Thank you lovelies for reading. My apologies for the missed update yesterday, my schedule didn't allow me, but I'll make it up to you guys. Please đ don't forget to leave a review if you're enjoying this story. Your comments, gems and support means the world to me! Thanks to EVERYONE of you readers!â¤ď¸â¤ď¸ Faaizah, Palvinder Kaur, I see you! Thank you!
GLENDA'S POVI groggily opened my eyes to Mauriceâs smiling face. He propped his head on his inclined elbow, his face towered over mine and his soft gaze intent on me. Had he been watching me while I slept. âSunshine.â He said and shifted stray strands of my hair from my face. I managed a weak smile as I stretched and yawned.âFinally, a smile.â His smile widened into a boyish grin.âYou were watching me sleep? That's creepy.â I yawn-talked. âI don't know what you're talking about.â He feigned ignorance. His rakish grin still plastered on his face.âYou are creepy.â I insisted.âNo, Iâm not.â He was chuckling now.I rolled my eyes and shook my head with a smile. I shifted, turned and lay on my side to face him.âThank you for yesterday.â It was a sincere appreciation that stemmed from the bottom of my heart.I turned into an emotional wreck yesterday after hearing the news of my father and I hadn't expected Maurice to stand by me. But he did. He was there with me all through the tim
BRIAN'S POVBeads of sweat formed on my temples. My palms became sweaty. I was visibly trembling. Glenda's aunt came here? Why would she come here? What is she up to now? My nervousness was palpable and Glenda didn't fail to notice.She eyed the length of me, disgust adorned her expression. âAre you alright?âI cleared my throat, trying to hide my anxiety. âAhem. Yes. I'm fineâŚYour Aunt. I mean, your father⌠Where are you going?ââI just told you my father is ill. He's in a coma and I'm going to visit him at the hospital.â She hissed in irritation. âPlease, leave my way.â She was out of sight before I could get out any more words. I stared at the empty stairway devoid of anyone but me.I stood there fixated for minutes. My mind was a whirlwind. I finally decided to go downstairs where my fear was seated.âJust the person I wanted to see.â Aunt Helena sneered at me once I reached the foot of the stairs. There was no way to avoid her. I had no option than to face her.âWhy are you here
GLENDA'S POVâWhere is Aunt?â I asked, darting my gaze around the room in search of Aunt Helena, but there was no sight of her.âShe left.â He replied in a nervous, hoarse voice. He looked terrified, scared and afraid. What was he so afraid of?I eyed him in disbelief. âShe left?â My tone was heavy with incredulity.How could Aunt leave? She had come so we could go to the hospital together. I only went up to get dressed and she left? I was already finding the whole scenario absurd before Brian spoke in clarification.âNo. She went out⌠She is waiting⌠She said to tell you she will wait outside for you.âI watched him while he fumbled with words. I squinted as a thought hit me.âDid you kick her out?ââMe? No. Why would I?â He sounded defensive. As though he was trying to hide something.âWho were you talking to just now?â His behavior was raising many questions in my mind.âNo one... Listen, I'm sorry about your dad. I hope he gets better.â He smoothly changed the topic. He seemed to
BRIAN'S POVI closed my eyes and sighed in relief as Glenda walked out of the house. It was obvious that she suspected something but I was able to brush her off. At least that's what I thought.When I opened my eyes, I was faced with another problem. It turned out Glenda was only a soft nut to crack. The hard nut was standing before me, glaring at me.âWhat? Why are you staring at me like that?â I asked, trying to mirror her glare. Scare her so that she backed down. My method was as good as useless because she didn't soften one bit.âSheâs gone.â She said in reference to Glenda and crossed her arms over her chest.âI know.â I replied in defiance.âStart talking! Don't make me regret listening to your plea to hide. I heard you and that lady discussing and I could just as well have asked Glenda about what I heard.â Lucy threatened.I gazed at her trying to figure out just how much of our discussion she heard. Lucy had showed up just as Aunt Helena strode out of the house to wait for Gl
GLENDA'S POVI stayed longer with Dad since Maurice already told me he would be returning late. It was my attempt to make up for the lost times and I promised myself that when Dad regained consciousness, I would try to make amends, fix my relationship with him. It gave me hope to hear from Aunt Helena that Dad was responding to treatment and that he had a chance. Slim, but a chance still. The doctor had told her that.I would hold on to that glimmer of hope and wait for dad to recover. I almost didn't want to leave when I was asked to, but visiting hours were over and reluctantly, I returned home.I had dinner alone as Maurice was not yet back. Still seated at the dining table, my half eaten meal in front of me, my eyes roved around the empty chairs surrounding the table. The house felt big and empty without Maurice and Nana.I really did miss Nana. I was feeling lonely without Maurice. I wouldn't have been feeling this way if Nana was here. We would have been gisting and laughing. I
MAURICE'S POVI rubbed at my throbbing temples. Just when I thought everything was getting under control, a different problem arose.âI brought you guys coffee.â Jane, Sam's wife announced as she entered the study.âThanks darling.â Sam said with sincere appreciation in his eyes.âThank you Jane.â I said and picked up one of the mugs. I needed it to keep awake.âYou look beat. Should I get you something for that headache?â Jane asked after she noticed me massaging my temples relentlessly.âHe has had a lot to deal with today. First the problem at the London office and then he had to fly here impromptu to handle this new one.â Sam flexed his wrist and looked at his watch.âIt's midnight in London. He should be asleep now. It's a lot to give one a headache.â Sam responded in my stead.I looked up at Jane who stood waiting for my response regarding the âsomethingâ for the headache.I smiled wearily at her. âI'll manage Jane. Thank you.ââLet me know if you change your mind.â âWill do.â
GLENDA'S POVI had barely dropped the call before the surge of a sick, terrible feeling overwhelmed me. Maurice had hurt me with his words.Childish. The word echoed in my head. He called me childish for trying to look out for him. I blinked away the moisture that had formed in my eyes.Why was he being insensitive to my feelings? Was I really being childish for trying to protect my man? Was I being childish for being jealous? I trusted Maurice, but that Lucy, not one bit. I focused on my breathing, inhaling and exhaling deeply in an attempt to calm myself.I was caught between two conflicting emotions. Hurt and anger towards Maurice, joy and excitement for my father's health improvement.I tried to push the hurt and pain to the recess of my mind. If I didn't, the rest of my day would be sour like this morning.I forced myself to get ready for my visit to Dad. Every movement I took to get ready was slow and laborious. My heart was heavy and it was difficult to overlook the hurt I fel
GLENDA'S POV âBrian!â I bellowed. âWhat are you doing!â I screamed at him as I rushed over to Dad. Brian paused and stiffened as though he had been caught stealing. He slowly turned to me, his gaze full of fear. âWhat are you trying to do!â I queried him with wide shocked eyes. I pushed him aside to look at my father and that's when I heard the small weak hoarse voice. âGl⌠Gle⌠Glenda.â Dad said breathlessly. I was completely bewildered. âDa.. da.. dad?â I stuttered. âHe is trying to say something.â Brian spoke over my shoulders. I glanced up at him and returned my gaze to Dad. So that's why he was moving Dad's oxygen mask. âDad.â I bent over and leaned in to him. âI'm here Dad.â I said as he whispered my name again in the same hoarse manner. Tears streamed down my face. It felt so surreal having to hear Dad speak again. He has been so lifeless. No sounds or movement from him except the beeping of the hospital equipment. âDad.â I repeated in a teary voice. It w
GLENDA'S POVONE WEEK LATERâWhere is he? How is he?â Concern adorned my weary voice as my worried gaze rested on my brother-in-law.âHeâll live.â Sam said with a grin.Jane nudged him and gave him a warning glare. âBe serious for once! Donât scare her with your silly jokes!â She reprimanded him.Sam pouted, but his eyes didnât discard the mischievous glint they held. âIâm serious. Iâm sharing good news.â He said with a shrug.Janeâs irritation at her husband stood up a notch. Her glares intensified. âCanât you see that sheâs worried?âSam sighed resignedly. âI was only trying to lighten her mood.ââWell youâre doing a terrible job at it!âSam raised his hands in surrender. He shifted and gave way for Jane to come closer to my gurney.Jane approached the bed with a sweet smile. âWe came as soon as we heard. How are you feeling dear?â She helped adjust the gurney so my upper body was elevated. It gave me a better view.âIâm doing fine... Where is Maurice?" I asked again.It has been two
MAURICE'S POVBrian acted impulsively. That's what I thought and I couldn't resist the urge to scold him. He shouldn't have taken such a risky task upon himself. I was most certain that he had hurt himself, his hands were hurting and he was hiding it.âScold me later, after we leave here.â He smiled at his deed, hiding his pain behind those genuine smile.I couldn't help but manage a half smile. He looked charming. Brian was a good boy. He just needed to be pointed in the right direction and I'm glad he found his way back home.I promised myself at that instance that things would be different from there on. He would be my son and I would be his father.I nodded for him to come along and went ahead with Glenda, expecting him to follow behind us. I had only taken a few steps when I heard the crash.I immediately turned around. âBrian!â I yelled, but it was already too late. âDad.â He choked out in response. He blinked, sighed and seemed to relax. He looked calm, smiling up at me. As t
BRIAN'S POVâElsa?â I asked him in surprise.It only meant Elsa had run after me when she couldn't stop me from going into the house. That crazy bitch!With everything that my father had told me, it was clear that she hadn't entered with good intentions. She must have sensed my intentions and she wanted to act ahead of me.She wanted to cement her plans, ensure everything happened according to how she wanted it. It was her house after all. She knew where she had left Glenda and could find her easily.Maybe it was a good thing she came in. This unit was large and finding my father and Glenda in this fiery mess was already proving difficult until I stumbled on the door, and heard the thudding coming from within. If she hadn't locked them in here, then maybe I would not have found them.I wanted to lift Glenda, carry her in my arms, but I thought against it and allowed my father to carry his wife.âI doubt that she's still in the building. Quick, let's get out of here.â I ordered and w
MAURICE'S POVA miracle did happen. Only it wasn't how I expected it.âGlenda!â I thought I was hallucinating someone calling Glenda. I braced myself. The thief had come. Death was near. It was so close, looming over us and breathing over my neck. I could feel it. But I wasn't scared. I wasn't afraid. I was ready for whatever was to come.âGlenda!â The call came again.My eyes flew wide open when I heard the second call. I was not hallucinating. I was not imagining things. Someone was indeed calling Glenda.Quickly, I raised myself from the forlorn stance I had assumed on the floor.My dead hope resurrected instantly. Someone was here. Someone had come for us.âIs anyone there? We are in here!â I yelled. My voice had become hoarse, dried from the smoke. I prayed whoever it was out there had heard me.âWe are here!â I tried to increase my volume. I ended up wheezing from the strain.I guess my coughing gave away our location as I heard shuffling, then someone approaching.âElsa?â I as
MAURICE'S POVHis reaction only confirmed my fears. Glenda was in that heat.I watched in horror as the flames grew taller into the sky. My breath hitched. My fears skyrocketed. Anxiety clothed my core. I was shaking with fright.That's when I caught sight of the approaching figure. A ray of hope stirred within me. Maybe. Just maybe.Brian strode past me like a zombie, his gaze set upon the fire like it was beckoning to him.Once the outline cleared to reveal Elsa, every ounce of hope and logical thinking within me vaporized.At that moment, nothing else mattered. Not Brian. Not Elsa. Not me. Only Glenda.I willed my legs to move and like a flash, I ran past Brian into the fire. The dense, hazy smoke welcomed me. Everything blurred in my vision. I squinted in an attempt to adjust to the smoky view.I squinted through the smoke and raised a hand to fan out the smoke. It didn't help to clear my view.âGlenda!â I called out. A raspy cough escaped my throat as the smoke filled my lungs.
BRIAN'S POVI caught a whiff of the familiar perfume as I entered the house. My heart began to beat at a double rate. My worst fears came alive when I stepped into the room to find it empty. Glenda was gone.âShit! Shit!â I cussed and kicked.I exasperatedly ran a hand through my hair. Just when I had everything ready. When all my plans were ready and set. That sick bitch had to appear now. Why did I ever bring her here? What had I ever found attractive about that sick witch? I looked down at my crotch and cussed myself for my lack of control. But how could I have known then that this would come back to bite me in the ass? How could I have known that Elsa was as sick as the woman who birthed her?âDarn it!âWas this how all of my plans would be ruined? Would I not be able to protect Glenda? Would I allow Elsa and her mother to have the last laugh?No! I swore to protect Glenda and I would fulfill that promise.But where do I even begin to look for Glenda? Where could Elsa have taken
GLENDA'S POV I didn't want to accept how foolish I had been. How gullible I was. How blindingly trusting I was. âElsa, please tell me this is all not true. Tell me this is all a prank. Say it. Laugh all this off⌠Say you're joking!â I yelled at her. I shook my head as though doing that would dispel everything that I had heard. âYou are a liar! I don't believe you!â I broke into a sob. âI trusted you, Elsa. I loved you! I trusted you!... You were my sister! That's how much I cherished you.â I spilled through my teary, pain-filled voice. âAnd I hate you! I hate you Glenda! I hate you!â She countered, panting with dark rage. The room was filled with the heat of the hate emanating from her. The stench of her loath towards me was palpable in the ambience of the room. It felt so surreal. Like acting out a scene with the evil villain. Only, this was far from a dream or a movie. It was my sick reality. I could never have thought Elsa, whom I considered akin to my sister, harbored su
MAURICE POV It was a long drive. It had been two hours ago since Lucy agreed to take me to the place she talked about, yet we still hadn't reached. We kept taking neverending turns and corners. âAre we there yet?â I asked like an impatient child eager to reach the park sooner. âNo. It's right up that corner.â Lucy replied. âHow many more corners are we going to take?â Exasperation embellished my tone. âHow did you even come to know about this place?â I asked out of my impatience and eagerness to quickly reach Glenda. The long hours of driving was beginning to make me rethink my decision. I couldn't help but begin to consider that this may be a ploy to distract me. âUm, he brought me here one time when we needed to talk privately. This is his hideout.â she spoke shyly. From the sound of her voice and the expression on her face, I understood that this was where they came to do all their plotting. Could Brian and Lucy still be working together? Could this also be one of
BRIAN'S POVI repeatedly slapped the passport against my palm, relishing in immense satisfaction as I walked to my car. It had taken longer than I had anticipated to get it done but I was finally holding it. My ticket to leave this place without being spotted by anyone.Best part, I was taking the woman I love along. Everything was falling into place. I smiled to myself as I got in my car. Aunt Helena had no idea how smart I could be. By the time she'll realize anything, we'd be long gone. Far long gone! To a place where no one can ever find us! Our disappearance would be a huge disappointment to Aunt Helena. It would put a big hole in her plans.As I sat in my car, my hand rested idling on the steering wheel. I gaze through the windshield, staring fixated at nothing ahead, my mind traveling back to that day at the hospital.â â â Flash backâ â â âI've lost him.â She was crying profusely. âWe failed.âI glanced over to Lucy curled on the gurney, an irritated look draped my expression.