"Is that true?" Master Dan asked Damian and he nodded slowly. "I'm sorry grandpa," Damian mumbled. "Sorry? How could you be so irrational? Why didn't you think things through? Maya is your wife and you know she'd never do something like that, goddamnit Damian," Master Dan sighed, looking at Damian with disappointment."I want you to fix this and make sure my daughter in law comes home. I don't care how you do it but make sure you fix this," Master Dan said angrily. This is the first time Damian had seen his grandfather angry in years. The jovial, smiling Master Dan was gone and had been replaced by an angry one. The place turned silent as they waited for the doctor to tell them something. They all grew anxious as the clock ticked. They didn't know what was going on there but they all hoped it was something positive. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city and yet there was still no news. Damian's heart was growing heavier by the second and he kept pacing around the hallw
Oliver broke down after Master Dan's lecture. He cried and begged Master Dan to forgive him. He showed extreme remorse for his actions. He turned to Damian and begged to help him make things right, but Damian just looked away, he wasn't going to buy that act. He knew Oliver was just doing that so he wouldn't end up in jail. "What makes you think I'll believe this act of yours?" Damian asked coldly. "I know you won't believe but I'll turn over a new leaf. I'll be that brother you always wanted.""I never wanted a brother," Damian cut him off sharply. "I won't try to bail myself out of here. I deserve it and I'll stay in here and pay for my crimes but there's something I need from you," he said, his eyes fixed on Damian. "What?" Damian asked, taken aback. "I want to hand over all my properties to you. I want you take everything and I know you're going to take good care of them. I'm sorry I choose money over family and I want to make sure I change completely."He paused and looked a
Ron looked at the man in front of him, who had buried his head back in a stack of documents and a sigh escaped his lips. He had become a shadow of his old self since his wife died three years ago. He had now become distant and cold, just like he was before he got married. The day his wife died, it was like a dark cloud had descended over the entire family. He was lost in his own grief, unable to find solace and move forward. The office became tense and morale plummeted. Damian would snap at anyone who annoyed him. Everything had gone back to the way they were before Maya came into their lives. Damian, who wasn't able to stay in the house located in the city moved back to the isolated house his grandfather had built. The house wasn't far away from the bustling city and was surrounded by thick tree and bushes. The child they adopted was sent out to a boarding school in the United Kingdom, where Master Dan lived. The bond between the grandfather and grandson died gradually and it was
It was a recent photo of a woman who had a striking resemblance to his dead wife. She was smiling radiantly and she looked well and alive. Damian blinked several times to make sure he wasn't dreaming or hallucinating. Because he saw his wife, he was there when she was buried and he never left the corpse's side. He saw her lying lifeless in the casket. So who was this woman?Maybe it's because he just had an emotional breakdown or so he thought but reality kept hitting him in the face. Confusion and disbelief flooded Damian's mind. How could this be? Was this a cruel prank or a case of mistaken identity? He couldn't shake off the feeling that it was indeed Maya in the photo.If she wasn't dead then whose funeral did they have? How did she leave the hospital? We're the doctors aware of it? Did they have a hand in this? Why didn't she reach out to any of them these three years? Was she really happy with the life she was living? Had she forgotten about all of them? Questions after quest
Renne took in a deep breath a rubbed her forehead. She looked at the two men in her office. "Like I said earlier, I'm not Maya. I don't even know who she is and I'm confused here. I thought we were going to have a meeting__ you know a business meeting," she said, looking tired all of a sudden. She wasn't really in the mood for all this. "I know you're angry with me. I know you hate me because of all the things I have put you through but you can't pretend you don't know me. Don't you think it's too harsh?" Damian asked, tears pooling up in his eyes as he knelt before the woman he loved. She was now looking at him as if he was stranger, as if they had never met. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," she said gently."Of course you do," Damian said raising his voice a little and holding shoulders as the same time. "I'm your husband and you're my wife.What I don't know is why you're pretending but do you know what I've been through for the past three years," Damian aske
"Mommy! Mommy!Mommy!," a tiny voice squealed as Renee walked in the noisy assembly room. She smiled brightly as she saw the owner of the voice running towards her, his whole face lit up with joy and his little feet couldn't move fast enough to reach her. He run towards her, his tiny arms outstretched. Renee couldn't help but chuckle as she lifted the little bundle of joy into her arms. He wrapped his tiny arms around her neck, in the biggest, tightest hug he could manage."You came!" She said excitedly. "Of course I did, I would never miss this for anything," she said, tickling his tummy a bit. She started walking to where the other students and parents were, when a familiar figure blocked her path. "Akle (Uncle) Ace," Dennis grinned, opened his arms wide for the man in front of him to take him."Hey little guy," Ace grinned, running his fingers through Dennis's hair: "Are you excited to perform?" He asked and the little boy nodded enthusiastically. "Ok…so how about this? You go
"Who's there?" He heard someone asked but Renee didn't speak. It was the voice of a male which Damian quickly assumed was her father until the person got to where she was standing. "You?" They both chorused, staring and glaring at each other in shock. Damian watched the man with a kid in his hands. "Oh I see…." Damian chuckled, looking at Renee, then at Ace. "I see why you pretended not to know me. You run away to get married to your lover, making all of us think you're dead," he said bitterly, his eyes piercing through Renee's soul."What the hell are you talking about?" A confused Renee asked."Quit pretending Maya," Damian cut her off, and for some reason, Renee felt her heart clench. "Do you have any idea what you put us through? Do you even know how much grandpa suffered after we all thought you were dead? He doesn't even talk to me anymore, everyone thinks it's my fault but here you are, enjoying life with your lover," he said, a mix of sadness and bitterness in his voice."I
"Please don't hit my stomach, spare my innocent baby, please," the woman begged for mercy, desperate to save her unborn child. But these people, driven by their own dark ambitions were unmoved by her pleas. "Don't spare her, hit her," a familiar voice yelled from the corner of the room. They continued their assault, inflicting more pain on her. Renee was suddenly jolted awake, her heart racing from the terrible nightmare she just had. As she sat up on the bed, her mind was clouded with remnants of the dream, she took a deep breath trying to calm herself. Why does she keep having this particular nightmare? Was there something she wasn't remembering? What was going on? Why did the nightmare feel so real? Why was she begging them to spare her child? Who were those men? And why did one particular voice familiar?She shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine as she remembered the dark shadows and haunting images. Unable to shake off the lingering unease, Renee decided to get out of b
"M...Maya?" Oliver stammered as if he had seen a ghost. "I....you... what?...how?" He didn't know how to form his words. Renee, sending his uneasiness flashed a warm smile and extended an arm before saying,"I'm Renee and you are?" "Maya....I mean Oliver...Oliver is my name," He stammered pinching the skin between his brows. He still could not believe the woman in front of him wasn't Maya. "Have you seen my son? He came this way," Renee asked flashing a smile. "No...no" Oliver said and a tiny giggle followed. "Oh that was me," Oliver chuckled, moving to stand by the bed defensively, yet the giggling continued.'' Hmmm.....I think I know where it's coming from," Renee said with a bright smile, before crouching down to look under the bed. "I see you," she giggled as soon as she came face to face with Dennis. The little boy laughed and crawled out to his mother. " He gave me away," he laughed pointing to Oliver. "What's going on here?" A deep voice had them turning to the door.
"H...have we met?" Renee said, even though the woman stayed clearly that they meet again."You don't recognize me? I'm hurt," the woman said, playfully putting her hand on her chest. "I... I think you're mistaking me for someone else," Renee flashed a smile. "I'm Renee, nice to meet you," She added, stretching out her arm."Renee???" "Oh sorry Miss.....I thought you were someone else, I mean you look a lot like....""Maya??" Renee raised a brow and the woman nodded. "That's my twin sister," Renee smiled and the woman's lips formed and "O". "Maya never told me she had a twin sister," the woman told Renee. "I didn't know I had a twin sister myself," Renee shrugged."What? How?" The woman asked, curiosity laced in her voice. " Long story," Renee said, not ready to share that piece of information with someone she just met. "I get it....Amber by the way," the woman smiled, finally shaking Renee's outstretched arm."Nice to meet you Amber," Renee said, although she couldn't shake off
Ace paced around his room angrily, his brows furrowed and his fists clenched that his knuckles almost turned white. Everything was getting ruined. Everything he had worked hard for almost accomplished. Why the hell did Damian come into Renee's life? His mind drifted back to earlier at the dining room, Renee and Damian chatting as if they had known each other for years. As he paced back and forth, his mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. Anger and frustration clouded his brain making it difficult for him to find peace. He groaned loudly and tugged on his hair, looking for a way to vent out his anger."Ace, can I talk to you?'' Renee's voice sounded at the door, snapping him out of thoughts."How long have you been here?" He asked with furrowed brows."I've been for here a couple of seconds," Renee shrugged, walking towards the bed. She sat and motioned for him to join her.Ace rolled his eyes and sat beside her." Speak,'' he said coldly. " What's wrong with you?" Renee frown
"Welcome home,"Renee turned to see a woman dressed in a maid's uniform smiling at her. "We all missed you so much, especially boss," the maid said, turning to Damian who was busy in the phone."I....." "I'll take your bags to your room," the maid said, taking the bag Renee was holding."Take them to the guest room," Damian's voice made the maid freeze. "But.....""Just do as I say," He said in a hard authoritative tone.The maid stared at the two of them before scurrying off. "I'm sorry. It's just that.....""I understand....I really look a lot like my sister,'' Renee smiled and Damian nodded, ignoring the squeeze he felt in his chest."I'll take you to your room so that you can have some rest," Damian managed a slight smile as he led her to the guest room."Where's Dennis?' Renee asked, when they finally arrived at the door to her room."He's outside with Ace, I can bring him here if you want me to," Damian offered but Renee shook her head gently."No, it's fine. I think I'll ha
"Mom," Dennis said, a bright smile playing on his lips when he saw Renee walk in." My darling," Renee smiled, running over to hug him."I'm so sorry baby. Mummy is sorry for leaving you like that," Renee said, showering his face with kisses. Dennis giggled at how ticklish it felt."Why did you even go out there to the pool?" Renee scolded him, tears suddenly feeling her eyes. "Huh?!" Dennis frowned."Oh Dennis, grandpa and I were so worried about you?" Mrs. Peterman piped in before Dennis could speak." Yes Dennis, thank God Ace was there just in time," Mr. Peterman said. They spent the next few minutes chatting happily until someone cleared his throat. All eyes moved to the direction and they saw Ace walking inside with a huge Mickey Mouse stuffie. "Uncle Damion.....you brought Mickey with you," Dennis squealed in excitement." Yes little guy, Mickey is here to tell you to get well soon and not give mummy too much trouble," Damian said, handing the toy to Dennis. " He's so huge
The drive back home was in utter silence as they were both lost in their thoughts.Renee prayed silently that her son was fine and he wasn't in any grave danger. As they pulled drove into the neighborhood, they could hear the siren from the ambulance which made Renee's heart stop. "Please drive faster Damian," Renee said anxiously. As Damian pulled up in front of the house, Renee saw the flashing lights of the ambulance parked outside the house. Panic and concern washed over her as she wondered what could have happened? Is her son alright? She got out of the car immediately Damian stopped.Neighbors were outside, curiosity drawn all over their faces as they wondered what was happening. The sound of muffled voices and hurried footsteps added tension to the air.She saw the paramedics walking out with a stretcher. Her heart broke into a million pieces and guilt flooded her being as she watched her son's unconscious body on the stretcher." Are you satisfied now? Are you happy? Did yo
"Let's see how much longer you can keep up with the act," Damian chuckled lightly as he led Renee inside the room. He had specifically asked Ron to make sure the boat was brought here. This was the same boat he and Maya had their date on. If she is really Maya, she would be able to recognize some things and say something that would give her away. Renee, who was unaware of what was going on in Damian's head looked around. It was like she had been here before, she had done this same thing before. "This way," A voice pulled her out of thoughts. She raised her head to see Damian smiling at her. There was a table behind him and since he was blocking it, shoe couldn't see much of the things on it. He walked over to where she was supposed to sit and pulled out a chair for her. After Renee had settled, he also went to take his seat.The table was set with elegance, creating a romantic atmosphere. A crisp white tablecloth adorned the table, complemented by the flickering candlelight in the
"Ace, I'll call you. I can't find Dennis," she said and hung up without waiting for his response. Fear gripped her, her mind started racing with the worst case scenarios. The mall suddenly felt like a labyrinth and time seemed to stand still. "Security help I can't find my son," Renee who was on the verge of tears told a man in a security uniform. Her eyes were frantically scanning the mall. "Relax Madam, what's his name?" "Dennis," Renee said, trying to take in a deep breath. The security guard pulled out a walkie-talkie from his side and brought it to his lips. "A little boy named Dennis has been separated from his mother. He's about…..""Three years old. He's wearing a red Spider-Man shirt, black jeans and a black Nikes," Renee said. "Ok Madam, calm down we'll find him," The security guard said and walked away. Renee kept looking around for any sign of her son. Seconds passed and there was still no sign of Dennis. Her heart was growing heavier with each passing second."He
Ace sat in the little cozy bar he had set in his house. A bottle of wine was resting on the table as he sipped from the glass he was holding. He swirled the glass absentmindedly after every sip, he mind wandered to what he saw today. He saw Renee and Damian kiss passionately in her office and he couldn't get the image out of his head. A rollercoaster of emotions flooded his being. A mix of anger and heartbreak. Doesn't he deserve her love? Isn't he worthy of her love? Isn't he handsome? Isn't he be enough for her? As Ace sat on the barstool, lost in his thoughts,the once inviting atmosphere became suffocating. It was like the walls were closing in on him."I love you Renee. But you don't see that. You always call me your friend or best friend. What kind of friend doesn't see when the other is hurting? Don't I deserve your love?" He mumbled as he got up to leave."I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you end up with me for the rest of your life Renee, even if it means I end up bein