After that weird sex that left my wrists sore and hurting like hell, Andy carefully carried me to bed, swaddled me in his arms, and we both drifted off to sleep. I don't know for how long it has been since I didn't even notice him waking up. My orbs bore into my wrists. They are all red. The soreness and imprints on his fingers are apparent. I don't want to put more meaning into this, so I take it as just a mere accident. I step out of bed, pull down my dress, and stride to the small table where he is conversing with his daughter through a video call on his laptop. I heeded him, notifying her that he had found me, and the cute doll was throwing tantrums. She isn't buying her dad's idea about seeing me tomorrow. "Please, daddy! Pretty please! I am sure mommy Ania will want to talk to me right away if you ask her." "That's why I am asking you, princess, to please give me a few minutes. When she is done with what she is doing, I will ask her to talk to you. Is that okay, baby?" "Why
"Maybe...maybe not. I just don't know, Ania. I have no feelings for Maria." "But you two had a strong connection before. It's normal for her to trigger something in you when you see her again, Andy." "All I know is that I don't want to see the face of that bitch. She reminds me of how her far-fetched love almost reduced me to nothing and the hell I went through with my daughter when she left. I gave her my all, Ania. I pleaded with her; I begged her, but still, she left. She told me to my face that day that I was not even half the man she wanted to spend her life with. And now she shamelessly comes back to claim my daughter? She dares to question how I brought up my daughter. She has no right to do that." "I know, Andy." I place my hands on top of his, soothing him with my thumbs. "Don't let her words or actions get to you because that is exactly what she wants—to irritate you and make you start doubting yourself. She wants to crush the confidence you have built in yourself over the
We drive in through our gate, Andy's mansion, our home. I regret leaving the way I did, but I won't beat myself over it. I did what I thought was best; Andy came for me as I wished, and now we have the battle to fight together so that we can eventually settle down in peace. A murderer to deal with. He opens the door for me, and I step out with Angel in my arms. Poor kid! She is still asleep. Andy was serious when he said we would pick Angel up at seven. We left the hotel at 3 a.m, had a three-hour drive to the city, and another forty-minute drive to Rita's place. The clock is now ticking a quarter past seven.Oops! She is awake! "Hey, baby?" I greet her when she opens her eyes, putting her down and combing her hair with my fingers.She pulls me for a hug, and I engulf her tight. She really missed me as much as I did. Andy is standing at a distance, admiring us—his two babies. "Next time you leave, Mommy, could you take me and Daddy with you?" She says this when we pull away.Ooh, i
"Call Ambrose to my office now!" Andy tells the receptionist without even sparing her a glance, and after him unlocking the door to his office, we saunter in. He puts his daughter down on the sparkling floor and turns to me."He should be here in a few minutes. You and Angel can sit at the coffee table while I check on things here. I will join you when breakfast arrives." I nod my head, and after handing him his bag which contains his laptop and some documents, I lead Angel to the coffee table. He has been away for a couple of days, so I understand he has a thousand of things on his schedule. I am partly to blame for his being away for that long. If only I didn't run away, he would have resumed the office a bit earlier. Crouching on the white seats, I can't help but think back to the last time I was here. How long has it been again? A couple of months ago. That day Andy instructed the chauffeur to bring me here. The naughty stuff I did that day makes me smirk at myself to date. I w
"Where is Angel? I want to take her out today." I turn around to see the ugly face of this wicked monster. I was enjoying the sweet aroma of my cinnamon Swiss rolls, especially knowing how much Andy and Angel love them. But now this witch is about to ruin that. And what did I hear, huh? She wants to take her out. What's this murderer up to? Kidnapping? She already knows she doesn't stand a chance of winning the custody case. And I know this witch. She hates losing. She never accepts defeat. She does not bow to anyone. She will do even the impossible to get what she wants. "Didn't you hear me?" Her agitated, irksome voice astounds me again. "I thought you were bold and fearless. Why are you now staring at me like I am a ghost?" She asks, cocking her neck to the side, wearing an expression that doesn't sit well with me at all. It's one of those looks that I see on assassins' faces in movies when they are taming their victim. One of those looks that gives someone a sinister demeanour.
I peel my eyes from an exotic room with an awful aura. I dart my eyes around it. Mmh, no wonder I feel like throwing up. I despise hospitals. From the sight of them to the aura, they irritate my intestines, just like they're doing now. I feel terrible. What the fuck happened? The last thing I recall was the sight of everything before me back in the mansion going blurry until my vision became dark, and my legs failing on their purpose to support me. I fell unconscious. Huh! It's because of that bitch assassin! She freaks me out! Today was the height of it, though. I confirmed her real identity. The dreadful things she told me might have taken a real toll on me. Come on, myself! We can't fight this battle like this. I haul my lazy ass and sit on the bed, my back resting on the backrest of the bed. I check the time on my wristwatch. It will be eleven in the morning in ten minutes. I've been unconscious for how long? Two hours or so. Good grief! I roll myself to my acting-weak self and
Sauntering into the house, we find this bitch parked on the sofa, like she owns this mansion. Eyes roll! She is an annoying fucking pest in the ass! "Can I take my daughter out now?" She fires when we are about to bypass her. Give me a break! I just had an incredible mind-boggling sex in a hospital room, and now she wants to ruin this mood for me too. Such a bitch! But thinking about it, it's high time we find a way to kick her fucking ass out asap. I can't envision her devilish glares firing at my belly bump when they start to show. She might cause me a miscarriage. And I also don't want to keep it a secret from Andy for too long. She is the reason I am doing this. Andy turns to her, a murderous look on his complexion, and she stands to challenge him like the dare-devil that she is, while Angel snuggles to her daddy. Shouldn't this witch be ashamed of herself? Her very own daughter is terrified of her death. On the other hand, I must commend her balls. She must be a real diehard
I'm wearing a broad smile as I watch Angel try her best to blend in with the kids at this park. Yes, because I was able to persuade Andy to let the bitch have its way. That wasn't an easy one, though! He went berserk, livid; he fumed and roared, but in the end, I was able to calm him down like I always do. I am the only one who knows how to handle him. I'm glad I have that power to just soothe the beast in him. Nonetheless, I can't just trust this skimming, so I had to tag along to keep an eye on Angel. She thought I would just let her take my daughter all alone. She was so damn wrong! There is no way I would give in to that. Talking of the bitch, I thought her ass was itching to bond with her daughter and not just dump her at the park and disappear. I know! The air is so surreal without her annoying pesky self around, but still, where did she vanish to? It's been about thirty minutes since she left to answer some God knows whose call. That's so freaking long. Besides, she didn't hav
As I tap my stilettos at a tortoise pace on the red carpet down the aisle, my lips are curved up to an expansive, salacious smile. All my senses are receptive, attesting to the happiest day of my life. The day I bid goodbye to my youth and embrace marriage and all the commitments that come with it. I'm neither apprehensive nor fearful, and I am not walking into this with any of the myths out there about marriages. I know mine will not be like any other, and that is the difference. Life with Andy has been blissful for those eight months I have known him, despite the drawbacks and challenges, and I have no qualms that this is yet another onslaught to a heavenly incredible life. This, conclusively, is my sunniest day under the face of the earth, and it will infinitely be nurtured in my heart, alongside all the days I have had and ever will spend with my better half. The man who melts my heart even without a word or any action. All I need is to think of him or cast a glance at him, and ev
"Ooh, I said I could walk, Daddy. Just put me down." Angel snorts to her dad after we get out of the car, making us all laugh. She is acting all tough and strong for someone who just left the hospital, but we are all happy that she isn't now experiencing much pain. At least her attitude doesn't say that. "Are you sure you can walk, princess?" Andy and his worries as he puts her down, albeit unwillingly. "Of course, daddy. Princesses are strong, right?" She chirps, taping her feet on the ground and walking a few steps ahead of us as we watch her. "See, I can walk." "Okay, but just be careful, okay? Don't run." She smiles as she leads us inside the house, marching with so much vigour. She must have been so exhausted from being constrained in that hospital bed. I would be as overjoyed if I were her.Stepping inside, she stops just a step away from the door, her eyes darting around to the new faces awaiting her inside—my family. We walk in, Andy and I standing on her sides. "Hi, cuti
FAST FORWARD. TWO DAYS LATER We park at the hospital's parking lot and step out, Andy hooking his hand around my small waist as we make our way to Angel's room. He is becoming so overprotective as the days go by, and I can't lie that I don't like it. As I had anticipated, the news of our baby has blown his mind. It seems like an accomplishment for him, and I can't be less enthusiastic. As early as now, I can't wait to hold my cute little angel in my arms when it's born. I just can't wait. We stroll to where Ambrose and Rita are perched on the leather couch just outside the door, and they stand to acknowledge our presence. They have been of tremendous help these past three days. We have been alternating shifts to watch over Angel, and for that, among many other things, like bundling me to my prince charming, I will always be indebted to them. They are indeed friends worth keeping. We hug them and rack in front of them. This guy beside me has been procrastinating on talking to them f
"So, we have this entire house to ourselves, baby." Andy says this as we make our way out of the shower in our master bedroom. Apparently, he bought a new house for my family to stay in, as we couldn't have accommodated them all here. Well, we would have, but he just has some stringent beliefs of his, which I concede. Like, how could we let my parents sleep in a room that has been used? It's not right. I applaud him for his wise sentiments. We haven't discussed anything with them yet because they suggested we get a little sleep and some freshening up first before we can talk. Sleep huh! It's not like there is a case or a motion to dispute it. It's just the formal introduction and some clarifications here and there. Mina and Mira needed a lot of rest too, so my parents chaperoned them to the house Andy got for them, while Rita and Ambrose stayed back to watch Angel. We don't have much time since we know Angel will inquire about us when she wakes up, but our desires can't just let thi
We all stand up when the door to Angel's room opens, with the doctor standing in front of us. We are all here—all my family members and also Rita and her husband. Andy called them up, though they haven't conversed, but at least they feel appreciated even by just being here. "Well, doc? How did it go?" I ask because Andy seems to be contemplating something that I don't know. "It went well, Mr. Ashton. The transfusion was a success." The doctor replies, causing us all to relax. Everyone was tense. "Can we see her now?" I ask after breathing out a sigh of relief. "Sure, but don't bother her so much as she needs a lot of rest. Only two people at a time." The doctor says this and excuses himself. My parents nod at me, implying that Andy and I go in first. That was deduced. We are her parents anyway, and we just can't introduce them to her in her hospital bed. I looked at Andy. He is still lost, to the point that I had to shake him to reality. "Let's go in." I ask, afraid of what he lo
My family pulls me for a family bear hug the moment they get out of the car. I missed them so much, and I am so glad that they have arrived safely. I was really worried because Damian is still on the loose. You can't trust crazy maniacs like him. You just can't tell what way they would use to get back at you. But finally, I am at peace. I pill away, and their eyes fall to the bandage on my head, my mother's hands travelling to it. "My dear." "How are you all?" "We are okay, Tania. How are you?" Father responds? "I'm okay. We are okay." "Hi, everyone." Andy greets me from behind me and allows them to exchange pleasantries. He still hasn't said anything about Angel, and I am afraid of asking him anything. I fear for the poor kid, and I want to believe that he is just going through an emotional crisis that won't last long. "Babe?" He calls, and I look up at him, Mina and Mira standing beside him. "I'll just show them to the doctor." He explains. "Okay." I respond, and then he tu
"You don't know what a cranky and stringent jerk that jerk of yours is, Tania." Ambrose speaks. "Hey! Watch your mouth, will you? If he hears you, we are done!" Rita warns.What will I do about these three? They surely can't continue like this. "Is there anything else that you two aren't telling us, Tania?" Ambrose is the first one to speak, and guessing by the pregnant look on his wife's face, I know she has tons of questions too. "Yes, Tania. Why can't any of you donate blood to Angel? And why is Adrian acting so overly protective of you? We've been watching from a distance, and you two are acting weirdly odd. What's up? Is there a problem?" Huh, these two! I understand their worry, but still, I'm not opening my mouth. "Come on, Tania! The situation isn't that bad to shut us out like this." Ambrose pleads, his worry and concern palpable in his voice. "I still don't understand what your faces are doing here because our agreement still stands." Whoa!They cower back in fear agai
"Don't you at least need to sit down, babe? You are pacing too much, and that is not good for you." Andy says. Huh! See why I refused to tell him right away? What will pacing do to a one-month-old foetus? Goodness! I have heard stories of expectant women participating in and winning running marathons. But to Adrian Ashton, pacing, standing, or anything at all except eating is not good for me. Leave aside that for now, because I know I have not seen anything yet, but how on earth can even I stop this freaking pacing if no one is picking up my calls for the tenth time back at home? Where the heck is that family of mine when I need them the most? "Still no response, Andy! What are we going to do?" I ask, worry washing over me. My twin sisters are the only hope we have right now to save Angel, but I can't get a hold of them. Who the hell is with that damn phone? "Relax, babe! Just sit first." Huh, this Andy again. He guides me to the leather seat and assists me to crouch down with ca
"Tania!"I turn around to hear the voice of Rita behind me, her husband beside her. They are shocked at my state. "Ambrose. Please find doctor Shannia and ask her to take you to where Andy is taking a bath. " I say, and he turns around on his long strands. I hope he arrives in time to find Andy still in the bathroom. Otherwise, it would be impossible to get him back there again. "How are you, my friend?" Tania speaks before I can forget that there is someone around me. I need comfort. I need a friend, and she has always been the only one.I fall into her arms, and she hugs me tight, the weight of what I have been carrying for the last couple of hours coming out in drops of tears. I rest on her chest until I realize I am almost soaking her top wet with my tears. I pull away. "I am so afraid, Rita." I mutter, keeping my sobs at bay and drying some of my tears. "Everything will be fine, Tania." She consoles. "When, Rita? Every time we think this is about to be over, something happe