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
Danielle's POVI stood by the door, mesmerized by what I just saw. It's confusing enough to have Susan around but having Isabelle around at the same time made it worse.Millions of thoughts rushed through my mind. I wondered if I should step in or just step out. Bryan sat there with folded arms like nothing was going on in his front.I cleared my throat and both women looked at me. The look on Isabelle's face was terrible. She was trying to hold back what I would call “intended tears."“I was just about to call you,” Bryan said. I pointed my forefinger on my nose and tried to play innocent. “me?” I asked.He nodded while Isabelle still held her cheek. I dropped the flash drive on the table and tried to hurry away from his office but a female voice called my name."Can you…wait here for a second?" It was Susan. I took a deep breath. I do not want to be a part of whatever is going on in this office. I turned to her with a fake smile. “Hi ma'am, how can I help you?” Bryan covered his
Danielle's POVI didn't waste time pursuing Ella's dream for her. I didn't have the luxury of getting my heart desires when I was young and I do not want that to be the same fate my kids would have to face.Although Mila and Lila complained to me, I told them to wait and think about what they wanted to do with their young age.The next day was a big day for Ella. I dropped Mila and Lila in school then drove Ella down to Halsey Ballet School. I met a woman, Lucy. She explained the running of the school and told me how Ella would have to wait in school for a week and I could only see her on weekends.“Are you okay with this, Ella?” I asked her. Her eyes wandered around like she was thinking twice.“we can just go home if you don't wanna—”“ I'll stay. Just for a few days.”I bent and kissed her forehead. “Be good. I'll come see you from time to time.”I sorted the bills with the receptionist and left. While I was driving down to work, I kept wondering if Ella was going to do okay. She
Danielle's POVI wandered around the school premises making sure I was shouting at the top of my lungs. “You have to find my daughter for me in this instance! You want me to tear your school down?” I shouted at the security that was trying to hold me down.Do they think I was joking? Who the fuck did this and why the fuck is my daughter all over the news. I just brought her in today and now they are telling me she's gone.I went back to Lucy and rested on the chair. I summoned all the patience I had left in me. I can't bear it, who have I offended this time around?“You, you have to explain it all again. Tell me your alibi. I am listening…”The shaky woman closed her eyes and started talking. That's right, start talking.“the teacher was just going to show the new student around and she…she wandered off. We have been searching the whole school, she's not in here."I banged the table as hard as I could and winced in pain. “I'll just have to look for her myself,” I told her and stormed
Ella Arnold's POVI opened my eyes slowly and felt a slight headache. “Mom?” I Said and rubbed my forehead. Everywhere was blurry so I had to squint my eyes and open them slowly.One thing wasn't right. Mommy didn't answer and this place doesn't smell like home or school. I sat up and noticed I was sleeping on a tiny bed that had no bunk. I looked around and checked if I'd see Mila or Lila around but nay, I can't even smell them.Looking around, I found some old books covered in dirty cobwebs at the top of the wall. The room is not big, it's tall. Too much space at the top.I also found an old radio, a type I had never seen before. The room is a mess like it hasn't been used for decades. Beside me was a food tray of bread and water. What was I supposed to do with that?“Mom?” I called out again but then I realized how stupid I was at the moment. I read my mother's journals at home and there was something like this in it. Kidnapping. That's the word.I started hearing footsteps walk c
Bryan's POV I stood up immediately. I saw Ella on the TV and ran to the school where she was last seen. Too bad I saw the news late because I was busy settling and analyzing the daily report. Danielle's eyes were red and she looked pale when I found her there. The place was full of cops but I knew what I had to do. She explained what she saw on the CCTV to me and I promised her I'll get Ella back for her. It's something I must do. Of all her kids, Ella was just…different. Unlike Danielle, there was no tracking on Ella which made it hard to find her. “You need to go back home. I'll take you down to my place and we will analyze how we're going to find her. You just need to calm down and trust me.” She bought it and followed me into the car. I took her down to my house and made her hot coffee. She was still looking pale. Of course, why wouldn't she look lifeless when a part of her life is lost and she can't point to where she is at the moment? Knowing Ella isn't around hurt me a lo
Danielle's POV The whole world slowed down and I found myself setting hours in seconds. I watched the car deplete and scatter into pieces. I wanted the car to roll over and hit the truck slowly. I rushed out of the car and ran to the scene. Bryan tried to stop me but I pushed him away. The car was emitting smoke and sooner or later, it might explode. I looked for tears and I couldn't find it. Bryan reached me and opened the door of the upside-down car. The man driving the car was dead. The car was now painted red, blood that I did not want to belt was my daughter's. Bryan pulled her out and there she was, lying lifeless. Everywhere was silent, all I felt at the moment was pain. Bryan spoke words that I could no longer understand. He carried her into his car. It's the first time Bryan would shed a tear in my presence. All of that didn't matter. I ran free and got into the car. He sat in the driver's seat
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!”