DON’S P.O.V“Red Benz. Number of occupants yet to be confirmed but Luciano is the only one that can be identified in the car. Going towards crescent Highway and taking the route that leads to Edwin Campbell Hospital. Eyes are on him to be sure he’s really heading to the hospital”“Why the fuck would Luciano be going to a hospital?”I bellowed.The moment Romano brought a different news other than the one I’ve always heard. I dashed out of the room , leaving Elyse and into the room that was set up as a control room to track every movement Luciano might make. The control room had eyes on all the roads that had CCTV cameras and it’s how we’ve been trying to track Luciano. My heart lit up with hope when Romano came with that news and my heart beat increased wildly.But how does he suddenly go out of reach only to appear out of nowhere and be heading to a hospital? I saw his car through the cameras as it drove way past the speed limit on the only route that leads to that private hospita
DON’S P.O.VI was still in shock of his attack and a broken nose but I talked anyway.“You’re a coward Luciano, that’s the only reason you came hiding in here. Tell me, have you suddenly run out of tricks?”“I can’t say. Have I really…oh wait! I still have one here”He came at me before I could comprehend his words and landed another to my face. It had me reeling back and falling to the floor that was filled with hay. I groaned hard and tasted blood on my lips. My gun went flying somewhere in the dark barn as the pain seared through my entire body.“You know, I’ve always wondered what made you so different from the rest of us out there. You walk and act like you’re royalty of some kind when you’re just another generation of a stupid family business that has been controlled for ages!. You follow stupid rules. Stupid principles all in the name of upholding a legacy. Made the rest of us seem weak! And then just had to interfere in my affairs. Ruined my business and made me fear you!”“I
DON’S P.O.V“.……she was two months pregnant and from the charts, it shows that----”“Wait….was? What do you mean she was?”The doctor’s face softened and I could see the look of pity and uncertainty in her eyes before she answered. I could bet I looked as horrified as I sounded, trying to believe I heard her wrong.“I’m sorry sir but she lost the baby. Her blood pressure was so high when she was brought here about an hour. She’s stressed, barely fed and traumatized. It’s why she fainted and all of these reasons also contributed to the loss of the baby. I’m sorry sir. Right now all she needs is rest, adequate one and she’ll be fine”No. I don’t think she will. I failed you Claire, I came too late.…...A MONTHS LATER.The smell of antiseptics as well as disinfectant wafted in and out of my nostrils as I stepped into that all too familiar hospital. I hated the pungent smell and for more reasons other than it, I’m always keeping myself from throwing up all over the place.I’ve been in t
My baby. I didn’t see it coming. Fuck! I wasn’t even sure if I was ready to be a father at any point in my life but when I was told that the baby died, it felt like I lost a part of me. A part of me that I didn’t even get to know. I think of a small me all the time with hazel eyes like Claire's if it turned out to be a girl or blue eyes like mine if it was boy. Whatever it is the baby could have looked like, it pained me so much that I lost it that way. It felt like I failed as a father and as a man to Claire. But most importantly, it felt like I lost a connection and bond with Claire.If I went crazy after hearing about the baby, Claire went ballistic.So much that the doctors and nurses couldn’t control her. It hurt to see her hurt so much every passing day of the past month. Claire was the shadow of herself all through that month. Whenever anyone visited, she would just stare into empty space and not talk to anyone. I heard her cry a few times when I’m about to open the door to he
ONE YEAR AFTER(AUTHOR’S POV)“Don’t look Elyse, but I think we’re being stalked.”Claire could have used a more subtle and less terrifying word instead--something along the lines of ‘followed’ but judging by how long she’s noticed the presence of strange men around them, no other word felt more right than that.Elyse turned to look anyway and the men, all scattered around the restaurant that the young women were eating at, looked away immediately and tried to hide themselves from her eyes. A number of them did a terrible job at it, making it so obvious that they were caught looking at the women.“I told you not to look!” Claire whispered. Her hazel eyes flamed as she stared at Elyse. Elyse merely turned back to look at Claire with a shrug of her shoulders. She thought to herself, once again, her brother has hired morons who can’t even do their job right to watch her and the woman he was still pinning after.“Relax. They’re just…I don’t know, admiring how beautiful we are or something
AUTHOR’S P.O.VThey were back to meet Don moments later and his driver helped them put their things in the back of the car boot. Claire made to open the other drivers seat but Elyse was quick to open it and sit. She fastened her seatbelt immediately and smiled smoothly at Claire.“I’ll take the front seat! “she announced.Claire was conflicted. That leaves her to sit with…Oh God! Elyse did it on purpose. She sneered at her before turning resignedly to open the passengers seat at the right and got in with Don who sat by the left.The car began to move moments later. The cold air of the nigh was killing but the tension looked like it would kill them both before the cold. The tension between them was so thick that a knife would be needed to cut through it.They both tried to look at each other from the sides of their eyes.Claire must admit though, he’s gotten finer in just a year. His usually jelled hair was combed down to fall over his forehead and she liked that look better on him. Hi
EpilogueDon pulled away slightly, their foreheads still resting together as their breaths mingled in the quiet aftermath of their kiss. His thumb gently wiped away the remnants of her tears, his gaze soft yet full of unreadable expression. Claire felt her heart settle, the rapid thumping replaced by a calm feeling.“I've been waiting for this moment for so long,” Don whispered, his voice husky with emotion. “But there’s one more thing I’ve been waiting to do for so long.”Claire blinked, her mind still lost in the haze of their kiss. “What do you mean?”With a small smile, Don released her gently and stepped back. Claire’s heart skipped a beat as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. Her breath caught in her throat as he dropped to one knee, his eyes never leaving hers.“Claire,” he began, his voice steady but full of the weight of everything they had gone through, “I know we’ve had our ups and downs, and there have been moments I wasn’t sure we’d get here. B
EpilogueThe big day had finally come. Claire stood in front of the mirror, her heart steady as a feeling of peace washed over her. Her ivory dress fit perfectly, the lace sleeves lightly touching her skin. The soft train followed behind her, and she admired how the dress moved, as if it was made just for her. There was excitement in the air, but Claire felt completely calm.She took a deep breath, letting the peace settle in as she gently smoothed the bottom of her dress. Today wasn’t just about the wedding; it was about the future she and Don were about to start together.The place for their vows was perfect. The lake, with its still waters reflecting the bright blue sky, symbolized the peace Claire had found in Don. Sunlight shimmered on the water, giving the area a golden glow, while a gentle breeze moved through the trees. White chairs were lined up neatly by the shore, and a beautiful arch of wildflowers, simple yet lovely, stood where they would exchange their vows.As Claire l