"You finally made it down for breakfast," Frances said as they entered the dining table area."We are sorry" Ophelia replied clinging onto Cade's arms. Cade felt a bit scared because he had expected Ophelia to rain down hell on him for what his grandfather had done. Instead of being a pain she had been quiet and changed out of her clothes to the clothes Frances had prepared for her before telling him that they should go down for breakfast.Now she was holding onto him and still pretending so well, maybe she was now okay with the idea of them being intimate and with the idea of them having a child. He dreaded the conversation they were going to have about this when they got back home. The only words she had told him as they left the room was that he had to make sure that they acted better than they had been doing up until now."We could barely keep our hands off each other" she added. She was going to act more now because she had a larger shoe to fill."We did not need to know that," C
"You really went all out, I have to say that you outdid yourself," Cade said as they drove home. They had just successfully been able to leave the house after all the things that Ophelia had pulled with them."One of us has to try," Ophelia said absent-mindedly looking out the window. The conversation between Charles and the both of them kept on replaying in her head. How was she to get out of this situation or was she to go back on her word all of a sudden?"Are you okay? Is this about what my grandfather said?" he asked noticing her mood."Yeah," she said in a weary voice."You do not have to take what he said to heart," Cade said as they entered into the estate gate. "We can go back after a moment and tell them a sob story that we tried and it was not working""Do you think my mind has not wandered that far?" she asked turning to him. "Do you know that there are so many medical advancements that can allow one to conceive a child out of the body""Do you think making a child in a te
"Thank you once again for these," Harper said waving the bag in the air. This was a miracle for her because she knew that things might be tough of she had to pay for the things herself."What about lunch?" Green asked. Harper hoped that he did not have interest in her after seeing her at the party and this was his way of coming on to her. "Don't worry it's on me, as I said I have something to ask you sooo..." he trailed off. She had been quiet trying to study his face.He did not look nervous and he was not trying to avoid eye contact, maybe she was just being extra and he actually needed a favour from her. "Sure, we can," she said. It was just a harmless lunch and they would have it where everyone could see. Nothing more than lunch."Okay then let's go" he said turning and leading her to where he had parked his car. They got in and he took her to a neighbourhood breakfast club.Seeing the place, Harper's fears disappeared because she knew that someone of his status would not bring a
"What did you mean by let us have a child together?" Cade asked as they entered the house. Ophelia looked at him, wondering what he was going on about.After she dropped the bomb on him in the car, he had not said anything through the drive home, and now it was like his mouth taps were let loose and now he could talk. "Are you saying that... Are you saying that we should... Are you saying that?" he trailed off each time.Cade did not want to seem vain to her; what would she think about him if he were still thinking about them being intimate when she had clearly told him off about it? She had been clear and never stuttered about it either, so she must mean that they have their baby another way."Are you saying we have a test tube baby? Adoption? Artificial insemination? IVF?" Ophelia blinked at him. He seemed to have way too much knowledge about things like this and why."Why do you know so much about babies?" she asked. Cade cleared his throat, confronted by her question. He expected
"What brings you to call me so early in the day?" Ophelia asked."I have news from the commissioner of police," Carter said over the phone."Already?" Ophelia was shocked at how fast they got to work because her dad asked them to. She wondered if the Vale family's power was not as much as theirs or if they were discriminating against him because he had not yet announced the chairman of the company."Get Cade to meet me at the police station; I will be going there too," Carter said."You too?" Ophelia was shocked. "Is it serious?" she asked because her father would not leave his busy day and go there for no reason."Why would it not be regarded as serious?" Carter asked like Ophelia was being ridiculous and asking that question. "This is the case of a stalker; of course it is serious," Ophelia blinked.She wondered if her father would have reacted this way if she had been the one who was a victim of the stalking. She wanted to hope that he would react in the same way and be genuinely c
They got to the police station a bit late because of traffic that they had not expected. Ophelia was shocked to see her dad still waiting for them, even though he hated those who came late for things."You are here," Carter said, trying to hold himself from grilling them about coming late."So sorry we are late; we were stuck in traffic for quite some time." Ophelia apologized immediately before her dad could make a big deal out of it. She had seen a lot of people lose out because they had been late to appointments with her dad. It was one of the things he never tolerated."It is fine; traffic can happen." Ophelia could not help the shock that climbed her face. Her father understood them? Was that possible?"Dad?" she asked, stepping forward so she could look at his face properly. "Are you sick?" she asked because that would be the only explanation that made sense; it had to be that he had been diagnosed with some kind of illness and it was making him change so much."What nonsense ar
"Let us go; I will treat you two to lunch," Carter said as they stepped out of the police station. Ophelia looked at her father; she moved closer to him and pressed her face forward. She was tempted to check his pulse as well as her temperature but stopped herself because of the eyes around them."You would treat us to lunch?" she asked, stepping back because of the glare that her father had on his face."That is just what I said," Carter said, and she nodded."Dad, if anything is going on, you need to tell me immediately or my mind will wander too far and I will think about things I should not," Ophelia said with a concerned look on her face."What is so strange about me treating my daughter and her husband to lunch?" Carter asked. Ophelia was overreacting; if anyone else heard her, they would think he had never bought her a meal in his life."You mean to tell me that you are taking at least an extra hour out of your busy Saturday to buy us a meal?" Ophelia followed. Cade tugged on h
"Dad!" Ophelia exclaimed, her cutlery falling from her hand to the plate in front of her."Can't I ask my son-in-law that?" Carter asked, turning to Cade and then to Ophelia with a shrug."Why would you ask him that?""Isn't that why he married you?" Carter asked. "To become the chairman, so I am wondering what is taking so long.""My grandfather had more...""Stop there," Ophelia said, cutting him off before he could say anything more. "You do not have to explain anything to him.""Ophelia, stay out of this," Carter said before gesturing to Cade to explain."My grandfather's first requirement for the position was that I get married.""Which was why you got together with my daughter?" Carter asked. Ophelia was shocked that it took her father this long to speak about it. He was not deceived by their petty tricks at all. He still knew that they were together, mostly for business benefits."Yes, sir, but recently, due to new policies, grandfather is saying that we need to have children b
"I did not think that you would help me out," Harper said to Green with a smile on her face. She had called him about a week ago to tell him that Ophelia and Cade were now locked in. Green had been so angry about it. He waited years for Ophelia, only for her to end up Cade. He had expected that he could pull them apart, but now he was hearing that she was together with Cade and they loved each other now.When they kept telling the public that they were deeply locked in, he could tell that she was doing this just because her father asked her to do it. He waited, hoping that there would be a time when they went their separate ways and then he would swoop in to save the damsel in distress."I refuse to lose to Cade.""I like how you think," Harper said, and her phone began to ring. She took up her phone and stared at the screen. "Ophelia is calling me?" She murmured, looking at the screen, her eyes growing wide and wider."What are you waiting for? Pick it up," Green urged her."I should
Frances was sitting in a coffee shop; she had gotten a message from Ophelia that they had to meet up. As much as she did not want to have to go out there to meet her, she was curious to see her face after reading the news. She had not thought to publish the news like that because she did not want to do anything that might affect Cael, be it directly or indirectly, because she still believed that they would be able to get together soon.She was however happy for whoever had taken that news and ran with it; the entire city was buzzing while waiting for a statement on the family. She felt that now that Cade was so put in the public eye, Charles might consider Cael as a better-suited candidate for the position."Did I keep you waiting for long?" Ophelia asked as she sat down.Frances swallowed as she saw how good she looked; she was tempted to almost comment on it; she did not look like she had seen the news. "No, I just sat down a minute ago," she said, and Ophelia nodded."Have you orde
THREE DAYS AFTER THE WEDDING TUESDAY MORNING "Honey" Ophelia sat by the side of the bed shaking Cade; his eyes opened slowly as he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her in."Good morning, darling," he said and pouted, waiting for a kiss. She closed her eyes and bent down to kiss his lips. "That was so short," he said, his eyes opening wider. "Something is wrong; what is wrong?" he asked, his eyes catching a glimpse of the frown on her face. "What happened?" he asked, sitting in bed quickly."You might want to see this," she said, taking her phone and giving it to him. He took the phone from her hand and sat up straight. He read through the screen as his eyes widened with each statement he came across."What is this?""The number one trending news in the city this morning.""From what source?""Apparently it started as a rumour from a blog but when the reporters reached out to Abigail yesterday evening for an interview, she did not confirm or deny it so they are just carry
"My mom wanted you here, but I never did, so it is crazy that you are trying to force me to sleep with you," Cael scoffed as they sat on the bed in the room. They had been so preoccupied with other things that it was the night of the wedding that they all realized that they did not have a house, so they went back to the mansion.Charles had taunted them for their poor planning; Cael could not believe that his grandfather had not stepped up to do anything concerning the wedding even after he had leaked the secret to him. He was feeling overwhelmed by the situation and was now convinced that his grandfather was doing the right thing by not allowing him to be the next in line for succession. Even when he had leaked the secret of the wedding to Charles, he did not do anything about it.Even this evening, when they got back to the house after the wedding, Charles was not shocked to see them back at the mansion; he just nodded his head at them and retired to his room. He did not know why he
"You look so beautiful," Fiona gushed over her daughter as she entered the room."I do?" Frances asked, and her mother nodded."Like the star of the show that you are," she murmured, and Frances smiled.She had been so busy stressing and preparing for the wedding that she feared she might not look good in any of the images because of how stressed she was. She felt good to receive a compliment from her mother considering how shallow she was; she would be into complimenting something or else she found it appealing to the eyes."I hope you remember all I have been telling you." Fiona said, and Frances nodded.Her mother had basically turned it into an anthem that was engraved in her mind. She had told her to make sure to get pregnant between the first few weeks of pregnancy so she could have an edge over Ophelia, who was still yet to show any signs of having a baby. She also told her to make sure she sucked up to Charles, even though they all knew how almost impossible that might be."Do
THE FAY OF THE WEDDING Ophelia's eyes fluttered open as she turned to Cade sleeping beside her. She felt his hand that had been holding her head up all night. She snuggled into him and felt his hand pull her in closer."Are you awake?" she murmured, trying to look at his face from her position."No," he drew out, and she laughed."You are asleep yet talking?" she said, and he tried to nod but was failing badly because of the pillow."I talk in my sleep," he added, and she gave him a frown."Then sleep and talk some more. I want to go get myself a cup of tea," she said, trying to stand up from the bed, but his hand on her wrist pulled her back, and she dropped to his chest."What are you doing?" she asked, propping herself up with her hand on his chest."I think you forgot something," he said with a pout and his eyes closed.She traced his pouted lips with her fingertip. "And what can that be?" she asked, feigning ignorance."I know that you very well know what I am talking about," he
A FEW DAYS TO THE WEDDING"I have something to report," Paul said, coming into Charles's office. He had been working in the background to make sure that Aigail and Cael's plan did not work. He knew that they had been so busy with the board meeting, and he had to work too. He was not going to sit down and assume that since he was the chairman, everyone was supposed to be automatically loyal to him.He was meeting with all of the board members and directors while trying to know their stand on the matter; for most of them, they kept trying to play both sides and see which side would favour them. Charles lowered the glasses from his face and dropped them so they dangled by a rope on his neck.The entire company was so tense that even a child could tell that something was up. The staff were trying their best to be careful not to choose sides so they did not find themselves jobless after the board meeting. Everyone was walking on eggshells since the chairman was no longer working from home
Harper stared at her phone in hand; she could not believe that they were trying to discard her. She read the message over and over again, and she could not lie; it did not make any sense to her. What was she supposed to do? She had just boasted to her housemate about how well her plan was going, and now she had to abort the mission. And for what reason?Hello Harper, Abigail does not need your help with Cade anymore and she would like you to move out of the house within a month.-FrancesShe had closed her lease and moved into the house, and now they wanted her gone within a month? She was not going to allow them to bully her; she dialled the number once again and pressed the phone to her ears. The dial tone rang once and then beeped dead as if it were cut from the other end. She tried calling Abigail and Cael as well, but they were both not picking up.She could tell from her interaction today that Cade had finally realized his feelings for Ophelia and this was going to be the end fo
"Meeting with investors is tiring," Cael murmured, sitting in his chair, after the person they had been meeting with walked out. None of the members had said that they were giving them their support, and yet his mom seemed full of energy, as if the day had only started."You have been a good sport and on your best behaviour all day; just one more person and we can call it a day," Abigail replied, turning to him and tapping his thighs gently."Can't we just call it a day now?" He groaned, feeling tired. All he had done since lunch was sucking it up to different old bald men who did not seem interested in helping him anyway. He wondered how long he had to continue doing that with them."As I said, this is really important, and it took me so much to get to agree to see us under such short notice; the best you can do here is just do the right thing," Abigail murmured, losing her patience. After what had happened, she was not ready to allow all of these men to trample over her for no reaso