Bryan's POV I was just as surprised as Danielle was when Ella called me her Dad. Things are going faster than they should and I am enjoying it. Now, that makes me think, what about the husband in Mexico? Ella ran to my direction and hugged me. Mila and Lila did the same but they called me bigger uncle instead and that felt a little hurtful. "How are you doing big women?" "Kids," Danielle corrected me as we all went inside. I shook my head sarcastically. "Women, that's what they'll become." "Besides, Mom, we're not kids anymore you know?" Ella blurted out. Danielle rolled her eyes and fastened her footsteps. She went to the kitchen, leaving me with the kids. "How are you girls doing today?" I asked them. "Great, we finally got to see Mom once more." Ella turned to Danielle who was coming out of the kitchen with a plate of streaks. "Someone came around looking for you." "Really? Who was it?" Danielle asked. "Some black man with a pointed nose and he speaks Ludicrously ." I kn
Danielle's POV I stood there and waited for Bryan to return but he was taking too long to do so. "Bryan?" I called out and moved towards the door. I found him there by the door. He stood still like he had just seen a ghost. I went over and looked past him. My eyes widened and I covered my mouth to stop myself from freaking out. You've got to be kidding me. I checked the time on the wall and it was some minutes past ten o'clock. It's too late, what was Gabriel doing here? "Danielle," Gabriel's voice called out. What's with the timing? I just got into my favorite dress and this is the only female dress I've worn since I've been in this house. I blinked and looked at Gabriel. He looked at me and seemed very angry. He looked at Bryan then looked at me. "I'm taking you home, now!" "What? Gabe, it's too late." "I said, I'm taking you home tonight!" He yelled, making me move backward slowly. "You are not taking her anywhere if she doesn't want to. You are currently in my house and yo
Danielle's POVI stepped in between Benedict and Gabriel. They were too close and Bryan wasn't trying to separate them at all. "You both, it's okay." They both looked down at me. That was when I realized how short I was.I stepped out and sighed. "We're already here and it's too late for neither of you to go back home. If you want to stay here, you have to make peace and try to live tonight.""I would share a room with you," Gabriel said first. "No, you both interrupted what was meant to be an amazing night for me and Danielle. There are many rooms in this house, I know you know that" Bryan declared and stood up. He grabbed my hand but Gabriel blocked his way."This is quite interesting to watch. Too bad you are going to have to endure all the torture of being with a man who finds it hard to love." Benedict cropped his legs. " Can I have a word?"Bryan's grip on my wrist became tighter. I looked at him. "I just want to talk with him. You know it's been a long time since I had the ch
Danielle's POV The next day, I woke up from the message notification on my phone. I yawned and stretched. When I looked around, the day was already bright and Bryan wasn't in bed. I stood up lazily and went to the bathroom. I took a Brown toothbrush and brushed my teeth. I wanted to do something reasonable with my day today. After brushing, I went into the bathtub and had a hot bath with a lavender bubble bath. I spent at least an hour in the water. It was so relaxing. After bathing, I sat in front of the mirror and dried my hair. I later did other necessary things and put on one of Bryan's long hoodies and pants. Feeling very comfortable, I took the elevator to the ground floor where I left Gabriel and Benedict. When I got down, I yawned lazily and stretched my arms. I slid into Bryan's rabbit-covered flip-flop. Then this smell came out from the kitchen. I sluggishly went to the kitchen and saw three men working together in the kitchen. I paused and rubbed my eyes with my index
Bryan's POV An unusual quiet descended in the house broken only by the ticking of the clock. I sat in the broad sitting room alone wondering if I was doing the right thing. When things seem to be going well with Danielle and me, petty things seem to be the destroyer. I pursed my lips and shook my head. Something better should be done with this day. Ben said earlier that he was going to meet an investor, it made me remember how my company is sinking and how much I need Danielle in my life and my company. I stood up, grabbed a crate, and went to a nearby bar. I sat by the counter, gulping down shots of vodka. Jack joined me soon and sat beside me. "What are you doing here?" I asked him… "Boss, I should be asking you that. I searched everywhere but you were nowhere to be found. I figured you'd be here of all places. What's wrong sir?" He asked. I tossed him a shot of Vodka. I can't talk to someone who isn't drinking and he knew that. It was too early to have a drink but I didn't giv
Danielle's POV The next day, I was ready for work at the precisely appropriate time. I selected a simple office dress of short pants and a suit jacket with a silk cream top underneath. "How do I look?" I asked Gabriel who had been resting on the door for quite a while now. "How did you know I was here?" He walked in taking one step at a time. I combed my hair and packed it in a bun. I carried my black bag, the one I used to take to the office while I was still there. "You look amazing but I'd rather you not go at all. Are you sure about this Danielle?" I nodded my head. "I need to do this for my kids and the family. I have come this far and besides, I'm a strong person. I'll live." Gabriel shrugged and nodded. "If that's what you want, go for it. Remember to keep your distance from that wrench of a man. I don't want you going anywhere near him okay?" I smiled and kissed his cheeks. "I'll be just fine Gabe, relax." "Kids, are you ready?" I asked immediately as I got to the sit
Danielle's POV Oxygen seized from the air and I found myself choking on my breath. I didn't expect this to come this early. "Are you okay?" She asked me. I shook my head. "Sorry, what did you say your name was again?" I needed to be sure I heard it right. "Susan," she said and smiled. Seeing her smile, I remember that I am not a fighter for love. I gave up that instant. I do not want to have anything to do with Bryan anymore. At this point, it wasn't about Isabelle any longer, I did not want any complications with a woman of such high status. She was clean and classy in the way she spoke and the way she walked. Bryan has good taste I must say. If this is his first love, they better get back together. I would try to be with her and leave her on. When I am invisible, I'll leave the company and probably start up my own company. I led her to the VIP lobby for her to wait. With the money I have with me, it's enough to build a company already. I have my house in construction and that
Bryan's POV Ben wasn't lying after all. I picked up the pen and tried to focus on the abstract. The pen fell from my trembling hand. I closed my eyes and sighed. I tried as much as I could not to spare her a glance. “What do you want?” I asked. Her breath still smells of rusted rose. I'm certain she was the one seated in front of me. “You miss me don't you?" “What do you want?” I asked again, ignoring her statement. She placed her hand on the table close enough to mine. She still has the floral ring I had for her that night before she disappeared. How dare she come back here? Her hands moved further and touched mine. I wonder if her touch was still the same. I didn't take my hands off, I just sat there without doing anything. I closed my eyes and tried to remember how her soft cozy palm always felt. I missed those years when she'd come around and place her hands on my chest. She'd kiss my cheeks and whisper to my ears, “Baby”. At the time, those were the words I wanted to hear. S
Bryan’s POV The sound of a gunshot made me rush outside, Danielle was outside. I found Danielle’s lifeless body, swimming in her blood. I knelt and screamed so loud, I didn’t hear myself. The air, once familiar, became thick with an unbearable weight, and the pulse of grief pulsed through my veins with every beat of my heart. Emotions collided like storm-tossed waves — disbelief, anguish, and a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume me. I shook her body but she gave no response. “Danielle!” “Finally, goodbye Bryan. I’ll see you later.” I looked up and found Susan leaving. I thought she was dead. I lifted her and took her into the car, I could lose everything but not Danielle. I took her to the hospital where she was attended to immediately. They did all they could but I knew… I knew she was gone. She is the first treasure I had and now… I lost her. How careless of me.Every sound and strength drained in me. We had goals…we had things we wanted to do and…having her leave m
Danielle's POV I opened my eyes and finally, it was a new day with no worries and sorrow, although I would have to go and meet Pa Bruno and let him know all that happened. We all got in the car and went down to meet Pa Bruno. He welcomed us with a warm heart, he has always been that way. “What a lovely surprise,” he said when he opened the door. The kids rushed inside with their father.When I fit inside, I found Isabelle helping Mrs Helena with her hair. “Oh,” I said when I saw her.“Oh…”“I… what are you doing here?” I asked. “She volunteered to come and help us once in a while to pay for all the bad things she has done to you. She has been coming for a couple of months now,” Mrs Helena explained.I sat down beside her. “I um… I didn’t know you would be coming around. I should get going, I’ll see you all later.” She hurried and packed her bag. “Hey,” I laughed. “Where do you think you are going to? You can stay, you don’t need to leave.”“I want to stay but I need to leave, I’ll
Danielle's POV “Tell me it’s a lie,” I said to him but he didn’t answer me. I trusted him with my whole heart, he was like my best friend. What would the kids think? What of his family? Why!“Are you truly what they have called you out to be?” The judge asked him. “I am what they said I am. I give up. Yes, I killed Susan and yes, I framed Bryan for it. I wanted him to rot in hell and never come back. He took it all from me, everything.” Have looked at me, tears clouding his eyes. “I love you Danielle, you know I do. The kids… they used to be my kids. I was there where you were pregnant, when you gave birth and I also watched them grow up. Seeing Bryan take it all from me broke my heart and no matter how much I try to be there for you, you never see me. And that bitch, Susan. She deserved it. She was always after you so I didn’t want that. I figured there is no reason for me to lie when I am busted.”He turned to the judge. “You have heard it all.” Someone went to the judge and whispe
Danielle's POV ran out to the door and found the woman walking up the stairs. “Are you—”“Lead the way, quick!” The woman said and I led her to the court. It was the moment the judge was sentencing Bryan but he held it when he saw me come in with a lady. Everyone looked back and I took her to the panel. I winked at the defendant and he knew what to do. He stood up immediately. “My Lord, one and only witness, please,” he begged. All my oceans of despair were now replaced by a world of hope. The judge accepted it like he had been waiting for me to show up with someone.But sighed and went back to sit. The kids stretched their necks and waved from the far end of the row. I smiled and focused on the woman. She stepped in and took the oath. “My name is Margret and I will be telling you what exactly happened that night. This man,” she pointed to Bryan, “came in with a lady into my old house. He had asked me to lend it to him for a moment but I thought he was going to have sex or something
Danielle's POV I roamed about with the phone plugged into my ears. “Pick up, goddamit.” I have been trying this woman’s number for seven hours. It’s night time and there has been no response. I am starting to think it was all a lie. Maybe the woman doesn’t exist but Jack keeps putting me on.Eventually, I went to sleep with my phone in my ears.The next day, I woke up and found Jack making the call. I have not heard from Linda or Gabriel. I have tried all I can and it’s just a few hours to the trail. We have no evidence, nothing to prove him innocent. “I have an idea. The witness made mention of returning the instrument to the house. I would go and check the house out. There would be footage. Keep trying the woman, we will meet in the court.” He left with the Benz car. I feel like I am restraining him from doing a lot of things in his life and all he does now is go and look for evidence to prove his boos innocent. I sighed, I just have to keep trying. I kept calling the woman… duri
Danielle's POV “What did he say?” Jack asked in haste. “He has evidence. An old woman who takes care of the old house. He says he knows where she is but he wouldn’t tell me unless I come over to his house. He also said I should come alone.”“It’s a trap. He might not have any evidence. We need to find our means and besides, he might want to kill you. He’s unpredictable so I would not allow you to go alone.”I raised my brows. “I’m not taking any chances. I would go and I would go alone. I would be perfectly fine.” I took a small knife from the table. “Just in case he tries shit, I will stab him wherever I can. I would be fine, trust me. What if this is my best shot? What if this is the only thing that can help me get Bryan out of there? I am not letting it go just like that. I’ll be back. “Jack stood in front of me. “Then let me put a tracker on you.” He attached it to my phone. “You can go now.”I followed the map and went to the location Mark sent me. The road that led to the plac
Danielle's POV I didn’t get to see Bryan that day, not even the slightest chance. Jack, Linda, Gabriel and I have been looking for ways to get better evidence but it was to no avail. I made posters and shared it around for people to see if they could help. With the current way things are, the judge just bought me time to find a way to outrun what the prosecutor had in hand. Whatever they were planning, it’s not going to be good.I sighed and paced around my room. It felt as though a fog of shadows was blinding me from seeing what I should see, doing what I should do but I do know that somewhere out there, there is an answer to the problem I have at hand.I sighed. “What do you think we can do now? I mean, we have done everything we can,” I said to Jack who was also thinking of a way to get his boss out of his mess. The alarm rang and the phone rang as well. I ran to take the call. “Hello?”“Honey, it’s not nice to hear your sweet voice again.” I have waited for a long time to finally
Danielle's POV It was another opportunity for me to see Bryan again. I have been denied the right to visit him and this is just two weeks. I sat at the front as planned. Linda and Gabriel also sat beside me. When Bryan came in, his eyes dazzled around to look for something that was equally looking for him. I stood up and he saw me. Pain and sorrow waited in front of my chest to pierce my heart with its spares of hope. His lips curved upward as he sat down and took his eyes off me. All I wanted to do at that point was walk into the board, take my husband, and leave. A warm hand cooled my temper. I looked at Linda and she smiled. It helped me to get myself together. Then the trial started. The mass media were around, the jury, the prosecutor… defendant… everyone was gathered together once again. The prosecutor started. “My lord, may I?” He asked the judge and he gave him a go-ahead. “Some two weeks ago, the suspect, Mr Bryan Smith was charged with violence and was sentenced to a yea
Danielle’s POV I have gone to eighteen different paper companies to look for which would accept and publish my side of the story but they all turned me down and said they couldn’t help the wife of a criminal. Of course, I can’t let that stop me from trying other means. I wrote a lengthy article on my Instagram page and posted it. Settling in my office, I went through my Instagram page. I’m a rampage, all I read were hateful comments and speeches about how I and Bryan killed Susan. No…this isn’t going to work. The latest news now is about how Bryan would have to face the court again tomorrow. Fucking Jury, I did everything I could. “Linda, can you… can you help me work on the case? I need everything I can find but I can’t do this alone. I need you, I need everyone. Fuck!” I said to Linda in a hurry. I slammed my hand on the table and paced the room with my hand on my forehead. I needed to cool down, I needed to be calm in this time of bad luck.“You need to calm down, alright?”“I!”