RILEY“Riley ended up here because of you. Was making her lose her unborn child and memory not enough for you? Why do you keep hurting her again and again?” Leah’s angry voice rang.“What the heck is she talking about?”“You got it wrong, Leah. I know it was my fault in the past, but this time, I really didn't do anything,” I heard Nathan say. “Well, everything happening now was triggered by your fucked up past mistakes. Your mistakes cost my sister her unborn child and her memory for Christ's sake, Nathan, just leave Riley alone. You've already made her suffer too much. Will you only leave her when she becomes a corpse?” Leah yelledMy eyes were getting glossy and tears were threatening to fall. Listening to this duo talk about me this way, when I have no single recollection of every single thing they’ve mentioned made me realize how I wasn't different from a floating balloon that had no purpose and only goes in whatever direction the wind pushes it. A floating balloon that was bound
NATHANStarting from the moment Leah took Riley away from me in the conference room, I felt really bad. I instantly followed them, only to hear Leah angrily lashing out at her. Knowing that I caused the rift between the sisters made me feel guilty, my heart ached due to the pain I've caused Riley, but I still couldn't give up on her. Not now, not ever. After Leah left her in there, bumping into me as she found her way to the elevator, I made my way into the room, only to see Riley who I suspected was already sick, looking downcast. And worst of all, her eyes were glossy.Her tears are my weakness. I couldn't stand the sight of a drop of tears, running down her elegant face.When I got close to her and she tried to push me away, it made me feel her body temperature, confirming that she was really sick. Worried, I decided to bring her to the hospital with or without her consent.When that Grayson dude blocked my path, it reminded me of the day he slept over at her house. I was so clou
LEAH I honestly can’t understand what is wrong with Riley. It's as if she lost her sense of reasoning the moment Nathan came into the picture. I don't get why she'd choose to let someone who has hurt her over and over again, someone who abandoned her, someone who doesn't and will never give a fuck about her, I honestly don't get why she is hellbent on getting close to such a person.My sister had been crushing on Nathan for over two years, while I took the initiative to chase Ethan and make him mine back then, Riley chose to keep her feelings to herself and would always watch Nathan from afar. She watched him get cozy with a lot of ladies, watched him do a lot of things I thought would make her lose feelings for him, yet that never happened. Nathan on the other hand chose to pretend like he wasn't aware of her feelings for him. I mean it was pretty obvious that even his mum tried to bring them together.On the night of my engagement ceremony, I kept an eye on Riley despite being busy
RILEYWhen I decided to let Nathan drive me home, I never expected to be caught up in a drama between him and his assumed lover. I never thought he was dating anyone, considering how he has been all over me ever since the first day we met.But then I must have been really crazy to think that a healthy, wealthy, and exquisite looking guy like him was single. We might have dated in the past like I suspect, but that doesn't mean he would stay single forever.For some reason, the sight of the lady twisted a painful knot within me. I've never in any way thought of harming anyone in my entire life, but the moment I laid my eyes on her, thoughts of various ways to harm her filled my head. It was as if I had become a completely different person at the sight of her.I turned away to leave, repulsed at the vile thoughts I was having for another. I was ashamed that I got caught up in their lovers' quarrel, I was ashamed I had ill thoughts towards another probably because of a man I'm not even to
RILEY “Take me to your place. I want to sleep there tonight,” I uttered before I could stop myself. I almost gasped at how I had uttered such words. But then, the look of shock and surprise on the vile lady’s face made it hard for me to take back my words.“Now I know why I hate her so much just at first sight.”She looked like the type that would smile and play with you in your presence but then criticize and tarnish your image behind your back.“I doubt you can go to his house with him…miss holier than though,” she smiled giving me a daring look.“Just stop, Nancy,” Nathan intervened. “Come, Riley, I'll take you home,” he offered. He still looked guilty and was suddenly calm.He walked over to me to grab my hand but then I shifted aside.“See, you don't even have the courage to hold his hand,” Nancy laughed.“I'm not a whore like you. I don't go about holding hands or sleeping with anything in pants…” At my words, Nancy had this look of shock on her face, it was as if she never
NATHANRight from the moment I saw that red car on our trail, I knew I had to worry. The sight of Nancy was and will never be good news. I sometimes wonder if that bitch was cursed. There was nothing good about her and she reeked of bad luck.I tried my best to make her lose track of me, but then just one moment of distraction made her catch up with me.When she uttered those words about the past, I was honestly scared. So scared that I yelled in frustration. I feared how Riley would react if she found out the truth about the past this way, I feared how she would react if she found out how much I hurt her in the past. Everything about the past scared me.When Riley took that step towards her, it was as if I was getting choked, I felt like I was about to lose my substance, my reason for existence.But then when things didn't go the way Nancy must have visualized it, I honestly felt so thankful and heaved out in relief even though it might just be temporary. I knew I would continue to
RILEY “Is…Is that me?” I asked, staring at the display right in front of me.When Nathan and I walked into his living room, I was honestly impressed at the decor and how moderate everything is. Being the most eligible bachelor in the whole of New York and even here in Texas, I expected an insane amount of luxury, like everyone else. I mean, Leah and I have been to Grayson’s house a few times, his decor screamed luxury, and everything was insanely decorated with expensive materials as if to establish the fact that he is wealthy. Starting from the moment he unlocked the gate, I was impressed at how minimal he kept things. At a glance, you would definitely tell that the house is owned by a wealthy person, he established that fact without filling every inch of the place with completely useless but expensive stuffs like Grayson.Walking into his living room and drinking in the beauty of the place, something caught my eye. Wait, not just a thing, a lot of things hung up at a corner caught
LEAHAfter my encounter with Ethan, I headed home with my head a mess. I couldn't stop thinking of how much my actions had hurt him, and how horrible he would think I am.Driving back home was like torture to me. I reflected on my life and every single thing I've been doing for the past three years. It hurt me so much to discover that I've never done anything that interests me for these three years. I had dedicated it all to Riley.My company, which was my source of joy, working as the CEO had always given me a sense of belonging, but then I gave it up for Riley and chose to be her assistant. I couldn't think of anything I hadn't done to make my sister happy but what do I get in the end? I didn't even want to think of it.When I got home and realized that Riley who had left way before me wasn't back yet, it infuriated me. She chose to go with that bastard, I let her have her way, yet she suddenly goes somewhere else with him. I didn't know how much I was going to endure this new attit
RileyI sat in the aircraft and admired the man by my side, he had once been my fantasy and dream but he was finally my reality. Mine to keep without worries. "Did anyone ever teach you that it's unladylike to stare?" Nathan caught me staring at him and I immediately looked away."I was not staring." I tried to deny it but he just chuckled and looked out the window.We were returning to Texas where I was going to give my testament against Nancy and send her to jail for good.Waking up and seeing Nathan’s injured arm, I knew he could give his life for me so I gave him another chance in mine."Riley!" Leah literally jumped on me when she spotted me from where she stood with Ethan holding my name up.We had stayed a few weeks in New York until Nathan’s arm was completely healed so I hadn't seen Leah since the whole saga with Nancy.I hugged her very tight not willing to let go."I'm sorry Riley, I'm sorry for not ---" "Shhhh, today is a happy day and the past is in the past so let's not
LiamWatching Nathan slide to the ground I knew he knew something we didn't know but I didn't insist because I was not sure I wanted to expose Tina to just any information. I easily consented to letting Nathan ride in Tina's car because I had my own plans."What am I going to do if I lose the both of them Liam?" Tina cried.Tina was very attached to my sisters and the twin brothers as well."Hey, look at me. Nothing will happen to any of them, I called the station already they should arrive any moment and we'll lead them to Nathan, there we'll find Riley too. Dead or alive but I need you to be positive." I comforted her.Beyond my duty to keep her happy as her husband, I had a duty as an older brother to keep my sister safe as well and I was not going to neglect that."I think they are here Liam." Tina sat on the porch and waited for the police to arrive. We got into my car and I led them to where Nathan was."Please the both of you just stay here, we don't want any collateral damage
EthanI knew letting Leah get anywhere close to Nancy was not good but I had a different plan up my sleeves. Nancy was laughing like a maniac."Oh dear, you are going after the wrong person because your darling sister will be nothing but a corpse in a matter of minutes save your energy to pay your last respect to her."Nancy was intentionally pushing Leah but I held her back."She's not worth any of your anger, she's talking trash. Riley is safe with Nathan, okay? Calm down." I held her close to my chest but Nancy would not give up or drive away."Just go away from here Nancy and never show yourself here again." I knew better to expect Nancy to leave yet I turned to go back into the hotel with Leah."Why are you doing this? Please just let me go already." Riley's voice sounded over the phone Nancy held."That's your big sister right now." Nancy sneered, I observed that she had come down from her car and she was leaning on it while holding the phone out."Come and speak to her so you
Nathan I staggered a bit and my phone suddenly felt too heavy."What is it Nathan?" Liam asked. We all heard the gun shot and saw the call disconnect but they had not seen the image I was sent. I slid to the floor devastated and shattered, it was the end of the road for me, I could not save Riley, I wasted three years of my life with that useless Nancy yet I could not beat her at her game and keep Riley safe.A thousand thoughts tormented me, Riley's last words rang in my head. "Save me if you truly love me Nathan." She had pleased but once again I failed.I failed her.I got a text on my phone when I would not pick up the several calls I was receiving from Ethan. I did not pick up because I did not know how I was going to break the news to him that Riley had been shot dead but I opened his message. If I could not save Riley, I was not going to spare Nancy either."Nathan hurry, save Riley. Not everything you are told is true." The text was like a warning but I knew it came late. E
NathanThe situation seemed helpless since I was sure that Nancy was in Texas, I tried to figure out who had abducted Riley, a part of me told me Nancy had something to do with it but I needed more than just my sixth sense to lead me to the answer I sought."Nathan i think we should call the police," Liam said worried but I was not going to sit around and wait for the police. The police was going to ask us to wait a couple of hours before reporting a missing person and I was so broke on time that I couldn't afford so many hours.Riley would have been long dead if that were to be the case.I called Nancy."Hi baby, did you call to apologize and return to me before your little lover is killed? Typical of you to save her life again not so." She laughed hysterically.Liam wanted to respond since I put the call on speaker but I stopped him."Stop your silly game Nancy. I swear to you, if you harm a single hair on Riley's body then I will not spare you." "Relax, alright fine, I won't harm
Riley"My head hurts, my - oh my goodness. Ouch!" There was a throbbing pain in my head, it ached like I had been hit with Thor's hammer so I held it to keep it from falling off my neck.I tried to hold my head but I couldn't, that was when I realized that my hands were bound, I struggled to free my hands only to discover that my legs were also bound, I looked down and realized I was completely strapped to a chair.Wait?! I was really hit on the head. Where was I? I looked around and carefully observed the very unfamiliar room, I tried to recall how I got there and I completely remembered. I was in the porch in Liam's house with the others when the power went out, I had motioned to take shelter in the house immediately to avoid any impending danger but that was when I received the blow on the back of my head and at the same time, a cloth with a pungent smell was put over my nose and mouth so not only could I not scream, I could not even breathe.I had struggled for some time with the
LEAHFEW HOURS AGOI picked up my phone after such a time with Ethan and saw a lot of missed calls from Riley. I bet she was worried sick about me but her text calmed me and I knew she knew I was safe and with Ethan. Kudos Nathan, who else would have told Riley that?I tossed my phone aside and snuggled closer to the man that made my heart beat regularly. He was beautiful, I traced my fingers along his jawline and admired the stubble on his jaw."What are you doing?" Ethan grabbed me by the waist and pulled me over him without opening his eyes.I chuckled and tried to free myself from his hold. "Let go of me you." "No," he opened his eyes but he looked very serious. His expression and tone didn't match my jovial one."I mean it this time Lee, I'm never letting you go again. Ever again." What was he saying?I was just joking but he was being very serious so I dropped my gaze to his bare chest, my face completely flushed."Where are you going" he asked when I tried to roll off his bod
NATHANSeeing her cry further strengthened my resolve to protect her, she looked vulnerable and delicate, her face plae and pink as she wept in her hands."What did I ever do wrong? What was my mistake?" Riley had questions that no one could answer."How can you tell me that Nancy, the same Nancy that I loved like Leah my sister..." She choked on her words amidst sobs "That same Nancy was responsible for the accident that cost me my child, my memory and almost my life." Riley broke down completely but the good thing was this time, she broke down in my arms. She was not pushing me away or fighting with me, she was just leaning on me for physical and emotional support and I was comfortable with our progress so far."Babe you need to calm down and you need to come with me." Like she was shocked by electricity, Riley jolted away from me like she only just realized who she was embracing so casually.I could have remained quiet but the longer time we spent there the more endangered Liam a
NathanEverything was happening so fast yet in my favour. I was halfway to success but I was still yet to tell him the entire plan. "I would call Ethan right now and ask him to stay back and keep an eye on that bitch, I'm sure he is making plans to chase after Riley and I with Leah.""Good, please do that right away." Liam encouraged me, you could see the worry lines etched on his forehead as he spoke.Ethan's line kept ringing but he didn't pick up. So I dropped him a text hoping he'd see it as soon as he picked his phone up. Ethan was the kind of guy that checked his phone often because he believed in the power of communication more than anything else. "Did you get through to him? How is Leah? Is she still with him?" Liam's questions were endless but I did not count it against him because if was in his shoes I'd have started throwing punches about. "Not yet but I left him a message." "We can make do with that for now. So Riley would stay here a while I guess to keep her from har