"STOP THAT WOMAN!" The fluid and authoritative order rang deep in Sue's ears as she desperately tries to leave that damned hall.But unfortunately, several security men fan out around her and impede her movement. Slowly they close in on her. Scared, Sue just holds Ashley to her chest. The little girl doesn't even look scared but just curious as she just looks around with a small pout.The security men open a path that leads directly to that man. Ford Mason. But whose identity is still a mystery to Sue. Sue hesitantly walks out of the circle she's enclosed in and comes face to face with Ford."Why did you run?" He asks her indifferently. Ashley just chuckles on Sue's shoulder and tries to hold out her hand to be carried. Sue only tightens her hands further, stopping Ashley."I did not run. I had to leave.""Why did you have to leave?" He asks again, looking disinterested but interested at the same time. Sue simply shrugs. "Can't I leave a place when I want to?""Fine, you can. But w
Sue was dumbfounded. All that remains is to find out which one of the Masons and how is he related. He is definitely not the second son as that one was paralyzed at the time and can't possibly be the eldest.Or could he?Sue felt eyes on her and looked up, she met his calculating eyes and immediately looks away."Obviously Ms Howard, there's been no misunderstanding. This is very clearly a case of foul play..." Just then, the man who had left earlier after receiving an instruction from Ford came back, holding an envelope. He hands it over to Ford and he empies the content."Here's some information about the people who gave you the sketches. I'm seeing this is not the first time you're doing this. So many people..." Ford says as he flicks through the different papers in front of him.He holds out the papers to Sue. "Look through them. Who do you know amongst all of them?"Half of Sue didn't want to know who had done that to her but she just had to know. She took the papers and started
Sweeping her off her feet bridal style, Ford smirks and balances her on his forearms. Giving in to the urge, he leans into her ears and whispers "You thought you could run? I own this city."Nodding slightly at the lady in the check in counter, he turns and walks out of the airport, leaving the travellers and people inside the airport gaping at his back.Just yesterday, Sue had walked majestically back into his life and before he had time to process that the woman he had been looking for for three years just showed up, a baby belonging to her just waltzed into his arms.Three years ago, the day after he discovered Sue was the original one he had been with the night before and was not Alexa, he had gone personally to the Greene family house only to hear that she'd moved out that same day, only few hours before he arrived.He went on a full search for her and got to know that she had left the state and left for Manchester. For two years, he had searched high and low for that mesmerizing
With his lips trailing down her lips and neck, he manages to whisper into Sue's ears. Sue stands stock still, her eyes closed and her body leaning into to the kiss without her permission.Unknown to either of them, they had both gone without touching anybody since their encounter three years ago but their bodies had yearned for one another even in their distance.After sometime, Ford pulls away and Sue's lips are swollen and red. Embarrassed, she drops Ash and let's her wander into the house before her. Ash seems at peace in that place and that is more than enough to calm Sue's frayed nerves.Ford runs his hands through his hair and walks inside as well, as Sue follows. He shows her the basic things in the house that they might need and where to find them and basically everything she might need to know."I have to go. Work calls." He announces and makes to leave. Sue holds him back by grabbing his forearms and drops them immediately. "You're leaving me here?" She asks him, incredulous
Sue wonders why James keeps asking for her and how she's going to leave this place Ford had locked her in.Apparently, Sue knows now that Ford is a Mason but still has no idea who he really is. He could be just a regular family member and not directly related. Maybe their father's brother, she hopes he's not a direct descendant all the same for reasons unknown to even her.Sue cannot leave her child alone in this big place and doesn't even know how to leave, she has no number of anybody she could possibly call here in Atlanta and she will rather cut off her head than call Alexa for help. Sue just relaxes and decides that visiting James will have to wait until she figures things out when she's not locked in someone else's house. Sue wanders around until she found the kitchen area. Seeing it, her stomach rumbles and reminds her that she hasn't eaten anything tangible since the cereal she ate with Ash in the morning.She opens the cupboards and looks through the cabinets and sees every
"Yes. It wasn't supposed to be me."At that statement, Sue didn't know what to make of it. Whether to be confused which was the most prevalent feeling at the moment or to be sad. She wasn't sure why she was to be sad but in her case, it was easy to admit that every disappointment is a blessing.And the blessing in her own case is the cute bundle of joy who's bouncing with every spoon of cereal she's fed. Sue can't help but notice the beauty and serenity in seeing Ash with her father, although neither of them are aware of that fact.Sue seems to overlook the fact that Ash, as little as she is, recognizes her father with her intuitions."What do you mean it wasn't supposed to be you?" Sue asks, hoping for an elaborate clarification as to the meaning of that statement."You must have heard that those who carry out the task are irrelevant people who work for us. Like gardeners, bodyguards, male cooks and many many more of their kind." Sue nods silently, discreetly noting that even though h
Sue whips around, startled at the sound of the sliding doors closing behind her.Its Sharon and Alexa who came in. Sue doesn't hide her disdain for them both in her looks at them and she just turns and walks to bed, ignoring them both like they aren't there.Alexa makes to smack her but Sharon pulls her hand down. "Remember, hold your anger. We'll have something bigger at the end of the day." She whispers to her daughter.Alexa nods."What happened to him? How did this happen just within three years?""You're one to ask. After you left, he developed a heart condition." Sharon retorts"There's no way his condition has to do with me. What did you do to him?""How dare you accuse my mum? Because you don't have a mum doesn't mean you can badmouth other mums like that." Alexa spits.Sue just laughs. "I'd have thought you'd have grown some sense in three years. I acknowledge that I was wrong. You're just as stupid as you always were. I won't let you drag me into your mire of stupidity." Sue
Sharon trembles slightly while Alexa obviously doesn't feel remorseful. "We were just trying to have some fun." She gives a lame excuse for doing what they were caught doing."So that was your idea of playing?" Ford takes an intimidating step towards them where they stood."She's just asleep. You don't need to do anything."Ford laughs in a way that foreshadows something not good. "I can see she's just asleep though we both know she isn't. You were trying to get her in a scandal with my brother no? Your plans are so painfully obviously. Even if she's asleep as you put it, my brother is not. He saw the whole thing the entire time. You were invading his personal space. You have a lot to answer for in court." He walks past them, leaving them to swallow the meaning behind his words. He pats his brother slightly on the arm."I'm sorry you had to go through that." He apologizes sincerely for something that's totally not his fault. He turns around and sees the women still there. "You want m
* 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