As Ayana and Adam approached her home, tension crackled in the air like static electricity. Ayana's steps were purposeful, and her resolve was firm as she prepared to confront her family, mostly Grace, for what she had done. Yet, as they entered the familiar surroundings, Ayana sensed an undercurrent of hostility brewing beneath the surface. Well, it was something she had gotten used to, so it did not surprise her much. She knew she was so unwelcome, but who said she needed to be? She was there to make a point, and she would do it no matter the reception.Jumping out of the car, she did not have to walk further. She could see the bunch of her oppressors basking in the morning sun as if they had not committed any crimes. Actually, she seemed to have interrupted their peace the moment her car with Adam drove into the compound, as they all stopped what they were debating about to see who had visited them. And their expressions changed the moment they saw her face, with Adam hugging her h
Ayana could sense the tension thickening in the air as her parents exchanged those uneasy glances. The weight of their shared apprehension bore down on her, yet she refused to yield. She had spent years piecing together the fragments of her past, struggling to unearth the truth buried beneath the lies they had woven so meticulously.But now, as she confronted them with her unwavering defiance, Ayana saw through their facade. Their attempts to shield her from the harsh realities of her history had only fueled her determination to uncover the secrets they sought to hide.With each passing moment, the walls they had built around her past crumbled a little more, revealing the raw truth lurking beneath the surface. Yet, despite their guilt and apprehension, her parents remained resolute in their refusal to surrender to her demands.Ayana squared her shoulders, her resolve unyielding. She would not be silenced, nor would she allow them to dictate the course of her future any longer. For she
As Ayana and Adam stepped out of the confines of her family's compound, a wave of emotions washed over them, each sensation a symphony of relief and liberation. For Ayana, the weight of years of deception and suppression lifted from her shoulders, leaving her feeling as though she could finally breathe freely for the first time in what felt like an eternity.Every step away from that oppressive environment seemed to fuel Ayana's sense of empowerment. She felt the pulse of her own heartbeat reverberating through her veins, a steady rhythm of defiance against the forces that had sought to control her. It was a feeling of exhilaration mixed with apprehension; the thrill of breaking free from the chains of her past mingled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.For so long, Ayana had been confined by the expectations and manipulations of her family, but now, as she walked beside Adam, she felt a newfound sense of agency coursing through her being. She was no longer bound by their dictate
As Ayana carefully made her way down the bustling street, a sense of purpose filled her stride. She clutched the bundle of paintings she had poured her heart into, eager to deliver them to Mrs. Jones, a local art enthusiast who had commissioned her work. She was the same client from the exhibit, and true to her words, she had called a few days later and explained what she wanted to Ayana. And that day, even if the steam of what had happened at the exhibit was still on, Ayana had an obligation to fulfill, and that was delivering her masterpieces.Adam would have come with her, but there was a meeting at Lyana’s school, and he had gladly and voluntarily offered to go. However, his agreement with Ayana was that she would patiently wait for him until the meeting was over so that he could drive her to Mr. and Mrs. Jones house. But she was enthusiastic to wait. Every second felt like a failure of her professionalism, until her ass could no longer settle on the couch.She had set off and hai
As the man's face was revealed, Ayana felt a surge of shock and disbelief coursing through her veins. It couldn't be; it just couldn't. Yet, there he stood before her, his smirk widening into a smug grin as if he had been waiting for this moment.Robert.The name echoed in Ayana's mind like a thunderclap, dredging up memories she had long buried beneath layers of pain and betrayal. He was her college sweetheart, the man she had once believed she would spend her life with. But their relationship had crumbled under the weight of lies and deceit, leaving Ayana to pick up the pieces alone.Now, here he was, standing before her like a ghost from the past, his presence a chilling reminder of everything she had tried so hard to forget. The pain she had gotten over was buried in the grave of bad memories. Yet, here he stood, reminding her about it all once again, and the pain slapped her like it never left her to start with. She felt a mixture of anger, hurt, and resentment bubbling up inside
Ayana's heart pounded in her chest as she turned around to face Robert, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The audacity of his question sent a surge of anger coursing through her veins, threatening to overwhelm her fragile calm.Her mind raced as she grappled with the whirlwind of emotions churning within her. How dare he? How dare he walk back into her life after all these years and demand to know about their child? What child was he referring to, to start with? The child he had denied—the child he had abandoned before they even had a chance to take their first breath?‘I have way too many things ahead of me. I cannot lose focus much because of the baby. You should have been careful and used protection to avoid all this. See what you can do about this mess. As for me, I am done here.’He had coldly said to her six years ago that day she had relished the news of her pregnancy. She was so hopeful. She already envisions their future together, with the first fruit of their love
As Ayana and Robert stood locked in a heated confrontation, their voices echoing with tension and anger, Adam's arrival couldn't have been more timely. His footsteps echoed against the pavement as he approached them, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. Gosh, if only she had heard his car pulling up, she would have pulled away from the confrontation sooner."Is... everything okay?" Adam's voice cut through the charged atmosphere again, his eyes flickering between Ayana and Robert.Ayana's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, relief flooding through her at the sight of him. Without a second thought, she moved closer to Adam, seeking the safety and comfort of his embrace.Adam's protective instincts kicked into high gear as he sensed Ayana's distress. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and shielding her from Robert's menacing presence."What's going on here?" Adam demanded, his voice firm as he glared at Robert, his stance protecti
But as Robert glared at Adam, his vision clouded with anger, he realized that Adam wasn't backing down. His gaze was steady, his expression unyielding, as he stood his ground, ready to defend Ayana at all costs.Faced with Adam's unwavering determination, Robert's resolve faltered. He knew he was no match for Adam in a physical altercation, and he could feel the eyes of the onlookers burning into him, their silent judgment weighing heavily on his pride.With a frustrated growl, Robert swallowed his pride and took a step back, his fists unclenching as he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. He knew when he was beaten, and he could see that Adam wasn't going to back down."You son of a..." Robert began, his voice trembling with anger."Say one more word, and I won't hesitate to break your other jaw!" Adam warned, his gaze icy and unyielding.Robert glared at Adam, his jaw clenched in frustration and humiliation. He seemed to realize that he had met his match in Adam, someone who
“Hey! “ Lian spoke with her signature smile, of course. “Why don’t we first stop by calling it a sin? Let us just say that it was casual sex done for the wrong reasons and at the wrong place. But all in all, we were adults, and we both proved a point that day. Of course, it hurts, just a little, because you did not offer exactly what I wanted. But if anything, Adam, I want you to know that I wouldn’t waste a chance with you even now if I had it. I am not ashamed to be on the list of, you know, all of those you have been with.” She then looked at me. “I am sorry to say this too, but at least I got to taste the famous Adam Stone De’Leon!” She smiles, and I think I am beginning to love her smile now. Eyes roll! “You are lucky, Ayana. You both are lucky to have each other. And this is where I wanted to be—to have you look at me the way you are looking at her, with so much love and adoration. Your eyes speak submission every minute they brush her. Even a fool can tell you love her so much.
“What, son?” His father asks.“The merger that you seek with the De’Marios will happen.” Excuse me, what? I snap at him, and I was just to give him a piece of my mind, but a gentle squeaaze of my hand sealed my lips, opting to trust him, hoping that he knows that these bunch of heartless fools do not deserve to benefit even just one bit from me. “But not on the grounds of my marriage to Ayana!”Fantastic! Bingo! God, I so love this man!Eyes flickered on each other for a long moment of screaming silence, until my father had to break the lull. Desperate old man! “What are you talking about, son? You know you are really growing desperate by the day here. And now, we have damages to pay to the Adrianos for what Grace did. Things are weighing down on us, Adam! So, what do you suggest? Anything that will help at all. We will abide!”So, Adriano, are you asking for compensation for the damage that Grace’s actions caused? Well, they seem to be the experts in not letting any opportunity slide
After a long, unnerving moment, the door opens again and freezes on our spot as our house is swamped with people.Yeah!People!And I am not talking about two or three people here, no! This weird woman is the weirdest of all because, how did she pull all these?And yeah, before I forget, I am not talking about just any other people. Not some ordinary people. Naah!We are talking of the De’Leons, Adam’s father and mother; the De’Marios, my parents; and this skinny witch who used to be my sister. And these other people, whom I presume are Lina’s parents,.Forget everyone. Lina and her parents have a score to settle with Adam, and so do the De'Leons, who have the right to be in their son’s house. But these black souls, these people that God gave me as a family? How dare they have the guts to set their feet here, huh? The nerve! The temerity! I mean, after all they have done to me? And this little brat of a witch, after insulting Adam like he was the greatest sinner the world has ever had
“You got my information from my parents? How? When? Why?” I ask.She steadies herself. “It wasn’t intentional. It just so happened that you both were the reason why some dark secret that was kept in the dark for years was leaked out. Our families, the Adrianos, the De’Leons, and the De’Marios had to meet because that was a breach of contract!” She speaks.I get everything about the dark secret and the urgency for the two families to meet, and I can also understand that tabgle. But breach of contract? What was all about that?“Breach…” I throw Adam a glare to ask for clarity, but he seems clueless and lost like I am, so I decide to ease both our curiosities. “Breach of contract? What contract?”“Yes,” she says, throwing Adam a glance, and she speaks, looking at him as if the words were only meant for him. Wasn’t I the one who asked the damn question here? “Our families, the De’Leon’s and the Adriano’s, after settling for compensation and agreeing to bury all that had happened, signed a
“Hey! I am harmless, you know!” The lady, Lina, speaks, and she even has the bravery to smile at me while my hand freely retreats from the mission of shaking her hand.She had no choice but to drop hers in letdown.She is harmless.The woman that supposedly Adam raped years ago is smiling right in my face, and I should not be worried. She is harmless. Harmless, huh?What is this?Why did she come here?“I know who you are,” I murmur, hoping that we don’t have a problem here, but how stupid of me to think, no, to actually hope for that? Why would he come here if there wasn’t fire in the mountain? “Wha…what are you doing here?” I ask.As Adam composes himself and approaches, his trembling hand clasping my waist reveals the struggle within him. It's not merely a physical tremor, but a manifestation of the turmoil in his soul. I sense the weight of his past bearing down on him, an unwelcome guest crashing into the delicate balance he's been striving to maintain.In his touch, I feel the e
The chirping of the early morning birds calls me out of my peaceful sleep. I peel my eyes, and they almost impair with a striking, sharp pain as they collide with the savage rays of the morning sun. I shut them for a minute, but when I don’t feel those strong arms around me, I peel them open in a flash, turning around. Empty space! That explains why the widow's curtains are open, permeating the savage sunrays. He woke up before me. That has never been him. I always wake up enveloped in his arms every single day of the six months that we have been together. What changed? Is it because of that question from last night? This marriage issue? After he asked me that, and after I failed to come up with a straight answer, I just laid my head on his chest and snuggled into his warm embrace. He understood the memo, which meant I was not ready for that kind of conversation. And he respected it, just like he has always done. He pulled me closer and tighter, and we drifted off to sleep. Did I
“Goodnight, mommy,” Angel says after I tuck her to bed, or rather, we tuck her to bed. Me and Adam. She turns to him and says disrespectfully, "Goodnight, Uncle Adam. You two are the best." Some“Alright. Goodnight princess. Have sweet dreams, and your mommy and I love you so very much,” Adam says, kissing her on the forehead before standing up as the sweet little girl closes her eyes.My sweet little angel. My gift is straight from heaven. What can I give God to thank him for bringing her into my life? She is my pride! My joy.“Shall we?” Adam asks, holding my hand, and I don’t waste time. I follow him behind, leaving Lyana’s room as we stroll across to his master's room. Or just simply, our room. This has become our room, just as his house has become my house. We are better off being called a family. A married couple. Because this is what all this depicts. I forgot about my house a long time ago. All that is left is for me to pick up my belongings and settle here for good. Yes, here
Ayana's anger flared, fueled by the woman's bitter accusations. "What I meant was," she retorted, her voice trembling with fury, "I did not know that Robert had a wife. And no, I have never entertained this fool ever since he came back from nowhere, and I never will. For me, he is nothing but some fresh vomit that I can never take back, no matter what."Her words cut through the tension like a knife, carrying a raw honesty that left no room for doubt. Ayana's resolve was unwavering as she stood her ground, refusing to let the woman's scornful words diminish her self-worth."And as you said," Ayana continued, her voice rising with conviction, "I am with my man. A man worth being called a man, and not some trash!"With each word, Ayana reclaimed her power, asserting her worth and dignity in the face of adversity. She refused to be defined by the actions of others, standing tall in her truth and righteousness.Robert's once confident demeanor faltered as Ayana's words pierced through his
All eyes turned towards the unexpected newcomer, a tired and heavily pregnant woman standing before them. Ayana's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight—the woman's weary expression, the telltale swell of her abdomen—indicating she was carrying a child.As confusion clouded Ayana's mind, she searched for answers in the woman's gaze. There was a sense of familiarity—a haunting resemblance to Robert—that sent a chill down Ayana's spine. Could this woman be Robert's wife?What puzzled her was why Robert had suddenly reappeared after six years, pursuing her and their daughter, especially if he had a wife—a pregnant wife, no less.The revelation left Ayana grappling with a myriad of emotions—bewilderment, frustration, and a gnawing sense of unease. She couldn't comprehend why Robert would resurface after all this time, stirring up chaos and turmoil in their lives.The realization hit Ayana like a ton of bricks, her mind reeling at the implications. If this woman was indeed Robert's