EDWARD I had slept in with my thoughts and the discomfort in my pants. It was a new day and I needed to make it count. I made myself a cup of coffee and took out my MacBook to work. I opened my email to check out the proposal Steven had sent to me. It's about redeveloping a fraction, Old Musty, with unmodernised houses, and the eviction notice has been sent out, and the compensation fee for the family is waiting for me to approve it. This was a big project I had to achieve so my father could see that I could have Dan Realty in my name. Even Anderson had tried to get this project but could not. I had to no matter what. Yes, I've tied the knot, but knowing my dad, he wouldn't just hand over the company, so I had to prove myself. Once I've finished redeveloping this section, he'll have no choice but to entrust not only Dan Realty but all the others to me. I reviewed the blueprint of the site and highlighted areas that needed adjustments and redesigns. Then, Stevens' message popped u
STEPHANIE It's been a day and a half, and I haven't heard from Edward or even bothered to see him. I didn't know if he left already or was in his room. And I didn't go out either, I just stayed in and caught up on my favourite series on TV. I was all set to enjoy myself alone, even if he didn't want to, but somehow, he had managed to kill my enthusiasm. Now, all I feel like doing is eating junk food and snacking endlessly.A part of me was expecting an apology message from him, but I know that even in my next life Edward would never send an apology message to me. Olivia and my mom were so curious about our honeymoon, and I had to lie that something urgent at work occurred, and it needed Edwards' time. So he's been quite busy but promised to make it up to me. It worked, no one bothered asking too many questions. My phone beside me on the bed dinged, and Edward's message popped up.‘By 7 pm tomorrow I'll be returning to the house. Since you don't want to leave I'll send my driver to
I took a shower in my room, dressed in a silk night dress, before looking for Edward's room. I've never bothered to know where it was because the house was massive. Plus no one offered to give me a tour. I knew he always took a turn after a very large glass picture frame hanging down. I did find a door. It must be his room because that was the only one there. I knocked slightly and heard no response. I turned the handle and walked in. It was an astonishing sight. It was a large space that could be two of my whole house put together. It smelt of Luxury because I could see a diffuser on a stand emanating a Tuscan scent. The lounge area was arranged with sofas which the quality Italian leather could be sighted from after. A large bed stood by the side adorned with crisp white sheets and silk pillows. Large canvas and picture frames hung on the wall. It was beautiful. I couldn't help but look around the crystal chandelier raining down its light on me. I searched everywhere but could
STEPHANIE I woke up to the scent of musk and Leather oud drifting into my nose. As I tried to figure out where I was, I noticed Edward was already dressed for work. He had on black trousers and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his veiny arms. I could still make out his firm torso through the shirt. I had no idea when he even got up. I need to sort out my sleep schedule. It was his cologne that had filled the room and fogged my mind.He glanced at me while adjusting his watch, catching me staring, and I awkwardly sat up. "You don't need to go to work today. I don't want to see you," he said, turning away. "Find something else to do." He seemed so angry, which was odd because even though he rarely smiles, he usually just looks manipulative, not angry. Did I mess up last night?“Why don't you want me at work?” I asked.He didn't look up. “Stay home or come to work, you'll be paid otherwise. So why bother?” He walked to the bedside picking up his MacBook. “I've spoke
STEPHANIE I felt a mix of worry and anger after hanging up with my Mom. I couldn't wrap my head around why Edward, of all people, would want to redevelop my town. He's visited before, so what sparked this idea? We had already fought against Alexander, and now this? It left me feeling unsettled. I'll have a word with him when he's back, maybe he forgot that it's my home. I tried to calm my nerves, by convincing myself that he wasn't aware. I'll approach him calmly, and I'm sure he'll reconsider the development.Feeling hungry now, I wandered down to the kitchen and found the chef, Martine, who stood up as soon as he saw me. He was a plump French cook, and from what I've tasted, he was excellent at his job."What would you like, Mrs Dan?" he asked, which felt odd since no one had ever asked me what I wanted before, I was usually the one doing the serving.I grinned, "Just call me Stephanie," and glanced around the spacious kitchen. "I want some pasta, but I'd like to make it myself.
STEPHANIE I heard Edward return and waited patiently in my room until it was quite late, so I could meet him in the room and tell him about the plans to demolish my town.When I entered, I saw him by the lounge area on a call. It seemed like a business call, so I sat quietly on the bed until he finished. As soon as he noticed me, he wrapped up the call and slipped the phone into his pocket, facing the open French window with his back to me.I got up and walked over to him. I didn't want to start with anything awkward like, how's your day? How's work? So I said, “I got a call from my mom today, and she told me that she, along with everyone else in Old Musty, received an eviction notice from Dan Realty.”I studied him and he didn't move a muscle. “Is that true?”“You should believe your mother more, don't you?” he didn't turn.“But why?” I asked, moving closer to him. “Those people at Old Musty struggled to build their home. My Dad struggled to build that house when I was a child” “Tha
STEPHANIE I left Edwards' room and went back to mine. There was no way I was going to share a bed with someone who had insulted me and my family. I was so upset that I couldn't even put it into words. Usually, only my Mom could comfort me, but I decided not to stress her and rang Olivia, and she answered straight away, immediately noticing how upset I was.“Girl, what's wrong?” She asked immediately.I needed to tell someone so I could feel better. So I told her about the redevelopment and Edward's offer.“Tell me you're taking it?” she asked.“How could I? Those people suffered to build those houses” “He offered your family a new house, a compensation f*e and you five per cent of every profit made in Old Musty. Girl, are you out of your mind?”“Money can't buy me”, I said, feeling slightly offended by her words. “It better do it because that's you being rich and independent. No more hustle”“That's not the point of me telling you this, Olivia” I needed her to tell me I was right,
STEPHANIE It wasn't long before everyone in Old Musty agreed to relocate. Edward kept his word and secured a house for my parents in my dad's name in a city area I could never have imagined living in, not even in another lifetime.My dad was under the care of a renowned doctor and was getting stronger. They were getting him ready for the heart transplant.I couldn't hide my happiness, but I kept it to myself. I didn't see much of Edward. He was always busy, coming home late when I was already asleep and leaving early in the morning. I liked the distance between us. It made the time fly by, bringing me closer to going back home with my family.I had just tucked Anna in and wished Rose and Emma goodnight when my phone rang—it was Aisha. I answered and was immediately met with a rhythm in the background.“Hii Stephanie” I heard her voice piped up. “We are having a party and your husband whom I asked to bring you along came alone” “Oh, I told him I was busy”, I lied. I was getting used
STEPHANIE I was so caught up in Edward being in the room, that I failed to notice that Maison had pulled up his pants and brought out a knife directing it to my neck. He pulled my hair, and I got up, standing before him, the knife sitting on the crook of my neck. The police pointed a gun at him and he settled the knife into my neck more. “If you move, I'll kill her”, he shouted, pulling me to the door. Everyone moved aside, they didn't want to do anything and have him stab me.I was crying now, I was happy that at least I got to see Edwards's face one last time before maybe I died. It was good to know that people care about me. I stared at Edward, worry and fear were all over him. I cannot believe he had come this far to rescue me. Now there was nothing to make me doubt his love for me. Maison pulled me out of the door, halfway through the hallway, before pushing me away. He ran and the police went after him. I stood there crying and Edward walked up to me, embracing me immediate
STEPHANIE Maison met me curled up on the living room sofa when he came down in the morning. I couldn't find a way to escape and I couldn't sleep, I just lay there till morning. I was lost in thoughts but his cold fingers brought me back to reality. He placed his hands on my thigh “What are you doing down here?” He asked me. “Came down yesterday begging for an escape” the lady with the dark hair I met last night said. She laughed “She didn't know that there's no way out” I stared at Maison. He wasn't drunk anymore. He sat down beside me. His voice was gentle. “How long am I going to keep begging you to stay with me” I wasn't one to answer that question, so I got on my feet and wanted to walk away, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me down into him. “You don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you”, he said as I struggled to break free; I was sitting on his legs now. When I had gotten exhausted and decided to stay put, he used that opportunity to begin to touch me. “You shoul
EDWARD We tracked the phone and went back to the house we first went in search of Maison. We met a young boy this time. Sam asked to go in and we sat with him. “We traced a call from three days ago to this place” Sam looked at his hand, “It's this phone you're having now. Tell me why did you call the lady that day?” he began questioning the boy. “I did not,” The boy said turning away. “You called her before the accident and said nothing, just misplaced words” “I did nothing” he repeated. I just watched them. If Sam cannot get something out of this kid, I'll have to strangle him and get something from him myself. “It is your voice kid” Sam took out a recorder and played the recorded voice note. “Are you still going to deny it?” He kept quiet. I was exhausted “Hey how old are you?” I asked him and he answered.“I just turned eighteen” “Then I hope you know that if you are checked and by chance have anything to do with the disappearance of that young lady you'll no longer go to
STEPHANIE Maison didn't mind my screams and cries. He was after pleasuring himself. He took off my underwear and opened my legs. He held me in a place and I could not move. He took off his shirt and unbuckled his belt, revealing his dick, which was all up and red burning with desire. “Maison, please don't do this”, I begged, but the look in his eyes showed that he was not willing to let go of me. “I'm hurt” I mumbled. He was leaning into me, and I shut my eyes, trying to subdue the pain I was about to feel.But instead, I felt his grip on me reduced, and his weight on me lifted. I opened my eyes slowly. He had gotten up and adjusted his trousers. I quickly got up and dressed myself too. He picked up his shirt without turning back, and he left. I was grateful he didn't rape me, at least he has a conscience. I got up and dressed properly. For a moment I thought he was going to have sex with me. I would have really counted him a monster truly if he did. He had been obsessed with me,
STEPHANIE I had no appetite, looking at the varieties Maison displayed on the table. The pain had reduced and the bleeding too. I laid in bed and began to feel uncomfortable. I got up and sat on the floor. It was night with no sign of a way to escape or anyone looking for me. I was starving and very weak. I looked at the table filled with food. Maison had brought food and clothes earlier. I knew I needed food for strength, but I didn't have the appetite to eat. I got up and sat by the table.I heard key sounds behind the door, and soon, the door was opened, Maison appeared in the doorway, looking intimidating. He sat in front of me, watching me. “You know you don't have to be locked in here for long, all you have to do is marry me and divorce your husband” “Where did you learn to become a monster, Maison? I once loved you, you were a caring guy with a good heart. Even when I found out you were in a gang, I didn't leave you because you were the best man I had been with, but then you
EDWARD I sat in front of the police detective who was asking me diverse questions about Stephanie. They found her car, crashed without a sign of her in it. She had an accident, but what happened after? I almost cried when I got a sighting of the vehicle. The night she went missing passed by quickly without me catching a glimpse of sleep or rest. We had contacted all hospitals by that side in case she was admitted to a hospital but none took in a victim of an accident. Her mother had run over to my place, struck with worry, I assured her that I'd look for Stephanie. We didn't gain any good news that night, all security footage didn't capture that particular place where she had an accident. My thoughts ran to Maison, but I didn't want to believe he had anything to do with Stephanie yet. Emma was asked a few questions and she told the detective that Stephanie had been going to her parents sometimes and coming back before I returned. She had left yesterday, saying she would come back
STEPHANIE I bled till morning earning just a tossed sanitary pad and towel from Maison. Was I really pregnant for Edward, or was it just an early period? Thinking about it, I wasn't sure I had my period last month, I didn't track it, and I was always having unprotected sex with Edward. The pain was unbearable but I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have my phone with me or anything. After cleaning myself up, I lay on the bed twirling in pain. I was hurt. If I knew I had Edward's child, I would have done anything to keep it. I felt bad that I didn't even know I was pregnant. How can a woman not know she's with a child? I felt weak because I'd lost lots of blood, I had become pale and sickly. The sun had come up properly, when I saw the door open and Maison walked in. He stared at me for a moment before saying, “A doctor is here for you, you'll be fine in minutes” Immediately, what came across my mind was to tell the doctor that I had been kidnapped and he should help, but t
STEPHANIE Edward didn't like the name Maison or the statement that came after. “What?” he asked, fury already lingering in his eyes. I regret telling him. “When we were in the water park for a moment we couldn't find Anna, I wanted to call you but I found her with Maison behind an ice cream shop” “What?” Edward sprang to his feet, picking up his phone, and I followed. He was dialing a number. He was calling the cops. “He didn't hurt her, I swear” “But this is a threat, it's high time I get this over and done with.” He was frustrated, running his fingers through his hair. “What the fuck does he want from me?”“It is me,” I said quietly. “He said I should have a divorce and come back to him or he'll make my life miserable. “Why didn't you tell me this?” “Because it's my fault, it's my problem, I was the one who dated him. I didn't want to drag you into this” “You're my wife, Stephanie, we fucking shared a vow”, his voice rumbled. “Under a contract,” I said. I needed to know wh
STEPHANIE I was afraid. I had looked around for her, everywhere a kid could be. I met with the authorities, and everyone began to look for Anna. I felt like crying because I didn't know what to do. What would Edward say? How would he react to hearing his daughter was missing? The first time I had a day out with her and this happened? My skin was covered in goosebumps, shivering from fear. Poor Anna must be so scared.The authorities were not making any progress in finding her, so I picked up my phone to call the police and Edward when I remembered that we hadn't checked the ice cream shop area. I knew that Anna wasn't a child to wander off like that because of something she likes but never say never. I ran to the stall to find a young ice cream man. “Please sir have you seen a child about this tall” I gestured with my hand “Petite and dark hair” he stared at me as if trying to remember, “She's wearing pink and blue swimwear”“Oh I saw her leave with her dad after getting strawberr