On day four of nursing emptiness, I found myself gazing out the Office Window, staring at nothing, only deeply in thoughts of how I could handle my parents and Rosé. As I returned to my seat and clicked on my laptop, an unexpected shattered the silence, making me jump.“Yes?” I returned.The door clicked open and Finn appeared. As he approached, his usually sparkly eyes were dull and sad, yet he had a big grin. He wasn’t okay.“Don’t sit…” I bellowed, and he paused.His grin faded and sadness covered his face.I stood up from the chair and threw on my coat and gestured for him to follow me. “Come,” I said, striding past him.I heard his footsteps echo in behind me and a smirk appeared on my face.We arrived at the parking lot and I pulled the passenger’s door open and hopped in.Finn stared at me with eyes widened in surprise until I raised an eyebrow. “This would be the time for you to hop in and drive…” I remarked wryly.Finn nodded quickly and hurried towards me.“Sorry sir,” he
NAVY’s POV"Navidad!" Mother's voice echoed in my head, jolting me from my thoughts.Reality slips through my hand now and then, a little frequently, a little too often.This would count as our eleventh dinner together and I intended to announce their awaiting departure soon."Are you okay?" Mother asked,"Yes, Ma'am.","You seem distressed,"I glanced at her and a sly smile widened my face, “I’m okay, Mother”"Are you sure this isn't about Rosé?" Not this again. I exhaled."You said you didn’t want her here," I replied, "and it's fine. Don't worry about me.""How can we not worry when you look more miserable by the minute," Lumbar interjected, announcing his presence at the dinner table.“Butt out!” I exclaimed.“Don’t talk to your brother like that!” Papà chimed, “At least he successfully got married. Yours fell through before it even happened.”I glanced at my father, and our eyes locked, a kind of icy air engulfed the room.“When will this topic rest, Papà?!” I thundered. Their
ROSÉ’s POVI paced the corners of my room restlessly, my thoughts racing as I reread Mrs Maya Leonardo's text messages."You have to find a way back home, Rosé, I wish I could help but all my plans fail."I couldn’t shake off the puzzling aspect of the message. All her plans fell through?What plans?!When I fiddled through my phone reading his mother's message, I had no intention of dialing his number, I was going to stay as far away as possible but somehow, I ended up calling him.The phone rang persistently without an answer. Despite knowing that I was probably the last person he wanted to talk to, I found myself more eager by the end of each unanswered call.As the third call went unanswered, disappointment began to creep in.Navy's infamous silent treatment. I sighed, moving to hang up.Unexpectedly, his voice rasped through the phone."Elodie," his voice was gentle.My heart skipped a beat."Good... Good evening sir..." I stammered."Are you alright?" He asked. I went blank. H
NAVY’s POVThe heart spoke before the mind could make out the words. There, I said it.“I love you…” Elodie’s eyes widened slowly, she was astonished.“For a while now…” I added. If I was going to confess, there was no need doing it in bits. This tumultuous moment when my life was falling apart seemed fitting to lay bare my feelings for her. Feelings so long hidden that I didn’t expect her to believe me.“You don’t have to say anything. I just…” my voice failed as I noticed her shrunken figure.“I don’t hate you, Elodie. I don’t like to see you hurt, I don’t want to disrupt your life either. Despite my desire to have a family to raise our daughter, I would hate for it to be against your will.”“It is my will…” She interjected. I was the nervous one but she was the one with a quivering voice. “I mean… I mean that I want to… be a better mother than my mom… I want to try even if it hurts.”“In the future when she asks why her parents are not together, I want to place my hand over my
For most of the night, I laid on my back with my eyes closed, unable to get any sleep. The night dragged on as my mind flowed with thoughts stemming from Mrs Leonardo's words. Until my phone rang loudly shattering the silence of my room, I was unaware that it was dawn.I glanced at my phone's screen and picked it up in a daze."Huh, Paula" I groaned tiredly, "Rosé, I just..." She gasped, "I just saw a video of you and Mr Leonardo on my laptop.""Why would you send that to me?! Eww, girl!" Paula yelled and I sprang from my bed, sitting upright as she spoke."Paula... I promise it is not me. Why would I record myself during sex and dump it on you? Are you sure it is me?...""I might not know Mr Leonardo perfectly but I know what you look like girl and it's definitely you... You look good though, real good."As Paula spoke, a sickening suspicion dawned on me, and an unbelievable picture of my abuser began to unfold in my head.It was Lydia.Everything was beginning to add up now rememb
Broken and shattered to the bone, my heart ached. I bolted out of Paula's house with eyes blurry with tears, dashed into a waiting cab, and went back home.My head buzzed with several thoughts and voices saying everything at the same time.I pressed down the window and shot my nose out for air. The morning breeze filtered through my expressions and emotions, working them out gradually.The cab alighted in front of Navy's wide gates and I sighed. "It's fine..." I urged myself. As I stepped down from the cab, a sharp pain pierced my ribs and I stopped abruptly."Ah!" I gasped, "Aaah!" The sharp pain intensified.The cab driver jumped out and caught me before I fell to the ground, and that was the last thing I remember.I blinked my eyes open and found myself in a room vaguely familiar. I looked around more intently and noticed an IV attached to my wrist, yet the surroundings didn't seem like a hospital ward.Unexpectedly, a voice quite hoarse and firm bellowed in the air, "Are you awak
The earthy tone theme of my room felt like a bad idea when Doctor Martin’s voice echoed, everywhere suddenly turned dull evoking nausea from within me."The only problem is that her fetus is not growing as it should... She needs to rest more, eat more..." The doctor's voice resonated in my head and I remember exhaling sharply.The terracotta-toned walls seemed to be closing in on me, suffocating the breath in my lungs.Elodie's eyes blazed with unimaginable, her glare fixated on me, and my confidence faltered under her scrutinizing glare."I'm sorry, Elodie... I can explain." My voice strained with despair."No, you can't!" She countered, her eyes flared with rage, causing my heart to clench painfully against my chest.The silence between us deepened with each passing moment along with my regret."I can please, give me a chance to explain...""You lied to me, Navy. How could you do that to me? Why would you put me through such pain? Is that what you want? Do you really want me to lose
NAVY’s POVOn my darkest days, on my happiest days, on the days I felt desolate, on the days I needed a shoulder to lean on, on those nights when the sound of my ticking clock was the only thing keeping me sane, I secretly wished, secretly prayed that God sent someone my way. But life seldom unfolds the way we plan it. Most times, our plans do not even happen, other times when they happen, they do so in the most agonizing ways.I stood by Rosé's door, deliberating on whether to knock or not.The echoes of her tearful conversation with her mom haunted me all day.It was because I heard her sobbing painfully that I stood outside her door with a cup of soothing tea torn between barging in to comfort her and waiting for her to come to me.Neither of those options was likely to happen. Elodie would not come to me. She wouldn't ask me for help, and I wouldn't barge into her room. I wouldn't do anything to upset her more. So, I made a turn with the mug of tea now chilling in my hand. As
It was a cheat sheet, or something like that. But the evening was set. A house wedding, one I had never seen. Mother would turn wherever she was if I ever attempted something like this. Alexander called it a parlor wedding. It was happening right in my living room. We redesignedput my minimalist style living room aesthetic to good use, the chandeliers above creating a dimly lit room as dawn set in.Guests trickled in, their murmurs mingling with our choice of music.Alexander stood by the makeshift altar, being the head of two long feast tables, placed at the center. I stood behind him taking in the sight of everything we had done together.The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, the vibrant colors of the floral arrangements contrasting beautifully with the muted tones of the room.Soft candlelight danced on the two-tier cake, sitting at the center of the table.Alexander was particular when he said there were twenty people coming. As his parents arrive right on time, I couldn
Rosé’s POVI left Amelia straddled to his forefront, with a direction of how the rest of the day would go for her. Navy asked a million questions, yet before we left, Alexander asked the same questions all over again.“Is there anything that comes as an instinct to men?” Paula asked, shaking her head in disbelief.Finn stepped into the driver’s seat with my sister right beside him in the passenger’s seat. Paula instantly exclaimed, “I’m getting married tonight, please let’s focus on the road.”A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I glanced at Finn, “she’s burning you,” I teased, Finn nodded agreeably, “I am searching for a good comeback…”Paula broke into a soft laughter, flailing her arms in the air. “What are we buying first?” “A wedding dress first, before the bridesmaids dresses. We haven’t even decided on the color. We’re wasting time!” Grace exclaimed, strangely motivating us in the right way.“Pink,” Paula replied, her voice cracking with emotions, suddenly she broke down in
Chapter 146Rose's POVAs we all know, every story ends. Sometimes a new story begins where the old ended, other times, it is really the end. Grace's life was about to turn to the next chapter. I could already see the fire in her eyes, she could accomplish anything. I wasn't interested in fighting for her before, but seeing her want things like every normal girl her age felt fulfilling, striving to have a purpose told me we were alike in more ways than just blood. "Maybe having you as my legal guardian won't be so bad," Grace's voice boomed into my thoughts, her excitement evident in her bubbly tone."I was worried about us, about the kind of relationship I would have with you." She continued in a tone calmer than the first.I glanced at her with an eyebrow raised. "She told you about me?"Grace nodded, her gaze softening as she glanced at me. "There are only two people mamañ talks about you, and her mother.""She was always complaining about you." Her voice shivered faintly as she
Navy’s POVLove only took a moment, and I was witnessing that moment right before me.Finn had no notice of the heart that was not beating for him, fascinated by his mere presence.My gaze flickered from Rosé to Finn, before returning to Grace. It was only then I noticed her striking semblance to her sister. Her gaze captured the depth of her desires, her long wavy hair began to bounce as she jumped in surprise, startled by an incident we were yet to see.The server had over poured the coffee, spilling the hot drink on her dress.Finally the incident that would bring them together had finally presented itself. Just the interview was his opportunity to retain Rosé.“I apologize for that…,” Finn paused, swiping his gaze on the features of the inconvenient customer to be certain of the status. From the look on his eyes, it was obvious that he was stricken by her. In that moment, I wondered what could have drawn him to her, I wanted to know if it was her beauty or her smile.I couldn’t
Chapter 144Navy’s POVThe sister’s fight had ended the moment Grace face was flooded with tears. Rosé fragile as usual gave in to her emotions too, joining her in tears. The morning sun was yet to show his face, yet the sniffles from her mother and aunty must have woken my daughter, her presence now contributing to the chorus of tears in the room.I fell into a state of chaos, torn between racing to my daughter or my wife, not knowing who to console first.Amelia got louder, hurling me towards her direction.“I’m sorry,” Grace’s soft voice echoed in the room, “please, let me rely on you… as a sister. I have no one else.”Cradling my daughter on chest, I turned to face them. Rosé was quivering slightly, her face flushed with a mix of tears and relief. “Hmmm,” I exhaled softly, looking between mother and daughter.“Such crybabies.” I remarked, stirring a blush on Rosé’s face.“I think she is hungry…” Grace croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, “I think so too… and I f
Chapter 143Navy’s POVI blinked my eyes open, perturbed by the noise in the house. It was barely a minute since I closed my eyes, my eyes were heavy from the the lack of sleep.The first image that came into my view, was an image of Rosé packing a luggage, and instantly, my heart plummeted at the sight of it, thudding against my chest.“Baby, what’s going on?” I asked, the drowsiness in my eyes was completely gone as I jolted to my feet, making my way to Rosé.“Please, tell me, what’s wrong? Please…” Rosé turned to me, her eyes blaring with something I had never seen before.“Let’s go to Paris… let’s go today, now, let’s just go!”“Why?” I asked, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do but I need to understand why first.” “Mamañ, she’s gone…” Rosé replied, her voice quivering as she spoke, “She left Grace here and disappeared, just like me… she’s abandoned her. You think she’s still going to change? You think we still have a chance to her support? That woman deserves to burn in hell!”
Chapter 142ROSE POV Navy sat on the armchair in my spacious room, observing me as I paced agitatedly around, seething with anger at mamañ.“I can’t believe her!” I breathed, “The message Andre sent to us is a clear threat, yet she perceives it as him seeking her. What’d I tell you? She would choose Andre over anyone at any time.”“Elodie,” Navy’s soothing voice interjected, imbued with longing. As our eyes met, I could not help but notice the desire in his gaze. His gaze steadied on me, the intensity of it sending shivers down my spine. Despite my anger at mamañ, in that moment, all I could focus on was the sudden pull between us. His presence filled the room, wafting around me like a curl of smoke.“Rosé,” Navy murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, but it echoed loudly in the silence between us.“Uh,” he cleared his throat, “She is just in love… could you look at it from that perspective?“A wave of disappointment struck me as the desire in his eyes faded while he spoke.I
ROSÉ’s POVA soft exhaled escaped me, as my eyes crinkled with tears, a lump formed in my throat as I struggled to speak.“What… what do you mean, Maa?” Grace spoke out finally, breaking the silence.The answer to that question I already knew. Mamañ had acted as expected.“Henry Benoit,” she sighed sadly, “I’ve wronged him in so many ways. Andre tried to kill him once, or twice…” Our eyes met briefly moment, and I could tell from her expression that it was more than that. “Only the truth mamañ.”Mamañ bowed her head in regret, memories flooding back.“Rosé, Andre tried to harm him so many times that Benoit got a restraining order against him.”“But he didn’t stop, did he?”Mamañ shook her head sadly, her tears welling up.“He didn’t, he tried every means possible.”“Why didn’t he just arrest him?” Navy’s voice boomed into the air, shifting our attention to his tall figure emerging from the hallway.“I put her back to bed,” he explained, planting a peck on my cheek as he joined the
As I stayed in his arms, breathing in his faint fragrance and warmth until a soft coo of a baby interrupted the silence.“It’s Amelia!” Navy gasped, excitement bubbling in his voice.“Wait, you called her Amelia?” I exclaimed, surprised. “Well, I figured she could have two names.”A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I stepped out of his arms. “I’d love that…”Navy nodded, cupping my face in his hands. “I’ll take care of her, you go to the dining.”Taking a deep breath, I made my way back to the dining room, where mamañ and Grace were still seated, their conversation paused as I stepped in. Grace’s appearance was nothing like mamañ’s, and the more I studied her features, I was more convinced that she wasn’t Andre’s daughter.“Mamañ, Grace,” I began, my voice steady, despite the turmoil within, “let’s talk,”Mamañ raised her gaze to me, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.“Where have you been?” I asked, my voice demanding nothing but the truth.“Here and there…” Mamañ replied, dartin