Reyona declined her parents’ offer to take her to either of their homes.When they both agreed that she had undergone too much trauma in Kayooma recently and she needed a break from the city, she reminded them that Kayooma was where she had built her life in the past years.“The fact that one aspect of my life didn’t work doesn't mean I should abandon everything. I have a company here. It won’t run itself,” she said with determination.Her parents were a bit worried about the flippant tone with which she was talking about everything.So Gladys asked her. “Are you able to remember other things now? I mean, did your mother-in-law's death trigger anything?” they asked her.“Apart from reminding me that none of us have much time on her hands to sit around and mope about our losses, no, I still can’t remember anything about the past few years. I need to find a hotel.”That led to another protest, and her parents argued that living in a hotel with her condition was not the best option.“I w
“I knew I was going to regret this,” Carlisle grumbled as he readjusted Reyona again while she strained to open the door with the self-fashioned lockpick.She ignored him and focused on her task.It had been easy years ago when she had to watch how to do it online when she lost the key to her dorm room.She could still remember how she did it, but there must be something she was doing wrong.The door didn’t budge.So, she tried again.Gladys returned to sit in the car after declaring that she couldn't recognise Reyona."The Reyona that I know wouldn't even think of such a thing," she muttered before closing the door firmly behind her.Toria was the one on the lookout for whoever might be coming.She was taking her job seriously as she swung her head from side to side, even though there was no sound of any car approaching.Thankfully, the neighbourhood has their houses set so far apart that there was no neighbour to call the cops on them.Despite that, Toria declared, “Just so you know
The whirlwind energy with which Reyona did things in the following days was a thing of marvel to her family.Not just the pace at which she was getting everything done but the changes in her as well.Though her amnesia was still a thing of concern for them all, the change in her behaviour was even more surprising to them.Spontaneous actions were something that none of them could relate to Reyona before, but in the few days after they left Maxwell’s place, they could see that there had been a significant change in Reyona’s attitude.Formerly, Reyona planned everything down to the last detail and hardly gave room for any off-the-cuff actions, but they could see that that had somehow changed.For one, when Reyona was going through a file that her secretary had delivered to the house one day, Toria complained that she had been cooped up in the house since morning.She accused Reyona of her intention to bore her to death with paperwork, and she declared, “Let’s go shopping till we drop!”
It started with Fiona.According to Toria, Fiona was the one who told Reyona about the deception that she had been dealt for years.When Reyona’s family told her that it might not be such a good idea to meet the woman, all she asked was, “Why?”She could see that they still believed that she was merely suppressing the pain of her divorce, and they were afraid that any little thing could affect her and make her spiral.“Don’t worry. I will be fine. I want to meet with her tomorrow. She sounds like it is important. I will just get it done and over with. Like a bandage, you know,” she said with a smile, but she could see that none of her family was in the mood to share the joke with her.So she faced Toria. “You'll drive me tomorrow morning, so get your head out of the sheet early,” she said as Toria rolled her eyes.She excused herself and went to call Fiona back.She greeted the lady more warmly this time, unlike the first time when she had been busy trying to remember if Fiona was any
“Are you okay?” Reyona heard faintly through the ringing in her ear.It took her a moment before she could look up at the woman.Concern was evident on her face, and she had even raised her hand as if she wanted to support Reyona, but when Reyona looked up, she quickly drew her hands back.Reyona nodded, or at least she hoped she managed to do that much.She held on tightly to the chair, made her way around it, and then sat down carefully.She set her walking cane aside and just took a minute.“What is wrong with me?” she thought in worry as she remembered that she was supposed to see the doctor that morning too.She had cancelled it because of her change of plans.Was this her punishment for ignoring her health for something that shouldn’t be her concern?Her head was pounding terribly, and it seemed like there was a naughty nymph in there doing salsa in her brain.She felt clammy and thought she might pass out after all.“Way to go, girl,” she thought to herself sarcastically.She w
Reyona only smiled.“I am sorry, I am rambling. The problem now is that Thomas has not been found yet. Mary told me you made arrangements for the bodies at the morgue until he could be found. The police have found nothing about him, and I don’t know what to do with the kids.”Reyona wondered how that was her problem.Then she said, “I am sure Thomas would be back from wherever he went soon, and he would take them off your hands.”“But we don’t know when that would be, do we?” Fiona said anxiously. More to herself, she muttered, “I don’t know how a son could be so unfilial! His mother and daughter died on the same day, and he had to choose a time like this to leave home. My aunt would be crying in the afterlife right now.”Reyona was beginning to think of all the things she could be doing with her time at that moment instead of sitting to hear a tale she already knew about.Fiona must realise she was already losing her because she quickly apologized for her rambling again and said, “Ma
“Psst!”She had been enduring another long-winded speech from Manaois before she heard that sound.Half contemplating what the consequence would be this time if she knocked the man over the head with the rake in her hand, the sound jolted her out of her fantasy.She looked over towards the mesh-wire fence and saw the hooded figure.She was sure that the half-deaf, ex-soldier did not hear anything.Why would he? He was too caught up in his memories.She saw part of the familiar face before the figure ducked beyond the cemented part of the wraparound wall surrounding the facility.Her blood quickened as she wondered if her eyes were deceiving her.It had been so long.It was much too long, and she only wanted to run over there and confirm her thoughts.But there was one problem left.A problem named Manaois!The fucking old dog was still rambling on about some bullshit regarding his dead comrades and how their blood on his conscience had pushed him towards drugs.She was sure she would
“She did this to you, didn’t she?” Susan asked in the soft voice she knew he loved to hear.“I told you not to ask, okay? Just keep your mouth shut when your brother comes here, and we will be fine. I will be here again before your time is up.”“Okay, my love,” Susan said with a smile.He looked at her and looked away.An awkward silence descended between them, and Susan knew she did not have much time before someone would come sniffing for her like a hound.“Do you want to leave now?” she asked, trying hard not to wrinkle her nose at the stale smell coming from him.“Err, yes,” he answered uncertainly. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then he nodded and said, “Keep your head low, okay?”“Always," Susan said with a smile.He nodded again, and just as silently as he had come, he left again.The smile on Susan’s face died instantly.It was that bitch!She was sure of it.Not only was Thomas looking like something the cat had dragged through the alley, but he looked like he
Dear Reader, Thank you so much for following this journey from the beginning to this point. I appreciate your comments, votes, review and continuous reading. You are my real MVP. Reyona's story has come to an end here as she went on to live happily ever after while navigating the beauty and trials of life with the love of her life. But then Toria's story is just about to begin. What do you say to navigating Toria's new journey as she confronts her rollercoaster feelings for Andreas while dealing with the powerful Kanellis family and forces determined to keep them apart? Would you like to see if a headstrong, free-spirited lady like Toria can fit into the imperious and honourable family while she fights her demons? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Thank you for being here. Do check out my other books. I am Kabirat Aleem.
“.... I promise to love and cherish you for as long as we live and beyond. I will respect you and always remember that you are my partner before anyone else. I will put you and our family first in my decisions. You are mine in totality just as I am yours. Together we shall grow in loyalty, in abundance, in comradeship, in support and eternal love. I will forever be by your side in everything that comes our way on this journey of life….”“I, Maxwell Rohan, take you, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, as my lawfully wedded wife today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until I breathe my last.”“I, Reyona Beatrice Dexter, take you, Maxwell Rohan, as my lawfully wedded husband today in the presence of God and man, with the promise to cherish our vow until the day I die.”As her sister and her husband completed the vows they had worked on themselves and slid the rings on each other's fingers, Toria tried hard to keep her tears at bay as the minister said, “You may kiss
The past month had been the most heart-filling one for Reyona.She watched as Allysyn lolled Sophie's bassinet while showing her something in the picture book she had in her hand.Meanwhile, Junior jiggled the rattle above Lucas to the delight of the baby and the hopping dog.An inexplicable bliss filled her at the thought that these belonged to her.These beautiful blessings that had been bestowed upon her when she least expected them were a solid part of her story.Reyona leaned back in her chair with a big smile on her face as she reached for her drink.“Rey, you are glowing. I mean, you are literally glowing. You should see your face right now. Hold on.”Toria quickly took a few snaps with her phone before turning the phone around to face Reyona.Reyona smiled as she looked at the pictures while sipping her mimosa.Although she couldn't see herself literally glowing as Toria had said, she loved what she saw.The woman in the picture looked…fulfilled.Long gone was the anxious, sad
Two Months Later“Does this mean we will have to call you Mum and Dad now?” Allysyn asked in a solemn tone.Reyona looked at Maxwell with a smile before responding to Allysyn.“It means we are forever your family now. It means we have got you forever. In as much as you do not forget that, what you call us doesn't matter.”Although she knew how beautiful it would be to hear them use those words.“I am Thomas Junior Rohan?” Junior asked with his head tilted after he pronounced what he had been using his hand to trail in spelling.“Do you like being Junior Rohan?” Reyona asked with a smile.He looked thoughtful for about ten seconds before saying, “I love it.” To Maxwell, he said, “Does this mean I get to drive your car now?”Reyona and Maxwell laughed as Allysyn rolled her eyes.Reyona sucked in her breath as the laughter waned.“Well, maybe in the future, if you've been very good, of course. But not yet.”“Aww,” Junior said with a pout. Then he brightened in the next second. “I will be
The call was from his head of security.Reyona listened to his terse response to the person on the call.Then, just as he took the turn towards his estate, she felt her phone buzz.She frowned as she saw that it was a message from Maxwell.“We have a guest,” it says.She looked at the back of his head as she wondered why he couldn't just say that directly instead of sending it as a message.She was about to ask him who it was when she looked beyond the windscreen and saw the police cruiser.Her heart kicked against her rib and she looked downwards to check if the even-breathing Allysyn had slept off or something.“Look, Max! The police!” Junior shouted excitedly as he pointed at the spot where the police officer was just turning away from the man he was speaking to, the head of security.Allysyn's lax body went taut as she jerked upward, looked in the direction that Junior was pointing at, and then back at Reyona.She had a mixture of fear, question and uncertainty in her face.Reyona
Reyona and Maxwell went together to take the kids from school that day.Despite their fears that some unrelenting reporters might have decided to call them about what happened or ambush them for an interview about what they felt about Thomas's death, nothing of such happened.The school was also free of any lurking reporters or paparazzi.It was either they had decided that Thomas's death was not as worthy of news as his scandal had been, or they were still jeering up to blast the family with all they got later.Whatever it was, they were glad as they waited in silence in front of the school for closing time.Soon enough, school was over for the day.Maxwell came out as the students came out en masse.Soon enough, they saw Allysyn and Junior.Junior was skipping alongside Allysyn while dragging his backpack along and shouting some words at a friend who was going towards another car parked close by.He was being his jovial self as he waved hard at the friend and asked him not to forget
Reyona's head jerked upward as she heard Maxwell's voice.Then she looked sideways when she heard a growling sound.Jerking his head from Reyona to Maxwell, Skippy's pupils had dilated so much that they almost covered his entire eyes.His growl continued as he looked confused about where he should escape.Reyona realised what was going on as she saw Maxwell standing at the entrance, blocking his escape route.He felt cornered!She realised as the dog backed away while his growl increased in pitch.“Maxwell, move,” she said urgently, and he automatically stepped aside.The dog hopped past him in a flash.The dog kept going without stopping at all.Maxwell shook his head and went to Reyona. “What was that about?” He asked in an incredulous voice.“We were building a friendship,” Reyona said with a pout.“That was friendship?” Maxwell asked in disbelief.“Well, we were about to. Then you…do you think they do therapy for dogs?” She asked in contemplation.Maxwell started chuckling, “Ah, a
The soothing sound of the water reminded Reyona of the brook that ran through their homes in Bellevue Hill.She felt completely blissful in the oasis that Maxwell had surprised her with.It was exactly a replica of the one in her home in Sydney.After their dinner that night, Reyona was still pretending to be miffed at him because he wouldn't tell her if he really was the one who donated to the orphanage she had opened in her grandmother's name.Then, as if he didn't notice, he told her to check out something.“I am still mad at you,” She had said as she folded her arms above her belly and gave him a mutinous look.“It is a good thing that you are a versatile woman then. You could be mad at me and still come check this out. You will be glad you did. I promise.” He said innocently.Then, just as Reyona pretended she had not made up her mind yet, he swept her off her feet.How can he still carry her so effortlessly? She wondered as she squealed “Maxwell!”That was the first time the pap
Reyona had no intention of having the wedding while she was still pregnant.“It is called ‘walk down the aisle’, not waddle down the aisle'. Thank you.”That had been her argument and everyone had agreed with her.Not after Toria had added that their dad could carry her.“Then it will be ‘float down the aisle'” she had said in jest.They all came to an agreement that the wedding preparations would start after she had given birth in about two months.They spent the night in the hotel, and they all visited The King’s Creek to pay obeisance to Grams before their parents’ and Toria's departure.Maxwell, Reyona and the kids will stay back in Boowag until the jet got back.Stefan and his co-pilot were to carry Gladys and Carlisle to their destinations before coming back for them.It would take Gladys home first, then make a stopover at Milan to drop Carlisle before coming back.Toria had a standby jet that had brought her to Boowag and Kayooma for the preparation of the surprise and all.Of