CHAPTER 4
Though I had an apartment I stayed in at times, I lived here. With Robert when it was necessary to play our parts as a couple. The mansion was a sophisticated one situated in the upscale part of the city, surrounded by luxury and servants. I got in and quickly prepared myself for the dinner. As I was making my way to the dining area, I stopped by the mirror in the hallway to adjust my cocktail dress; the sapphire blue colour brought out the blue in my eyes. I also adjusted the wealth of my long brown hair, making sure my appearance was intact before his mother could see me. I learnt his mum was a star actress while young. She has been away since Robert and I got married. We only met briefly, so I didn’t know much about her. Though I overheard the servants once complaining of her being too excessive, easily irritated and difficult to please. So I was in for one heck of a ride. I didn’t understand why she called for such an abrupt dinner. But whatever the reason, I just hoped it wasn’t something alarming. I couldn’t take any chances; everything had to be perfect so she wouldn’t have the wrong impression of me. She and Robert were settling down when I arrived, the servants already serving a dinner of veggie salad and grilled fish, along with a selection of fine cheeses, freshly baked bread, and desserts. I was relieved I arrived just in time and didn’t keep them waiting. We exchanged pleasantries and started eating. I had taken a few slices of the fish when I suddenly felt nauseous, something that tasted like bile forcefully rising to my throat. Quickly, I excused myself and rushed to the bathroom to throw up after which I washed up. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed dark circles were becoming prominent under my eyes. I didn’t know if it was because of the pregnancy or overworking myself at the company to make sure everything was always in order for Robert. But whatever it was, now wasn’t the time to focus on it. I had messed up big time in front of Robert and his mum. “Fuck….” I cursed under my breath. Why didn’t the stupid vomit just wait till I was alone or after dinner? Who knows what they could be thinking now? “Do you think she might be pregnant?” I overheard his mum asking him as I was approaching. “I don’t know mum,” Robert answered irritably. “I’m not a woman or a doctor. How do you expect me to know?” His mum exhaled loudly, a bit frustrated. At that moment, I walked in with an apologetic smile on my face. I hoped they wouldn’t find offence in my actions. I was about to take my seat when his mum’s voice stopped me. “Are you pregnant?” She directed at me, she and Robert looking at me expectantly. I froze on the spot, my blood running cold and congealing into blobs. They must have suspected. If Robert finds this to be true, then I’m done for. I had to keep the promise of not letting him find out about the pregnancy at all costs in the meantime. Nervousness washed over me as I briefly glanced away, quickly thinking of something to cover up. “No, ma,” I said, letting out a small nervous laugh. “It was just the fish. It made me feel nauseous. I think I might be allergic.” On hearing that, she sighed deeply and facepalmed, shaking her head in disappointment, her cutlery clanging on the plate as she left it. “Is anything the problem?” I inquired, concerned. Robert seemed concerned too because he stopped eating and kept his gaze on her. “Yes, there is a problem!” She snapped, causing me to flinch a bit in shock as I almost lost balance and crashed into my seat. “You are the problem!” She pointed a finger at me as though I was a criminal. “I must say I’m very disappointed. It’s been almost three years since you married my son yet nothing to show for it. Still as barren as a desert. At this point, I’m starting to believe you must have done a lot of wayward stuff in your teenage years that have left your reproductive system damaged because I see no reason for a young healthy-looking woman like you not to get pregnant after three years of marriage. I’m a hundred per cent sure the problem is from you because my son is healthy and up to the task…” “Mum please this is not the way to go about this,” Robert cut in to defend me to my surprise. “Let’s just have this dinner in peace.” I was moved a bit but didn’t get my hopes high because I knew he was only defending me because he didn’t want a child. Memories of our passionate night together flooded my senses and I struggled to push them to the back of my mind. “I’m sorry, Robby,” his mum said as if left without a choice and glared at me as if I were an abomination. “But if this person here who calls her a woman yet with nothing to show for it won’t give you a child then I guess it’s time we threw her out and got you a new wife who can.” Her mum’s words stung me like a swarm of bees, leaving me bruised and battered. Tears formed at the back of my eyes but I tried to stay strong and not let them fall. I couldn’t believe she could say such cruel things to me. If only she knew the harsh struggles I was grappling with at the moment, then she’d pity me. I didn’t want any of these. I never asked for them. I wished my life could have been better. I wished the universe could have treated me differently. Made Robert love me like I deserve. But instead, it seemed to have forgotten me altogether. Robert rose from his seat angrily, pounding a clenched fist on the table, the plates and cutleries rattling. “I’m not taking another wife from any of you again. I’ve already had more than enough with this one,” he said before using the exit, leaving me shattered like a broken glass.CHAPTER 5 That evening, immediately after what occurred at the dinner table, I took a ride to my apartment. I didn’t have the heart to stay in that mansion after the last statement Robert made. It hurt more than his mum’s own, and I could tell he wasn’t going to spend the night there either. I was so stupid to think he was standing up for me. I should have known better. After undressing and getting ready for bed, I suddenly felt sick, coming down with a fever. I took something to slow the fever and pain and decided to sleep early so I could wake up early for work tomorrow morning. I had a lot on my table this week so I can’t afford to be late or worse, fall sick. Gently, I wrapped my hands around my belly, shaking off every bad thought and feeling. Shaking off everything Robert’s mum said about me. I wasn’t a barren desert. I was a real woman with no fertility issue, and sooner or later I’ll prove it to her. That night as I dozed off without knowing, I had a dream. A sweet d
CHAPTER 6 At the office, I was going through the details of my presentation, and putting everything together when I received an SMS from Robert through the company’s private line, informing me to schedule all his meetings and visits till after the presentation later that evening. I took note of that, and just then saw Scarlett making her way past me like a proud peacock to his office. As much as I didn’t want to admit, she looked radiant in her professionally done makeup but her gown was way too skimpy and seductive to be worn in a workplace such as this. Quickly, I left what I was doing to stop her from going in. “Miss Scarlett you can’t go in now. Come back later in the evening. Mr. Robert is busy.” She washed me head to toe with an icy glare, snorting derisively in disbelief. “Excuse me, and what are you supposed to be? Have you forgotten who I am? Because it seems you have. How dare you stop me going to see the love of my life!” she growled. I sighed nonchalantly and ro
Chapter 7 LILY'S POV "What's going on here?" Robert's gruff, provoked voice sounded as he came out of his office. Quickly, as Scarlett looked at him, I wiped the teardrops threatening to spill from my eyes and held back the sobs forming at the back of my throat. I summoned the courage to lift my gaze to Robert's eyes. The eyes of the boy I fell in love with the first time I saw him walk into our class. The eyes of the man I longed for his love and wanted to spend the rest of my life with even though he was so dumb he couldn't see it that way. It was hard to believe that one day those eyes would be seeing me out of his house and life forever, welcoming Scarlett as his new wife. No doubt his family members will approve especially his mum since Scarlett will be giving her what I couldn't - a child. A child that didn't come about by mistake. A child Robert approves of. "Nothing is happening," I said and forced a smile, my heart as heavy as a rock in my chest. "Everything's fine. I wa
Chapter 8 LILY'S POV My heart raced as I paced restlessly like a mad scientist in Robert's office after the disaster that just happened in the conference room. Robert told me to wait for him here. The only time he does this, especially with that tone of voice is when a worker behaves badly or does something wrong. In this case, not only did I do something wrong, I messed up like no one else has in the company. This was our company's biggest campaign project for the month and I blew it. Panic welled up in my chest as I awaited the inevitable, my mind racing with what Robert would do to me when he got back. He was still in the conference room with the clients and some of the board members. He was trying to address the issue and calm them but I doubted he was making any progress. I could hear their raised voices from where I was and it only made me more anxious. I didn't know how Scarlett managed to get access to my slides and swap them with those embarrassing sex memes and p**n adve
CHAPTER 9 LILY'S POV "You must be out of your mind!" Scarlett roared as she came at me fiercely from outside the door, shocked at what I just said. "How dare you blame me for your mess-up? Everyone knows this was all you. You have hated this company from the start and have been waiting for the right opportunity to paint it black. Since you deliberately did this, how sure are we you don't have other bad intentions?" "Ever since you got into this company, all you have ever tried to do is make me look bad in front of everyone because you're jealous of me," I shot back at her. "Goodness knows I have been working my ass out for this company and will never do anything to sabotage it. You, on the other hand, don't contribute anything. Since you arrived, all you do is nothing but look pretty and follow Robert around like a puppy. There is no doubt you did this. Who helped you? Because I know you're too dumb to pull it off on your own...who helped you get access to my laptop and replace m
CHAPTER 10LILY'S POVRobert came closer. Though I was crumbling on the inside, I strengthened and braced myself for whatever scolding I might receive. If he could lash out at me the way he did when Scarlett lied that I had hit her on the stomach, who knew what he could do now that I accused her of something this serious?"Lily..." He pronounced. I know I wasn't supposed to feel this way now but the way he called my name ignited a spark I didn't know existed inside me for some time now. I took in a deep breath, trying to maintain my feeble control as I waited for whatever it was he had for me.I realized that no matter how much he pissed me off or how far he pushed me away, no matter what he did to me, I still...loved him. I can't help loving him and I can't stop loving him. I hate him for everything he's doing to me. I hate him for not noticing me since high school. I hate him for seeing me as nothing more than his secretary and a wife to please his grandpa. Despite all that, I lo
Chapter 11LILY’S POVI wanted to go visit my mother at the hospital but changed my mind after seeing how miserable I looked. It’ll only get her to worry about me and the last thing I wanted was for her to worry in her state especially now the doctor mentioned she was responding to treatment.I felt like a lost puppy – alone, lost and unsure of what to do next. I thought of going to the family house but after remembering Robert’s harsh words and false accusations, I quickly erased the thought. I wasn’t ready to see him again for now. I feared he might have told his family members I was on a mission to sabotage his company and steal it from him. They’ll see me as a bad person and might never accept me as a part of the family or worse, throw me out. I was already struggling to fit in. Robert might use that chance to convince his grandpa that I wasn’t the right wife for him, that I wasn’t the good, decent woman he believed me to be. If he manages to do that and his grandpa believes him,
Chapter 12LILY’S POVAfter spending time at the bar, I made my way back to my apartment, grateful today didn’t end as badly as it started. Robert will be pissed I haven’t completely moved out of the apartment to the family house but at that moment, I didn’t want to think of it. His happiness was my top priority but with everything that happened today at the office, I just needed some time away from him. I wasn’t ready to face him after he treated me harshly and unfairly.I tried to keep myself from thinking of the worst-case scenario of him telling his family members what happened at the office as I approached my apartment. However, I noticed something unusual.My apartment was already open and some men were carting away with some of my property. I thought they were thieves but thieves don’t come stealing in broad daylight and my neighbours would have alerted the police if they were. They were dressed in special uniforms, looking like construction workers from a reputable constructi
CHAPTER 156NOAH’S POVAfter getting rid of my foster parents and taking over their business empire, I used the available resources to find my biological parents and family. For years I have been monitoring them, hovering over their lives like an eagle without them knowing, patiently planning the perfect revenge mission.I found out they were a powerful family, one of the richest in New York. It broke my heart and made me angrier to know that despite all that wealth that possessed, they still chose to abandon me, choosing my twin brother over me. I mean what does he have that I don’t? Who knew when my biological parents chose to abandon me? Perhaps it was right after I was born, the moment the umbilical cord was cut. Was my birth that insignificant? Aren’t twins supposed to be a blessing? If that’s the case, then why did they choose to abandon me?They might have probably dumped me somewhere like spoilt food before the adoption agency found me because that’s how most kids in adoptio
CHAPTER 155NOAH’S POVI was adopted. Growing up, it bothered me so much that I was different. I shared no form of resemblance to my foster parents who hid the truth from me and never seemed to fit in. I didn’t even have a sibling. Back then, everyone had a sibling or a pet but I couldn’t because my so-called parents couldn’t make me one and I was fucking allergic to fur.My foster parents owned a lot of establishments and enterprises. They were filthy rich and even though they bought me whatever I wanted and never let me lack anything, they were never there for me, leaving me in the care of our maid who was dumb and stupid. The only thing she was good at was cooking and cleaning. I was a quiet, reserved kid who couldn’t properly express himself through words. You would have to know me well and pay close attention to understand me. Because of that, I had a hard time growing up because no one understood me, not even my own parents.I once suffered an accident that made me lose a lot
CHAPTER 154NOAH’S POVFuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!Anger like never before rippled through me as I pressed my foot harder on the gas pedal, gripping the wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. My car roared down the road at a reckless speed, as if I wasn’t even on a road teeming with cars.My speedometer climbed to 60, 70, 80, my engine growling like a beast hungry for destruction, but I didn’t slow down. Headlights flashed past me, horns blared, and some cars even swerved to avoid me. But I didn’t give a fuck. I was so angry I could run someone over and not even care.Good thing this wasn’t a major road and no police were around, otherwise, I would have been slapped with charges before I could even hit the brakes.This was all Lily’s fault. If only she’d made up her mind and agreed for us to leave the country when I brought the suggestion up, this wouldn’t happened. I wouldn’t have seen that neglectful tramp that called herself my biological mother.Ever since I made it clear to Lily that
CHAPTER 153LILY’S POV~ I didn’t respond to her, acting as though she wasn’t even there. I wanted to grab my purse, my phone, my car keys, my coat, anything that’ll help me locate Robert when the door squeaked open and Noah walked in.My breath glitched and I froze as I saw him. He was holding a bouquet of fresh flowers and carrying a plastic probably filled with other goodies. I wasn’t expecting him at all. What was he doing here?However, his reaction wasn’t one I expected. He stood frozen on the spot, his face paling with shock as though he’d seen a ghost as his gaze flicked from mine to Robert’s mum and again and again. Suddenly, he dropped everything he carrying like they didn’t matter and ran out the door. ~ My brows furrowed deeply as I couldn’t understand the reason Noah reacted that way. “Noah… Noah…” Leaving everything else, I darted towards the door to chase after him, hoping to call him back.But before I could, he was already in his car. The tyres of his car screec
CHAPTER 152 LILY’S POV ~ Pushing all that to the back of my mind, as I had something more serious to ask her, I took a deep breath and leaned slightly forward. “Earlier, you mentioned something about you and your family finding out the truth.” She nodded slightly, paying close attention to understand me better. “Please, hope you don’t mind me asking what it was you guys found out about exactly?” ~ “Robert didn’t tell you?” She asked, staring at me in surprise. “No, he didn’t,” I shook my head. I could have sworn Robert didn’t tell me anything about the truth they found out. If he did, then I won’t be asking. My brows pulled in and I further leaned slightly forward as my interest piqued. I couldn’t wait to hear what it was that made the entire Wilson feel sorry for what they did to me and for her to take a 10-hour flight just to come apologize to me. “We found out that Scarlett was behind it all,” she blurted, her jaw tightening as fury flickered in her eyes. “If
CHAPTER 151 LILY’S POV ~ “Please…” she said with a squeaky voice, seeing how indecisive I was. “I took an eight-hour flight to this place. It wouldn’t be nice if you left a poor old lady standing out here in the sun after such a long journey. Please let me in. Just a little talk, I promise I won’t take much of your time.” I looked away defiantly and after much thought, let out a sigh like one who didn’t have a choice, opening the door wider and stepping aside for her to come in. It wouldn’t be bad to hear whatever she had to say. What’s the worst that could happen? But if things took a turn for the worse and she dared to disrespect me in any way, I wouldn’t hesitate to kick her ass out. ~ “You have such a lovely home,” she remarked casually as she walked into the house, her eyes roaming around the interiors, taking in every feature. Even though my house was neat and well-kept, I knew it lacked the elegance and luxury she was accustomed to because she had very high taste. But
CHAPTER 150 LILY'S POV It’s been a week since that incident at the hospital, and I must say, I haven’t felt the same ever since. I should be happy Robert was finally leaving our lives for good. I wanted this. It was what was best for me and the kids. But why did I feel so empty on the inside? Why did I feel like I was making the wrong choice and I’ll come to regret it eventually? I barely have the strength and will to do anything nowadays. All I do all day is sit on the couch like a potato scrolling through my phone, drag myself to the kitchen to cook and check up on Liam. He was discharged from the hospital hours after the surgery that same day and had to be on constant monitoring during this recovery phase. Because of this, he won’t be going back to school for some time. Lila was the only one going to school now and making sure he didn't miss out on anything. I hadn’t gone to work ever since, using Liam’s condition as an excuse because I had to stay back and take care of h
CHAPTER 149LILY’S POV~ “You don’t have to worry about them running away again because they won’t. They only gave you that ultimatum because they wanted to bring us back together.” He let out a wistful chuckle. ~“What?...” I squinted at him, baffled. “A…are you serious about this?”“Yes,” he nodded softly. “I don’t blame them for what they did. They just wanted us to stop fighting and get back together. And before you think that I made them do it, I didn’t.” I knew he wasn’t lying about this because his expression was genuine. I couldn’t believe Liam and Lila put me up to this. I was thrown off balance and nearly lost my sense of living because of that ultimatum, thinking I might just wake up one morning and not see them again.They had given me a week, and this was the fifth day with just two days remaining for the time to elapse. With every day that went by, I felt more desperate, more lost and more afraid. But now that Liam was severely injured and wouldn’t be able to use his r
CHAPTER 148LILY’S POVI knew he’d be persistent but I didn’t think it’ll be in a place like this. I hated staying close to him. Because when I do, I find it hard to keep my feelings in check. While in the ambulance van, the thought of Liam had helped keep my mind off him. Helped keep me from thinking about our closeness in the van, our bodies almost touching due to the limited space.I hate him. The hatred I felt towards him was unlike any other. I hate him for what he did to me. I hate him because ever since his arrival things haven’t been going well for me. I let him know about that and I was sure it crushed his soul to a pulp. Despite all that hatred and anger I felt toward him, I still hadn’t gotten over him, which was so pathetic and hypocritical of me. I was one heck of a fucking mess and it was all his fault! Seeing his face every day, hearing that deep, infuriating voice that sent tingles running through me no matter how hard I tried to fight it was driving me crazy. He had