CHAPTER 26Her gaze fell on the last person she was expecting to see, her heart thud heavily. She couldn't get herself to believe that he was standing right there just a few meters away from where had fallen. “Rian." She grimaced.“I asked a question; going somewhere?”She shook her head, and swallowed the lump that was trying to force its way out of her throat.Her phone buzzed and as they both stared at it now cracked screen, Laura's call popped up.A look of amusement crawled up on his face. “You were going to call her ain't you.”“No… I.” She stuttered.He gripped her by her shoulders and forced her to stand facing him, her heart thud heavily as she didn't know what to expect at the next minute.“What have I done, I did nothing." She protested."Shut the hell up, I know you saw me.”She feigned innocence."You, I haven't come across you today.”He mutters something in disagreement to her lies, he is filled with fury and annoyance at her attempts of lying to him. If there was any
CHAPTER 27Unaware of Rian's presence, Laura waved her hand in Riley's face and with a raised brow asked, “You sounded so worried back there, why aren't you saying anything now?” “Actually, I was just trying to pull your legs.” Riley said with a wink trying to act natural before Rian who was resting against the wall with his hands tucked in his pockets and his gaze fixed on her. “It's high time you grow up. You made me worried for no reason.” Laura scoffed, glaring angrily at her. A while ago, she was thinking Riley had something serious to say to her only to hear it was all a prank. “Come on Laura, you shouldn't be overreacting. Moreover, it's not a big deal.” She joked stealing glances at Rian who still maintained his position. “Overreacting you say, get your hand off me.” She said, playfully pushing her hands off. They engaged in a little argument and that was when Rian decided to announce his presence. Taking his back off the wall, he straightened up and then cleared his thro
CHAPTER 28All that swirling in Riley's head came to an end when she felt a strong grip around her waist steadying her and preventing her from falling—it took a while to compose herself. Still recovering from the shock she had felt when she was about to fall to the ground, Riley was breathing heavily, her gaze fixed on Damien who was staring at her intensely. “Are you alright?” He asked, pulling her to himself. “Uhm, yeah. Thanks.” She said, flipping her hair away from her face, to her it felt like too much contact, the fact that she didn't know too well to have him have his hands around her that way.Yet, it was intriguing if she'd have to admit, his cologne, his scent…Everything! Forgetting she fell because of her broken heels, he let go of her waist and the next second, he had to repeat his earlier action. This time round, more swiftly. “Dammit, I'm sorry.” He muttered. “You're alright?” He asked, searching her face for a reply. Nodding, she replied, “Uh, yeah.” She muttered
ÇHAPTER 29“Just five am, I still have a few hours left.” She mumbled, shutting her eyes tightly. Nuzzling deep into her pillow and pulling it to herself, Antonia tried to get more sleep. Adding to her frustration, the alarm clock which was on the bedside stool, began to ring. “Keep quiet.” She grumbled, pulling the duvet over her head. Christian who was occupying the other end of the bed, pulled himself up and then quickly silenced the alarm clock. “Much better.” She mumbled and then readjusted before falling back asleep. A few hours later, her eyes snapped open only for her to shut it almost immediately because of the blinding sun rays that had made its way into the room through the opened window. With her eyes still shut, she felt the other side of the bed Christian was occupying but he wasn't there, only then did she open her eyes. “Half past seven? Where has he gone so early? He didn't tell me he was leaving for work…” she continued muttering some words as she wondered wher
CHAPTER 30While the twin was engrossed in playing with his newly found toy, Laura was pondering. She was resting against the wall with her hand under her chin. She could vividly remember that when she left the room earlier, there was no such toy there and she hadn't brought any along. “Are you sure you aren't the one who pulled the toy along?” She asked, crouching beside the twin as she stroked his hair. “I didn't.” He replied. Pushing her hand off his head, he placed the toy in front of her saying, “Do you know Superman is very powerful? He is one of the biggest and strongest heroes in the whole of America.”“I know.” “What about batman?” He asked, suspending his play for a while. “I do.”“What about Captain America?” He asked. Laura, already tired of his questions that would span for the next few minutes, threw her head backwards and then let out a sigh. “Mom, do you know Captain America?” He asked, pushing her shoulder. “Yes, yes I do. Can we just stop this already? Mom is
CHAPTER 31A worried Antonia woke up that morning to find herself in bed, she could still see the dent in the pillow beside her, where he was laid, and she could still feel the warmth of the covers rumpled confirming the previous night hadn’t been a dream.He had made love to her although it didn't look like he was so into it, for countless times he had seemed to be distracted.She stared around at the apartment of one costly home Instead with interest. She knew he had recently just bought it off distress and was looking to get it renovated. The decor was natural wood with vintage furnishings and costly artwork that made the building pleasantly welcoming. Last night had merely been his first night here as well that was if he was telling the truth, of recent she was starting to suspect he lied to her. She thinks he's definitely been there a few times to have some ‘alone time' Despite telling herself that all of this was just at the back of her mind she couldn't ignore that persisten
CHAPTER 32A heavily stressed-out Christian looked up from the heavy files he had been busy with to the executive who looked equally bored with the Pitch deep in his mind he had hated leaving home that weekend. His phone beeped, and all eyes turned in his direction, flushed rather than embarrassed he opened the message icon that had just popped up and was rather startled to see the message from Antonia.Just about then the sounds of the executives clapping filled the room signaling the end to the meeting much to his relief. He cleared his throat. “Are we satisfied with the statistics or do you think there is more that could be done?”The absence of questions marked an ending to the meeting as they all shook hands before making their way forward. He looked around hoping to see Rhys amidst the investors that had joined the meeting but there was no glimpse of him leaving him unsatisfied. “Damien, you can wait while others leave." He instructed.Soon the office was filled with eerily q
CHAPTER 33Heavy palpitations and anxiety, those were the two perfect things to explain the state of her mind at that moment. She was confused for a minute wondering if it was right that she walked in with the box.At long last she did, she looked old again and could see a black car driving away, raising more suspicion and making her more skeptical. One name came to her mind immediately when she saw the content of the box—Christian.It was a gift for the boys, To confirm what suspicion she tried calling Riley, the only other person that had been outside her home as well.“Hello." She muttered Immediately she picked it up.“Did you notice anything unusual When you walked out of my apartment? “ she asked.“What do you mean?” She sounded a bit ignorant about what Laura was trying to say.“I got a package and I am just wondering if you saw anything that could raise suspicion." "Oh, I remember seeing a black car.” Her brow furrowed, as she spoke about the car to think it fitted the exact
ÇHAPTER FINALEEveryone was shocked to find out that Alexa was missing. Laura sat on the ground holding the toy that Alexa was using to play before he disappeared. Her mind was blank and she didn't know what to do. Antonia and Christian were also present, both of them just as bothered as Laura was. "Where could he be?" Antonia asked Christian "Maybe we should check the CCTV footage" Christian brought up and immediately Laura got up from the floor. Why didn't she think of checking the CCTV footage since?"Thank God you had it installed," Antonia said as she rushed into the study with Christian and Laura to check the CCTV footage. It took a while before the footage played and Laura kept biting her fingers while counting the time, she was so scared but Antonia's hand kept patting her back as she asked her to calm down. They finally found the clip and watched it so as not to miss any detail. "Rian?" Laura questioned immediately the camera caught him "What did Rian come here for?" Ant
CHAPTER 150At that moment he is certain about just one thing at the back of his mind and that was the fact that all of this was happening just as he had thought it would, immediately he had landed in a jet his Chauffeur was there waiting..It was the longest trip he had gone home, all haunted thoughts had been about the life he was going to have with the woman that was seated closer to where he was at that moment, he had seen the look in her eyes and enjoyed that bit of thrill that it left him with.He turned his ring and funny as it seemed, the wedding he had was more shocking to himself than to his parents when he had sent the pictures.Antonia drove behind in a different car, she was getting 30% of his assets including the home at Columbia in which she chose to settle, all charges being dropped against her and it made her more relaxed knowing that all of the heavy weight was about to come to an end. When they arrived home, it was a heartfelt moment, she was quick to hug Riley who
CHAPTER 149“Oh thank goodness!" Riley grimaced The night he was found just few people got to know about and Riley happened to be just one, the man that had brought him was never disclosed even after Christian had opened his eyes those few minutes before fluttering close muttering to him thank you.For Riley there was just one thing at hand and that was getting ready for the welcome party as usual just few people were aware of the party that would have de cremes of the society.For her she was disturbed about something different at that moment, she was disturbed by the matter of the heart at this period. She was balancing the last bit of hope that her relationship with him was holding on to.Inhaling deeply, she let the fresh, crisp air invade her she had left at that moment and she was certain that she'd do all she can to live through it -Being the last bit of feeling she had left for her soon to be ex Rhys, she had thought about what he'd say after she must have given him the news
CHAPTER 148He blinked his eyes and opened, he was alive which at that minute was a very good thing, he could remember everything now as it appeared that all that was needed was for him to get a blow to the head.There was only one person in his mind at that moment and it was the one who had just hit Rian.At Moment he tried to move and found out he was restrained, he tried to think about how it had happened again, he had barely made his way in when he came across the fucking man, just when he thought all was said and done he got that devastating blow to head and the rest now was history, he was trying his best to think through the situation but still it was all confusing to him“Help!" He called out but his voice stretched to the distances giving nothing.“No one would hear you." His voice was familiar and so when he least expected it , he had looked up to find Rian.“Why … Why did you do this.” Christian cried out.Rian laughter filled the room, “Remember when I said the last time w
CHAPTER 147“Laura."She called out her name again just so she'd be certain this was not a dream sort of at that moment she would take anything, she would rather just disappear into the ground but instead she was right here, she was right here doing nothing than looking straight into the eye of the Woman she had betrayed her trust.“I am sorry —"“We need to talk." Laura muttered*****Laura had spent the longest time thinking of the right words to say to her about the entire situation but as it seemed it was turning out to be the hardest thing she would have to do at that moment.Most definitely she was still right there , with Antonia after all the madness between them and she couldn't be more happier.Now they walked across the lawn and ensured they were Actually were alone, prior to this moment she had thoughts about now she's handle this aspect of seeing Antonia she hadn't expected that she'd still be this be calm but it was exactly what she had done, she was calm taking in every
CHAPTER 146He feels like his mind would be torn apart that moment if he continued running, yet he didn't stop not because he didn't want to but there was a deeper force pushing him to just keep on going..He feels his heart threatening to fall apart but forces one more time to run through the flanks.It had only been two days since she accepted to give him a phone and it was funny it had contacts , was his life that miserable, so imagine the shock of her life when His phone beeps. He stops and picks up his phone to see he got a text. An unusual text. He reads it once and then again. The more he reads it, the more it sounds like a trap. It probably is, but then again, he thought he'd try it out.After the sex she still hasn’t apologized or tried to talk to him,He picks up the pace and goes for another lap before he’s done for the day. He wipes his face clean of sweat and heads for home.******He had been surprised to see that she was looking at him, but he' was feeling unsettled s
CHAPTER 145Antonia decided to take a walk and it was a every long one way from everything it had been the third time getting that call that was asking if she was saved, she had done all she could to keep the situation to herself now it is looking like she can't.Surrounded by the quiet stillness of the Vicinity, she sat at the bottom of the bench looking at everything listening to the sound of her own heavy heart beats as she was not sure if to go home or not. Every square inch of her body hurt. She’d completed what seemed to be a run to that place and at the moment she could do anything just to let her take in the eminent moment.It felt like a herculean task by working herself into a standing position, her heart still sank as she rested at the base of a small tree. Now, as she leaned against the trunk, she fought against the waves of thought in her soul looking to consume her , slowly she oddly could feel that blackness that threatened to overtake her. The move had been excruc
CHAPTER 144.IT was all starting to look rather ridiculous at that moment, and that was all Laura was trying to do at that time was to fix this— it had only been days since she had been here and still there was nothing for her to deal with it, she still didn't know how best it was for to deal with the entire situation, at the back of her mind there was still that bit of fact that she had to do something about all of this and that was go one after the other to each of this places to find what's she wanted, it made it harder that she had to fix this. Anger and anxiety felt heavy in hwr chest when whe recalled what she had insinuated about the entire situation, in her mind she felt that she was still to be blamed, whiel Laura hated her , she made it seem as though there was more she had to do.In her mind she felt that all of this was far from the Truth,even at that she still felt hurt by her words the last time they had been there enough that she could feel it weighing him down
CHAPTER 143Soon as the call went through she sighs in relief, it had been over Twenty hours since she had been trying to reach her boss so she could ask about the trip -Reports in the news stated a heavy storm at the gulf and all through that day she had been restless, it was a good thing that had fixed whatever drift she had with Rhys all she thought about was how dinner was going to be.“It is a good thing you are doing well." She spoke immediately she had picked up the phone.Laura mesmerized by everthing had a lot to say and so the call she had thought would last a little while spanned to Minutes.“Have you found anything yet?" Riley questioned.Once again it was the Woman being her kind useful self, though she was so self absorbed with everything happening she was glad that he was reaching out and that in a way, she was trying to figure things out for herself at that moment.All the situation were made difficult by the fact she knew all the details In her hands were scrap.Laur