Vivian’s POVAfter the day’s work, I stayed back with Jane to clean up and arrange the chairs together for the day. Jane turned the sign to “closed” and she returned to join me in putting the chairs together. I noticed that all day, she had been trying to dial a number, and she always had a worried expression on her face when she dialed the number.“What’s wrong?” I asked Jane. Even though I already said I wasn’t looking to make friends, I could not ignore the fact that she looked worried and troubled. Also, she was very nice to me for the first time even though she did not have to.“it’s nothing,” Jane said, but I knew that she was lying, because the troubled look still remained on her face.“You know you can talk to me, right?” I told Jane.“I don’t want to burden you with my problems, especially as you are new here and you do not like to be bothered,” Jane said.I nodded my head, feeling less like a better person. I realized that I shouldn’t have sounded like that to Jane. This was
Vivian’s POV“Ted? Did…did you say Ted?” I stuttered, my breath caught in my throat and my heart pounded rapidly against my ribs.This world indeed was a freaking small place. I know that my brother was not only the only person who bore Ted in the entire city, but Jane’s story matched his based on what Manny had told me.“Yes,” Jane answered. Then she looked at me with expectancy in her eyes. “Do you know him?” She asked desperately.I shook my head quickly. “No, I don’t know him,” I lied. Jane’s head fell in sadness. “I wish you did,” Jane said as she emptied the last drop of beer into her mouth. Then she signaled the waiter and ordered for another bottle of beer. “Do you think you need more beer?” I asked Jane, worried and concerned for her, but at the same time, eager to hear more of what she had to say. Even though my heart was beating, it was a good thing to meet someone who had known Ted intimately. I felt fortunate to be sitting with Jane at this tie “Of course, I do. You ar
Syrus’s POVSyrus was still reeling from the embarrassment he faced at Vivian’s house. Vivian’s father had slammed the door in his face and they hadn’t even bothered to open the door again even though Syrus had swallowed his pride and rung the doorbell again.He had walked away feeling highly insulted and determined to carry out his legal action against Vivian.Now, Syrus could not even tell if Vivian was at home or not. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was really worried, and more worried because she had his babies in her stomach. Syrus hadn’t thought that Vivian would want to make things extremely difficult for him. If she hadn’t opted to kick him out of the process of their kid’s antenatal and birth, he would have feared that something bad had happened to her, but right now, Syrus had no doubt that Vivian was absolutely avoiding him. She knew that the only way she could punish him was not showing up for their doctor’s appointment. Today was supposed to be their restaurant
Vivian’s POVThe rest of the night with Jane flew by, because after she told me that she was the one who connected Ted with the dangerous man, I just blanked out on the other things that she said. I wanted to grab Jane and yell at her for causing so much issues in my family, because if she hadn’t introduced Ted to something as dreadful as drug trafficking. When she got really drunk, she had begun to spill most of what she had done before and after she met Ted, and it became obvious to me that she was certainly the one who dragged Ted into the life he in now and changed him completely from the brother she used to know. After that night, I concluded that I did not want to be friends with Jane. Granted, when she had told me that Ted was her boyfriend, I had been ecstatic, because then it would give me the insight into Ted’s life; something that Manny couldn’t give.So the next morning, when I arrived at the coffee shop and Jane arrived a couple of minutes later, I gave her the cold sho
Georgia’s POVGeorgia got dressed, humming excitedly. It was going to be a good day, regardless, because she was having a lunch date with Nancy and Bonnie. She already felt like a part of Syrus’s family, and she intended to break the news to them about she and Syrus over lunch.“You won, girl,” Georgia told herself. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and said to herself, highly impressed with what she saw, “You are such a gorgeous goddess! No wonder Syrus could not resist you.”Georgia knew without a doubt that she was more gorgeous than Vivian, and her looks had also been one of the things that had gotten her where she currently was now. Georgia knew that Syrus liked her, he only needed a little push, and she understood that, which was why she was going above and beyond to ensure that she secured her place in Syrus’s life.“Of course he can resist you, you are the one forcing yourself hard on him.”Georgia startled on the harsh voice that filtered into her bedroom and disrupt
Georgia’s POVGeorgia intentionally waited up for Syrus. Truth be told, she was surprised he was staying out this late, because the Syrus that she knew always wanted to get home before it was past 9pm, and looking at the time now, it was already past 11pm.Georgia busied herself with a show on TV as she waited for Syrus in her sexy lingerie in order not to fall asleep. She could hardly contain her joy when Nancy and Bonnie had insisted that she spent the night after their lunch date, which later dragged into a dinner date, because they could not get enough of Georgia’s gist. They wanted Georgia to tell them how it all went down, and Georgia ensured that she did not leave much details out.“No, you definitely have to spend the night. You are practically family now, and I am sure tha Syrus has planted his seed in you already,” Nancy had said firmly.Georgia had pretended to hesitate, meanwhile inside, she was doing the happy dance. “I don’t want to overstep my boundaries. I mean, what i
Vivian’s POVWhen Jane strolled into my small room freely as though I hadn’t given her cold shoulders all day, I had no choice but to shut the door. I was angry and uncomfortable, but it was obvious that she was a busybody, and there was nothing I could do to chase her away from me.I stood by the door after shutting it to calm down on my rising temper, then when I turned to at least confront Jane, she was settled comfortably on my bed with a sheepish grin on her face.“I told you I wanted to be more professional and formal with you henceforth, Jane,” I started, sounding as stern as I could. If I wanted to pass my message across, I needed to be more serious with my tone, because I needed Jane to understand that I meant it. No matter how much I tried, I could not shake off the fact that she was the one who led Ted into the danger he was in, and there was no way I could just let that off easily. The only way to not even strangle Jane was to avoid her. “So what are you doing here?” I ask
Vivian’s POVI could not move, breathe or say a word for a few seconds. I just stayed there staring at the picture. It was not enough that Syrus cheated on me with Georgia. It was not enough that he began a relationship with her right after our divorce. It was not enough that he came out in public and defamed my name, and now, he had elevated to sleeping with her on our bed?He did not even bother to change the sheets!The last time Syrus and I had sex, two weeks after our divorce, which I was sure led to us making babies, we had done it on that very sheet, and he was already sharing it with Georgia? “Hey, what’s wrong?” Jane asked, a worried expression on her face. She had been calling out Ted’s number to me, but I obviously blanked out and did not respond. I still held the phone in my hands and the picture still displayed on my screen, and I could not tear my eyes away from it no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I should. When I did not answer still, Jane peered to
Vivian’s POV“Hi, my name is Vivian, and I am here for the interview,” I said to the person I met at the counter with the description I was given.After what I overheard from Manny and Ted, and with the uncertainty of the meaning of their words, I just knew that I couldn’t sit idly by and wait for any of them to sell me off. Hearing that dad had the intention of using me to offset his debt and that Manny and Ted were even in on it shattered my heart. I couldn’t confront Manny about what I overheard, or even force him into explaining what he meant by those words, but the words didn’t sit well with my spirit. I couldn’t ask Dad about it either, because it dawned on me that I had been living a lie for the longest time. I had gone into the storm room and cried regrettably for hours, and after that, I had begun checking sites for jobs online.I spent the entire night looking for urgent recruitments.I knew that I would have to get a job to support myself ahd the triplets when they eventual
Georgia’s POVGeorgia’s heart did a flip-flop at Syrus’s declaration; she hadn’t expected him to say what he just said.“Is that the bone of contention now?” Nancy rose to Georgia’s defense.Neither Syrus nor Nancy knew but Georgia had instantly began to shake inside at Syrus’s declaration. She knew that she would have to be prepared, because now that she had placed herself in this position, she would have to go through it till the very end. She could not back out now. She could not risk anyone finding out that she was lying, because not only would it affect her career, the Vale family would never have anything to do with her. That would be two losses, and she could not afford that.“Mum, please stay out of this,” Syrus said angrily.His words seemed to have gotten Nancy more upset as she leaped to her feet in a fit of rage.“I have stayed out of your life way too long and that is why we are in this mess in the first place!” Nancy blew hot.“What are you talking about?” Syrus asked.G
Syrus’s POVSyrus paced about the living room boiling with rage. Davis stood close to one of the couches, confused. He did not know whether to sit, although he would very much like to, but then again, he had no idea if it would aggravate Syrus. Syrus had made him come to the house as well after the saga at the office. This was part of the scenarios that Davis always liked to avoid, because in situations like these, especially when he was dealing with a man like Syrus Vale, it would never end up well.Then Nancy sat in the living room, her expression unreadable as she watched Syrus walk about and boil with rage.“That son of a bloody bastard!” Syrus bellowed. “How dare he? As a result of what he had done, I have lost the one contract that meant the world to me!” Syrus continued to blow hot.Davis was quiet, because he did not know what to say, and at the same time, he did not want to say the wrong things. With how angered Syrus Vale appeared to be, he could fire Davis in a heartbeat,
Vivian’s POVI could not believe what Ted just told me. My knees became weak and almost gave way, but I found a way to stop myself by gripping the kitchen counter firmly.Ted noticed it and smiled mischievously. “You had no clue, right?” He sneered. “Aw, poor Vivian who thought she was the golden little family princess,” Ted mocked clearly. “We are broke and there is no inheritance anywhere, so I hope you get out of your delusion and realize that nothing is as you see or think in this family,” Ted’s voice was firm and venomous, as though he wanted his words to eat deep into me.And they did.“Leave her alone,” came Manny’s gruff voice from behind Ted.Apparently, Manny had walked into the house and to the kitchen, but we had been too caught up in our conversation that we did not hear him, and I wondered if he had heard our conversation, or more so, Ted’s gripping words.Ted did not bother turning to Manny, and he did not turn and leave me alone as Manny instructed him. Instead, he wal
Vivian’s POVI was in the kitchen making lunch when I heard the door open. I smiled as I stirred the pasta; Manny was back in time for lunch as I had just finished the cooking. He had left some hours ago saying he wanted to make a quick stop somewhere and that he would be back soon. Anyway, I decided to make something delicious for him and me, and that was after I had ensured that dad had taken his medication and was resting properly.“In here, Manny!” I called out; there was excitement in my voice, and even I could feel it.The moment a shadow fell on me from the kitchen door, shiver ran through my spine, and fear gripped me; it was Ted, not Manny.“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the jolly little sister of the family,” Ted sneered.I felt the heat of his words on my skin and my heart began to race faster. Then I managed to turn, but it did not prepare me for the rage and bitterness that I saw in Ted’s eyes.“Why did you come back?” Ted asked angrily and bitterly.I swallowed hard, try
Syrus’s POV“What the heck?!” Syrus groaned in pain just as he tasted blood in his mouth.It made him recall the first time that he had received a punch from Vivian’s father; when he and Vivian had gone to announce their engagement. Syrus could remember vividly, and that was majorly the reason he had stayed away from her family completely. In truth, he had disliked them, because that had been Syrus’s first punch.“Are you sick in your family?!” Syrus bellowed in pain.He feared that Manny would have broken a tooth, and if that was the case, Syrus swore that he would make Manny regret his actions with everything he had.“How dare you?!” Manny roared in anger, so much so that he almost made Syrus and everyone else in the boardroom.“What gave you the right to come in here and act like a beast?” Syrus asked as he felt the taste of blood on his tongue. The spot where Manny’s punch had landed on his face ached like hell, which was even enough reason to get Manny arrested.“What gave you t
Syrus’s POV“As an institute for business in this city, we are here to sign and seal the deal, as we have officially decided to award Mr. Syrus Vale a contract, just as we have told him during his party,” Mr. Dobson, the head of the City’s Business Council said confidently.They were all seated in Syrus’s boardroom; Syrus and his lawyer, Davis, and members of the City’s Business Council that came along with Mr. Dobson. After Mr. Dobson’s declaration during the small party hosted by Syrus’s mother for Georgia’s pregnancy, they had scheduled an appointment there and then to seal the deal at Syrus’s company.“Thank you, Mr. Dobson,” Syrus told the lead representative, knowing how important and big this deal was to him.Once it was signed and sealed, a general public announcement would be released to the general public to inform them that Syrus’s company had been included in the list. It was a rare opportunity that rarely came, and one that would boost up the company in a few months; som
Vivian’s POVI laid on the bed and cried bitterly and regrettably.Syrus’s response was clear and audible. I listened to the full conversation between Syrus and his mother, and in the end, he had chosen his inheritance over me.“You were such an idiot, Vivian,” I told myself in regret.My mind flashed back to standing in front of dad, Manny and Ted, and Belinda, and telling them that I chose Syrus over all of them, but now that it was Syrus’s turn to choose me for once, he blatantly refused.I felt used. I felt foolish and stupid. I felt horrible.It was because of my actions that my family had experienced everything that we had gone through. So many things had gone wrong since the day I left my family for Syrus, yet, he could not do the same for me, and that was why he had stood with Georgia right in front of the camera with smiles. My heart broke into a million pieces, and just when I thought I could not hurt anymore, my heart ached some more. I wanted to just die as I cried and cri
Vivian’s POVI began to breathe faster, and I could not even tell if it was a panic attack or not; it had never happened to me before, but I felt as though my heart was giving way because of the headline.I didn’t have anything I particularly hoped to see, but even if I had thought about it, I would never have come to this. Manny noticed my mood and he came closer to me, worried, and he paused the show right after.“Do you need me to turn it off?” Manny asked, worried about me.“Is…is this what you wanted me to see?” I managed to get the words out.My voice was shaking.“Yes, because I thought you might want to see it, but I never knew that it would trigger you,” Manny said apologetically. “I could turn it off right now,” Manny added.I saw that he meant it, because he had already taken the remote and was about to switch off the TV, so I shook my head.“Leave it on; I will watch it,” I told Manny.My voice was shaking a little, but it was firm.“Are you sure?” Manny asked and I nodded