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
My heart was bleeding but saying anything was futile. I knew he didn't like me but to go that far to insult me with his girlfriend was just too much.I'd heard everything they said about me. The hateful comments and snide remarks about me, I'd heard them all. And I was hurt. Deeply so.I expected nothing less from Mia and his mother, Martha but not him. I deserved a little bit of respect from him in the very least.I released a sigh as I started across the foyer, going outside the building, towards the garage where his vehicles were parked to wait for him.I tried to forget the things he had said about me with his girlfriend but it was hard to. I bit my lips to stop from crying. I wasn't a bad person, no matter how they tried to paint me. My time here in this house was hell but I endured.I learned that Mia was not initially living with Jared but ever since my marriage with him, she had moved in. Maybe she thought I might steal the affections of her man but she was wrong. I wasn't
PRISCILLA "Leave me alone, you wife beater!" I struggled with him to let go of my shirt he'd held on to. I heard a rip and seethed. This was one of my very expensive shirts. "Not until you tell me where the stuff in my safe is." He seethed as well. "What safe? What stuff? Did you tell me of any safe in this house?""You and I are the only occupants of this house, Priscilla. Don't fucking lie to me! Your behavior recently have been rousing suspicions.""And yours haven't?" I shot back."Give me the things you took from that safe or I'll make you regret knowing me, Priscilla." He threatened."I already regret knowing you, Philip!" I retorted. "I regret ever walking down the aisle and tying the nuptial knot with you! You're meaner than a snake and more vicious than a bear!" I lashed out. "One would look at your calm exterior and be deceived, I know I was until you began to show you true, evil colors! The devil resides in you, Philip!" The back of his hand swiped across my cheek, har
"Well, that went well. I guess." I strapped in just as uncle Pete started the vehicle, driving out of the compound. "I guess so too." Jared stared from the rearview mirror, our eyes met. The drive back home was mostly silent. My mind were filled with thoughts of Nina, Celine and when Denise would become conscious and tell her side of the story.Feeling exhausted, I closed my eyes and worried more. "Hey." A soft voice sounded close yet far. "Hailey." The voice called again, a gentle, patient tap followed. My lips parted slightly open in an unconscious response when I felt a pair of lips mesh with mine. A small moan escaped me. All of this was a dream. The face I saw kissing me was Jared. I wound my arms round his neck to bring him closer to me. The kiss progressed more passionately and it became a delightful merging of mouths, tongues yearning to each other. "I love you, Hailey." That had my eyes fluttering open. I released a shocked gasp and unwound my arms, licking my lips.
"What the hell is she saying, Peter?" The President who was currently pacing his office, looking sleep-deprived and angry, faced uncle Pete."Calm down and listen to what she has to say. There's sense in it." Uncle Pete was trying to calm him. "What sense is in there, Peter?! She's asking me to make a fool of myself out there!" He looked like he was about to pummel someone. "If denouncing your support for Jared and pulling him out of the race is what makes you a fool, then be a fool to save your daughter!" I retorted, getting worked up by his own anger. I was trying to save his daughter's life but he was proving stubborn all for some keeping a clean record and an unblemished career. "It's your fault she's kidnapped! I told you this was a dangerous game but you thought blackmailing me with a secret daughter from my past will solve everything. Now look at where it has landed me! Damn it! I can not believe I let myself be toyed by you! A woman!" He all but spat at me. I leaned closer
"What?" They chorused in puzzlement. "She did a play on words there. I can't feel my lip. I need a pill to help me relax. Get it? Feel-lip Pill-ax." "Oh, good gracious! That girl's smart as hell." Uncle Pete said. "Exactly!" I concurred excitedly."And Hailey is just brilliant enough to figure it out." Pride shone in Jared's eyes. Jared and uncle Pete looked impressed. "I do my best." I cleared my throat, carelessly ignoring the fluttering in my stomach. "Philip Pillax is behind this?" Uncle Pete looked from me to Jared. "I'd always known that guy to be shady and dangerous. But he must have some guts kidnapping the President's daughter.""And some help." I put in. The men looked at me. "The President's aide, a creepy guy named Rashford. I suspect he's the one giving information out to Philip from the White House.""How do you know this?" This was from Jared. "I noticed how he was lingering at the door the day I went to visit the President. Plus, I talked to Nina who confirmed he
"How's she, doctor?" I wiped the remaining tears from my eyes. Now was not the time for tears.I'd heard uncle Pete's conversation with Catherine and had bring both angry and sad hearing her confess to Derek having a hand in my father's death.It was all part of the plan though. Jared and I had stayed hidden to take pictures and videos of her.I should have him and Denise locked up but not yet. Something told me that was not the whole story and I would want to know it before having the police take over. "The bleeding has stopped, her system is stabilized but she's still weak and sleeping." The doctor said. "I'll be back to check up on her.""Thank you, doctor." I shook hands with him and he left.I couldn't wait to hear Denise's story on how she had ended up on the side of the road, almost bleeding to death until I and Jared drove past.Jared came in just then, uncle Pete and his lover, Miss Nancy, as well.Zion rubbed his eyes, he was feeling sleepy. But he smiled when he finally s
"Yes, it is Noah." She whirled around to see who had spoken. She sneered when she spotted me with Jared standing beside me. Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned to Uncle Pete. "What is the meaning of this, Peter? What is my child doing in here? In your estate?""You should thank Hailey for taking your son away from Phillip Pillax. You should also be grateful she didn't, out of anger and vengeance, kill your son the same way you murdered her daughter." Uncle Pete spoke with hate in his eyes. "So, this is what? Some kind of revenge or what? Luring me here to kill me instead?" She was displaced and lost and angry all at once.It was thrilling to watch. Jared and I had followed them but carefully so she wouldn't see us. We'd been listening to their conversation from the moment she stepped feet into the house."You sound like you prefer Noah to die in your place." I pointed out. She glared at me. "Shut up, bitch! You know what, having Zaya die is the best news. When Peter here told m
CATHERINE"So he asked you to use the children as bait to release his own daughter?" He was surprised."Yes. Then he kidnapped my son and asked me to find and bring anything incriminating to use against you. I couldn't.""Oh. I'm sorry you had to go through that." He removed his hand from beneath mine and placed it atop, patting it as though he was comforting me. "It's okay." I shrugged, smiling a little. Peter was too good for me and that was just my luck. He had the money, had the looks and was the man I had feelings for. Nah, Derek didn't come close on any of this aforementioned three. "You're better than Derek." I said. "Ah, how so?" He was smiling as well."At least, the nature of your job is legit and I still love you." I mentioned."Oh, nature of his job you say? What kind of job does he do?" "He sells drugs, weapon and everything illegal. He has big clients, wealthy ones. He does this business with Philip Pillax, they are partners..." "Is that so?" He lifted a brow, sip
CATHERINEMy life was going to change forever. My relationship with Peter had only gotten better. Though I still received money from Derek but nothing was going to happen between us, no future was in the cards for us.Collecting his money was my right and I was going to keep getting it, after all, I had a child for him. My son. Noah.Philip had stopped picking my calls, I guess he no longer wanted me to work for him. Maybe he'd gotten someone else which didn't bother me, really.I just wanted to know where my son was. When I moved into Peter's new mansion, I'd have the power and the wealth to search for my son. I was yet to let Peter know and I didn't know how he would react if he ever found out."We're here, ma'am." The cab driver's voice drew me out of my thoughts and had me focused back on reality. "Oh. Here." I gave him a hundred just 'cause I was in a good mood. "Keep the change.""Thanks, ma'am." He tipped his baseball cap at me, feeling happy at the huge tip. Well, I was go
"I don't want you to think much of it anymore, Jared. One conflict at a time." I reassured him.We were driving home from the bar he had asked me to meet him at. He was quite drunk, it was a struggle getting him to stop drinking and come home with me.His car was left in the care of the valet who I'd paid well to keep it safe till tomorrow, we were riding home in mine. "How can I not think of it? A lot of things are going wrong and there seem to be no solution for any. Zaya died, no one could save her. There was a scandal, you saved me but now there's an even bigger price to pay for that, which brings us to Nina. The President and his family are going through rough patches and I just discovered my secretary is the President's daughter, though illegitimate. Jerome is back in the picture and has taken my hard work of ten years, if not more. I..." He swallowed, his eyes dry but hard and red."I know and soon we'll get things sorted. Let's just do it one after the other. Let's try to fin