SHAWNALiam's words made me stop but it only made me confused. I don't understand what the correlation between the two of them is and I looked at him to explain.“Don't worry, I'll explain later, just let us in please,” Liam said and I obliged, opening the door wider for the both of them to come in.They both walked in and Damien heaved a sigh of relief, obviously relieved to be finally allowed in. I closed the door behind them and went further into the room.They both stood in the middle of the room but Liam greeted my mom normally. Damien was the only awkward one in the middle of the room.“Good afternoon ma." He greeted her and she mumbled out s response to him. She stood up and gestured at me that she was going into the room.We were left alone soon enough and I turned to look at them, raising an eyebrow at Liam specifically.“When did you both turn to friends that you're now walking together?” I just had to ask. The last time I checked, Liam didn't like Damien, and vice versa.Se
SHAWNA“That shouldn't be a problem though. I didn't impregnate her normally because I made sure I used protection." Hearing him say that felt weird, images started coming up in my head and I had to squeeze my eyes hard to get rid of them.He seemed to notice that I was uncomfortable because he immediately re-explained himself.“I mean, the sex wasn't mutual in the first place, I did it because she gave it as the prerequisite to get Shawna out of there. She sure didn't get pregnant through that.”"She took my sperm from the sex and implanted it in herself, it wasn't the normal way. So the court will surely find her guilty of that." He explained.“But how are you so sure that's the way she got pregnant and not from the sex you both had? I mean, condoms don't fully prevent pregnancy." I asked out loud.I just think she can’t get pregnant normally, they had sex afterall.“We investigated that too, she met with a doctor who helped her with the implant and all. She didn't get pregnant norm
SHAWNA“Are you sure about this? How sure are you?" I had to ask, what he just said didn't sound like what I wanted to hear because we all believed that she was pregnant.“Yes, the insemination failed. She can't be pregnant. We even tried other semen and the IVF failed. There's no way she's pregnant unless she used other means which I doubt she did because we still checked days ago and she's not pregnant.”To say I'm mortified would be an understatement, I'm more than shocked as it is. I always knew Eugene was crazy but I didn't see this coming.Damien and Liam were equally shocked as I was, they both had shock written on their faces. But Damien's soon morphed into anger.“I should have known she's capable of pulling a stunt like this, she did something similar to this five years ago!""I should have just known she'll never change, she just keeps getting worse. How can someone keep getting schemes like this? Eugene is the devil herself.” Damien hissed.It seems he just knows what she'
SHAWNAThe smile on my face was so bright, there was no way I could have even contained it. A squeal wanted to escape my mouth but I had to control that.“Are you for real? This is a lot! I'll come over right now!" I exclaimed.“Yes, ma'am. He's awake. And we'll be expecting you." The nurse said.“Thank you so much," I said then ended the call.“What happened? Who just called?" Liam asked me and Damien looks like he wants to ask me the same question too.“Grandfather is awake. I just got off the phone with his nurse now who said she's waiting for me. I have to go over now. This is a good news!” I squealed this time around.I'm even happier talking about it than when the nurse called. It's so good to hear that he's now awake. I just hope he's okay and he doesn't go back to a coma again.“Are you both ready to leave too?" I asked them both with a voice of urgency and they both nodded at the question."Of course." They said simultaneously. At this point, I think they both have a lot more
DAMIENA small smile came up on my face as I entered the car. I hadn't expected her to allow me to hug her. But then again, it might have meant nothing to her while it meant something to me.“You can drive now," I told Roger. He was the one who brought the car for me, he did a thorough check to make sure we weren't being followed before he came.His eyes glanced at me from the mirror above his head, I must look foolish with this smile on my face right now. I tried so hard to control myself so I'll at least not look like a fool.“We aren't going to my house, go to my father's house instead," I told him when we joined the highway. Liam and Shawna already went the other way."Okay, noted.” He mumbled. It's been a while since I went out with Roger, he's always almost busy at the office while I run errands like this.We spoke a bit till we got to my parent's house. I just thought it would be realistic if I let them know about the wedding plans.I'm sorry, but I'm not also sorry for them. T
I don't think I've been this happy in s while, my grandfather is now back home with me. I had to bring him home with me, I couldn't leave him alone in his house.And I think it's better if he comes to the penthouse with me. That way, we'll watch after him while also bonding with him, he looked so happy to see everyone that I found myself smiling.“Hey little munchkins.", he greeted the triplets as we got in. They all looked at him with confusion etched on their faces, they sure didn't recognize him.“Who is this, Mom?” Phoebe asked me, her little eyes looking up at me.They've seen him once, but that was before he went deep into a coma. He has changed physically because of the number of days he hasn't been awake.If I didn't know him before, I might have recognized him too. I think it's the poisonous substance that was given to him too but he now looks older than he was.“This is your grandfather," I told them.“Grandfather Bryan?" Billy asked out loud, taking another look at him."Ye
SHAWNAWe both looked at each other as the phone rang, it was just the three of us as my mom and grandfather with the kids were in their world.“What do we do? Should we answer it?" Liam asked out loud and we all looked at one another with confused expressions on our faces.We were still contemplating till the phone stopped ringing. I sighed in relief when it stopped, it was as if it was a huge issue that was just a preferred solution."I guess I can leave now. Or is it better if the phone is in airplane mode? That way there'll be no distractions from it.” Liam asked.But before either Damien or I could reply to him, the phone started ringing again. Hearing it ring made my heart skip, I don't know if it's because I don't know what to expect about the call.What do we even do from here? And it's a strange number calling, there's no name on it.“Let me have that,” Damien said, taking the phone from Liam. He swiped right on the phone and picked up the call, my entire body was so anticipa
SHAWNAA coy smile came up on my face as I stood upright, I honestly didn't expect him to ask that question. But I think I'm ready to tell him the truth now.He should know about them, right? And we honestly don't have any beef, neither do I see anyone coming that'll make him want to take them away from me.“Maybe I'll tell you," I mumbled.“I can't wait then, let's just get Eugene over with then." He said.Now I know he'll want to do anything in his power to get rid of Eugene at this point. There's just something about his smile that draws me to him, I don't know what it is, but I'm entranced by it.Maybe it's the small dimple that pops out when he smiles or the way his eyes glint when he looks at me and then smiles.I didn't know when he stood up till I felt his finger on my jaw, he just steered my head to look in his direction very well.“You're beautiful." His deep voice that makes me so hot said to me. His voice alone can do anything to anyone, especially to me.Then when he said
SHAWNAI let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in my chair as I recounted my earlier conversation with Damien to Liam. “He said I should go shopping to find something that makes me feel beautiful for the party,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s acting like everything is fine, like we didn’t go through all that mess.”Liam shrugged casually, fiddling with the edge of a folder on my desk. “Shawna, we both know your heart has always belonged to Damien,” he said matter-of-factly.His words caught me off guard, and I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”“It means,” he began, leaning against the desk, “that’s why it was so easy for me to fall out of love with you. I’ve always thought you and Damien would end up together after… you know, that night.”I gave him a small smile, one that didn’t reach my eyes. “That’s not fair, Liam. You’re making it sound like I didn’t care about you.”“You did,” he said quickly, his tone softening. “But not the way you care about him. I’ve seen the way you blus
SHAWNAI stood at the door, watching as my kids left with Damien’s parents. My chest felt tight, and I couldn’t decide if it was because I was nervous about letting them go or if I was just overwhelmed by how fast everything was changing.“They’ll be fine,” my mom said, patting my shoulder. “You’ve raised them well.”“Yeah,” I muttered, though my heart wasn’t convinced.Not long after they drove off, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Damien standing there, looking… different. Softer, maybe? His usual confidence was still there, but his eyes held something else.“Can we talk?” he asked, his voice quiet.I nodded and stepped aside.He walked in, hands shoved in his pockets, looking like he was trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he sighed. “I just wanted to apologize for my parents. For how they treated you back then. For everything.”I folded my arms, leaning against the counter. “That’s a lot of years and a lot of hurt to apologize for, Damien.”“I know,” he sa
SHAWNADamien’s mother raised a perfectly manicured brow. “Surprised to see us, Shawna?”“Uh, yeah,” I admitted, gripping the door a little tighter. “I wasn’t expecting you.”“Well,” Damien’s father said, his voice cool but pointed, “it’s the same way we weren’t expecting to find out we had grandchildren.”I sucked in a breath, the guilt and anger swirling in my chest. Before I could even think of a response, my mother appeared behind me, her presence as sharp as ever.“Perhaps,” she said, her tone cutting like a knife, “if you’d treated my daughter well, you would’ve known she was pregnant before you threw her out.”The tension in the air thickened, and I glanced between them nervously. Damien’s mother's confident expression faltered, and she exchanged a guilty look with her husband.“We… we were wrong,” she said finally, her voice softer now. “We made a terrible mistake, Shawna, and we’re here to ask for your forgiveness.”I stared at her, speechless. I had imagined this moment a hu
SHAWNAAfter what felt like hours of arguing, yelling, and crying, the house was finally quiet. I sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, staring at the untouched steam rising from it. My nerves were fried, my head pounding, but at least the chaos had settled for now.The sound of soft footsteps made me look up. Phoebe, Jasper, and Billy shuffled into the kitchen, their eyes cast down. They stood in a line, looking like three kids caught sneaking cookies from the jar.I sighed and crossed my arms. “Well? What do you have to say for yourselves?”Phoebe, being the oldest and the boldest, stepped forward. “We’re sorry, Mom,” she said softly, her big brown eyes, so much like Damien’s, pleading with me. “We didn’t mean to upset you.”“We just… we didn’t know what to think,” Jasper added, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s all so confusing.”Billy stayed quiet, shifting uncomfortably, but I could see the guilt written all over his face. He hated seeing me upset, and I knew he didn’t me
DAMIEN“Alright, Dad,” I said, leaning against the wall of the study. “Let’s hear it. Grandpa says you tried to kill him. Care to explain?”My father’s head snapped up, his expression flipping between disbelief and annoyance. “He said what?”“You heard me,” I replied, crossing my arms. “He says you plotted to kill him for the company.”Dad groaned and ran a hand over his face, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse. “Damien, your grandfather has always been dramatic, but this? This is a new low.”“I told you he wouldn’t believe me,” Grandpa chimed in, leaning casually on his cane. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about the chaos he’d just stirred up.“Maybe because it sounds like something out of a bad soap opera,” I shot back.Dad sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “Damien, your grandfather’s ‘assassination’ story is ridiculous. Here’s what actually happened.” He turned his gaze to the old man. “After your accident, when you miraculously re
DAMIEN folded my arms and leaned against the table, eyeing the man who claimed someone had plotted to kill him. The old man, my grandfather, met my gaze squarely, his expression unreadable.“So, let me get this straight,” I said, trying to keep the disbelief out of my voice. “You’re saying my father, your son, tried to have you killed so he could take over your company?”Grandpa nodded, his expression unchanging. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”I couldn’t help it, I laughed. A short, humorless laugh echoed off the walls of the dimly lit room. “Even for Dad, that’s a bit of a stretch.”His lips curled into a smirk. “Is it?”“You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?” I shot back, gesturing vaguely toward him. “Dad’s a lot of things, but a murderer? Come on.”“Ridiculous or not, it’s the truth,” Grandpa said calmly, resting his hands on the head of his cane.I rubbed my temples, pacing back and forth. “And what, you think I’m just going to take your word for it? I mean, sure,
SHAWNAAs the old man continued his cheerful banter with Damien and my children, I felt my patience wearing thin. My arms were folded tightly across my chest, and I tapped my foot against the floor, letting the tension seep into my movements. This wasn’t a family reunion I signed up for; it was an unexpected disaster.“Thank you for finding my children,” I said abruptly, cutting into the conversation. My tone was polite, but there was no mistaking the edge in my voice. “I’m grateful, truly. But we need to leave.”The old man’s jovial expression faltered slightly. “Leave? But we’ve just met. Surely you’d like to stay a while, Shawna. The kids seem to be having a great time.”I shook my head firmly, glancing at Phoebe and Billy, who were now clinging to him like he was their long-lost best friend. “We’ve had enough surprises for one day. Come on, kids, let’s go.”Phoebe and Billy exchanged a glance before crossing their arms and planting their feet firmly on the ground. “We’re not leavi
DAMIENI couldn’t move. My legs felt cemented to the floor as Shawna’s words echoed in my head. Who had her children? Our children. The weight of it all pressed down on me like a crushing wave, and yet, I couldn’t form a single coherent thought.“Damien!” Shawna’s voice cut through the fog. She stepped closer, gripping my arm tightly. “Who has my kids?!” Her voice cracked, panic lacing every word.I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. How was I supposed to explain this? The truth hadn’t even settled in my mind yet. Instead, I turned on my heel and motioned for her to follow.“Get in the car,” I muttered, my voice barely audible.“What? Damien, no! Talk to me! Who—”“Shawna, just get in the car!” I snapped, my tone sharper than I intended. Her eyes widened in hurt, but she didn’t argue. She stormed past me and climbed into the passenger seat.The tension in the car was suffocating. Shawna’s voice, sharp and demanding, cut through my thoughts like a blade. “Damien, what is going on?
SHAWNA"Damien, Liam, I think something's wrong," I said, my voice trembling. "I can't find Billy and Phoebe anywhere."Their faces paled. "What do you mean you can't find them?" Damien asked, his voice sharp."I mean they're gone. Vanished. I've looked everywhere, and they're just… not here."Liam's eyes widened. "Maybe they're playing hide-and-seek?" he suggested, trying to sound optimistic."Liam, they wouldn't play hide-and-seek without telling me," I said, my heart pounding. "This isn't a game."We raced back to my mother's house, finding her frantically pacing the living room. "Jasper!" I cried, pulling him into a tight hug. "Where were you, darling? You scared me to death."Jasper simply shrugged. "I was playing in the garden," he mumbled.Then, his face crumpled. "But I can’t find Phoebe and Billy," he cried out, tears welling in his eyes. His lower lip trembled, and he buried his face in my skirt, sobs racking his small frame.I knelt beside him, my heart aching. "Oh, sweetie