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
"The audacity you have." The voice boomed angrily.I almost jolted in fear but held myself. I had been feeling sick for three days now, alongside a strong waist pain.I had to beg Jared till I was almost blue in the face before he decided to drive me to the hospital. I was told to be careful with my pregnancy.Stress was a huge factor contributing to the pains I was experiencing. Who wouldn't be stressed in such an environment?When I had Martha who hated me. Mia who was determined to make sure I never smiled. Even Jared would rather swallow his tongue than support me. Uncle Pete was busy these days and rarely had time to come around but he did call to check up on me. It's just that I didn't want to disturb him much.He had his own life to lead and he needed to do that without having to always come to my aid. He had done enough for me as it stood.Mia walked further into the kitchen and flipped my plate of breakfast. Martha had instructed the maids not to help me with anything so I w
"What? Why?" His tone immediately took on the edge of annoyance as it usually did whenever there was trouble that involved me.And I already knew he was blaming me. I stifled my cry and tried not to embarrass myself before him."And she's crying." Martha sneered derisively."Why's she crying then?" He stood close to his mother and stared at me as though he was looking at some object of disgust.I wanted to ask him to take me to the hospital but after what had transpired this morning and how he'd ignored me the first time, I was skeptical.But I really needed the hospital. I tried to get to my feet so I could get to my room. I needed my phone to call Uncle Pete. He was the only one who could help me at this point.I felt like I wanted to die from this pain. I was also scared for my baby's life. He or she was already stressed enough, they needed rest not this constant trouble.I still didn't have any money of my own. Jared would give money to Mia and his mother but never to me. Whatever
"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
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