Reyona tossed her key to the hospital valet who offered to help her park her car in the right spot and rushed off towards the paediatric part of the general hospital. She barely heard the man’s call, “Please, ask for your key at the front desk on your way out” before she got out of earshot. She had no idea what she was going to meet, yet she was filled with dread as she remembered the little wave that girl had reluctantly given on her way to a place that had landed her in a hospital! Reyona blamed herself for not giving in to the urge she had felt over the past weeks to check up on them. Of course, she had reached out to the social centre against her wish and she even knew when they found a place for them with a ready couple who are verified foster parents. All she had not done was speak directly to the kids. If only she… “Woah, woah. Easy there” a familiar voice said as she ran into him. “It’s you. Where are…I mean where is she?” Reyona asked anxiously as she tried to calm her
“Unfortunately, we can’t get the Sanstons to take them back.” “And what makes you think we would want them to go back to such people who obviously have no idea of what they were doing?” Reyona snapped before the woman could properly finish her statement. The woman’s look and Maxwell's little touch on her arm made her remember the situation they were in. “Uhm, I mean, why don’t they want them back?” “They said she is problematic. You see, these people have been working with us for a while now. They currently have two other boys with them and there has never been such a problem. They were already thinking of calling us before the accident happened.” “So, you also believe the girl is to blame?” Reyona asked with a direct look at the woman. The woman looked uncomfortable as she looked from Reyona to Maxwell as if she was expecting a backup. Then she looked back at Reyona when Maxwell said nothing. “See, ma’am. I am not trying to apportion blame here, but the Santons were very sure th
“I really shouldn’t,” Reyona said with a sheepish smile as she looked down at the heavenly-looking crème brûlée garnished with strawberries and blackberries. “You know you want to,” Maxwell said as she stretched her hands towards the desert and made a gesture of blowing its invisible steam towards her. “This is all on you,” she said as she gave in and inserted the spoon she had suspended over the dessert into it and scooped out a handful. She put it in her mouth and slowly drew out the spoon as she closed her eyes in ecstasy while letting out a low moan of rapture. Maxwell couldn’t take his eyes off the glow on her face as she slowly chewed every bit of the savoury dessert. He swallowed uncomfortably as he said quietly “Yeah, all on me.” Reyona’s eyes popped open, and she looked straight at him with such enjoyment that he had never seen on her face before. Holy shit. He wished he had known this was all it would take to have her look at him like that. He would have taken her to
Reyona was certain if she was still eating, she sure would have choked on whatever was in her mouth. Surely he must be joking, right? Who would have thought that a man like him had such a sense of humour? While she stared at him, he raised a half-spoonful of his crème brûlée towards his mouth. Then halfway to his mouth, he placed it back in the bowl and asked straight-faced. “So what do you think?” “You…you are serious.” “Oh, I am. You see, we can…” “You are mad. Very. I didn’t realise it before, but I can see it now.” Reyona said as it became clear to her beyond doubt that he was not joking. Not even a hint of his roguish smile was on his face at that moment. She was already reaching for her bag when he said with urgency, “Listen. Please, listen to me for a moment, okay?” Already half-standing, Reyona sat back so as not to attract attention. Keeping her temper on a tight leash, she said through gritted teeth. “You have a minute to explain, and it starts now.” “Listen, I jus
She shouldn’t be doing this.Reyona’s mind fought and repelled hard at what was happening to her body.Yet its protests were swept under as another wave of sensation rocked her body.She was lost when he whispered in her ear.His hot breath trailed her earlobe as he said “Sshh. Just let me take care of you.”Who told him she needed taking care of?How…Her mind went under again as she felt hot warmness around her lobe as he teased her ear with his tongue.He shouldn’t be…Then he pulled her ear into the warm crevice of his mouth and sucked on it.It was fleeting, yet the sensation rocked throughout her body to the soles of her feet.Since when did her nerve end…“You think too much. We have to change that,” he whispered with a chuckle as he kissed his way down the side of her face to her neck.Reyona couldn’t believe her tiny disappointment that he had not gone for her mouth.Did she want him to…?“I am going to take my time with you. I will treat every single inch of your body as it
Her name-detecting software showed that the number was an official government number.Reyona tried to remember if she had given any of her clients in that sphere her direct number.That didn’t seem likely unless…Reyona picked up the call just as the only possibility clicked in her mind.“Hello,” she said immediately after the call connected.“Hello, Is this Ms. Dexter?” a strange voice inquired.“Yeah, that is me. Who is this?” Reyona asked.“I am sorry to bother you, ma’am, but Miss Macaulay said I can reach out to you if something like this happens.”“Something like what?”“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. I am Anna, and I work at the Emergency Foster Home. I am in charge of Allysyn and Junior for the moment, but then, I am sorry, ma’am, for bothering you, but well, she said I could call you.”“You still didn’t tell me what happened,” Reyona said as she unconsciously rubbed her temples.“Uhm, the girl has been really quiet for days now. She doesn’t talk to anyone and just
“Rey! What have you done?!”Reyona moved the phone away from her ear, then gingerly placed it back.“Not helping, Toria,” she said.“Not helping? Not helping?! Not help… you dropped this on me out of nowhere and you expect me to what? Take it calmly and throw a celebration party? Reyona, what the hell?!”Reyona sighed as she removed her hand from her face and said “Well, any other reaction would have been more welcome.”“Oh, I am sorry.” Toria’s voice changed as she said sarcastically. “I am sorry for not being supportive enough, sister. You have been lying to me…to us! And you want me to thank you for telling me this now?! Well, forgive my lack of generousity, ma’am.”“Okay, that is not fair. I did not lie. I…”“... just conveniently didn’t say the truth? You made us believe you will never have anything to do with that ugliness again. You…how far has this gone? Since when has this gone on, Rey?” As guilt-ridden as she felt at the moment, Reyona knew there was no point in holding bac
“Hi”“Hi,” Reyona responded with a semblance of a smile and gestured at the space beside her on the bench.Maxwell sat, and they were both silent for a while.Reyona could feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t look away from the cascading fall of water in front of her.“How are you doing?” he asked eventually.“Like I am about to sign my life away,” she said automatically.Then, still without looking at him, she waved her hand airily and said “That was a silly joke. Toria must have influenced me,” she added with a dry chuckle.“You told her.”“I have to tell someone,” she said defensively. Then, before he could say anything, she continued, “You do not have to come, you know. I already told you that.” she said, still without turning to him.“I just wanted to see how you were doing,” he said, still turning to her.Reyona turned towards him, then she immediately wished she hadn’t because there was something in his look at that moment that was not doing anything good for her.It also didn’
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