Zara spent the next hour tending to Jayden. She gave him some medicine for the pain and spent several minutes lulling him to sleep. By the time she walked out of his bedroom, Jordan was still sitting in the living room.His bleeding nose had been cleaned and bandaged with the help of Mia. They were discussing what happened. But when Zara walked over, Mia excused herself, citing that she had an important call to make."Does it hurt?"Jordan brushed his finger over the band-aid before replying, "Like hell! But it's all good.""Sorry," Zara said, twisting the side of her face as if she could feel his pain. Then, she looked at him appreciatively. "Thanks for standing up for me. I was so shocked and confused at the time."He flashed a charming smile. "Don't mention it."The two of them sat in silence for a minute. They turned to the TV, but Zara occasionally caught Jordan stealing glances at her.He suddenly piped up, "You should hire a gatekeeper, so no one will get into this house withou
The cops nearby immediately ran to Steven's side. Cora was screaming hysterically while shaking the bars of the temporary holding cell as if she was a she-hulk. "Someone let me out of here!" Everyone turned a deaf ear to her. In a matter of seconds, the paramedic was deployed and Steven was taken away to the clinic. It took about thirty minutes before the cop in charge of the case received news that Steven was now in stable condition. "I need to go see my father! Let me out!" Cora yelled for the umpteenth time. The cop banged his desk again. "Enough, Ms. Anderson. I just said that your father is in a stable condition. His life isn't in danger, so until we get the matter straight, you won't be released. You had better cooperate with us. Tell the truth!" Looking like a madwoman at the moment, Cora screamed at the top of her lungs, "I said it before and I'll say it again. I didn't hit Jayden. He was being a brat, so I just tapped his head in correction." "What do you have to say abou
It was as if the air was sucked out of Zara the moment Scott's lips landed on hers. She held her breath. To be exact, her lungs failed her all of a sudden. Her eyes were bulging out of the sockets as she stood frozen on the spot.Zara's mind went blank as he moved his steamy lips against hers. The moistness was alien at first. Before she knew what was happening, he patted her lips with his tongue. He gave the insides of her lower lip ticklish licks and bites.Wrapping one hand around her waist, he pulled her body closer to his. Her soft bosom pressed against his hard chest. A strange heat traveled between Zara's thighs. She swallowed hard as her eyes fluttered close. Unknowingly, she clutched Scott's shirt for dear life. Her lips soon moved in sync with his. After smiling against her lips for a millisecond, he increased the tempo. He sucked her tongue until it hurt a little.Zara didn't know where she was or who she was. She was completely lost. The car key in her hand dropped to the
Shock pulsated through Zara. She hugged herself as she looked at the second man's back. It was familiar. Far too familiar, actually. She held her breath when he turned around."Scott?"It was really Scott. His face was twisted in a frown as he glanced at her. His eyes were also glistering like never before."What are you doing here?" she blurted out, glancing at the drunken man who was now wincing in pain on the floor.Before Scott could utter a word, the man sat up, holding his back. He fired a finger pistol at his attacker and yelled, "Hey, do you want to die? I'm gonna kill you!"A spasm of fury flitted across Scott's face. He murdered the man with his eyes as he made a beeline for him. "Don't get your hopes up, idiot! I'm going to kill you first!"With that, he punched him in the face again and again. "You. Fucking. Asshole!"Zara completely froze. It wasn't until she saw blood oozing from the man's nose that she finally snapped out of it. She rushed over to them and grabbed Scott
There was a time when Scott was even known as Beecroft's No. 1 Playboy. As far back as when he was a teenager, he attracted attention from females, both old and young. He was like a celebrity in his high school. Girls sent him tons of gifts and cards during Valentine's. His locker used to overflow so much that he could start a gift shop business.Scott never dated any girl in high school even though it would have been pretty easy for him. But once he got into college, he went on a journey of partying and getting laid almost every day. One in every five ladies at his college had a thing or two to say about his dick.Although he stopped partying and having sex with every Jane, Stella, and Bellamy just before graduation, he couldn't shake off the name he built for himself. Once a playboy, always a playboy, right?During the early years of his taking control of Brown and Co, pictures of him going in and out of hotels with women were always plastered on several newspaper pages and gossip b
Zara read the email again and again. This was the last thing she expected to see in her inbox on this cold night. After a time, she laughed, "Oh, Scott! It seems I am not your only enemy."Brown and Co. was founded almost a century ago. Margaret Brown had started it with her now late husband. And when Scott's father became an adult, he took over and built it into what it was today. Actually, the Brown and Co. of fifteen years ago was much more stable than the one of today.Scott was finding it hard to fill his father's shoes though he never liked to admit it. His grandmother didn't blame him, considering the fact that there was no one to teach him the ropes of running the company. She had done her bit. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.Thinking of how Scott always stayed up late to work and attended several business functions, Zara couldn't help feeling pity for him. She knew more than anyone else how much the company meant to him.Just as she padded to her bed to sleep, her phone rang
A gray-haired woman dressed in a cherry-colored oversize coat and a black dress walked in slowly, aiding her body with a silver cane. "Grandma!" Scott exclaimed and then rushed to the woman. "What are you doing here?"Margaret snapped without fail. "What sort of question is that? How could I stay home when someone is about to steal my company from me? And you, why didn't you tell me?"Scott backed up when his grandmother reached out to smack his arm. He then lowered his head like a boy. "I didn't want you to worry. Believe me. I had it under control.""We will talk about that later, you naughty boy!" Margaret sucked her teeth and shook her head. She slowly slipped into the chair at the edge of the table and then propped her cane on the armrest.The air in the room instantly became awkward. While most of the shareholders looked away in embarrassment, a couple of them looked at her like she was some queen. Zara was the only one who had a deadpan expression. As for Steven, he looked sho
This statement brought color to Zara's cheeks. Not because she was pleased, but because she was trying so hard not to look flustered. Her heart was pounding as Margaret stared at her, waiting for an answer.Although Zara was sorely tempted to say that her grandmother didn't want any visitors, she knew that it would hurt Margaret's feelings. She also shuddered at the thought of telling the truth. After a minute of burying her face in the menu, she finally responded, "When I left home, my grandmother was feeling a little under the weather. She wants to rest for the rest of the day. If you like, I could set up a lunch date for both of you in a restaurant of your choice. Maybe this restaurant. They have good meals on the menu.""Oh, is that so?" Margaret's eyes slanted. "But why can't I just follow you home? It wouldn't hurt her for me to be with her today. We used to have tea in your family's luscious garden. Besides, I miss that place. I'd love to accompany you home and spend the weeken
Ten months later."Wake up, Daddy, Mommy! It's morning already!"Scott and Zara, who were snuggled up in bed, woke up to the excited squeal of their son. Zara opened her eyes and yawned. She nudged her husband as he was already drifting to sleep again."Wake up or he will come jumping on the bed again," she whispered to him.Scott stirred and rubbed his eyes. "But I am so tired. You wore me out last night.""It's not my fault. The baby wanted to eat a lot last night and she refused to let me sleep until I satisfied the cravings.""You know that's not what I'm talking about," Scott chuckled. "How can a pregnant woman have so much energy?"Hearing this, Zara slapped his arm while blushing. "Shush! Don't let Jayden hear you or he will start asking questions again. Help me up, will you?"Scott pulled her closer and gave her a kiss. Looking at her slightly swollen face, he said, "Good morning, beautiful.""Me too! I want a kiss!" Jayden shouted, running into the room without shutting the do
Time seemed to stop as Zara let out a scream that reached the ears of the policemen outside the gate. She lost the sense of her surroundings as she looked at Scott's face. Even the gunshots from nearby and the thud that came moments later didn't draw her attention.Her tears fell on his face. He stretched his bloodstained lips again, flashing his red teeth at her. Coughing, he muttered, "Take care of Jayden. I love you two… So so much."Zara nodded her head. "I will. I'll take care of him. But don't leave me. Let's take care of him together, okay? I can't live without you. Stay with me, okay? I love you, Scott. Always have."Still smiling, Scott raised his hand and touched her face. He held her gaze for seconds which seemed like minutes. His hand slowly dropped. Zara held on to it and continued to tell him to stay with her.But at this moment, his eyes slowly closed. Zara's cry increased in tempo alongside Jayden's. The little boy was just as horrified as his mother. Zara shook Scott'
All of a sudden, a loud noise came from not too far away. Portia and Cora looked in the direction of the exit."What was that?" they uttered at the same time.A gunshot came from a distance above. It was followed by several thuds, louder than the first one."It's the police! You are surrounded. Surrender right now!" a shout came from above.Portia immediately swung into action. "Stay here! I don't think they have found this place. I'll go handle them. Don't let these two get away, okay?"Being instructed, Cora nodded her head even though she was shaking. She sat on the ground while still holding Jayden's hands together. Portia quickly headed for the entrance with the knife still in her hand.Outside, several policemen broke down the door of the house with multiple battering ram. They took several positions while the best of them matched into the kitchen with guns.The door of the pantry was kicked down in the blink of an eye. They broke into twos, looking around in the pantry. A duo s
"That shoe!" Scott's eyes widened as he leaned forward. He zoomed in on the live footage to have a better look. The other men also opened their eyes wide. Their eyes were on Portia's pair of blue and white trainers."I have seen that shoe somewhere before," Scott mumbled as he began typing on the keyboard again. Another tab opened. He clicked on the surveillance video Portia had given to them. Without wasting time, he looked at the footwear Zara had on when she arrived at the Andersons' home. It was a pair of pink and black sneakers. Quickly, he fast-forwarded the video to when she was leaving. Strangely, her footwear was no longer pink and black. It was blue and white!Scott increased the brightness level of the screen and zoomed in more just to make sure he wasn't mistaken. The footwear had indeed changed."Holy smokes!" Anthony exclaimed at the mystery that was unfolding before him.In silence, Scott scrolled up the body of "Zara". It was at this moment he noticed that the body s
The person she was looking at was Scott. She imagined slapping him in that hard face of his for all the pain he caused her child. The nerve of him to show up here after everything!"Mrs. Anderson... Mrs. Anderson," Detective Marshall called out, snapping his fingers.Finally, Portia drew her gaze away from Scott. She looked back at the cop and said, "Can't we talk here?""I'm afraid, no. I also need to speak to your daughter."Portia turned. "I could call her out.""No, there's no need. To the best of my knowledge, she's under house arrest, I don't want to stress her more than she already is. Also, she could get into trouble with her probation officer. Just let us in. Or is there something you don't want to see in there?"Hearing this, Portia's face changed immediately. She eyed him and then turned around. She walked into the house, leaving the door open. The four men walked in immediately.As soon as they entered, Scott's eyes swept around the house. He walked around while the others
"Mommy!" Jayden screamed as soon as he saw Zara sitting on the chair with her head hanging low. A rope was tied tightly around her. There was a dry patch of blood on her neck. Wisps of her hair stuck to her sweaty face. Her hands were tied together in front of her pelvis. Her collarbone was visible at this time, it was deeper than it had ever been. At the sight of his mother in this state, Jayden leaped to his feet and darted to her. Before he could get through the door of the cubicle where Zara was, Cora pushed him down with a smack. He fell to the dusty floor, hurting his back yet again. He screamed, "Aaaah!""Shut it!" Cora roared at him, raising her hand to hit him again.Jayden held his lips as he looked up at Cora with fear. His pale face instantly turned red. He coughed hard but still didn't let go of his lips. Suddenly, something caught his attention. He looked away from Cora. He soon screamed again, "Mommy!"Cora turned to look in the same direction as the little boy. She
Cora drew her head back. Looking up at the ceiling, she let out an evil laughter that reverberated in the entire living room. There was a bloodstain on the figurine. The sight of it made her more joyful. She looked down at Zara again and smirked. "Stupid bitch!"The patter of flip-flops suddenly came from the side. It was followed by a scream-whisper, "Cora! Why did you do that?"Cora looked at her mother with a smile still on her face. "I told you she was going to come, Mom. She was about to search the whole house. I had to stop her."Holding her forehead, Portia didn't know what to say for a while. She looked upstairs to make sure Steven was nowhere in sight, then she asked, "How did she get here? Did she come in her car or taxi?""I don't know!" Cora shrugged. "Why do you ask?"Portia put two fingers on Zara's neck. After confirming that there was a pulse, she said, "Use your head, Cora! We can't just let her go. And if we keep her here, the cops are gonna come here. You could be s
The mood in the Hall family's home was sadder than it had ever been in more than fifteen years when Zara's parents died. At the time, many people were crying, but today, it was a one-man crying marathon.Zara, who hadn't taken a shower since the day of Jayden's kidnap, dragged herself from the sofa and sat on the cold floor. Her crying increased in tempo. She dragged her greasy hair and scratched her red face. She looked like a woman who had just lost her husband.Mia moved closer and reached out. "You need to stop crying, Zara. You have been crying for more than two days.""If I don't cry, what else can I do? Eh! What else can I do? My son is missing. And the police keep telling me stories upon stories without having a single clue as the where Jayden is. Yet, I am not supposed to cry?" Zara asked sniffing hard.She suddenly slapped Mia's hand off her shoulder. "Leave me alone. Let me cry!"On the sofa opposite the two young ladies, Karen was seated in casual clothes. Her eyes were he
"Yes!" Scott punched the air as he stared at the masterpiece he had made. There was a big smile on his face at this moment. He had taken the day off work and spent the entire morning and noon painting the huge Spiderman figure on the wall of a spare room.With one of his hands on his hip, he muttered to himself, "I just have to put a child's bed here and make it more comfortable. Then, I have to convince Zara to allow him stay the night a few times."The thought of bringing up the topic made Scott shiver. He could already imagine her shooting him a deathly glare. But he was going to give it a shot anyway. "She can't kill me, can she?"Scott chuckled as he imagined her agreeing after his incessant pleas. "She can be very stubborn, but once I make her see the good in this, she will surely agree."As Scott continued to talk to himself, there was a knock on the door. The nanny's voice came from outside, "Mr. Brown, your phone has been ringing. Sorry to disturb you."Scott turned to look a