~DAMIAN~“He entered into a deal with a mafia, the deal was for your father to be exporting his drugs since your father owned the means of transport,” I explained, and she looked at me confused but was listening. I told her how Mr. Reid came to me with the contract, and I asked him not to sign it, then he took it back, and how after a few days, he came back and asked me to finalize it as he was signing it. “I tried to stop him, but he didn't listen.”“How did my father end up owing him? If I heard correctly he should be the one owing my father, not the other way round,” Sierra asked, and I took a deep breath before I explained what happened next.“They worked together for a year with no problems, then your father's plane, crushed with his drugs. He asked your father to pay for the damages, which he did, but then your father wanted to back out because he saw how he was asked to pay for damages, and that's when the misunderstanding started.”“And?”“And he started threatening your fathe
GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2013~AUTHORS’ PERSPECTIVE~"Okay, meet me for a drink, then we can talk.”“I'm not meeting you now or ever, the only time I'll see you is in court, James.”“You are planning to go to the police?” James asked in a panicked tone.“Yes,” Damian angrily replied, “my parents' death won't go in vain, you will be punished.”“You know if you go to the police, then we will all be arrested, if I go down, you'll go down with me, you are responsible for their death, as much as I am,” James told him, which got Damian thinking for a second.“You tricked me!” Damian growled.“I only did what was necessary, I understand you are angry now, but still, you owe me. You owe me until your last breath, Damian, you signed for it.”“I don't fucking owe you. Listen, if you ever call this number or try to disturb me, I will report you to the police. I don't care if I get arrested too, but I will make sure you rot in jail. You and I know the type of business you run, so if I were you, I would ta
~GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2013~~AUTHORS’ PERSPECTIVE~Damian couldn't believe that his girlfriend would cheat on him. He rushed out of the hotel, and Lily followed behind him. "Damian, wait, you need to calm down,” Lily said, and Damian turned and faced her.“How can I calm down, Lily? I just found my girlfriend in another man's arms.”“I know, and I'm sorry I called you, I shouldn't have told you, I should have kept it to myself,” Lily regretted.“It's okay, Lily. Thank you for telling me, at least you saved me from a cheat. I was about to propose to her,” Damian said, rubbing the wrinkles that had formed on his forehead.“Well, at least one good came out of it, but are you okay? Should I come with you?”“I’m fine, thank you, Lily. Well, didn't you say you were meeting Lucas? Go to him, I'll be fine,” Damian said, and he continued walking, but Lily followed behind him.“Damian, I can help make food or...”“Can you stop following me?!” Damian shouted, then calmed himself down when he saw Lil
~GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2013~~AUTHORS’ PERSPECTIVE~Damian felt bad for lying, he was perturbed about where he would get a fake fiance because, truth be told, he was not engaged, and if he was ever to get engaged, it should be Cassie, no one else.Cassie, on the other hand, was happy, as then she would not be entitled to Damian, so with a smile, she said, “That's good, I wish you all the best." Damian was too shocked to respond, as he expected her to be at least hurt, but seeing her smile proved otherwise.“You wish me the best? Cassie, you are the reason I lost my parents, and that's all you're going to say to me,” Damian angrily said.“I know, and I'm sorry. I wish I could turn back time, but I can't. Things happen for a reason, okay? Now if you would excuse me, I have a wedding to plan,” she said, then turned and left. She didn't even bother to look back. Damian was stressed—Cassie was the reason his parents died. Of course, it was all James' fault, but Cassie started it. If it weren't
GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2023~SIERRA~I sniffed before I replied to the detective, “I will try my best to get a hold of the contract, detective.”"Alright, Ms. Reid, just keep me informed; are you sure you don't want me to talk to Mr. Winters?” He asked for the fifth time now.“I told you, detective, I've got this under control, I'm thinking of visiting my father's apartment, I might find something.”“That's a good idea, Ms. Reid, but I doubt there's anything because I was there with the police and didn't find anything other than the footage.”“I believe I can,” I said, then turned to the door as someone softly knocked. “I have to go now, talk to you soon,” I said, and after the detective agreed, I ended the call. “Come in,” I said to the person at the door, and walked back to my chair—I was in my office.“Are you going to the company today?” It was Gilbert.“Good morning to you too, Gilbert. Yes, I've been absent for a long time, I feel like I should show my face today,” I said, pretending
GEORGIA, ATLANTA 2023~SIERRA~I looked at the card carefully. No, I wasn't bothered about Damian getting engaged to Cassie—I expected that to happen years ago. I was shocked at the look of the envelope—its design was the same as the one I’ve been receiving the notes in. Did Cassie buy the envelope by coincidence, or was she the second person after me?“Ms. Reid, is everything okay?” Beatrice asked, and I nodded.“Yes, please go and prepare my handbag, I'm taking it today,” I told her, and she nodded and then walked out. I walked to my table, intending to take my phone, so I could call the detective to ask of any information they found about Cassie. As I remembered, I asked him to look into her, but a voice stopped me. “Nana?” I turned and faced her.“How are you, my dear?” She greeted me, and I faked a smile. “I heard you didn't wish the kids a good day today.”“Yes,” I sniffed. “I have the flu, I didn't want to infect them, especially Ingrid, you know how she is.” I lied, and Nana s
~SIERRA~“I've never given up on you.” Damian's voice was more than a whisper, “All…” he swallowed before he continued, “All these five years, I've imagined what my life would be if I hadn't been stupid to ask for a divorce,” he said, and I looked at him, shocked. I've never in my life ever imagined Damian apologizing. “I don't know how many times I’m going to say this, but I love you.” I tightly pressed my eyes together, not because what he said was touching me but because I was reminded of the years with him—all those three years I've lived with the hope of him saying he loved me too.Yes, our marriage was a contract, a deal between adults, but I fell for him. I had a crush on him since I set my eyes on him. I still remember that day going to my dad's house, and I found Damian with him. They were discussing business, and I hid behind my dad's office door, I loved his thinking—he was smart and smelled good, that's the reason I didn't hesitate to say yes to his proposal, not because I
~SIERRA~Before I could say anything, Gilbert rushed to Damian's side and punched his mouth. “Gilbert?! Stop!” Gilbert was a gentleman, he never even shouted—this side of him shocked me.“How dare you touch my fiance?!”"Oh, you mean my ex-wife?” Damian was stubborn. Gilbert almost landed another punch on Damian, but Damian held him. They were now struggling, and all I did was call for help. Luckily, the security guards were not far, as they came running and separated the two.“Oh my god, Damian!” Cassie also came from nowhere as she ran to Damian, who was now examining his mouth, he had a little blood on the corner of his lips.“I'm fine, Cassie!” Damian angrily said to Cassie, who tried to touch his lips.“He's a monster, he should be arrested!” Cassie said, looking at me, “I'm sure she sent him to do this.” I only rolled my eyes. The security guards escorted Damian and Cassie out.I looked at Gilbert and sighed with relief, then walked to my chair, but turned as soon as I heard Gil
FLORIDA, ST. AUGUSTINE 2023~DAMIAN~Ingrid did a good job keeping Sierra out, as it has been over two hours and they haven't returned to the house yet.The sun was setting and everything was perfect; we didn't need to do much, just the colorful lights, as the house was clean already.“Bottle is here,” Nathan excitedly said as he brought the bottle of juice. The bottle was the same as the one for champagne, and since they were too young for alcohol and Sierra was in that condition, we decided to settle for juice.“They are coming,” Atlas, who had been at the window, alerted us, and I quickly stood to my feet and hid the little box."Okay, wish me luck,” I said, and they both nodded, then Atlas switched off the light so that the candles could stand out.“Let us know when she says yes,” they said in unison before they hid behind the sofa.I was nervous. I've never been this nervous, even when I was handling court cases. I never got nervous, but Sierra, God, her reaction scared me.As I
FLORIDA, ST. AUGUSTINE 2023~DAMIAN~Whoever said love was a drug was damn right because I was high on it. Watching someone sleep for over an hour and simply enjoying the view is crazy because for the past week that's all I've been doing—watching Sierra sleep. It somehow gave me peace.After Sierra was released from the hospital, we stayed a week so I could sort everything.Ethan took over the head at the Winters, Sierra, and Thomas caught up as he left the detective work since Sam was not happy with it. Sierra gave them one of her restaurants in Texas, and they moved there—living in Sierra's home while Jane and her family moved into Sierra's mansion, the one in Georgia. Beatrice and Lana took mine as I wanted to express my gratitude for helping Sierra raise my children.After sorting everything, I booked tickets to Florida for a vacation since the holidays were in a month. We were still choosing a place to settle and start a family, as Georgia and Texas held bad memories, so we were
~DAMIAN~The first days we used protection, but after a few, we just couldn't control ourselves as we would get in the moment and only think of protection afterward. I didn't need protection; Sierra was my wife, but she always brought it up.Well, I was just so happy that we were going to have a baby—that Sierra gave me another chance.I walked to her bedside, kneeled, and started apologizing.“I'm sorry, I...”“It's okay; I know you did it to protect me.”“Still I hurt you; I should have told you; I shouldn't have pushed you away like that.”“And I understand; I forgive you; I do.” She was now holding my hands. “Please get up.”“Sierra I…”“Now Damian,” she demanded, and so I was left with no choice but to get up.“I'm really sorry; I promise that was not my intention; I was just trying to protect you and our kids. Ava called me; she threatened me.” She nodded her head in understanding and then squeezed my hand in a comforting manner.“Do you want to feel her heartbeat?” she asked, a
~DAMIAN~ “I was not planning to kill you, but...” Ava said as she walked close to Sierra, the burning matchstick still in between her fingers. My hands were now in the air, pleading with her. “Please… Whatever I have done, please just... Just let Sierra go, punish...punish me.” "Oh, sweet Damian, my cousin is in love,” she mockingly said, “but this is not about you; it's about her, her mother!” she yelled. “Actually,” she calmed herself, “it's about the both of you; your father did my mother dirty and her mother did my mother dirty, and so you are both going to pay.” It was not the Ava I knew; this woman sounded crazy. “Ava…” “Kneel!” I didn't want to argue, as I knew trying to reason would not work, so I kneeled my eyes on Sierra and the matchstick between Ava's fingers. “Good,” she mockingly said and blew to the matchstick so the fire could go as it was below her finger. “Do you want to hear a little story?” She asked as if I had a choice. Then she started talking about h
~DAMIAN~“Speed up!” I yelled, and Thomas agreed with me as he asked the driver to drive faster. Each second we were wasting was ticking as Sierra's life was in danger.When Atlas returned, he told me about the people who kidnapped him and how they told him that I was his father. I knew it wasn't the right time, but I took him upstairs to his siblings and told them the truth—that I was their father and that Sierra and I were once together.I didn't tell them about the contract as I thought it might be complicated for them, and so I told them about making a horrible mistake that made Sierra walk away. They were understanding, as they didn't judge; instead, they were happy that I was their father.I was not in a better mood, so I forced them to eat and helped them get ready for bed before I left Mrs. Woods with them as Jane had to get home to her baby. Sam and Thomas stayed downstairs with the officers, who came to help check for clues, and waited in case the kidnappers called—they thou
~SIERRA~Ava explained planning Damian’s parents' deaths because, as she said, the company and everything the Winters owned belonged to her. She explained how she got Damian on a drug so he would have terrible headaches. “I haven't been giving it to him lately, so he seems to be overcoming it,” she added. Then she explained using Carl to have her revenge on Mr. Reid since Damian’s parents were out of her way now."Oh, and the second man who left my mother couldn't be found. Turns out my so-called father wasn't useless as he took him down, leaving his son and wife in the streets.”“Son?”"Yes, your brother.”“What?!”“Ow, don't tell me the detective hasn't told you that you're his sister; that's why he has been protective over you; it's because you're his little sister.”“What?!” again I asked, as this was too much. How was it possible that Detective Thomas was my brother? Okay, nothing was making sense.“The man your father was cheating with was Thomas’s father.” She said, but I shook
~SIERRA~I haven't seen Ava since forever; she said to be in New York working with patients. How was it that she was here? My eyes roamed the room, and I realized, unlike where Lily took me, this place seemed like a home as I was on a sofa. I was almost relaxed, but when I saw that both my legs and hands were tied, I panicked.“W-what's going on? Why am I here? And…”“This is not the time for questions, Sierra; trust me.” Ava cut me as she picked a glass of wine on the table and took a sip before she placed it down and then stared at me.I still didn't understand what was happening, but something was clear: Ava tied my legs and hands, which meant she was the one who caused that accident; she was the one who kidnapped me.“Ava I…”“I will shut your mouth for you if you don't shut it; it's me to talk, not you.” She calmly said, and I nodded my head. Then she stood up with the glass of wine in her hands and said, "See, years ago, Rosemarie was just an innocent girl who didn't know the w
~SIERRA~I cleaned my cheeks and then walked toward my car. My driver was standing out as he opened the door for me. “To the station,” I told him as he waited for my instruction."Yes, ma’am,” he said and then started the car.Again, I found my hand traveling down to my flat belly. I never planned for this, and now that Damian didn't want the child, I was not going to keep it. I haven't seen myself pregnant for over five years, especially with Damian's child again.Or maybe he knew that I fell pregnant and he was doing the same thing he did years ago, running away. I closed my eyes and tried to focus. No, I couldn't let this distract me; I won't let it get in my way of finally having peace.“Ms. Reid,” the driver's voice shook me out of my thoughts. I then realized we had arrived at the station. “Should I come in with you?” He asked as he opened the door for me. I shook my head and told him to wait for me there; he just worked for me; I didn't need him to mix with my problems.When I
~SIERRA~No, this was not happening; I won't let it happen again. So I banged once more and the door flew open, and Damian, who looked healthy like he was not just in a coma, opened and asked me to come in. I could tell by his facial expression that something was wrong.“Do you want anything?” He asked as I took a seat on the sofa. No, I was calm. I was not the same Sierra from years ago who burst when he started acting like this. I was a mature, respectful woman. I couldn't act on my emotions, so I asked him for a glass of water.He walked away to the kitchen, and my eyes couldn't help but roam the area; it was just the same as I left it, in Cassie's style.“Water,” Damian's voice made me turn to him. I took the glass from his hand and thanked him, then placed it on the table.“Okay,” I cleared my throat as he looked restless like he wanted me to leave. “The doctor called me and told me you left without his consent.”"Yeah, I'm feeling fine; why should he keep me there?” He sounded r