~SIERRA~I suddenly found it difficult to stand on my feet, and just as I thought I was going to fall, someone held me, and by the scent, I quickly figured it to be Damian. I didn't have the time to struggle as the pain in my chest was too much, but still, I wanted to hear the whole story, so when Damian suggested I get to a seat, I shook my head and asked Nana to explain.“I think you should process this first.”“I don't need you to tell me what to do; I want the whole story now!” I demanded as I knew I wouldn't concentrate without hearing the whole truth. Mom and Dad got married before I was born, so I knew there was more to the story."Okay, I will tell you,” Nana said, cleaning the sweat on her forehead. “They were in love…” She then narrated everything. It turned out her husband's family wanted her son to marry another woman; marrying that woman would bring their family closer, but the son didn't listen as he was in love with his mom. “I had no choice but to accept his marriage b
~SIERRA~If it weren't for them, then I wouldn't see the point of living anymore. But to think of it, Nana didn't really hide the truth from me; maybe it was me who never dug deeper, as I remember her telling me about dad, well, now Mr. Dempsey or, let's say, Mr. Reid, falling in love with mom and even refusing to marry the woman Nana chose for him. She talked of my mother betraying him, and I remember asking her why he hated her so much; it was all because she cheated on him. Not only did she cheat, but she made a baby out of it, who is unfortunately me.Maybe my mother was trying to fix everything, but Mr. Reid never believed her. That's why Mom got into that addiction to drinking alcohol—it was part of the reason she died; the alcohol damaged her inside organs as well.I was deep in my thoughts but didn't miss the knock on the door; it could be my kids, and being a mother, I've learned to be cautious.“It's Damian, can we talk?” But as soon as I heard Damian's voice, I relaxed, as
~SIERRA~We were now on the road; my eyes were out the window just thinking of how I was going to tell my children about Damian and their reaction. I had been delaying it for so long, but not anymore. I had to tell them or I would end up like Nana; she kept the truth from me, and now I felt like I couldn’t trust her; I didn’t want my children to feel that about me too.I didn’t realize we were already close to the station. Ingrid’s scream was the one that shook me out of my thoughts as I turned at the back and quickly asked if she was okay. Damian was the one driving the car while I sat in the passenger seat Mrs. Woods was in the other car that came with us as it had guards who we needed for protection.“I saw a butterfly,” she said, and I quickly calmed down turned to Damian, and asked him to continue driving as he planned to pull over.“It’s just a butterfly, Ingrid; it’s not even special,” Nathan said, and Ingrid rolled her eyes.“It’s very special; do you know how lucky we are to
~SIERRA~It’s been a week; business was going well, and when I say business, I mean my businesses—my restaurants. Everything was well managed as I appointed restaurant managers since Gilbert had disappeared and Bruce confirmed he was never coming back as Bruce was still Gilbert’s friend.Ethan had taken over the company. I mean, after settling his case, he still needed to go for a hearing or whatever, but he was free, and surprisingly, the scandal only brought in more clients, as from what he tells me, the company was making more than ever.Damian helped Bruce at times with cases; otherwise, he was a full-time father even when I didn’t tell the kids he was their father, as I still haven’t found a perfect chance, at least not while Nana was gone, as she had disappeared, leaving only a letter claiming she was clearing her mind.Damian still helped Detective Thomas with the case, and I didn’t think they had any leads now as Damian only kept asking about Nana if I knew where she was, whic
~ANONYMOUS~Everything was going according to my plan; Damian was released just like I planned, and Nana had revealed the truth to Sierra just at the right time.Being the mastermind at this, I should give Ethan a big thumbs up, I didn't expect his betrayal; I never knew Ethan and Damian were brothers or that he was capable of setting Damian up. It was useless but a very good distraction as it gave me time to carefully plan my next move.Lily did a good job. I didn't think she could manage to turn those people's lives upside down in just a day, but she did, and I was impressed, although not really as Sierra and Cassie played a big one on her.Everyone might believe their lie, but I didn't. I knew Cassie was alive and on another continent. I was not interested in what continent, as I was done with her. If she wanted to play dead, then who was I to take that from her? I had pressing issues to worry about, like abducting Sierra and finally making her pay for her mother's mistakes. I wat
~DAMIAN~I didn't understand what was happening; things were finally going well, then this? How was this even possible? Why would Lily have to go to this extent? I don't even know what I did to her, but taking my son was waking the devil in me, I will not rest until I find her, and when I do, I swear she will regret ever crossing me.I turned to Sierra, who was still giving me her back. She was seated in the middle of her bed, her knees tucked in the crook of her neck. She used her hands to block her ears, and even though she was in a jacket, she was still shivering, which I knew was not because of the cold. This whole situation has shaken her.She hasn't said a word since we left the funeral; it's like her tongue was tied or something, as even the kids tried to talk to her but she didn't respond; like she couldn't hear them.I felt my heart break into a million pieces seeing her so vulnerable. This was all my fault. Lily was after us because of me. Now she took Atlas because of me. N
~DAMIAN~Where was I going to start searching for her? Lily has not been seen for about a month now, and, Carl? I didn't even know where that man lived, but there was no way I was going to let them hurt Sierra; I would never forgive myself if they did.“Damian, you need to calm down.”“Don't fucking ask me to calm down, Ethan; do you know what it's like to lose your wife? To know she's in danger, of course, you don't; you're single, pathetic, and you've never been in any real relationship. That's why you're like that. Now speed up or I'll take over.” I warned, as when he got in the car he insisted on driving, and knowing I wasn't myself, I allowed him to.Ethan didn't respond instead did what I asked as he sped up. I couldn't stop thinking about Sierra, where she was, and if she was taken by those people, I didn't understand why it had to go like this. I'm the wrong one. God should punish me, not her.“Damian?!” Ethan's voice shook me out of my thoughts, and I realized we had arrived
~SIERRA~I struggled to open my eyes, not because of the light but because of the dark. Sure, I hated light but darkness the most; it scared me. I tried so hard not to be scared, at least for my children, so I calmed down and adjusted my eyes.I could see only very little, which was because of the little light rays that passed through the window. No, the window was closed with a black curtain, but still, the light from outside the room was very strong as I passed through the curtain.I felt so tired of course; how could I not? I ran, chasing the car so I could be kidnapped. It was stupid, but I did it to save my son. I would do anything for my children.Well, if you're wondering how I got here, then let me fill you in. After Atlas was kidnapped, I was in shock; I could not even speak as I didn't know what to say, and voices haunting my head and covering my ears didn't make it go away.I quietly sat on my bed, and then my phone started ringing. I don't know what was playing in my head
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