~SIERRA~But I couldn't show it to them; if they saw that I was scared, then they would be scared too, so I pulled from Ingrid and Nathan and then turned to Atlas, who was still waiting for my response. "Okay, here is one thing about the media,” I started, and Nathan and Ingrid came close as they also showed to be listening: “They exaggerate things so they can sell.”“How Mommy?” Atlas asked, and I looked at Nathan, hoping he got it, but he shook his head, showing he didn't understand too. "See, they want to report things that are interesting to keep people interested just so they can sell their products.”“Sell?” Ingrid questioned.“I mean, they are given products from companies to sell, and to get people to listen. They have to make up interesting stories.”"No, Mommy,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “We know Uncle Damian might undergo surgery, but we are okay.” He said and looked at his siblings."Yes, because we will pray for him,” Ingrid supported.“Pray?”"Yes, mamma, prayer wo
~SIERRA~It's been a week. I got up early and prepared myself while Lana and Beatrice helped the kids. Nothing has been heard from Lily or Carl; even Gilbert went mute. Cassie was in India; she told me she got a job as she had finished spending the money. Well, I wished her all the best, and she seemed to be doing great. I was staring at my face in the mirror. The past two weeks have been stressful: managing the kids and company and being there for Damian and Ethan. Well, it seemed Damian didn't need any surgery as his condition was dealt with in a different way, which I still don't remember as I wasn't a doctor nor did I know anything about hospitals. Today was his release day, and the kids insisted on coming with me. After applying the final shade of lipstick, as I did the ombre style, I stood up and picked up my handbag before walking down. I expected my children to still be up in their room getting ready, so I was shocked to find them down and r
~SIERRA~It was weird, but seeing my children so happy filled my heart with joy. I knew it was going to be difficult living with Damian, but for my children, I was willing to sacrifice."Okay, it’s settled then. I will just go and inform the detective about…” but a voice cut him.“There will be no need for that...” It was Sam. “I’m already here,” she said as she walked in. Since she took over the case, things have been a bit difficult between us. She was not as kind as she was when she was just assisting Thomas; she was harsh and cold; she didn’t even consider Damian’s condition as to her, he was a criminal.“Good morning, detective,” the doctor greeted, and Sam slowly turned to him with cold eyes. “The patient's condition is stable for now, but prison is not the right place for him.”“It’s not about the right place, Doctor; it’s the fact that he’s a danger to society.”“Well, I don’t think it is the case anymore; my patient still needs medical attention, but I’m releasing him early b
~SIERRA~I couldn't believe Nana; she was really asking me to choose. How could I choose between their grandmother and father? This was impossible. I shook my head in disbelief."Alright, great choice,” she said, then turned to leave, but I stopped her by holding her hand.“Nana…”“Then ask him to leave now.”“I can't.”“What?” She shook her head.“Listen, I understand Damian wronged you…”“Us!” She interrupted, “You lost your father.”"Yes, us, but what he did was to protect us.”“Protect us? Sierra, do you want to rub salt on my wound?”“N-no Nana I would never do that; Dad's death still hurts me.”"Yes, it does; that's why you called his murderer to live with us.” She sarcastically said.“He's a changed man.”“When did it get to this, Sierra? Don't tell me you are falling for him again.”“I'm not Nana; you are the one who told me to let him be with the kids.”“But that was before I found out he was a criminal.”“He's not, and I am going to prove that.”“You?” She shook her head as
~SIERRA~This was surely the right time; I was about to open my mouth to tell them when Nana interrupted.“It's just like that; everyone has a twin, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are blood-related.”“What's blood-related?” Nathan asked Nana, and Ingrid rolled her eyes.“It means they are not family,” she mockingly said, and I changed the topic by asking about their day before they could argue.The rest of the dinner went well; the kids expressed how much they enjoyed Damian’s company. “I can't wait for tomorrow,” Ingrid said, and I was happy that they loved him.After dinner, I took them to their room and helped brush their teeth, then read a bedtime story for them since Beatrice and Lana were helping clean up while Nana received a suspicious call as her eyes widened in fear when she saw the caller ID's name.“And Goldi never went into the woods again, the end.” I closed the book and looked at my children, who were now fast asleep. I read the story three times, so this was th
~SIERRA~No, I couldn't let myself fall for him again; I couldn't betray myself. Damian was my ex-husband, and even if he was changed, I was not going to get back with him. Sure, we will share custody as a parent, but we will never get back together. I cleared my throat, which brought me out of my frozen state. I couldn't let him see that he still affected me, but before I could say a word, my phone started to ring, and I reached for it and picked it up.“Sam,” I said as I placed it on my ear and turned to Damian, who was silently looking at me.“Hi, Ms. Reid...”"Oh, really, with the formalities again?”“I'm working on your father's case; it's best if we keep it professional.”“How is keeping professionals going to help?”"Sierra, you do not understand, and I get that, but please, now is not the time to argue; I need your help.” Her voice softened.“Oh, tell me, what do you need from somebody like me who knows nothing about crimes?” I said that sarcastically, as I remembered last tim
~SIERRA~No, I couldn't die like that. My children were too young to lose me, so I nodded my head and apologized. They seemed to recognize me as they said my name, “Sierra?” That's when I recognized the voice; it was the detective. “Oh my god,” he quickly said, moving away, which made me turn and face him as I felt the gun removed from my head.“Detective?” I was in shock as he looked a mess, he tucked the gun in his waistband behind his back, his face looked dirty, and he had dry blood on the corners of his lips. “Oh my god, what happened to you?” I tried to touch the wound, but he moved away, and then he removed his coat and threw it on the couch.“You shouldn't be here, Ms. Reid; it's not safe for you,” he said, walking to the cupboard and then pulling out a bottle of whisky and forcing it open before gulping an amount down his throat.I couldn't believe my eyes. For a moment, I thought I was going to die, but seeing him like this, God, he looked pathetic.“What happened?” I asked
~SIERRA~Luckily he was still here, so I asked him those questions, but he didn't give me the answers he wanted.“I'm sorry, Ms. Reid, I'm working on theories; it's still not proven, but...” He didn't finish his sentence, as his attention was now on another picture. I just had to follow his eyes to see what, but it was a person I didn't know. “I have to go,” he said, and then unpinned the picture from the wall and rushed out. I of course followed him and tried to stop him, but he didn't listen.“Is it about my father?” I asked, and he finally turned but shook his head, then picked up his coat from the couch. After dusting it, he put it on and walked to the door, but as he was a few inches away, the door opened and Sam came in.“I should have known,” he sounded like he was complaining. “I was worried,” Sam said, and he just stared at her. “Tom, I'm sorry, you…” Sam tried to touch his face, but he stopped her by raising his hand, and then without waiting for her to finish, he nudged he
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