Liam had made it to the hospital just in time. Jovie had already been through her check-up and was then resting in a ward.Celena, upon hearing the news, had left everything at work and rushed to the hospital. She burst into the ward, breathless, and the sight of Jovie, safe and sound, laughing and horsing around with Liam, melted her worries away.Liam stood up awkwardly, caught off guard by Celena's sudden appearance. He looked regretful as he stammered, "Celena, I'm so sorry... I took Jovie to the amusement park this afternoon, and a kidnapper snatched her... However, thank goodness, with the police's help, we got her back..."Slap!Celena's hand struck Liam's cheek with a resounding smack. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she gasped for air, her voice thundering, "Liam! Is this your idea of keeping Jovie safe? Did you even consider what would've happened if we hadn't found her? What if the kidnappers had... I swear, if anything had happened to Jovie, I'd never forgive you. Not
In the next instant, Liam and Celena turned to face each other at the same time and said,"You..." "You..."They both burst into laughter. Liam gestured for her to speak first. "Go ahead."Celena was not one for drama. She straightened the little blanket on Jovie and then faced Liam, her expression etched with worry. "Do you really have the Hughes family mess under control? Trevyn's big celebration is just three days away, and they won't go easy on you. If there's no way out, you should take my advice to get out of Drunham City and stay under the radar for a while..."Liam's lips curled into a knowing smile as he caught her concerned look. "Celena, is this you worrying about me?"Hearing Liam's response, Celena could not help but roll her eyes at him again, pretending to be miffed. "Get over yourself, Liam. Who said I was worried about you? You're reading way too much into this. It's Jovie I'm concerned about. She's so attached to you. If anything were to happen, she'd be devast
After bidding Celena farewell with a tender kiss on her forehead, Liam moved to Jovie's bedside, brushed her forehead with a soft touch, and then strode out of the hospital room.Outside, a military Jeep was already idling, ready for departure. Liam hopped in and drove off from Drunham City without looking back.No sooner had Liam disappeared than the Yafe family showed up at the hospital's front steps.Sherah, ever observant, caught a glimpse of the departing Jeep and, with a puzzled expression, whispered to herself, "Did anyone else see that? The guy in the back of that Jeep looks a lot like Liam, didn't he?"Hearing her, Yafe halted and turned to stare at the receding vehicle, its special license plate shrinking in the distance. He shook his head, dismissing the idea, "What are you on about? There is no way Liam is on a military ride."Cheryl and her brother Qemal also glanced at the fading Jeep. Cheryl's face twisted into a sneer as she scoffed, "As if he'd ever be in there. T
Sherah's words grew more fervent, her finger tapping insistently on Celena's forehead as if trying to snap her out of a trance.Yafe looked equally distressed and asked, "Are you serious? Liam said he needed to leave Drunham City for a couple of days?"Celena nodded silently, her face growing somber. She had been so sure of Liam's statement, convinced he just had to take care of something for a short while. However, Sherah's outburst shook her, and doubt began to creep in.Was Liam really lying to her?Had he truly abandoned her and Jovie, just taken off without a backward glance?Celena felt torn, her mind a battleground where two voices fought for dominance. One voice reassured her, insisting that Liam was true to his word. He would not just leave her and Jovie behind, not after promising to cherish and protect them.Yet, a nagging voice taunted her, 'Wake up, Celena. Liam's played you for a fool. Men's vows are as flimsy as paper. It's too convenient, isn't it? Right when the
Sherah lost it again when she heard that, her voice rising in fury. "Why even care about them? You all thought Liam was Mr. Perfect, and now what? He ditched them and bolted. I warned her not to marry that deadbeat Liam, to give up being a rich lady for a nobody. Look, at the first sign of trouble, he's out. Serves her right. She's got no one else to blame!"Each of Sherah's barbs cut deeper than the last, and Celena felt her resolve shake. She was not scared for herself; it was Jovie who worried her; she was so young and vulnerable.Celena replayed Liam's last words, and the look on his face over in her mind, her heart aching with doubt. 'Liam, could you really have lied to me, leaving me and our daughter all alone?'Suddenly, the hospital room door was kicked open with a crash!A squad of battle-ready soldiers, armed to the teeth and faces set in grim determination, charged in, leaving everyone inside momentarily frozen in shock.Yafe was the quickest to snap out of it. He stepp
Sherah's fear escalated with every word until she was overwhelmed, bursting into tears and refusing to take another step.Qemal, too, was a picture of panic, inching toward Sherah as he sobbed, "Mom, help me, please! They can't take me away! Ahhh! Go after Liam, leave us alone; we've done nothing wrong!"Yafe, bombarded by the wails of his wife and child, was at his wit's end, unable to focus and devise a plan. With a scowl, he snapped at the weeping pair, "Enough with the crying!"Then, turning his fiery gaze to Celena, Yafe's anger boiled over. "Celena, this is what you wanted, right? We're all caught up in Liam's mess, suffering because of you. He's ditched you and run off, and you're still defending him!"Celena stood there, shell-shocked, at a loss for words, just being herded by the soldiers out of the ward.The family, looking nothing like criminals, was marched by soldiers from their hospital room to the entrance, drawing curious and concerned looks from onlookers."What
After her declaration, madness danced across Brianna's features. She had waited so long for that moment. That damn Liam, to think he would side with Celena over her! She was going to make sure Celena suffered, and Liam would rue the day he ever crossed her.Celena faced Brianna, defiance etched in her stance, her eyes a frosty challenge. "Do what you want with me, Brianna. I won't complain. However, my family and my daughter are innocent. If there's a shred of decency in you, you'll let them be."Sherah, desperate, fell to her knees, her voice breaking as she begged, "Please, Ms. Hughes, have mercy on us. We've done nothing wrong. Liam's the one you're angry with, not us. Take it up with him and Celena, but leave us out of it!"Sherah's plea to Brianna was devoid of any pride, and Qemal quickly followed suit, bending over with a sycophantic grin. "Ms. Hughes, have mercy on us. This mess is all Liam's doing. It has nothing to do with us. We're innocent. Go after Liam and Celena, but
Qemal backed her up, "Right! What's there to think about, Celena? Get on with the apology to Ms. Hughes. I sure don't want to die because of Liam's blunder. Don't let it hit me too!"Cheryl, silent until then, glared at Celena with venom in her eyes, her voice piercing as she spat out, "Celena!! You lowlife! Bow down and apologize, now!"Celena's heart was heavy with humiliation and a deep sense of injustice as she faced her family's harsh criticism. She glanced at her daughter Jovie, who was sobbing uncontrollably. With tears in her eyes, she mustered the courage to confront Brianna. "If I apologize to you and bow down, will you really let my family and my little girl go?" she pleaded."Yes," Brianna replied with a frigid, dismissive snort.With a heavy heart, Celena bit her lip and knelt before Brianna, swallowing her pride as she wept. "Ms. Hughes, I'm sorry. Please, I'm begging you, let my daughter and my family be. I'll take the blame for everything."Brianna's response was a