Chapter 3
LorraineI scoffed and tried my best to stand up so that I could smack him in the face but my strength failed me."You've gotta be joking, huh? What makes you think that I need your help? The fact that I lost my boyfriend and my child doesn't make me helpless." My eyes turned misty as I burned in rage, wondering why everyone thought I was a piece of trash that they could spit on.Eden's emotionless words replayed in my head. He called me needy and helpless, then said I had a lot of baggage. Iris said that it was the case of a lost puppy found under the rain. Now, Dexter wanted me to marry him because of the same pity?"You don't have to be so sentimental about the proposal. I've made some background checks on you, and I discovered that you do need some savings or you'll be in big trouble." He stated passively, his hands plunged into his pocket.The face I'd admired earlier disgusted me, but nothing annoyed me more than the fact that he was right. I needed help, but I wouldn't ask for his help. Never!"What kind of trouble are you talking about? " I swallowed, my heart thumping faster to the extent of wishing that I could join my late mother in the grave so that I'd be free from all these problems.He hesitated in replying, pacing to and fro in silence which caused me to become nervous. I had to know what was going on."Talk to me, Dexter! Your silence is not what I need now." I urged him on, my voice rising in an angry crescendo.I wasn't in control of anything anymore, not even my own voice."I'm thinking of the right way to put it to you. Your ex, Eden Maxwell, took a loan in your name and I didn't get to find out until today." He spat and I reeled in shock, my lips parting widely. Then I burst into laughter, shaking my head and clutching at my stomach because of the pain I felt.It was obviously a lie to get me to do what he wanted. Eden could be many things but a debtor. He fucking hated debts!"That's not true, Dexter. Everything you've said right now shows how much you want me to warm your bed. I'm not that cheap, you know, so get out of here before I call on the doctor to take you out." I yelled at the top of my voice, my chest constricting as I panted heavily."One million dollars. That's what he took from me." He blurted casually, flashing a look at me that said he wasn't joking.I gulped, then swallowed. "No... No... No.. That's too much. What the hell did he use it for? He isn't even a businessman." I cried, leaning on the headboard in exhaustion and resignation, wondering why the accident took the baby's life and not my own as well."An elaborate wedding, I guess, and enough money to take his new bride for the best honeymoon he can think of. That's not my problem, Lorraine, what I need you to know is that you owe me money and with your current state. You can't even pay back, so why don't you marry me so that I can take care of you?" He drawled, his voice calm and unshaken.I'd always known him to be confident even in high school, it was no wonder he turned out to be this way; cold and cruel."Look, I'll find a way to get you your money, but I can't get married to you. Marriage isn't something that we should both rush into, Dexter. Besides, how could you allow someone to take a debt in my name without even making verifications? What if I was dead?" I questioned, angry at my confinement to the bed.I needed to be free to walk around the room, if not for anything but to be able to punch the metal table or stomp my foot on the tiled floor.He burst into a heavy bout of laughter which left me stunned, his voice resonating in the room and his eyes shut as he mocked me to scorn. I watched him laugh to his heart's content, and though I despised him, I couldn't deny that he laughed beautifully."That accident might have done many things to your brain, Lorraine. Have you forgotten how poor you are? With your meager sum of a salary, how do you think you can pay off your debt?" All traces of laughter had disappeared from his face with seriousness replacing it.His hardened expression reminded me of how cruel he could be when he wanted. I'd forgotten about Dexter or at least I thought I did until he came standing in front of me—flesh and blood.He reminded me that I was a pauper and I should have been hurt and bawling on the floor by his words, but I only felt chill because it was the truth and I was used to hearing such words from people."What are my options?" I asked impassively, staring into his eyes which were presently unreadable and then I let my gaze lower to his alluring cherry lips which I had no business looking at."Marry me or I'll sue you, and with my influence, you might spend a long time in prison. I bet you can't even afford a lawyer." His lips curved into a smug grin as he cocked his head cockily, then he approached my bed and lowered his body towards mine.The memories of the past came in as a flash, how he leaned in for a kiss that night and I didn't push him away because my body craved for it—his touch, his lips on mine, and it happened.I shoved the sizzling hot memory aside which made me feel like I'd plunged my body into a pot of hot oil and focused on the present. "To hell with you, Dexter. I won't let you have me the way you want just like it happened in the past. I'll surely get you your money." My reply got him shocked, but he hid it with his impassive mask and backed away.He straightened the jacket of his suit and shrugged, his hands still in his pocket. "You've got seven days to save yourself, Lorraine. Don't forget how vile I can be when tempted." He stalked out of the room leaving me drained and exhausted beyond words.How on earth was I going to produce one million dollars in seven days?Chapter 4Lorraine I was to be discharged today. It was supposed to be an exciting news but here I was, making plans on how I would disappear from town and travel to another country until the heat dies down. As a knock sounded on the door, my heart skipped a beat, thumping hard while I gripped the sheets and waited for the visitor to come in. "May I come in?" The voice of the nurse who had been taking care of me calmed my fear immediately as I nodded, merely mouthing that she came inside. She came in, her lips stretched in the soothing smile that I liked. I'd have made her my friend if I wasn't going to run away as soon as I left, besides the fear of having friends who could easily betray me had already enveloped me. The pain Iris caused me was still imprinted in my mind and I wasn't sure that I'd ever forget about it. "How do you feel knowing that you will be discharged today?" She asked, handing me some new clothes which surprised me. She took note of my arched brows and parte
LorraineA sharp pain tore through my head as my eyes fluttered open. I shut my eyes quickly and opened them again and tried to shove the pain aside by shaking my head, but it only compounded the pain.Slowly adapting to the empty bright room, I tried to get up, but then I realized that my legs were tied together at the back, and my hands also suffered the same fate as they were held together at the back of the iron chair.My intended scream was muffled by the rope my lips were covered with, bringing tears to my ears as my heart beat in a staccato rhythm.My fear skyrocketed when the door of the empty room was pushed open with some men trudging in a lackadaisical manner like they owned the world. My eyes gleamed with fury as I caught the sight of their leader, strolling behind them with his lips curved in a mischievous smile.I'd have scoffed if not for the restriction. I bet he was finding it funny."Untie her!" He ordered, his voice firm and hinged with disapproval.One of his bodyg
Chapter 6Dexter My brows furrowed at the thought of her bringing up new rules. Were they what she thought to be important right now? Though I wasn't happy with her request, I couldn't help but indulge her knowing that she could be stubborn if she set her mind on something. "What are the rules?" I asked with a bored tone, even though I was actually interested in her rules. She sighed, approaching me slowly. "I don't want anyone to know that we are married, after all, it's a contract marriage. The knowledge should remain between the both of us." "What the hell are you talking about?" I blasted her, but she kept my gaze, looking unfazed. "What's the use of getting married if no one gets to know about it?" She shrugged and folded her arms, her stance obstinate and annoying. Sadly, I'd have to put up with this for two years if we didn't end up killing each other. "You've succeeded in making me do what I don't want, so there should be some compromise at your end, don't you think?" S
Chapter 7Lorraine "Who's she to you?" I asked as a pang of jealousy rose up my chest. I shouldn't have felt that way, but right now I couldn't ignore the scathing urge to push the woman far away from Dexter because they clearly had a history. He stared at me briefly with his unreadable brown eyes boring into mine. "Why do you sound jealous? Should you be jealous considering the fact that you don't want anyone to know that we are married?" He used one of my wishes against me and I couldn't deny that it hurt a bit. "I just want to know what I'll be up against," I replied with a lackadaisical tone. "She seems like a lot of trouble and she's obviously into you." He was quiet for a while, like he was deciding if it would be appropriate to part with the information. But then, it was my right to know the people he was involved with since I was his wife. "She's my ex." He finally responded. My eyes widened in surprise then I lowered her lashes, apparently processing the information.
Chapter 8Lorraine Waking up to prepare for my first day at the agency filled my body with nervousness and a sizzling excitement. Finally, I'd be doing what I loved after a long time. Rubbing my sleepy eyes with the back of my hands, I realised that it had been a long time since I slept on a bed as comfy and plush as this. Dexter slept in the same room with me, but in a different bed as I'd wanted. I got up, tossing on my black robe as I'd gotten really self conscious because of the overly revealing nightwear that he had forced me to wear. "Good morning," I chirped as I reached for my toothbrush while scanning Dexter's bare chest with the corner of my eyes. God! His body was ripped with thick muscles that flexes with each movement. My fingers itched to touch his smooth skin and feel the sturdiness of chest. Dexter had always been a hottie since high school and I could remember girls sprawling all over the place just to have him notice them. "You are going to be late for work if
Chapter 9Dexter Sitting still in my office with the reminder that Lorraine was in the down floor practicing kept my restlessness burning. I wanted to see her beautiful face even though I had to do it under the pretext of supervision. The feelings were weird because I loathed her and I was supposed to stay several meters away from her but it wasn't working. Hell! I wasn't even comfortable allowing her to commute to the office so I sent one of my men to disguise as a cab driver so that she would be safe. And when he notified me that she was around, I had to rush to my floor to ceiling window which faced the entrance of the building to confirm. Unable to keep the urge away, I got up from my executive chair and headed to their practice room. If I'd known that Emilia would jump on me like a predator, I'd have stayed back and sent for Lorraine to come over. "What the hell are you doing?" I pulled away with a grimace, glaring at her satisfied grin. If not for the strong respect I had
Chapter 10Lorraine "Come join me." Dexter offered as I headed for our bedroom with a plate of cookies in my hands. His offer was gentle yet demanding at the same time. Only someone like Dexter could pull off such a tone with ease. I'd have loved to ignore him and move straight to our room, but what good will it do for the both of us? He was trying to call some temporary truce and it wasn't like I didn't enjoy being with him even if I wasn't supposed to. I sank onto the chair he sat with a grunt. "If you say so." My eyes darted to the bottle of whiskey on the table and the empty two glasses beside it. "Why do you have a bottle?" I questioned, hoping that my voice didn't bear so much concern. He poured some of the content into two glasses and passed one to me. "Let's say I'm a bit frustrated." He grumbled. "What could make the almighty Dexter frustrated?" I asked sarcastically, slightly interested in what he had to say. He doused another glass and relaxed on the back rest. "A wo
Chapter 11 Dexter The drive to one of my favorite bars seemed longer than the time I had to wait for Lorraine to be brought to me. Her crude response to my question yesterday was startling, but maybe she wasn't the angel I thought her to be. As I waltzed in, I saw my friends, yelling at me to come over. A smile stretched on my lips as I headed over to their spot and sank onto the seat they had reserved for me. Liam stretched his hand for a warm handshake. "It's been a long time, buddy. You are filling out so well." He said with a New York accent. "What can I do?" I chuckled and greeted Blake as well who was more focused on his bottle of rum. It's been a while since we met after a few years of being away from each other. I'd drowned myself in work and it wasn't until today that they forced me to come over for a reunion which I eagerly accepted. "How have you boys been?" I teased them with a smirk. Liam shrugged and was about to reply when he caught the sight of a beautiful lady
Chapter 160ONE YEAR LATER "You look so ravishing," Mrs Gonzales cupped my made up cheeks and planted a kiss on my forehead. "Thank you, aunt." I beamed with a smile as the veil was set on my head while she left the room to attend to something else. Aunty Rosa, as I fondly called her, had become a part of the family. I made her the CEO of my company as she was more than capable of being a leader, and also, I wanted to compensate her for everything she did for my mother. I was fine with being a consultant and when she was ready to retire, I'd take over. Since we moved to Colorado, my life with Dexter had been all shades of fun. The happiness I craved for after losing my mother was restored, and never did a day pass without me thanking the universe for granting me my wishes. And today, after five months of having my twins; Nyla and Brian, I was ready to walk down the aisle and experience what a beautiful wedding felt like. I stood in front of the mirror and stared at how wel
Chapter 159Melissa I peered down at Dexter's sleeping face and sighed. Doctor Luca had constantly assured me that he would be fine, but I was yet to understand why he hadn't woken up already. If Leonardo had succeeded in killing him, I'd have resurrected his dead body and murdered him myself. Actually, I low-key wished that I was the one who shot him, but it didn't matter anymore because he was dead and gone. Staring at the tubes connected to his body caused goosebumps to cover my skin. He was in the situation because of me. My mind wandered as several thoughts filtered in and out of my head. Lilly had come earlier with Mary to visit him, but even her presence couldn't stir him up. No! He couldn't remain this way forever. He had to wake up. I took one of the chairs in the ward and sat beside him, entwining our fingers while I used my free fingers to caress his face lightly. He was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen, even in unconsciousness. "Cupcake, how are you
Chapter 158Melissa Blood drained from my face as the bullet went straight to his chest, causing him to slump on the ground. Leonardo pushed Lilly away and tried to break into a sprint, but he was gunned down by the cops who opened fire on him until his body was filled with bullet holes. If Dexter wasn't lying on the ground in the pool of his own blood, I'd have been rejoicing that the source of all my troubles was dead, but the sight of him in a lifeless state snuffed out any trace of happiness within me. "Get the ambulance, please!" I roared, my heart plummeting as blood gushed out from his mouth. I held his hands, my tears forming a wet mask on my face as I caressed his head. His eyes were shut, but I refused to believe that he was dying. I sat on the ground and placed his head on top of my neck, then I tore the hem of my dress and dabbed his chest with him to reduce the rate of the blood flow. All the while I did that, my heart skipped several beats and my fingers trembl
Chapter 157Dexter"You need to come back home now, sir, Leonardo is threatening to shoot the madam." Mary, my nanny, whispered with a note of urgency as if she was being restricted from talking. At the mention of his name, my heart skipped a beat and my palms became clammy with sweat. Not because I was scared of him, but with him in our house, my wife's safety wasn't guaranteed. I'd gotten her message so there was no need for us to keep talking. I dropped the call and put inspector James on the line. As the minutes passed, my anxiety skyrocketed, threatening to hit the roof. My previously distracted mind was transcending into a state of frenzy and I couldn't do anything about it. He picked up after what seemed like eternity, and if he wasn't a noble police officer, I'd have thrown a punch at him. "Hi, Mr Hemingway. How are—" I cut through the pleasantries with clenched teeth. "I'm not fine, inspector James, Leonardo is in my house right now." "What? How is that even possible?
Chapter 156Melissa The sun shone brightly, the atmosphere bubbly and charged, but my feelings were the direct opposite as I worked on packing the rest of my clothes. It was past one pm, and it gradually dawned on me that in less than three hours, I'd be leaving California to Mexico. Mexico was a nice country, but I wasn't sure it would be nice to me if Dexter wasn't there. What could I do about it? Nothing! The doorbell jingle, so I dropped the last pair of black shoes I'd selected as I didn't know what event I might be attending, even though I planned to stay indoors throughout my visit there. My chest tightened since I wasn't expecting any visitors, then I shook away my suspicion, reminding myself that if it was Leonardo he wouldn't be coming directly through the door. I took a peek at the peephole and found a man standing beside a bike with a box, causing me to frown. It was strange to see him because I didn't make an order and I clearly wasn't expecting anything from some
Chapter 155Melissa He came in, his expression glimmering with pure exhaustion. My eyes intently followed his sluggish movement as I tried to overcome the barrier between us so that I would welcome him properly. "You didn't tell me that you'll be coming back this late. I've been waiting." His eyes darted to his wristwatch, then he palmed his forehead with a sigh. "I'm so sorry. I lost track of time. Today was really hectic, several things had to be put in place and I wanted to oversee some of the activities by myself." He explained calmly, while I peered at him, my jaws slackened in surprise. We were supposed to be having a beef, but here he was, explaining how his entire day went even though his body screamed for rest. Strings of guilt gnawed at my chest as I fiddled with my fingers. I'd been completely selfish, and that was why I couldn't notice that my husband was slowly losing his mind because of my problems. I wasn't even making things easier for him. "Can you come over to
Chapter 154Melissa It was over a week since Leonardo managed to outsmart the cops and ran away, and I'd admit that I lost my peace of mind ever since. He could be lurking around, patiently waiting for the right time to strike and I wouldn't know. I wanted it all to end. I wanted to live happily with my family, take a long break from work and just reap all the fruits of my hard work, but all of my wishes wouldn't happen with Leonardo running freely while his daughter was behind bars. Dexter came into the room with a brown envelope in his hands. Once he heard that Leonardo had escaped, he lost his peace as he aided the cops in searching for him. He had become a shadow of his handsome self, as he was more interested in keeping Lilly and I safe. "Hi, cupcake, how was your day?" I asked as he sank on the bed and kissed my lips lightly. His hands moved to my abdomen which he caressed fondly. It was still flat as the pregnancy hadn't gotten to three months. It was a good thing becau
Chapter 153Melissa Seeing that everyone was already seated in the boardroom, including Leonardo and the rest of the staff, I stood up to address them. "I'm sure you are all wondering why I called for this impromptu meeting. It's because we have an important announcement to make, but before that, I'd like to appreciate everyone who is working tirelessly to ensure that Hills Jewelry is back to the top again." I said and they followed my speech with an ovation. I spoke to them with an air of confidence, passing glances at Leonardo who tried to hide his frown. If only he knew what I had in store for him today, he wouldn't be present at the meeting at all. But I found a way to lure him here, promising him that I was going to help him return to his former position. "You all showed me love and unwavering support, and in these few days of working together, we have been able to convince Troy Golds to partner with us. The partnership will be more beneficial to us because of their influenc
Chapter 152DexterMy heart thudded faster as I waited patiently in Doctor Luca's office for him to come with the DNA test result. I knew that Liam claimed to be Lilly's father and he had several ways of proving it, but for some unknown reasons, I hoped that a miracle would occur and the result would be in my favor. The door made a creaking sound as Doctor Luca let himself in. I searched his face for a clue, but as usual, his face gave away nothing. He sank onto his seat and said nothing for some seconds, then he inhaled and fixed his gaze on me. "The result is ready." He announced like I didn't know already. "Can I have it?" I asked curtly, getting cranky by the minute. He passed a brown envelope to me which I opened. A white paper fell out and I opened it, unwilling to drag the tension further. I scanned through the information, unable to make out what it meant until I got to the end and saw the statement of the result. My heart plummeted when I read that the probability of my