“Safe jour…ney” Reyona completed as she heard the disconnecting tone of the call.She placed her phone on the table as she mused on the success of Toria’s interior design company with her partner, Tara.Tara had started the same company on a small scale before her husband forced her to sell it so she could become a permanent housewife.Toria had discovered the emotional and physical abuse the woman had been going through. So, instead of buying out the woman's only means of escape from her marital problems, her sister had helped the woman finally speak up about her situation, reported him to the authorities and finally ensured that he was locked away for a long time after he almost killed Manuel in his intention to shoot Tara.Then she used the money she had intended to use to purchase the building which Tara’s parents had left for her to enter into a partnership with Tara.That birthed T and T Interiors, a source of new life for Tara and a chance for Toria to fully utilise her manager
“What are you doing here?!” Reyona asked in a strangled tone.“I come bearing gifts,” he said automatically as he held the bag in his hand forward like a peace offering.“I told you…” she looked beside her when she saw him grinning as he looked towards her side too.Phil gave her an innocent look as he said “I can…go?”“No, you don't have to. I don't want you to go. I have something we need to do right now. We have…” she trailed off as she tried to remember what she was going to do with Phil before he decided to discomfit her with his presence.“Meeting. We have a meeting, boss.” Phil quickly finished for her. “A very important meeting that can't wait. Yes, that is it.”“Yes, it can't wait,” she said as she looked back at Maxwell and inclined her head for him to leave.Instead, he moved forward with his hands outstretched towards Phil. “Hi, I am Maxwell. I don't believe we have met. You must be the very capable Phil who has been helping my wife out.”“Maxwell” Reyona said under her br
The meeting was mostly one for introductions where the personnel got to meet Reyona as the chairperson of the company.Most of them had seen her come a few times already, and they knew about how she had filled in for Phil on the day of the event as well, but they still didn't know her real identity.After Phil introduced her, to the surprise of those who had thought that she was Phil's girlfriend, they all began to introduce themselves as well.Then Reyona gave a little speech that encompassed her gratitude for the efforts they had been putting in, a promise of due rewards to those who continue to work diligently, a reminder of the goals of the company and how they were the face of the company who must endeavour to portray the company in the right light every time.She soon dismissed them, and they were barely out of the room when he clapped as he stood up from where he had been sitting on one side of the room.“You were brilliant,” he said as he came forward and kissed her on the for
“I think it is you,” Reyona said breathlessly.She was staring up at the roof of the car while trying to catch her breath.“It is me what?” Maxwell asked as he turned to her, his chest still heaving as well.“You did something to me. You… I was perfectly fine before you came around, and now I can’t remember a day that I did not have the thought of… you know.”He had a proud look on his face as he grinned and said “That was the best thing you had said to me all day.”Reyona rolled her eyes and sat up to rearrange her clothing.Just as he started doing the same, his phone started ringing again.“Someone must be very desperate to get to you. That has been going on and on.” Reyona said as she moved from the console and properly got back in her seat.“You heard it? I thought those were the sound of you moaning.” Maxwell said with a grin.Reyona raised her brows at him as he turned to search for the phone which was ringing from below the seat.He chuckled and said, “How had that got there?”
She was not being selfish!No, Allysyn meant a lot to her, and she would make sure she kept in touch with him…Well, she was not sure whether he would pick up her calls after what just happened, but she was going to try.Reyona paced to and fro in her bedroom as she felt like her skin was too tight for her.What did he have to look so hurt for?She liked Allysyn!She wished that whoever was the bastard who lay his hands on the girl would be instantly caught and dealt with.She hoped the girl wouldn't be plunged into the gloom she had once gotten into.Of course, she knew it was Allysyn!He didn't have to make her seem so heartless while looking at her like…“Oh my god!” Reyona sobbed as she rushed towards the nursery they had just started working on together.*****“What?”“Where are you?!” Reyona asked urgently. Chest heaving, she hoped she was not too late already.“I am on my way to the… what do you want, Reyona?”“Just tell me where you are unless you don't want me to come any…”“
“Reyona, I need you to understand that this has nothing to do with me deliberately lying to you or anything. I just felt it was no longer necessary, you know.”Okay, now she was sure of it. Something was up.“What?” Reyona asked again as she straightened.“I sent Thomas away from Kayooma. I sent him to rehab far from…actually, it is not that far away from Sydney, but then I had no idea you would be in Sydney anytime.”Sent him right to her.Reyona slowly and rigidly lay back in her seat as she said “And if you had known? Where would you have sent him to?”He was silent for a while before he asked, “Why are you angry?”The hostesses discreetly left where they were.“I guess I just think your declaration that you are not going to keep anything away from me was nothing after all,” Reyona said tonelessly.“Hey, no. Why would you even think that? I thought… I just didn't think it was necessary, and I also did not want to upset you. I know you don't like his name being mentioned. I did not
Reyona opened her eyes when she felt a soft kiss on her cheek.She stared blearily at his mesmerising eyes.They were clouded with worry at that moment, but they still stole her breath away.Why were they fighting again?“You look so beautiful when you sleep.” He murmured to her.She raised her brow in a “really?” gesture as she levelled her gaze at him.As he countered her look with a smile while staring at her like he was memorising her features, she thought “Toss words at me. Accuse me of having feelings for my ex. Then walk out on me only to come back to wake me with a kiss and a half-ass compliment. Sure why not?”As if he was reading her thoughts, he said “I am sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you that way.”What now?He rubbed his hand over his mouth and jaw as he said “You were right. My decision was more because of you than any other thing. I guess I was… I was scared of losing you.”He did it again. He managed to disarm her with a few well-chosen words and those so
The boy was sleeping in Allysyn's bed.Reyona doubted that Jane had been the one who put him there.The tears she had held back stained her eyes as she looked down at the innocent face so peaceful in sleep.Had he suspected anything, despite the attempts of the surrounding adults to fool him?From Reyona's experience, she knew that kids always seemed to know much more than the adults wanted them to know anyway.Jane had told him Allysyn was staying for one more day, but when Allysyn did not come home again in the morning, he would begin to ask questions.“It is over twelve hours already,” she thought in agitation. “Who could carry the girl and why are they not making any calls yet?”When she was tempted to ruffle his hair away from his face, she stepped back.What would be the point in waking him if she couldn't provide the answer to what might be the most prominent question on his mind?She had a call to make anyway.She stepped out of the room and closed it slowly behind her.As she
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