CHAPTER 140 LILY’S POV After we dropped the kids off at school, I headed to the office. Robert had wanted to take me in his sedan but I refused bluntly, having no other choice but to board a taxi. The last thing I wanted was to keep being close to him. If I didn’t have to see him again then the lingering feelings I had for him will dissipate completely. Worse, if he dropped me off at the company and Noah saw him, it could spark another fallout between them—something I wasn’t willing to risk after seeing how badly they both injured themselves yesterday. Robert persisted, even instructing his driver to tail me as I walked down the road, attracting a few people’s attention. The only way I was able to ward him off was by threatening to scream and alert nearby policemen that he was harassing me. The fear of those made him give up, although reluctantly. Just because he took the kids to school today and will be bringing them back home doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. I made tha
CHAPTER 141LILY’S POV~ “Noah… Noah…please stop, I’m really not myself today,” I said, trying to stop him but that only made him double his effort.“Don’t push me away Lily,” he said with a breathy lust filled voice. “Please, Lily. Let me make you feel better. I’ll make you feel so good you’ll forget everything about that man.” ~Suddenly, he gripped my chin, angling my face toward his as he leaned in for a kiss, while his other hand moved lower, reaching for my right breast.“I said I’m not in the mood today Noah!” I said with an outburst, standing abruptly and facing him with a shockingly bitter expression on my face. “Can’t you respect that?...”“I’m sorry Lily…” he apologized, pinching his nose as though he wasn’t his usual self earlier and was just regaining his sanity. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what came over me.”My brows pulled in as I stared at him as if I couldn’t recognize him anymore. But he seemed so guilty and ashamed of his action he couldn’t keep a steady eye contac
CHAPTER 142LILY’S POV~ “It’s not that Lily,” he countered with a defeated voice.“Then what is?” I crossed my arms against my chest, pinning him with a hard expectant stare as I tried to keep my flaring temper in check. “Tell me because I really want to know. What makes you think I still have feelings for Robert?” ~Even though he was right, I put on a defensive demeanour so as not to make it obvious. I didn’t know how he was able to figure that out because yesterday I acted all vicious towards Robert, and all these while that I have been asking him for help to destroy Robert was more than enough to prove I hated him with a passion. So, I was so eager to hear what he had to say.“I don’t know, Lily,” he shrugged, his expression grave as if the answer was obvious. “Maybe it’s because you hesitate when it comes to hurting him even though you claim you hate him so much. You let chances of getting back at him slip by, always giving one excuse or the other. And honestly? It’s starting
CHAPTER 143 ROBERT’S POV The day was brighter and livelier than ever. White fluffy and cotton-like clouds stretched thinly across the blue sky, the sun peeking out to cast its rays on the school field which was buzzing with excitement. Colourful banners and balloons were used to decorate every part of the school and some mascots were gambolling around the environment, helping make the kids and parents happier. Loudspeakers blared from the corners of the field, playing loud, upbeat music and occasionally stopping whenever an announcement was to be made. The students were dressed in their special sports uniforms that represented the houses they belonged – red, green, yellow, blue and eagerly waiting to compete. The teachers who were acting as the house masters stood by the sideline assembling, clapping and encouraging the young athletes. Students who weren’t competing or done competing were seated in a small canopy, each for every house, chatting, taking refreshments or ch
CHAPTER 144 ROBERT’S POV ~ “Go!!!” He blew the whistle so hard I saw the veins in his neck bulge. The athletes like bulls released from a gate took to their heels. However, as Liam was about to take off, one of his feet slipped off the track, sending him crashing hard on the ground. ~ Loud gasps echoed from every corner of the field and bleacher where the parents and sponsors sat as though the audience could feel Liam’s pain as he crashed on the floor. At that moment, my heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst, and I stood frozen on the spot as if caught in a nightmare. Liam wasn’t moving. He just lay there motionless, his elbow covering his face as he buried it on the floor. A wave of fear unlike anything I’d ever felt gripped me at the thought that he might be paralyzed. With the way he fell, it was obvious he’d suffer a very bad injury. Before I could react, I saw Lily running down the stairs of the bleachers like one whose house was on fire. “Liam…” her
CHAPTER 145ROBERT’S POV~ Maybe it was truly time to leave. If leaving will bring them peace and free them from the troubles that came with me being around, then I guess it’s time to walk away for good. I don’t want them suffering because of me. ~With my head lowered in shame, I wanted to get up and leave but Liam held my hand to stop me.“Please don’t go, Daddy,” he pleaded with his tear-soaked eyes, holding onto my hand tight despite the pain he was experiencing as though it was a lifeline. “Don’t leave me again please…”My heart was melting in my chest seeing him beg me like that. There was no way I could say no to him, not while he was in this state. So, I brought his fingers close to my lips, even though they were covered in a bit of dirt, and planted a deep kiss on them before rubbing them soothingly.“What are you doing?” Lily glared at me in disgust, irked by what I was doing. “Shouldn’t you be leaving by now?”“Please mum stop..” Liam’s voice was barely above a whisper, ge
CHAPTER 146ROBERT’S POV~ I looked back at my son who seemed like he was going to die in my arms, biting hard on my lips till I almost tasted that metallic tang of blood.“Please don’t die on me, Liam,” I prayed silently in desperation. “Don’t die on your daddy. We still have a lot of things we haven’t done yet. So, please stay put for me and your mummy.” ~It didn’t take long for the ambulance van to arrive. The back of the van was opened and two young female medics putting on matching medical gloves and uniforms alighted. One had short dark hair with large cartoonish eyes while the other was an auburn with freckles splattered all over her cheeks, giving her a somewhat unique look. The wheels of a stretcher squeaked as they pulled it down from the van.Gently as though he was the most fragile thing ever, Liam was lifted off the floor and onto the stretcher and strapped in place. His fever had gone down like the middle-aged medic said it would but his eyes were shut, no longer flick
CHAPTER 147ROBERT’S POVWhile in the van, the medics checked for Liam’s pulse and vitals. I was relieved to know they were all stable with nothing seeming to be out of the ordinary.Arriving at the hospital, Liam was immediately checked into the emergency ward. Lily and I stayed outside the room while the doctor entered to assess him, our hearts thundering so loudly in our chests it could be heard by anyone passing.After some time, the doctor came out with a rather unreadable expression on his face. On seeing him, we rushed to him immediately. He was going to give a statement on Liam’s condition.“How is he doctor?” Lily asked desperately, palming her hand against her chest as if to steady her thumping heart. “Is he going to be okay? Please tell me this is something minor and he’s going to walk again…”I nodded in agreement to what she said, my expression mirroring hers, praying for the doctor to say the yes word. With the way Lily was staring at him intently, it seemed like she mi
LILY’S POV5 years later… The wedding bells rang softly in the cathedral and everyone rose to welcome me, the bride as I graced the aisle in my wedding gown which flowed like a river behind me. My face was covered with a veil, and in my hands was a delicate bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath. My arm was entwined with Frank’s who escorted me down the aisle, to the altar. After I came back to New York, he confessed to helping Scarlett sabotage me at Robert’s company fifteen years back which led to me being sacked. He asked for my forgiveness and I granted it. If he hadn’t brought up the incident, I don’t think I would have remembered because it’s been long. As sign I had truly forgiven him and my intentions towards him were good, I couldn’t think of any other person asides him to walk me down the aisle. We became closer than we were years back after that happened.. The guests were extravagantly dressed, beaming with smiles as their head turned and gazes glued to me in adm
CHAPTER 172LILY’S POV All my life, I don’t think I have ever felt this much hatred radiate from a person. I thought Scarlett’s was intense and overbearing. But Noah’s was on a whole different level. So cold, so menacing, so consuming it chilled my spine. Just how can someone harbour this much hatred to people related to him? He had gagged me, and tied my wrist because I wasn’t making it easy for him with all my persistence and reluctance in going to which ever place he wanted me to go with him. I once heard him say we were going to Fiji, a quiet luxurious island country far from US. Not to mention he had me caged in his brutal dominance. I couldn’t move a single muscle as he pressed the muzzle of that gun against the side of my head, the cold metal reminding me that the slightest move would end it all in a heartbeat. Being at the forefront of all these, I bore the brunt of all that angst, hatred, malice, anger rolling off in waves from him and crashing against me as he shout
CHAPTER 171 NOAH’S POV ~ You might be a lot of things son but you’re not a murderer,” father said, drawing my attention. He’d been torn and shaken to the core after I pointed the gun at his beloved wife, not knowing what to do. “You’re good,” he continued gently, careful with each word that left his lips as if afraid not to provoke me further. “I can see it in you. Just put down the gun, let’s talk things through. We have a lot of things to tell you. A lot of explanations to make. I know you think we abandoned you but we never did.” ~ He attempted to come close, taking slow cautious steps to me. “If you could just let us…” “Don’t come any close or else I’ll put a bullet through your mouth hole!” I snapped like one possessed, pointing the gun at him, my fingers gripping the handle so tight my knuckles turned white. "Did you watch me grow? Do you have any idea what I endured as a child?" I shouted, throwing the words at him like daggers, each one more vicious than the last.
CHAPTER 170 NOAH’S POV ~ Once the kids were settled and ready to fly, I returned my full attention to the rest of the family. I pointed my gun straight to Juliana’s head. “Now, for the final rites.” ~ “Now, for the final rites,” I said with a crooked smile curving my lips, the cold metal clicking as I cocked the gun, ready to take the shot when suddenly, Martin lunged forward, throwing himself in front of her. “No!” he shouted, voice cracking with desperation as his chest rose and fell heavily. “Don’t do this please…! If you have to kill someone, kill me instead!” Fear and panic was written all over their faces. I could even pick out the heavy, disturbing sound of their breaths as it gushed out from the lungs. Did they think the gun was for fancy? Think I won’t shes blood before I left? I whiffed out a frustrated fume, facepalming internally. This Martin was a fool indeed. Was that his genius plan all along, to step in when I wanted to kill someone so he could take the sho
CHAPTER 169NOAH’S POV ~ “The kids now!” I returned my gaze to Juliana with a scowl. She quickly ran into the car and brought them out. ~ As Juliana brought them forward, they cowered in fear, almost on the verge of tears seeing the gun I had to the side of their mum’s head. Liam was in crunches and could barely walk properly while Lila was nervously fiddling with her hair. At the sight of them, Lily jolted as if triggered by their presence, almost freeing herself from my grip. Her muffled cries as she struggled grew louder, more disturbing and unbearable as she desperately tried to break free from my hold. “Keep quiet, woman, or else I’ll hurt them!” I snarled at her, and she became calm like a puppy, her eyes red and puffy as tears mixed with sweat dripped from her eyes and stained her cheeks. She was easy to control. All I had to do was threaten to hurt Robert, the kids, or anyone else close to her, and she’d comply. She was selfless, willing to sacrifice herself for ot
CHAPTER 168NOAH’S POV At the hangar… Lily and I waited at my hangar for Juliana to arrive with the kids so we can be on our way. My private jet was ready and the pilot was inside waiting for us. The kids were the only ones keeping us. If it weren’t for them, I would have left with Lily hours ago. We will be leaving for a quiet luxurious island country far away like I wanted, where no one will ever find us. It’ll be like going on a vacation only that the vacation will last forever. I doubt Lily even told the kids about the idea when I first mentioned it to her because she never liked it in the first place but pretended she needed time and their permission. Juliana, how much I hate calling her name and remembering her stupid face, was already five minutes late. Over the phone while she and Lily was speaking, I made it clear to her I don’t condone lateness. It seems she wants to taste my patience. I brought a gun along. After I take the kids from her, I’m going to kill her. Fi
CHAPTER 167 LILY’S POV I woke up feeling all groggy, like I had been out for days. Whatever sedative he injected me with must have been very strong for me to be feeling this way. Every part of my body ached and throbbed including the part between my legs as I brushed my thighs together to ease the pain and discomfort. Cradling my head, I let out a slight wince as I slowly pulled up from the bed. My vision blurred for a moment before adjusting to my surrounding. I didn’t know how long I’d been unconscious. It was hard to tell because the windows were shut, the room filled with bright, artificial lights, leaving no space for natural sunlight to come in. Then I saw him. Noah. He stood at the foot of the bed, completely unclothed with his member on full display. My breath caught in my throat, the shock of seeing him that way sobering me up completely. My brows knitted deeply, different questions racing through my head. Why was he naked in front of me? What was he planning on d
CHAPTER 166 LILY’S POV ~ A painful trail of tears left my eyes and stained my cheek. I wiped it and looked away, not wanting him to see me in such a state. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change anything. It won’t have any effect on him. The Noah I knew was gone, replaced by a cold, heartless monster of a man. I was too dazed by this discovery to think clearly. I found it so hard to believe. I could have sworn he was good. It felt real. I was sure I wasn’t dreaming. When did he turn into this? ~ “Why are you doing this?” I choked out weakly. “What did he ever do to you?…” “He took everything from me, Lily,” he said, his expression twisted with hatred so deep it made my skin crawl. “You’ve never been in a position where someone takes everything from you without even lifting a finger. So no, I don’t expect you to understand. I’m just returning the favour.” “What could Robert have possibly taken from you for you to want him dead? I mean look at you… you’re perfect. Your life is p
CHAPTER 165 LILY’S POV Arriving at Noah’s place, I quickly made my way to his room only to see him seated on his bedroom chair, his legs crossed on top of the table as he played with a lighter, flicking it on and off. I was shocked to see him like that. But worse, my lips thinned in exasperation as my gaze burned into him. I left everything else I was doing and drove to this place like a mad woman, almost running into a truck only to see he was in perfect condition. “How could you play with my feelings like that?” I shot at him, my expression filled with anger. “You told me you were dying. I left everything else I was doing… I nearly had a heart attack from…” “What exactly were you doing?” He cut me off with a cold, nonchalant tone, not bothering to spare me a glance as his eyes were fixed on the flame. He was looking into them with a ruthless expression as if he wanted to vent his anger by setting something ablaze. I couldn’t help but scoff in a mix of disbelief and