Nerves forgotten, a big smile lit my face as soon as I stepped into the garden of the five star hotel.That was where I had met Christian. He used to work as a bell boy. I had come here with dad for few business meetings.His charm and handsome features has swept me off my feet. It was in the garden of this hotel we had first kissed. This was the same place he had proposed to me. This place held memories that were dear to me and if he had invited me here to meet with me, he also cherished the memories. My eyes scanned the arena, searching for him. "Hailey." I turned to see him standing close to a table for two. The setting was intimate, making my heart flutter within. I had missed him so much. I ran to give him a hug, he wrapped his arm around me and every nerves unknotted, excitement grew. That got me emotional and I struggled to hold back tears. "I'm so sorry, Christian. I-it was a mistake. I-I was not aware. I p-promise it won't happen again. Please, forgive me."My words wer
I entered the passenger seat, barely acknowledging Uncle Pete holding the car door for me. I was drained in every way possible. My head hurt, I felt like I was hit by a truck transporting tons of brick. And I would not stop crying.Uncle Pete climbed in beside me. It was late already. I had no idea how long I'd stayed on the floor in that garden crying my eyes out. But when I'd realized my phone was ringing, I had seen it was late. Uncle Pete had been the one calling because he'd been worried about me. "He doesn't want me." I divulged amidst pains gnawing through my broken heart. "You'll be fine, Hailey. Let's just get you home and cleaned up." He patted my shoulder and then started the car."Where's home now?" I asked, sniffling as more tears fell."It's wherever you want it to be." Came his wide reply.He passed me a comforting smile and drove me back to the Johnson's mansion. Like one who had seen a ghost, I got down from the vehicle and trudged into the house."I don't have t
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." The handful of guests that had been invited clapped and cheered us on. This was it. I was married to a stranger. A guy I barely knew. "Smile, Hailey." He whispered harshly beside me.I turned to look at the man who had become my husband. The man who ruined my marriage had become my husband.If life wasn't some mysterious bitch, then I didn't know what it was. I mustered a smile as the shutter clicks of camera were heard and seen in almost every direction. The needlessly expensive ring on my ringer felt heavy.I'd removed a two-year old wedding ring just a week before to replace it with a new one today. Literally ten minutes ago.I was twenty two and married twice already. This was unbelievable. My life was unbelievable.It's been two weeks since I'd signed the divorce papers. Martha had mocked me after I'd returned and for the days that had followed, it had not been easy.There was nothing to do now. I had a baby to raise. The morning sickne
I was stunned when I realized the state of my wedding dress. "Why would you pour ink on this dress?"My tone came out squeaky and a bit scared. I hated it but there was nothing I could do to stop it. "W-what are you trying to do?" I moved back when she would not reply and still approached me with a pair of scissors.My back hit the clean yet cold tiled wall of the bathroom and kept my gaze on her. "You think you can have my spotlight?!" She spat angrily."I-I...drop the weapon, Mia." I pleaded, I was trying to run out of the bathroom stall before she could get ahold of me."You think you can spring out of nowhere and marry Jared, you fool?!" She was rushed at me and pressed the weapon to my throat, also pinning me hard to the wall.I whimpered as fear overwhelmed me. "P-p-p-please, Mia. Don't d-do this." I begged."Any more pressure to your neck and your blood will spurt everywhere." Her tone was cold and menacing.She sounded like a psychopath who would only be too glad to cut my t
"What is happening here?" Jared walked in looking a bit out of sorts.Had he run down here? "What the fuck, Hailey?! What is this?" He slowly walked to my front and stooped before me."Ask your girlfriend, Jared. She did this." A small part of me hoped he would believe me.Barely twenty four hours into this family and I was already seeing hell. "What are you talking about?" Jared's tone carried befuddlement."Stop lying, you wretched girl!" Martha cursed."Don't listen to her, babe." Mia was speaking in her 'pity me' tone again."Can someone explain to me what is happening here? Why is her wedding dress torn and her underwear in view?" He was looking me, expecting answers from any one of us."I...""I came into the bathroom to pee." Mia started, cutting me off. "I noticed she followed me and came at me with a pair of scissors and a jar of ink. I was surprised to see her but before I could react, she wanted to pour the ink on me. We struggled and only a little smeared on my skin whil
"Eww!" Mia was yucked out.I could not stop throwing up, my eyes were hot and I felt like I was floating on clouds of ice — I was cold and a bit lightheaded Uncle Pete wrapped the blanket around me. "There is the toilet bowl. You could have just gone in there." Jared was as disgusted as his fiancee.Jared walked over to the wash basin and began cleaning himself."What should we expect from a low class?" Martha said from her distance.Uncle Pete was the only one who didn't complain.I moaned in discomfort. My stomach churned more, I felt like going for a second round and I was yet to have breakfast or even lunch.I had no idea what the time was specifically but if I could guess, it was lunch or close to. Martha had refused me eating anything this morning despite being a pregnant woman who needed food for her fetus.According to her, I didn't need to have a bloated stomach and look unattractive on her son's day. That had been laughable because I had a natural flat stomach. It didn't
CHRISTIAN"Have you seen the news?" She strutted into the office, thrusting her phone in my face."I've been busy. Why?" I raised my face to hers, not bothering to read whatever it was she wanted me to see."Take a look then." The phone was almost touching my nose now.I took it from her and paid attention to the gadget, trying to understand what she was so eager for me to see. My jaw dropped in surprise. "Hailey?""Exactly." She made herself comfortable on one of the chairs facing me.That was when I saw how angry she was. I read the headline again to be sure I was not hallucinating. "Strange Lady Marries Into The Johnson Family and Carries The Heir of The Billionaire CEO and Multiple Time Award winning Business Man of the Year, Jared Johnson."I raised my eyes to her face. "Keep reading." She urged.I scrolled down to see more headline news about her. "Billionaire CEO Jared Johnson Finally Ties The Nuptial Knot With The Lady Who Accused Him Of Sexually Harassing And Impregnating
JARED"This is the third time you're taking her to an event. What the hell is happening?!" My girlfriend was in my face and really angry.I pulled her close, lifted a hand to gently caress her face. "I know it's not easy seeing me go out with her but I have no choice, babe. She's the wife they know.""I am supposed to be your wife! I am supposed to be by your side going to every event with you, Jared!" She retorted.I heaved a sigh. It's been two weeks since my marriage with that girl. It only got harder by the passing moment.My relationship was crumbling and it was all because of her. I didn't want to lose Mia, not for anything and certainly not for a girl I knew next to nothing about and wasn't interested in knowing."I know baby and I'm sorry but my hands are tied. These events, plus ones are required and since the world knows I'm married and who I married, I have to go with her." I tried to make her see reasons.She moved away from my hold, folding her arms, an angry pout contort
UNCLE PETEWe reached the location where Hailey's car was abandoned.There were few spectators curiously miling around to know what had happened to both the owner and the car. One of the brake lights was smashed into a lamp post. The front of her car door was open. Jared stuck his head inside to know if he could find anything useful.His location had led us here and when he finally brought out his head, he was holding a phone. "Her phone. Found it on the floor of the car.""Is it still in good working condition?" I asked. He tapped the screen of the phone, it came on immediately. "Yes, I guess it is." He gave the whole vehicle a thoughtful stare. I could literally see the wheels of thought turning in his head. "She was kidnapped, that much is clear." I said with certainty."Of course she was kidnapped, damn it!" Angrily, my nephew punched the body of the car. "Relax, Jared. All we need to do is involve the police." I reminded him.He gave me a rueful glare. I exhaled, raised my
"I guess so." He shrugged in response. More tears stung my eyes but I fought them back. Did she have to go this far? To damage my face and legs? To send thugs my way? "You'll be fine. I don't judge, I still love you regardless." Christian joined me on the bed once again, trying to cuddle me to himself. Weakly, I fought him off. "Stay away from me. How am I sure this was not a planned work between you two?"He scoffed. "Come on, Hailey, how can you even say that? I hate that girl. I don't like her one bit.""She's getting married to your friend." I all but shoved the wedding invitation card under his nose. "Yes, I know that. But it doesn't mean I like her, it's none of my business who Jerome chooses to be in his life." He said in his defense.I stared at the wedding invitation card, turned it over while scrambling my brain for a way to make Mia pay for what she had done to me."What are you thinking?" I cast him a look, my eyes roving his face. "Can you do me a favor?""What is it
It was a struggle to open my eyes but when I finally did, the light overhead almost blinded me. I shut my lids back with a wince.Seconds later, I slowly reopened them but was mindful of the bright white light hanging on the ceiling.Trying to move was another chore, I couldn't. Every part of me felt broken, bruised and battered. Then I remembered that in fact, I was beaten, bruised and battered by two masked guys whom faces I never saw. Struggling to push myself to a sitting position, a small cry left my lips. My legs were swollen, had dark red spots and felt too heavy to move. Tears of self-pity blurred my vision the same time I saw someone walk in. "You're awake."I didn't need to see the face clearly to know the voice belonged to... "Christian?" I blinked my eyes, tears hanging onto my lashes wasted no time running down my cheeks. I lifted a hand to swipe at them, another painful cry. My face hurt badly too. Oh God! Was I disfigured? They had targeted my face and legs, those ma
UNCLE PETER"Hailey is no longer taking her calls." My fiancee ran into the room, the look of apprehension blanketing her features painted an unsettling picture in my head but I stopped myself from going there. "It's no cause for alarm, babe." Just as I was speaking, there was Celine behind, sporting the same look."I didn't know you were back." My brows furrowed trying not to go where their head probably was in the moment about Hailey. "Not quite long ago." She replied."Aunt Celine, hi." Zion whom I was playing with before they came in stopped the play-fight amongst his soldiers and waved at her. She rewarded him with a big smile and a wave back. "I missed you, baby Zion."She called him baby Zion and he loved it.He giggled pleasantly and went back to playing. I read their expressions, they silently requested that I come with them. They wanted to tell me something but didn't want Zion to overhear. I hoped all was well. "Hey buddy." I crouched to his sitting level."Yes daddy?"
DENISE"You sure do know how to pick a woman's dress." I admired my body in the mirror, casting my gaze to his with a satisfied wink. His face gave away no emotions, he merely stood from the sofa he was seating. Impatience radiating off of him. "Can we get to the part where we rehearse?""Calm down, cowboy." I cat-walked towards him. "Have no one ever told you not to rush a lady?""Denise, Hailey is beginning to suspect something is up. I have run out of lies and I hate lying to her. So let's just get this over with." Impatience was really singing a tune now. "Where's the phone, recorder and cash you promised to get me?" I held out my hand to him. He pointed to a designer bag on the console table. "In there."My eyes widened in excitement. "You got me a bag! A designer at that!" I ran towards black expensive leather. "You really do know how to shop for a lady.""Yeah, when your ex-wife has expensive tastes for extravagant things, as a man, you'll need to catch up. Alright, here's w
"Hello babe." I drove to the side of the road and parked there the moment his voice came on the speaker. "Hi, Jared. Where are you?" I inquired."I-I'm...I went for a meeting." He replied, I noted something in his voice but couldn't specifically say what it was."Are you okay? What kind of meeting? You don't have a secret company you're running, are you?" "I'll tell you as soon as I'm back." Came his reply."I've missed you. You've been absent from home these past two days. By the time I woke up, you weren't by my side." "I'm sorry baby. I'll get back home soonest. I'm trying to figure out how to keep my life running with the election just five days away and Jerome still in charge, I can not remain idle." "I understand. Will you be long?" I missed him, even Zion as well. Our son had been asking about him, wanting to know of his whereabouts. "Zion misses you too. Says you no longer play with him.""Tell him to forgive me, I'll be back soon and we can play all he wants." I heard a
JARED I know what I was about to do would cause trouble, but I had to do it. Moreover, if she never found out, there would not be a problem. I drummed my fingers on the desk, waiting patiently in the visitor's room. I wasn't the only visitor here, there were others, some were waiting as I was."Well, well, if it isn't the man of my dreams." She was brought before me, taking a seat opposite mine. "Let's go." I began to rise from the seat. "Go where? And just like that?" She raised a brow."Just yesterday, you didn't want to go to prison, today, you're reluctant to leave?""I believe the right word is hesitant. How do I know you're not taking me out of here to go kill me?" She retorted."Kill you? What for? Of what use will your death be to me, Denise?" I sat back down, meeting her gaze. She shrugged, her eyes not leaving mine. "You tell me, Jared.""See, I wouldn't be here if it's not important." I began."Ah-ha! So I'm guessing Hailey doesn't know you're here." It was more of a s
PHILIP"I'm going to kill her! That bitch!" Rage had me in a choking hold."She might be innocent, you know?" Derek said, climbing in after me.We were on our way to the airport, about to leave the country. It was midnight and Derek had pulled some strings, landed us a private plane. For a man who came from nothing, he had connections.Well, he did have money now."She's not innocent...well, she used to be. But that is not the woman I married. I don't understand her anymore. Damnit!" The more I thought about that letter and the fact that my wife had sent it to threaten me, knowing she had gone through my privacy was enough make me resolve to kill her."Whatever man. Let's just leave the country first, revenge will come. Your company is in good hands, that's all." He assured me with a companionable slap on my back. "What are we still waiting for? Let's get going." We were yet to board and the pilot was ready and waiting."I'm waiting for someone." His gaze was searching.Even though i
"This will solve nothing, you know that." She complained bitterly as the policeman cuffed both her wrists. "It'll put you in jail for killing my father." I spat at her.We had just returned from the President's place, I'd called the police to come arrest Denise and take her away. "And then what, Hailey?" She reached the base of the stairs where I was, standing in my face. Her hair and eyes wild. "Then what?!"The policeman was pulling her away from me but she stood her ground, unmoving, still in my face. I took a step closer and our noses were almost touching. "And then I'll find your step father and make him pay for what he's done.""You don't know him like I do, Hailey. Derek Kellers is smarter than you think. You need me to find him. I can help you find him." The policeman was pulling her back, struggling to have her head towards the door. "Let's join hands and defeat him, Hailey. I can find him. I know him.""I don't need your help." Her stubbornness and insistence roused more