ELLA'S POV When I stepped into the car, my mind reflected the memory of my confrontation with Madeline yesterday. After the visit with Doctor Huang, the doctor who was going to to be giving us the results of the scan, we went home. The instant we stepped foot into the McKinney mansion, I rushed towards the maid's quarters.I raced down the halls as I finally got to the door and I stretched my fingers and gripped the doorknob. I twisted it and as it pulled open, I caught the sight of bewildered maids.Their gazes swept to my side and I clenched my fists. My chest heaved as I exhaled with a stray droplet of sweat rolling down my forehead. I searched around with my eyes looking for any maid who looked anything like her but couldn't find any.I was so lost in looking for Madeline that I didn't even notice when a maid veered towards my path. Her eyes were shaken with fear and I could almost ear the disheveled array of puffs she exuded when she hovered towards me.“Is anything wrong ma'am?
XAVIER'S POV.When we stepped out of the car, I pulled closer to Ella. Our arms were locked yet she felt distant. Her silence pushed me into thoughts as I stared into her eyes. The golden brown hues of lights from the sun buzzed into the color of her irises as I caught the traces of fear and anxiety in them.Her cheeks were flushed red and seeing her like that also made me tensed. I led the way towards the hospital as Madame Browne and Lucas followed me. Rochelle strutted behind me and with each stride she took, I noticed she tried to pull closer to me.When she finally caught up with me, she stretched her arm as if aiming to lock it with my other arm when I nudged it off. My eyes lit up and she snapped, “You can get as angry as you want Xavier, that doesn't change anything, this baby is yours.”I smirked coldly as I flashed her a scornful stare before speaking. “Mine? I'm sure you're going to have a lot of explanations to make when we get into the doctor's office and he announces the
XAVIER'S POV My heart shook in my chest as my fingers gripped the paper. It rustled under my grip as I shook it and flashed my gaze at the heading. I skimmed through the first few rows of texts as I looked for the result patiently.My chest heaved as a shot of adrenaline surged into my veins. My lashes flustered defensively as I felt my heart beats increase pace erratically. I gripped a handful of my hair as I tried to calm my nerves.I flashed a glance at Ella. I could sense her fear and the bubbling remnants of anxiety in her eyes. I shifted my gaze to the figures by the side of the room. Madame Browne, Lucas and Rochelle were all staring back at me with faces devoid of emotions.Their eyes glistened with a newly formed splurge of darkness, their gazes were chilly as it burned through my flesh effortlessly. I heaved a sigh as I turned my gaze back to the Doctor and I noticed his smile.I wasn't sure what made me take notice of details like this but I couldn't help it. His smile was
XAVIER'S POV When I arrived home, I was overjoyed. Ella was just as ecstatic as me as she giggled and laughed at every chance she received. When we arrived at the stairs, I raised her into my arms in a princess style as I ascended the stairs.Ella chuckled all the way up the stairs and when we arrived at the hallway, I led the way into the hallway. I pushed the buttons when we got there and the door chimed open. We stepped into it and as the door chimed close, we waited for it to open as we couldn't wait to get into the room. I turned my gaze to face Ella as I remarked, “Thank you for believing in me Ella, without you, I wouldn't have been able to come up with this plan and now that we've won, all we have left to do is to celebrate.” She cheered as the door chimed open and I led her into the hallway. We strutted down the rest of the hallway until we arrived at the bedroom, where I released a yell of excitement. Ella joined me too and as our voices blended into a symphony of excitem
ELLA'S POV When the doctor stepped into the scene in front of the cameras, I noticed a sudden gasp that escaped Xavier's lips. I tilted my head in his direction as I held his hand, I knew he was nervous also.If I were to say the truth, I was also nervous but I hid mine perfectly under a smile. The cameras shifted sharply to Doctor Huang's figure as the management fixed his ear chords and attached a micro speaker to his shirt.After they did that, he proceeded to bring out the paper slip as he shifted his attention to the paper slip in his hands. He clutched it tightly and after that, he proceeded to read out the result to the audience watching.“Regarding Ms Rochelle's baby, Mr Xavier McKinney, you are…” my heart skipped a beat as I clutched a handful of my dresses in fear. Even though I knew what the doctor was going to say, I couldn't help it but feel scared.What if it all turned upside down?I shook my head as I removed my mind from the thought. Doctor Huang was a family doctor
ELLA'S POV When the thought crossed my mind, I immediately knew what I wanted to do. I stepped out of the car in a hurry and launched in the direction of the double door leading into the mansion.The guards standing by it pulled it open as they saw me running. Once I got there, they asked me questions. “Is there any problem, ma'am?” I shook my head and continued running.I ran up the stairs and as I skipped over some of them, I paced into the elevator. I waited for the door to close before I tapped the button of the number of the floor I was headed to.I waited for the door to chime open before I continued running down the hallway. I sped past the flickering lights as I finally arrived at the door, I gripped the door knob tightly. I knocked on the door of the maid's quarters and as it finally pulled open, I met the sight of a shocked maid who was holding a cleaning rag.“Ma'am Ella?” She gasped out but I ignored her shock and raced into the room. The other maids in the room all shift
XAVIER'S POV The shock from the interview was still reeling in my veins. I couldn't believe it. Madame Browne set me up. She planned each and every one of the activities that went on.I couldn't believe I allowed myself to get knocked off by their plan. I clenched my fists and frowned as I strolled into the room only to find it empty. My brows arched in confusion as I gripped my jaw. I could've sworn she was following me just now. She was right behind me but now, she wasn't.I wasn't sure whether to worry or feel angered by the fact my reputation was dented by that hypocritical interview. I paced out of the room and as I stared at the hallway, I expected to find her strutting towards the door but she wasn't there.As I thought about it, my mind flashed back to the grin tugged at the corners of Lucas's face. It was obvious he had won. Just as the thought punched through my mind, I felt my veins twitch as I jammed the door close.With a dark frown on my face, I paced towards the mini
XAVIER'S POV I watched the cityscape blur by as the car veered sharply into the street leading towards the office. As he drove, I couldn't help but check the time on my wrist watch every two minutes. I couldn't afford to be late.I had to be there.That meeting… it wasn't going to happen without me.The shareholders must think they're making the right choice by voting for Madame Browne but they were wrong. I darted my gaze to my wrist as I skimmed my wristwatch for the umpteenth time that minute.“Can you drive faster?” I pulled close to the driver seat as I tapped the driver's shoulder and he tilted his face towards me. “We're almost there sir, I'd appreciate it if you exercise some patience. I'm going as fast as I can.” He responded and I clenched my fists tightly.My eyes flared up as impatience shimmered in them. “Listen, I don't have the time to wait that long, go on the highest speed if you must but you have to get there quickly.” I ordered and he immediately nodded as I press
MADAME BROWNE'S POVWhile in my unconscious state, I felt darkness wrap around me. I saw, felt and even heard nothing. Nothing other than that ding. With each time it came, I writhed, twisted and strived to get it to stop. I was sick and tired of it and to make matters worse, I was beginning to get scared to my wits as questions pulsed through my mind. Did I die? Was this all another version of hell? I was expecting an erupting volcano, heat and a little bit of fire but all I saw was darkness. Thick, dark darkness. I was about to ponder on a question when I heard a ding. I tried to move but my body wouldn't budge.I tried again and then again but with each trial, I drew closer to the realization that maybe I had died. I mean my body wasn't going to move anymore and the signs were beginning to police together.I was about to accept the finalisation of my current dilemma when all of a sudden, I felt the elevator shake. Panic surged through me and in a fit of fear and confusion, I trie
MR MCKINNEY'S POV If you are reading this now, you must've thought Madame Browne had died. Well, I wished she was dead too but not all of our wishes came true and the acceptance of the fact was the beginning of maturity.Don't be discouraged yet. There was still a lot of things coming for her that she just didn't know yet. You see, when I planned on getting someone to do something, I made sure to leave no stones untouched. Right now, I was seated on my chair with my arm crossed and my eyes fixed on the tablet in front of me. Right there on the screen was Madame Browne, fallen and weak with sharp fearful gasps rolling out of her lips.She was afraid.Don't get me wrong this was the only time I'd seen her this shaken to fear. Her hair which you'd expect tostull be tied up in some fancy bun was now let down in rough, messy strands that draped down to her back. She was currently trying to block the dings I was letting off stop but little did she know that I, Mr McKinney, was the one beh
MADAME BROWNE'S POVThe entire walk from my room down to the elevator was long because most of the minutes were spent pondering on the invite. I bit my fingers slowly as fear pulsed throughout me in sharp jolts. The guard who was sent to call me over there led the way since I was too shaken with suspicion and fear to go alone. As I followed his lead, I still couldn't let out the gleams of suspicion that clawed at my chest.Something was in the hallway. Something was watching over me, judging maybe even cackling as I made my way to the elevator with my steps as soft as feathers. The guards' back figure filled me with relief as I rubbed my chest and sighed.Several droplets of sweat trickled down my forehead as I paused and watched as he jabbed his fingers against the controls. The buttons by the elevator beeped countlessly for a long period of seconds but the doors didn't open.It was as if someone was in it but if that were to be the case at hand, the indicator had to be flashing red
MADAME BROWNE'S POV As I stepped out of the car, the cold wind justled several strands of my hair into the air as I struggled to keep my strands down. My fingers brushed off some blocking strands as I paced towards the door leading into the mansion. Two guards stood by it with firm frowns on their faces. “Thank you.” I muttered out loud to the driver who was probably engulfed in something else to respond. I made my way to the door and as I approached it, the drivers standing by it, pulled it open as I stepped into the mansion. I walked into the mansion and walked directly to the staircase. I made sure no one was watching before I placed silent steps up the stairs. The overhead lights in the room flickered brightly as I traced my steps up it. It didn't take long for me to arrive at the hallway leading into the elevator. I tapped on the buttons and as the door chimed open, I locked my arms and inhaled deeply as I waited for the ride to come to an end. My body was aching so much I n
MR MCKINNEY'S POV I stayed at alert all through the time the guards informed me she had stepped out of the mansion down till the car that drove her out veered into the mansion. My eyes widened almost immediately as my fingers roved over to the window panes as I adjusted to me to get a clearer view of the car.Just as it parked safely in the parking lot, the door to the room pulled open and as the cracks it made slashed through the silence in the air, I paused then flashed my gaze in the direction. I tilted my head and I met the blank faces of the two security guards I gave the task of relaying every update on Madame Browne's movements to me. The golden brown lighting in the room buzzed over their cold features as one of them stepped forward. “She's here, sir.” he mumbled coldly and just then, I heard a sound. It wasn't from the room but from the parking lot.If I heard it correctly, it was the sound of her driver's voice. I wasn't able to catch the exact line of words he used but I
LUCAS'S POV The moment Madame Browne stepped foot out into the restaurant, I felt my heart thump heavily in my chest. A cold shiver trudged down my spine as a sensation sprouted within me. I didn't know how to explain it but it was there. Blossoming. Growing. With my gaze fixed on her figure, I carelessly grabbed a bottle of wine and raised it to my lips. The sour taste of grapes washed down my throat as I stared back at her. She was pacing towards the table in a black dinner gown that wasn't too flashy but still blended in with the people in the bar.They all seemed discreet enough to not even flash a glance at us. Everyone had their attention fixed on the people they came to meet and nothing else. No stolen glances, no glaring eyes… nothing. It felt like we were all alone.I had to give accolades to my assistant. She really did know what her job entailed and delivered effortlessly. My fingers curled around the wine glass as I placed it back on the table and for a split second, sho
MADAME BROWNE'S POV AN HOUR EARLIERAfter the call with Lucas, he passed the phone over to his assistant who I surprisingly caught up well with and as he did, her voice blared out. “You can come over. I've fixed a dinner reservation for you and him to talk it all out and figure out the next step to take.”I nodded softly as I asked, “What time is that going to be in?”Her reply came in quicker than I was expecting. “In about twenty minutes from now, I'll send you the address.”Just as she said that, my phone buzzed in my grip and as I paused talking just to glance at my screen, a pop-up message from her number came up. I read the letters on the card slowly and after reading it, I replied her softly. “Okay. I'll be out in a bit, it actually isn't that far from the mansion.” I uttered the words and as I finished, I ended the call and raced over to my wardrobe where I picked the first dress I saw and zipped it down as I stepped into it. Pulling the gown back up, I ran my fingers over t
MR MCKINNEY'S POVI shouldn't have chased him away. He wasn't wrong but I just couldn't stand seeing him like that. For the first time in the entire decades I'd spent raising him, my little boy was making his stand and as much as I wanted to let him flap his wings I couldn't let him go out there and lose his life to Lucas.I knew who he really was and how dangerous he was and having him contend with Xavier would crush me. Lucas could have him killed within the blink of an eye and I'd lose the one thing I promised myself I'd watch over. Just if you weren't aware, I made a promise to myself after the death of his parents to take care of him and shield him from any form of harm and now…I guess he'd outgrown my tactics buti just couldn't let him out of my grasp. At least not now. Not when everything was a standstill and each and every move we made was being closely watched by him. Lucas.My heart palpited in my chest as I watched him turn his back and leave. A part of me wanted to hold h
XAVIER'S POV As the words rolled off my tongue, the look on the president's face changed almost immediately. His eyes darkened and his expression turned cold as he tilted his head downwards. Confusion washed into my veins as I arched a brow and paced towards his chair.Did I say something wrong?If there was anything wrong with all that was happening now, it was his reaction. Why was he acting like that? Did I offend him? I inspected him with a steady gaze as my heart thumped ruthlessly against its ribcage. With each step I took towards him, fear growled at the pit of my chest “Grandpa?” I stuttered as I stretched my fingers to reach for his shoulders but before I could do that, his head snapped up and his gaze snapped in my direction. Cold droplets of sweat clung to my forehand as his head jolted up and his gaze raked mine. My breath hitched almost immediately. My fingers quivered as I clutched them tightly into a head fists. Several lumps of fear logged in my chest and as they l