Mariana woke up the next day feeling groggy and itchy all over her body.She instinctively tried to move and felt a painful tug on her arm.Her groans woke the nurse hired for her, Jennifer, and Henry. They quickly scrambled to her bedside.Mariana looked around to see where she was.As she scanned her surroundings and looked at herself, the events of the night before came to her.“Fuck!” She cursed involuntarily.Henry laughed out loud at that.“Good morning to you too!” Henry said sarcastically.“It’s good to see that you are fine,” Jennifer’s voice was sincere. She was clearly perturbed.“I am going to kill that bitch. She ruined Lil’s birthday party.”“Did you know Lil had not celebrated her birthday like that since her mother passed away? How dare she cause trouble at Lil’s birthday party? Not only did she come uninvited, but she also ruined her party and made her worry. We must have our revenge.”Mariana was so agitated thinking of Alice that she continued rambling until she pul
Mariana changed the topic because she did not want to discuss James.“Can you call everyone in?” She pleaded.Liliana shook her head but called everyone inside, everyone except James.Henry finally asked, “How do you feel? Any discomfort anywhere?”Mariana rolled her eyes and muttered.“I feel itchy everywhere. When are you going to remove the drip? I need to use the washroom. I would also like a shower, please.”Henry shook his head and asked in dismay. “You are going to be a difficult patient, aren’t you?”Liliana answered on Mariana’s behalf, “Yes, she is a nightmare when she gets sick. She never follows instructions. Anything serious, Henry?”“Nothing serious. Some internal injuries need longer observation, but nothing that should not heal perfectly fine.” Henry confirmed, reassuring everyone.“She can’t wet her wounds and must be on the drip for at least a week. After that, you can take her to your place and monitor her for two more weeks.” Henry added.Jennifer explained, “Becau
James received a call from the subordinate that he had sent to bring the waiter who had spiked Mariana’s drink back.He picked it up and received confirmation that the waiter was back.James finally smiled after a night of crying. A murderous glint in his eyes.He messaged Jonathan and Liliana that he was leaving to deal with the waiter and Alice.Liliana called him inside and asked Mariana to behave.“Why should I behave? I am the patient here.” Mariana grumbled but kept quiet.Mariana was shocked to see James. It was clear that he had not slept a wink. Even wrapped in bandages, she looked better than James.He had not slept a wink.He had cried himself until his eyes dried.He had not eaten anything.He had freshened up before loitering around Mariana’s ward.He had smoked continuously.Liam had punched him in the face, and he had not bothered to treat it.James looked like a wreck. Mariana had never seen him less than immaculate.The fact that she might mean something to him began
Jacob and Mariana were very much alike.As soon as he came, he teased her instead of asking about her condition.Liliana shook her head. But she was happy to see Mariana upbeat rather than upset.Food arrived soon after Jacob did, and they fought for the food. Aware that many people would be on the ward, Liliana’s chef had sent a large portion.When Mariana’s parents came, they were surprised to see Mariana up and about. She was fighting with the Jacob guy for food while Liliana was working.“Uncle, Aunty!” Liliana put away her tablet and stood up to greet them.Jacob saw the lunchbox in Merideth’s hand and jumped.“Aunty, pretty aunty! You brought food. You are so awesome.” Jacob exclaimed and hugged her.“Hey, leave my mother alone. And don’t touch the food she made. You already stole from this.” Mariana grumbled.The Jocobsens breathed a sigh of relief. Mariana was doing just fine. She was not as severely injured as she looked the night before.“How are you doing, Mer?” Merideth as
James arrived home to find his parents having a serious discussion at the breakfast table.Mrs. Miller was shocked to see James so disheveled.“What happened?” She anxiously asked.“It doesn’t matter.” He shrugged it off, stepping away from her touch.Mrs. Miller felt electrocuted. Never had her son treated her so indifferently.He went up to his room and hastily packed some of his things. He chose the things that meant something to him rather than things he used or needed.He was rich; he could always buy stuff. But some things were priceless, the way some people were irreplaceable. It took losing Mariana and his child to realize that.Mr. and Mrs. Miller were stunned to see James coming back carrying his luggage.“What do you think you are doing?” Mr. Miller asked. He could not take the blatant disrespect.“I am old enough to live by myself and make my own decisions,” James emotionlessly replied as if his heart was dead. He felt like that.“James, don’t be like that. A woman is not
Alice Moss was getting agitated.She had tried to post something about Mariana on the internet - anonymously or using paid trolls. But none worked.She also tried to get around the problem by posting something about the Jacobsens or Smiths. But nothing worked.It was as if someone was carefully monitoring her activities and stopping her.Her frustration turned to shock and disbelief when she got a notification about James’s new post.James had sued her for assault.Alice laughed out loud. It was probably a joke.But her laughter died out when she received a call from her father.They had received a lawyer’s letter from James.James also posted the clip that showed her kissing James, followed by him pushing her away. She had sent that misleading picture to Mariana.At that time, James violently pushed her away and threatened to sue her if she tried to kiss him again.The clip had clear audio that revealed as much.An expert verification result verifying that the clip had not been tampe
In the hospital, Liliana went to see Mariana with the kids.“Aunty Mer, I will apply Daddy Henry’s special medicine on your wounds. You will become better in no time. Then we can play and beat the bad guys.” Joyanna said sweetly.“My little princess loves me the best,” Mariana cooed and kissed Jo’s face.Nathaniel pursed his lips and did not say anything. Mer had raised the kids with Liliana, so she understood them well.“Just spit it out, you brat. What is it?” Mariana said in dissatisfaction. She knew Li was criticizing her.“Aunty Mer, when she held your hand, why did you not jerk her off? Why did you not hold Daddy Liam’s hand? Why did you not pull her with you? Your reflexes are bad.” Li questioned her mercilessly.“I did not think she would do something like that in front of all people,” Mer grumbled, feeling stupid at the little boy’s words.“Limiting your imagination is the worst thing you can do to yourself,” Li repeated the words of one of his teachers.“Hey! I did not limit
Mariana was in deep thought after Liliana left the hospital with the kids.Her mother had wanted to stay behind and take care of her, but she decisively sent her home. Her father agreed with her. She was okay, and a nurse, as well as a maid, was there.Liam was busy, and Liliana had mentioned Jonathan had gone drinking with James after their family drama.She kept thinking of James. And catching herself thinking of James, she kept getting irritated.Truthfully speaking, she had always seen James via a narrow lens. She firmly believed that he was only annoying her to take revenge. When they got intimate, she thought he was a bastard without a bottom line who could go to even such extents for fun. And that he simply did not care for her or respect her.Whenever they were in an altercation because she had assumed he was only playing her, she felt humiliated but not heartbroken.His reactions, or lack thereof, had been within her expectations.Now when she thought he may have had feelings
Liam finished his narrative and went close to Kyle.He knelt beside his half-brother and said, “Kyle, you are my brother by blood. But in my heart, you have always been my son.”“I will do anything and everything for you. Not because I feel obligated or you were a responsibility thrust onto me, or because my mother ruined your mother’s life. But because I love you from the bottom of my heart. If anything happens to you, I will lose my mind.”“What happened to previous generations is their karma and their lives. What we do defines our life and our karma.”“You are my son and will remain so until you return to P City Military as the Colonel. Until then, you mustn’t tell anyone about it.”“I never told you about your mother because I have immense respect and compassion for her. I did not want to lie to you or gloss over her story. I wanted to tell you when you are older, so you can appreciate her sacrifices.”“Nevertheless, you will always be my son and my highest priority. I love you so
Liam took a while before he braced himself for the next part.“My mother thought my father was cheating on her with Aunty Keira.”“My father kept everything about Aunty Keira a secret because he hadn’t identified all the people on the inside who worked for him. So for her safety, he dealt with everything directly. He had created a fake ID and passport for her for an emergency. If she ran into any trouble, or if he died, then she could flee and settle down abroad.”“My mother thought he was planning to elope with her. She went after him when he had sneaked out, and she took photos. The next day, she posted all those photos in the newspaper calling Aunty Keira a bad person for flirting with a married army man and ruining a military marriage.”“Naturally, everyone found out, and the bad people captured and bullied Aunt Keira.”“The plan was almost complete. As per military protocols, my father had to prioritize the mission. My father had the last bits of information in place. So he hasti
Liliana began when Liam stalled for time.“Kyle, your mother comes from a long line of military spies. You know what a spy is, right?”Kyle nodded.“Traditionally, only men are sent as spies because women are physically more vulnerable and comparatively more emotional. However, during your mother’s time, there was a very powerful mafia in Z city. He was extending his terror in P city. He had bribed and coerced many people at higher positions - so he would not get caught. Someone inside the Military betrayed us, and he found our spies.”Liam added, “He killed 25 of our most trained and skilled spies within a week. It left the P City Military in a very vulnerable position. My father was the Army Commander at that time. My Grandfather was in a higher position, and the mafia approached my grandfather for something. When he refused, he killed him.”“Among the 25 spies, three were from your mother’s family. Apart from them, almost 100 people from the force - Police and Military - lost their
Liliana walked up to them and hugged them.She checked them from head to toe, much to the boy’s embarrassment. When she was satisfied that they were unharmed, she spanked them.Li looked at his mother incredulously, but she glared back at him.“How dare you run away? Didn’t you know the address of your home? If you encounter something you can’t handle, you come to me. Is that such a difficult concept to grasp?”“Look at how filthy you have become! Is this how you plan to set an example for your siblings?”Kyle hugged her and sobbed, “I am sorry, Mommy.”Li did the same, and Liliana hugged the two children close.Liliana exclaimed, “Ah! It reminds me of when we had just returned to P city. Jo - that traitor, left me for her father. I had the two of you to hug.”She led them to the ensuite bathroom and asked them to clean up. She sat them down and asked them to drink water and eat the pies she had made that afternoon.After the kids were well-fed and hydrated, she sat on the couch with
One day after the divorce, Mariana took the twins to see grandma Preston.Kyle was supposed to leave with her but changed the plans last minute when Nathaniel called, saying he had something to discuss with Kyle.On the other hand, James had taken Jacob’s twins out with him.Jacob did not realize that Kyle and Nathaniel were at home.He turned on Netflix and beer and enjoyed the rare me-time.Liam unexpectedly came back, and upon gathering that they were alone at home, they locked the doors and windows and started making out.Their time together was always short. They had to act like they were just friends.It was tiring, and Liam always felt sorry for Jacob. The man had left everything and followed him to P City, but he kept him away like a dirty secret.Their noise had attracted the two kids who were deep in discussion in Kyle’s room. They thought it was a thief and tiptoed to find him.Unexpectedly, they witnessed something not appropriate for their age.They hid behind the curtain
Liliana, Jonathan, and all their friends lived a non-gossipy, uneventful life in the next few years.Jennifer got married to Junior Doctor Cox.Jacob’s company got listed.Leonardo stabilized his business and left to complete his studies.Vincent and Alice McDraw tied the knot.Henry had a whirlwind romance with a difficult patient, and they ended up in a shotgun wedding.Henry collaborated with his cousin Amelia to perform some of the miraculous medical feats which brought the Qazi family to the forefront of the Medical industry as they had been for generations. Terry Draw ended up with his assistant’s sister. Surprisingly, that was the most challenging match as his assistant accused him of betraying him. He took a long time to accept the truth.Terry completed the Green Field orphanage within the stipulated time. His achievements were widely renowned, and he ended up as the spokesperson for Green Living.He would go on to collaborate with several charities and manage most of the no
James remained unperturbed and laughed.He added when he had calmed down.“Jacob said he kissed Mariana and realized that he was gay.”Jonathan was speechless. He hadn’t expected that twist.James ignored his friend’s expressions and slurred, “He said they were best friends and sort of dating. But the vibe between them was closer to cousins than lovers. When they kissed, he realized how much he never wanted to kiss any girl in his life ever again.”Jonathan had to stifle his laugh.‘Good for Jacob!’‘Poor Mariana lost her first kiss like that. Tch! Tch!’James continued his ramble.“Then they became even closer. Which may have been why Mariana never dated anyone.”Jonathan thought about it and added, “Makes sense! She wouldn’t have needed to look for a relationship, and others would have assumed she wasn’t available.”James continued, “Jacob once took her horse riding. She fell and had a fracture. Her hymen tore when she fell. Then I slept with her and shouted at her for making a fuss
The next four months went by uneventfully, except for Liam being missing for that long and the Preston family members trying and failing to get any benefits from Mariana.Finally, a series of good news came one after the other.Liliana was pregnant. The couple had wanted to keep it a secret until the first trimester ended well. Then when the doctor confirmed everything was alright, they made the big announcement to their friends and family members.Liam came back after completing two different massive projects.He had ended Bronsson Mcclory’s illegal business completely and had apprehended him.Jeffery Cruise kept Mcclory in strict custody until the courts sentenced him to life imprisonment. Then he was sent to a high-security prison that held long-term inmates.Mcclory’s entire business, all networks, all partners and associates, clientele - the police had nabbed all of them.Consequently, Liam worked with several different authorities to arrest everyone from the criminal underground
Jonathan and Liliana stopped talking and embraced each other while lying quietly on the bed.Jonathan was about to drift asleep when Liliana spoke.“Do you still want to have another child?”He was stunned and sat up immediately.“What do you mean?”She turned around and asked, “Well, you never brought it up since we talked about it half a year ago.”He couldn’t understand what she was getting at. He asked, “So?”She mumbled, “I just think it is the right time, and maybe we should try. I will turn thirty soon, and it might cause complications.”He asked, “I still don’t know what you are trying to say.”She rolled her eyes and asked, “I want to know if you still want another child. It’s been half a year since we started living together. What do you think? Are you ready? Do you think having Li and Jo is enough?”He lay down and turned her towards him.“This half a year is the best half year of my life. I love you very much and would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Jo and Li