SHAWNA“He’s not your father!” I hated myself the moment those words left my lips as I saw how Billy’s expression crumbled. I picked him up and gave Damien a scathing gaze before I walked inside irrespective of the fact that he didn't stop staring at me and Billy. “Mommy said he's not our dad,” Billy cried, jumping out of my arms when we stepped inside. He and his siblings ran inside the room crying and I stared at my mother, the feeling of exasperation threatening to ruin me. “I don't know what else to do, Mom,” I cried. My mom sighed as she walked up to me and pulled me into a hug while I sobbed into her chest. “I hate lying to these kids, it breaks my heart,” I cried. My mom sighed, “You aren't doing anything wrong, Shawna. You just need to start thinking of only yourself and your kids.”I sighed, “That’s what I've been doing for the past five years.”“Why don't you take a break today, Shawna? Go see Liam,” my mom suggested. I frowned, “What about the kids? They're upset wi
SHAWNA“You have a grandfather?” Liam asked me. I shook my head, my face still contorted in confusion ever since the call ended. “No, I don't,” I answered. “But you told me the person asked you to ask your mother,” Liam pointed out. I sighed, “Yes, and I’m going to ask her right now just to clear my mind and make sure that it’s a prank call.”Liam nodded at me, “Call me if you need me.”“Alright, thank you, Liam,” I smiled at him. I left the office and headed back home. I was wondering about the phone call I had received. I knew there was no way that could have been a prank call since it was an elderly man’s voice. But my mom had told me that her father was dead and my dad’s father was dead. I didn't have any living grandparents so who could have called me? “We’re here, Miss,” the cab driver announced. I paid for the cab and stepped out of the car heading inside the house. My mom frowned when she saw me. “Why are you back early?” she queried. I shrugged, “Where are the kids?
EUGENEI had just arrived home from destroying evidence at Damien’s place to find out that my father was furious. He was yelling at my mother when I stepped inside. “Speak of the demon spawn and she appears!” he yelled when he saw me. I frowned, “What happened?”My mom sighed when she saw me, “What did you do to upset your father again, Eugene?” I frowned, “I didn't do anything. I've been a good girl as always.”“Bullshit!” my father snarled. “What happened now, Papi?” I queried. “What did you do to piss off Damien? His father canceled the contract we have with him,” my father snapped. I sighed, I knew Damien would react but I didn't know he would go as far as trying to ruin things with my father’s company. “I’m sorry, Papi. I'll make it up to you,” I said. “How?” he quizzed, “The only other company bigger that can boost the business is Lancaster Empire and no one has been able to get through to them.”An idea suddenly formed in my mind when I stared at my mother. “Mom, weren
SHAWNAI have never felt so embarrassed in my entire life as I felt today. As the cab drove back home I couldn't help but let the tears flow down my cheeks as the memory of what happened with Kiara and Eugene kept playing in my mind.“Stop it,” my mother hushed me but I was too sad to care. I noticed how the cab driver kept throwing me pity looks and it made me feel worse. Finally, the cab pulled up in front of the house and I got out, running into the bedroom to cry. I was very glad the kids were still sleeping so they wouldn't see me like this. My mom didn't bother me. She gave me time to bawl my eyes out and when I was done I went back to the sitting room to see her. She looked very sad and it broke my heart. I felt like a failure who couldn't take care of my children and my mother. “Mom, I'm so sorry I upset you today,” I apologized. My mom shook her head, “You didn't do anything, Shawna.”“Is this why he called us? To embarrass us before Eugene and Kiara?” I asked my mom. M
DAMIEN The incessant ringing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts as I groaned and grabbed the annoying thing. I desperately wanted to destroy the phone but seeing who was calling I reigned my temper. It’s been three hours since my confrontation with Liam and Shawna. I was certain that the sleazebag was sleeping with Shawna when we were still together. But I didn't know why that mattered and why I felt so hurt. Shawna told me we weren't married again so I had no right to interfere in her life. I knew she was right but it didn't make me feel better. I just felt like shit which was why I had returned and buried myself in my bar. My phone rang again and I sighed staring at the time. Suzy would be here soon and she would make a fuss if she saw me like this. I picked up the call with a scowl on my face, “Hello.”“Where the hell are you, Damien?” my father’s voice sounded in my ears. I winced taking the phone away from my ears, “Keep your voice down.”There was a slight pause at
SHAWNA“What is happening now?” I asked, staring at the papers in my hand. My mom walked up to me with a frown as she took the document and stared at it. “You’re naming her your heir?” my mother asked. My grandfather nodded with a smile, “Yes, it was your mother’s wish before she passed away.”I saw the broken look on my mother’s face as she stared at my grandfather. Her voice broke when she spoke up again, “Mother is dead?”My grandfather nodded, “I’m sorry, Princess. We tried to reach out to you but we couldn't. That was when we found out you've left that scumbag. Before I could find you again she died.”I didn't understand anything but I knew the love a daughter had for her mother. Even though my grandparents disowned my mother she still felt terrible at the realization that her mother was dead.“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I patted her back. My grandfather handed my mom a box, “Take this, she asked me to give it to you.”My mom collected the box and cradled it like it was the most im
SHAWNAThe loud wail of Phoebe pulled me out of my thoughts as I stood by the sidewalk feeling miserable about myself. “Get off my stand, woman!” the ice cream vendor snapped at me. “Hush now, Phoebe, I’ll get you the ice cream. I just need to grab cash from the house,” I said to Phoebe, trying to placate her as we crossed the road and headed back home. Phoebe was having none of it as she kept crying like someone who had lost something. Her cries broke my heart as I entered inside and my mother frowned when she saw us. “What did you do to her?” she asked me with a frown. Phoebe jumped into my mother’s arms immediately, hiccuping and mumbling, “Ice cream.”I gave my mom a sad smile as I briefed her on what Eugene had done. “That b–” I arched my brow at my mom, reminding her we didn't use swear words around the kids. My mom sighed, “How could she do that to a little girl? She's heartless.”Then my mom turned to Phoebe, “Don’t worry, Grandma will buy you ice cream now, my little p
SHAWNA“What are you doing here?” I asked the moment I saw Eugene. Eugene smirked and I wished I could punch her to wipe the smirk off her face. “Why, I'm the new landlady,” Eugene announced. My former landlord stared at Eugene and bowed, clearing his throat. “Uh… Miss Eugene, I'm trying to evict them but they're proving stubborn,” my landlord said. Eugene waved him off, “Leave. I'll handle this.”When he left I decided to swallow my pride and plead with Eugene at least for the sake of my children she would consider. “Hurry up with her luggage, boys,” Eugene clapped her hands. The nen she came with didn't waste time at all, they walked into the house immediately, leaving me alone with Eugene.“You don't have to do this. Give me a few more hours to sort things out." I said. I didn't want to sound like I was begging her, just negotiating.Today took a wild turn, I've always tried to avoid anything that has to do with being in contact with Eugene because she's trouble herself.But
SHAWNA“So, you can take her home now. She's very fine now, the antidote worked wonders on her." The doctor told me.“Thank you, we'll take her home now." I stood up and walked out of his office with a warm smile on my face. I'm happy that Phoebe is back, I'm very happy she's fine but I don't think I regret saying those words to Damien.To think that I was contemplating what to do, I didn't want to tell him that kind of thing and at the same time didn't want anything wrong to happen to my daughter.I went to make all the necessary arrangements I had to make before I could take her out of there, we didn't need to pay since the hospital belongs to us.After that, I walked into my daughter's room to see her awake already, she looked at the door as I entered and smiled on seeing me.“Hey, baby." I smiled, walking closer to her. I'm happy to see her back and healthy, I don't want anything to happen to her at all."Mom.” She mumbled, smiling weakly at me."I was looking for you, where did y
DAMIENI drove us around the city before I realized that I didn't know where I'd take her.“Do you have anywhere you’re going?” I asked her.Instead of replying to me, she started sobbing. I had to pull the car into a mall I saw.She was sobbing so loud that anyone who saw her would think I had done something to her. Tears flowed freely down her face as she sobbed loud.“What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I asked her, a frown etched into my face. She kept crying even more as I asked that question, and the frown on my face deepened even more.“Are you going to talk or what? You're scaring me at this point, why are you crying?” I asked things as much as possible to not sound like I was mad.She stopped crying a bit, hiccups took over the sobs in no time.“Can I have a tissue please?" She asked, her voice sounding cracked. I took some tissues from the ones I have in the car, I have such necessities with me here."Thank you." She said, dabbing her face with the tissues. I watched as she j
DAMIENI just wish life wasn't this hard, I wish things were different and it's just a world where I live in peace with Shawna and my children.My children, that just sounds right. I honestly should be happy about that information, but I'm mad because our world isn't in any way normal.This just feels like a fairytale or something, but in this context, my fairytale is just me and my family. I imagined a world and situation where it's just me and them.I drove out of Liam's premises and went to the flower shop. I picked one of the random ones I could lay my hand on. It's not like they're not all beautiful.After paying for the flowers, I drove to the airport straight up. I just hope there's no traffic or anything that'll slow down this journey at all.I just want to get this over with already, I don't know if I'll still be able to stand Stacey after everything I heard from Liam, I don't even think I'll be able to do that.With a hardened mind, I got out of the car after getting to the
LIAMShit, that was a very hard slip-off, I shouldn't have said or let that out at all. He released me immediately I said that, glaring very hard at me. I looked at him, fervently praying within myself that he wouldn't ask me anything.“What did you just say? What do you mean by believing that trash” He asked me, looking at me pointedly. I swallowed thickly and tried to come up with a response, I needed to reply to him."Forget it, I was just spewing rubbish. You also weren't helping matters with how you held me up by the collar.” I tried to divert the topic.He surely didn't believe that, I racked my head to think of another response to that. He glared hard at me at my last response."Don't even try to tell me that, it wasn't a mistake. You're hiding something from me.” He said to me. I let out a very deep sigh and ran my hand through my hair.To say that I'm frustrated would be an understatement, I should have just calmed down and allowed him to leave.If I hadn't replied to him, he
DAMIENThis can't be true at all, there's no way this is true, I don't just know what to believe, but what Shawna said just made me believe that it's not true at all.“No, no, no! Shawna can't cheat on me." I shook my head repeatedly as I tried to grasp the fact that she said it herself.I've known her for years since we got married, and the little time I spent with her when we got back together wouldn't make me believe that she did that.She wouldn't cheat on me with anyone, maybe what she was trying to say was that she got together with him when we were divorced.Even at that, I don't want to believe that she got with him. Was she under pressure to say it? Could she have been forced to say it?Do I have to do something? I'll try to see if I can get something from my end. I mumbled as I brought out my phone. I immediately called my private investigator.He picked up the call almost immediately, he's just one investigator I am newly employed, and he's pretty good through.“Boss, good
SHAWNAHis face crumpled into one of disappointment, then it turned into hurt. I honestly felt like telling him the entire truth right there, I don't just want to lie to him at all.“Have a nice day, Damien." I don't even know why I said that, I just want to say something to him before leaving.Seeing the heartbroken look on his face before I eventually turned around was another big deal for me. It took everything in me to walk away from me.I just want to hug him, hug him tight, and forget my worries for the moment, or even tell him everything that's bothering me.Knowing that I caused him pain is another level of dejection, I'd have gone for other options if there were any. But at this point, the only thing I had to do was just that.And maybe, just maybe if there's a chance or anything, we're able to come back together and communicate. All that matters right now is that I get the antidote, my daughter's life is in danger.I walked back into the hospital to see Liam waiting for me,
SHAWNAI left the restroom and went back outside with my mother who was waiting for me already.“How do you feel now?", she asked me, looking into my eyes.“I'm okay, has the doctor said anything else?" I asked her.“No, he hasn't. Are you sure you're okay? You look mad."“I'm okay, you don't have anything to worry about. You should leave, I'll stay here till morning, you should go home and rest." I told her.“I'm not leaving you here alone, I'll stay with you." She said, shaking her head.“You won't be comfortable here at all, I'll order a ride for you to go home with now. It's just better if you leave and come back tomorrow." I told her with a tone of finality.“But I don't want to leave you alone here." She said, sounding sad.I brought out my phone, “I’m ordering the ride now.” I said as I opened the app and looked for the nearest driver close to us. I ordered the ride for her.“So, I'll see you all in the morning. I'll be here till then." I told her."You're sure you'll be fine a
SHAWNA“What? What do you mean by she has been poisoned? Do you mean food poisoning that has to do with food processing and not one that's intentional?” I asked him."I mean the literal one and the poison is not curable. We need an antidote for it. I honestly wonder how the substance got into her bloodstream, it's too deadly for her little age.”It for like my entire world was about to come to an end, my eyes were spinning and my legs were so weak that it looked like I'd fall anytime soon.I could barely see through my blurry eyes, I zoned out completely as different thoughts started running in. I just don't know what to think right now, but the thought of something that deadly in my baby's system makes me want to do a lot of things.“Shawna?" Someone shook me, bringing me out of that reverie. My mother was the one who shook me, we came here together while grandfather stayed back with Billy and Jasper.“You mean to say that the poison is so deadly that we need an antidote. Then get th
SHAWNAWe left the station too almost immediately after Kyle left. Damien still looks like he's raging with anger.“You have to calm down, I think he's innocent," I told him as I entered the car. He started the car before talking.“You're talking this way because you don't know him. I know Kyle more than you do and I know the things he's capable of doing. Kyle is not just a liar, he's also pretentious." He said."I understand your perspective, but I just have an inkling that he doesn't know about Eugene's disappearance. Let's just hope he gets back to us when he gets something on his end.” I said."I hope so too." He mumbled, keeping his eyes on the road.I just want to believe that she hasn't gone far and they doublecrossed her in no time.Eugene running out of prison is going to be messy for me. What if she teams up with Stacey? Or what if Stacey was the person who helped her escape?That just makes sense, but at the same time, I don't think she's that smart. She doesn't look like s