BELSHAR NESSAR ABED Everyone was gathered at the church and as I took in the expectant faces of all the guests, all I wanted was to get the charade all over with. Séda had planned the whole wedding so of course I'd expected it to be grand. Most of the time I did whatever it was they wanted just so they didn't focus all of their attention on me but marrying Celine who was an illegitimate child had been all my decision and I was sure the wheels in their head were turning as to why I was doing all this.Everything was a game to my family and the dynamic was such that the weak didn't survive for too long. I'd survived for so long because I had Selene by my side but she was gone and I knew that If I showed any crack I was going to end up dead like Antonio my older brother and Angelo, my stepbrother. It was just me and Kail now and I was sure mother and father were salivating to know who was going to come out on top.They were crazy but my family's had always been. Selene had been the onl
CELINE HERRERA POV The piano piece sounded like an intro to a horror show, and as I got closer to the altar with Belshar standing and staring at me as if I'd bolt at any second, I felt the seriousness of the situation and that there was no way for me to back out. I was fucking doomed.Séda was by my side as soon as I reached the aisle where she was sitting. She took my hand, kissed my cheek then met my gaze, the smile on her lips not quite reaching her eyes."I am so happy you showed up for your wedding Celine. I almost thought I'd have to kill you if it turned out you ran away" she whispered so only I could hear then chuckled when she saw me clench the flower I was holding tighter. "I am just joking love, you shouldn't take everything so seriously, it's really a bad habit.. now off you go, let me not keep you waiting any longer," she said and patted my back. I walked away from her but I could feel her gaze boring into my back and even though she had said it was all a joke, I knew t
DELIA HERRERA POV "I want to raise a toast to Celine, for the success of her much-anticipated wedding. I wish you all the best moving forward" I said and everyone around the table clicked glasses including Belshar who I was seated beside. I'd met his gaze almost four times tonight and they didn't slide off me like they always did when he didn't know who I was or when he'd come for dinner at grandfather's so I was making some progress.Grandfather had retired for the night since his drugs required that he took a lot of rest and so it was just me, Enoch, Celine, Belshar, Kail, and their parents- Séda and Nessar- who looked like they were planning some sort of evil for the night.Belshar's family was overwhelming, especially Séda. I had tried to become acquainted with her on different occasions and she'd dismissed me rudely. She said there was something off about my energy but I knew it was bullshit. Séda was the type of woman who decided based on her mood whether to hate or like a per
CELINE HERRERA POV The last guests to leave were Enoch, Delia, and Bella and I couldn't help but feel skeptical when I saw Delia and Bella conversing beside their parked cars.I stood at the door, my gaze fixed on them and then Bella looked up, our gaze clashing but she didn't look as if she'd been caught doing something wrong, instead, Bella smiled and waved at me before her attention turned back to Delia, then Delia also glanced in my direction and glared, the dead look in her eyes making feel uncomfortable.I made to head back inside when Enoch stepped out of the car and started to walk in my direction with an uncertain look on his face. In his left hand was a small parcel that was wrapped in a shiny red wrap. He smiled as he reached me, took my hand, and placed the box in it, then scratched the back of his ear, his gaze fixated on the box in my hand as I looked it over."I forgot to give this to you earlier. It's a wedding gift" he said and I glanced up to meet his eyes."Are yo
DELIA HERRERA POV *******"What did you drop into her drink? And don't even try to deny it, we both know I caught you redheaded" I said and Bella just stared at me, then her eyes widened then she smiled as if she'd just realized what it was I was talking about."Oh, you are talking about earlier. It was just a relaxative. Celine told me that she was feeling a bit nervous so I gave her the pill to calm down" Bella explained and I scoffed. "You must think I am pretty stupid, don't you? Celine never asked you for anything besides you put the drug in her drinks when you thought that no one was looking at you"Bella crossed her arms, her gaze moving to the front door of the house where Celine stood staring at the both of us, then she smiled and waved before turning her gaze back to me. "And what if I did put something in her drinks... You saw me and yet refused to speak up, doesn't that make you an accomplice to my crime""I kept quiet because I don't care if Celine gets drugged or not"
CELINE HERRERA POV "Miss Celine" Karen called, her hands tapping on my desk and my gaze snapped to hers as I forced myself to recall what we had been talking about. "Are you sure you're ok? Your focus seems a bit off today" she pointed out and I just stared at her."I didn't sleep well," I told her but I was sure she could already tell from the dark circles beneath my eyes that I hadn't."You shouldn't have come back to work so early. I mean you were recently married. We all thought you were going to take a month off at the least" I waved her words away, as I glanced down at the files in front of me. "I will not neglect my work just because I'm married Karen. Besides, Belshar is cool with this. He loves me working" I told her and forced a smile to accompany the lie. "Then why didn't you sleep well? I know your exhaustion is not due to sexual activities" she said and I watched as color rushed to her cheek, she also couldn't meet my gaze. "You look tired and you have been spacing ou
CELINE HERRERA POV I felt sick and as I walked with my head held up high so that no one would know that I was sick, I hurriedly made my way to the parking lot. It was only once I got there and saw my car did I allowed the pain of what I was feeling to show on my face. The sickness had started all of a sudden, one minute, I'd been perfectly fine and the next, it was as if I was going to die which was why I had no choice but to leave work early and go back home."You didn't give me an answer last night" Enoch's voice startled me and I turned around to face him, my gaze moving involuntarily through the empty parking lot before landing back on him. He smiled as I met his gaze then stepped toward me, but stopped some steps from me as he noticed me take a step back."What are you doing here" I asked, forcing my voice to sound steady and he tilted his head, then scratched behind his neck before his hands dropped at his sides."I came to check out the company that might one day be Delia's.
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED POV.PAST ********Selene! Her name was a wail in my chest as I drove manically towards G&H cooperation. Stone had finally managed to track her call and as the sky rumbled above with a sense of danger I couldn't help but feel like I was already late.Once I got to the company building, I rushed out of the car and then made my way to where she was.The sight made my heart freeze in my chest and the feeling was suffocating as I made my way to where she was laid on the stroller that my men had brought, the doctor beside her trying his best to save her.I got to her side and her eyes moved in my direction as if she'd been waiting for me. I stepped closer, my eyes taking in everywhere blood dripped from her pale skin. I grabbed her cold hand and cradled her head with a shaky hand to press a kiss to her forehead.The back of her head was wet and I could feel her blood coating my finger as I caressed her hair.She clutched my hand tightly and I could see her struggling