128.“What did you just say, mum?” Roland stood from where he sat and walked to where his mother stood. “You want me to meet Nadia's parents and pick them from the airport? As their errand boy or as what? Don't they have a chauffeur?” He asked.Mrs. D. Ville rubbed her forehead. “Come on, Roland, it's just a kind gesture. What's wrong with picking up your best friend's parents from the airport?” “Are you calling her my best friend now, mum?” He snickered. “I can't believe you. Why has she become my best friend all of a sudden? Weren't you referring to her as daughter-in-law before? Tell me, what happened?” Roland asked, knowing fully well that his mother didn't mean what she said about Nadia being his best friend.“You're overreacting unnecessarily, Roland. Just do as I asked of you, okay?” She wanted to touch him, but he moved away.“What if I refuse to do it?” He folded his hands.“Then you'd be disobeying me.” She frowned.“I want to disobey you.” He said and was about to walk awa
129.Roland brought Nadia to the office and made her sit down. Mrs. D. Ville had seen them walk into the elevator and followed them.Nadia was still crying when she walked in.“What happened to you?” She asked, rushing to where Nadia sat down.“Mum,” She called, pretending to choke on her tears.Mrs. D. Ville cupped her cheeks. “What's the matter, sweetie?” She asked.“I don't know what happened to Annabel and just wanted to calm her down. She slapped me in the process.” She answered, placing her palm on the side of her cheek.Roland sighed and left to get an ice pack from the store.“Annabel did what!” Mrs. D. Ville snapped.Roland returned with the ice pack and bent to help Nadia. He placed it on her cheek and she winced.Mrs. D. Ville faced Roland. “What did I just hear? Annabel raised her hand on Nadia and you did nothing?” She yelled at him but he said nothing and just focused on placing the ice pack on her cheek. He was also wondering why Annabel would do such a thing. He knew h
130.After Annabel walked away, Roland walked to his office, expecting to see her there, but she was nowhere to be found. What alarmed him was that her handbag which was on the table was no longer there.He went into the suite but couldn't find her there either.Wondering where she had gone, he tried calling her, but she wasn't taking his calls. He became worried and quickly rushed to Sasha's office, hoping to find her there.“Sir,” Sasha quickly stood up when he barged into her office.Roland looked around and was disappointed that Annabel wasn't there.“Are you okay?” Sasha asked.He sighed and walked to where she stood. He figured she was Annabel's best friend and should know where Annabel was.“Please, do you know where Annabel is? Did she tell you she was going anywhere?” He asked.Sasha was confused. “No. I haven't seen her since this morning. What's going on? Did something happen between the two of you?” She asked.Roland ruffled his hair. “I only asked why she slapped Nadia, s
131.The next day, Annabel walked into the office and Roland quickly rushed to her. He had searched for her the previous day, all to no avail and had come earlier than usual to work, so he would see when she'd come in.He stood in front of her and sighed as he watched her.Annabel wanted to walk away, but he held her hand.“I'm sorry.” He apologized, but she furrowed her eyebrows and acted like someone who was confused.“I don't understand what you're saying, Rolly.” She answered. Roland would have been glad that she called him “Rolly” but her tone dripped with sarcasm, and he knew she was only mocking him.“I want to apologize for not hearing your side of the story yesterday. I shouldn't have concluded without hearing you first, I'm sorry.”“Before I accept your apology, tell me the truth, do you really think I'd slap Nadia for no reason?” She asked.Roland sighed and lowered his head. “I don't think you'd do something like that, but I didn't have the time to think about anything. Al
132.Ashton blinked. “Are you for real? Do you even know what you're talking about?” He asked and Roland nodded, sure of what he was saying.“I love Annabel and I'm sick and tired of how she's being looked down on by my parents and everyone because she's a single mother. If I adopt Olivia as my daughter, she wouldn't be a single mother anymore and all these will stop.” He explained to Ashton but Ashton knew what the consequences would be.“And you think it's all just gonna end there? Roland, you haven't even proposed to her yet. You two aren't married so how can you adopt—”“Ashton,” Roland interrupted him. “It's not a must to marry her before I can adopt her daughter. I'll do that and then we can get married later. That way, it'd be easier. I don't want to be called her stepfather. I want to be her father before I marry her mother. Olivia is a cool kid. I love her so much and I wouldn't want anything that'd hurt her in the future. That's why I'm doing this. Please, understand me.”“I
133.“What? He wants to adopt her daughter?” Nadia scoffed the minute she returned home that evening. She threw her handbag on the couch and growled angrily.“What nonsense!” She yelled and walked to where the wine stand stood. She took a glass cup and gestured for Stanley to get her wine which he did.“You need to calm down.” He said to her as he poured her a glass.Nadia gulped down everything and wiped her lips. “How dare Annabel come to ruin everything for me? How dare her?” She ruffled her hair. “That girl has bewitched Roland. How can he think of adopting that child? He doesn't even know who the father is!” She exclaimed.“Love makes people do crazy things, Nadia.” Stanley replied but Nadia wasn't ready to listen to him.“He has gone mad, and I won't sit and watch him display that madness when I can stop it.” She stretched the glass cup out to him and he poured her a glass. she downed it.“What are you going to do?” He asked.Nadia smirked. “I'm going to do something very drastic
134.Her father, Mr. Durand, stood up, his eyes holding nothing but pure anger and disappointment at his daughter. He walked to where she stood and scrutinized her with his gaze.“What on earth have you been doing since you returned to this country, Nadia? What have you been doing?” He asked in annoyance.“It hasn't been long since I got here, dad.” She answered with an eyeroll.He scoffed. “What the heck are you saying? You've been here for more than two weeks. Why haven't you visited the company and put things in place? You didn't even come to visit us after we returned from Seattle. You've been causing trouble, right?”“Dad!” She exclaimed.“Honey,” Mrs. Durand called her husband to calm him down. She faced Nadia. “Your father is right, Nadia. We were relaxed in Seattle, thinking you were taking care of the company over here like you always did. We came back and saw that everything had gone haywire. The manager put in charge wasn't doing a good job and if you had checked, we know y
135.The day went by with neither of them talking to each other and when work hours were over, Annabel left the company before Roland would even have the chance to see her. He acted like he didn't care but he was hurt that she had left without even saying a word to him.Sasha finished what she was doing in her office and was arranging her desk when Ashton entered."Hey, Sasha." He waved with a smile and she turned to look at him.“Oh, hi, you didn't later get back to me.” She said with a smile and picked up her handbag.“Huh?” Ashton knew what she was talking about but he didn't know how to tell her that it was going to be just the two of them tonight.“About the restaurant you said you were taking us to? You said you were going to ask Roland and Anna if they were coming. Did you ask them?” She asked, facing him.Ashton cleared his throat and hesitated. Sasha gestured for him to speak. “I did but they said they had plans for tonight,”That moment, Sasha realized she was going to be alo
158. AT SCHOOL… Olivia was on a seat, trying to get a class work they had given to them done. Sebastian hadn't been to school for a while, and she was darn worried about him. She didn't know his place and had even asked Mrs. Genevieve about him several times, but she would tell him Sebastian would come soon. “Are you still pouting because of that boy?” Winter scoffed. “His name is not “that boy” Winter. His name is Sebastian and yes, I'm pouting because of him because I'm angry that he hasn't resumed school for days now.“ She folded her hands with a huff. “You care about me that much?” She gasped when she heard the voice she had been wanting to hear for a few days now. She turned and was shocked to see him. “Sebastian,” She called, and he smiled at her. “Where have you been?” She rushed to meet him. “Come with me,” He held her hand and led her outside to the car. When they got there, he smiled at her and Olivia wondered why he had brought there. “Olivia,” He called, and she loo
157.6 MONTHS LATER…“Congratulations, Mrs. D. Ville, you're four months pregnant!” Doctor Preston told Annabel, and she shrieked in surprise.. “Are you for real?” She asked because it looked like a dream to her. She was pregnant for her darling husband; pregnant with his second child.Doctor Preston nodded and she beamed. He handed over the test results to her, and she took them with excitement laced in every of her movements. She stood up and picked up her bag.“Thank you so much, doctor Preston,” She walked out of the office. “Roland is gonna scream!” She twirled happily as she headed for her car.When she got there, she was surprised to see Jacinthe leaning on her car. It's been months, but she still recognized the lady.Jacinthe smiled and waited for Annabel to get to where she was.“Hi,” She waved at Annabel with a friendly smile on her face.“Hey,” Annabel smiled back. “Jacinthe.” She called.“Wow, I'm glad you still remember me.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.“
156.Annabel's eyes widened as Nadia fell to the floor in pain.Roland sighed, happy that the policemen were not dull doing their jobs. They rushed to where Nadia dropped the gun and picked it.Nadia looked at her bleeding leg, where she got shot, and screamed in tears. “All I wanted was for someone to love me! Is that too much to ask for? It isn't fair that people don't get what they want!”Annabel sighed in relief. For a moment there, she thought she was going to die on her wedding day. Roland held her hand as they walked to where Nadia sat on the floor in pain.She looked at Roland and covered her face in shame. “I'm sorry, I apologize for trying to hurt you.”Roland just looked at her. “I'll see you in court.” He said, and left with Annabel.She glanced her parents' way, and they just stared at her with tears in their eyes. There was nothing they could do anymore. She has to face the law. She was taken away by the police, and Roland turned to the people.“Let's not allow what happ
155.THE WEDDING DAY…“Gosh, Annabel, I can't believe this is actually happening!” Sasha screamed in delight as she watched Annabel get into her wedding gown. The feeling was out of this world. She was so excited and she wasn't even the bride.Annabel couldn't believe it was happening either. Her dream was finally coming true. She was getting married to the man of her dreams; the father of her child and the person who proved to be more than a friend and boss to her. She loved him so much and just the thought that she was going to spend the rest of her life with him sent tingles down her belly.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned to look at Sasha, who was bubbling with excitement. Sasha rushed to her and hugged her tight.“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Sasha exclaimed.Annabel chuckled. “You seem more excited than I am.” “You do not know the half of it. After everything you passed through, you deserve a happy ending my love. You deserve the joy that comes with this day and I'm really
154.Annabel tears rolled down in relief the minute Roland stormed through that door. She removed her veil and was about to run to him but Carson held her hand.“You are going nowhere, Annabel!” He snapped.“Let go of her right now, Carson. You do not want to see the other side of me.” Roland was vexed at how he held Annabel.Carson smiled. “I can't let go of her, Roland,” He pulled Annabel to himself and took a gun, startling everyone in the church.Roland was about to rush to them.“Don't you dare take another step else I'll shoot!” Annabel screamed.“Carson, don't try anything stupid, you'll regret it.” Roland lowered his voice, scared that Carson might shoot Annabel.Carson wasn't ready to let her go. This was his opportunity to finally get what he wanted right now that Roland was here.“I hate you, do you know that? Why do you keep ruining my plans and acting like a hero all the time?” He snarled. “I've tried my best to be ahead of you in all ramifications. I tried to surpass you
153.“What the heck did you just spit out of that ass you call a mouth?” Roland balled his fists. Carson had definitely grown wings to have the courage to talk to him like that. How dare the scumbag say he wanted to get married to Annabel? His Annabel? For what?Carson was happy that he had been able to get a reaction out of Roland. He knew the dude didn't like joking with anything that involves Annabel. “You heard me well. I would have invited you to our wedding but I'm worried that you'd turn everything upside down, so you're not going to be invited. But, I'll be lenient and give you a video of the whole wedding procession.” He laughed.Roland tightened his fists. “Shut up.” “Why should I?” Carson chuckled. “I'm just sharing my happiness with you and you're silencing me. I'm just happy that I'd be getting married to the woman of my dreams tomorrow—”“Shut up, Carson!” Roland snapped. He couldn't take it anymore. He wished he was with Carson now to reset his brain with a punch or sla
152.“I can't marry you now, let me out of here!” Annabel snapped at him but he chuckled and sped up.She couldn't believe Carson was behaving this way. Olivia was scared and held Annabel.“Mummy!” She called, her voice shaking.Annabel held her close to herself and quickly took her phone. She sent a text message to the number Sasha used to text her but it didn't deliver. With a frustrated sigh, she texted Roland, asking him for help. “If you think texting them the location of where I'm taking you will make them find you then you're mistaken. I suspected something like this might happen, so I already had my plans implemented and waiting for execution. Where I told you isn't actually where I'm taking you now, Annabel. Where I'm taking you is where our wedding will take place.”“Over my dead body will I agree to marry a monster like you. I saw you as a helper but you betrayed me. You have no conscience!”Carson laughed. “Hear who's talking about conscience? Where was your conscience whe
151.Roland sprung up from his seat and rushed to meet Sasha.“You said what?” He asked to be sure he heard her well the first time.Sasha tried to catch her breath. When her breathing was stable enough, she looked up at Roland. “Annabel is leaving the city with Carson and I have no idea when she'd be coming back.”Roland blinked. “What! Why?” He asked.“She said she wanted to go somewhere far away, rest for awhile and heal. She wants to forget about you and everything you two had.”“No!” Roland shook his head. “I can't let that happen, Sasha. Where is she now?” He asked, picking up his car keys immediately.“She should be at Carson's now. You have to stop her from leaving, Roland. I don't trust Carson one bit.” Sasha was scared for Annabel's safety.“Neither do I,” Roland said and rushed out.Sasha sat in the office with her palms on her forehead. She was already getting a headache from all these issues on ground.“Where is Roland?” Ashton asked the moment he walked in.Sasha sighed.
150.TWO DAYS LATER…“Nadia, how could you do something like that?” Mrs. Durand asked after the news about what Nadia did, got to her ears.It's been two days, Annabel didn't want to see Roland or anyone. Roland had been devastated over everything that happened and had refused to eat or drink. He was getting worse daily and no matter how much evidence they gathered, they'd always lose it.Nadia on the other hand was bent on making things worse for them. Roland's parents tried to talk to her but she refused to hear them out. She was indeed showing them the other side of her and it made them relieved that they didn't give her to their son in the First place.Nadia blew a bubble from the gum she was chewing and glanced at her mother. “I've done a lot of things, mum. Which one are you talking about?” She asked.Mrs. Durand couldn't believe how her daughter changed suddenly. Nadia wasn't always like this.“You framed Roland and you know exactly what I'm talking about. Meet Annabel and expla