Mysterious Man's POV
The sterile operating room was very quiet except for the quiet hum of machinery as a tall, masked man adjusted his hand gloves. In the medical world, he was an enigmatic figure, who is both feared and revered by all. He looked at Trina who was now lying completely still and unconscious on the operating table. He felt a flicker of something— perhaps pity, but quickly shoved it aside. Despite his years of experience, there was something about this particular case that left a sour taste in his mouth. However, he pushed the feeling aside and focused on what he had to do. "Scalpel," he requested, holding out his hand. As he made the first incision, the masked doctor couldn't help but speak out what's in his mind "It's quite fortunate that Mr. McAllister is the most clever, most cautious and most meticulous person I’ve ever encountered. This woman must have deliberately slept with him just to get pregnant. They're all like that. Imagine, she even came this far abroad just to give birth to his child." The head nurse assisting him, Miranda, let out a derisive snort. "The little ignorant fool! She just doesn't know who Mr. McAllister really is or else she wouldn't have made that mistake. He won't give her the chance to threaten him with his child in the future." "But I must say she's one lucky little bi*ch," Miranda added, her voice dripping with disdain. "If it wasn't for Mr. McAllister, never in her lifetime would she have gotten a chance to have you deliver her child, Sir." The masked doctor just brushed her comment aside with a simple command, “Let’s proceed.” With highly skilled accuracy, he began the procedure. To him, this was not just a regular cesarean section. It is an act that must be done in order to prevent any possible future risk to the meticulous, carefully planned out world of the enigmatic Mr. McAllister. Within minutes, he was gently lifting a wailing infant from the still-unconscious Trina's womb. "It's a boy," he announced as he handed the child to the waiting pediatric nurse. But as he turned to face Trina once again, a frown instantly materialized under his mask. Trina's belly was still distended, far more than a new mom’s own should be just after delivery. With the frown still on his face, he put both hands on her belly and began to palpate it gently. And what he discovered made his eyes instantly widen in surprise. "There's another one!" he muttered in a low voice, more to himself than to the staff around him. The head nurse, Miranda's head instantly snapped up. "What? But Sir, Mr. McAllister didn't tell us she's expecting twins!" Instead of responding, the masked doctor just shook his head as he concentrated on delivering the second child. With a frown of confusion and uncertainty on her face, Miranda tried to remind the doctor. "But he only asked us to bring back an heir for him. And the first twin is a boy, so that makes him the heir, right?" Instead of answering her, the masked doctor concentrated on carefully extracting the second baby, which turned out to be a girl this time around. The little girl’s cries combined with those of her brother, filling the hitherto quiet theater with baby wails. Miranda looked at the masked doctor. “What are we going to do, Sir? He said he needs an heir and so if it's a boy, to bring him to him and if it's a girl, then she shouldn't be separated from her mom. And now, we have two heirs— a boy and a girl!” "Well then..." The masked doctor trailed off, looking at the newborn girl. He seems to be contemplating on the right decision to make. Miranda stepped closer, her eyes darting between the doctor and the little girl who was still wailing while the umbilical cord connecting her to her mom was cut off. "What do we do?" she whispered. The masked doctor took a deep breath as he made his verdict. "We’ll do as Mr. McAllister requested. He specifically mentioned taking a boy to him and if it's a girl, not to separate her from her mom. So we'll proceed as planned with him." He then paused, looking at the baby girl in his arms. "As for this little one... she doesn't exist, as far as Mr. McAllister is concerned." "But…" Miranda began, only to be cut off by the masked doctor. "No buts, Nurse Miranda. What happens in this room stays in this room. Understood?" His tone left no room for argument. Miranda had no choice but to nod in agreement, with her face pale. "Yes, Sir!" The masked doctor wasn't anyone she could disobey! From then, he concentrated on skillfully and efficiently patching Trina’s cut belly up and finishing up his work before taking his leave. ************************************* Five Years Later… (New York city, USA) Trina's POV As I stepped out of the airport in my home country for the first time in many years, my right hand instinctively tightened around my little girl’s own. The gesture was both a subconscious reflexive act which came from five years of protective, motherly instincts and also, due to the nerves knotting my stomach over the uncertainty of what lays ahead of us now. Blissfully unaware of the tension radiating around me, my little bundle of sunshine, the happy-go-lucky Eleanor Ryder skipped happily and excitedly beside me, her strawberry blonde pigtails bouncing with each step she took. I smiled down at her, wishing I could share her excitement about coming to her real homeland for the first time and also, reuniting with the man who's her favorite person in the world… apart from me of course. As if the thought of him conjured him, my eyes suddenly fell on Justin a few feet away from us as Eleanor and I passed through the baggage claim with our luggage. He was holding a little sign in his hands and even from the distance, I could clearly read the names “Trina and Ella” written boldly on it. My gaze instantly shifted to the gorgeous blonde woman standing beside him, who was obviously hitting on him if the seductive flip of her long hair is any indication. And as the stunning woman with the megawatt smile let out a girly giggle at something Justin said and leaned closer to him with her hand casually resting on his arm, I didn't know when a smile instantly materialized on my face. No doubt about it, she's surely flirting with him and I’m really happy to see that. Justin isn't just my best friend but also, the kindest person I have ever met and so he deserves nothing but the best. However, it seems as if my daughter and I don't share the same thoughts on that matter because as soon as she saw them together, her joyous and excited demeanor changed as she abruptly came to a halt. She paused for a short while, glaring at the poor, unsuspecting woman before all of a sudden, a mischievous smile appeared on her face. And before I could comprehend what she was about to do, she let go of my hand and scampered towards Justin, squealing, “Daddy!”, with her arms outstretched in the air.Trina's POV Justin's face instantly whipped in our direction upon hearing Eleanor’s voice and even though I saw the surprise on his face which is undoubtedly due to the name she addressed him with, his eyes lit up at the sight of her. He quickly flung the sign he was holding aside before meeting Eleanor halfway and scooping her in his arms. And just as he always does, he began spinning her around, eliciting giggles from the delighted little girl.“There's my little princess! I missed you so much, pumpkin!”“I missed you too, Daddy!” She responded, emphasizing on the “Daddy” while stealing a furtive glance at the gorgeous blonde. Holy macaroni! What on earth is my little mischievous angel up to? Surely not I’m thinking! I know she's very fond of Justin and even though she never said it out loud, her actions speak clearly enough– she wants him to be her dad. She had gotten that notion so much into her head that she hated to see him with other women— just like now. Unfortunately, I wi
Trina's POV "Excuse me," I quickly said, standing up. "I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."Justin's face instantly whipped towards me, and his brows furrowed into a frown. He’s my friend and knows me as well as I know him, so I'm sure he figured out the real reason why I’m excusing myself but nonetheless, I simply smiled and walked away. There's no question about it, I’m certain that I can't give Justin what he wanted from me– what he really deserved. But who knows, maybe this fan of his, or someone like her, could…With my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Eleanor alone in the car with the chauffeur, I absentmindedly pushed open the door to what I assumed was the women's restroom. I don't trust chauffeurs at all, afterall, my dad was once the chauffeur to my mom's extra-rich family who pretended to fall in love with her and see where that landed us!Upon entering, I realized that the restroom was empty and silent, much to my preference.I approached the sink, the sound
Trina’s POV My heart was racing as I hurriedly made my way back to our table at the coffeehouse. However, to my surprise, both Justin and his fan or rather, lady admirer were nowhere to be found. Without wasting another second, I quickly exited the coffeehouse and walked as fast as I could to Justin's waiting car. As soon as the Mercedes came into view, I saw Justin and Eleanor high fiving each other with huge grins on their faces. Hmm, something seems fishy here… I quickly scanned my eyes all over the area, searching for the lady who had been fan-girling over Justin earlier but she was nowhere to be seen and that only heightened my suspicions. Momentarily forgetting about the embarrassing scene I just left behind, I asked them in a suspicious tone. “What's going on here? And where's that pretty lady I left you chatting with, Justin? Your huge fan?” Running a hand through his blonde hair, Justin chuckled, "Oh, she already left. You wouldn't believe what happened." My head
Trina’s POV Early the next morning, I stood in front of the mirror, checking and rechecking my appearance for the umpteenth time and taking deep, calming breaths. I need to look as presentable as possible because this interview is very important to me. It is the ticket to the independence I so much crave, and also, my chance to show my evil conniving family what I am capable of. It's also my ticket to power and getting back what's rightfully mine. With one last intake of breath, l grabbed my portfolio and headed out of the door.The Sunnyville hotel truly lived up to its reputation. It was indeed a sight to behold, with its grand, magnificent building radiating opulence, adorned with elaborate chandeliers and marble columns that nearly reached for the skies. Each step I took inside felt surreal, just as if I was walking through a dream. I was both awed and determined as I walked into the opulent lobby. I’ll definitely do my best to get this job!Just then, a smartly dressed middle-a
Trina’s POV I regretted it the moment it came out of my mouth! I mean, who describes their expertise as cooking when applying for a managerial position?!I closed my eyes in remorse, ready for the ridicule to come.I waited a second or two, but nothing happened. There was complete silence.So?I opened my eyes and saw that everyone in the room was looking at me with very serious expressions.Did they think my joke was too vulgar? Gosh! I guess my blabbermouth has now caused me to lose the chance to get this much-coveted job.Suddenly, the mini man's eyes lit up for a moment, a stark contrast to his otherwise serious demeanor. He turned to the butler and in an authoritative tone quite identical to the man who I assume is his dad, he ordered, "Take her to the kitchen. I want to see what she is capable of making."And just like that, I found myself being ushered out of the office and down to the hotel's large, ultra-modern kitchen. I couldn't believe that things took such a one-eighty d
Trina’s POV My heart kept pounding very fast as I followed Randolph out of Mr. McAllister’s lavish office, with my mind still buzzing from the unexpected turn of events. The interview I had painstakingly prepared myself for had completely changed into something else entirely, making me quite confused and disoriented.Randolph, the distinguished butler, led me through the hallways in the magnificent building until we got to a sleek, modern office. And as he addressed me, his voice carried a warmth that contrasted with his impeccable, aristocratic appearance.“This way, Ms. Ryder. We’ll complete your employment paperwork first then I'll show you around the building. Afterall, you need to familiarize yourself with your new workplace, right?”Giving him a timid smile, I followed him into the office where I found myself signing one document after another. And as I caught sight of the salary figure, my eyes instantly widened in shock. It's double of what I had initially been offered! The p
Trina's POV Shaking my head, I made my way out of the building and as I walked to my car, I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Justin's number, eager to share the strange events of the day with my best friend."Justin, you won't believe what just happened!" I blurted out as soon as he picked up, not wasting time on any pleasantries."Trina! How did the interview go?" As usual, Justin's voice was very warm and he sounded quite curious.As if that was just what I was waiting for, I instantly launched into a detailed account of what happened, from the unexpected job offer to the cryptic answer the butler gave me and finally, to my encounter with the intense, too-mature little boy. As soon as I finished recounting all the details, Justin burst out laughing."So, let me get this straight," he said, a hint of playful jealousy in his tone. "You never cooked for me when we were abroad. In fact, I was the one who did all the cooking! And now you've accepted a job to cook for some rich guy
Zane’s POVPushing away the paperwork in front of me, I got up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse office, with both hands shoved into my pants pockets. Though my eyes were fixed on the city view, my mind was elsewhere. Despite myself, my thoughts keep wandering to the events that happened earlier in the day when I hired Ms. Ryder as a so-called manager. I don't know what it is about that particular woman but I find her very intriguing. One thing I’m sure of is that there's something about her that reminds me of the unforgettable night I had with a mysterious woman some few years ago. Whether or not she's related to the unknown woman remains a mystery. A mystery I won't rest until I get to the bottom of…Five years ago, I asked my good friend, the so-called best surgeon in the country, Dr. Hemsworth to do something for me... And that's how I got my son back from that woman. Afterwards, Dr. Hemsworth told me that the woman didn't survive the operation due t
Trina's POV I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I watched Eleanor orchestrate yet another "family" scenario. This time, she had Jayden and Zane himself setting up a picnic in the sprawling gardens of the McAllister mansion. It was quite surreal, seeing the cold and aloof, highly charismatic and intimidating billionaire– The enigmatic Mr. Zane McAllister doing something so domestic as laying out a checkered blanket while his equally aloof and charismatic son, Jayden McAllister, carefully arranged a basket of sandwiches on the spread blanket.As I watched them from afar in awe, I suddenly heard my mischievous little munchkin’s voice break into my thoughts."Mommy! Daddy says we need your famous lemonade for our picnic!"For the umpteenth time, I felt a flutter in my stomach when I heard Eleanor call Zane 'Daddy,' even though I have been hearing it for over a week now and I also know it was all pretend. Forcing a smile on my face, I replied to her. "Lemonade coming
Jayden McAllister's POV I could feel Eleanor's excited eyes on me, trying to get an eye contact so we can celebrate our mini victory but I refused to allow the contact since Dad's highly perceptive eyes were on me and I don't want to risk him finding out about our plan.Later after breakfast, as we made our way to Dad's sleek black car, I couldn't help but notice how Mom hesitated before taking the front passenger seat. And when he drove us to the school, I noticed that Dad's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, as if he was also nervous about the whole thing but keeping cool about it like the aloof and indifferent billionaire everyone knows him to be.Unlike her usual self, Eleanor was very quiet during the ride to the school and from the rearview mirror, I could see Mom stealing glances at her with a concerned look on her face. When she could no longer handle it, she turned in her seat to look back at us. "Aren’t you excited, Ella sweetie? First day at a new school is always
Jayden McAllister's POV I must give my twin sister her well deserved accolade– she's indeed a master when it comes to plotting and mischievous pranks, especially when she sets her heart into doing something. And she has not only set her heart, but also her mind and her soul into bringing our parents back together after whatever it was that separated them in the past. On that fateful day when Dad announced we were going on a family vacation to his hometown, I had caught Eleanor's eye across the breakfast table. She gave me that mischievous look of hers– the one that said she was up to something– and I knew right then that our lives were about to get a whole lot more interesting! And when I said my goodbyes and set out to go to school, I had lingered at the door, only to hear her say to them in her characteristic chirpy tone."I'm going off to my kingdom as well but before then, remember what my big bro just told you; practice makes perfect. Jay-jay and I have already started our ow
Trina's POV “Mr. McAllister comes from a middle-class family in Dripping Springs, Texas. His father, Donald McAllister owns and maintains a ranch there. The ranch is a family heirloom, it's been in the family for generations. Zaynie is his only son."This time around, he didn't bother to correct his slip of tongue and that made me realise that Mr. McAllister and him might be closer than they appear to be if he calls him by a nickname."Zaynie's mother died immediately after giving birth to him, and his father remarried early… too early if you ask me.”I shook my head as I said, “That's so sad. So he grew up without knowing his own Mom!”Randolph let out a grim smile as he heard that, before saying, “Yeah, but what was even more sadder was the way his father and stepmom treated him. You see, my family worked for the McAllister ranch for generations and so I grew up there, working as the dairy person in charge of milking all the cows. So I have known Zaynie ever since he was born. As a
Trina's POV Time seemed to slow down as I sensed Zane’s hand a fraction of an inch away from my face. With my heart pounding so hard like never before, I held my breath, waiting for the touch of his fingers on my skin...However, it never came.Instead, I felt a slight movement of air as his hand reached past me. My eyes flew open just in time to see him grab his suit jacket from the hook on the wall behind me."Then you better start practicing about how to act as a caring wife," he said, his voice calm and cool as if nothing had happened. "I'm off to the office."And just like that, he was gone, leaving me pressed against the wall, with my heart still pounding dangerously and my mind reeling.I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened– or rather, what hadn't happened. Had I imagined the tension? The heated look in his eyes? The way his gaze had lingered on my lips?Shaking my head, I pushed myself away from the wall and took a deep breath. This arrangement
Trina’s POV Eleanor's eyes widened as big as saucers, and even Jayden looked pleasantly surprised. But before I could process their reactions, Zane quickly added, "As a pretend family." He paused, his gaze sweeping over all of us. "I've made an arrangement with… your mother that will benefit us both. And to make this… venture successful, we will need your maximum cooperation."I watched the children carefully, trying to gauge their reactions. To my surprise, Eleanor and Jayden exchanged another look, this one filled with something I couldn't quite decipher. Was that... a wink from Eleanor to Jayden? Hmm, judging from her hyper excitement from earlier and her actions now, I know my mischievous little munchkin was definitely up to something. But the question is, what? And how on earth had she managed to thaw the usually cold and aloof Jayden like this?"A pretend family vacation?" Eleanor asked, her voice dripping with innocence that I knew was entirely feigned. "That sounds like fun!
Trina's POV As my little munchkin and I made our way to the McAllister mansion, I couldn't help but notice her unusually bubbly demeanor. Even though my little firecracker was always full of life, today she seemed to be practically bursting with excitement. I’ve never seen her being this restless and excited over anything. As if she read my mind, she hyper excitedly squealed, “Mommy, hurry! I can't wait to see everyone!"I chuckled, before glancing at her in the rearview mirror and asking, “Calm down, sweetie. We go there every day, remember? Tell me, what's got you so hyper this morning?”She flashed me one of her famous mischievous grins before responding in a fake innocent tone. "Oh, nothing, Mommy. I just have a feeling today's going to be a great day!"Alarm bells instantly rang on my head so I quickly said. “Ella sweetie, remember the promise you made to me when we started going to the McAllister mansion? You wouldn't break it by playing a prank on anyone in the house, would
Jayden McAllister's POVEleanor's reaction was nothing short of explosive. She hugged me so tight I could barely breathe as she let out a very loud squeal of delight that made me wince involuntarily. I quickly shushed her, reminding her not to draw attention to us. She clapped a hand over her mouth for a split second as she finally released me from the fierce hug.But Eleanor being Eleanor, she couldn't contain her hyper excitement and it took several minutes and gentle reminders before she finally calmed down enough to speak coherently.Her brow suddenly furrowed as if she just remembered something. She then asked me,"But Jay-jay, if we're twins, and Mom is your mom too, why don't you live with us? Why does Zane Daddy... I mean, Dad, say that your mommy is in heaven?"I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "That's what we need to figure out, Eleanor. Something strange is going on, and I think it's up to us to uncover the truth."Eleanor nods solemnly, her usual playfulness replaced
Jayden McAllister’s POV I kept pacing around in my spacious room with an anxious look on my face. For the umpteenth time now, I checked the time on my limited edition Bugatti smart watch and when I saw that it was a quarter to three, my anxiety grew even more. I quickly pulled out my phone from my jeans pocket and refreshed the email box but to my chagrin, the long-awaited email was still not sent.The previous day after lunch, I had deliberately volunteered to clear the table after having lunch with my father, Trina and Eleanor. When I ensured that nobody was looking my way, I had sneakily wrapped the cutleries we used with paper napkins and pretended to go to the kitchen, only to make a detour to my room.I hid the samples well in the large pockets of my hoodie before leaving the house under the pretext of going for a walk.Even the bodyguards Dad assigned to me didn't bat an eyelid when I told them that I wanted to walk in solitude. And they didn't question me, they never did. Aft