Outside town, at a penitentiary, the same one that Sue and Ella had paid a visit to a few weeks ago, Brian Grewde is seen outside in his parked car, waiting for something...Or someone.Gail exits the jail with a police officer beside her who helps her walk to the car and then opens the door for her to climb inside on her injured leg.The officer crosses over to Brian's side of the car."I kept my part of the bargain. Here she is..."Brian nods and reaches for a thick white envelope beside him. He raises it up to the officer and gives it to him."Don't forget, it should remain on the hush hush if you don't want trouble from the Masons. And I assure you, you have a lot to lose from me as well if they find out she's out of here."Gail does not say anything and just keeps shifting left and right on the chair as she's completely uncomfortable on the chair she's sitting in.Brian pays her no heed as they drive out. "I told you then, you are going to get into trouble that might cost you mor
It really was a long night.After a little reminiscing and Holly's apologizing to Sue and the latter telling her to not worry about it that's its all Sharon's fault, they all become lighthearted and have glasses of wine, excluding the minor, Ashley who has a lot of food and goes to bed.Everyone has quite a fun time, especially Sue and Ford who excuse themselves early into their room.The next morning, everyone is awake and doing one thing or the other around the house, all lighthearted that nothing is wrong right now. Alexa and Sharon taken care of, at least to an extent, work seems fine and they all take a day off, including Marshall who stays over.Sue enters the room and makes a call. "Hello Tara, sorry to bother you this morning but I need a dinner gown. A pretty exquisite one. I want you to deliver it yourself.""Of course boss. Where are you?""I'm at the Mason Mansion.""Oh. I've never been there before. Could you send me directions?""Sure. I'll send you the location on the m
Lodged in a VVIP suite in the Mason Hotel, he walks around the hotel, trying to ignore the migraine he's sporting and takes in the view and all the beautiful things the hotel has to offer.He enters the elevator and presses the top most floor, the sky bar.As soon as the door opens, he opens his mouth in awe.His son has been an even better CEO than he ever was.He enters and finds himself a table right beside the window to take a seat in. Normally, the place is always crowded but the staff knows who he is so they don't dispute when he wants a window seat that overlooks the whole city.One unique thing about the sky bar is that it almost seems like the place is bending. Like the room is falling down to the ground so it faces the ground directly. Even though it's too far to see anything definete on the ground, the roofs of houses and industrial buildings are quite visible.He looks down the building and away, taking in all the beautiful evening lights of the whole city. A waiter approa
The butler opens the large doors for Tara and ushers her in.And as Sue's expectations, Tara doesn't disappoint with her dressing.She's dressed in a modest yet slaying long shirt with the first two buttons open, a slightly above the knee short and knee length boots with white heels. Over her shoulders, she slung a small pearly black bag over with chain hands.Sue gives a big hug when she sees her. She uses the opportunity to whisper. "You look like you're dressed to kill."They both laugh. Tara hands her the peach gown in her hands and a shoe box, along with another bag that contains other needed accessories. "That gown is to die for and its the only edition in the country. We're yet to make the last few ones to send out to the VVIPs who have requested for them, like the daughter of the President.""Which President do you mean?""Of the US of course. Do you have another President?" Tara rolls her eyes and then looks around anxious. "There's a reason why you asked me to dress when com
Gail is walking around in her house, lost in thought.From time to time she shakes her head negatively and then nods, smiling and then furiously shakes her head again.Like she's fighting a war within herself.She finally sits down, frustrated and grunts. "What the fuck is so wrong with this plan? I have to find a loophole for myself."In her head, she rehashes Brian's plan in her head, hoping to find someone or something she could use to her advantage."Aha!" She jumps up happily. "I found it. I'm going to ruin them both but after I let that perverted bastard have his way with the woman, then I'll ruin them..."She goes back to thinking out loud again. "I don't even need to kill the woman to ruin her but that man has to die..."She smiles sinisterly and goes to the room to switch on her old phone so her calls won't be traced but she had no idea that her old phone was still being followed by someone.On the phone, she smoothens and perfects her own plan to get both Brian and Sue.*Su
"Hi Andrea. I was wondering if you had enough models for the show?""Who am I speaking to?""My name is Gail Howard. Does it ring a bell?""I'm sorry ma'am. We'll always have a slot for you ma'am."Gail smiles derisively. "Better. Because I'm going to be modeling this year.""But... Why ma'am?""Why? How dare you question my order? Find me a good slot where I can showoff my modeling skills, okay?""Yes ma'am."Gail hangs up and pats her leg. It still aches quite badly from the slightly healed broken bone and she grimaces when she remembers how she got it and wonders of Brian also gave the order that she should be beaten after giving the order that her leg should be broken.She stands up in the house and walks around, trying to get her gait and pace right for the modeling job while also wincing from time to time on the stress of the leg.After a while, she sits down, tired. She uses her phone to browse the internet and entertainment news and comes across an invite someone is bragging a
"WE WANT TO SEE GAIL HOWARD!" The duo yells as they barge into the jail.The officers on duty spring to their feets in rapt attention, drawn by the noise. On seeing who the troublemakers are, they shrink.One of the quickly signals to the lower ranked one and he nods.The higher ranked one went outside the desk to attend to them. "Hello sirs. How can we help you?"Ford looks up and down with a look of disdain and then turns to fully face him with his full, intimating height. "I want to see Gail Howard.""No sir."Marshall steps forward, his head cocked to the side. "No? No?"The officers looks at them both and takes a step backwards. "No. You didn't make any prior appointment and our prison doesn't work that way."Ford and Marshall laugh derisively and then the voice of the lower ranked officer wafted to them."Hello sir? Some men are here making a fuss about seeing Gail Howard."Ford walks over and grabs the phone from him. "Hello sir? Ford Mason here. I want to see a woman names Gai
"Here is my judgement. The defendant, Mr Edward Renault, has been sentenced to imprisonment for thirty years imprisonment as he is found to be guilty of thirteen of the twenty three counts brought against him..."Not exactly caring much about his thirty years sentencing, he looks into the rows of chairs in the court and looks around. He sees Holly and Jean and some of his men but he doesn't see the one person that brought him out of his hiding.His daughter.She had grown up so well and so beautiful. Had the same hair colour as him and somehow, even when she's grown, she looks a bit like him.He mentally kicked himself for not properly researching before doing anything.Holly watches him from the seats and borders on crying but she doesn't. He does not deserve her tears after trying to get rid of her just so he could remarry. He could have just easily asked for a divorce from her and lived his life the way he wanted but to kill her was just too extreme.But as she watched him from the
* Years later*Sue opens the door, laughing widely and happily."Welcome home guys. I'm happy to be hosting the Christmas Dinner this year. You guys should come on in."Darlene comes in first, Harry behind heTwor and then Tanya, all of whom give her hugs as they enter, all of them beaming."It's been quite a while Mum." Sue remarks as she hugs Darlene.Darlene tips her hat, "what can I say? I've been out traveling the world with my husband. All my children are old enough to take care of themselves so I deserve some respite.""Speaking about that, where's Wade?""I'm guessing he's fighting with the baskets we came with. They are yours by the way and my babies. Where are they?""Inside, with their Dad. He seems to be the only one they take clothes from these days, just like Ashley when she was little. I learnt to adapt." She smiles, her beauty showing no sign of fatigue or fading.Tanya walks around, smiling at the beautiful frames on the wall, saying nothing.Harry is on a call on the c
At the party after the wedding ceremony, everyone puts on their dresses according to the theme as decided by Holly and Darlene.And Egyptian times were known mostly for the gold in their clothes and fine linens so there was a flash of gold coming from everywhere.But when Sue came in, there was no gold that matched hers, none was as luxurious and elegant as her own, along with the modest yet exquisite accessories laid in her hair.And none shone the brightest.It was really giving the Cleopatran vibe as everyone expected.As they will say, Sue ate and left no crumbs.When it comes to the time to throw flowers, every single person was arranged behind Sue, all, or most, eager to catch the flower and decide their future for themselves in marriage.At the back, it included Tara, Raya, Marshall was forced there by Ford against all his own wishes, Tanya and Harry, forced in there by their mum, Darlene and Holly too, giggling like children how they would not mind a man at their age, Ella, Ear
Dignitaries from fear and near, important people from inside and outside the country all attended the wedding.It was tagged that one wedding that will be me remembered for years to come.Holly and Darlene really outdo themselves, making sure that everything is in place and then leaving Sue and Ford to just simply enjoy their day.Very early in the morning, people have started to arrive and upon closer look, they are no ordinary set of people.There was a special guest that threw everyone off the bat.Very early that day, a long black limousine shows up, bearing a ton of gifts and simply a letter with it.At the time, only the residents and family members are around, also the working staff, doing last minute touches to the outdoor wedding venue.Sue receives the flowers and the other gifts and then the letter. She thanks the deliverers and tears open the letter, she reads the letter to the slow widening of her family's eyes and surprise.Even she herself had to gasp."This is signed Sa
It's Ford's turn to facepalm, although there's a hint of hidden laughter on his face. "We'll deal with you two later. Let's attend to the reporters so we can get some rest, what do you think?"Sue nods, agreeing. "Please.""Attention please. Come this way if you have questions. We'll answer them to the best of our abilities."This grabbed all attention towards the couple who stand side by side, Ford's large hands enclosing Sue's in his. "So we heard you have questions for us?""Is a wedding really happening? I mean you're two influential families. Don't you want to give a chance to others?"They all laugh."Well, what can we say when fate drew us to one another? I can't swap her for the world and I'm sure it's a mutual feeling." Ford responds, gently squeezing Sue's hand.Sue nods slowly by his side, her smile infectious."Another question. What will happen to your businesses when you marry? Ms Sue has her own company and you do yours and Ms Sue's family has hers too. It's a lot. Woul
For the next few weeks, all Holly and Darlene saw of their children and grandchild was video calls and posts on their social media accounts.They had tons of fun, not wanting it to end.They visited many states, including Dallas where everyone got to go to a Cowboy festival where they had rodeo drives and roasted pigs and kicked up as many dusts they could on themselves and others while riding horses and when simply running around, having fun.For the first few days after the incident that shook the whole family so much, Ashley was a little sad and scared. Every minute, she would shake without reason, like a sudden gust of wind was blown on her and it worried everyone so much until they went on their vacation where Ashley was always within eyeshot. Everyone had eyes on her and others, ready to make another lesson of anybody who tries to try shit with them as an individual and as a family as a whole.For a whole month, they visited every amusement park, every theme park, every Five Mi
Ford stands with the Chief of the Police Force as they both watch the body get covered and the ambulance leaves with the other.The chief barks out orders to his men and they respond with gusto and then he faces Ford and smiles warily. "What really happened here?""They both had kidnapped my daughter and sister. I wanted to teach them a lesson but I didn't even get to. Brian got his hand shot off by Angela while she fell through that window all on her own. I guess the guilt from shooting her partner was too much but I don't think she'd want to die so the falling must have been an accident." He explains, meeting the Chief's eyes very bravely and squarely."Hm, I see. So that's what happened. We'll get the body to the morgue while the man will be taken to the hospital. I never thought I'd see a severed hand like that, it looked so roughly pulled or torn apart. Do you know about that?"Ford shakes his head. "As soon as Angela fell, I and my assistant both left the room, hoping we could s
Angela backs towards the window while Sue walks forward as well, scalpel in hand.*Hours later, Ashley is asleep with Sue holding her close to her chest, rocking her as she sleeps.She doesn't even notice when Tanya comes into the room, her face wet with tears, tears of mixed feelings.Sadness and Happiness at the same time.Tanya sits beside her and touches Sue's shoulder ever so slightly. "You know it is not your fault right? Those bastards must have known one way or the other that whatever happened was a result of their own choices."Sue tries to smile. "It's not that actually but thanks for being here with me..." Sue glances at Ashley as the girl snuggles closer to her, putting her head on her inner arms. Sue turns to Tanya and smiles appreciatively. "You know, I never had the opportunity to adequately thank you for what you did even after you got beaten while doing it. I really owe you a lot."Tanya smiles widely. "You don't need to thank me. It's what any human would have done,
James picks up Ashley from the ground, trying to calm and stop her from crying and at the same time, noticing the soft bump on the door.The door opens and out comes Marshall, who barks at one of the two men who came up with him. "Call the authorities! Immediately." He goes back in and closes the door behind him again.James tried to peep in through the open crack but he didn't see anything other than Marshall's body blocking the door and the light in the room.Who had been shot?No one knows, all except those inside.*Holly laughs excitedly as she licks off the upper part of the ice cream she's holding, and Darlene cracking jokes jokes beside her."And then I go, oh my goodness, I didn't switch on the electric cooker after putting the water on for over two hours..."Holly only laughs the more. "How did you not know?""Seriously. I felt like an idiot. All after bragging that I can make a world known chef. A world known chef who forgets to switch on the cooker.""Yeah, you're well on
Terribly shaking and nervous as she stares at the dark muzzle of the gun pointing at her head, Angela walks straight for the door after pulling the key out of her chest.Shakingly, she puts the key in the lock and turns it open."Open the door."Angela pulls down the knob and opens the door just as Marshall and two men enter the boutique.All the noise and ruckus has attracted people who weren't there just minutes before and now there were people peeping in through the boutique's glass windows.Angela steps out first, Sue follows behind her and then James.When the crowd sees the gun, there's a collective gasp.Marshall walks to meet her. "Would you like me to handle that?"Sue smiles at him, "Don't worry, I've got this. I'm sure if I don't kill her, I can at least ruin her pretty face." Sue says quite loudly and just as much as she knows people's weak points, she'll bet everything that Angie's weak points is her looks.Her hands still up, Sue nudges her into the other room, she enters