They had the best of times shopping.He was fully engaged in every aspect of every choice they made for the baby.From the crib, changing table, baby monitor, and nightlight down to the onesies, pajamas, and swaddles, to the bathing, feeding, healthcare, playtime essentials and every other thing they could think of.They had so much looking up and selecting many more items than the ones they had ever gotten in Sydney.Maxwell booked the baby needs store she chose for the day and the attendants were at their beck and call.When Reyona told him she didn’t think it was really necessary, he told her it was for the best.He was still very sensitive about the media exposure they had had to deal with and didn’t want them to wake up to their pictures splashed on a cover page because they did something that was supposed to be uniquely theirs.When he explained it, Reyona remembered what had happened the last time they had gone shopping at Kayooma.It had been a means for some sleazy papers to m
After a thoroughly decadent night, Reyona woke up the next day feeling perfectly lethargic.She had somehow ended up close to the edge of the bed with her face turned away from him.She smiled drowsily as she remembered that she had slept off wrapped in his arms while they were still trying to catch their breath after the…Well, she had lost count anyway and her brain was too lazy at the moment to start thinking of what she couldn’t probably count on both hands.She still couldn’t understand when she had become so insatiable.Was it just the hormones or the man?If she was honest with herself, most of her anger and frustration with him beforehand had also had to do with the tenuous pull of attraction she had felt for him when she had no business feeling such things.The man was just too hot for his own good.Or her own good in this case.She felt slightly sore down there, yet it was the most delicious type of soreness she could think of.When she stretched her hand backwards and felt
The house always had a kind of liveliness to it with the amount of staff inside the mansion and around the house.Though she had never really paid much attention to it, Reyona realised there was always a subtle sound going on somewhere in the house from someone doing something or going somewhere.At the moment, it seemed like she was the only one in the house.“Where is everyone?” she wondered.“Maxwell?”“Jane?”“Toria?”Maybe she should have checked Toria’s room.But knowing her sister, she knew Toria would not be in bed till now unless something was wrong.Or if she had gone partying.They had met her at home the day before while she was busy working and giving some suppliers hell for delayed delivery.When they had their dinner sent to them in bed, Reyona asked if Toria and her mum had sat for dinner, but the maid had said Miss Dexter was still busy with work and Mrs Rochester had eaten with Junior and Jane.It looked like Toria had worked late last night, so she wouldn’t have had
The carpet led towards the foyer but not to it.It took a detour to the left just a few paces away from the foyer.Reyona looked up at Maxwell’s grinning face and decided not to ask.She was sure he wouldn’t tell her anyway.Soon enough, she saw where it led.It led straight through the door of the ballroom she had once marvelled at when he first gave her the tour of the house.The door was locked though.Yet he kept walking towards it.She chuckled as she began “Don’t tell me you are about to show me your superpower of walking through…”The door suddenly burst open with a chorus of “Surprise!”Everyone seemed to be in the glorious ballroom!In Reyona’s excited shock, the first thing that popped into her mind was that everything….glowed.There was no other way to describe the enchanting, magical ambience created in the ballroom with soft, warm lighting that complemented the chandeliers described.Fairy lights are draped across the ceiling and around the tables, adding a sparkling effe
Toria returned to Cyprus the day after the event.Their parents and Maureen left soon enough as well.The excitement of the discovery got Reyona in a frenzy for the next few days as she wanted everything to be perfect for her babies upon their arrival.She was glad that she still didn’t know their genders yet, but the fact that she had two lives growing inside her was more than she could have ever hoped for.For eight years, she had tamped down her needs for a family just because of a man who was not worth it.Her thirtieth birthday had been marred by the realisation that she was growing older.She was even beginning to think that she might never be able to change the mind of the man she had thought was her lifelong partner.She had pushed aside all that she had ever wanted, all for someone she shouldn’t have ever given the time of the day.She would probably have gone all her life not fulfilling the dreams she had always had as a child.To have a family of her own.She had always wan
Reyona told the staff to leave the array of refreshments on the table.“It is fine. You can go.” she almost snapped in her anxiety.The kitchen help bowed to them and left.“Is this about the call you just received?” Reyona asked immediately. “Who was it?”“Officer Guy,” Maxwell answered instantly.Reyona’s heart kicked as she knew who Officer Guy was. And his call could mean anything.“What…?”“They were finally able to reverse the funds back to your account,” Maxwell said as she listened to him with rapt attention. “It was a bit tricky to get the source of the dummy account that the dead guy used. It was an offshore account and, thankfully, it had not been transferred to the intended account. After some back and forth with the bank, they were able to reverse it. He called to ask if you had seen it.”Reyona patted her trouser pocket before she remembered that her phone was in their room.“My phone is inside,” she said tersely.She was glad that the money was returned.That meant she
Reyona had thought she would have to go to the detention centre where Maze was held.He was held in Kayooma Federal Detention Center after his lack of cooperation in the first hearing.The judge had been pissed off and had him sent there to cool his feet for a week before the next hearing.In the meantime, the police were gathering more evidence based on the recording that Maxwell had made.The recording in which Maze had denied his own voice.Reyona still wondered why Maxwell had thought it would be possible to have someone like that strike a deal with them.She was sure the bastard might even prefer going to a long-term jail just to spite them.After all, Maxwell had played him.With the new evidence of his gasoline purchase and other incriminating information that Officer Guy had gotten from Susan though, Reyona supposed he might decide to be more reasonable when he realised that his “I-know-nothing, I did-nothing” tactic was not going to work.Any environmentally aware person woul
Maxwell couldn’t be more proud of how Reyona handled the man who had started out acting as if he didn’t care about anything.Oh, he tried to get under Reyona’s skin.He even tried to taunt her for being the clueless woman who had allowed her husband’s mistress to get the better of her.At first, she had let him think he had the upper hand, as he practically insinuated that they had nothing on him.Maxwell trusted Reyona, yet he had been rearing to get in that bastard’s face and tell him what was what.But then, with a few strategically worded sentences, she had pulled the rug from beneath the cocky bastard.She made him believe their meeting was the best thing to happen to him in his current state.Then she added that Susan had all the evidence of the deeds he had done for her with her.Evidence that she had handed over to them.When Maxwell could see that the Maze’s former confidence was fading already, she idly flicked at her nail and turned to face Officer Guy sitting beside Maze.
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