposed to be here. Not today, not at this moment, not at all."Mom? Oh my God, what are you doing here?" I got up in surprise and pulled out a chair for her. She ignored me and pulled out a chair of her own to sit. Gen followed in with mom's secretaries."To clear this company of any unforeseen debt," She cleared her throat. She already knew. Genevieve must have told her.
Mirabelle~"Here," He held out a t-shirt and I took it, quickly slipped it on."Thanks." I muttered to him. He had saved me just at the moment when I thought it was going to be over for me, buckled me up and carried me out of there into his car and now finally, we were in his house. I didn't know why he didn't take me home but no matter where we were, I was grateful that he was there to help me just in time. Although I was still mad at him because technically, he ruined my life but that didn't matter at the moment."What?""You aren't going to scold me? Shout at me for dancing with a stranger like that and almost ended up in bed with him? You know if it was to be someone else, it definitely wouldn't be going well for me at the moment.""Well, I'm not someone else. And besides, what are you even wearing?""It's called fashion. It was all completely Tonia's idea.""Well, I think she's a bad influence on you. No wonder that guy was turned on. Poor dude couldn't control himself.""What ar
*One year later*~Genevieve~"Hey. You ready?"Mason asked me as he walked into the room."Do I look okay in this dress?" I said, referring to the floral gown I was wearing. "I feel... really heavy, you know. I think this baby is using my energy to do kicks, don't you think?" I asked him, placing my hand over my eight months and two weeks old belly.Mason smiled and walked over to me. "You look beautiful, darling. And besides, I'm always here to lend you my strength whenever you feel too tired to carry our little Gael." He knelt before my bump and caressed it over the skimpy dress I was wearing. "Hey buddy, don't give mommy a hard time, okay? We know you wanna come out so badly but patience, little buddy, patience." He looked up at me and I smiled. Then he got up and closed his mouth over mine. "I love you, Genevieve Kenton King."I smiled as I wrapped my arms around him. "I love you too.""Now come on. Before we arrive late for your dad's birthday dinner." He held my hand as walked o
~Genevieve~Just like that. I couldn't believe it. She was gone.Gone forever. We weren't going to see her ever again.Some of the soldiers that had ran into the smoke, came out few minutes later with Gonzalez men. One was half-dead, the other was injured but very much alive. They put them both in the van and walked around to see dad. He was saying something in low tune to dad when another set of military men walked out of the already burnt and collapsed building with a burnt, unrecognizable body that seemed to have ropes attached to it. A body that was perhaps tied. Then I recalled Mirabelle being tied up before Ryder threw me out."No! My Mira...." Mom was already shaking in tears as they placed the body on a stretcher. Dad dropped to the ground in tears, mom was wailing profusely, Mariano remained stiff and unable to move, Mason had tears rolling down his eyes...none of us could even touch the body. It was Natasha who mustered up the courage to run to where the body was and embrace
~Mirabelle~"What are we going to do? He's going to kill her!" Mason exclaimed out of frustration as he plopped down on the couch, running his fingers through his hair. Mom has been trying to calm him down ever since. But it seems all her words of assurance were falling on deaf ears."My men are searching the entire city as we speak." Dad who had been on the phone came back few minutes later to the living room and said. "They couldn't have gone far. We'll get them in no time.""Hey," Mariano knelt in front of me and places his hand on lap. "Are you alright?"I shook my head."Belle, listen to me, this is not your fault.."I was trying to hold back my tears. "Yes, it is.""No, it's not. Gonzalez has been planning his escape from prison for a long time now. And it so happened to fall on the same time period of your return so none of this is your fault, okay?""Grandpa, are you going to give me to him? The bad guy?" Natasha who was in mom's arms asked Kurt who had been restless."Of cour
~Mirabelle~"Mama, where are we? What is this place?" Natasha asked me as Mariano pulled the car to a stop. I got out and so did Natasha, who looked inquisitive, looking around the place."Hello, Natasha."She turned to stare at the people standing few metres away, her whole face lightening up. "Grandma! Grandpa!"In a blink of eye, she was running into dad's open arms. "My lil baby. She looks just you, Mariano." Dad said to Mariano who was standing beside me as he ruffled her hair playfully, picking her up from the floor."I'm quite heavy, you know. Mama feeds me with good stuff." Natasha said jokingly."Well then, it's a good thing I have quite the strength then." Dad smiled as we walked into the house."Camilla," I greeted Camilla who was standing with the other servants. "I see you're still here." I said, moving into her arms. "Thank you.""Always, Mirabelle, always." She responded and we pulled away. "I'll make coffee and some toast."I nodded and she walked away. "It feels good
~Genevieve~He wasn't in bed with me when I woke up.I got up, stretched and slipped on his shirt. Then I got up and went on a mission to go look for him.I heard noise coming from kitchen area and do I just decided to follow my instincts. To my surprise, he was standing in front of the cooker, flipping something in a pan, shirtless in an apron and in a pair of sweatpants. He turned around and our gaze met."Hey. Good morning."I smiled as I made my way toward him. "Good morning. You're up early.""Yeah, I got up to make breakfast. Come on, have a seat. Breakfast is ready."I did as he told me and sat put as he served me. Breakfast was bacon, scrambled eggs, pancakes and maple syrup.As I ate, I noticed he was stealing glances at me. "What?""You're very beautiful, Gen. Very very."I snorted, hoping that was a joke. "I'm sure I look like a mess.""You look breathtaking."I met his gaze and he smiled. Then he got up from where he sat and walked around to where I was, then to my surpris
~Mirabelle~A lot of people were hovering over me when I woke up. Mom, Mariano, two women, a man, Natasha...."Natasha." I called out gently and she was the first to notice as she ran into my outstretched arms."Mama! Mama, you scared the hell out of us all." She was already crying as I brushed the tears away from her face. "Mama, we were so worried...I was so worried. Promise that you won't ever make us worry like that again."I smiled and pulled her close, her head was resting gently on my chest. "I'm fine, sweetie. I'm just...scared." I admitted softly."But why are you scared, mama? We are here for you, remember? Don't be scared, okay? Daddy is here for you. I am here for you. Grandma is here for you. Don't ever feel scared, okay? You're my best friend. I wouldn't know what I'd do if anything were to happen to you. I can't ever live without you, mama."I couldn't help chuckling as I wrapped my arm tightly over her. "Oh my sweet little red haired baby. I love you so much my darling
~Mirabelle~I stood there and watched as Genevieve expressed how she felt about Mason to Ryder. Ryder on the other seemed to be furious but he looked as if he was holding back from lashing out all on his anger on Genevieve. The moment he walked out, I decided to stay for a while. This was bad. I should be with her right now. She had just made a life-changing decision that would probably require a shoulder to lean on and here I was, hiding behind the wall.All of a sudden, she stood up. She glanced at the mirror and then stopped. But just before she could turn around, a hand grasped mine, pulling me into the shadows."What on earth do you think you're doing?""Mariano, she's my sister. I should be in there with her right now. I should--""Then what's stopping you?"I stared into his eyes."Go on. Go to her. She's your sister, right? She needs you. You should be with her right now. So why are you here?""I--I don't think that's a very good idea. She's down right now, I can't afford to a
~Mirabelle~The congregation was filled to the brim. The people present were mostly friends, elites, actresses, musicians, business elites and government officials from all over the world. From where I was seated, I could see Mariano, my friends, Gabriel and even mom. Natasha and I were both at the back row. We didn't want to draw much attention so we just hid there.Then there was Ryder at the altar, waiting like the gentleman he was. Although, there was something about Ryder. Something off about him, he didn't seem quite the man for Genevieve anymore.And then, there was the bride. Walking towards the altar with dad's arm strapped to hers. On getting to the front row, she quickly hugged mom and Gabriel before proceeding to kneel in front of the altar with her soon to be husband. After a short prayer, they were back on their feet as they proceeded to the ring part and then the exchanging of vows.Well, now it was time to declare them husband and wife."If anyone have reason why these
~Mirabelle~I was trying out the dresses, mom had brought earlier for Gen's wedding tomorrow. There was a silver splayed gown with emeralds, a beautiful black straight one with deep cleavage curve and split up the right thigh and a pink short one with diamonds stashed all over. According to her, the theme of the wedding was black and pink, if I wanted to fit in to be noticed, I'd wear pink but if I wanted to remain anonymous and hidden, I'd wear black.At first I didn't want to go. Mom and Mariano were the only ones who knew about my existence. Mariano had argued with mom about telling dad about me but she had slid him off, telling him the consequences that would result from my dad abruptly finding out about my existence. According to her, she would wine and dine him after Gen's wedding then tell him about me. As for now, I still have to remain hidden and try as much as possible to apply heavy makeups contrary to my skin tone, wear sunglasses and colored wigs. That way, they would nev