Aliyah’s PovI knew she must have been worried that I disappeared all of a sudden since the night of my graduation and till now I haven't showed up."Nothing mom, just tired," I replied, clearing my throat."Aliyah, tired from what? I hope it is not what I'm thinking girl, " I voice was very firm.My mom was the disciplinarian of our family and she was very harsh to me but in all that she still loves me."What are you thinking mom?" I asked.I'm sure she hasn't known anything about what Jason did to me, if not she would never be this calm. She would have called the cops on Jason. I didn't want Jason to hurt my mother because as it is now, Jason is not someone that I can trust that he can't hurt anyone. If he can do this to me, he can also hurt my mother. "Did you elope with Jason Donald because you didn't want to take up your father's business?" She asked.Even if Jason hasn't done what he did, eloping with him would be the last thing on my mind. I also had a good mind to revive my f
Jason’s POV"Do you know how long I've waited for this moment?" Carey said when I came to pick her up. She didn't need to open her mouth to tell anyone that she was excited; the excitement showed in her behavior. She was all over me."Do you think your mother would accept this?" I asked. I was quite reluctant to announce our engagement, but Carey was not relenting on pestering me. What made me concur was because Aliyah would definitely hear the news, and she would be sad. I was happy whenever Aliyah was sad."She's my mother, and she doesn't have a choice but to accept anyone I bring home," Carey said, smiling brightly. Soon, the two of us arrived at Carey's house.Carey's mother had been telling her that she wanted to speak with her, but Carey had always feigned being busy. She knew her mother wanted to ask her about Aliyah, and since she wasn't ready to tell her a thing, she ignored her.Carey's mother was in her bedroom when Carey got inside. She made me sit while she went to call
Carey’s POV My mom looked up at Jason before she responded. "I don't have any reason to decline if he also loves you," she said. Mom knew that Jason was a Donald, and they had massive wealth. They were in fact one of the wealthiest families in the city. "You have to worry, ma. I love Carey, and I'm going to take care of her for the rest of my life," he said with enthusiasm. Mom looked at him before she nodded. She then made the three of us sit to talk. "Are your family aware of your relationship with my daughter?" She asked. Knowing the status of the Donalds and our own status, we seemed like paupers to the Donalds. She wouldn't want me to be treated like trash by them. "Yes, they are aware, and they love her so much," Jason replied, smiling at me. Mom asked a few questions from Jason, which he replied. "Jason, I think you and Carey should try to help look for Aliyah's whereabouts..." I, who was unhappy that my mother still talked about Aliyah, interrupted her. "Mom, I know you
Somewhere in Kelan’s mind It’s over a hundred days since I’ve been here. Since I found myself entangled in the suffocating grip of the interstate. Time after time, I would wake up to the profound darkness of my subconscious, a place where I wished I never had to reside. I've been here for a while, and despite how quiet it was sometimes, it didn't sit right with me. If only I could slip away into eternal slumber, escaping the reality that has kept me tethered here for what feels like an eternity. The accident, a cruel twist of fate, has reduced me to a mere semblance of life, a hollow existence that I despise with every fiber of my being. I stayed here all day, all night and when I wasn't alone, the machines around me beeped to converse with me. Sometimes, as I navigated the labyrinth of my thoughts, I couldn't help but reflect on the life I've been robbed of. The thriving family business, where I would have played an important role, now flourishes without my contribution. My brot
Aliyah’s POVAs I entered the dimly lit room, I found myself caught in the ebb and flow of conflicting emotions. This routine of caring for Kelan had become more than just a job; it was an emotional battleground where my sanity was constantly tested. As I entered the room, a heavy sigh escaped my lips, a manifestation of the internal struggle I had been concealing."I didn't know how much longer I could keep doing this," I whispered to the shadows, my own voice reverberating in the stillness of the room. The weight of my responsibilities pressed down on me, and I debated the idea of walking away, of escaping the relentless pull of this enigmatic existence.My gaze fell upon Kelan's motionless form, a reminder of the silent world we both inhabited. I wondered if he was aware of the turmoil within me, of the moments when I questioned the choices I had made. "Was it selfish to want more than this?" I pondered aloud, my words hanging in the air like a delicate confession.I approached Kel
Aliyah’s POVI wish I could tell her what her daughter had done to me after years of friendship but I was afraid of what Jason would do to me and my mother. Since my father's death and his company's bankruptcy, we are as powerless as a common man. I wouldn't want to add to my mother's problem."Aliyah, can you explain more to me because everything is so confusing. How will you people do such a thing?" She said and I could detect anger in her voice."I'm sorry," that was all I could say because I was about to break down again.I knew that I could never recover from the kind of hurt Carey and Jason gave to me and I was definitely going to have my revenge."I know you two are best of friends and like to help each other but what you did is very wrong. No matter how much she fears me, it doesn't warrant you to deceive us like that. Your mother and I have been friends for long and your attitude can turn our relationship sour! " She scolded me."Please don't tell my mother for now. I will co
Aliyah’s POV It must have really hurt her to scream that out as she shouted at me. She must have been too disappointed in me and I was sad about it. "I'm sorry mom. Yes Jason took my virginity but that was because we were both drunk and he mistook me for Carey. It was actually my fault," she said with ignominy. I was saying the truth about everything being my fault. I wasn't smart enough to read in between the lines. "Were you also drunk when he was kissing you in front of the house the last time?" I knew I needed to convince my mother. Jason is not someone to toil with and I wouldn't want her to get hurt defending me. "Confessing the truth, I loved Jason but he only had eyes for Carey. I tried all I could but he is faithful to her. I know this is hard to accept and I'm healing from being rejected but now that I have a good job, all that is on my mind is getting my father's business back to its former glory. Mom, I can't do this alone, I'll need your help," I said, going to s
Kelan's POV Reminiscing on how I got locked in this body without me having any improvement, I had a lot to find out but being here got me tied up. I have heard about people in coma when I was much alive and now I wonder, was this how they suffered every day? How they could hear what was going on outside but couldn't react. I wish a supreme one could just help me out of my situation. I tried moving my hand but it wouldn't. Then I started to think of how the whole accident started. **Flash back** "Kel, are you still angry with me?" Jason, who was seated on the sofa, looked at me with sad eyes. It's been over a year since Jason had been demoted at the company. I didn't intentionally demote him but then he was too rash in taking actions. He lost a major project to the Lanez group. That project, I had fought tooth and neck over it so I was outrightly pissed when Jason messed it up. Jason is my brother and I knew it wasn't intentional of him to do it and he just wanted to prove himsel
Aliyah POV“Fuck,” I shouted. I had been trying so hard to fix the hairpin in the right direction on my well-permed hair. It would tilt sideways at intervals, and I would have to straighten it. Maybe I was looking at the mirror for too long. If Carey was here, maybe. My mind flashed to the last time I had seen her – body bagged up, headed to the morgue. It was a gory sight, one I never expected I would see Carey in. Kelan had told me how everything occurred; how she grew in rage after Jason shot himself, and fired at an officer. A bullet in her chest, and another buried deep into her head killed her instantly. “Fuck. You didn’t have to die like that, Carey,” I cursed, and soon fell to the ground, my face soiling with tears. I didn’t mind my wedding dress, as I kept pounding the floor, taking the hurt from every nudge I gave the hard floor. She was my best friend for as long as I have lived. The only person who could stand beside me on a day like this. She didn’t have to betray me
Kelan POV“Jason, let's not do this. Just listen to the officers and put down your gun.” “No. I will do no such thing. I'm walking out of here with Carey and my mom and no one here is stopping me,” His voice retorted with anger laced all over his tone. “Sir, permission to fire,” one of the FBI agents called out to his superintendent. Their eyes glared at me as I threw quick glances at my phone screen awaiting Aliyah's call. We had agreed to split just in case Jason was smart enough to leave the babies behind and come here alone. He was and currently Aliyah and another team of agents were following the trace of the last call. The tracker was still on the phone line and we hoped to find them before Jason or Carey realizes. “No one is shooting my brother,” I jumped into the rising tension. Jason hands still held the gun firmly as I gradually walked to the front of the men. My hands we up, and I knew it wouldn't cost him so much to shoot me right now, but it was a move I was willing
Jason's POV“I cant believe Kelan’s got the balls to boldly say no to me. His boys should be more important than the company or money.” I nagged, kicking my feet in the air. “Clearly, he is not as dumb as you think he is. I did not see that coming, I had already imagined he would come crying and begging for his children.” Carley said to me with a smirk on her face which was quite confusing. I furrowed my brows from feeling displeased with her facial expression. “What?” she snapped.“What? Are you really asking me that?” I walked towards her and paused my steps when I was right in front of her. “What is this look on your face?” I asked her and I could hear her whimper. Clearly, my facial expression got her terrified and that is exactly what I wanted her to feel. “Nothing Jason. Get out of my face.” She said and pushed me to the side but I gripped her hand before she had the chance to take another step. “What was that about?” I asked her again. “Nothing! Jesus!” she exclaimed and
Aliyah's POVMy heart raced. My mind throbbed. My head pounded. I stood apprehended not knowing the exact emotions to process. Fear? Anger? I wasn't certain of the particular one to settle for. So, I paced from one end of the house to the other, running my hands through my dishevelled hair. I stopped abruptly and turned around immediately the front door creaked open with Kelan running towards me."Hey honey," he rushed towards me and held me in a tight embrace."Are you okay?" he asked with a tone of concern. "K... Kelan..." I called in a teary voice."Baby," he responded, running his fingers through my hair."Talk to me. How did it happen?" he released me from the embrace and cupped my cheeks in his palms."Our boys... They... Our boys..." I trailed off, welling up in tears."Honey, put yourself together and tell me all about it," he dried my tears with his eyes.I sniffed then blew my nose noisily into a tissue."Come, sit," he draped his arms around my shoulder and walked me to th
Kelan's POVAs I alighted from the cab and walked towards the wooden gate, a thousand thoughts cloud my mind. The past few days of my life had been dedicated to the search for my mum. I had talked with almost all of the old staff that worked in the company as at that time I figured that she was still around. But all of them had communicated their regrets of no longer having her contact. I had even looked up the internet but I realized that she wasn’t on any of the social media platforms. This woman whose house I approached, turned out to be my last resort. But I can’t help it but think if this search would turn out to be successful? If I wouldn’t get the same answers?Well, there is no better way to find out than finding out. So, pushing the gate silently, I walked in casting quick glances at my surrounding. Lilies and hibiscus flowers lined up at one end filling the atmosphere with the beautiful scent of nature. Standing at the door, I hesitated a while before I rang the bell. On the
Aliyah's POVMy soft hum filled the atmosphere as I gently stroked Jared whom I cradled in my arms. His body relaxed against mine while his little fingers curled around my index finger. I brewed a smile as I could see my face when I look at him, my exact prototype. Jacob, sat beside us grinning with content in his baby bouncer, sucking on his teething toy. His chubby cheeks curved into a smile then a chuckle, which was suddenly followed by a cry. I took the cry as a clue that he was trying to communicate that Jared's time in my arms was up. So, I carried him and Jared took his place in the baby bouncer. Minutes later, the front door creaked open, revealing Kelan, dressed in a black shirt tucked into an ash-coloured trousers. He loosened his tie as he walked over to where we were. "Hey, honey," he smiled. "Hey darl," I winked. "How was your day?" "Stressful," he sighed. "As usual," he replied, his voice sounding exhausted as he kept his briefcase gently on the table."My boys," he
Jason's POVPushing myself off the hard bunk with a grunt, I strode out alongside my fellow inmates into the dark corridor of the prison. In a single file, we dragged ourselves to the prison yard where we had our morning drills. During my first few days here, the space of about a plot of land was apportioned to me to clear up, but with my transition to the chief bully, such was no longer the case. I was even nicknamed Don Jay after I served the previous bully, loads of punches. "Would you all stop dragging your feet?" the prison officer barked. The question must have provoked the inmates as the shuffling of feet intensified. "Man, are you deaf? Lift your feet off the ground," I heard an inmate say. Swiftly turning around, I shot a fiersome gaze at this new scrawny inmate who probably doesn't know who I was. Because the rest of the inmates knew better than to question me or challenge my authority. Giving him a second chance, I ignored him and assumed my steps. "Hey!" he barked, wi
Aliyah’s POV“Your honor, my clients here,” the lawyer spoke, gesturing to Jason and Carey, “Plead not guilty as regards to the alleged murder,” his voice pierced through the hushed voices of the many individuals occupying the rows of wooden benches in the tensed atmosphere of the courtroom. I shift uneasily on my seat, eager for whatever verdict.Kelan must have noticed my uneasiness, as he pressed my palms. “Aliyah, relax,” he whispered.I heaved a sigh in response and reclined backwards because the last thing I wanted for myself was clouding my head with lots of thoughts, slumping again, and finding myself back at the hospital I had left a week ago.My gaze fell on Jason and Carey both wearing a smirk on their faces. I searched in vain for the expression of remorse, but I found none, not even a tiny bit. They seemed to be super confident in their lawyer or something else only them knew about. Slowly, my gaze travelled upwards to the elevated perch where the judge sat, peering throu
Kelan's POV Sitting in the front seat, next to Mr. Lanez, the silent ride was seemingly uncomfortable as I noticed the worry lines drawn on his forehead. There was this invisible cloud of tension hovering in the car as the engine hummed in melody. "Uhmm," I cleared my throat to gain his attention. "Thank you for saving me back there," I fondled with the handkerchief in my hands. I was taken aback by his silent treatment. Was he mad at me because of the way I relentlessly argued over his revelations yesterday? "I'm sorry for not believing you yesterday. I just found it so difficult to believe that they could be as terrible as that," I blabbed. "Mr Lanez," I called aloud, then immediately regretted my action as the eyes he flashed out me weren't friendly at all. "Did I do anything wrong?" I asked calmy."Kelan, you did everything wrong," he yelled. "You just added to all of the current complexities," he sighed, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. My mind raced, my heart