"God, please wake this man up already." I hum as I jerk my head from Damian's shoulder.I spent the second night yet in here and still, he is in this distressing deep slumber. Honestly, I am getting furious at him. Why doesn't he want to wake up? Doesn't he know how much it's stinging me to see him like this?"Wake up already, love, will you? I miss you. This world doesn't seem a good place for me without you by my side. Please, wake up." I whisper, pecking his lips.I turn away from him, scouring for some wipes from my purse and wiping off the eye logs. Before I turn back to him, a call from my lawyer distracts me."Hello, attorney." I greet, taking a few strides away from the bed."Hello, Ellie! How are you?" He greets back."I... Am fine, attorney." I respond."I just called to let you know that I reviewed the case that you assigned to me and I think we have got several contending grounds." That makes my heart thump with joy."So does that mean..." "Let's not get ahead of oursel
ONE WEEK LATERI stand in the mirror. Outfit, check! Make-up, check! The hair is perfect! Everything is o.k.a.y!"I could be your mirror, you know." I look at Damian's reflection in the mirror, his face all smiles, beaming and dazzling like always in his custom-made blue suit that is matching with my blue-fitting gown.Two royalties! We are indeed royals!"Mmh. Do I look good?" I ask."You are gorgeous and elegant. I am afraid all the men in the event will fall in love with you." "Really now? I think I am the one who should be weary of women in the event." I respond, caressing his jaw."This guy before you, has eyes for only one woman - Ellie Marrie Riccaford, my betrothed, the love of my life. I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world." He says, melting my heart with his words."And this beauty before you, has her eyes only on one angel, Damian Almenda Riccaforte - my betrothed, the love of my life. It's either you, or no one else. I love you, baby." I whisper."I love you more
ONE MONTH LATERI park at the parking lot of the jail. I know this seems crazy and you are wondering, what is a bride who is supposed to be getting all dolled up for her wedding ceremony doing in a prison? Well, to settle my peace, and show my enemies that they miserably failed. Great times!"Attorney, I'll go alone. Take care of the necessary and be quick." I state, and she nods her head.I dash inside, clutching the magazine in my hand, hoping to finish as soon as I can. Nobody knows I sneaked out just to come here, and I wouldn't want to visualize their faces if they woke up to a missing bride. I can't worry about them."She will be with you in a minute, Mrs Almenda." The prison Warden says, and I nod my head.I am Mrs Almenda to everyone in the city now. Our story, just like I presumed, has reached almost everyone in the whole nation, and we have even earned an emblem of "THE FATED BETHROTHEDS" from the citizens. Our story has outdone that of Romeo and Juliet, and now we are the t
"Hu!" As I exit my car in the modest driveway of my house, I let out a deep sigh. Did I say humble? After that, add enormous. Dang! For heaven's sake, I live up to the weight of my title as a Riccaford. Unfortunately, living lavishly and serving as my father's assistant as the head of the marketing department at his extensive hotel chain are the only benefits I get to enjoy. Of course, this was far from my ideal profession, but I had no choice but to accede to my father's requests and demands like I did from childhood since, as they say, who dare challenge Richard Riccaford? No one! Nobody!I toss my life's sad tale to the side and begin stumbling inside. I'm worn out and drained. Before I go over the prose for my presentation for tomorrow's shareholders meetings, I might need to get some forty winks. Talk of workaholics!I leap inside in excitement after realizing the door is not secured. Leo Theodore, is the only one with a spare key to this home. My boyfriend of two years and fran
"Leo, for the sake of the alleged love you've professed to have for me over the past two years, answer me! I need to understand where I erred. That's the least you owe me." I fume."Sorry, Ellie, but you and I both fully knew well that this love was doomed from the beginning. Perhaps we were simply not meant to be."I need someone to wake me up."Why? because of the fact that I am engaged to a stranger, whose name I do not even know? We have discussed this topic a thousand times, Leo, and I have made my stand on it quite plain to you." I approach his hazy vision slowly as a result of my tears. I take his hands in mine. "Leo, I'm fighting for us. I care love you so much that I would do anything for us, even defying my own father. Leo, we can work this out. We can resolve this.""No. Ellie! We have to stop deluding ourselves. We have no control over what will inevitably occur. We are powerless to your father. We can't oppose him. There is nothing we can possibly do.""Yes, we can! Sure,
I drive my Lamborghini through my father's series of gates until I park at the parking lot at past eight midnight.This place's security is awful! It sucks!One reason I moved out a year ago was because of this. I'll admit it: this place is a real heaven. The castle has consistently been stunning and glittering with so much beauty and liveliness with blooming flowers in shades of green and yellow decorating the lovely garden. As I became older, I stopped making it difficult for my mother to pursue me around the flowers the way she used to when I was a child. Instead, we spent our evenings here talking and occasionally, my father would join us. We would stay here for hours under the stars just talking and laughing only.An exquisite yet painful recollection. It's been years, but I am still not over her horrible and sudden demise. Presumably, there are pains that just never go away.As I sigh in remembrance of her, I divert my attention to the pool's turquoise waters. Oh, how I miss be
It's that hour! That horrible hour that is ushering in a brand-new year in my life.Today is different from the previous years when I reveled in the joy and bliss of booming in the new year as I scanned the clock tick by. Everything is contrary to what I experienced on my previous birthdays. Nothing is the same, it seems. Today's feeling is distinct even from the sound of the clock. The sound of fear and anxiety is ticking in it. My ears itch, and I am utterly perturbed by that sound. I am more certain of the sound of the clock and every other sound ringing around me, unlike Crystal Gyle in her jazz version of Sounds of Goodbye which is playing on the TV. I love that jazz, but today it's helping at all.I slouch down on the seat and reflect on my opulent yet pathetic existence. Apparently, money is not everything like they claimed. They freaking lied for fucksake! If this freaking existence was all about money and power, if everything in life revolves around money and extravagances, t
I once more drive the through my father's gate. The morning is bright and fresh. I believe that the skies are also happy about my audacious choice. Sigh!I park my white gleaming Porsche and tell my driver to park the jeepney which was trailing behind me as well. I take my first stride with more vigor and confidence than I have ever had in my entire life. I am experiencing blissful ecstasy, but I am trying my best to conceal it. It's not yet time to celebrate."Mike, pull back the cover while you wait for the items to be unloaded and drive the jeepney back home. The rest will be handled by Sherry and Rose." I explain to mark once we are outside."Alright, ma'am. What time do you suggest I pick you up from the office?"Ahem! About that."Ah, that. I may not require your services for some time. I'll be spending a few days here at my dad's house." I elucidate. "You are not ceasing my services, ma'am?" He inquires in a concerned tone. Mike is a decent person. The best chauffeur I have h
ONE MONTH LATERI park at the parking lot of the jail. I know this seems crazy and you are wondering, what is a bride who is supposed to be getting all dolled up for her wedding ceremony doing in a prison? Well, to settle my peace, and show my enemies that they miserably failed. Great times!"Attorney, I'll go alone. Take care of the necessary and be quick." I state, and she nods her head.I dash inside, clutching the magazine in my hand, hoping to finish as soon as I can. Nobody knows I sneaked out just to come here, and I wouldn't want to visualize their faces if they woke up to a missing bride. I can't worry about them."She will be with you in a minute, Mrs Almenda." The prison Warden says, and I nod my head.I am Mrs Almenda to everyone in the city now. Our story, just like I presumed, has reached almost everyone in the whole nation, and we have even earned an emblem of "THE FATED BETHROTHEDS" from the citizens. Our story has outdone that of Romeo and Juliet, and now we are the t
ONE WEEK LATERI stand in the mirror. Outfit, check! Make-up, check! The hair is perfect! Everything is o.k.a.y!"I could be your mirror, you know." I look at Damian's reflection in the mirror, his face all smiles, beaming and dazzling like always in his custom-made blue suit that is matching with my blue-fitting gown.Two royalties! We are indeed royals!"Mmh. Do I look good?" I ask."You are gorgeous and elegant. I am afraid all the men in the event will fall in love with you." "Really now? I think I am the one who should be weary of women in the event." I respond, caressing his jaw."This guy before you, has eyes for only one woman - Ellie Marrie Riccaford, my betrothed, the love of my life. I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world." He says, melting my heart with his words."And this beauty before you, has her eyes only on one angel, Damian Almenda Riccaforte - my betrothed, the love of my life. It's either you, or no one else. I love you, baby." I whisper."I love you more
"God, please wake this man up already." I hum as I jerk my head from Damian's shoulder.I spent the second night yet in here and still, he is in this distressing deep slumber. Honestly, I am getting furious at him. Why doesn't he want to wake up? Doesn't he know how much it's stinging me to see him like this?"Wake up already, love, will you? I miss you. This world doesn't seem a good place for me without you by my side. Please, wake up." I whisper, pecking his lips.I turn away from him, scouring for some wipes from my purse and wiping off the eye logs. Before I turn back to him, a call from my lawyer distracts me."Hello, attorney." I greet, taking a few strides away from the bed."Hello, Ellie! How are you?" He greets back."I... Am fine, attorney." I respond."I just called to let you know that I reviewed the case that you assigned to me and I think we have got several contending grounds." That makes my heart thump with joy."So does that mean..." "Let's not get ahead of oursel
"Ellie! Maybe you want to at least get some fresh air outside even for a minute?" Rose says as they stand across me on the other side of Damian's bed.Breathe some fresh air? What good will that do to my despondent soul? It's been more than twelve hours since we came to this hospital and Damian hasn't woken up yet. If I am still able to breathe it's because I am doing it for both of us. The bullet in his belly hit him really bad. Fortunately, no vital organs were damaged. But he lost lots of blood, that's why he is undergoing a transfusion right now. How can I crave for a fresh breath of air when he is like this?"I am okay, Rose. I don't have the energy to leave his side until he wakes up." I say, nuzzling his hand."But, Bestie, can we at least get you something? You need to at least eat something, please." Sherry pleads."Until he is up and able to eat, I am full." I respond."Come on, Ellie! You know Damian wouldn't want that." Rose says."I want him to tell me that himself. I wan
"Where it all started with my mother? What do you mean by that?" I query."This is where I tortured her to my pleasure, and I enjoyed all her howls of anguish and appeals for mercy which I, unfortunately, didn't have! The baseball? Doesn't it remind you of something?" She says with so much elation.Curse you, sick witch! You will pay dearly for that! For everything, and that too, today itself, in this very same house!"I already knew you were behind her mysterious tragedy. But why here?" I ask."There wouldn't have been a satisfactory place for her sufferings other than this - this home, and this exact room that was deemed to be my bedroom with Richard. I bought this house some years back as our supposed rest house with my one great love - your stupid father. But that never got to come true because your mother had invaded his heart. He never saw me as a woman no matter how many times I tried. No matter how low I stoop for him, he just had no fucking chance for me. I was invisible to h
Forty-five minutes later.I reach to this seemingly three-storey house located in a secluded area in the outskirt part of Nairobi. It's a gated area, and it's surrounded by a jungle. No neighbouring houses, not even one. It looks a bit old from afar, but not that old to be termed abandoned. This doesn't look like a house to live through. Maybe it has its purpose.It's the time!I dial Damian's number."Ellie?" He picks on the first ring."I can see it. I am going in now." I say through the microchip.This was his idea. I also have a gun perfectly hidden on my back, and the back is just around. They needed to keep their distance to avoid any risks. We can't afford to screw this up. "Before anything, love, your safety comes first. You remember our deal?" Damian speaks."Yes, love. Don't you worry. I got this." I respond."Okay. How is the scene? Anything you can see? Security?" "No. I can't see anyone and that's so weird. Anyway. I will update you once I get inside.""Okay. Be careful
It's seven at night, and I have never been this enthusiastically nervous. The inkling of being free from all these dilemmas is giving me goosebumps."Are you really sure we can trust that woman?" Damian asks as he pulls on his hoodie."We can. For some reasons, she was so different today. I don't know what striked her overnight. She looks kinda victimized, and afraid of her mother." I state."If Gracia is capable of all those things, then I doubt even her own daughter is safe around her." Damian responds."It's hard to believe that monsters like Gracia are living amongst us. We dined and whined with her for years. I knew she was capable of a lot of things, but I never thought it would be this much and horrible." I state."Don't worry, love. Tomorrow will be the end of her road, and a new dawn for us. You'll finally be able to live in peace." "I can't wait for that moment I will look her in the eye and tell her that I already know about all her crimes and make her pay for everything."
We get into the car and lock the doors, the curiosity to know about this misery that has been surrounding my family for ages threatening to kill me, and the desire to end it itching me."So what happened? Did papa accept your mother when mom went out of the picture?" I ask."It was worse. Riccaford loathed my mother with so much passion, and even forbade her to even show her face to him."Huh? "Then?""My mother never gave up. So, on this particular day during their last day at a college party, she drugged your father."OMG! So, they had sex? And Nelly? Nelly was the fruit of that act? So, she is..."The alcohol and the drug rendered your father a deadbeat. He blacked out the whole night. My mother had sex with another guy that same night and returned to your father's room, and he made him believe that they had intercourse. I was the fruit of that night "Deep sigh! I feel a bit relieved."So, you are the reason why my father had been sending money to your mother's bank account over
"So, miss Riccaford, why do you want to buy a dead company?" Omar asks as I go through the documents."Mr Omar, I believe in second chances, and in getting up every time we fall. The fact that the company sunk to the ground under your management doesn't mean that it will do the same under mine." I respond."I love your way of thinking. You sure are really a Riccaford - strong, bold, oriented, and above all, beautiful inside and out.""Thank you, Mr Omar.""However, sometimes common sense is crucial. It still baffles me why a rich tycoon like you who is capable of buying the entire Nairobi city if you want, is interested in a dead company."Ooh, I see he has some brains left."Let's just say that I have the power, and the will to help a person who is in dire need like you, Omar. I know you are facing a lawsuit due to your incurring debts. Your own house is under the mortgage, but that won't cover even a quarter of your debts. The banks are on your neck, as well as hundreds of employees