"I want you to mother a son for me."Isabella's jaw went slack. The creaking silence after his words posed his seriousness and without any hesitation, she clutched her purse. "That's ridiculous." She pronounced, threatening to leave until the firm grasp of his hands trapped her down.She fell back, her hair bouncing on her shoulders and when she turned back to him, his eyes grimaced. "I'm being serious" He let a lump slip down his throat."Well i'm definitely going to need more than that" A vein popped out of Isabella's neck in all seriousness, and neither of them broke eye contact. He did however, let go of her as if returning to her the option to leave. But this time, Isabella didn't move an inch.He had dared to say those words, now she had to hear it.She had to hear the bottom of it.The two were alone in the suite, and with neither of them talking still, there existed a brief silence but that was before his lips parted to speak. "I called unto to work here, everyone wants to wor
“I can explain.”The sound of the slamming door reverberated in the pits of her stomach, rendering it into a turmoil. Isabella let go of her bags, turning around to make sense of what she’d just seen. And when Joan tossed the phone to the bed, she grappled it in her hands.“Oh God” Came an exasperated gasp from her lips.“Oh God, this is bad. This is tell really bad” All she could think of in that moment was Patricia and her hands immediately went through her hair. “Who took the photo, Joan? Who took the photo—“ She was almost raising her voice as she swiped through hundreds of comments that were beneath already.Some calling her a slut, and others wishing to be her.A migraine speared through her head as she picked up her phone—it was nothing, it is nothing. And she had to tell Patricia. Joan stood, leaning against the wall as tears welled up into his best friend’s eyes. She realized she could even account for the genuineness. She couldn’t tell if they were even real or not.“Why did
The rain rattled the windows like words heard once and half forgotten, pressing against the large room to make it seem rather small. Isabella’s hands was tugged under the moon blanket as she stared outside. The world twisted in the cold, wet darkness.But she was within, she was safe now.Nonetheless still in her drenched clothes and dripping hair along her neck. But at least the tears had seized from her eyes—and that was the only thing Leonardo asked of her. She was warm, he had turned up the heater and now, standing by the door, he held in his hands freshly dry cleaned clothes. He crept up behind her, fiddling her elbows which caused her to budge a little. And she took her eyes off the pattering windows to feel his heated breathes against the side of her neck. She closed her eyes until he pulled away, walking to the other side of the bed. “Is it just me or he kind of looks like me?” Her eyes fell to Ryan and he witnessed the horror that filled her eyes just then.“What?” She clear
One second Patricia Walters was speeding across the freeway through blurry eyes, and the next, she'd rammed into a standing tree by the corner of the roads. She couldn't remember much——except the fact that she'd run a red light, only to have a pickup van crash right into her. Her car tumbled to the sides, metal doors grazing the sharp concrete with a sound that could light a fire. She was petrified and thrown into a state of quagmire.A creaking silence pierced through her ears before this loud shrieking sound. Her eyes opened, feeling the coolness of the blood that dripped from her temples to the corner of her lips. The leaves burst through her shattered windshield, ticking her arms.That was a good sign.She could feel her arms, her head, not so much. Lightheaded, she pushed through the door that fell to the stoned concrete without a fight. What had happened—and how was it so fast?Across the road from her was the van that had tipped to its sides as well. She staggered to find her
Her back broke down the door, her lips sealed in a breathless kiss. Joan held back the stranger, trying so hard to toss her shoe off. Her fingers clenched tight to his greasy hair and he breathed aggressively down her neck, sucking her tender skin between his luscious lips. Their heavy footsteps creaked against the wooden board beneath them but neither of them cared that anyone could here.In that moment, Joan just needed this—sex with a stranger. And that was the beauty of the infamous one-night stands. When she managed to get her shoes off, she pulled away from him to gaze into his cognac eyes. “Fuck” She muttered, bringing her hands to strip off his leather jacket. He had a white inner wear that clung tight to his broad sweaty chest, which rose and fell in passion.And his hands suddenly grasped the underneath of her thighs, raising her up into his arms. Her ankles clenched tightly around his waist as he ripped off her chiffon top, not wasting a second to do the same to her bra. T
“You’re pregnant.”The doctor’s voice seemed to draw her out of her subconscious as Patricia sat up in her bed. Her fingers twirled nervously around one another as she realized what this meant.“It’s not possible” A shrill whisper escaped her frail lips. She avoided the sincere eye contact of the doctors in front of her—a physician accompanied with a gynecologist. It was the third time they had broken the news to her, and the third time Patricia had replied the same way in disbelief.She quivered, not out of cold. But of fidget.Of nervousness, and confusion. Because something of this levity could change everything. What was she to do? Was she going to tell Leonardo that she was carrying his baby——of course it was his baby, he was only man she’d know in about six years. Was she going to tell him that it was successful, the time they were trying for an heir? What was she going to do?A million questions rattled her head as she buried her face into the palm of her hands. She didn’t kno
"Mother." She arose from the edge of the bed, drawing to the floor the duvet and Isabella smothered her dress behind her as she brought her gaze to settle on the elderly woman in the wheelchair before the both of them.Leonardo stepped away from her, which was forward and had his arm outstretched. "Mum this is Isabella" He introduced in a thick voice and Isa curtsied to the scrutinizing gaze of the woman who appeared to the indifferent."Isa, meet Freya. She's my mother." He turned back to her and a smile charged to her lips, curving it to the side. Freya retained her emotionless facial expression as she nodded."It's a nice name." She croaked before her hands settled on the wheels, propelling her forward. "Leonardo" She called and he was out the doors, closing it behind her."I hope she's not like the other one." Freya threw her head back at him as Isabella clung to the doors, raising her hands to her ears to hear the subtle echoes of the ongoing conversation. "Her name was Patricia,
"Mom"Patricia's hands fell between her thighs as the lights that hung from above shone in her eyes. If you looked close enough, you'd notice her quivering as she set her eyes on Elena.She'd only just gotten back a few hours ago, and after that much pondering, she decided to let her mother know of the unborn child—perhaps she could have a better solution."What is it?" Elena gritted through her teeth and Patricia cupped her chin in defeat. "Oh my God, look at your head, child" Elena suddenly charged towards her, holding the side of her face to examine the bruises."They did this to you." She said and Patricia pushed a lump down her throat. She was always fearful and on-edge around her mother but she managed to stutter. "I—i was in an accident, ma.""But this is all their fault, look at you." Elena replied, scrunching up her face in distaste, unwilling to look at her own daughter. Pat had tears well up in her eyes as their eyes met. "It's not" She said and Elena pulled away from her,
FIVE MONTHS LATER.Isabella gathered the hems of her flowing white dress as she heaved in a deep breath. Her face turned crimson with blood draining from her cheeks and she turned to Joan who was right beside her. "I'm so nervous" She whispered beneath her breath with her shoes grazing into the fields.There were roses all around them and they stood just behind the door yet to open. "The dress is beautiful, Isabella. You're perfect.” Joan whispered, being her maid of honor for her second wedding and they shared a chuckle."It's like a full circle moment" Isabella beamed a smile and Joan rested unto her arms."But it's different now" She said."Either way i'm glad i get to do this with you again. I'm glad i still have you" Isabella pushed a hard lump down her throat. "Have you thought about what Leonardo said?" She asked for the nth time and i remembered months ago when he told me of his plans to leave Norman.That it was up to me though, to decide what exactly a fresh slate meant."I
“Hey” Her soft voice drew to him as he brought his eyes to open. The incessant beeping of the heart monitor subdued behind her voice and Em inched closer to him. Gerald’s eyes were slow but the moment he recognized her, there was a large grin that spread across his lips. “I’m here” She comforted, leaning forward to place a kiss on his cheek.“You’re okay” Her hands pressed lightly on the wrapped gunshot wound in his chest and he nodded. “Isabella?” He softly asked and Em held his hands to her lips and with tears in her eyes, she nodded. “She’s okay—”“Everyone’s okay.”His hands fell around his wrist and there was the bracelet he’d gotten for her thirty years ago. Gerald’s eyes shimmered with tears as he gazed upon the beautiful beige dress she still wore. “You kept it” He whispered and Emily nodded her head fraily.“Of course i kept it” She smiled. There was a minute of silence between them as she wiped beneath her eyes but then Isabella knocked upon the doors before walking in. “You
Leonardo burst out the other side of the door and the heat from the serenading flames hit him in his face. He tied a cloth around his nose and he searched through his foggy vision to make out everything around him.It was a painstaking effort with his feet crunching into a piece of glass and the parts of the ceiling that had crumbled to the ground. “I say we take ahead!” Theodore yelled, looking at the only way still feasible. Leo choked but somehow managed to get himself in order in a minute.The sound of approaching sirens blared from outside the door but by the looks of it, they seemed still far away. He didn’t have time—and so did Isa. “Let’s go” He chanted and they filed down the corridor, searching each room for what was left. The whole house was dark, even as the skies were visible through the shattered roof. “Isabella!” He yelled at the top of his voice, taking down the mask across his face for a second. “Joan!” Theodore yelled too, in the hopes that she was here as well.“Is
TWENTY FIVE MINUTES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.The car finally came to a halt and from a distance walked Sheriff Stevens accompanied by both Christian and Theodore. In a world that had gone digital, it was surprising that they didn’t show up with a large bag of cash to submit to the mafia Lord but rather just a plain-old cheque.“You’re nothing like i expected” Constantin turned around when he suspected their footsteps had drawn them close enough. The sheriff met his cold gaze with a defensive stance. “I’ll say the same” He muttered and then his eyes roamed both Christian and Theodore who acted like bodyguards. “I thought i told you to come alone” He looked as far as the car but with the silence that enclosed them on this deserted coast, he was moreso convinced. “Do you want your money or not?” Stevens hissed back at him, pulling out the cheque from his pocket and Constantin scoffed from his lips. “I’m not stupid. Bring out all the hostages and then i’ll give you the money.” The sheriff negoti
Stevens dashed across the bordering sign that demarcated Norman and Riverdale with his hands firmly grasping the steering wheel. He was on the edge of his seat but somehow managed to steal a glance at the clock.ONE HOUR UNTIL MIDNIGHT.“We can still make it” Gerald piped forward, drawing the chair behind. Em was at the front seat and she allowed their eyes to meet in a tensive second. “It’s okay” Gerald whispered with an affirmative nod. “It’ll soon be over” He reached to her hands and Theo pushed a hard lump down his throat. All, that on his mind was Joan’s safety and whether or not she was okay. “Do you have the complete money now?” Emily turned to the sheriff, still reeling in the disbelief of how they raised a hundred million dollars in twenty four hours. He nodded, darting a stare back at her. “I mean Harold was the last. He was able to get an upfront deal of about forty for the shares of the Norman hotel. Christian wired my ten and Gerald as well—And your uncle transferred t
The slow jazz pierced through Emily’s ears as she wrapped her hands around Gerald’s neck. Indulged in the dance, she didn’t raise her head but that was until it was his turn to swing her. She moved her hips so elegantly like she was young again and after an hour, she admitted to be wrong because there was something about the dance that eased her tension. The music stopped and there was a round of applause, the same moment that allowed them to intimately look into each other’s eyes. “You were amazing” Gerald whispered but before Em could mutter another word, her eyes caught him.“Klaus!” She blurted out.There he was, by the bar downing a glass of champagne with a younger mistress in his hands. He was headed for the stairs and Emily fixated his eyes on him, unwilling to let him misplace in the colorful crowds. She tried to catch her breath and the hemming of her dress as she moved closer.This place was big, the walls a glittering gold with a low hanging silver chandelier dropping fro
Isabella awoke to a dimly lit candle in the corner of the room.The crimson orange flames flickered in her eyes with a slight pitter-patter sound of the wax burning. It curved to the side and just that single piece was able to warm the room, ridding it of it’s unconducive iciness. She shivered off the remnant cold as she sat up. The heavy chain followed even the slightest movement of her hands, letting out a thunderous clang as she retracted them. Her eyes met Kayla who was quivering in fear just opposite her. “It wasn’t there before” Isa’s voice interrupted the eerily silent room. Her eyes looked pointedly to the candle flame but then suddenly something fell right in front of her.“Oh my God” She clutched her chest, startled to her bones and Kayla let out a shaky scream. The pair of black rubber boots that sauntered towards her drew her attention before whatever it was that was thrown to her. “Take a look” The familiar voice towered over her and Isabella didn’t even need to lift her
“I’m sorry but Mr Sanders left a little while ago” The woman behind the desk pressed her lips together and it was a like a sword of disappointment struck through Emily’s chest. She batted her lashes and then exchanged glares with Gerald.“I’m sorry—to where?” She stuttered.Her hands reached across the counter and she tapped her fingertips into it. “And when will he be getting back?” She asked and the receptionist was a bit reluctant divulging any piece of information for these strangers in front of her. Emily saw the crinkle form between her eyes and a sharp breath escaped her lips.“Look i know you know who i am.”“If not from my last name then perhaps from Klaus telling you never to engage with his own niece if ever she came around. Short, brunette haired with the mouth like a tap is exactly how he would describe me—““I don’t know what you’re talking about” The lady replied.“Well i call bullshit” Emily cussed and Gerald found his hands holding her back. “My daughter, Klaus’ fucki
Leonardo snapped his eyes open with an agonizing pain spearing through his neck and along the veins of his numb limbs. He was carried by two hefty arms into a large, dark room and when he realized that his consciousness was regained after an hour long sedation, he struggled to break free from the grasps of the arms that restrained him. “Where’s Isabella!” Was the first question that he yelled out through his panting lips. He threw his head upon his shoulders as he was dragged, his feet barely an inch from the callous grounds. And then he was thrown in the deepest and darkest part of what seemed to be a dungeon. The beads of sweat that formed across his head tricked down his body and he wiped across his face, lifting his gaze to see the masked men in front of him. Leonardo was short of breath as he staggered to sit up, using his barely formidable arms as a wedge. He was able to lean against the wall as he searched for his breathes.“Where’s Isabella?” He looked around him and there d