Dan Hawk walked over back to the couch and sat on it, crossing a leg over the other.
"Then you and your father have no choice but to pay me back for everything I've done for you guys” He pushed the center table out of place effortlessly with his feet and gazed darkly back at them with a pointed finger at Ethan. "Including all the money I gave to your godforsaken dad which he spends on alcohol and women!” Dan said decisively.Stacy felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach.Where would she get so much amount of money from?"I thought you gave those stacks of money to my dad out of your own will? Why are you then requesting it back?” Stacy asked with a trembling lip."Out of my own will?” Dan repeated in a questioning tone. "Yes, I did that out of my own will. I did all that thinking you would end up becoming mine but now, you're being ungrateful to the almighty Dan Hawk who managed to get an interest in a naive countryside girl like you,” He spat venomously."You're not ready yet and I, Dan Hawk should find another woman who is much better than you,” Dan chuckled, his deep voice resonating in their little residence."But..can you give me some time to know how I'll gather up..”Ethan didn't let Stacy finish her words before he grabbed the marriage contract papers and shoved it at Stacy’s face."Sign it!” Ethan commanded."No, Dad! I won't sign a paper that will become a bondage in my life. A bondage of pains and suffering!” Stacy retorted against Ethan's command boldly which shocked Ethan cause Stacy had never for once raised her voice at him that way.Ethan, with fury in his eyes, grabbed Stacy’s wrist and pulled her along with him till he got to the center table, he took out a small pen from his pocket and forced Stacy to her knee."What are you doing Dad? Why are you doing this to me? I'm your daughter for crying out loud, Da!” Stacy cried, she was resisting but her dad seemed to have more strength than her.With determination, Ethan forced the pen into Stacy‘s hand and he started scribbling on the contract papers, writing Stacy Hills on all sides of the paper."Daddy no no no no,” Stacy cried out, trying to pull her harmed away from his grip, tears clouding her eyes.Dan Hawk had a pleased satisfaction on his face as he chuckled at the scene before him with a delighted smile on his face.He didn’t get to do much. All he did was to just lit a little fire here and there and boom! everything lit up together! Cause Ethan Hills was clearly a fool who would do anything to make sure the money he got from Dan Hawk kept coming no matter what it took for him to make that happen."Mr. Hawk wants my daughter to be his wife and that’s what she will be!” Ethan declared through clenched teeth.Dan chuckled at the fear and tension in the air all because of him. He found pleasure and satisfaction that he could cause such coercion in a home.Chuckling, Dan's gaze unknowingly darted to the entrance of the sitting room.His brows formed deep lines in confusion.A well-known figure and magnate stood with authority there at the entrance of the shabby-looking home of his wife.With surprise on his face, Dan stood up from the couch, completely ignoring the father and daughter cause he knew he had to make good use of the opportunity before him to stretch out his business.He stood up from the couch to greet Bruce Yates. He stretched out his hand for a handshake."Mr. Yates, what a surprise! It's surprising to find someone as busy as you are here. I guess you received the letter from my company about the cooperation we'd like to have with you,” Dan tried to bring up a conversation but Bruce looked totally uninterested as he effortlessly shoved Dan to the side with one of his hand.His stormy grey eyes stared at the scene before him like a swirling hurricane raging in his eyes as his gaze darkened intensely on the man forcing Stacy to sign a document.Now he knew why Stacy sounded scared when she agreed to get married to him the previous day. His gaze was like a violent hurricane going wild in his eyes as he peered deeply at them, most especially Ethan.Dan was confused. "How could he disregard the first son and Successor of the Hawk legacy?” Dan clenched his fist, his jaw grinding. The way Mr. Yates shoved him aside was something no one had ever dared to do to him. "Dad, this is madness! How can you do this to me? You don't even know who Dan Hawk truly is, yet you blindly follow his commands just for his material offerings," Stacy sobbed, her tears cascading down her delicate cheeks."I don't care! You are of no use to me anyway. Sooner or later, you will marry and leave this house. Instead of you ending up with someone insignificant who won't benefit me, I have no choice but to ensure you marry Dan Hawk, who holds more promise than any other man in the county," Ethan declared firmly, his resolve unwavering.Ethan clutched Stacy's hand tightly, hastily filling out the contract papers until he reached the final page. Suddenly, Stacy tore the papers in two, the sound of shredding echoing through the room, leaving Ethan in stunned disbelief.In a fit of anger, Ethan raised his hand, poised to strike Stacy across the face. However, before he could act, a chilling threat filled the room, freezing him in place."If you lay a hand on her, I will not hesitate to take every measure to ensure you are imprisoned for assaulting a woman, even if that woman happens to be your own daughter," a deep, menacing voice warned, causing Ethan's hand to pause mid-air."Yes! No one dares to hurt my substitute mummy!” A young girl's voice said, coming out from behind Bruce Yates. "If anyone dares, then they'll face a cruel punishment from my daddy,” She had a serious look on her.Beside her was Daisy, the little furry pomeranian puppy. "Cherry! Mr. Yates!” Stacy cried out with tears streaming down her cheeks from her amber eyes She managed to break free from her father's grip on her while he was lost in thoughts about the stranger who just barged into his home. She ran and hid behind Mr. Yates's overbearing silhouette."Who the hell are you? Who do you think you are to get yourself into my residence to intervene in my matters and still threaten me on what to do and what not with my own daughter?” Ethan thundered angrily. He didn't know who was the wealthy and formidable man before him but he would stop at nothing to make sure Stacy got married to Dan Hawk by any means possible! Bruce Yates stared expressionlessly at Ethan, his anger boiling beneath the surface of his composure as his jaw gnashed together in irritation about the kind of abusive father Stacy had. How dare he force Stacy against her will and still raise his hand against her? Damn! "Stacy g
Moving her grey eyes to Stacy who was still hiding behind her daddy, she instructed, "Substitute Mummy, don't listen to him. He is a bad guy. Daisy is a detective and she told me he is an evil guy including this oldie here,” Cherry pointed at Ethan with an innocent pout at the side of her lips but Ethan threw a deathly glare at her. A smile curled up on Stacy’s lips. "They are indeed very bad guys. Daniel is a bully and my Dad…sigh. Should I call him a domestically abusive man?” Stacy felt sad as she thought inwardly. Ethan frowned at Cherry’s pointed little finger to his face. He would have hit her for that but his hand was still useful to him and he wasn't ready to wave it goodbye yet. Dan glared at Cherry like he was very ready to glue her nasty lips with a superglue or tape but he knew he couldn't do that in front of her influential Daddy if he had a love for his life. Chuckling, Dan tried to change the topic as he approached Bruce. "Mr. Yates, you're yet to let me know t
Dan was in slight disbelief that Bruce didn't make it hard for him. He stuttered a little, "Y-yes. That's all. Once you do that then you can have her,” He managed to continue with his act without being shocked as he snickered with a sly smile on his lips. "No problem. Come to my company tomorrow with the papers for a meeting with the board of directors and then I will sign them once we all have come to a conclusion,” Bruce instructed. "But..” "No buts. Come over if you need it. And stay back if you don't.” Turning to Stacy who stood timidly with her head bowed beside him. "Here is a pen. Sign it then you and Cherry will be driven home by Charles,” Bruce smiled and Stacy managed to raise her head, returning the smile with lots of thoughts running through her mind. How could she ever thank her Boss enough for his help? What would have happened if he hadn't been there to save her from the traumatizing future her dad was pushing her into? Was Bruce Yates making a wrong decision b
"Yes, Daddy! I'm going to be a good girl!” Cherry felt happy to finally have Aunt Stacy as her new Mummy. Bruce smiled, pinching Cherry on her cheeks and she let out a giggle. "Naughty Daddy,” She laughed, and Mr. Yates chuckled. "Daddy is a naughty lad when he is sweet right?” "Yes, he is,” Cherry giggled even louder, "He is a naughty sweet boy,” Cherry muttered, playing with Daisy’s fur with one hand as Daisy rested on her lap. Daisy barked at Bruce happily. "You see? Daisy agrees with me, haha,” She laughed. "Yeah yeah. You both have such a weird relationship. I wonder how you know what she says sometimes,” Bruce chortled as he shook his head. "By the way, I'm off to work and I'll be back very early today for my princess's sake. Remember your promise. Don't disturb mummy, okay?” "I won't disturb mummy. You don't have to repeat it to me. I have perfectly functioning ears,” Cherry rolled her eyes. Her Dad could be so bothersome at times. Always repeating instructions
Daisy ran after them, barking with her little pink tongue out as chased them from behind. She seemed to also be thrilled. Cherry pressed a button on the side of the door and pressed her fingerprint on the sensor then a beeped sound was heard from the door as it slid open. Stacy was left feeling overwhelmed by the interior’s beauty. "Mr. Yates is very capable of owning this and it shouldn't be shocking to me but why am I feeling awestruck and stunned about it? Is it perhaps because it's beyond my expectations? Damn Stacy! You need not be surprised,” "Come let me show you to your room and then the kitchen,” Cherry didn't give Stacy a chance to breathe and pulled her up the glass stairs but suddenly halted. A slender figure leaned effortlessly on the wall at the top of the staircase. His eyelids closed, his dark long dreadlocks were damp over his forehead and his hands crossed over his chest. "Where are you heading to with that thing, little brat?” He drawled tiredly wit
"Granny! Stop pulling my mummy’s hair! Stop it, granny!” Cherry pleaded as she tried hard to pull her granny’s hand from Stacy’s hair but her granny was way too strong for her little hand. "Edward,” She called through gritted teeth. " Take Cherry into her room and lock her up in there,” Cherry’s granny instructed. Edward with a satisfactory smile grabbed Cherry’s little form and threw her over his shoulder effortlessly as he walked away. Daisy stood her ground in the center of the sitting room, barking fiercely at Edward to release her beloved friend, Cherry. Anxious for Cherry's safety, Daisy's concern was evident, yet she hesitated to approach the menacing Edward, fearing the consequences of crossing paths with such an individual. She knew all too well that getting too close to him could result in becoming his next meal and dinner for the night. She wasn't willing to take that risk when Cherry wasn't around to save her. "And you,” She pointed at Stacy’s delicate face
The thunder rumbled and a silver lightning struck across the sky above her weak form reflecting on her wet glass skin. At the terrace of the luxurious glass mansion, Edward and his mother stood there, grinning from ear to ear in satisfaction, relaxing on the railings as they watched the heavy downpour of rain hitting the delicate, fragile lady they had thrown outside the estate as she trembled under the rain. "Come inside, son. It's getting really cold out here. I won't like it if you catch a cold,” She smiled lovingly at her son, urging him to go inside in concern for his health. Edward let out a chuckle. "You can go in first. I'll follow soon,” Edward said and his mother let out a sigh. "Fine then. But don't stay out here too long,” "Rest assured momma,” He smirked as he brushed his dreads backward away from his face. Once his mom was inside he turned his icy gaze to the woman outside who was shivering under the heavy downpour of rain. The satisfactory smile on hi
"What?!” Olivia snapped her dark gaze at the massively intimidating man before her. "Olivia! Olivia! Olivia!!! What the hell do you want from me, Bruce?! Do I have your kidney with me or something?” "I spoke to you and Edward not to do anything stupid. Not to mistreat Cherry’s new mother but you proceeded to go against me. You did the complete opposite of our agreement, Olivia. Do my words mean nothing to you guys?” "And so?” Oliver scoffed, rolling her eyes unbotheredly. "And so what if we agreed on some stupid deal? The dirty low-class thing you brought here…I don't like it. So I told the bodyguard to trash it away outside the estate and also clean up the misfortune it spilled in here. I can't live in the same house with a bag of trash,” "If you can't live in the same house with her then I suggest you pack your things and leave. You were never wanted here in the first place and the doors have always been wide open for you to take your luggage and leave my residence,” "How
Stacy just glared at him. "What? it's not like I believed him, did I?" Bruce defended then moved his gaze around the sitting room. "And why isn't Eddie around here?" He asked, suspecting that she might be up to something. "I told the guards to throw her out of the estates. She's doing too much and I can't accept it any longer. I've taken more than I can chew," Stacy snorted, twitching the side of her lips as she folded her arms over her chest. Bruce walked over to Stacy in slow and calculated steps that Stacy had to look up at him, wondering what he wanted to do. " Wh_what?" She stuttered and Bruce swiftly wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. "You did a good job by taking out the trash, little birdie," He smirked, leaning closer to her ear. Vanessa glared at the couple romancing before her, her eyes full of hate and jealousy. He had taken everything from her and now he was about to imprison her on top of that? Who does that?! Cough Cough
"Bring her In,” Bruce commanded. One of the police who didn't handcuff anyone went outside and informed his team using a hand sign then he returned to the sitting room. "She is coming,” He informed with a bow. Stacy saw Bruce nodding and soon she saw someone getting pulled into the sitting room by another police officer like she was some sort of criminal and her jaw dropped to the ground! Exact features, exact eyes, exact hair color, and style! The only difference was that the clothes she had on were worn out and looked ragged. Edward's feet staggard back in disbelief. "This can't be true. There's no way she would be the one I fell in love with. She can't be the one,” He whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on her as he shook his head. Edward refused to believe cause the girl he knew back in school didn't look this ragged. She was well-kept and was a good girl who was barely noticed but he did the moment he bumped into her in the hallway when she was in tears. How
Everyone listened to it attentively. * "Bruce, I can't live on like this. I love you. I've always loved you from the beginning! That's why I decided to date Edward, at least that way I'll get a chance to speak to you once at least because I never had a chance to speak to you," CShe confessed, her breath coming out shakily. "I have always loved you right from when we were little but I am just a girl no one took notice of. Just a girl behind the wall and when someone finally did, I did not. I do not Love Edward Yates. I love you, Bruce. It's you I want and love. I can do anything to make you believe me. I can strip myself right before you if that's what you need to see before you believe me, Bruce Yates," her voice begged desperately and for some seconds there wasn't anyone responding to her "I do not love you neither would I do so after you strip yourself. I love someone else and it's only her that I will keep loving," Bruce told her to her face genuinely."You should have some
* * * * After dropping Cherry off at school, it was already noon and she needed to pick her up before the bell rang for closing. Stacy headed upstairs to get her purse as she made a call to Bruce's line for God knows how many times now with no answer from him. She kept calling every time and now she was about to pick Cherry up from school but he was yet to answer his calls. "What's wrong? Why hasn't he been picking up?" Stacy's face was wrinkled as she glared at the screen of her phone. She was bothered about his whereabouts and worried about his well-being. "He should at least pick up and let me know that he is doing good rather than getting me so worked up!" Stacy grumbled, making another call to his which was yet ignored again with no answer. "Pick up the damned phone, Bruce!" Stacy yelled out at the screen, venting her anger and worry on the phone by the way she angrily held it. She climbed up the final stairs and was about to make a right turn when she b
"Where did he go? Wasn’t he here last night?” Stacy gasped, wondering why he wasn't on the bed and it was still very early in the morning. A knock on the door caught her attention and she moved her gaze to the door. "Mummy? Daddy? I've been knocking, why aren't you guys answering the door?” Cherry’s little voice caught Stacy’s ears as Cherry kept knocking on the door, outside the room. She immediately got down from the bed and was about to answer the door when she noticed how rough her hair was the moment her gaze brushed past the mirror. The rough night Bruce had with her replayed harshly in her mind. How could Bruce have left the room just like that without saying anything to her? Or was she thinking too much about it? She blinked her eyes three times, moving the memory and everything concerning Bruce to the back of her mind for the time being, and quickly combed through her hair, fixing the out-of-place strands of her hair. "Mummy?!” Cherry screamed and banged h
"I_i...I do," Her voice came out shakily that she couldn't tell him that she didn't want him. Or perhaps she did. She did miss him, his breath against her sensitive skin, his touch, the way his tongue played on her skin. She missed him a lot in these few hours while he was away, spending his time with Eddie. She just wished she could find out the reason why he was hurting her so much. He hurt her at first and now he was getting close to her like nothing happened before. Why should she let him her close to her again after what he did? He should pay for it. He must pay for it! "You do, huh?" Bruce smirked and slammed the door next to them shut with one of his hands, then twisted the key till it got locked as his gaze remained on Stacy, keeping her in place. "Then why bother to pull away from me when you know you want the same from me? Isn't that being inconsiderate? Being selfish when you know I need you? and miss you so badly? huh?" Bruce confessed as he whispered again aga
"What? How can cockroaches be in here?" Bruce frowned. Eddie hid behind him instantly. "Don't ask me those damned questions! How would I know? First, it was ants, and now cockroaches? What the heck is up with your room?” Eddie asked. “I don't know. It's never been like this,” "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to say all these insects started coming Into your room ever since I came here? Huh?” Eddie asked, glaring at Bruce. "I didn't say anything like that but if you take it that way, it might be true,” Bruce shrugged his shoulders. "I will call the guard to come and clean up the room so you can have some sleep. I might also have to hire another maid to clean up-” "Sleep where? So another type of insect can climb up my body? I can't sleep here, Bruce. I won't sleep in this scary room filled with all sorts of insects!” Eddie suddenly screamed when she felt a cockroach crawl up her feet. "Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!” She screamed but Bruce was confused about what h
An unknown knock was heard on their door and Bruce moved his gaze to the transparent door but could not see who was outside his room due to the way the glass was built. Eddie looked at him and then at the door, she knew that there were only two people who could come to Bruce's room by this time, knocking on his door. "Those witches won't let me enjoy my time here," She whispered under her breath, her eyes full of annoyance. Bruce was about to get up from the bed when she beat him to it. "I will check," She said you him gently and Bruce relaxed back. "Who is at the door?" Eddie asked as she walked to the door and opened it. There was no one before her till she moved her gaze downwards and saw the blonde-haired girl she had expected. She frowned her face at the sight of her before throwing questions at Cherry's face. "What do you want?" Eddie asked but the moment Cherry opened her mouth to answer her questions, she threw another."Shouldn't you be sleeping in your room
Eddie froze midway through her facade as she frowned and pouted her lips at Bruce. "Such a grumpy man. He can't even feed a pregnant lady who is in pain," She complained with a sneer on her lips. "I know that I am not pregnant but what if I was pregnant for him?! Could this have been the way he would have ignored me like I am a nobody all in the name of he is sleepy and tired?" Eddie rolled her eyes. "Douchebag!" She cussed him and sighed. "Goodness! I have to think of something really quick." She thought as she averted her gaze to his broad back that was faced against her. A few moments later_ "Oww!!" A loud cry erupted In the room. "I need water, please. My belly is hurting so bad! Our baby is in danger," The annoying cry pierced into Bruce's ears and he grumbled. "The heck is she up to now?" He almost yelled out. Shutting his eyes tightly, he remembered that damned man who forced him to do this. " Doctor Miles, I will make sure you pay for making me pass through this hel