Chapter 39Astra could say that she enjoyed the weekend with Jared and his friends. Apart from the awkward moment when Rina had warned her not to hurt Jared, everything else was fine. They seemed to take her like a sister and that was something that was rare to Astra. Like it barely ever happened that someone would take her so closely.She even had some painting classes from the men and even bonded with the ladies. Both Tricia and Rina were actually good artists, something that Astra did not expect.The weekend was full of laughter and vibes. She did not expect it to be so fun. She even grew closer to Jared. Astra was not still very comfortable with physical touch from him, but she could talk to him more, it was easy for her to tell him about Nicholas and about her family. She learnt to make a few dishes from Tricia and Rina, and she as officially invited to Rina's wedding. It was not something that she would miss. Astra began to view herself with Jared. It was so easy to imagine her
Astra fidgeted as she struggled to sit still. Jared was taking a sketch of her. She actually went through his sketchbook while she was at his house for the weekend and saw an unfinished portrait of herself, she was quite astonished as it was beautiful, she then volunteered to sit for a sketch on their next date, little did she know that it was going to be this stressful. "Relax Astra, you are allowed to move," Jared said, he had obviously noticed her discomfort. Astra smiled at his concern. He was just that kind of man. It was something that she was growing to love about him, his concern for others.Astra was officially Jared's girlfriend, they had grown close after she told him about the death of her daughter. Astra knew that she only told him because she was beginning to trust him more, for her it was a sign of moving on, it was the type that she needed.Jared asked her out over dinner at her place. She offered to cook for him for being there for her for so long. She had talked to
Chapter 41Astra sat on her bed thinking. What Jared told her was chilling and she was not sure how to take it. She started to feel bad, terrible for dragging him into her mess, she began to feel worried because there was a possibility that Ray might do something to hurt Jared and there was nothing she could do about that.After began to think about going through the legal route. Stephanie was still in danger and Astra had not figured out a way to bring her out of the dungeon, and now she was finding out that Ray might have done more, much more than she thought. The legal route seemed like a dead end though, as there was no evidence to show that it was actually Ray that did all of that. In the eyes of the law, all these were speculations without base. It was sad.Astra was still thinking about Ray and was wondering if he was a part of the little issues Astra and Nicholas had faced at the beginning of their marriage. They were both very much in love at the beginning, but they still had
"What is the matter? Whatever it is, we should meet, I have a lot to discuss with you," Nicholas said to Astra. Astra was a bit far from her phone when he called at first and that was why she did not pick. When she saw his missed calls, she figured it was a sign. She had to meet him and tell him about Stephanie too, maybe he will be able to help her."Okay, I will come to your place right away," Astra said. There was no need to be coy, it was a matter of urgency."Oh, okay," Nicholas said. He sounded confused by her reply but he did not say anything to show his confusion."I am at home. I will wait for you," he replied."I am on my way," Astra said before disconnecting the call. Astra fidgeted as she picked up her car keys and her purse, leaving her apartment. A lot of things were bothering her, first, there was the problem of Ray threatening Jared and the fact that it could end up ruining her relationship with him. There was also the problem of Stephanie claiming that she didn't want
Chapter 43Astra was not sure what she wanted to do with information that Theo was kidnapped. The cute little boy that looked so much like Nicholas had been kidnapped and because of her for that matter. It was not something that sat well with her. On top of that, Stephanie was still not picking her calls. That even made matters worse."Try to calm down, Sarah," Nicholas said as he rubbed her hair and held her close. Sarah was sobbing loudly and her entire body was shaking from the sobs. And it was all her fault. Astra had no idea what she wanted to do. She felt like crying too but that would be selfish on her part so she calmed down."My baby is gone. His birthday is in one week. My baby is turning one and he is nowhere to be found," Sarah said still crying."Maybe it's some misunderstanding, he will be back soon. Just calm down and relax you will be with your baby by his birthday," Nicholas said to Sarah."It was her ex that took him, I know this. He is probably trying to use him to
Chapter 44It had been twenty four hours since Theo was kidnapped and they also hadn't heard from Stephanie. Sarah was growing frantic and the kidnappers had not called, they were sure it was Ray now though. The CCTV cameras caught the car that Theo was in on camera and it was the same one that Thompson used, and they all knew it belonged to Ray. The police was trying to track Ray down to where he kept his victims, but all to no avail. It seemed like he was too smart for all of them combined. They could not figure out where he was after the entire day. The fact that a child was wit him made the situation much more complicated."I think it's time for us to draw him out," Astra said as they all had lunch together, Nicholas, Sarah, Jared and her. It had been bothering her so much over the entire day. It was all her fault. It all started because Ray wanted. If she was the one that Ray wanted, he would get her."How do you propose we do that?" Sarah asked snarkily. The woman had the good g
Chapter 45"He thought you were cheating on him?" Jared asked. Astra had even forgotten that it was not just her and Sarah at the table.Astra turned to him and sat down."It was one of Ray's tricks. He had this video and pictures. I saw them. I thought they were me. I was naked, with five men, five different locations. He also did something on fraud to make people leave Nicholas' company. Ray can be very ruthless," Astra said and Jared looked shocked."Why would he go that far? I cannot even imagine how much hurt he caused just by that. That man would hurt you Astra. He already did, and he would hurt you even more," Jared said and Astra felt even more scared."He won't hurt me, he believes he loves me," Astra said even if she wasn't convinced by her own words."You surely don't believe that Astra. Talk to her Sarah," Jared said. Astra shrugged."We will be very careful, the fact that he is dangerous makes it more obvious that we cannot leave a child and a pregnant woman with him. I w
Chapter 46"I am willing to do anything, as far as you promise to let them go," Astra said and took a deep breath. She hoped she was not making a wrong decision. She knew that it was a but reckless to make a decision at all without telling anyone in the first place, but it was an emergency and everyone would understand. Besides, she already made up her mind to set herself up as bait."Anything?" Ray asked from the other end of the phone. Astra took in a deep breath. She was grateful that she had called Yvonne earlier and asked of her baby. "Yes, anything. You have to assure me that Theo and Steph will be safe though," Astra said. She was hoping that her voice sounded as confident as she needed it to be. She was already scared. She did not need him to add to her fear."Well, in that case, you have to meet me up at the cafe in front of your house in thirty minutes. You will be one the phone the entire time, no funny business. I will let Theo and Stephanie go and I will show the video e
Chapter 66"You are not to call me for anything. Anything at all, I mean it, I deserve this vacation. I have not been on one in years. My flight is leaving in a few hours and I just wanted to brief you, so please don't call me, thank you," Astra said to her assistant. She had opened her law firm, after she got married, finally achieving her dreams. She hoped that the company would not crumble since she was leaving for two weeks."What if it is really really important, like the building is on fire?" Tricia her assistant asked. Astra knew that she was just trying to rile her up. There were not just boss and employee, they had become friends over the years."I am not a firefighter am I? It's not like I can put off the fire I was there. So don't call me. It is just two weeks, you will be fine. I am not even taking my phone, it will just be, nature and my hot husband so please, thank you. If you need anything ask Jared, he will he willing to help," Astra told Tiana and she disconnected the
Chapter 65Astra felt giddy, free, and light. She was a bit nervous too, because what bride was not nervous on her wedding day? It did not matter that she had gotten married before and to the same man at that, it also did not matter that she had two children for the said man, she was entitled to pre-wedding jitters and she was having them.Astra's first wedding was in Vegas, she was half drunk and so was Nicholas. They were drunk on both wine and love and they enjoyed each other. Astra could not remember the exact details of her first wedding since she was wasted and all, but it did not waste much time and she was done with it, she did not have enough time to be nervous or to back out of the wedding, that was it. Unlike this time that there was an entire plan, rehearsals, shopping, and too much money involved."Relax Astra, you are too tense. Nicholas loves you and wants to marry you, everything will be alright," Charise said to her as she held her hand. Astra sighed."I know that he
"Congratulations Astra," her sister said as she entered into the room. Her mother and father were not far behind. Astra smiled as her family came in. She was happy that her sister was there for her, that she was willing to be there for her. Astra was grateful that she was able to fix things with her family."She looks very beautiful, she looks more like Nicholas though, maybe she might grow to look like you," Charise said as she studied the baby."Would you like to hold her?" Astra asked looking at her sister. She was looking at the baby in awe."Oh of course. It has really been so long since I saw a new born baby, it never does get old," Charise said and Astra stretched the baby to her carefully. Her sister extracted the child from her hands and held on the baby. She looked like she was in love."Maybe I will have another child after all," Charise said softly. "She does look so precious. You did very well Astra," her mother said to her. Things were not so rosy after everything that
Chapter 63Astra felt a dull pain on her lower stomach and then felt it go a little lower. They started earlier that day but she figured they were Braxton Hicks and then her water broke, she began to panic. Nicholas was out of town. He had neglected his business for almost too long and it was telling on him. The stress was getting to him. He did not want to have to have her but she all but pushed him out of her house to go make some money so that the children could feed or something like that. Astra remembered that he was unwilling to leave, but he left at the end because he had to."Brian please bring my phone," Astra said to her son. She was trying to study the contractions, they were coming faster. She did not know who to call. Stephanie had her own baby just three months back, Yvonne was far away, Sarah and Jared were out of town with Theo. Charise, she was the only one she could call."Mommy are you okay?" Her son asked as he brought the phone to her with steady hands. Another wa
Chapter 62"We are going to the zoo!" Brian shouted at breakfast when Astra told him."Thank you Mommy!" Brian said again and Astra smiled."So just eat up your breakfast, your daddy is coming to take us there," Astra told her son who looked so excited by the fact that her husband was going to take them out. Brian nodded at his mother's words.It was their first family outing. After visiting Brianna's grave, Nicholas said that he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his family, she could not blame him at all. She just lost Brianna so she could feel a fraction of what he felt since he never met her and he missed the first four years of Brian's life. After their dinner date, they had a few more dates together. They had gone to an art museum and looked at art together. They both went around together and looked at art all the while discussing various things. It felt like they were getting to know each other again. She told him about her dreams and he told her about his. She told
Chapter 61Nicholas was about to look at the picture when Astra's lips met with his. He felt the sparks when their lips touched. It had been so long they had been together without the aid of alcohol and external influences. It felt wonderful. Nicholas helped Astra to climb him and he kissed her deeper, he slightly tugged on her bottom lip with his teeth while she snuck her tongue past his lips. It felt wonderful for a while as they had a duel of tongues of sorts. They both explored each other with their mouth and their hands. Nicholas' hands went over Astra's body, her hands over his. He felt so hot and hard and all hers.Nicholas flipped her so that she was below him and helped her out of her dress. He wanted some skin and he wanted it fast. He touched her with an urgency of a cave man and he did the same to her."It has been so long," Nicholas said as he removed her dress. She looked so white and beautiful and refreshing. Nicholas had to remind himself to be careful when he saw her
Chapter 60"I will put these in some water," Astra said and went into her kitchen to find a vase for the flowers. She then put them in some water."We should get going," Astra said when she was done. She was not sure that she could stay in the house with him for much longer without trying to kiss him or doing something equally as odd."I have a gift for you," Nicholas said and then brought out a little velvet box from his pocket. Astra opened her eyes and gazed at the box as Nicholas opened it. It was a necklace. It was silver and had a tear drop of diamond as a a a a a a a a a a locket. It was simple but yet it was very beautiful."Oh my God Nicholas, it is beautiful," Astra said as she gazed at the necklace."Turn around," Nicholas said to Astra and she did. She held her breath as he placed the necklace over her neck. The closeness between them seemed to increase as she felt p breath at her neck. Astra could feel the electricity between the two of them. The years and the betrayal b
Chapter 59Astra woke up the next morning in a very excited mood. She felt like she was in a very good mood. She wanted the date to go very well without any hitches. She took her bath and started to get ready for the shopping spree. She was already having breakfast when Stephanie called her."Hello Stephanie," Astra said when she picked up the call."Hello, Astra. Are you ready to start going shopping now?" Stephanie asked her and Astra laughed. To think that she thought her friend would not have the strength to go shopping since she was pregnant."You are more eager for this dress than I am Stephanie," Astra said with a laugh. It was a little funny how she could be."Whatever you say Astra, I just want to get clothes, that is all," Steph said and Astra laughed."I will be ready in an hour, " Astra said to her friend before she disconnected the call.After the call, Astra looked at her phone and she saw a text from Nicholas. It was as cheesy as the first one, but the thing was that sh
Chapter 58"We should do this. We can start by being friends. We can forget that everything happened and pretend that we just met," Nicholas said and Astra laughed a bit."We have a child together, and in four months, we would have another one. That is not a very good plan," Astra said with a smile."Says who?" Nicholas said. He looked so cheeky. It reminded Astra of how she found him so funny when they had first met and that was one of the reasons she fell in love with him."Oh, good evening. I just saw you walking by and I was in awe, such a beautiful lady, I said to myself that I had to meet you. My name is Nicholas, and you are," Nicholas said to Astra, he took her hand in his and kissed her fingers. Astra felt like butterflies were erupting in her stomach like the first day they had met. She felt like he was so handsome then, just like when they had met, a little more than seven years back."My name is Astra, I love your smile," Astra said. She did love the way he smiled. She rem