Could there be a special reason Andrew preferred the local park to the other grand parks he had the luxury of going to? Keep reading to find out! 🥰
The local children's park was packed full with children and their parents or guardians. As Maddie and Andrew made their way into the park hand in hand, she observed the environment and reminisced on her childhood years when her parents would bring Mathew and her to the park to play. Her family hadn't been perfect but they had given her brother and her so much love and affection, their time… The park had greenery, various types of plants, and birds made their nests there. The park was designed smartly, keeping all age groups in mind, and even had benches, placed in shade structures, so that people who got tired could sit down. There were different amenities and equipments in the park, ranging from Sensory-rich playgrounds, which included things like tunnels, activity stations and play houses, water play, slides, swings, merry-go-round, ziplines, climbers, balance beams, crawl tubes, rope netting, picnic tables, rocking animals and more. There were also challenge courses for the older
Jake had just ended one of the five meetings he had left for the day. He was making his way out of the conference hall with Micheal and Mathew trailing behind him, when his phone beeped in his trousers pocket. He didn't immediately fish it out to check but continued to make his way towards the elevator. He had another meeting in a few minutes and it was to be held over lunch. Micheal stepped forward when they reached the elevator to press on the button so that the doors could open. When the doors opened, the trio stepped in. As the elevator went down, Micheal's phone rang. He picked it up, mumbled a simple, "Okay," and then disconnected the call. "The investors are already at the restaurant," he turned to Jake to say. Jake simply hummed in response to his words. When the elevator stopped on the ground floor, the door opened and the trio stepped out with Micheal leading the way out of the building and all the way to the parking lot at the back of the building. It was after Jake got
Jake filled up his plate and his son's plate as his son excitedly narrated to him everything that had transpired at the park that day. Jake's expression remained neutral as he listened to his son as attentively as he could, occasionally nodding in understanding, but he knew he was just fooling himself. It was hard to focus when he was well aware of the glare of the lady sitting across him but he was determined not to even spare her another glance.He had experienced a brief moment of weakness when he had turned to look at her back in the hallway. Those chocolate brown eyes of hers, warm as the smile she had given him, had almost melted his ice cold eyes and heart alike. It was a good thing that he had looked away from her as quickly as he had, now he just had to go through dinner with her sitting there looking all sexy and provoking the masculinity within him, with the pout that had formed on her face, giving away her anger. He wasn't looking at her but he could tell the expression sh
It broke her heart, as Andrew continued to cry in her arms. They were both in the lad's room, Andrew and her, on his bed. She was sitting with her back leaning against the wooden backrest of the bed. Andrew was in her arms, sitting on her laps with his legs sticking out on the side and his head resting on her bossom. His tiny arms were wrapped around her waist but not entirely, as his fingers were mostly grabbing onto the hem of her dress on the side at both ends. His body was shuddering, sniffling sounds escaping from his throat every now and then.Maddie's hand was placed on the lad's back, patting it soothingly. Her other hand was at the back of his head, running through his hair there.She didn't know how long they stayed like that or how long he cried but he eventually stilled in her arms. Not long after, she heard his steady breathing and knew that he had fallen asleep. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, heavy as the way her heart felt. She didn't immediately leave the lad, she wait
In his bedroom, lying on his bed with his stomach facing the ceiling, Jake was immersed deeply in his thoughts."You know, I thought you were a decent man, different, but you know what I think now? I think you are just like every other f**king man I have met in my life."The words of Maddie wouldn't stop playing in his head. Was he that horrible of a person? Jake kept asking himself this question. Was that really what Maddie thought of him? That he was not a decent man? She had even called him an asshole the other time. He hadn't taken it to heart back then, even though it had tugged at his ego, he had dismissed those words as words she had uttered in a fit of anger, but now, thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel like she hadn't been kidding when she had said those words to him. She really thought he was an asshole. An indecent man. The most horrible man in the entire planet even! The worst parent ever! And the worst part was he agreed with her.He had always been careful, esp
Maddie spent roughly thirty minutes in the hot bathtub. When she stepped out of the bathroom it was already a few minutes to 6am. She hurriedly applied some body lotion all over her body, dressed up and brushed her hair, and then she stepped out of her bedroom, hurrying off to Andrew's room to wake him up. When she stepped into Andrew's bedroom and switched on the light, she saw the lad coiled up in bed, a pained expression on his face and she even heard him groan, like he was in some sort of pain. She hurried towards him, her hand moving to touch his face. The moment her hand touched his face, panic flew into her eyes. "Oh my God! Andrew? Andrew?" Maddie called out the boy's name as she carried him into her arms while sitting on the bed. She placed his head to rest on her bosom. "Mummy?" Andrew's low voice rang out. His eyes remained tightly shut, the pained expression still playing on his face. Andrew was burning up! He had a fever. Maddie started to get out of the bed while ca
Maddie was in the kitchen, in the second floor, cooking something for Andrew to eat for when he would wake up. She had stayed by the boy's side earlier as the doctor examined him. She had been the one to spoon feed him his porridge and had been there when the doctor had inserted the intravenous drip on him, holding him when he had flinched due to the pain the process of inserting the drip had inflicted. The doctor had also given Andrew some medicine to take. The boy had been pretty against taking the medicine but Maddie had bribed him, promising that she would take him to see Sheila in the park the coming weekend. Andrew had fallen asleep not long after he had taken the drugs. And then the doctor had given her further instructions concerning him before he had started to leave.It was as the doctor was about to leave that Jake had arrived. Maddie had left the room as the doctor and Jake moved to the veranda to speak. After leaving the room, she had made her way to the kitchen and th
"Feed me mummy," Andrew demanded after Maddie had brought in the chicken soup she had made and set it all up on a bedside table, right beside Andrew's bed, along with a glass of the fresh juice she had made. "Sure Sweetie," Maddie said to Andrew, and then picked up the bowl, coming to sit beside him and scooping a spoon of the soup to blow on it before giving it to him. "Smells savory. Is there any soup left for Sweetie's daddy?" Jake muttered, imitating a child's voice. Both Maddie and Andrew turned to look at him, and then they both burst out laughing. "Well, there is still some soup left in a pot in the kitchen on the second floor," Maddie said when the bout of laughter ended. Jake smiled, and then started to rise. "I better go help myself then," he muttered, giving Maddie a wink before he started to make his way out of the room. Andrew had mentioned to Jake that Maddie usually made him snacks during his lunch break and that she was a really good cook. He had therefore always b
The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon, casting a rather warm and golden hue over the serene seascape. The air was cool and soothing. The gentle sound of waves crashing against each other gave off a a soothing backdrop to the scene. Along the sandy shore, an aisle was crafted, adorned with seashells and colourful flowers. Audrey had been the one in charge of all the wedding decorations and she had done one hell of a job! The salty breeze carried with it a sense of anticipation, mingling with the laughter and chatter of everyone gathered, half of which the wedding couple didn't even know. Being the global favourite couple, people had come for their wedding from all around the globe. The place was packed full. It was a good thing that the private beach was immensely spacious. Underneath beautifully constructed bamboo arches, adorned with billowing fabrics and fresh blooming flowers, the guests were sitting in groups. A romantic melody soon started to play and the procession
The long awaited day of the trial of the state versus Linsley Conat finally came. As the masses were now actively involved in this case, Linsley Conat had been unable to bribe her way out of prison. The few people she knew in power in the judiciary system refused to help her. Her last resort, which had been to fake mental illness, had fallen apart because her son had made sure to cut her off completely from those that might be able to help her fake the reports and all the other necessary documents. Backed in a corner, helpless, all she had been able to do was wait dejectedly in her cell for the day of her trial…"All rise!"Everyone in the courtroom rose immediately as the command from the judicial assistant rang out. The judge stepped in and it was after he took his seat that he muttered a lazy, "Sit!" and everyone else in the courtroom took their respective seats.From across the courtroom, Linsley's almost lifeless eyes caught sight of her son and she gave him the most deathly st
It was all over the news the next morning being a Saturday, every news channel was airing it. Newspapers, magazines both online and in hard copy print all carried the news of the arrest of Linsley Conat. The news however didn't say under what grounds she was arrested but in the news published by Starlight Media agency, they announced that the son of Linsley Conat, Jake Conat had agreed to an exclusive interview to discuss the subject of his mother's arrest and give them all the scoop there was. The interview was scheduled for the next day being Sunday. The internet was in a frenzy. Jake got a call from the company warning him not to come because the paparazzi were everywhere. Even the security stationed far ahead at the entrance of the street leading to the mansion had called to inform him that the paparazzi were gathered there as well. Thankfully, the paparazzi couldn't get into the street because of the tight security at the entrance so they couldn't get anywhere close to the ma
It was a lot. Everything that had happened in the past couple days. It was too much revelation. She was angry, bitter, sad, frustrated, and hurt but most of all, what she felt the most was fear. The fear of losing the love she shared with Jake. The fear of losing the happiness he had brought into her life. The fear of losing the peace he had brought her. The fear of losing the complete perfect family she had envisioned. The fear of losing her brother even. It was because of this fear that she hadn't come to a decision all the while or even address the situation. Now she was ready. She knew what she had to do. Karen had ended their session with the words, "Maddie dear, don't forget that the past is past. It actually has no control whatsoever on your present or future, not unless you allow it. Your happiness does not lie in the past but in your now." Karen's words had been the final push she had needed to come to a decision… "Welcome mummy," Andrew who was in the living room rushed
Maddie had been sitting right across Karen for roughly fifteen minutes already, yet she hadn't said a word other than the greeting she had muttered to the lady when she had first stepped in. The warm smile playing on the therapist's face didn't falter, she continued waiting patiently for Maddie to speak. Drawing a sharp breath, Maddie finally opened her mouth to speak. "I umm, it's umm, complicated. I don't even know where to start." Karen's smile widened. "You can start anywhere you like Maddie. " The way Karen's office was designed, it was a modern office setting with an office table and a chair, and then across the table on the other end were two other chairs, arranged to slantingly face each other. There were a stretch of cupboards right behind the office table and chairs, at the far end of the wall, it contained drawers containing files of patients. Ahead of the office table before one got to the door or if one came from the door, were two adjacent reclining sofas. This w
"Idiot!" Linsley cursed under her breath the moment Stephanie was gone, kicking at her feet in fury, and just then her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and then picked the call rather hurriedly. "So, have you found that fool Harry?" she asked the person on the other line. "No we haven't. He seems to have disappeared," came the reply from the person on the other line. "Then find his f**king family fool and use them to lure him out!" She practically yelled into the phone. "Well, umm, his father and younger sister have disappeared as well. I think your son is protecting them by keeping them hidden somewhere." "Arrrgh!" Linsley screamed, tossing her phone across the wall in anger. "Incompetent fools!" she cursed, and then started to parade about the room. Her son was protecting Harry! Was he f**king insane? He had threatened to send her to jail but it had just been an empty threat, right? Well, she was beginning to think of the threat as more than just an empty threat.
Jake couldn't believe she was really in his arms. Sleeping so soundly with her face pressed against his chest. He had been on his way out to get himself a fresh cup of coffee when the knock on his door had sounded. He had immediately known it was her. So, he had quickly answered the door and alas! It had been indeed her!Even though she had not exactly voiced out her reason for being there, he had seen it playing so evidently in her eyes. But then, there had been conflicting emotions playing in her eyes too and she had almost scurried away. Thank goodness he hadn't let her! He hadn't known where the courage had come from to ask her to stay and let him cuddle her. He had almost thought she wouldn't stay or let him even as much as touch her but she had agreed. She had stayed and now she was in his arms.However, Jake didn't know whether to be pleased or not. It was almost like she was giving herself one last time to be with him, and then afterwards she would leave him for good. It wa
"You umm, you have something on your mouth," Jake's voice sounded seconds later when Maddie didn't look away like he had expected her to when their gazes first locked. His shaky voice gave away his nervousness. He wasn't lying though, she did have food particles smeared on one corner of her lips.On hearing his words, Maddie reached for a serviette piece on the table to wipe her mouth all over as Jake hadn't specifically pointed out the part of her mouth that was smeared with food particles. And she wasn't ready to ask him for specifics. As she performed this action, Jake found his eyes lowering to her lips, swallowing as he remembered how it tasted. She finished cleaning her mouth, her eyes returning to him and catching the desire playing in his eyes. Her gaze on him turned into a glare and he quickly looked away from her feeling slightly embarrassed. "Mummy, can you please pass me the ketchup?" Andrew's voice was Jake's saving grace as Maddie averted her gaze from him to her s
Jake did well to stay out of Maddie's way for the rest of the evening. Even skipping dinner. He was already content enough that she had returned to the mansion although he knew that her reason for returning was most probably because of her son. It had been evident in her face earlier when she saw him after getting out of the car. The way she had turned away from him so swiftly. He was pretty sure that if she could, she would have dug a hole and hidden herself in it right there and then. It was how much she despised him now. Well, she did have every right to. Closing his laptop, Jake rose from his chair and started to make his way out of the office study. He proceeded towards the kitchen in the second floor, opening the refrigerator to take out a foil covered plate. The plate contained the quesadilla pizza his son had given him earlier saying that Maddie and him had baked it and kept some for him. He knew that them keeping some for him was all his son and not at all Maddie's decis