“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’
“Toria!”“You didn’t think you were going to do this without me, did you?” Toria said as she hugged Reyona tightly."How was your flight? You should have called me, so I could pick you up" Reyona said impassionately.“It was fine. That is not important right now. You know you can still back out of this madness, don’t you?” Toria whispered to her.“Toria” Reyona said, filled with gratitude and love for her sister.She had no idea Toria would still be able to make it down there despite the short notice.She had told her that she need not come, but until that moment she did not realise how much it meant to her that she had a family there with her.Celia and Andrew were there with them as witnesses. After all, there might be some questioning on the part of the government.What would be the point of their deception if they couldn’t do it right?Yet Reyona was so glad that her sister could be there with her.She hugged her back as she suddenly felt overwhelmed with inexplicable emotions.“R
Maxwell was sure she was going to hate him more than she already did if she found out about this.If things were normal, this was a night he was supposed to be spending with his wife.Or otherwise, he should be at home doing what he wanted without worrying about getting mugged in a goddamn slum!Instead, he drove down an eerily silent street that was not made better by the fact that men in twos and threes hung around in doorways and around the corners.Of course, he was capable of defending himself if it came down to it, but he had rather not.In fact, he would rather be several miles away from such an environment if he had anything to say about it.But once again, duty had trapped him in its nasty grip.Maxwell was not feeling so charitable towards his dad at that moment.If he had not asked his man for directions earlier, he just might have thought he had taken the wrong turn after all.But then he could see the construction ongoing signs the man had mentioned down the lane.It didn
Though seeing Kit seated on the hood of his car with different poses while one of the men took his pictures was not what Maxwell was expecting to meet outside the stuffy, foul-smelling motel, it was far better than the alternative that could have happened.“Sorry I touched your car, dawg” Kit said unapologetically as he moved away from the car.Maxwell could see the man was deliberately taunting him because of his first statement the other time.He ignored the man and entered the car.Roy settled the man and gave him some more instructions.Then he quickly joined Maxwell in the car.“I am sorry that it took longer. I was just making sure we were on the same page. Kit has a mind to do what suits him best sometimes. Just making sure,” Roy said as he put on his seat belt.“It is fine. So, are we good?” Maxwell asked as he started the car."Yes, sir. He would make sure nobody bothers them there, and they would only take the new things we get in there after they have been taken away."Kit
The man looked from Reyona to Maxwell.“Pardon me, but I need to get this straight. You were not married earlier, but now you are.”“Yes, exactly that. We have established this already. Is there any reason why my wife and I need to answer such a question again, Mr. Han? You have a copy of our marriage certificate too.” “Yes, yes. I understand that, President Rohan. But then I will need you to bear with us because these questions need to be asked. It is only protocol, I am sure you understand.”“I do. I just hope you will make it as fast as possible. I understand that the kids are to go to the new home you found for them today?” Maxwell asked matter-of-factly. His no-nonsense tone negated what he was feeling anyway.God damn it, but he was nervous.How ridiculous was that?He was not nervous because of the procedure or questions. Oh, they had that down to pat.He was nervous because of the woman sitting unmoving next to him.Even a blind person could feel that she was no blushing bri
Reyona couldn’t believe her eyes.As tense as she had been at the beginning of all this, she had finally relaxed as the questions proceeded.She was even surprised at the ease with which she went through everything.One would even believe she had actually taken those vacations she mentioned with him, and truly met him at a business party.Lying had not seemed so bad after all, and he had made it more believable with those adoring looks of his.Though Reyona knew it was all fake just like this arrangement, she went along with it and fully got into character while reminding herself why she was doing this.She just wanted to help the innocent. Nothing more.She was practically patting herself on the back when she saw that even the not-so-convinced Miss Macaulay had looked enthralled by their spun tales towards the end of the questioning.She even smiled benevolently at the lady as she passed the documents to them.All that was left was to sign the forms, get the kids, so he could take th
Oh, she loved her sister.Reyona almost gaped in shock when she saw her car parked in Maxwell’s home.To make their story whole and believable, they had gone to the children's services department that morning in Maxwell’s car.The car that Reyona had left sitting pretty in her parking space that morning was currently in front of Maxwell’s parking lot like it had always belonged there.As Reyona helped Junior out of the car, she almost laughed out loud when Maxwell’s domestic staff came out of the magnificent door and lined up at the entrance.Six of them to each side of the door, they all bowed and chorused. “Welcome home, Mr and Mrs Rohan”Before Reyona could laugh at the ridiculous gesture that she was sure her sister was behind, the culprit herself was coming out of the house with a hooting sound and a confetti tube in her hand.“Welcome home, lovebirds!” Toria said as she pulled the string from the tube and a shower of confetti rained down.Junior clapped his hand excitedly while
“How on earth did you even come up with all that?!” Reyona asked with laughter. “Creative juices, baby. We’ve got loads of it. Never doubt that.” Toria answered with glee as she pumped her feet up in the air. “Yes, ma’am. I would never doubt that. Not after today, no. Next time I need an emergency planner, that role is all yours.” “You are going to pay though. No more free work. I can smell fortune in my future doing this. I will be in high demand soon,” Toria said with a laugh. Then she shook some cheese crisps out of the box in her hand. She tossed them up and raised her head to grasp it with her mouth. She crunched loudly as she laid her head back on Reyona’s stomach. “So, I guess today didn’t turn out all bad after all,” she said while chewing. Reyona sighed as she said “Yeah, I guess you are right. Thank you for being there. I am sorry you couldn’t go back today though.” “No, it is fine. I am sure Tara is doing fine on her own. She wouldn’t miss me much.” “Tara.” Reyona
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