ZAYN —We were in the middle of enjoying ourselves when we heard a truck honk at the gate."Are you expecting anyone?" I asked Zora, who looked stunned as she tried to figure out who it could be."Not really. Except for the delivery package that I requested yesterday, but I doubt it's the delivery guy since it was a truck horn we heard instead of a motorbike," said Zora, running her hand through her hair."Let's go find out who it is then," I said, standing up.I led the way, with Zora following. Meanwhile, Daisy had already gone to her room after finishing her meal. Zora convinced her to leave the room at my request so I could go ahead and put on a show for her as promised.As we walked out of the building towards the exit gate, I took out my phone to verify something so I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of Zora."Who's that?" Zora asked the security guard."He said he came to deliver a surprise package, Ma," said the security personnel with an honest look.Zora was about to walk t
"J… Jason," I heard Zora whisper in astonishment. Her tone a mix of suprise and curiousity. She was jaw-dropped. Clearly, from her facial expression, one could tell she never expected Jason to appear out of nowhere and catch us during the moment.She looked at me suspiciously before returning her gaze to Jason. Perhaps she thought for a moment if I planned this together with Jason."I'm sorry, Jason, but there's nothing to worry about regarding Zayn's presence. He... he just visited to s...""I need no explanation, Zora. I'm not a kid to be explaining a scene," Jason cut her short, the anger in his eyes intensified as his teeth clenched."Daddy!" Daisy exclaimed, running to Jason and hugging him tightly."How are you, my princess?" Jason asked, trying so hard to mask the pain in his voice."Daddy, meet Daddy Zayn. He's a good man," Daisy added, pointing her finger towards me.Innocent Daisy, she obviously thought she was doing the right thing unbeknownst to her that she's adding salt
ZORA —"Hurry up. Pack your bag and Daisy's too; we're leaving for Southampton City for the Christmas holiday," he said to me, catching me off guard.My heart sank upon hearing that. "Southampton City? Christmas holiday?" I asked, my forehead creased."Come on, Zayn. I already told you I have an appointment with my boyfriend, so why are you trying to create issues?" I was annoyed, wishing he hadn't shown up."Really? So if I hadn't told you, you wouldn't have known how much you hurt him? You would have the nerve to visit him after what happened here recently?" He questioned me, his words cutting through me like ice, making me realize the mess I had gotten myself into."I really don't like how you treated him, Zayn. He doesn't deserve this.""I know, but I have to stand up for my rights, Zora. You're my wife, and I'm not going to share you with anyone," Zayn replied, his tone serious."Wife?" I rebuked him, my forehead creased as I stared at him disdainfully, not caring that Daisy was p
ZORA —"Grandma, guess who was with me in the car," Zayn exclaimed joyfully as he got out of the car and walked up to the old lady to embrace her."Who else but your good-for-nothing wife, Paige? She finally came to visit. Hope I'm safe for her visit today," the old lady remarked solemnly."Hell no, Grandma. You know I told you I'd surprise you one day, and that day has finally arrived," he said with a smile, turning to the car where we were waiting. He had instructed us not to get out until he gave the signal and even ordered his security man not to let us disobey his order.I could see him signal his chauffeur, who quickly opened the back door for us to exit.Daisy was the first to step out and went to her dad."Zayn, is she..." She stammered, her words barely audible."You never told me she's the girl you had out of wedlock," Mrs. Felicia commented, disappointment evident in her blue eyes.Zayn chuckled, trying not to laugh too hard to avoid embarrassing the old woman."Daddy, is s
ZORA—"Grandma is right, Zora. The greatest gift is having you and Daisy back in our lives, and that's what she's talking about," Zayn chimed in, making me sigh in frustration.Why are they making the situation more complicated?Somehow, that statement made me emotional even though I wasn't comfortable with it."Let's go in, please. I'm sorry that I kept you guys outside for so long," Felicia remarked. She held Daisy's hand, leading us inside.Zayn's grandmother and Daisy were deep in conversation as we walked inside, as if they had known each other for a long time, while I swallowed a lump of satisfaction as I watched them."This place is still the way it was," I commented, trying to start a conversation between me and Zayn."Yeah. I know you would be amazed. My grandma likes keeping things the same but never fails to maintain them," said Zayn, joining me in admiring the environment."My sister would be happy to see you. I'm glad she visited," Felicia remarked, turning her gaze towar
ZORA—"Hello Zora, are you in Southampton?" Daisy asked me as soon as I answered her call, making me gasp in shock.Gosh. How did she find out?I sighed, running my hand through my hair as I thought of what to say. For her to phrase the question this way means that someone had told her, so there's no need lying to her."Um... Yes. How did you know?" I responded, stammering.I never thought of telling Daisy about this because I knew she would be mad at me, but it seems that the truth has been revealed."Why would you do that? Zora, it seems like you don't love yourself and your little child, huh?" said Daisy from her end, bringing me back from my reverie of thoughts."Uhm, Daisy, calm down. Everything I'm doing, I do for a purpose.""Purpose?" She countered, letting out a deadpan laugh."What purpose is there in going back to someone who doesn't have your best interest at heart? I can see you've been ensnared by a spell because you can't be doing this with clear eyes," she scolded, her
ZORA—The dinner party turned out to be quite different from what I had anticipated.The house was bustling with Felicia's friends, relatives, some of Zayn's staff members, and other unfamiliar faces. It had been five years since I had last seen many of them, so I struggled to recall everyone. Over the years, new friendships must have formed within the family circle.The sitting room was lavishly decorated, and the spread of food looked inviting. Felicia had gone all out, even bringing in musicians to add to the festive atmosphere. It was evident that she had put a lot of effort into planning the event. I was surprised that so many of the invitees had managed to attend on such short notice.The room was abuzz with conversations and laughter, and some people who recognized me came over to catch up."Zora, it's been almost six years since we last saw you! Are you back for good? We've missed you around here," Catherine, one of Felicia's friends, exclaimed, drawing attention to me. I hesi
ZAYN —We were all gathered at the dining table during the celebration, but I could see a discomfort on Zora's face. She was clearly scared because of Paige's presence. Not really because she might harm her or anything related to that but because she doesn't want to get into a heated talk with her.I was seething with rage because I never expected Paige to be here and ruin my happiness. The fact that my grandmother had invited her infuriated me even more. Why would she do that?"Zayn, I know you're upset that your grandmother invited Paige, but don't be mad at her. She must have had her reasons," Zora whispered to me.She was worried that things might escalate if tempers flared up."What reason could possibly justify ruining my happiness?" I grumbled, clenching my fists and shooting Paige a look of irritation."I know she was wrong, but please try to control your temper. Don't do anything foolish. If not for anyone else, do it for our daughter. She's too young to witness her daddy get
Jason —Two years laterI was in my penthouse in South Carolina, sipping my wine and admiring the beautiful city view when my fiancée Clara called my name from inside."Babe, your phone is ringing," she said, rushing over to hand it to me."Who's calling?" I asked curiously, not expecting any calls that day as I had decided to take a break from work."It's an unsaved number, but Truecaller says it's Zora," she replied, handing me the phone.I felt disappointed at the mention of that name. I thought I had blocked her, so how was she able to reach me?I hesitated to answer the call, but Clara had made the effort to bring me the phone, so I reluctantly accepted it to avoid devaluing her efforts or raising suspicions of infidelity."Speak," I said as soon as I accepted the call."Um, good morning, Jason. I'm really sorry for everything. I just hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me, even though it may be difficult," a weak, feminine voice cried from the other end of the line
ZORA—"Hello, Zayn," I said as soon as I answered the call. My voice was so cold that it was enough to let him know I was not happy with him."Hello, baby. What happened? Is there a problem?" He asked inquisitively, trying to soften my mood as he knew he had upset me."Are you pretending not to know what you did? Okay, setting that aside, why didn't you pick up my calls?"He gasped and asked, "When? Oh, that must have been when I was in a meeting with some of our collaborators.""I'm really sorry," he added, sighing."It's okay. Actually, I wanted to ask about your close friend Blake. Have you been in touch with him recently?""Of course, I just spoke with him this morning. Is there an issue? Is he okay?" His concerned tone indicated he was starting to worry."Well, Daisy and I have been unable to reach him. He's unreachable while Daisy is undergoing the artificial insemination procedure. We're concerned that something may have happened to him, but since you said you spoke with him th
ZORA—I was at the office when I lied to Daisy on the call, telling her that I was off to work. Thankfully, there was nothing else to do in the office, as the board of directors had canceled the meeting that was supposed to happen in a few minutes.I went home, picked up my daughter, and drove to the hospital where Daisy is doing the artificial insemination.Upon our arrival at the hospital, she was already in the operating room, so we had to sit in the waiting room and pray for her safe operation."Mommy, where is Aunty Daisy? I thought you told me we were coming here to see her?" Daisy asked with a worried look on her face."Of course, darling. We're here for her, and she's here. She's just inside the operating room, so we have to wait for her," I explained calmly, caressing her hair with a smile on my lips."But what happened to her? Is she sick? I don't want her to be sick because she promised me to give birth to a girl I could go to school with.""Absolutely. That's the main reas
DAISY—"Really? I can't believe Paige came to your house. But I thought she was in prison. How did she escape?" I asked Zora in astonishment after she told me about her recent encounter with Paige."Honestly, dear. I couldn't imagine what might have happened if I did not show up at home by that time. The fact that I saw her carrying Daisy and that she was sitting comfortably on her thighs makes me want to throw up, gosh." I could hear her voice as she sighed. She was traumatized by the experience."Calm down, Zora. The most important thing is that you were able to save your daughter from her, and I hope you have taught her not to embrace strangers at all unless you approved her to do so.""Of course I did a long time ago. That was why I was stunned. I think Paige was using a sort of voodoo on my household. First, it was Zayn, and now my daughter." She said this with a pathetic voice."Oh, dear, don't think those things. What matters now is that your daughter is fine, okay?" I said, tr
ZORA—"When you do, come back to drive this lady out of my house."Amanda's facial expression changed instantly. She gave me a worried look, but she dared not question my authority."Come on, Zora, why are you causing a scene? Your daughter Daisy likes me, and that's why she was comfortable with me. You should let her go up when she wants to," Paige said with a disdainful tone, rising to her feet to leave and avoid embarrassment."I'd rather punch a rock than leave my daughter with a demon like you," I remarked, hissing with irritation on my face.Thankfully, Daisy and Amanda were already halfway upstairs, so they couldn't hear us exchanging words. Nevertheless, I would still scold Daisy later for feeling too comfortable with someone she barely knows to the point of snubbing me when I called her to embrace me."Well, thanks to the universe, you saw with your own eyes that I did not force your daughter to be with me. She was enchanted by my beauty just like her father was.""Beauty att
ZORA —"Well, I don't have an answer for that right now," he replied, releasing me and turning away, heading to the room to avoid further questions, unwilling to reveal what he was keeping to himself.I let out a deep sigh, gazing at him for a few seconds, and I shook my head with a faint smile on my lips. "Now it all makes sense," I blurted out, but he only winced in response.After washing my face, I went to his kitchen to prepare a meal for both of us and one for him to keep in the refrigerator. Surprisingly, he kept checking on me in the kitchen, assisting with cutting vegetables and other tasks to speed up the food preparation, something he had never done before.Usually, when he was at home, he would either be reading or watching football.Once the meal was ready, we sat down to eat, and Zayn was delighted, expressing his wish for me to cook for him every day.After we finished eating, he offered to drive me home, which I accepted, as it would also give him a chance to see Daisy
ZORA —"Could you tell me why you mostly felt absent-minded yesterday?" Zayn asked, hugging me from behind and sniffing my neck as we lay on the bed.It was early morning, and we were already in his mansion, specifically in his bedroom, which I couldn't explain how we ended up there. His sweet words were always irresistible.I was scrolling through my contact list trying to call the lady I hired to babysit my daughter yesterday when he asked the question, so I couldn't answer.I needed space to think over the question so I wouldn't say something I'd regret later. Therefore, I pressed the call button, and fortunately, Clara answered on the first beep."Is there a problem with Daisy? I hope the babysitter can take proper care of her," Zayn said with a worried look."Yeah. Daisy is fine. I was just checking up on her," I said to him after speaking with Clara."Oh, you don't have to worry so much about her. After all, she has her phone and could dial any of our numbers if she faces troubl
ZORA—It was about six o'clock in the evening when Zayn and I met at a grand five-star hotel in Southampton City.During the afternoon, we discussed, and he pleaded for me to come alone with a promise not to initiate sex.I had told him about my plan of coming with Daisy because I've been troubled about sleeping with him when we're not yet legally together."You look elegantly beautiful, dear. This dress fits perfectly on you," he commented as he welcomed me to the hotel."Really? Thank you. I wore it to look good for you," I replied, smiling as we walked inside the building while holding hands like couples.Zayn went to the receptionist and collected a room key. Not going to lie, this instilled fear in me.The restaurant is somewhat a combination of a hotel and a restaurant because it has some potential rooms for booking and other necessities required in a hotel.I wanted to question the need for the key, but I maintained my composure, deciding to refuse or raise an alarm when he took
ZORA —"Zora, I don't like your sudden decision to go back to Zayn, but..." Daisy exhaled a sigh and continued, "Who am I to question your decision?" she added with a solemn expression.It happened that she was on furlough today, so I asked her to accompany me shopping. I wanted to buy some new dresses for the dinner tonight—I wanted to look unique and different to Zayn and not wear one of the outfits he's used to."No worries, Daisy, I'm being careful with him. After all, we haven't officially reunited because the divorce documents have to be disqualified," I replied, patting her shoulder with a chuckle."It's fine. I'm only looking out for your best interest," she shrugged off, sighing."Yes, dear. So tell me about the latest update. Are you going to proceed with the artificial insemination procedure we discussed?" I asked her, wanting to change the topic.She had told me earlier about the recent issues she had been having with her husband regarding their childlessness, which I sugg