A broad, devilish smirk is plastered on her face. That smile a witch wears after casting a spell on someone. She has just done that, and now she knows the spell is working. She has won! Game well played, Maria! Again, yet again, she won over me!"You can stay." I mumble once again, and Andy snaps out of his state. I expected him to ask me why I was doing this. Why am I allowing Maria to stay? But he doesn't say a thing. Maybe this is what he wanted; he just didn't know how to say it. I have lessened the burden for him. Now he doesn't have to say it. For him and Angel, I am willing to dine with the devil and even dance with it if that is all it will take to see them out of harm's way. The annoying clicking sound of Maria's heels as she walks back to us again catches our attention once more. She must be doing it on purpose. "You are so intelligent and humane, my dear cousin. Exactly, just as I thought." She mocks us, standing in front of us, but her eyes are on Andy. "I knew you woul
The door flickers open, and Andy drags himself inside. I have cried my eyes out. The eyebags feel so heavy. I can't even afford to look at him. "I came to get Angel. I wanted to sleep with her in my room tonight. But if you are with her, then..." "It's alright, Andy. You can take her." I mumble to him. I know he needs her. I understand his worries, fears, and insecurities when it comes to his daughter. Maria is a big threat at the moment, especially because her motive isn't clear yet. The least I can do is to give him my endless support and understanding. "You too. Let's sleep together tonight, please." He says. He is trying his best to act strong, but I can see how this whole Maria thing is breaking him down. He is shuttered and confused too. He can't even look me straight in the eye. He is cold, cold with fear and defeat. I nod my head, and he scoops Angel up after giving me a faint smile. The three of us walk out, like a family we could have become in a few hours if only this
A thousandth ring! I grit my teeth and switch the damn phone off.How annoying! I understand it's a shock for a wedding to be called off at the very last minute. I get it. It was unexpected! It's inconvenient, alarming, and unbelievable. But didn't we do enough explaining in the emails? What happened to people respecting others' decisions? We are not expecting any understanding from anyone. None at all! We get it. Who cancels their wedding on the morning of the big day, right? That's... Unbelievable. But it is what it is. They can call it crazy. Weird. Madness. Whatever name they want to give it,. The truth is, I will abide by whichever name they choose, and I won't try to defend myself or say anything against it. I have nothing to explain, because who would understand our predicaments, right? But is it so arduous to just accept and respect the fact that we have cancelled the wedding? Come on! I drag my numb legs to the kitchen. Actually, my body cells and nerves died last. I feel
I swallow another bitter sip of coffee, closing my eyes a little as the bitterness washes my throat all the way down. Damn it! I can't take another sip. I pour the remaining water into the sink and start dragging my feet out. "Is it too bitter for your liking?" Oh, this, BITCH!"What do you care?" I snap, turning slowly to look at her ugly face. That's according to my hatred for her, though. The truth is, Maria is a beautiful woman with a fair complexion. With a few touches, she would be the most beautiful model goddess that this nation has ever had. She has been perfectly aware of her alluring beauty from an early age, and she lost no chance in taking advantage of that to tame men. She has screwed dozens, and it's too unfortunate that one of them had to be Andy. Screw this bitch! "Take it easy now, dearest cousin! Actually, I really don't give a damn. But just some friendly advice. Things are never sweet. A little bitterness won't kill either. You should try and make adjustments,
"You are bad! You hurt my mommy." Angel speaks, making Maria stop walking to her, but she is determined to keep her show going. "Sweetie, it was an accident. Besides, it didn't hurt that much, right, Tania?" The she-devil asks, shamelessly smiling. Accident, huh!"You have no right to hurt her." Angel defends me, then the bomb Andy and I were so afraid of explodes. "Who are you?" Andy and I shoot our gazes at Maria, but the bitch wears her usual crown of a smile, a smile that I'm growing to hate so much. It's annoying! She closes the gap between her and Angel, kneeling before her. She tries holding Angel's hands, but Angel pulls them away, clenching to her dad. I told you, Maria, that Angel is not a dumb kid like you think. If Angel wasn't just about to get hurt, I would be laughing at this devil's face right now. Her lips lift up with a smile, parting to pave the way for what she is about to say. I swallow hard and look at Andy, only to find him looking at me. "I am your mo..
I kiss Angel goodnight and stand by her bed. I'm glad that she eventually fell asleep. She has been asking questions the whole day, and she vetoed leaving her room the rest of the day after that uncalled-for charade with her mother earlier. She doesn't want to see her mother, but I know Maria. She won't take any of that. I tiptoed out of her room, cautiously locking her door. I scan the living room with my eyes. I know he is upstairs in his study, but I want to be cautious in case he goes down to get a glass of water or something. He can't know I am sneaking into Maria's room. He went hysterical when I told him that Maria wanted to talk to me in her room tonight. I don't know what he is so afraid of. It's like he knows something about this woman that I don't. I had no option but to lie to him. I told him that I wouldn't be seeing his ex-wife tonight. Ex-nonsense of a wife! I feel bad about lying to him. For not listening to him. For doing this behind his back, but I have to. I nee
In life, there are some things that need rethinking. Not just a second thought, but up to a thousandth thought, if need be, just to be certain. There are arduous and serious battles that require thorough preparation before embarking on them. There is also that point in life where you need to sit back and think before taking another step. That point where your heart is overly loaded with qualms. When your mind is clogged with uncertainty and doubts,. That point in life where you can't tell what you really want. That point of bafflement where you can't tell what is right from what is wrong—when right seems wrong and wrong seems right. That is exactly me, Tania Lawson, at this crack of dawn. There is just too much for me to take. I love Andy so much. God can attest to just how much I am willing to do for this man and his daughter. But what if, just what if, he still feels something for Maria? Just what if? I can't wait for Maria to laugh in my face after she wins. I will feel like a to
ANDY'S POVI wait for my Ania to come and get me breakfast like she does most of the time, but today she doesn't come. I understand her, though. I know I screwed up last night, big time. I know she is mad, and she has all the rights and reasons to be, but I will explain everything this morning. Everything I have found about this fucking bitch named Maria, I will relay to her so that she can understand why I will do anything and everything to protect her. She sees Maria as just a selfish, pathetic bitch, which she sure is, but there is a more dangerous part of her that she is not aware of. Something that even I didn't know until I did my investigation. Now that I think about it, was my marriage to me a scam? Going by Tania's thinking, I feel like I was taken for a ride! This woman might have played me back then because things were just not adding up. It pains me to admit, but maybe I was so desperate for love back then that I refused to see through the curtain of her deceit. Her stu
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