Since we have come to an understanding of what must be done, I'll have the judge draft out a marriage contract and the marriage certificate," Harriet said, moving towards the door. "Why are you interested in Ali? There are many other women out there that are better than her," Gerald turned to stare at his grandmother's back with curiosity. Harriet would never do anything without a reason. She was going an extra length in manipulating and playing everyone, and he didn't believe that it was just for the sake of having grandchildren. Harriet's back hunched slightly, and her back gave off a gloomy aura. She said, "I promised someone many years ago, but I failed him and lost the trust he had in me. I want to redeem myself through Ali," she sighed, and turned to Gerald. "I've made many mistakes, but I regret only a few and the promise I failed to keep is among them and that is why no matter what happens, Gerald, Ali must be a part of our lives. Does this fill your curiosity?" She aske
Ali held her head and felt like it was about to split in half. It started again, she noted. She hadn't gotten this shocked in years. The bell kept ringing, and she had to cover both her ears and head. She was turning hysterical, but Harriet managed to shake her out of it. "Are you alright Ali, do we need to go to the hospital?" Harriet asked, ready to give an order to call a doctor or move Ali to a hospital. "No," Ali shook her head, sweat dripping down her forehead, "I was just shocked, that's all." "What kind of shock effect would leave you in that state?" Harriet asked. "It began after I saw my mother's condition after the fire. Then, when she died and when my brother got admitted for brain tumor," Ali explained plainly before looking at her brother. She wasn't comfortable with him there and listening to her conversation, but she couldn't have him leave either. Harriet's eyes flashed when Ali wasn't looking, then she said," I wasn't aware. I will arrange a specialist doct
Ali was lucky enough to have fallen to her side. Her face turned redder than ripened tomatoes. The humiliation made her raise her eyes and glare at Gerald. "Ali! Are you hurt?" Emily asked, coming to her side and helping her up. She sent a subtle glare at Gerald and the latter shifted his cold stare at her. "I'm fine," Ali breathed, shifting her gaze to look at her brother and Aunt. Vivian had moved to come to her side but stopped when Harriet came to check on her. "Alice, are you hurt anywhere?," Harriet asked with concern. Ali nodded, and both women turned their angry gaze to Gerald. "I didn't push her, she didn't look where she was walking," Gerald defended, wearing a wooden expression. He didn't seem to realize what he had done wrong and his indifference made Harriet burst like fireworks. "You didn't push her, but you didn't catch her when she fell. That's just the same as you pushing her. Alice is your wife now and if you don't want to end up being like your father, you
The wedding reception was just as Ali had thought, the guests were not more than a hundred, and everyone was dressed in luxurious designer clothes. It was very extravagant, from the decorations to the food and drinks. She tightened her hold on Gerald as she struggled to keep her cool while Gerald conversed with the president of the country. She noticed that even the waiters and servants had better composure than her. Her gaze shifted to the side where she felt an intense glare. It was coming from Bridget but the gaze of the man sitting beside her, which she assumed was her father, was the most unnerving. His gaze made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, it wasn't like when Gerald glare at her, this man's gaze was very different, and intense. "You can go say hi," she heard Gerald's voice right beside her ear, prompting her to shift her attention to him. "Sorry, I didn't hear you. What were you saying?" Ali asked, keeping her gaze on his tie. She refused to look at his fa
The door burst open and Harriet was the first to storm inside, walking like an angry buffalo, ready to destroy anything in its path. However, her body froze when she found Ali standing in the middle of the room wearing a bath rope. "I was coming to open the door," Ali said, her voice almost a whisper. Her delicate appearance brought a frown to the faces of everyone. "I thought you had fainted," Harriet sighed in relief, "I didn't know you were such a good actress, huh? But where is Gerald?" she asked, looking around the room. Ali held the rope tighter against her body as she willed her body not to shake. She looked towards the bathroom before saying, "He is taking a shower." "Taking a shower? With you? Do you expect me to believe that?" Angela asked, glaring at Ali as if she could see through her lie. Ali forced a smile at the woman. She was trying to save her son's reputation and from getting an earful, but she was butting in. "He was pretty angry, and we had a little argum
Volume 2 is here. The real game begins. Ali married Gerald to take revenge against her father, his wife and Jared, but most importantly, to reinvestigate her mother's death. However, she is unaware that she is also an instrument of revenge. She will become embroidered in the secrets and power struggles of the family. What if her mother's death wasn't just a case of a burning room and suicide? What if there are many factors involved that would destroy her hopes? This is where love and schemes begin. Volume 2: Love and Scheme. Who beats the game? _________________________ Ali joined Gerald at the garage a few minutes later. He stood with Harriet and they both seemed to be in a discussion which stopped when she came in sight. "The dress suits you perfectly," Harriet praised, giving Ali a once over. Ali smiled and twirled at Harriet's behest before stopping to look at the older woman. She sneaked a glance at Gerald and, like always, he wore his usual 'military zone' expression
Paris France Ali walked behind Gerald as they made their way to the penthouse on the top floor of the hotel. As soon as the door opened, they were greeted with a dark room and the only source of light came from the red candles arranged beautifully inside the room. Gerald first stepped in to be followed by Ali. There were flowers on both sides of the floor that created a pathway to what seemed like the bedroom. Balloons were tied together and hung on the chandelier, the TV and almost every corner. Ali was stunned at first but then shook her head, knowing it was the expert handiwork of Harriet. She felt bad for the woman because it was a waste of time and efforts as nothing would happen between her and Gerald. The bedroom was not left out. The walls, rug, couch, were filled with red petals and balloons. The bed was covered with red roses and shaped like a heart with a cute baby photo on top. Ali walked closer to read the writeup under it. "Give me good news soon. And she sa
Embarrassed and awkward was an understatement to describe the present situation. Ali stood there dumbly, not knowing whether to run back into the closet or make an explanation. Her eyes darted around the room before settling on the lingerie hanging helplessly between Gerald's fingers. He seemed frozen, staring at Ali with gritted teeth as if he were having a war within himself, but his eyes glared coldly at her. It would have been a great idea if Ali had turned and walked back into the closet, but she took small steps towards Gerald with the intention of getting the pitiful underwear from him. However, she had only taken two steps when Gerald stomped towards her like an incensed bull. Before Ali understood the situation, Gerald had already caught her by the neck and hurled her to the bed. "What do you take me for?" He snarled viciously, "Do you think you can have your way just because I took a step back and married you? I warned you, didn't I?" Ali struggled under Gerald, scra
Gerald stared at Madeline with a cold, calculating smile. The room fell into an eerie silence, as Madeline suddenly turned quiet from shock after seeing the child. Her fear was etched across her face. She could not believe that Gerald had caught a hold of her family. She had painstakingly hidden them away, so how did he find them? She was sure they were safe, and no one would link them to her.Alan, the man who had been roughly dragged into the other room, looked startled and disoriented. His eyes darted around the room, glaring angrily at the men who pinned him to the chair and tied him up. He had been captured when he was returning from his meeting with a client in Mongolia. Madeline's son continued sobbing in the other room, and it brought tears to Madeleine's eyes that slipped down to her shirt. "Gerald, they did nothing wrong to you, I hurt you, please let them go. My son is just six years old," she struggled with the chair helplessly. Gerald pouted his lips and let the silen
Music recommendation: In The End by Linkin Park."Leave it be for now, let me deal with this one first. Have the child and lover moved to the other room. It's been so long I last saw her," Gerald said, and resumed walking. His expression turned frostier even as he walked languidly through the corridor and halted before a steel door. The door was pushed back by William, and as he walked in, his eyes observed the condition of the room sharply, even under the scarce lighting. He was quick to pick out a flying insect in a corner of the room. It was a cockroach."I didn't remember giving you permission to have companions," Gerald said, looking in a particular direction. The light was turned on abruptly, and it shone directly on the face of the girl who sat directly opposite it and in the middle of the room.Her eyes were forced to close because of the light that fell directly on her face. "You didn't come to visit, I was lonely, and they came to keep me company," the girl said. Her voi
Harriet raised a brow, looking at Ali quizzically. "Why are you against it? Is there something wrong with your body? A scar?" Ali shook her head and nodded at the same time. She stared, confused and frustrated at the same time. Harriet tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. "Did Gerald hurt you?" She asked, the air around her turning chilly. Ali's mouth opened and shut as she struggled with herself about whether to tell Harriet about it or not. But seeing as the woman's expression was turning uglier by the second, she decided to tell her. If Harriet could punish Gerald for hurting her, then why would she hold back? She lowered the neck of her collared shirt and showed Harriet the finger marks on her neck. She side-glanced at Harriet and noticed the way the older woman was trying so hard to control her anger. "How dare he lay a finger on you?" She asked through gritted teeth. Ali's face crinkled with a cheerless smile as she said, "It was a misunderstanding. He thought I was tryi
Again? Ali thought, and a frown settled on her face. Was he dumped by his first love? Did she cheat on him with someone else? So a woman was the reason for his refusal to get married and also why he kept treating her like an enemy. She observed Harriet as the older woman's mood turned gloomy. Then Harriet started her story. _______________Gerald had finished his heirship training and had returned to the country. However, he didn't return alone. He brought with him his best friend, Caleb, and a girl, Madeline. Caleb was the illegitimate son of a business mogul in Barcelona. He and Gerald had met at school. Initially, Gerald didn't like Caleb when they met because Caleb was clingy and a troublemaker. He was always cold to him, but Caleb wasn't fazed and kept looking for him, and eventually he won Gerald over. A few years later, when Gerald was attacked by thugs in Hong Kong when he went for a business meeting, he met Madeline. She saved him and hid him in her shabby apartment.
Hello guys, Please note that this note is to inform you that this chapter is intertwined with two scenes. One is where Harriet is giving us a history of Gerald, and the other is what Gerald is doing. Don't get confused. I am going to demarcate them with a line. You'll also know the reason why Gerald hated marriage and really hated Ali, and why he was so cruel and heartless.__________ Gerald walked past the man, his steps turning hasty as he reached the door of the room in no time. "When did he awaken?" Gerald asked, glaring at the doctor."Yesterday, but he was fine until an hour ago," the doctor frantically explained, his gaze darting to and fro between Gerald and the door. The way his body trembled made Gerald glare harder at him. The screams continued, and so did the thudding on the wall. "Where is Nurse Blair?" Gerald asked, taking off his wrist watch, then his jacket. "T—that," the doctor hesitated, his shifty eyes stared at everywhere but Gerald. Gerald's face became unsig
Hello guys, Please note that this note is to inform you that this chapter is intertwined with three scenes. One is where Harriet is giving us a history of Gerald; the other is a flash back on Gerald's childhood; and the last is what Gerald is up to. Don't get confused. I am going to seperate it with a line. You'll also know the reason why Gerald hated marriage and really hated Ali, and why he was so cruel and heartless.___________ Ali walked around Gerald's room. His room was sophisticated but the main theme was black, and only a few things in the room was white. He surely was just black and white and was in serious need of color in the room and in his life. Her clothes were already arranged in the closet by the maids. She went for a little tour and couldn't help marveling at the splendor and his taste. A little more color would make it heaven on earth. She sighed and took a seat on the bed. Her eyes stared at the bed for a while before she read the text that Mary sent her.
Bridget alighted in front of a red-painted two-storey building and threw her car keys at the gateman. She walked briskly towards the entrance, and the bulky men standing guard opened the door for her. A woman was standing behind the door, and as soon as she walked in, the woman passed her a glove and a nose mask. "Don Moses and Don Romero are checking the new drugs that arrived yesterday with the clients. Do you want to join him?" The woman asked. "No, I want to see my son first," Bridget replied. "Martin is not allowed to see anyone..." "Do I look like I care about Dad's orders? I said I want to see my son," Bridget snapped at the girl before turning and pushing the next door beside her and walking through it. She was fuming, and her heels made a sharp sound against the marble tiles. She took a few turns along the corridor and walked down a flight of stairs, which eventually led her to an iron gate. She sighed and banged on the gate. The ruffling of keys was heard befo
"Stop talking nonsense Joe. You are still too young for such thoughts," Vivian sighed. "And you and Ali are way too old to notice it," Joe retorted, "I can feel it, he likes Ali, but she is too dense to not notice and ended up with that mean man that makes her cry," he balled his hands. Vivian stared at him surprised. Joe had pretended not to know anything, but he understood everything perfectly well. It seemed they had to stop having such conversations in front of him. "Listen here boy, don't talk about this with anyone, it's a secret," Vivian warned. Joe huffed and puffed his cheek, "Of course I won't tell. I feel ashamed just thinking that that man is my brother-in-law. People would surely laugh at us," he turned to his side and laid down. Vivian stood there stunned and speechless. She stared at his head. Did the surgery do something to his mental state? Or was it his innate nature that he had hidden? Joe had never talked like that. She didn't know that it was his condition
Gerald couldn't fathom how a girl in this time and age could be clueless about what happened around and with her. Was she that dumb? He gritted his teeth as he enunciated every word, "Because it is rare to see grandmother force her will on me. She just woke up one morning and started plotting so much. Did you think she allowed you to marry into our family because you saved her? How naive," he sneered. Ali blinked; she was lost for words and could only look at Gerald with her dull black eyes. He said, "Grandma isn't someone who takes a no when she wants something. She manipulated you so you could marry me with another motive other than bearing grandchildren." He didn't hide anything about his grandmother. He wanted Ali to know the kind of person she was, not to spoil Harriet's image in her eyes but to make sure they both didn't conspire against him. Having a wife who blindly follows the orders of someone else, especially someone like his grandmother, was risky. He wanted Ali