"What is wrong with you, Jared? How could you allow something like this happen?""She started it, uncle. Don't blame me or Mia for fighting back.""How stupid can you be?""Uncle...""Don't 'uncle' me, Jared. You and your mother and that empty-handed girlfriend of yours are really being unkind to her.""Don't insult the woman I love, uncle.""What about the one you married? The one the society know you married, is she not worth being treated kindly, hm?"A pause..."Answer me, Jared. You're really disappointing me right now.""I never wanted to marry her, you know that.""Really? That's all you have to say, Jared Kylian Johnson?!" The anger, however quietly displayed, was still heavy. Not to mention the disappointment as well."What..." An audible sigh. "What do you want me to do, uncle? I...""I'm taking her with me." "What? No, uncle. You can't do that. She...what if there's an event? Like you said, the society knows my relationship with her already.""Being selfish again, I see.
"What is she doing here?" A woman who looked to be in her late thirties frowned as soon as she saw me.She had short black curls and a heavy load of make up. She would have been pretty if she hadn't decided to cake her face with so much beauty products. She was tall and slim but not really a model shaped kind of physique. She chewed and popped bubblegum with careless abandon. "Not now, Catherine." Uncle Pete merely said, leading me further into his living room.His house was beautiful and spoke of wealth too. I had spent ten days in the hospital trying to get better. The doctor had refused to discharge me until he was sure my blood pressure was back to normal. I was still hurting and mourning the miscarriage of the baby I would never meet but I had tried not to stress much so I could leave the hospital. Jared had visited everyday but I was not talking to him. He had realized that and didn't bother striking conversations with me anymore. Uncle Pete was the one who informed him of
"What are you doing with her?!" The door to my room barged open.Catherine came in and without warning, pulled me roughly by my shirt and began to hit me. Thankfully, uncle Pete was fast on his feet and pushed her away. "What the hell, Catherine?"She had managed to scratch my neck and that part hurt. More tears fell from my eyes.Uncle Pete had been consoling me as I wouldn't stop mourning the loss of my pregnancy. I'd refused breakfast because I didn't have the appetite for it.Who would think of food when their life was turned upside down and full of chaos? Just a month before, I had been okay in my marriage until that incident.I wish I could ask uncle Pete to loan me some money to start up my life but not in this place. I didn't want to be anywhere close to Christian and Jared.I didn't want to know or see them even by mistake. And as long as I remained in the same state and country with them, I'd keep seeing or hearing about them
"When will you be back?" I inquired, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.Uncle Pete was traveling and that would mean leaving me and his crazy wife all alone in the house.Oh God, I didn't even want to think of what would happen if he left."Soon." His smile was reassuring as though he already understood my thoughts about being left alone with his wife.The said wife was watching us — me specifically — through spiteful glares as she popped her gum. He had already given me some money to keep me busy until he was back.And by busy, he meant I should go shopping and have some fun. I was grateful but I kept the cash. It was going to be useful.If I kept saving whatever he gave me, I might actually have enough to start up life again. But he gave me the money in her absence, else she would likely kill me for it. Then, he was gone. I quickly left for my room. "Hey you!" She called.I halted on the short flight of stairs. I had a mind to ignore but she could push me from behind, I was
I'd never had such a strong stuff before and it was really making me lose awareness and control of myself. The most drink of my intoxication was wine and I easily got intoxicated.Whatever they had given me to sniff and swallow were just foreign to my system. I was feeling no pain but I was feeling like I'd just gulped six — or maybe eight — bottles of 1945 Pinot Noir.What little strength I had in me, I had walked like a drunk person to the counter and booked a room, used the elevator and was now occupying the suite.It was dark and the door was closed. Or it should be.I laid like an almost dead person, trying to find sleep when the door opened. I frowned but was too intoxicated to get up. "Who are you?""Oh baby, it's me." The voice was sounded equally drunk said. "I called and you came. Business was good today. I landed the biggest deal and decided to call you.""W-what?" Confusion wrapped my being."It's a good one. Let's just have fun tonight and tomorrow, I'll tell you all ab
"What the hell is going on here?!" I was startled awake by the voice beside me. A throbbing came on immediately and hit both my temples.My eyes lazily fluttered open to meet the angry, shocked gaze of...my eyes flew open in disbelief and my brain immediately went into denial."Jared?" My jaw was almost touching the floor. My eyes quickly assessed the situation and saw I was naked. Barely covered and he was staring...no, glaring at me."How did you get here?!" The incredulity tinged heavily in my tone.I winced as soon as the question was out of my mouth, I held my head and massaged my temples. What had happened to here?Why was I in bed with...him?!"I should be asking you that. I was not expecting you in my room!" He yelled."You...I..." I lacked words in that moment and just stared at him, partly because I felt like I had been kicked by ten horses on the stomach and partly because my brain was still trying to process what had happened. "How did you know where to find me? Are you
"Hello, uncle Pete.""Yes, Hailey. What is it? Are you crying?" His voice immediately became concerned.The tears I'd been holding back let loose and swam to the surface, wasting no time to stream down my face.Using the heel of my palm, I wiped them away but more replaced the old, wiped ones. "W-when will you be back?"I was still lodging in that hotel, though not the same room because the thought of staying in a room that Jared had shared a night with me was taunting and too painful.I asked for another room but my money, the one uncle Pete had given me was almost exhausted. If I lodged one more night, I would be empty and I didn't know the area well enough to find a cheaper lodge."I'm on my way home. Why? Is Catherine troubling you?"Catherine was the reason I was yet to go back to that house as there was no telling what she would do to me but I couldn't tell uncle Pete that, especially on the phone."N-no
"This place is nice, uncle Pete." I admired the interior decor of the restaurant we had just stepped into.One of the waiters seem to know uncle Pete and had ushered us to a private booth that had no customers except us."It belongs to a very close friend of mine." He said, taking a seat opposite me. Menus were placed before us. My stomach rumbled in hunger as soon as I opened the black and gold hardcover book-like menu that had so many dishes, categorized according to types and origins. I decided on Greek souvlaki, not because I'd had it before but because it looked nice.Uncle Pete went for Italian beef tortellini in broth. "I've had it once when I travelled to Florence and I liked it.""What drinks will you have?" The waitress who was attending our table inquired."I want something fruity. Moscato or Riesling will do." I answered."Get me beer." Uncle Pete decided.The waitress went away with our orders."So tell me, what did she do? I brought us here because it's private and you
THREE YEARS LATER...I stood outside in front the prison's huge gate, Zion and Zaya, still having their sibling rivalry, stood beside me. I paid them no mind. The day they would not argue, I would be genuinely worried. Jared stood beside me as I held a cardboard paper in view, waiting for her. "Where is she?" I questioned impatiently.Uncle Pete and Miss Nancy were home, they couldn't come because Miss Nancy had just put to bed a beautiful set of twin boys. The twin gene was really strong in the Johnson family. Celine was due at any moment. Funny right? Dylan had proposed a year after my wedding. Celine was expecting her first child but was advised to stay home and to stress as little as possible. That was what happened when your husband was a big shot doctor.The gates opened and there she was. I beamed.Zion and Zaya, now eight years of age, ran forward in unison, forgetting their meaningless squabble. "Aunt Denise!""Hey!" She opened her arms, stooping to hug them only they wer
When I finally came to, the first thing I heard was the steady beeping of the heart's monitor. I blinked reflexively as the bulb overhead hurt my eyes some. I tried to raise myself to a sitting position but a groan escaped my lips."Hailey." Someone rushed to the bed, helping me to sit up.It was Jared. "W-what happened? I had a dream. A weird dream." I told him, looking quite disoriented. "Really? What kind of dream was that?" He asked, tucking hair behind my ears. "I saw Zaya. Zion was holding her hand and they...they..." Emotions swamped me, making it difficult for me to continue speaking.I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge tears suck in my throat. He heaved a sigh. "It was not a dream, baby. Zaya is alive. I'm as shocked as you are but after uncle Pete and Miss Nancy explained all that happened, I am just thankful she's alive." Emotions rose to his throat. "No." I shook my head, not wanting to believe. "No, no. Zaya died. I saw her body. She...she laid there unconscious an
"Thank you Brenda, you did a superb job." I shook hands with the very pretty bartender dressed in revealing clothes as the cops threw handcuffs around the wrists of drugged, oblivious Philip and Derek.Finally, I did it. Actually, to be fair, I had help. Jared and me had tracked them to the location Denise had provided and it was true. I realized they frequented a rundown bar at this remote area and they were smart to because no one would have ever traced them here."It's my pleasure. Plus, the money was too good to pass up." She seemed pleased with herself. "Just a second." I left her to go get my checkbook and pen from my bag sitting in the car. I returned to her with these, wrote a figure and extended it to her. "This is thank you for a job well done."She took the check, her eyes bulged in both excitement and shock. "This is freaking much! What the hell do I do with so much money?"My eyes did a quick sweep of her work environment, then moved back to her. "You can pursue your dr
"I don't know why you brought me here. You could have come alone." I folded my arms, staring with a displeased expression at the entrance of the police station. "You need this." Jared said, turning off the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Aren't you getting out?""I told you I'm not ready. I don't know what to tell her. I'm not even sure I want to talk to her, I can't forget the fact that she had a hand in my father's death.""Fine. Then don't talk, let me do the talking. I just want you to be available so you can hear the information she has. You want Philip and Derek to pay for what they have done to you, don't you?" He shifted to face me. "I guess." My tone was reluctant."Good, because I want Philip to pay for killing my father." His jaw tightened.I frowned a little. "You've never been this upset ever since...I don't know, he was your father-in-law.""A big mistake. My father's death ruined my family with my mother as an accomplice." His words were bitter to the ears. I pl
I was dressed for the event — a simple tank top and distressed denim shorts. It was time to pluck off another adversary.I opened the door and turned on the lights. "There you are." My smile was anything but welcoming or friendly. "And I thought I smelled a rotten fish." She spat, looking unkempt and dirty. And she was tied to a chair. "Oh, that'll be you seeing as you haven't had your bath in like...well, weeks." I drew a chair from the wall, placed it few feet from hers and sat. "Forgive my lack of hospitality, I've been busy.""It's been a while. What do you want?" Her once shiny red hair was now a matted mess. "Revenge." I simply said. As though on cue, I heard a rap on the door. I opened it to allow Celine and Jared walk in. Jared was carrying a box of things I'd asked for. "You bitch! You think I'm scared of you?" She was trying to act strong but the little quiver in her voice gave her away. "I think you already are." I emptied the contents in the box.I heard her gasp. "
"Room 48." I mumbled, blowing nerves away. I was here and there was no turning back. Uncle Pete and Jared had no idea where I was going. I'd lied about picking some things for Zion from the store. This should be over in no time. I raised a fist and rapped gently but firmly on the door. "Who's that?"Two of the cops had followed me upstairs but were hiding from view. That sounded like the President's voice. I knocked again, cleared my tone in a bit to disguise it and said. "Room service."There was seconds of silence, then the padding of feet coming towards the door. The door opened. "We didn't order any..." The rest of his words were drowned by shock."Hello, Mr. President." I plastered on a smile. "Can I come in?" He was yet to see the cops."Get out." Fear and anger had him growl out those words. He tried to shut the door in my face but before he succeeded, I had a foot stuck between the door and used all of my power to push it open, making him lose balance and fall to the gro
"Uncle Pete!" I dashed into the room to envelope him into a hug, not minding the presence of Miss Nancy and a nurse. He hugged me back, his chuckle a bit weak. "I missed you too."I blinked my eyes, struggling back tears and swallowing emotions lodged stubbornly in my throat. "I'm so glad you're okay, uncle Pete. I...I... thought..." I couldn't even say the words out loud. "You thought what? I'm going nowhere for a long, long time, babygirl."My heart swelled with both gratitude and love for the man. It was the first time he would be using such an endearing term in that soft, affectionate tone. "You'd better not.""Can't...breathe." He said, still hugging me. "Thank you for saving my life. Thank you." I sniffled. "I owe you everything, my life included." "I did what I'm supposed to do, Hailey. You don't have to thank me for that." He rubbed my back. I held onto him for a few more moment. "Save some for us, Hailey." Celine who had come with me chuckled. I let go, finally paying
Jared unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me onto his laps, I could not stop sobbing. "Shh. It's okay.""I...I..." I hiccuped, words failing me. "You don't have to say anything now." His hand on my back, comforting and soothing was a bit helpful."But...oh God. I don't want to believe her, but..." I trailed off as more tears interrupted my speech."Me too. I thought she just being her sly self but when I heard her talk, I knew she wasn't lying."I sniffled back snot, raising my head to look at him. "You heard her talk? When?""When we worked together. See, everyone makes mistakes, including your father. And that mistake led to his untimely, unfortunate demise. Denise too and we both know where the mistake landed her.""I can't imagine being poor and having a rich father who didn't want you. I know my dad was wrong to have pretended Denise didn't exist but killing him didn't solve anything. She only killed the man I've loved all my life till the day he died.""And I'm sorry for that. I
"He's not our son." Was the only argument I could come up with. Disappointment and disbelief darkened his eyes. "So you're prepared to let that young boy who left his country to provide a life for himself and his family to die in a fight that doesn't concern him? Coming from you, a mother?"Guilty speared, so I kept mute, partly to reflect. "Look, babe, I know you've been through a lot and Kazim was giving every information to bring every injustice to an end and the people responsible to book and he has done a wonderful job so far, but it was getting too heated. He was digging in too deep and I feared it was only a matter of time before he would wound up dead probably in some remote location. I know you're a good person and would never want to put his life at risk, you just wanted to fight back the only way you knew how."I hated that the anger was no longer aimed at him. I felt ashamed that he'd considered the risks while I was only interested in what Kazim had to offer. "Where is