ALINA'S POV The morning started out great.She had begun her day preparing breakfast because that activity always found a way to calm her because in a way,she had control there.From choosing the breakfast she was preparing, to the ingredients and the quantities that would be used,it gave her a bit of control that her life lacked at the moment.She just hadn't expected to see Micheal downstairs so early.It was a nice surprise and the time they had spent together was something that had replayed over in her mind,looking for something that she did that must have made him so annoyed at her that he had snapped at her when he was going out that morning.All she had wanted was to give him a handful of cookies to munch on during the day.He needed energy for the day and that was her only intention.Except she realized that he didn't like that at all.Her resolution to do better for his mother and family to accept her,at least,for the duration of the contract slowly faded away.It was nothing sho
MICHEAL'S POV "Donald,I need you to do an extensive research on the ownership of Stacc estate"he ordered. "Right away sir"his assistant responded. He ended the call feeling more in control than he had been all morning. Alina's suggestion was indeed a good one.Yes,they needed to consult his wife. Mr.Stacc was a man that had married into wealth and from the circle he mingled with,he had often had conversations with the couple and it was clearly evident that he obeyed his wife because she owned the bulk of all their assets.And she would definitely not be too happy to hear that her husband was planning to change the plans they had already finalized on.Especially without informing her first,assuming she didn't know already.Which he highly doubted. He breathed a sigh of relief. "How come I didn't think of that?"He thought aloud as he plopped down on his chair. He rubbed away the slight ebbing of a headache. Reaching for his cabinet, he pulled out a packet of orange pills and some as
ALINA'S POVWhen she had gotten out of bed that morning,she had found Micheal's side of the bed empty.She cranked the ache in her neck from staying so long on the couch.She had had a good cry with her best friend Samantha who was her roommate back in university.They had formed a strong bond during those formative years.Trailing downstairs to the kitchen,she found it empty.Had he gone to work?Glancing up briefly up at the aesthetically placed wall clock that over looked the chandelier that spoke volumes of how wealthy her husband was.The clock read 7:34am.She frowned in confusion. Why did he have to go to work so early. And he didn't even have time for breakfast.She spent the rest of the day cooking,cleaning and glancing through the stack of magazines that's had been strategically placed beside the couch.He had thought it through well enough.From the dressing room,to the magazines and the kitchen pantry everything screamed of planning.She had taken the whole afternoon and the re
MICHAEL'S POVHe awoke to find himself surrounded by porcelain walls.The mixture of the antiseptic and the bitter scent of soaps filled his nostrils. He raised his arms to cover his eyes from the intense glare of the overhead fluorescent light."Micheal?"He blinked once to clear the fog that had clouded his eyes."Are you okay?"He turned to see the direction of the voice.He winced at the sharp pain that glazed through him."Are you okay,Micheal?"He saw Alina hovering over him deity concern etched unto her tired eyes.Her eyes were reddened.She looked disheveled."Micheal,please say something"she cried with worry laced in her voice."Are you alright?"she repeated."Water.."he croaked.She stared at him confused for a minute before rushing over to the round table that had been placed in the middle of the room.She poured him a glass and headed back towards him hurriedly. After he had had a gulp of water,he tried to sit up but she placed a hand on his shoulder urging him against his a
ALINA'S POVShe was still reeling with fear at the memory of seeing Micheal drop unconscious in front of her.She felt helpless,her heart was driven by fear as she gripped the phone as she had the conversation with the 911 correspondent.Her hands trembled as she lifted him up in her arms following the instructions that was being given.She had let out a sigh of relief as soon as Micheal finally woke up about three hours after he had been rushed to the hospital."Are you okay?"she had asked rubbing away her tired eyes.After the doctor had pleaded with her to leave the room,she had been suspicious about the news.But earlier on ,she had been reassured that he was doing okay.That everything was fine because he had been brought in earlier on before it was too late.Even when she had asked him about what the doctor had asked,he had inadvertently dismissed her concern.But she felt otherwise. There was something sinister about the way he spoke that gave her the impression that he was going
MICHEAL'S POV"what secret are you hiding?"She questioned with tear glazed eyes. He felt his heart wrench as he watched the tear fall down her cheek.But he couldn't tell her what it was.He frowned."There is no secret"he stated firmly, busying his hands by searching for something on the coffee table."Then what does the message mean?"she insisted."None of your business" he snapped."Am your wife!even If we're to live our seperate lives,I still deserve to know what you could possibly be hiding from me"she explained,trailing behind him as he stomped out of the living room towards the kitchen."Alina!"he shouted.He spun around so fast he was afraid that he might have suffered a sense of whiplash."Why do always make things so difficult?"he asked as softly as he could."I'm just trying to understand you"she answere, her voice broke with each word spoken."How do I get it through your thick skull that we are nothing more than business partners.There is nothing about me that you should
ALINA'S POVShe winced in pain as she rubbed the ointment on her burned flesh.The scar was growing worse and she knew that the household remedy she was currently using wasn't going to be able to help her in the case it became infected and that could lead to the high possibility of leaving a scar.Later that morning,after Micheal had left for work, she had rushed out of the guest room she had chosen to sleep in because of her throbbing hand.She couldn't bring herself to tell him about what his mother did to her .Only because she knew she could handle a little bit of her hatred towards her because she was going to try her hardest to try to make her like her.And she never wanted to be the cause of any sort of discomfort for him.She had ordered for some ointment off an online pharmacy and they were going to deliver it to her soon enough.Using the opportunity of waiting,she got ready for the day and decided to prepare dinner, which on this day was chicken casserole.Her mother's favourite
MICHEAL'S POV"I missed you Micheal"He swallowed.Hard, masking his internal turmoil. "What are you doing here Paulina?"he said wryly."I came back to see you again.I'm sorry about what I did.I shouldn't have left like that"she whined tracing a hand along his chest.He scoffed."You want me to seriously believe that you came here for me?After disappearing for almost two years?"he pointed out.Her mouth opened to say something but no words came out."How do you expect me to believe that?"He continued."There's no way that we're going to put things behind us and move on if you still hold your grudges"she said,wrapping her arms around his back and resting her head on his shoulder. "You have got to be kidding me.How do you expect me to believe you when you know what you've done"He dragged her arms from around him and put some distance between them."You still love me,otherwise you would have thrown me out by now"She said ignoring his distance and wrapping her arms around his back and r
ALINA'S POVWaking up that morning had been relatively quiet and peaceful,apart from the fact that Micehal had to rush out that morning without even a passing greeting even while she had called for him from the kitchen. Her belly was growing bigger and her waist line had grown thicker as she felt the weight of her baby while parading around the house in comfy sweatpants before settling on the couch.Her mother was supposed to come help her out today. And her gynecologist had said she was doing extremely well taking care of herself and the baby.She let out a frustrated sigh as a repeat episode of her favourite series came on.The house was relatively lonely and quiet on most days just like they were now.The only solace she had was either reading to her baby or watching a tv show and whenever her mother was less busy she would come over to keep her company.She smiled at the sound of the doorbell and without hesitation padded briskly towards the door without looking at the intercom, un
MICHAEL'S POV.His bag slipped and fell from his hand as he froze in shock.She had on a sly smile."What?" he asked in disbelief."You heard me." She replied, giving him a sly smile."Yes we made a baby that night you came over at my place." She explained.Micheal padded towards the living to see Alina seated in the couch flickering across the TV channels smiling distractedly.He breathed out a sigh of relief. She was out of earshot and thankfully was so engrossed in the TV program that she couldn't have heard anything that had been said a few minutes ago.His hand reached out to clutch her arm and dragged her upwards towards his study. Giving Alina a forced smile when she sent a worried glance their way.Paulina protested all the way till they were safely in his office. "Why are you acting suspiciously?" She said wryly. "It's not like she had any say to what happens in this house, you're the head of the house." She stated matter of fact."What was the meaning of the rubbish stunt
ALINA'S POVShe had been shaken up after his mother's visit. But the past three months have been quiet and distant.Micheal had seemed more distant than normal. He had chosen to spend his days at work and he was rarely at home. Even when he was home he was distant, he only spent silent hours eating and once dinner was over he was leaving without so much as a word. She wished he would at least open up and let her know what was bothering him but he was sworn to silence. Everything had relatively stayed normal except her mother visited more often.She had chosen to come to terms with the fact that Alina was pregnant and there was nothing that could be done now.She still didn't like Micheal but she was careful not to be present whenever he got back from work.She was nestled on the couch watching a rerun of the show "housewives of Johannersburg" When the knock sounded on the door.She paused the show and headed to the intercom to see who was knocking.It was a unfamiliar face.She frowne
MICHEAL'S POVA FEW DAYS BEFORE..."Paulina what are you doing here? In my bed?" He asked panicked as he looked under the covers to find that she was wearing nothing underneath.He quickly closed it,wrapping the bedsheets around him sarong style as he jumped out of the bed trying to get some distance away from her. She had on a satisfied smile and he could clearly recognize that smile from all the times they had made love in the past. He chastised himself inwardly for being unable to erase that part of his past and memory."You're the one in my bed " She clarified.His eyes darted around the room and his eyes widened in recognition."How did I get here?" He asked in disbelief."I brought you here. You needed a place to sleep because you were drunk and I couldn't let you drive home like that. So I offered to bring you to my room, and it's a small apartment, I don't have a guest room at the moment. "She stated sitting up and letting the duvet slid down her breasts without the least bit
ALINA'S POV"No! No! Please, somebody help me! Please! "She cried as she fought and scratched whenever she had the opportunity to. But she wasn't strong enough. She felt powerless and helpless. "Felix stop! Please am begging you" she pleaded, her eyes streaming down with a pool of tears. She felt her body loose all its energy as he inserted himself into her. She was numb to the pain now as he begun to move. She was at the brink of giving up when she heard a voice. His voice guiding her back."Alina, am here. No one is going to hurt you,I promise. Am here now" She heard him speak softly as he shook her slightly until the scene before her had begun to change. The disgusting smile of Felix atop her slowly disappeared and she found herself lying on the bare ground staring into nothingness.She finally opened her eyes to find Micheal's face towering over hers. His forehead were creased in worry as he stared intensely into her eyes. He gave her a warm smile and lifted her up in his arms
MICHAEL'S POVHe heard her sharp intake of breath as her shoulders slumped at his reponse. He couldn't let her see the pain in his eyes as he felt it in his heart.So masking his facial expression,he walked away leaving her sitting there still in shock over his reveleation. Once he was secluded in the confines of his room,he paced the room restlessly.He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.How could he tell her that every morning,she was the first person that he wanted to see.She was the one that kept him awake thinking about all the times they could made love and whenever he woke up he craved for her.But he couldn't let her know.His diagnosis had come back even worse.He had just returned from visiting the hospital. FLASHBACK"Am sorry man,but it looks like your health is detoriating faster.And all attempts to treat this the non-surgical way is not working."Jefferey said ,his tone turning solemn as he showed him his brain scans on the monitor."So what do I do?"He asked,unsure o
ALINA'S POV "Please turn this car around"she interjected firmly."No."He answered sternly. "What?"She grimaced in pain."Until I know for sure that that baby in your belly isn't mine,I cannot let you subject an innocent child to those terrible conditions"She gasped in surprise."Excuse me.I decide how I live and where I live.This is kidnapping!"She retorted in a pathetic attempt to reason with him.He scoffed and swerved the wheel towards the other side of the road pulling up on the gravel road leading up to the estate."Micheal,I don't want to live with you!"She cried."Well,unfortunately for you,you have no choice."he addressed,pulling up in front of his gate.Frantic and alarmed,she struggled to open the car door but it was locked."Don't be dramatic Alina.I know you're just pretending to act tough but you truly want to live in my mansion.Besides I took care of you better than any lover that you had "He commented,pressing the button that automatically pulled the gates open.She
MICHEAL'S POV"So what do you do for a living?"Michelle probed.Dinner started out quietly.After Alina had cut herself with the knife unconsciously,Her mother had taken over the kitchen and had finished up the meal instead. The meal was definitely delicious which reinforced the idea about where Alina had gotten her talent for cooking."Micheal?" he looked up to find curious glances directed at him.His smile faded quickly."Yes, ma'am"he responded."I asked you a question,what do you do?"She repeated.His spine straightened as he gave her a proud smile."I run a company ma'am"he answered. She arched a brow up at him."Is that all?she asked,Alina's hand reached out to cover hers."Mum,I think that's enough of the questions.Let's just eat and enjoy this wonderful meal that you made" She stated,staring back at her mother with pleading eyes."I haven't satisfied my curiousity yet,baby.I still have a lot of questions that you need to answer young mister"she said,pointing at him."Okay.Am
ALINA'S POV "Alina,you didn't tell me you were pregnant"She watched the horror that was evident on her mother's face."Mum..."she called trying to reach out to her but she moved away from her."Where is your wedding ring for goodness sake?!"she cried."In all this time that I've been here,I haven't seen even a single photo of the both of you.Did you lie to me Alina?"She directed,her eyes were tear-glazed.She opened her mouth to speak but no words came through.She didn't know what she would say.She didn't know how she was going to explain her dynamic with Micheal or tell her how she had been raped while under her husband's roof.Her mother had just come back from the hospital,so she knew that now wasn't the right time to explain everything to her."Alina,why didn't you tell me?"she questioned She plastered on a fake smile she had rehearsed over the years ."Mum,everything is fine"she assured."Micheal loves me and I love him.We're happy together and he takes good care of me.Yes, I a