EPILOGUETHREE MONTHS LATER“He is so beautiful.” Athena said, as she lifted up their baby and spun him around in the air.The past months after the baby had come had been nothing short of magical. She couldn’t stop staring at the baby and she thought about how different her life was now from how it had been just a couple of months ago. They were at a point of peace and Rafael had magically transformed into the sweetest person on the earth. She now saw him smile a lot, especially when he played with Jaden. They had both chosen the baby’s name together after a lot of arguments. It had been a funny scene to witness but at the end of the day, they had settled for Jaden and it was a name that suited him so well.“He has my eyes so of course he is going to look beautiful.” Rafael said, as he emerged at the door of the room.He had been standing there for a while watching his mother and Athena without them knowing. They were startled at first, but at this point they had gotten used to the f
ATHENAYou know there is a saying that a person’s life falls apart at least once before they dieWell, they are not wrong.I am living in hell. One would think that a one night stand would be fun and free of consequences.I mean that is why it is called a one night stand… so it happens and we never think of it again.Whatever could go wrong?Allow me to tell you!You could get pregnant and locked up in a penthouse to bear a child you do not want while the bastard who has knocked you up is gallivanting half way around the world with other women on his arms.He claims he will not allow you abort the child and you must give birth under his care.How stupid could I be?The one time I decide to do it… my very first time and I get pregnant?…I glared at the man on the TV, my eyes watering which forced me to look somewhere else.One hand reached for my belly, patting the bump slightly. I could not feel any movement yet but then again, the doctors said it was too early to feel anything and
ATHENAIt was as though the world had titled on its axis.I could not catch my breath and he kept his eyes on me as though waiting for me to say something.But what could one say when a man makes a promise to kill for you.“I-” I sputtered, clearing my throat slightly.“We are here” He announced.He got out of the car and circled round to hold the door open and help me out of it.The moment was already broken but I could not stop thinking about what he said.He followed me into the bar.Did that mean that he meant to meet with me? Or he was merely curious as to what was wrong with me or both.A waiter greeted us with a smile on her face and so did the receptionist.“Mr Hall, it has been a long time since you graced us with your presence.” She commented right before turning to me.The smile dropped from her face.There was no doubt she used to harbor feelings for Rafael and probably thought me a competition.“This is Athena and we will be having the special”The girl smiled again as sh
ATHENAI am sure I imagined it, I thought.The goosebumps coating my arms at the moment however would say otherwise.I had felt it… that chill and hate about him. It almost made me whimper in fear.“I did not know they kicked so early” He commented, his hand still on my stomach.There was a slight smile on his face now, nothing like what I had seen.“Yeah, the doctor did say anytime now” I told him.He nodded slightly, removing his hand.“Are you not going to eat anymore?” He asked.I stared at the food, my appetite suddenly gone.“I think I am full” I told him.“Shall we leave then?” He rose to his feet, putting a hand out to help me.I took it without saying a word in protest and allowed him lead me out of the restaurant and back into the car.He must have noticed something was wrong because he spurn me around, his arms coming to my shoulders.“You are suddenly awfully quiet” He commented.“I just do not feel like talking after eating” I told him, taking a breath.I was unable to me
RAFAELAm I losing my fucking mind?Maybe that would be the reason I am so disturbed by her.How many times do I have to remind myself that she is the enemy and the plan is to destroy everything she holds dear?Maybe she wasn’t the enemy but the apple never falls far from the tree and her father was my nemesis.Imagine my surprise when I had learned about her identity and the fact that she was the daughter of the man who had kidnapped me as a child.The man who had ruined my life and who still plagued my dreams.I sunk into my chair in the study, not wanting to be around her any longer.I had almost let down my guard today at the restaurant.For a brief moment when I felt the baby kick, I had been reminded of Rachael… so full of life who had been pregnant too at the time I was kidnapped.She did not tell me how she came about being pregnant but she was also experimented upon and died in the process.Athena’s father is a doctor you see, one of the most top performing surgeons in the co
ATHENA“What do you mean by you don’t know where he is?” he asked me,He looked overly concerned as he asked and completely surprised by the fact that I didn’t know where my father was. This didn’t take me by surprise though because who wouldn’t be surprised by that fact.How would one not know where their own parents are?Sometimes it even surprised me and I found it very funny on other days, days such as this. A little laugh escaped my lips, an uncomfortable laugh. I found the fact that my father took off without me absolutely hilarious, given the fact that he always treated me like the best part of his world but then I guess the best part of his world did not belong in his world anymore.I shouldn’t be as shocked by his disappearance though, this would not be the first time that he would up and leave for months on end but then, something about this time felt extremely different. I had the feeling that he wasn’t planning on coming back.He had been radio silent all this time and all
RAFAELThe clattering of the books as they fell off the desk was very loud as I flipped the table over almost immediately as she walked out the door. I was extremely furious at everything that she just said.What does she mean by she doesn’t know where her father is?I knew he had dropped off the radar for some time now and I had no idea where he was. I had been tracking him for some time now before he suddenly disappeared without a single trace and all my trials to find him had proven to be unfruitful. Her appearance in my life had given me renewed hope and now that hope had just been dashed by the fact that she knew nothing.The thought that she was probably lying about it flashed in my mind but then I remembered the look she had on her face when she was talking. That was the look of someone that was hurt by what they were saying. She really had no idea where he was but just to be safe, I was not going to just rule out the fact that she could still know.She was his daughter, he lov
ATHENA“Who are you?” the woman asked, as she looked in my direction.I immediately froze in place, completely unable to say anything or even move as I tried to figure out who she was. She looked much older than Rafael so I wasn’t sure if she was one of his love interests or just a casual person. She had this calm elegance about her, as her eyes bounced from me to Rafael who was standing in front of her.“Who is she?” she asked him this time,“She is-” he began to stutter, struggling to explain who I was.A similar question danced in my thoughts as I wondered who she was. Her green eyes continued to look at me as she awaited a response from Rafael which didn’t seem like it was coming anytime soon.I saw a smile form on her face as she no doubt noticed how nervous she made me and how nervous even Rafael was.“I didn’t know you had a girl over.” She said, with a slight chuckle. “Why didn’t you tell me?”She hit him across the shoulder with a friendly, loving demeanor.“I wasn’t sure how