MICHAEL'S POV "What?"he asked in disbelief,his hand fisted on his laps in guilt. "Yes am calling your bluff."she answered settling back on her seat. "What are you saying?" She raised her hand to signal a waiter.A scrawny looking man clad in a black shirt with a white apron tied around his waist came running with a checkerboard and a pen in hand .He gave Michael a nod before turning to Paulina who looked like she was perfectly in her element with a smug smile playing on her lips. "Yes Ma'am?" The witer said as he raised his pen to his writing pad with his hands fidgeting as he compressed the ballpoint end to release the pen.He struggled for so long,it was pitiful.She gave him a knowing smile and reached for the pad and scribbled on for a few minutes before handing it back to the waiter who scampered out of there like one who was been chased. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at her. "Is there something going on?"He asked out of curiousity. She cleared her throat and stoo
ALINA'S POV The conversation had ran a bit longer before it ended with them promising to talk often over the phone whenever they could. It elevated her mood throughout the whole day and she couldn't wait to let Micheal know. So she had waited up for him to come in but he never did. She had woken up to an ache in her neck due to her sleeping position on the couch overlooking the entrance to the living room. And had checked the time on the clock before heading back upstairs to sleep in their room, hoping to see him when he got back the next morning. She awoke to see that the area beside her on the bed was still untouched.She wiped at her eyes to clear the fog of sleep and stared around the room in search of him,hoping to catch him coming out of the shower like he did on most mornings whenever he had slept in his home office but he was nowhere to be found.It was still.The quiet room mocked her.She dragged her feet out from under the covers and trudged downstairs downcast. She
MICHAEL'S POV "Micheal it was your mother" "What?"He asked with a confused frown. She stood on her hip,folding her arms to arch a brow at him. "That's not possible"he said letting out an awkward laugh. "Its possible Michael.It happened when you had collapsed that night.After we got home that morning.When we had gone into the kitchen to prepare something for you to have when you came to.She had clearly used that moment to delvuge to me that she would never let our marriage last.And in not so kind terms told me that I was a gold digger, out to get your money and that she wasn't going to let me have my way."she narrated,recalling every moment of the converstaion. His lips pursed as he stood in silence for a few minutes. "How could you accuse my mother for doing something so ghastly as to burn you?" He said with a deathly stare.She let out a resigned sigh because she knew the outcome that she had definitely expected.She was hurt that he didn't take her side but she unders
ALINA'S POV FLASHBACK "Papa!"she came bounding straight at him. Her father released that deep rich baritone laughter that always seemed to reverberate through her whenever he laughed. He had just returned from working all day at a nearby high school as the janitor.At the time,she didn't know what her family status was.She had just been satisfied staying cocooned in her father and mother and soon to be baby brother or sister lives. The days had been merged to one of longing,where her father had gone to work and only came back late at nights when she was asleep before he went back out again in the morning just before she woke up. she had not seen her father in weeks,so on that day she had stationed her teddy bear and gotten a comfy spot on one end of the beat down couch that they had gotten from a yard sale just before her mother had become pregnant and had stayed up all night only to see that her father didn't come home that night.Late nights were normal in her household and
MICHEAL'S POVWhen Jeffery was pulled into the confines of his office, he would have to explain to his best friend why he was still keeping his wife in the dark about his illness.So here he was breaking out in a cold sweat as he thought of how exactly to respond to his question."Micheal?"He called."Jeff, I haven't told her yet" he replied hesitantly. Jeff's hands slammed on the table as he leaned forward abruptly. He sat there unmoving."Why would you do that, Micheal we talked about this. What are you going to do when the signs start showing man? Don't you think she has a right to know about your condition?" he queried."I can't man.No matter how hard I try to, I just can't think of doing it. Just today she thought of leaving me because I didn't believe her claim that my mother had burned her."He defended.Jeff reclined on his chair and arched a brow up at him."Are you serious?"He asked in disbelief. "I know right, why would she even go to such lengths, I know my mum doesn't li
ALINA'S POV When she had woken up, she had found herself surrounded by the four walls of beautifully decorated room filled with flowers. She had raised her arm to put across her eyes as she waited for the wave of headache to pass. She had heard the door open before hearing the voices. His voice stood out the most among the voices. "Oh good she's awake" She heard the familiar voice of the doctor followed by his footsteps. He pulled her arm down and did his examination forcing her to look up at Micheal who stood rigidly behind him. She looked away when he caught her staring up at him. "You're fit as a fiddle "The doctor spoke up oblivious of the tension that was thick in the air. "I'll just have the nurses prepare your discharge papers. Just make sure you take good care of your wife Mr Wheeler" He said and walked away leaving the both of them alone. The silence was deafening. "Am sorry Alina" He spoke first. She turned hesitantly to face him now. She saw the pained expressio
MICHAEL'S POV He was sitting in his office when his assistant Donald, came rushing into his office in a frantic panic. He stood in front of him painting profusely."What is it Donald?" he asked, his face wrinkled in a frown.He rounded the table and came up with his tablet in hand. He flipped open his screen, and with a few clicks, revealed a news article with his name on it."BUSINESS MOGUL AND BILLIONAIRE, MICHAEL WHEELER CAUGHT INTERLOCKED IN A PASSIONATE EMBRACE IN A PUBLIC RESTAURANT WITH A MYSTERY WOMAN WHO ISN'THIS WIFE.""What reporter posted this?" he asked, slamming his palms onto the desk causing the objects on the desk to rattle due to the force. Donald took a step back in fear."Get information on who posted that article and fast I need it immediately," he ordered.Donald hurried along towards the door but was stopped when Micheal called out for him."And Donald, don't forget to block all the channels that this media could have leaked." he cautioned.Donald nodded in affi
ALINA'S POVEver since Micheal had hired a maid and a chef, she had become so idle and restless. All she did in the house all day now was lounge around until Micheal came home where they would have dinner and talk about his life and seek her advice or her opinion on a matter that was bothering him related to work.She was growing tired of this new routine and dynamic and had woken up extra early that day to clean the house before everyone woke up. She had tiptoed out of bed in the wee hours of the morning, making sure to confirm that the house was eerily quiet before making her way down the stairs to the laundry room where she rallied her mop bucket and cleaning detergents to get to cleaning."What are you doing this late, Alina?"She jerked which caused her grip on the bucket to loosen causing the bucket to fall with a loud clang onto the floor."You startled me!" she cried placing a hand over her chest to still her heart."You're the one sneaking around the house trying to clean at
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