It was already dusk when they left the hospital. Andrew promised Sheila that he would come the next day to see her. "Dad! Let's eat dinner out today," Andrew, who seemed to be in the best of mood, said to his dad. Jake hummed in response to his son's request, almost halfheartedly. Andrew grinned in delight, and then turned to Maddie who was sitting right beside him in the car, at the backseat, whereas his father was sitting in the front with the driver. They were riding in a black Mercedes-Maybach S580 with a similar car but grey in colour in front of them and an SUV behind them, both containing the Conat's bodyguards. "Mummy, do you know that Sheila and I share the same birth month? Our birthdays are just a day apart!" Andrew spoke with so much excitement. Seeing Andrew all excited warmed Maddie's heart somewhat. Even Jake's lips curved to form a small smile. Maddie caught it when she looked at the front view mirror and it made a smile curve in her own face. She quickly averted
Andrew fell asleep before they got to the mansion. Jake had to carry him up to his room from the car while Maddie just trailed behind him, all the way to Andrew's room, carrying both her coat and Andrew's own. After laying Andrew on the bed, Maddie helped Jake tuck Andrew in, and then they both stepped out of the room together. "Crazy day, huh?" Jake said to Maddie and she turned to look at him, halting in her steps. She smiled lightly, humming in response to his question. Indeed, it had been a crazy day. "I am just glad everything turned out fine in the end," she muttered, while moving her hand to place on her chest dramatically. "I almost had a heart attack, I was so worried and scared," she added. Jake just smiled lightly. There was something that Maddie had been curious about and it was just at the tip of her tongue to mutter the question to Jake but she didn't know how to. "Remember what I told you earlier, about the important matter I wanted to discuss with you later tod
"Okay, that is a lot of money!" Maddie exclaimed. Jake nodded, a hum escaping his lips simultaneously as one of his hand reached out towards her face to tuck in some loose strands of her hair that had moved to block her face, tucking it behind her ear. She felt a shiver rush through her spine as his skin brushed lightly against her earlobe. "So, will you do it?" he leaned back to ask her, his ocean blue eyes searching her chocolate brown ones. "Yes," she muttered quietly, and then added in a voice, a pitch higher than the previous, "And it's not because of the money." "Yes!" Jake's voice came out as an almost squeal, his hand curving triumphantly from his elbow to emphasise his excitement. She couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head at him in disbelief. "Are you that happy that I have agreed to marry you?" there was a hidden taunt in her voice, one he easily picked up. "I am just happy because Andrew would be very happy when I break the good news to him," Jake said with a s
"I already told you mummy, my birthday is in three months, in April," Andrew's words kept playing in Maddie's head as she laid on her bed, on her back, with her face towards the ceiling. It had been around the month of April that she had given birth to her baby boy and thinking about it, if her baby boy had lived then he would have been around Andrew's age. Sadly, the boy hadn't lived… A fresh wave of pain coursed through her heart as fragments of the memory of that fateful day, played in her head. If only her baby boy had lived. She had kept him. Protected him from her parents. Despite the fact that he had been a seed from the rape incident that traumatized her still. Why had he died? Why? Maddie didn't know if losing her baby boy was more traumatizing than the rape incident. All she knew was that the loss she had suffered when the doctor had gravely informed her of his death, when she had held his cold body in her arms pressed against her bosom, the loss she had felt had been so
Jake broke the good news to Andrew during dinner. "You and mummy are married now? Really?" Andrew couldn't contain his excitement as he probed. His eyes moved from his father to Maddie and back to his father again. "Yes Sweetie," it was Maddie who gave the boy a reply to his question. "Wow! That's great!" Andrew exclaimed, however, his eyebrows knitted closely together in the next minute as a thought occurred to him. "Why wasn't there a wedding?" he asked but answered himself in the next second, "Oh you two had a court marriage, makes sense…" Maddie and Jake couldn't help but chuckle at the lad. Maddie was especially surprised that the lad had figured it out and was okay with them having a court marriage and not throwing a wedding. The boy really wasn't like other regular kids. "Do you want to take a peek at our marriage certificate later?" Jake indulged Andrew who nodded vehemently. "Alright then, after dinner, I will show you," Jake spoke in a voice almost a whisper. Andrew gi
Maddie woke up with a yawn. Her hands reached out to feel the side of her bed, searching for him. A sigh escaped her lips when she found the space empty. He was already gone. Getting out of bed, she reached for her phone on the bedside table to check the time. It was a few minutes past 5am. Unhurriedly, she started for the bathroom, reminisces of the previous night flooding her mind. His kisses. His touch. The gentleness with which he had held her while cuddling her all through the night. Was it going to be like this every night now that they were married? But they had not gotten married like every other regular couple. They had not married out of love for each other but they had gotten married for Andrew's sake. Yeah they both felt some sort of attraction towards each other but none had admitted it to the other yet. Sharing kisses and cuddles wasn't enough to make them like every other regular couple. Maddie for one wasn't even sure about Jake's feelings for her or his intentions
It was around that time when the flowers were beginning to bloom. She was standing in a beautiful garden, right under a tree. Petals from the flowers of the tree above her were raining down on her. She wasn't alone. She could feel him right behind her. She let out a satisfied hum when he moved to wrap his arms around her from behind, back hugging her. She let her head rest on his chest, enjoying the warmth his embrace gave."I love you," he cooed into her ears and a smile curved her lips before she turned, tiptoeing, and then gave him a peck on his lips. When she made to pull away, he didn't let her go, his hand moved to cup the back of her head as he kissed her, sliding his tongue in when her mouth opened obediently under his.When he finally pulled away, he let his forehead nuzzle against hers as they exchanged giggles, his ocean-blue eyes drowning her chocolate brown ones.Suddenly Maddie felt an arm grab her roughly, pulling her away from Jake and away from the garden. The next th
"It is the cramps right? Let me get them to prepare some food for you, and then you can use your medicine," Jake spoke in a voice as soothing as his actions on her hand.Maddie subconsciously nodded to his words. Maybe it was because both his voice and his touch were soothingly distracting.He slipped his fingers into her hair, combing it briefly, and then patting her head as he rose. He moved to plant a light kiss on her forehead before he made his way out of her room.The softness playing in his eyes dispatiated as soon as he was out the door. Now that he knew about the horrible experience Maddie had gone through, getting abducted and raped, he was enraged beyond words. And the police hadn't even given her the due justice she deserved. It was apparent that they hadn't even cared as she was just a regular lady. But she wasn't just a regular lady anymore. She was his woman now. She was Mrs Conat. And since the police had shown themselves to be unreliable, partial and biased, he was go
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