TERRA'S POV:THAT SAME DAY:“Evelyn, who is she?” I asked again, folding my arms across my chest. It bothered me so much that the guest knew me as both Terra and Catherine, and it annoyed me further that I had no idea who she was and Evelyn had most likely told her about my entire life though it seemed unlike her.“She's so different now, and I am too. I know I look nothing like how I looked in the past. Long blonde hair, pretty dresses…” The guest listed and Evelyn stood beside her laughing.“An actually girly girl with the perfect body every guy wanted and girls envied.” Evelyn described and I just stared at the two of them before just gazing intently at her guest, trying to picture her that way as she looked like a stud right now, a tomboy.I continued looking at her face and she was starting to look familiar. She flashed me a pretty smile, “Hi Terra, my name is Whitney Dia. Your childhood friend who left in junior year of high school.”As soon as she introduced herself, her past i
TERRA'S POV:As she explained, I soon realized that though that man who was truly calling his girl Tema, Whitney had also been there at the grocery store that day and called my name.“Wow.” I was genuinely applauded right now and that's all I could say.“So that's when you reached out to me as well? Because I doubt it was just a coincidence we came across each other at the mall that day.” Evelyn was becoming irritated by the tone in her voice and Whitney could sense a shift in mood so she suspended her eating and turned towards us.“Hold on, James Lauder was simply a gateway for me to meet you two, my childhood friends again. This isn't strategic, stalking crap. Believe it or not, Evelyn it was a coincidence we met that day at the mall. And Terra, I realized your identity had changed which is why I stayed back from introducing myself and even approaching you. I mean no harm, I returned back to Salandi to start my life afresh and start my own company. I'm not after you guys for anyth
TERRA'S POV:THE NEXT DAY:I had woken up feeling great, the type of morning where the birds were chirping, the sun was just rising and I had the urge to go for morning jog, and since I was up around 6a.m and the press conference wasn't for another two hours. I decided why not, I changed into a sport's outfit which was a cute gray matching fit and I put on my Nike Tech sneakers.Before heading out, I stepped into the kid's room and smiled seeing them sleeping peacefully. I placed a kiss on Eric's forehead.I plugged my airpods in my ears and played one of my favorite songs that gets me ready for the day, then I exited out of the house, smiling in response to the greetings from the staff.I felt so free with each step I took as I jogged, I wasn't thinking of anything, not the interview, not my companies, not even my kids, the cool air breeze was so relaxing and peaceful and it seemed to blow every thought of negativity away.I arrived at the park and continued jogging along the partway
TERRA'S POV:AN HOUR LATER:It had been an hour and thirty minutes to my press conference. Fiona had still not reported back to the office nor was she picking up. Since I knew Vale would most likely be good in tech and finding out things, I requested that he helped me locate her. I was seated in my office looking at my screen blinking repeatedly. “She is staying in the LUXURIOUS Anderson hotels, which everyone dreams of going to. And I saw she went out with one of Mr Ross Anderson's bodyguards and I don't blame her, he is a sight for sore eyes…” Vale was speaking but I wasn't listening as other things lingered in my mind and my heart jumped at his name.“Thank you Vale.” I cut him off looking around, turning in my seat. He bowed and then exited out of my office.My substitute assistant, Jill, entered the office after knocking and informed me, “Ma'am, everything is set for the conference. They would be starting in twenty minutes.”“Thank you.” She politely nodded before leaving. My ha
3RD POV:AT NOON:James arrived at the airport holding hands with Ivy who was jet lagged and needed to rest though she had been sleeping half of the flight.“First time in Salandi?” The female immigration officer questioned checking through his passport. She was a cute woman batting her eyelids while admiring James. He was wearing a white short sleeve shirt which hugged his biceps and his arm and a gray sweatpants. He had been wearing a gray hoodie while in the plane but after landing here, there was a shift in weather as Salandi was warm now. James got stares from women and even men who at first glance thought he was a rapper and artist because of his aura, rich scent, casual outfit but they knew otherwise as he wasn't trying to hide himself neither did he have a bunch of security with him. Ivy noticed them and wondered why but her mind was tired at the moment and she knew her father was handsome, her friends talked about it sometimes but she shut those conversations down.“Yeah.”
3RD POV:“Why are you so far away? Come here.” He stretched out his hand but his phone which was on the chair began to ring and the caller ID was My Wife ❤ ️.They looked at each other and Amber said, “I'm done for now, call me when you need something.” She dismissed how she might be feeling and moved closer to him placing a warm kiss on his lips and he grabbed her neck deepening the kiss, ignoring his wife calling him.“That's enough now.” She broke off the kiss and without another word, she left wearing her sunglasses. The driver who was standing by the door looked at her with lust and found him muttering, “I will cheat on my wife too.” Amber heard him as he spoke louder than he should have, she turned around, scoffed and laughed, shaking her waist as she walked but the driver's face flushed with embarrassment.Tony opened the door abruptly and shouted, “Let's go now!” The driver jumped and entered the car. “Where to, Mr Lauder?”“My Father's House.” Tony replied, and his driver kn
ROSS'S POV:THAT NIGHT:I was standing by the balcony in my house, and the silence from around the house and the entire estate was deafening and usually so relaxing for me except tonight. I sipped out of my red wine and savored the taste of grape but I could feel my mind racing and my heart pounding. I tried to do my usual activities of the night but today wasn't just a regular day for me. Deep within my heart I felt it was special, life changing even and I dismissed any negative thought that was creeping in. What further confirmed my assumption was getting a call from my private investigator who has not had anything new in over six years.Earlier today, while I was waiting for my meeting to commence with the Chief Operation Officer, he stated that there was a pressing issue he needed to discuss. Suddenly it got canceled and for the first time in a while, I decided to watch the news as my assistant had informed me someone prominent had stepped into the country and was about to cause h
ROSS'S POV:“You saw the news, didn't you? Are you going to let me in or not? I need something strong to drink.” He was about to go in but I stood by the door and stretched out my hand and he exhaled giving me a brown envelope. “Now, can I come in?” He asked, without waiting for my permission he stepped in. He was so unprofessional but he respected me and when things got serious he handled it.*************5 MINUTES LATER:“Ross.” “Ross.”“Ro...”I could hear my name being called but my eyes were glued to the pictures in front of me. The first picture was HER, I was right, it was Terra with a different hair style and she was jogging and her hair was packed up in a high ponytail, I could see her face clearly, she had not aged a bit. Still as gorgeous with beautiful eyes, noses, lips and….Mine.As I smiled, tucking my bottom lip and placed the picture on the center table in the living room. It was then I saw the next picture of her in a school with two children, a boy and a girl. Oth
3RD POV:Soon after they moved into their dream house, with the beautiful gardens, lawns, the most aesthetically pleasing backyard with a huge pool, and huge and wide rooms for all they needed. It was beautiful and to celebrate their marriage, they organized the housewarming/ wedding celebrations and it was a night to remember. Ross had been grinning ever since and his assistant, Mady had quit since he was happy and he had a new young hardworking assistant, Kelly.“You look ravishing.” Evelyn complimented hugging her, grateful her second child, a ten months old baby girl was now sleeping and she could have time to enjoy herself. She often accused Jackson of impregnating her again so she doesn't flourish in her career as a studio owner and it caused arguments but they ended up making love and shutting out negativity and pointless accusations.“You do too. I'm so happy to see you guys.” She hugged the guys, and Whitney. James and Whitney were engaged after James agreed to stay in Saland
TERRA'S POV:“In the abduction and murder Asian Griffin. The court finds you GUILTY!”“In the murder of Amber Griffin, the court finds the defendant ... .guilty.” There were murmurings among the people. It was crazy how she murdered the two sisters…all for what?“In the theft at the supermarket owner, the court found the defendant guilty. “ I shook my head and watched the jury who looked at her with displeasure.“In the harassment charge of two men, the court finds the defendant…not guilty.” “In the attempted murder of Mrs Anderson, the court finds the defendant guilty…” There were more crimes such as gun possession, trespassing on property and she was found guilty for all the crimes.Someone next to me muttered, “I know for sure, she's going to be sentenced to death, as that's what the law of Salandi prescribes as she is definitely a nuisance and multiple murders and attempted murders, Come on. I would know since I am a paralegal.” She bragged and I glanced at her for a second and s
TERRA'S POV:THREE MONTHS LATER:“How busy are you? ‘Cause I was thinking we can go out for lunch so I can make it up to you.” Ross suggested, and I rolled my eyes playfully at him. He knew I was mad at him for him being mad at me for worrying too much and stressing out about the kids as it was their first day at a new school.It had just been hard since the welcome party and literally settling in Salandi was hard for me in a way that it was hard for the kids.“I'm actually extremely busy right now, and I will be heading to Nina's trial as today is the sentencing. Later tonight?” I suggested and he heaved out a sigh, obviously displeased at the fact that I was headed to Nina's trial but I needed to be there. I just had the need. Everyone had been totally stunned hearing that Mrs Morris had killed herself and it was all over the news. Everyone in the golf clubs, and the elites titled the Morris as a pure disgrace, shame and waste.And I truly did not care, as long as my kids and I got
3RD POV:“Nina Morris, daughter of Late Business Tycoon Mr Marcus Morris, has been apprehended for multiple charges, kidnapping of the twins of Billionaire Ross Anderson and Catherine Williams, Murder…..” The reporter listed out..Mrs Morris was seated in front of her television, watching the news with tears running down her cheek, seeing her daughter being labeled as a criminal. Hot tears ran down through her cheeks and her chest rose up and fell repeatedly. “Everyone will view my daughter as a criminal. How could I have given birth to such a useless being? So freaking useless!” She hit the television stand in anger and shook her head.“I have already lost. I have nothing again, no way to clear my name out of Nina's stupidity. I failed as a mother, as an elite woman in society, as everything. I am just as useless and I can't live with it….I just can't.” She cried out and continued mumbling the last sentence as she walked into the room.She grabbed a rope in her closet, mumbling the
3RD POV:A DAY LATER:Terra held onto Eleanour who was sleeping on her lap while holding onto her father's hand as he was sitting next to her on the couch fighting the sleep forming in his eyes. He hadn't closed his eyes ever since the kids were kidnapped.It had been a rough twenty four hours for everybody and for Ross's little family, it had been a rough 72 hours. They had been able to give the old woman and her grandson the sum of a million for their help in finding Nina and the family was given the media space to be able to show their appreciation to Ross and Terra, letting them know it will go a long way in pulling them out of the hand to mouth lifestyle they had been living especially since the grandmother was single handedly raising the boy.“Mummy.” Eric called out from his bed with droopy eyes, and she waved at him with a smile trying her best not to wake Eleanour who was finding it hard to close her eyes.Eric was not shot neither was Ross but Terra still requested he stayed
3RD POV:AN HOUR LATER:Asian was drained and tired but she took great compassion on the twins especially Eleanour, seeing her as a young version of Amber who was sad and always needed her. Which is why she was more than happy when she saw that Nina had left a glass cup on a high table where farmers usually kept stuff for their animals and it was next to them.Her plan was simple, hit it repeatedly till the glass shatters to the floor, afterwards she would move in her seat and with her back facing away, she would hand Eric the glass to unloose the ropes on his hands carefully, afterwards he would unloose both hers and Eleanours. Then they run out to the nearest farm or police station and get help. And safe!This is a solid plan after all …I can do it, what could possibly go wrong? Asian thought to herself, and like an annoying best friend, her mind pictured all the different possibilities of what could happen.“I'm going to try and get us out of here.” She mumbled and the kid's mouth
TERRA'S POV:“No…It's not your fault. I came out for work and for you and I met the love of my life and became a member of a very problematic family, but I guess all families have their own issues. But coming here, it was just the regular day to day activities and then trips during the holiday but coming here made me realize there's a lot more to life. And I just think…everything happens for a reason and I have experienced all I need to here.” The fact that he didn't hold me accountable or become harsh to me made me feel bad for yelling at Ross and his mother…for another person's action.“I have been thinking about moving away as well. Morgan and Sarah have been calling me everyday since they heard of this. And I totally feel the same way you felt about here and Aurenia except I didn't find the love of my life here.” We both chuckled weakly and he responded, “Yeah okay.”As they both discussed more about moving back, unbeknownst to them Ross and Evelyn, who was bringing breakfast, ove
TERRA'S POV:A DAY LATER:It had been more than 35 hours since I had last seen my kids and since the kidnapping. A flier with Nina's face had been posted everywhere and according to my friends and Fiona, the entire police force was working on it.But it was just Nina….what was so hard about finding and capturing her?I had just been numb, and I could neither eat nor sleep. Last night, when I couldn't sleep, I snuck out in my own mansion in order to prevent Evelyn, who was literally everywhere, from waking up. I drove in one of my old sports cars, which allowed the cool night breeze to run through my body and blow away the tears which kept flowing and I drove to weird looking areas, banishing the thought that I might be robbed, and showed them images of Nina if they had come across her but they had nothing.A particularly shabby looking man asked for some money before providing answers, feigning that he recognised her and as soon as I handed him money, he tucked it into his pocket and
3RD POV:They both went ahead to take a seat on the couch in the hospital room.Without giving a response, Ross brought out his phone from his breast pocket. And dialed Nina's contact and placed it on a loudspeaker, the call rang for a moment and at the fourth ring, there was finally an answer making Chandler's eyes go wide in excitement.“Nina, Where are you? Tell me where are you now and what do you want?” Ross asked with desperation and the other line remained silent.“WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?” He shouted in anger, making Chandler jump a bit.“Hello? Who is this? I just found this in the dumpster ... .What did this woman do though I don't have a television so I need some drama?” Ross clung to his hand with so much force, Chandler thought he would crush it so he quickly collected it from Ross.“Okay…okay…A dumpster where? And what's your address?” Chandler asked smartly as he believed it would lead them to Nina or maybe it was the same area.On the other hand, Terra was at the police