MICHEAL'S POV He grimaced at the images laid out in front of him.There were pictures of Alina walking to work,working at a club and then there were pictures of her beat-up apartment. The building looked dilapidated and for a good few minutes he had felt guilty for letting her go.He had assumed that she would have been overjoyed by the lump sum of money he had given her for the divorce agreement."Sir would you like to go see her?"He looked up to see the expectant face of his assistant Donald,who had been standing there for a while."I just need to talk about her lover and the mess she had put me in "All throughout that week since the news had hit the streets,all newspaper publications have been obsessed with getting details about their divorce and her whereabouts.They swarm around him like vultures waiting for their next meal.He had been hounded on his way to work that morning and was on the verge of shutting down whatever news company the stalker was from but had thought against
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
MICHAEL'S POVFOUR DAYS EARLIER..."Alina,We need to talk"He stated firmly as he walked down the stairs catching her parading around the house in a loose hoodie and sweatpants holding a tray of cookies and milk in her hand, she was holding them unceremoniously heading to the direction of the living room.She stopped in her tracks wide-eyed like a kid that had been caught doing something naughty."Okay?"She answered skeptically with a bite of cookie in her mouth.He arched a brow up at her amused but followed her into the living room where she dropped the tray she had been holding in her hand.She flopped down unladylike on the couch and turned to face him.He folded his arms across his chest muscles as he regarded her from underneath his narrowed eyes.He had no clue how she could be so relaxed in this situation where they had found themselves."We couldn't talk about the ...pregnancy last time because we were both not in the right headspace to have a civilized conversation."He started
ALINA'S POVHearing the words that Micheal had said to her had shattered her.Her thoughts replayed their conversation over and over as she laid splayed in the couch after overdosing on milk and cookies to soothe herself.Her hand absently moved to her belly and rubbed,her heart filled with warmth at the thought of having someone who would always love her and she would never be a burden to.Her cheeks stained with tears as she smiled wistfully at the fascination that there was a little life growing inside of her.A mini her or a mini Micheal.Her smile quickly faded at the doubtful look in his eyes as she narrated what happened that night ...FLASHBACKShe paced the length of the living room waiting for Micheal,he was later than usual and the last time that happened he had collapsed and she had gotten burns.She felt goosebumps crept up her skin at the thought of having his family blame her for Micheal predicament.She breathed out a sigh of relief as she looked towards the door and in wa
MICHAEL'S POV How could this happen?why would this sort of situation come at this moment?"he said as he rubbed away the ebbings of a headache.He was seated across from his best friend,Jefferey who was sitting patiently. A waiter came up to them with a menu and a smile on her face.She winked at him just before she left,his face scrunched up in disgust. He had found himself revolted by women who tried to hit on married men.His hand instinctively reached for his ring finger to find it empty.His expression turned solemn.Jefferey arched a brow up at him with an amused smile playing on his lips."Look man,there is no way to know that she is indeed carrying your child or not.But I think what you should do is to ride the wave"he advised leaning closer with his arms placed on the desk.He frowned up in confusion."What do you mean?"he asked.Jeffery leaned back to his seat with a wry smile."Micheal,when it comes to love,I'll say you're one of the most clueless human beings on the planet a
ALINA'S POV As she waited patiently for Micheal to arrive after calling in to alert her about having a visitor. At first she had been perplexed that he had called her to let her know about the visitor.He never did that before, even before their divorce. It was so uncharacteristic of him but it was appreciated.A huge smile brightened her face as she recalled their phone converstion. FLASHBACK"How are you doing?"he asked ."Am okay"she replied.An awkward silence ensued. "Have you had lunch?"he asked breaking the silence."Yes I have.I just had some chicken salad.Would you like some.There is plenty left over,I could preheat it for you..."she offered."...No,no...there's no need,thank you.Am not going to be back until later.So I just need you to rest."he replied."Okay."she said,a little disappointed."And there would be a visitor coming over today,please do well to make her feel comfortable and show her to the guest room so that she can settle in quite nicely."he said.She frowned
MICHAEL'S POV "I'm okay"he said weakly as he saw the tears stream down her cheeks. Her eyes roamed around his body searching for injuries. "Are you sure?"she asked skeptically. They turned when they heard a scream from behind them.It was Felix who was nursing the bullet wound on his shoulder. The officers escorated him out of the room after Micheal had given them strict instructions. Once they were alone again,he tried to think of something.Anything tangible to say but it seemed that nothing came to mind.He couldn't believe how harsh he had been.He hadn't even listened to her side of the story. He had just thrown her out of his house without so much as a dime and had let his mother influence his decision. He stared down at her remorseful now but she was focused on the couch.Her eyes roamed around the room in search of something. "Are you looking for something?he asked. "She nodded. "Its nothing to worry about"she stated,waving her hand dismissively. Reluctantly,h
ALINA'S POVEver since that day,Michael's demeanor and behaviour around her had changed.It was like he had been remorseful about what he had done and was trying to make up for it but she wasn't letting him.She was too hurt to believe that he had changed. She knew that something worse could come along and he would change again.She didn't trust him. Once burned twice shy.That is what she believed.She was still deep in her thoughts when the knock on the door sounded jerking her out of her reverie.She glanced towards the door skeptically after what had happened yesterday she had been traumatized.She walked slowly over to the intercom as the door bell rang repeatedly."Who is it?"she asked as soon as she clicked the button."It's me"the voice stated.Sh paused.Her heart rammed in her chest.Was her mind playing tricks on her.How was it possible.She pressed the visual on the camera button and it confirmed her suspicion.It was her mother standing there looking so different from what she
ALINA'S POVWhen she opened her eyes she felt her eyes sting at the brightness of the over head light. She raised a hand to shield her eyes."Alina" She heard Micheal whisper breathlessly.He let out a sigh of relief.She turned to see her mother and her fiance on the couch seated, holding hands with worried looks on their faces. Her hand instincitivley came up to her belly. "The baby is doing okay" he told her, reading her mind. He gave her a wide smile."My beautiful daughter,how are you feeling?" her mother said, sniffing.She was by her side in an instant."Water" She croaked out.She stretched to get her a glass which she drank generously like she had been in a desert."Mum, what are you doing here?" She asked once she was satisfied."Don't you want me here?" Her mother questioned."No, no, that's not the reason. I just thought that you shouldn't have been so worried " She said weakly."I almost didn't. I came to your house and found that it was empty. I had to call Micheal who
ALINA'S POV"Ma'am, don't you want to see Micheal? he has been downstairs all night waiting to talk to you" Martha said as she walked in holding a tray of breakfast for her.She took the tray from her, forcing a smile."Thank you Martha, that will be all." She said dismissively.Martha stood for a few more seconds, about to say something but reluctantly walked away without saying a word.She let out a tired sigh as soon as the door shut behind Martha. She buried her face in her palms and cried like she had done all night. She felt the embalming of a headache reminding her of last night's cry.Her mind wandered to the confident way the woman, Paulina had told her about the baby.***FLASHBACK***"You can't be serious" She chuckled."Do I look like am joking?" Paulina said, sneering back at her."That can't be. When did this happen?" She questioned.Paulina puffed her chest,digging into her purse with a triumphant smile playing on her lips. Almost as if, she had been waiting to hear tha
MICHAEL'S POVWhen he returned home that day he was extremely tired. He dragged his feet across the flight of stairs with a backward glance at the clock to see it read 10:09am.He paused in his tracks.It was too eerily quiet.He frowned in confusion. It was never this quiet. Usually, whenever he got back she was always perched on the couch munching on whatever she craved at that moment.He spun around at the foot of the stairs, his eyes darting around the room in search of anything, even though he didn't know what exactly to be looking for . Right on cue, Martha walked in from the kitchen pantry holding a bowl of chips and guacamole decorated beautifully in a flower patterned tray. "Hello sir "She greeted with a sad smile on her face as she hurriedly walked past him .His frown deepened.His arms stretched out reaching out to still her actions."Are those for Alina?" He asked.She stared up at him questionably for a while before nodding in response.His eyes widened in fear."Is som
MICHAEL'S POV"What happened?!"He shouted."I have no idea! One minute she was with me,trying to start a fight with me.Mind you,she insulted me. And the next thing I know,She's on the floor." She stated."That's not possible mum!" He retorted."It cannot be just an accident! And who the hell is this woman?!" He shouted."She was just helping me out when Alina was busy insulting me.She was defending my honour. We should be grateful to her son. Come on,say Hi to her."His mother urged.He glared straight at the blushing woman and looked away as soon as she smiled shyly at him."Mum please leave "He instructed.His mother gasped in disbelief."What? Why?!" She cried."Is it because of that thing?"She said with her face scrunched up in a wealth of disgust, pointing in the direction of the emergency room behind her.Micheal paced the length of the waiting room, taking deep breaths as he turned to still his laboured breathing."Son, you cannot possibly be worried. After all ,the baby isn't y
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