Two days after my conversation with Henry, I received a message that filled me with a mix of fear and happiness. “Sophie and James would return from school today, it will be better if we go pick them together. Hope that's okay?” I read aloud.I heaved a sigh of relief and remained silent for a few minutes before I responded with a yes.The idea of seeing my children again made me feel uncertain, but I also felt a deep-seated anxiety. How would I explain everything to them? And what about Henry's sister, who had been their guardian since I left? “Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed as I cupped my cheeks in my hand.I spent the morning gathering my thoughts and mustering the courage I needed. I sent my boss a message that I wouldn't be coming due to an emergency I had. He wouldn't say no for sure so I made preparations to go to the school. When I arrived, Henry was already there, waiting by the entrance. He gave me a welcoming smile, and I returned it, trying to ensure that I was steady.As th
When the kids were finally asleep and the house quieted down for the night, I felt a pull toward the servants' quarters, where Maria stayed. She was so happy to see me back. She had always been more than just a housekeeper to me; she was a confidante, a friend, and a surrogate mother figure in many ways I could describe.As I made my way through the dimly lit corridors, my mind was filled with thoughts and emotions. There was so much to share. I needed to talk to someone who could offer me guidance, and Maria had always been that person.When I reached her room, I knocked gently on the door. She opened it almost immediately, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Oh my goodness! Who am I seeing? Nina! Come in, come in."Seeing her after these few months made me so emotional. I opened my hands to give her a warm embrace. The only word that I was able to say at that point was “Maria”I stepped inside, and she closed the door behind me. The room was warm and familiar, filled with the c
"Mom, Dad," Sophie began, with a little shaky voice, "Aunt Clarissa is back."I felt my heart skip a beat, and I stood up in shock and anxiety coursing through me. Clarissa's return was the last thing I had expected. “Henry, what is that supposed to mean?” I asked in anger. He stood up and placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Nina, please calm down. I wasn't expecting her to show up. I'll handle this, I promise" he said firmly.I nodded, trying to steady my breathing as Henry left the room to confront Clarissa. I could hear their voices rising in argument, but I forced myself to stay out of their business. The kids needed me more than ever, and I couldn't let my own emotions get the best of me. Not now, when I wanted things to fall into their right places."Come here, you two," I said, patting the couch beside me. Sophie and James sat down but I noticed that their eyes were wide with confusion and worry. I took a deep breath, ready to have a long and honest conversation with my child
The next day dawned bright and clear, my husband and I had already made some plans for the day before a deceptive storm hit our lives. Henry and I were in our bedroom, enjoying a rare quiet moment together. The kids were in their room, and we were catching up on the little things we often missed in the hustle and bustle of daily life.As we chatted, Henry’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He glanced at the caller ID, and I saw a flicker of surprise, concern, maybe even fear that crossed his face. "I think I need to take this," he said, his voice tight. Without another word, he walked out of the room with his phone in hand. I watched him leave without looking back. This was unusual for him, a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. His reaction was strange, and it left me feeling uneasy. Who could be calling him that would cause such a reaction?I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on tidying up the room before he returned. But I couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling that somethi
After a few minutes, Henry turned to me with a look that made my heart sink. "Nina," he called calmly.I turned to look at him, but he didn't say anything. “Henry, you called me. What is it?’ I asked him after staring at him for a few seconds He took my hands in his. I turned to look at Clarissa and those around. This was unusual of him. “Can you give us a moment? I need to talk to Clarissa alone."I stared at him. I was both shocked and hurt. "What? Why?" I asked as I almost stood up in anger. I looked at Henry, and it seemed that I should express my emotions in a slap on his face.“Henry, what is that supposed to mean?” I asked him as I grabbed my bag."Please, Nina," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "I understand how you feel about this but I promise I'll explain everything later."I sat down again and turned to look at Clarissa who was trying to smile. I looked at Henry and bowed my head in my hand.“I just want to talk to Clarissa in private. Nothing more.” He said again.The
The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Henry had left the house early without waking me. What was really going on? We had a conversation last night but he didn't mention that he would be leaving early. I rushed to the kids room to get them prepared for school. “Has Daddy gone already? Sophie asked as she carried her bag.“Yes sweetie.” I responded without looking at her face.“But he promised to take us to school today, so why did he leave without letting us know? James asked but before I could respond, Sophie said something that struck me.“Maybe daddy and mummy are fighting again.” “No dear, we aren't. Daddy had an early start, that's why he left without disturbing you. That's enough sweethearts, we'd get to chat with Daddy when you return from school. The driver is waiting for you, don't keep him waiting for long.” I said to end the conversationI watched them shut the door and a wave of unease washed over me. He usually let me know if he had to leave early, but today was d
The next day, Olivia decided to take matters into her own hands. She called Clarissa and invited her over, suggesting they have a casual chat to clear the air. Clarissa hesitated but eventually agreed, perhaps thinking that Olivia’s intentions were genuine.As soon as Clarissa arrived, Olivia greeted her warmly, trying to put her at ease. They settled in the living room, and Olivia offered her a drink.“It's been a long time, Olivia.” Clarissa said with a soft tone."Yeah, it is. How have you been, Clarissa?" Olivia asked in a friendly tone.Clarissa took a sip of her drink, eyeing Olivia suspiciously. "I've been fine. Just trying to figure things out and become the best version of myself.""I understand, that's an important thing to do," Olivia said with a sympathetic smile. "Especially now that this whole situation has been hard on everyone. I thought maybe we could talk and clear some things up, and then start all over again without bringing the past into our lives."Clarissa nodde
The next morning, I sat at the kitchen table, my mind whirling with thoughts of Clarissa’s unborn child and the mysterious man she was working with to manipulate my husband. Her last statement the previous day has left me to have a lot of thoughts.My resolve hardened. I needed to find out if the baby was truly Henry’s and who this secret master planner was. I needed to end these troubles once and for all so that my family could enjoy peace. Just as I began to form a plan, my phone buzzed. It was my boss, Mr. Johnson.Since I took permission from him some weeks ago, I haven't created time to inform that I wanted to resign. I took a deep breath and swiped my screen to read his message."Nina, I haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope you're fine? Can we meet up and talk?" his text read.A surge of irritation mixed with curiosity hit me. I agreed, thinking it might be good to get everything out in the open. He suggested a different café, one that was quieter and more hidden. Although I
Marcus lay on the cold, concrete floor, in the ocean of his blood, his breath came in ragged gasps. His once confident, domineering presence was now reduced to a pitiful, broken man struggling to fight for his life. Kelly stood over him, with the gun still trembling in her hand. The shock of what she had just done was written all over her.Marcus’s eyes, once filled with cold calculation, now held a flicker of disappointment, anger, and perhaps even a trace of betrayal. He coughed, and the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his body, he stretched his hand out toward Kelly, but his fingers wavered as if trying to grasp something just out of reach.“Kelly,” Marcus whispered. “Why…why did you do this? I thought…we were on the same side. I thought we agreed… to get revenge.”Kelly’s lips shook as she looked down at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. The man lying before her was a shadow of the person she had once known, the man who had manipulated her, twisted her emotions,
The door finally creaked open, and the sound echoed through the warehouse like a gunshot. Nina’s breath caught in her throat as Marcus walked in with Nurse Kelly. The sight of her sent a wave of shock through the room, the collective gasps of everyone echoed in the silence. Kelly’s presence was unexpected, and for a brief moment, everyone seemed frozen in place, as their minds struggled to process this new development.Nina’s eyes locked onto Kelly’s, searching for some sign of what was going to happen next. On the other hand, Kelly’s expression was unreadable. But there was a look in her eyes that sent a chill down Nina’s spine.Marcus stopped in the middle of the room, studying the faces around him with a predatory gaze. He seems to enjoy the fear he saw in their faces. He moved closer to Nina. “I told you, but you wouldn't listen. You wanted to see what I could do. Right?” He asked her as he wiped a tear from her eyes.“See what you’ve caused. Everyone is in a mess because of you.
Inside the cold warehouse, the air was thick with tension. Nina sat bound to a chair. She watched the movement of Marcus in fear. After some time of pacing around, he stood before her with a twisted smile on his face. The sight of him made her blood boil, but she knew she had to keep her composure. Any sign of disobedience could set him off, and the last thing she wanted was to put her family in more danger. He leaned forward to kiss her, but she quickly turned her face.Marcus had been making jest of her for what felt like hours. Every now and then, he would lean in close, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered threats.“You’re so predictable, Nina,” Marcus sneered, pacing back and forth in front of her. “You’re always trying to be the hero, always thinking you can outsmart me. But look where that’s gotten you. Tied up and at my mercy. I thought you’d recognise me when I came, but No!. Can't you see that you're dumb?”Nina’s jaw clenched as she fought the urge to spit in his
Henry's heart pounded as he drove towards the east of the town. He called Olivia to ensure that they were safe while he also informed them about his movements, his thoughts were consumed with fear and anger. “Please be safe out there.” Olivia managed to say.“Sure, be more vigilant as well.” Henry said as dropped the phone.The lead he had just received from Maria felt promising, but he couldn't shake the fear that something terrible might happen to Nina before he could reach her. The idea of Marcus holding her captive, possibly harming her, made Henry's blood boil. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, as he sped down the road.The sudden ring of his phone startled him. He quickly glanced at the caller ID and felt a cold chill run down his spine. It was Marcus. “My goodness!” He exclaimed loudly as he pulled by the road.Henry hesitated for just a moment before answering, trying to prepare his mind for whatever twisted words would come through the line."Henry," Marcus’s voice came
"Doctor?" Nina said, her voice tinged with confusion. "Why didn't you inform us that you were coming? We weren’t expecting you at all."The doctor didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his eyes fixed on her in a way that sent a chill down her spine. Before she could react, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a gun. Nina's heart stopped, and she took a step back, fear paralyzing her."Don’t be a fool, shut your mouth and get into the car," he ordered, his voice cold and unfamiliar. It was then that she noticed something else, his face wasn’t right. The more she looked at him, the more she realized this wasn’t the doctor. His eyes were different Then, with a swift movement, he ripped off what she now saw was a mask, revealing his true face.It was Marcus.Nina’s blood ran cold as she recognized him. His face looked more cruel than before, and his eyes were filled with malice. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, she found herself frozen on th
“Take it here, and drop it there.” Nina said as she held her husband closely.“We’re doing it, my darling.” Henry told his wife. “I can't wait to start life again with you.Just then, Henry’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw Kelly’s name flashing. He tapped the screen and put it on speaker. “Henry, listen to me,” Kelly’s voice was urgent, filled with fear. “Don’t go anywhere. Marcus is out there. I just saw him, he looked like he was heading to your house. And I'm very sure he’s planning something.”Marcus had instructed Kelly to call him so that they would be able to know their new location.Henry exchanged a look with Nina, as his heart was pounding. “We need to stay back,” he said, his voice tight with urgency.“Oh my!” What's all these? She asked as she ran outside to alert everyone.“Get inside, now,” Nina ordered, ushering everyone back into the house. They moved quickly. Inside, they locked the doors and pulled the curtains shut. Henry’s mind raced
Kelly looked around in fear as she tried to find her way out of the strange environment. Her heart pounded in her chest with every step she took. She knew Marcus’s men were around, but she had to take the chance. She moved quietly, trying to find an escape route. Just as she thought she was close to a lonely road, Marcus suddenly appeared in front of her."Where do you think you're going, Kelly?" Marcus's voice was low and demeaning.Kelly got startled. She tried to back away, but Marcus stepped closer, his eyes were cold and calculating. "Why are you trying to escape?" he asked, his tone threatening. "Don't you think you are putting yourself in more danger? Hey my darling Kelly, No one leaves under my custody."Kelly swallowed hard, trying to muster her courage but his cold laughter made her angry. She raised her hand to give him a slap but Marcus prevented it quickly and resumed laughing at her in a mocking tone.Kelly felt helpless, she fell on her knees and tears started dropping
Henry knew they were playing a more dangerous game so he decided to get started on the difficult task of processing their visas to leave the country. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but it was their best chance at escaping the clutches of Marcus and Kelly. He made secret calls and filled out the necessary documents, all while keeping a watchful eye on his family.Meanwhile, Marcus grew increasingly desperate and angry. He started calling Clarissa, Nina, and Henry relentlessly, hoping to instill fear and make them slip up. But Henry and Nina had already decided to ignore his calls, understanding that engaging with him would only make matters worse. Clarissa, however, answered one of his calls out of frustration and a desire to confront him."Hello?" Clarissa said, her voice trembling slightly."Clarissa, it's Marcus," came the cold, familiar voice. "You thought you could run away and hide?""I’m not hiding, Marcus," Clarissa retorted. "I’m trying to live my life without your threats."“Ar
Nina held Henry's hand firmly, not wanting him to move an inch. “Henry, please I beg you. Don't go.”“Nina just hold on.” He whispered softly. Henry gave a signal for Clarissa to take the kids to their rooms while he took the next step.Henry glanced through the peephole cautiously. When he recognized the man standing outside, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was their neighbor, Mr. Thompson, who lived just three houses down. Henry opened the door slowly, ensuring there were no unexpected surprises waiting behind the familiar face. He wondered what had brought him here, his family just moved here and they barely go out."Good evening, Mr. Thompson," Henry greeted, attempting to hide the unease in his voice."Evening, Henry," Mr. Thompson replied, stepping inside quickly. "I hope everything is going smoothly?”“Sure,” he responded with a nod.“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but some people were asking about you and your family, they had your pictures with them too. But the