RYKER"Love..."Claire has been strangely quiet ever since we left our home. She hasn't said a single word, as if the vastness of the world outside has swallowed her voice. The once lively and animated person has now retired into herself, leaving an eerie void. I let go of the situation because I thought that maybe her long-lasting sadness had made her do what she did. I used the harmonious art of music to fill the silence inside the car by carefully arranging melodic notes. This took away any discomfort that might have come from the silence. As we arrived at her parent's house, they were shocked because our entrance had caught them by surprise and left them unprepared. Claire was talking to her parents when I suddenly had to call her immediately. At that very moment, she turned towards me, and I quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from her parents."What do you want me to buy for them as a gift?" I asked. Claire had her eyes on me. "What gives you that look? I want to retur
CLAIRE"H-Heiji…"The words I heard on the phone seemed to have a strange ability to make me feel a deep sense of pain. It felt like an unseen force had touched my heart and crushed it brutally under its weight. I put a shaking hand on my chest and tried hard to stop the tears threatening to come out. When I realized that Ryker's feelings for me were gone for good, I felt unbearable pain because I could no longer hold on to hope. The soft creak of the door reached my ears and drew my attention to the room where Ryker and Alice were sitting. But it wasn't the usual sound of a man's voice that caught my attention. Instead, the soft rhythm of a woman's voice filled the air. In time, I could feel Heiji's hand lightly touching my shoulders."Claire… I will take you home."I didn't say no to what Heiji said. I, too, longed to leave that terrible place. As Heiji and I strolled to the parking lot, his strong arm comforted me and helped me keep my balance. As soon as I got into the car, I was
RYKER"Be careful."I gently put my arms around Claire's shoulders to support her as I led her to the car. I correctly told my in-laws that I planned to take Claire back to our home. People there were only aware of the disagreement between my wife and me; they were still sure that Claire was sick, so they let us leave for home.At some point during the trip, Claire calmed down. She leaned back against the soft backrest of her seat and kept her face straight. Deep in thought, she looked out the window with her hand carefully placed on her lips."Love, let's talk..."Claire didn't say anything and kept her eyes on the world outside the window. Despite turning her body around, she didn't even look at me for a second."Whatever the issue is, let's discuss it to understand and clarify each other. Not this way." I spoke confidently, and my voice echoed like a beautiful symphony. "You can't just end our relationship.""I need some space. I want to breathe." Without so much as a glance in my
RYKER"She's not here. Weren't you two together last night?"When I got to my in-laws' house, I was quickly pulled into the job of finding my wife. As expected, she was not there. Maybe, deep down, she knew that my persistent chase would eventually lead me to her parents' house."Yes, Mom," I replied, my voice tinged with melancholy. "She left without telling me. She was gone when I woke up.""Perhaps she's at Russell's house.""Maybe she'll just leave for a while. Why did you not call your house? She might already be there."I took a deep breath and gathered the courage to pull my phone out of my pocket. Without delay, I quickly picked up the phone and called one of my maids. She answered my call immediately, and I could hear her voice clearly at the other end."Has Claire arrived yet?" Instantly, as soon as she answered the call, I asked."Not yet, sir.""All right, let me know when she gets there."I quickly ended the call without allowing the maid to say anything. "Did the two of
RYKER"What the hell did you do again?" Russell screamed, and her voice was a little irritated."I have no idea what I did!"I was sitting on the sofa, feeling at ease, while Russell stood straight before me. Russell was surprised when I showed up at her home out of the blue, but as soon as she saw me, she quickly took on the older role and treated me like I was the younger one. As luck would have it, Daniel had told her about our conversation, which may explain why he had been calling me so much, and I hadn't answered.Russell was walking across the space in front of me at a steady beat, and I caught a quick glimpse of her. She held her stomach with one hand."Sit down. That might prompt you to give birth to what you're doing." I said.Without delay, she moved quickly forward and sat down smoothly in the empty chair before me. There was a line on her face as she held onto her phone. I paid close attention to her as she carefully dialed her phone. Her attention was steady, and her mov
RYKER"Love, I looked everywhere for you. Where have you been?"As soon as I saw Claire at my in-laws' house, I felt a strong urge to give her a big hug."Looking for you almost drove me crazy," I whispered.Because Claire didn't say anything, I was able to hug her. It took a while, but eventually, I let go of her. Then I turned my attention to my respected in-laws and looked at their faces with an unwavering gaze. Their eyes seem to send me a mysterious message—a quiet call to prepare for what I don't know.As my eyes moved to the stairs, Heiji smoothly descending them caught my attention. He had a strange look, similar to how my mother-in-law looked at me with her eyes. It was like I sensed something odd about us all. His lips were adorned with a sly grin, and a soft tug suggested that he was quite fun.I looked at Claire again. "Let's go home.""Ryker, I'm not going to your house."A deep wrinkle appeared on my brow as I twisted my face into a dissatisfied look. "My house? Are you
CLAIRE"Have you made a decision?"I turned my gaze to Heiji, who was standing still behind the chair I was sitting in. I couldn't find peace, so I decided to stay in the green refuge of my yard and let my thoughts wander. I feel very guilty about what I did to Ryker, which weighs heavily on my mind. At this very moment, I feel like my heart is being broken into pieces that can't be put back together. For some reason, though, I don't want to lock Ryker into a relationship I know will never work out. Furthermore, I have to free him from being tied to me because he is about to take on the grave responsibility of being a father. I worry that the child will grow up without the father's supervision owing to my selfishness.Heiji set the beer bottle on the table's shiny surface in a smooth movement. The golden color of the glass sparkled in the soft light. He moved quickly and sat on the empty chair across from mine, putting himself in my sight."That," he says softly, "will help you sleep.
CLAIRE"Claire..."While lying on the bed, I felt warm and cozy from the blanket. I gently pulled my legs together and cradled them in a private show of comfort. Tears ran down my face as I did this, showing how distraught I was. It's like forgetting has snagged my mind and thrown me into a sea of broken memories. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something so unexpected would happen. In my heart, I always wanted Ryker's touch. The things that occurred tore apart the very fabric of my life, leaving my world in a mess. The sad truth is that I can't remember anything except the painful memory of an aching pain that plagued my mind the night before while Heiji and I were talking. He reached out to help me and led me up the stairs with a gentle hand. Anything after that time is lost in my memory, and I have no more thoughts. I feel uneasy in the depths of my being like the very fabric of my mind is becoming less stable. The lines between what makes sense are fuzzy, leaving me lo
CLAIREAs the excitement for our second wedding grew, a question remained in the air. Russell asked, “Are you still feeling nervous about the honeymoon?” He wanted to know if there were any worries left.Russell and I were sitting next to each other, and our eyes were locked for a moment. A tiny baby was in her arms, and she was holding it perfectly. Ryker and Daniel were busy with other young investors and businessmen in the distance. My husband Ryker and I’s wedding reception is over. There weren’t many people there. Professor Alice and her husband, Alex, were there, along with Daniel’s friends and past coworkers. After what happened to Russell, which Ryan caused, these people had become like family.There’s been a secret growing inside me for four months now. My condition’s symptoms have failed to appear despite time. Russell’s body is now back to how it was before. A feeling of envy came over me as I looked at her. Her beautiful curves and toned muscles on her body made her look st
WARNING: MATURE CONTENTRYKER"Ugh! F-ck!" I cautiously inserted my finger and felt her essence wrap around it, warm and moist.Claire's groan of frustration echoed off the walls as I stubbornly continued to trace circles over her breast and pull her n-pple softly into my lips. She started swaying her hips in time to the rhythm of my touch as I stretched my finger towards her."Love!" I exclaimed, "You're making me so horny!" I stopped the tender stroking of her n-pples as I carefully removed my finger from her. I kneeled at the foot of the bed and helped her legs rest there. Instantly, I opened the space between her legs and explored her slickness with all my enthusiasm."Aaaah, Ryker!" Claire's back arched.I pressed my lips against her wetness and kissed her labia. As Claire's hips raised, my hands immediately sought to cradle them. Her hips floated effortlessly in the air as I continued devouring her. With a burning yearning, I started to enjoy her with the intimate contact of my
WARNING: MATURE CONTENTRYKER"I love you, love!"Claire's forehead felt the soft pressure of my lips as they traced a path of tenderness down to her nose. Then, as if pulled by some unseen magnet, our lips locked in a passionate, beautiful kiss. After a passionate exchange, our bodies heaved with tiredness, and our breath was ragged and laborious as we lay entwined. My finger lightly stroked her face in a sweet, sensitive gesture.I softly whispered, "Hey, love, how about we get married again?" My voice was unsure. "While still your baby bump is hidden."Claire screamed, "What?" with genuine amazement in her voice. The words floated in the air, an inquiry loaded with doubt. "But wait, aren't we already married?"When I finally got off of her, I curled up next to her with my arms around her and kissed her. She laid her head on my chest, and I let her take in the sound of my heart beating."But you still use your birth name, right?" I murmured, a note of exasperation in my voice. I tri
RYKER"Dude, it's too late!"Both Russell and Daniel were making noises that we could hear in the background. Suddenly, Claire looked at me again."Love, it looks like Russell is in labor; he won't make it to the hospital. Make an appointment with the doctor right away!" Claire's voice filled the room."What? Is Russell having a baby?" I was shocked. "Wait, it's my phone." I was just quickly searching through my car, my eyes darting around from one spot to another. I freaked out when I couldn't find my phone. "Hey, do you know where my phone is?" I asked, with a blank expression on my face, as the words just slipped out."We're using it, Ryker," Claire said.Suddenly, Russell yelled, "Hey Daniel, the baby is on its way! Get ready to catch him!" You need to be ready to catch him!" Russell, clearly upset, yelled loudly in the background."F-ck!" The voice that could be heard all over the room belonged to Daniel.After a while, Claire and I got scared when we heard the sound of a baby cr
RYKER“Are you sure about that?” I casually asked Claire, acting like I already knew the answer. You don’t like pineapple, right?”As we were strolling through the grocery store, it was pretty obvious that we had picked up almost every type of fruit they had for sale. Fruit is becoming Claire’s favorite food!“Smooth-textured dragon fruit?” I raised an eyebrow in shock and said, “Seriously?” I raised an eyebrow as I asked the question.Clare nodded. “Yeah,” she said, “I prefer yellow-skinned dragon fruit.”I kept looking at Claire and studying her carefully. Where can I find dragon fruit with that yellow and smooth texture?Intrigued, Claire said, “Why do you appear to have such a peculiar appearance? Are you not going to find me a dragon fruit?” Claire’s expression furrowed as she spoke. She pouted her lips to show her displeasure. Midway through our chat, Claire voiced her dissatisfaction, her tone laced with pain. She said gently, “You promised to give me everything, my love,” her
RYKERMom’s voice trembled as she spoke, “It’s fine, I understand.” My mother-in-law spoke, her voice echoing through the room.Food was brought by Claire’s parents. Uncertain of Claire’s preferences, I find myself unable to determine whether she will enjoy the dish.“Wasn’t Claire affected by Heiji’s drug? No one knows that she’s pregnant.” Dad’s voice echoed through the room.“There is nothing, the doctor stated. However, the doctor suggests we let Claire’s blood and everything else be tested so we can be sure. Even so, Dad, I want to be certain.”“I want to sue Heiji for his actions,” Dad said. “I won’t let him just walk away, even if it’s claimed that he didn’t touch Claire that evening, but your mother.” A hint of irritation tinged Dad’s voice as he cast a glance at Mom’s direction. “Just accept it as is. She seems not to care about my daughter at all.”“My daughter Claire is also mine. It doesn’t mean I no longer care, even if I disagree with your desire to sue Heiji. I consider
RYKER“Are we back home?” Her eyes darted around, taking in her immediate surroundings while the question lingered in the air. A feeling of uneasiness pervaded the air as if she were waiting for confirmation.Claire’s eyes shifted to mine as I cautiously undid her seatbelt. “Yeah,” I said with a simple nod. “How was you sleeping?”We decided to go back to the familiar surroundings of Manila after a few more days in the picturesque town of Sagada. I was tired and weary after the long drive. My limbs, too, were weighed down by throbbing pain. To be sure Claire was okay, I drove very slowly and steadily.There was a palpable feeling of hurry when the safety belt was undone. Quickly, I extended a hand to help her out of the car. I took her hand in mine, my voice full of worry as I pleaded, “Please, my love, be careful.”At Claire’s teasing chuckle, I couldn’t help but look in her direction. She reassured me that there was no need for me to offer my help and that she was well on her own.M
RYKER“But... she’s bleeding. Wasn’t she having a miscarriage?” I asked in worry.The doctor informed the patient that bleeding during pregnancy is normal, especially for a few weeks into the pregnancy. The bleeding was not serious, and the faint spotting and occasional bleeding were harmless until the bleeding became excessive. There's no need to panic. That means...“The baby is safe.”I exclaimed, “Shit!” out of excitement. My voice rang out. With a quick movement, I looked at the doctor instead. I said, “Sorry,” and then my eyes returned to Claire. My voice was barely audible, so I wasn’t sure whether she heard me apologize. I proclaimed, “I am going to be a daddy!” with a massive smile. As I look at Claire, an overwhelming sense of happiness floods me.“Your wife mentioned that you reside in Manila. Therefore, I suggest you return to Manila first, even if your wife’s health is fine.” The doctor stated, “I noticed that the wife is a little weak and, if I’m not mistaken, that she h
RYKER“Love!”When I stopped the car in front of the house, I felt a burning need to escape it. I ran faster as I made my way to the front door. My attention was focused entirely on Claire. I didn’t even look at Manang Greta once. Instantly, the door opened, and I quickly looked around the room for Claire.“Miss Claire is in your room.”I quickly went up the stairs because I was eager to get to our room as soon as possible and didn’t wait for Danica to answer. As the door opened, I yelled throughout the room for Claire.“Love!”Regrettably, I found out that she wasn’t in the room. Although I was walking down the hallway, a strange sound caught my attention. It seemed to be coming from the bathroom’s direction. Because I was interested, I turned toward the noise source, and as I walked, my steps became more thoughtful. I felt like I needed to act quickly, so I didn’t knock any further and promptly turned the doorknob, which let me see what was in the bathroom.“Love!”“Oh my god, what