‘...With fragile steps, she regained the ground Her child’s forgiveness, a love unbound In final days, she held her dear And proved her love, wiped away each tear Though scars remain, love shines so bright A mother’s love, a child’s heart made right.’ While my mother may not have been flawless, she always tried her hardest. She loved, made errors, and grew from them, but fate had its own plans. There's no point in pointing fingers at her; after all, she was only human. However, I can't help but resent the day that demon of a stepfather entered our lives. If he hadn't shown up, things would have been different, and I wouldn't have had to endure a traumatic upbringing, struggling to move beyond the past. >>>>> I awoke as soon as I opened my eyes, only to find my vision obscured by a cloth bag over my face. I felt restrained, with my arms and legs tied to the chair I was seated in. I could hear footsteps and voices around me, but I was completely disoriented and clueless about my
The clock was ticking and as day broke, I had 60 hours remaining. The door swung open and a tray of what they referred to as food was slid towards me before the door was locked once more. I grew increasingly anxious as there was no response from anyone, nor any sign of the authorities. I peered at the food and felt almost nauseated by its appearance. I moved it to a corner where it wouldn't be in my line of sight. I strained to hear any activity outside, hoping to catch a glimpse. All I could make out were footsteps pacing back and forth, and I could discern a shadow beneath the door, suggesting a guard was stationed nearby. I was determined to confirm my suspicions. With my legs and hands bound, I had to shuffle towards the door to investigate. "Hello!" I called out, receiving no reply. I tried again. "Is the damsel in distress?" a voice from behind the door inquired. "A damsel should drink water after eating," I retorted. Silence lingered for a minute before the door creaked open
"Which one?" inquired the man. "The one named Bella from her office," he reported, and I was taken aback. 'No!' I thought silently to myself. "That makes it even better. The insurance money," Benson chuckled sarcastically. I longed to caution Bella against paying the money. The situation was not unfolding as I had envisioned. "Has she agreed to meet?" he inquired. "Yes, sir." He turned to me and remarked, "If this Bella compensates me generously, I might consider releasing you and disregarding the remainder," a statement I knew was a blatant falsehood. Standing up, he turned to leave, stating, "You know, it will be quite entertaining to witness you lose all those you hold dear," his gaze piercing, causing my heart to race as I realized he might harm Bella. "Inform her not to even consider involving the authorities," he instructed the man triumphantly as he walked away. A few minutes passed before he returned, questioning if she had arrived. Bella was still nowhere to be seen
In that moment of sorrow, I could sense Zach's gaze on me, but I didn't have a chance to look at him because I wasn't prepared to lose another family member. "She'll be okay," he reassured me, but I snapped back, "How can you be so certain? This is all my fault... It's because of me... I'm a terrible person who brings tragedy to those who support me..." Jade placed her hand on my shoulder and urged me to look at her. "Focus on me," she said, interrupting my outburst. "You're not a terrible person. We're all here because we care about you and we know you would do anything for any of us," she comforted me. "She's going to be alright," she reassured us, and we waited. As we waited, Jade asked Zach, "How long will the sedative last?" "According to Mr. Maurice," I wasn't sure who that was and didn't want to know. I just wanted the ambulance to arrive and for the men to remain unconscious. "...the dosage is strong enough to knock out an elephant. So, for a human, it should las
Weeks of tranquillity were abruptly interrupted by a resounding knock at my door at the early hour of 5 am. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped me, evoking daydreams and stirring my senses. As I opened the door, he approached, standing close enough to feel the delicate fabric of my nightgown against his fingertips. Gently, he lifted my hand from the doorknob and closed the door, his gaze never leaving mine. In his customary morning voice that never failed to elicit butterflies, he began, "Make me understand..." His touch grazed my exposed right shoulder, leaving me momentarily paralyzed. With a soft caress, he traced his fingers along my shoulder and posed a provocative question, "Was he better than me?" My eyes widened. "Did he caress you with the same tenderness as I do? Or does he possess twice my strength?" Those words ignited a flame within me as he playfully placed his hand on my cheek, running his fingers through the back of my head, his thumb gently tracing my lips a
That evening, we found ourselves at the scene and witnessed everything until the police arrived," she recounted as she handed me the salt. "Much to my surprise, I spotted your stepfather there, but he managed to evade capture," she added, shedding light on the woman he had mentioned during my abduction. I chose not to discuss him. "You and Mr. Maurice certainly displayed courage by being there. What if something had gone wrong?" I teased, adding a dash of salt to the simmering stew. "It wasn't easy for me to follow him. It just happened. But engaging in something risky was undeniably thrilling," she responded, eliciting a smile from me. "He could have accompanied us to rescue you, but he believed in our abilities and went to the police station to file a report, hoping to change their minds. Unfortunately, they never showed up," she concluded with a sombre expression. "It taught me that those in power may let you down when you need assistance, while the seemingly weakest individua
ZACH'S POV "Zach... Do you think this is a good idea?" Mr. Ike objected. "We both know I've always wanted to make a movie of my own," I told him. "I know... But with Jade? She’s practically off the market, and the story isn't what is wanted or expected on screen. People want spicy romance, and if it's action, it should be worth it, not some silly movie about postpartum." I flared up, "Did you just say silly? I am an adult and can make my own decisions." "Exactly, but you are bound to me by contract, and whatever I say about your career goes," he retorted, which I was glad would end a year later. “There’s no room for sentiments when it comes to making money. We have to give the audience what they want, and you know it. Jade is an amazing actress, no doubt, but…” That man can be so annoying, but I had to tread lightly not to push him into doing something treacherous. I had to think of a way to tame him so he could see a glimpse of my vision for the movie. I closed the do
Writing commenced with various elements such as casting, auditions, and scouting for locations. Jolaade's unwavering support was truly remarkable. Whenever she visited the agency to bring lunch for Jade and me, the crew seemed perplexed. However, I admired her even more for her confidence and the warm smile she always wore. She paid no attention to the gossip, focusing solely on supporting me and her friend. I was certain that few could match her dedication. The crew's subtle glances reminded me of the awkwardness you feel when you're with your boyfriend and the friend who betrayed you. It was a delicate situation, but I made sure to show Jolaade appreciation with hugs before she left, despite her strained relationship with Mr. Ike. I wanted to keep my personal life private and not let others dictate it. At that moment, my priority was completing the movie with excellence. The success of the project relied heavily on Jade's commitment and hard work. For Jade, this opportunity was a