Liam's povI was seated in my new office, going over some files as the CEO of Xavier and Son when I heard a commotion coming from my secretary. She was having an argument with someone, and I could hear her shouting, "You can't see the CEO without an appointment, you can't just go into his office like that." The other woman shouted back, " Do you know who I am?How dare you speak to me in that manner. I want to see Liam and you are telling me trash". The situation was getting out of hand as I heard a sound of slap, I don't know who slapped who. I knew I had to intervene. I stood up from my desk and walked out to see what was going on.When I opened the door, I was shocked to see that the woman my secretary was arguing with was no other person than Lucy. I didn't need to ask how she found out about my company, as it was a well-known and highly respected organization. I took charge of the situation and instructed my secretary to let Lucy in. I have been trying my best to avoid giving L
Liam's povI tried to tiptoe into the house this night again, I was so careful not to make a sound because Asher would be furious if she saw me coming home so late again. We had been fighting about my home coming late for weeks. Lucy always has her way of keeping me at her place longer than I intended. I was so tired that all I wanted was to get into my bed, but I knew I couldn't avoid the inevitable confrontations.I gently opened the glass-paneled golden door of the sitting room, with the intention of sneaking into the bedroom and sleep. At least, I would save the argument for tomorrow. But to my surprise, Asher was standing right in front of the door as if she had heard my footsteps. "Welcome, you're home late,"she said coolly. I almost jumped out of my skin. I wasn't expecting her to be awake at this hour. Usually, she should be sound asleep by now."I called your personal assistant, and she said you left the office quite early today. But now you're coming home at this ungodly h
Lucy's povI had attended my friend's birthday party when I cited a familiar face as I mingled with the guests. It was Stanley, someone I had thought was living in Germany, but here he was, in America, attending the same party. Anger ripped through me and I made my way over to him, determined to confront him about his presence. "I'm here for a seminar," Stanley explained, his tone calm."But how did you know about this party?" I demanded, my voice rising in anger. "And how do you know my friend?""Your friend's elder brother is my friend. I'm staying with them while I'm here in America. She told me that she knows you, and that you would be attending the party," he said in his cool tone."That girl is not thinking clearly, why would she tell you I would be at the party" I exclaimed, turning to look for her. But Stanley grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks."Lucy, please I love you" he said, his voice calm and filled with emotions. But that only made resentment grow inside me like
Lucy's povI desperately tried to think of a way to get Stanley out of the toilet without Liam finding out, but my mind was drawing a blank. I refused eye contact with Liam, and hummed quietly to myself several times. I felt sorry for Stanley for the heat that he must be enduring as it was over four hours. The toilet window is very small for enough ventilation. My worry made it hard for me to be calm as I was just thinking of a way to get him out but he would surely pass through the Living room before he could exit.Liam could tell something was off about me, and he kept asking what was wrong. But I just kept telling him that I was fine. Because how could I tell him that a man slept over at my place, and that I had been so drunk that I didn't even remember what happened? "I need to rest in the bedroom," Liam said ."I am tired of being ignored, you've been acting strange since I got here.""Em…em" I stammered, not sure of what to say. My pulse raised as I struggled to control my quive
Asher's povI have been so worried that I have not gotten pregnant even though our marriage is not up to six months. My dream was to have a child before my first year wedding anniversary but I'm scared it won't happen that way. My prayer everyday to God was to give me a child. I need someone to play with in the house as Liam already made me quit my job. Liam is not the same caring husband I knew so I think a child will be a replacement. He stays out late and gives me many excuses for his behavior.I confronted him every time but my husband is so smart that he would cover up. Although, hasn't hurt me physically, his emotional distance is hurting me deeply.I decided to go to the hospital for a checkup today since he's home. I didn't inform him earlier because I knew he would find a way to convince me that it was not necessary. I have been so anxious that I just want to be sure that everything is okay, and that there's no medical reason why I haven't been able to get pregnant.I dressed
"Thank God you got here in time," the doctor said to Asher, his voice heavy with relief. She had cried her eyes off, but now she felt a little relief. Just moments ago, she had feared the worst for Liam. He had been so still, his pulse so faint, that Asher had been afraid he might have lost him. But the doctor's words gave her hope that perhaps, her husband would be okay."It wasn't just the fall that caused his collapse," the doctor continued. "He has low blood pressure, his blood pressure has drastically dropped below normal and we will need to give him a close monitoring" Asher's heart sank. Different thoughts ran through her mind at the thought of low blood pressure. She cried silently, tears streaming down hisface without a sound. Just as the doctor was about to say something, the door flew open and Liam's parents rushed into the room. His mother was shouting, "What did you say happened to my son, Asher?" Hot tears burned her cheeks. Liam's father, Dr. Xavier was trying to cal
As Asher drove into her compound, the security guard rushed over to greet her "How is Mr. Liam's health?" he asked, his voice full of compassion."He's fine," Asher replied, too tired to talk further. The security guard nodded, sensing that she wasn't in the mood to talk. He stepped aside and let her pass, he watched as she entered the house with sympathy.As soon as she stepped into her house, she collapsed into a chair, her body and spirit exhausted. She couldn't stop thinking about the events that had led to Liam collapsing, and another round of tears well up in her eyes. Even though the doctor had said that Liam's collapse wasn't caused by hitting his head, she still felt a deep sense of guilt and responsibility. She breathed out heavily and prayed silently for Liam's recovery.The sudden ringing of Liam's phone, which was sitting on the table, startled Asher out of her thoughts. She looked at the screen and saw that the caller was listed as "Ly." Who could that be, she wondered.
Liam's pov"He just opened his eyes," Asher yelled, running out of the room. Although I couldn't see clearly, I recognized her voice.I tried to sit up but the kind of headache that I got made me fall back to bed.I began to wonder what was happening as I heard noises outside the room and many footsteps running into the room. My head was blank, I couldn't get what was happening. I wanted to sit up again and look around, but my body felt weak and heavy. Then I heard my mother's voice running inside the room and calling my name. "Liam" she called, her voice filled with excitement. I wanted to respond to her, but my mouth felt dry and my tongue felt like lead.She rushed over to me, grasping my hands in hers. I could see her clearly now, and I noticed my father and Asher's parents standing behind her. I saw an IV drip attached to my hand, and something like a blood pressure cuff on my arm, connected to a monitor.l was disoriented, trying to process all the information flooding my senses
If not for Stanley's earnest pleas on Liam's behalf, Asher might never have answered Liam's desperate calls. But when she learned of Elizabeth's dire condition, all previous animosity dissipated into thin air.Almost breathless with panic, Asher demanded the hospital's address, leaving Liam little to no time to beg for her presence. Her maternal instincts kicked into overdrive, and she was already making a beeline for the hospital before Liam could even thank her."Baby please, eat at least two spoons." Liam said as he tried to coax Elizabeth into taking a bite of the food, her lips stayed sealed in stubborn defiance. Even as he gently spoon fed her, she turned her head away, refusing to eat."I've called your mother and she will soon be here." He said, his tone soft but firm. Elizabeth's silence spoke volumes, conveying her hurt and her obstinacy in the face of Liam's efforts.The spoon hit the tray with a clatter, signaling Liam's frustration and resignation. At that moment, he felt
"Elizabeth" Liam screamed, his voice quivering with shock as he entered his house and only to beheld his daughter, motionless on the ground. He rushed to her, shook her motionless body in a desperate attempt to awaken her but she was just still.Elizabeth had been starving herself, in the aftermath of Asher's departure.She ignored her meals, and couldn't stop crying every day. Her eyes had remained puffy and red from the endless hours of weeping each day. Liam's plea for her to eat only fell on deaf ears, as she would still refuse all food, even her favorite food because of her mother being absent. In a flurry of panic, he scooped her up and rushed to his car, speeding to the hospital, ignoring the jeers of the onlookers, his entire being was focused on one thing, getting his darling daughter to the doctors before it was too late. As Liam sprinted into the hospital with Elizabeth's limp body slung over his shoulder, his panic trumped all protocol. Emergency room nurses, instantly d
In the opulent setting of Stanley's luxurious residence, Liam relaxed on an exquisite couch, his eyes fixated on the pristine glass of wine on the table as he patiently waited for Stanley to return from the washroom.Stanley had called him, inviting him to a small party at his house which he said they would be having with one of his friends. With eager anticipation, Liam anticipated the arrival of their guest."My apologies, Liam, for keeping you waiting." Stanley said with a smile as he walked back to the sitting room, taking his seat next to Liam."No problem, I'm enjoying the ambiance." Liam replied, smiling back."Our guest should be here any moment." Stanley said, as he picked up the remote and turned up the volume on the TV, allowing the actors' dialogues to fill the room."Who is this your friend and why the party,what is the party for? I don't understand." Liam asked."Don't worry friend, it's meant to be a surprise. You will know her when she comes." "Her." Liam asked, confu
The room practically crackled with tension as Liam and Asher exchanged heated words. Liam's face was flushed with fury, as he raged at Asher for hiding her past as a lesbian while in school. He stood like an immovable mountain, resistant to her pleas for understanding. But Asher, after exhausting her efforts to plead with Liam, had reached her breaking point. She stood her ground, matching Liam's ferocity word for word. "This happened before you met me". She said, her voice raised in anger."Have you ever caught me in such an act since we got married." Liam's words were bullets, piercing Asher's soul with every sentence. "You kept this your dirty secret from me, your husband." he seethed, his eyes blazing with hurt and anger. "The woman was even blackmailing you, demanding money in exchange for her silence, and you've been paying her off all this time without me knowing?" His words shook with rage, his hands clenched into fists at his sides."Liam, I know I should have told you abo
"I'm only asking for a small sum of money, and here you are, making such a scene." Pearl said, her voice raised. Her anger ranged as she confronted Asher in her own home, using the compromising photos as leverage."Do you think I came here to joke or play with you? I came to reveal your dirty secret to your husband, but God seems to be on your side today. However, I won't leave without what I came for. Hand over that money, or your secret will no longer be safe with me.""Pearl, to you, a hundred million dollars is a small amount of money? Pearl, are you in your right senses" Asher said, her face hardened with frustration."You are spitting nonsense Asher". Pearl said, her face stern. "If you are not succumbing to my demands, consider your husband being aware of your bad past". She said again, her voice cutting through the air like a whip.The air seemed to thicken with the weight of Pearl's rage as Asher crumbled under the pressure, slumping down onto the nearest chair in defeat. For
Asher's POVMy hands were immersed in a sudsy mountain of laundry when my phone's beep rang out, signaling a new message. I glanced at my phone's screen and saw that the message that came in was from Pearl and it read "I need to discuss something very important with you, and I would like you to come to my house to discuss it."My mind whirred with possibilities as to what she could be talking about, nothing coming to mind that couldn't be discussed via text or call. Anxiously, I dialed her number to find out if it could be discussed over the phone. The call went unanswered at first, but my persistence paid off when Pearl finally picked up. There was no friendly greeting or small talk, only her urgent message, "I'll send you my home address. It's very serious please." She ended the call after that before I could even utter a word.My mind raced with questions as I rushed to finish my laundry, speeding through the last stages of my cleaning routine. As I started to dress, a text from P
Liam's heart rate spiked as he walked into the sitting room, stunned to find the very woman whose identity he had been clamoring for, chatting with Asher in their house. His jaw dropped as if the world had suddenly tilted on its axis.Standing up with a warm smile, Pearl greeted him, but Liam's response was chilly at best, sending an icy chill through the room. Asher, caught in the crossfire, found himself quickly whisked away upstairs by a visibly agitated Liam, leaving Pearl alone to contemplate the reasons behind Liam's coldness."What is she doing here, and remember you haven't told me who she is?" Liam said, his face stern."Baby, like I told you earlier, Pearl is my old friend. I had wanted to tell you what had transpired between us, but you've been so busy lately." Her words hung in the air as Liam absorbed their meaning, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion."We had a terrible fight before graduation, which was why I reacted so poorly when I saw her." She lied, her
Asher's POVAs I reclined in the comfort of my room, my daughter, Elizabeth, hurriedly entered with a look of bewilderment etched on her face. "Mom". She said "There is someone at the door asking for you," she said her voice laced with perplexity. "It's a woman, and she looks like that strange aunty we met at Uncle Stanley's birthday party. I think it's that aunty Pearl". Her eyes, wide with surprise, revealed the flutter of curiosity that stirred within her.On hearing Pearl's name, panic gripped my soul, and I sprung from the bed with haste. A silent prayer ascended from my heart, a plea that it wasn't her after all. And as I dashed downstairs, my heart racing in anxious fear, I was thankful that Liam wasn't around. If Pearl had indeed graced my doorstep, Liam's presence would have ignited a storm of trouble.My feet carried me swiftly to the living room, where my worst fears were confirmed. Pearl was already sitting comfortably, her very presence an unwelcome enigma. How did she di
Elizabeth's POVMy heart was racing as I approached my father. "Dad," I said, my voice shaking slightly with nerves. He turned from his TV program and smiled at me. "How are you, darling?" he asked, his voice calm and gentle.I'm scared the conversation might not turn out well, but I had to push through the discomfort. I had become desperate to ask him why he had such a negative view of female relationships. To him, it seemed that any sign of closeness between women was automatically seen as lesbianism. I need to understand why he had been so judgmental and narrow minded.My mind raced for the right words, but my mouth remained stubbornly silent. I took a deep breath, willing the words to come out. "I'm fine, dad," I replied, my voice still slightly trembling. "I want to ask you something." I managed to say.My father seemed to sense the gravity of my words and adjusted his seat to face me directly. "Of course, sweetheart," he said, his brows slightly furrowed in concern. "What is it